I really don't give a shit if Hillary cried.

[Vektor]

Or Dean screamed, or Edwards showed anger, or Obama smoked 600 cigarettes in a row, or what have you.

Having emotion is part of the human condition, and having the BALLS (or the ovaries :-)) to unabashedly admit that you are hurt, or angry, or excited, or afraid is FAR more commendable than being a heartless, emotionless droid. When we let people who have NO ABILITY to embrace empathy run the country, that's when we end up waging unjust wars, and turning a blind eye to those in poverty, and those with no health care or clean drinking water.

Does showing emotion mean that you have no ability to lead? Of course it doesn't. Can you shed a tear, or let out a shout and THEN step back and make an informed decision? Hell yes. I'd say you certainly can.

I have no opinion on whether or not John Edwards was bashing Hillary over her tears because I have heard two versions of the story, and I don't know which is true - this post is not directed at Edwards. At all.

It is, in fact, meant to defend ANY American running for president who actually has the ability to show human emotion, and actually GIVES A DAMN.

When I look in the eyes of George W. Bush I see a sociopath devoid of any empathy or altruism.

Give me a screamer, a cryer, a wailer all you want, as long as they are screaming, crying, and wailing for the right reasons. Like this country going to hell in a hand basket. That's a damn good reason to get your color up, I'd say.

When they're done expressing emotion over the issues, and are ready to step up to the plate to do something about it, I'll happily vote for 'em.

I'm ok with most displays of emotion. They usually accompany the ability to actually FEEL something. A trait we have not seen in our President in a good 8 years or so.

I just want a human President. That would be brilliant.

[mikelgb]

1. then don't ad to the insanity with another fucking thread

[Vektor]

5. Too late.

:hi:

But seriously, my thread was actually HEAVY with sanity.

Thanks for checking in.

[Cha]

2. Yeah, I don't give a

shite about any of that, either..but I do care about who's lying and smearin' their ass off.

[Vektor]

6. That makes sense...

lies and smears are not cool at all.

[ihavenobias]

3. I agree

The media pounces on this bullshit though. They LOVE it.

As if when, for example, Dean cried out, it somehow gave us an indication of how he would lead our country? Did that yell tell us anything about his health care plan? His education plan? His foreign policy?

No, of course not. His yell told us absolutely nothing about anything relevant.

A true "gaffe" to me is when a candidate screws up some facts and figures. Like mixing up Sunni and Shia for example.

But the mainstream media definition seems to be anything that can make the political blooper real, the more irrelevant the better. They want the political equivalent of slipping on a banana peel.

That's why I largely avoid the mainstream media for election coverage and opt for something better: http://bravenewfilms.org/election

[Vektor]

7. Agreed, the MSM is a joke.

All sensationalism, no real substance.

[wellst0nev0ter]

4. Goddamn Media. First Hillary Was Too Much Of A Robot

now she's a hysterical crybaby? Please let this not be another Dean Scream.

[Vektor]

9. They're always looking for "the Scream"...

Ah, how the MSM loves to make mountains out of molehills - especially at the expense of Democrats.

[lumberjack_jeff]

8. When Hillary got pissed off, she said what she was thinking.

That wasn't a good plan. "35 years of change which doesn't get people's hopes up" is not a good slogan.

Now she's sad. That's a little better, because we're genetically programmed to react with sympathy/affinity to it.

[Vektor]

10. I have to admit...

I find it a little annoying how candidates are expected to never show emotion, never trip over a word, never appear anything less than smooth, polished and perfect at all times.

They're only human, after all.

Constant Bushisms, and an innate inability to speak English or anything resembling it is one thing. But an occasional show of emotion, dropped pronoun, or misspeak when the cameras are on you 24-7 is no crime.

It's obscene how the MSM fixates on the most insignificant things in lieu of any real discourse.

[ihavenobias]

11. Exactly again

It's the whole "gaffe" garbage I alluded to in my previous post.

http://bravenewfilms.org/election

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

12. George Bush laughed when Carla Faye Tucker pleaded for her life

I agree with you. I don't care for these media frenzies where they have to focus on one small moment in time, echo it to infinity, and try to manufacture it as a symbol of a person's entire life. It's the media trying to become a participant in the election rather than an observer.

I don't support Hillary Clinton, but I want the election decided on the merits, not on a magic talisman created by the media that becomes the story and that ends all discussion of the issues.

They did it with the Deam Scream. They did it with the Muskie crying moment. They did it with the Dukakis tank moment.

Funny how it always seems they are doing it only with the Democratic candidates.

[Vektor]

13. Exactly my point.

It's always the Democrats who get nailed to the cross for displaying emotion when it's the Republicans who could stand to gain an emotion or two.

And not just crying over perceived tax dollars lost.

Greedy tears don't count. :-)

[robbedvoter]

14. Bravo! I'm making another querry for the pic of Bush attempting to cry after 9.11

It was a constipated, frown downside up clownish face that seems to have been disappeared from google. It would make a nice visual for your excellent OP

[Vektor]

15. Ah, thanks!

That would be great. I think he was crying because he realized "Oh, shit, I'm actually going to be expected to LEAD now, and I have no idea how."

[mtnsnake]

16. Yeah, Baby!

e-MOtion, there's nothing like it! Well said, my friend :)

:hi:

[Vektor]

17. Thanks, yo.

Stick around, I'm about to rip the sleeve off my jacket, and overturn a table. :-)

[JI7]

18. i agree

JK is very emotional and has teared up many times. he also lights up at things like puppies and babies.

if Hillary wants to stop holding back and just be who she with showing emotion then that's a good thing.

[Vektor]

19. Very true...

And I've seen JK tear up.

It makes me feel a little funny. :loveya:

[XemaSab]

20. Hey Vektor!

Well put. K&R. :)