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John Burns; Great Arguments for Stupid People

39K views 278 replies 110 participants last post by  captainwhoopass 
#1 ·
This sounds like great fun! That sounds like the crack dealer who has a pipe in his pocket and rocks in his other pocket, yet none of these things are his. That is how clueless Congress thinks the American people are, apparently. Both sides are pointing fingers and seemingly doing nothing else. Tell 'em, burnsie.



first post. I think.
 
#2 ·
Burns:



You're right. The intern was great. But in your list of new requirements, you revealed yourself as a sexist pig who probably thinks enlightment can be found in a fourteen-year-old cousin's panties.



Just one more reason to like you.



Vlad
 
#3 ·
Burns - you sound like some wacko from Alabama! All the best people do.



I couldn't agree more about pointing out the error in people's logic (or lack of). I have been extremely disappointed that this President who did not receive the most popular votes has made it unpatriotic to disagree with Caesar's logic. A lot of people fought and lost their lives so we can all speak our mind! We don't want to squander that in the name of being good partisan citizens.



As for the intern, you guys are all pretty cool but you are not pretty. Why can't you get a buxom blond intern 20-25 years old. The Strand is full of them. Go recruit one.



 
#4 ·
Re: Speaking as a good partisan citizen

Actually, you would have been considerably more disappointed (and taxed) if Gore was president. The man who invented the Internet (as well as our universal connectivity charge)

is incapable of competently responding to 9/11 or Iraq - Witness his most recent speech.

While all politicians are kleptomaniacal taxers and spenders, a Republican-controlled Congress is generally less likely to steal your money and spend it on some pork barrel program which will never die than the Democrats. And Burns, I must have missed Daschle's economic plan, unless you meant the bloated farm bill and his forest-clearing exemption for his home state.

Wrenching this back to bikes, you might ask yourself which president would have been more likely to propose further regulation of motorcycles (say, for example, by limiting top speed) - George or Al?
 
#5 ·
Yeah, where's the bikes?

Not to be a hard-on again... but...

I coulda sworn I was reading a motorcycle website, not some looney political one. Usually you do a good job of working your diatribe some how to the motorcycling realm (or at least mention a bike in passing in the rant), but this one falls short...

If I want political commentary, I'll dial up Pumpkin Head (tm) on the radio, thanks.
 
#7 ·
A moderate Republican who agrees with Burns and Daschle

Good stuff Burns. As a Republican I was a fan of Bush until the Iraq thing came along. Daschle showed real courage on asking the question is this Iraq thing really a good idea. Also I agree that Daschle is showing courage about the economy. Bush beats the war drum Meanwhile Bin Laden is still free

Things that are pissing me off.

[*]Folks that have never served in combat telling everyone that we should not debate and go to war i.e. shut up or else you are not patriotic

[*]U.S. Corporate CEOs who say they can't compete against foreign competition using American workers and engineers yet Honda, Kawasaki, Toyota, BMW do it without strikes etc. I call it the Harvard MBA syndrome

[*]U.S. Corporate CEOs short sighted preoccupation with stock price and quartly earnings and the expense of R&D.

[*]Tax breaks for Ken Lay and others.

[*] Presidents using military action for a distraction Wag the Dog Poll numbers always rise when we bomb someone i.e. Rally around the Flag effect

[*]$350 Motorcyle service for 7500 mile intervals. Next time I'll buy a bike with a longer/cheaper service schedule

Prediction Bush loses the election in 2004 It's the economy stupid .
 
#8 ·
Re: A moderate Republican who agrees with Burns and Daschle

JB, Your article reminds me of a Communication class a few years back on marking deviant behavior - that is to say, calling someone on behavior that you have a problem with (i.e. beating their kid in a supermarket). I always wondered why that person looks at me as if to say (and they sometimes do) "what gives you the right to tell me what to do?" It is as if in order to effectively criticize a child beater, you must be one too; or in order for your opinion on war to be valid, you must be a soldier. Didn't these politicians go to Philosophy class and learn their fallacies?

Chris
 
#10 ·
Why do I even bother......

First, Burns, if we are going to talk about misguided logic, then Tom Daschle is at or near the top of the heap on that one. Any economist with the IQ of a rock will tell you that you can't tax your way out of a recession. You can only make things worse, which is of course the effect government has on virtually any problem. Trent Lott is saying to Tom that he should either suggest something that would ACTUALLY HELP or keep his mouth shut. Secondly, Tom Daschle is a socialist. His goal is not to help the economy, it is to buy as many votes from as many segments of the population he can by shoveling out Other People's Money.

Furthermore: I am a die hard constitutional conservative, but I have reservations about going to war. Not everyone on the right is jumping on Bush's bandwagon. Check out archconservative representative Ron Paul, or columnist Vin Supernowicz. I have no doubt that Tom Daschle would do an about-face if it served him politically. He talks out three sides of his face at once without managing to tell the truth. He is a two-faced powermongering poverty/race baiting socialist. The only reason they elect him in South Dakota is because he brings home a lot of bacon.
 
#13 ·
Re: Why do I even bother......

Yes, we talk like that in Minnesota. Try and open your eyes once in a while.....yes, he belongs to the democrat party, but his policies are socialist. Imagine a world where Tom Daschle got the government he wanted.....how would that differ in any significant way from a socialist government?
 
#16 ·
I don't have much of a problem with going to war in Iraq even with the express purpose of regime change. Saddam Hussein is a bad guy and the world would be nothing but better off without him. But here's the rub: Pol Pot was a very bad man, so are dictators and/or military leaders in most of sub-saharan africa, much of the middle-east, the balklans, central and south america. I wonder why we aren't as interested in them? Could it have anything to do with oil I wonder?



I just wish we'd own up to the fact that our foreign policy is generally designed to further our own self-interests.



Martin
 
#17 ·
What the hell do Burns' political arguments and prejudices have to do with motorcycles? Hello? Did _Motorcycle_ suddently become _Political Cycle_? Did I miss the memo?



I read _Motorcycle_ to read _about motorcycles_, not to have some editor preach his politics at me.



Stick to motorcycles and motorcycling, Burns. I already get enough politics and policy arguments in other publications; I don't need you using the cover of a motorcycle magazine to spring your political views on me. Save it for somewhere where politics is the topic, and if you can't keep _Motorcycle_ on the topic of _motorcycling_, turn it over to someone who can.



Wil Milan

Phoenix, Arizona

 
#18 ·
How To Lose All Credibility 101

Here's a good litmus test to determine if you're dealing with a right-wing wacko who's suffering from a severe case of headuphisassitis:

See if he refers to Democrats or liberals as 'socialists.'

Any TRUE socialist would laugh in your face at your analysis, Mr. Froman.
 
#19 ·
Re: Speaking as a good partisan citizen

damn right, if Clinton and Gore would have responded the same way Bush did the first time the WTC was bombed, or our embassy was attacked, OR when the Cole was attacked instead of talking ***** and boinking interns, Bin Laden probably wouldn't have been deluded into thinking he could attack us with impunity, If Gore had of won [and he didn't] we'd be wearing orange vests and riding mo-peds with saftey cages, any motorcyclist who votes for Gore might as well park his or her bike,,,, and your wrong John, by not voteing you allow the dumbfuks to dictate how the rest of us live.... sad but true.
 
#22 ·
The sorry state of MO

So this is what it has come to: MO went all the way from Friday afternoon until late Monday evening with NO NEW EDITORIAL CONTENT, save Hackfu belatedly posting a Honda press release on the Rio race. Thinking that Burns must be hard at work on a major review, we now discover he has graced us instead with a political diatribe. John, you are arguably the most talented writer in the motorcycle industry, but I am confident the vast majority of us couldn't care less about your political views. We want to hear about bikes, pal. That's what we paid for.
 
#23 ·
Mr. Burns,



I, for one, appreciate your editorial concerning Republicans attempts to stymy all dissent. Like you, I also feel that the practitioners of this distinctly un-Amercan activity are worthy of our disdain.



Regrettably, the knee-jerkish response I predict you'll get from an audience of motorcycle enthusiasts will likely be pathetically bromidic. As I know you're well aware, the demographics of today's riders are overwhelmingly male and young to middle-age; prime right-wing reactionary material.



I belong to a few different forums which deal with politics, religious oppression, and other social issues and find that the comments expressed therein typically reflect a high measure of education and thoughtfulness. But bring up politics on a forum dedicated to motorcycles and you'll hear comments such as "the Democrats are a bunch of commies" and the like; a sad commentary on our collective intellect.



However, in defense of the motorcyclists I've just insulted, I must say that if the subject of motorcycles were to be brought up in the aforementioned forums, the comments it would generate would likely be just as inane and ignorant as many you'll see in response to your editiorial.

 
#24 ·
Re: Why do I even bother......

And you would have 55% of the population working for the government. Yeah, that would sooo great.

Oh, I know. Wouldn't it be great to only have about 30% of the money you make actually end up in your pocket?

Oh, and how about the cool way that by selling stock options at the "wrong" time, you can owe more in taxes than you actually made that year. Wouldn't that be awesome?

Or, the requirement that only the national language be used on any product packaging. Hmm, wait. That last one might not be so bad.

:)
 
#25 ·
Re: Why do I even bother......

Um, didn't we prove that socialism doesn't work. In case you're not keeping up with current event, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics collapsed. I believe that they're eating Big Macs right now. Oh and hasn't China began to switch to a free market economy? Cuba has even began courting foreign companies now that the Soviet Union isn't holding up it's economy.

Take care,

Dave
 
#26 ·
Random Thoughts for Stupid People

Well, so long as we've totally abandoned any motorcycle discusssion, I'll throw in my $.02.

1. I really don't care to listen to other people call other people hypocritical bastards (or stupid, or socialist, or facist). There are some, mostly recognized syndicated columnists, who do it well enough that I used to find it entertaining (Burnsie is in that group), but now I don't even care for their musings on whatever hot topic is currently being kicked around in whatever hot topic forum is hot. The world would be a better place if people try to stick to wieghing in on any particular issue with informed commentary and treating other people in the debate in a civil manner, even if we all know in our hearts that they really are stupid. Stupidity will almost always hang itself if given enough rope.

2. I see that KPaul is back to posting. I have missed his insights recently. His week-long screaming orgasm over the new SV1000 must have subsided enough for him to type again.

3. An item of professional interest to me: JB went to law school? Is there an interesting disbarment story floating around somewhere? If so, I'll pony up another $12 to hear it. Who's with me?

4. As one who enjoys attractive cleavage-bearing interns in my own office, I do agree that they make the day go by more quickly. (Yes, this is sexist. No, I don't care if that bothers you.) But I have to say that gun-toting Eliot was certainly entertaining, too. So an attractive, cleavage-bearing, gun-toting intern would really liven things up. Surely there's one of those around somewhere. You're in LA, right?

5. The KTM Duke 950 looks bad-ass. Are there more pics anywhere?

Those are my thoughts from Western KY. I'll sign off and see if any of our interns know anything about motorcycles. Because around here they all know about guns.
 
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