From: mattm@Apple.COM (Matthew Melmon)
Newsgroups: soc.motss
Subject: Re: Publicity
Date: 2 Sep 92 23:39:36 GMT
Organization: Apple Computer Inc., Cupertino, CA

nelson@reed.edu (Nelson Minar) writes:

>Wow, I've gotten angry enough to actually swear. Matthew Melmon, you
>are a fucking idiot.

*sigh*  I don't remember, was use as an adjective part of the 'fuck'
thread.  What is a 'fucking' idiot?  An idiot who fucks?  

Guilty as charged.

>You don't get it, do you? Are you completely ignorant of queer related
>politics?

There is no such thing as 'queer related politics.'  There are politics.
Plain and simple.  Politics is politics.  I am not ignorant of 
politics, dear.  I could market a politician very nicely, thank you.
That's what it's all about.  Marketing.  Psst.  Hey buddy, cum 'ere.
Have I got something for you.  Here ya go!  A politician!  Pretty 
neat, huh?  What's that?  You don't like this?  No problemo.  See?
All gone.  Pretty neat, huh?  /Etc/etc.

>Why don't you come to Oregon this year? Come here before November,
>mind you. Come work with us to stop Measure 9. Then tell me that "the
>anti-GLB stuff is a smokescreen".

Should the OCA initiative pass, you will be able to say, "Told ya so."
Until such time as it passes, I shall continue to live in the delusion
that the people of Oregon are not the rabid bigots they would have
to be to actually vote yes for the damn thing.  I shall, in effect,
have faith in my fellow man.  My mother and pretty much her entire
family live in Oregon, and I *like* my family.  I *like* the 
suburban (Tigard) straight boys I went to high school with.  Generally,
I *liked* living in Oregon more than Eagle Rock (Occidental), more
than Studio City (but it was close), and more than Menlo Park.  I
am not going to write off Oregon yet.

But all that aside, was I talking about Oregon in the first place?  No.
I was talking about Presidential Politics.  Neither Bush nor Clinton
are running for public office in Oregon.

>And it's not just some crazy bunch of loonies on the far right, the
>OCA. They're getting pandered to by the Republican party. The bigtime
>players in the Republican Party kissed Mabon's ass hard enough last
>month that the OCA withdrew their opposition candidate to Packwood.
>Can you spell concessions?

No finer an example of politics exists.  Do me a favor, I'll do you
a favor.  I *like* Packwood, but them I just a fucking idiot.  If,
however, you consider 'kissing ass' to have some for of real impact,
your sex life is in need of improvement.  But I am not here to 
breath fire in your general direction.  What concrete benefits did
the OCA get out of any deal not to oppose Packwood?  Nothing.  Zilch.
A lot of talk.  A lot of hot air.  Buchanon is the OCA counterpart
on the national scene.  He got to speak at the convention.  Big
Fucking Deal.  What do you think his impact will be on policy, 
asssuming Bush is re-elected?

Not a whole hell of a lot.

>And this is what was going on at the RNC. The Republican Party thought
>that "family values" was an issue that the electorate cared about,
>cared about enough that they could get votes. They get this impression
>from groups like the CFV and the OCA. When the Republicans embrace the
>OCA agenda, the OCA is legitimized.

Nelson, they did not.  They absolutely did not.  "Family Values" is 
exactly what I said it was:  an attempt to divert attention from
economic difficulties.  The more press given to Family Values, the
less press given to Bush's lack of an economic plan.  It is a hard,
cynical reality.

>Are you so busy explaining why you shouldn't feel guilty for voting
>Republican that you have lost all sense? Don't you get it? The
>Republican party are our *enemies*. They always have been, and they
>are our enemies now more than ever. Pat Buchanan said it first - we're
>at war.

I feel *no* guilt, darling.  Being on the winning side is nothing to
feel guilty over.  I voted for Reagan.  I'll say it again:  I voted
for *Reagan*  What's more, I'd have voted for him *again*

Don't I get it?  The Republicans are our *enemies*  How sweetly 
poetic you can wax at times.  Isn't it nice, knowing who *our*
enemies are?  Such a simple world.  Pat Buchanan may be at war.
Pat Robertson may be at war.  Quayle's not at war, he's joining
the National Guard.  But seriously, the Republican Party is not
Pat Buchanon and it's not Pat Robertson.  You are mistaking the
vocal fringe for the center.  These peope *have* to be accomodated
when it comes to political games.  Jesse Jackson *had* to be 
accomodated in past Democratic campaigns.  Their ultimate influence
is minor.  It's fucking minor, and when all is said and done, 
they're still on the fringe.

There is only one political party in the United States, and there
are a whole bunch of screaming demagogues.  It's pretty much that
simple, and you do not really know who your enemies are.

Matthew Melmon