Are we obsessed with American politics and current affairs?

Augmerson

If you were to use After Hours as an example, there are many threads each week on events in America, be it shootings and firearms (in fairness there are a lot of shootings in the US) or race issues. Many of my peers have formed opinions on Republican vs Democrat, problems facing the US currently or can talk in-depth about JFK's assassination.

I don't have anything at all against anybody having an opinion, it's your head and you can do what you like with it and to it, but I just think sometimes it goes a little too far. I think sometimes we are a bit obsessed. I couldn't see the Americans having opinions about problems facing Ireland or Europe. And I do understand that some people will have opinions because they care about the US, have American relations, live there or spent time there, and that's ok too.

Or is it all just a product of 24 news channels, a controlled media and the US continuing role as superpower?

hansfrei

I don't read them or post on them. Problem solved.

Specialun

No

WilyCoyote

Infantile stuff ........ just as a two week old baby is obsessed with mater's melons.

Holsten

I think so to a degree.

Everything about the country is like a tv show.

Karl Stein

Augmerson wrote: »

Or is it all just a product of 24 news channels, a controlled media and the US continuing role as superpower?

Bingo.

Augmerson

WilyCoyote wrote: »

Infantile stuff ........ just as a two week old baby is obsessed with mater's melons.

Watermelons do be nice though. At the moment they're are at least 2 active threads on US politics and current affairs.

mike65

The season finale of the Obama administration will bore us all to tears.

MRnotlob606

practical norwegian women

iDave

I've always believed if NFL was a Soviet sport not American and our only footage of it was of games on frozen pitches in Russia no one in Ireland would ever watch it.

dr.bollocko

Wait..
George Zimmerman pulled a gun on his girlfriend now?

What will that crazy cat get up to next.

I am pie

Obsessed, no, however the 20th century was certainly the American century in terms of politics, business, science, art etc...it is hardly surprising we are heavily influenced by them.

It's the same in other parts of the world which are relatively "westernised" so don't feel too guilty.

MadsL

Holsten wrote: »

I think so to a degree.

Everything about the country is like a tv show.

I think you mean everything you have experienced about America is via a TV...

Sir Humphrey Appleby

dr.bollocko wrote: »

Wait..
George Zimmerman pulled a gun on his girlfriend now?

What will that crazy cat get up to next.

In fairness, she was stalking him and he felt threatened, the poor lickle mite!:rolleyes:

Yorky

Does anyone find the Irish adoration of JFK vaguely bizarre? Vietnam, Bay of Pigs, Nuclear brink- a few aspects of his term in office.

Also how the Kennedy plutocracy came about: bootlegging, decimation of Irish Whiskey industry by Joe's distribution rights of Scotch, stock market short selling which arguably caused the collapse etc

Also how the Kennedy plutocracy came about: bootlegging, decimation of Irish Whiskey industry by Joe's distribution rights of Scotch, stock market short selling which arguably caused the collapse etc

Then there's the serial adultery / philandering malarky; Not a mention of this by the adoring masses on RTE radio 1 this week, most of whom would be from a traditional conservative RC background - the most bizarre part of all.

He didn't deserve to die but he was far from his portrayal in Ireland.

Inexplicably, all gushing tributes went unchallenged by the RTE 1 presenters..

Daveysil15

The problem is that Irish politics is incredibly boring.

LeinsterDub

Quite you I'm watching the colbert report!

Hazys

Nah, American Politics is sooo 2012.

Get with the times, its all aboot Canadian politics these days

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFloKq0FP9o

#TeamFord

April O Neill II

Augmerson wrote: »

If you were to use After Hours as an example, there are many threads each week on events in America, be it shootings and firearms (in fairness there are a lot of shootings in the US) or race issues. Many of my peers have formed opinions on Republican vs Democrat, problems facing the US currently or can talk in-depth about JFK's assassination.

I don't have anything at all against anybody having an opinion, it's your head and you can do what you like with it and to it, but I just think sometimes it goes a little too far. I think sometimes we are a bit obsessed. I couldn't see the Americans having opinions about problems facing Ireland or Europe. And I do understand that some people will have opinions because they care about the US, have American relations, live there or spent time there, and that's ok too.

Or is it all just a product of 24 news channels, a controlled media and the US continuing role as superpower?

It's because the USA is a cultural hegemony - we can't help but be fascinated by it.

April O Neill II

Yorky wrote: »

Does anyone find the Irish adoration of JFK vaguely bizarre?

Yes, I don't get the fascination with him in general. He was a sleazebag. I know that shouldn't matter, but he brought it to ridiculous levels.

Wompa1

The US is one of the most fascinating social studies in the world. A country that just over 200 years ago was inhabited by 'Indians', was colonized by a European power, The occupiers took over, basically after fighting with the natives, brought over slaves from other colonies then fought between themselves, South loses and free the slaves, country moves on with a divide between the people and building tensions. Then came an influx of immigrants from all over the world, multiple large wars and today the country is the end result of all of that.

Are there many other countries which experienced such levels of immigration and multi-culturism for as long? For such a young country it has seen huge change

Sam Kade

April O Neill II wrote: »

Yes, I don't get the fascination with him in general. He was a sleazebag. I know that shouldn't matter, but he brought it to ridiculous levels.

A lot of Irish households back then had a picture of JFK over the mantelpiece, maybe it was something to do with all the Irish that immigrated to the US and that his visit was so fresh in their memories when he was assassinated. I heard a man on the radio yesterday saying that he met Bobby Kennedy and he broke down while talking about him :rolleyes:

czx

Carlos Roca wrote: »

Bingo.

dry season

czx

April O Neill II wrote: »

Yes, I don't get the fascination with him in general. He was a sleazebag. I know that shouldn't matter, but he brought it to ridiculous levels.

i know that shouldn't matter but....but?!?

NIMAN

Unfortunately we hear a lot of stuff about the US now because he have 24hr worth of news to fill.

I mean, remember the guy whose house fell down a hole? That was all over our news for a few days. One single guy died out of 350million in a strange/freak accident, yet the world had to know about it.

I always think, if that had happened in some other part of the world, would we ever have heard about it?

For me it all started with the OJ case. Live television coverage for about a month on the UK channels of some guy who no-one in the UK knew. After that, we all became US obsessed.

Irish Guitarist

I'm not. I find it ridiculous how the likes of Barack Obama are lauded simply for making speeches they didn't even write.

There was a thread here about Zimmerman a while ago and when I read it I was disappointed that it wasn't about Bob Dylan releasing a new album.

Augmerson

Daveysil15 wrote: »

The problem is that Irish politics is incredibly boring.

We need some more crack smoking to liven things up.

DEFTLEFTHAND

Sam Kade wrote: »

A lot of Irish households back then had a picture of JFK over the mantelpiece, maybe it was something to do with all the Irish that immigrated to the US and that his visit was so fresh in their memories when he was assassinated. I heard a man on the radio yesterday saying that he met Bobby Kennedy and he broke down while talking about him :rolleyes:

The family were an immigrant success story, remember many Irish left here dirt poor and were treated badly when they arrived in North America, they weren't wanted by anyone, they were viewed as the slumdogs of Europe. Even the other poor Catholic immigrants like the Italians looked down on them.

So an Irish family rising from the streets to that level of power was a source of pride and inspiration to those back home. The story is romanticised of course and little details like Joe Kennedy being involved in organised crime and corruption and JFK being a philanderer were overlooked at the time.

April O Neill II

czx wrote: »

i know that shouldn't matter but....but?!?

Are you OK? You sound a little constipated. Get thee to a bathroom, put in the necessary graft, then have the Sudocreem at the ready. You're welcome.

clairefontaine

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

The family were an immigrant success story, remember many Irish left here dirt poor and were treated badly when they arrived in North America, they weren't wanted by anyone, they were viewed as the slumdogs of Europe. Even the other poor Catholic immigrants like the Italians looked down on them.

So an Irish family rising from the streets to that level of power was a source of pride and inspiration to those back home. The story is romanticised of course and little details like Joe Kennedy being involved in organised crime and corruption and JFK being a philanderer were overlooked at the time.

The Kennedys descended from famine survivors and they showed the Irish they too could be American.

You are absolutely right, the Irish were viewed as trash.

Sunglasses Ron

The Irish have always loved the US cowboy presidents. I remember when Clinton visited years ago, the PA at one of the towns he was giving a speech at (Armagh was it?) was playing this before he came on stage at the height of his sex scandals, I swear the elderly church going aul wans just give the likes of him and JFK a pass

A lil bit of Monica, wha :pac: Only in Ireland.

The Dom

Was out in Portmarnock this year during the heat wave and as the watter lapped around my swimming trucks, I couldn't help but get aroused and started to push against it and kept doing so until I climaxed. As I was walking back into the beach almost everyone was gawping at me and pointing, I couldn't believe. So yeah, in my experience people are obsessed with current affairs in this country.

UCDVet

As the sole military super-power, I think everyone should pay attention to US current affairs. Just on the off chance they decide to bring freedom, tanks, democracy, drones, and happiness (and bombs).

MadsL

UCDVet wrote: »

As the sole military super-power, .

Wut?

the groutch

UCDVet wrote: »

As the sole military super-power, I think everyone should pay attention to US current affairs. Just on the off chance they decide to bring freedom, tanks, democracy, drones, and happiness (and bombs).

so I see that not posting for a year is going well

UCDVet

the groutch wrote: »

so I see that not posting for a year is going well

I kept up my end of the bargain....I paid myself per the terms of my agreement with myself.

I am a man of my word.

hatrickpatrick

Have to admit, one of the reasons I'm so interested in how f*cked up US domestic politics are is that I honestly can't understand for the life of me how they get off telling other countries how to have "freedom and democracy" when their own alleged democracy is bought and paid for by lobby groups, corporations, the NSA and so on.

The United States is the most hilarious example of the pot calling the kettle black. If its leaders would only realize how idiotic their busybody rhetoric with regard to other countries sounds in the face of how f*cked up their own country is and think twice before lecturing anyone else, I doubt people would have as much fun parodying them as they do.

hatrickpatrick

UCDVet wrote: »

I am a man of my word.

You realise that expression has slightly ironic connotations ever since this scene, right?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TJ3Yv_vgUc

UCDVet

MadsL wrote: »

Wut?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superpower

Some people doubt the existence of superpowers in the post Cold War era altogether, stating that today's complex global marketplace and the rising interdependency between the world's nations has made the concept of a superpower an idea of the past and that the world is now multipolar. However, the military dominance of the United States remains unquestioned, and its international influence has made it an eminent world power.[17][18][19][20]

The US spends as much on it's military than the NEXT ELEVEN COUNTRIES COMBINED.

#2 China - 166.0 Billion
#3 Russia - 90.7 Billion
#4 UK -60.8 Billion
#5 Japan - 59.3 Billion
#6 France - 58.9 Billion
#7 Saudi Arabia - 56.7 Billion
#8 India - 46.1 Billion
#9 Germany - 45.8 Billion
#10 Italy - 34 Billion
#11 Brazil - 33.1 Billion
#12 South Korea - 31.7 Billion

---

Total - 683 Billion
The US? They Spend 682 Billion

The US alone has as many aircraft carriers as the rest of the world put together.

You can argue that China or Russia or whoever else is also a military superpower....but eh, fair enough. I'd still say the US has enough history of bring tanks and planes to countries far outside of it's own borders that people should keep an eye on what they're doing.

diograis

hatrickpatrick wrote: »

Have to admit, one of the reasons I'm so interested in how f*cked up US domestic politics are is that I honestly can't understand for the life of me how they get off telling other countries how to have "freedom and democracy" when their own alleged democracy is bought and paid for by lobby groups, corporations, the NSA and so on.

The United States is the most hilarious example of the pot calling the kettle black. If its leaders would only realize how idiotic their busybody rhetoric with regard to other countries sounds in the face of how f*cked up their own country is and think twice before lecturing anyone else, I doubt people would have as much fun parodying them as they do.

I challenge anyone who says American politics isn't hilarious to watch Katie Couric's interview with Sarah Palin. You can't help but pity her, it's tragic haha.

MadsL

UCDVet wrote: »

You can argue that China or Russia or whoever else is also a military superpower....but eh, fair enough.

Yes, yes they are.

I'd still say the US has enough history of bring tanks and planes to countries far outside of it's own borders that people should keep an eye on what they're doing.

Like China and Russia have no form on that.. :rolleyes:

Henlars67

I just find America hilarious.

The country is basically a parody of itself.

Land of the free my bo*lox.

There's no choice politically.

You either support the liberal neo-liberals or the conservative neo-liberals.

Everyone else is a communist.

porsche959

Yorky wrote: »

Does anyone find the Irish adoration of JFK vaguely bizarre? Vietnam, Bay of Pigs, Nuclear brink- a few aspects of his term in office.

Also how the Kennedy plutocracy came about: bootlegging, decimation of Irish Whiskey industry by Joe's distribution rights of Scotch, stock market short selling which arguably caused the collapse etc

Also how the Kennedy plutocracy came about: bootlegging, decimation of Irish Whiskey industry by Joe's distribution rights of Scotch, stock market short selling which arguably caused the collapse etc

Then there's the serial adultery / philandering malarky; Not a mention of this by the adoring masses on RTE radio 1 this week, most of whom would be from a traditional conservative RC background - the most bizarre part of all.

He didn't deserve to die but he was far from his portrayal in Ireland.

Inexplicably, all gushing tributes went unchallenged by the RTE 1 presenters..

I agree with you that JFK is over-romanticised in Ireland, but RTE presenters not challenging gushing tributes is entirely explicable - RTE's entire raison d'etre revolves around being non-provocative, not rocking the boat and telling middle Ireland what they think it wants to hear.

MadsL

Henlars67 wrote: »

I just find America hilarious.

The country is basically a parody of itself.

Land of the free my bo*lox.

There's no choice politically.

You either support the liberal neo-liberals or the conservative neo-liberals.

Everyone else is a communist.

You clearly and fundamentally missed the whole Gary Johnson/Ron Paul Libertarian thing then.

WilyCoyote

Not to mention various wardrobe malfunctions live on National TV, Gerry! :P

KyussBishop

MadsL wrote: »

You clearly and fundamentally missed the whole Gary Johnson/Ron Paul Libertarian thing then.

Neoliberalism was formed by pretty much the same people, and many of the same think tanks, as the modern form of Libertarianism - it can be viewed, in part, as a less-extremist form of Libertarian's unregulated free-market views.

So, promoting the Libertarian form of (literally impossible) 'free market' policy, in place of the Neoliberal form of (much more cynical/clever/deceptive) 'free market' policy, would be supplanting crazy, with batshít crazy.

It wouldn't just be 'more of the same' (a steady shift in power over politics/economics/society into private wealthy hands), it would be an exponential leap in accelerating the same set of failed policies (into near-complete control over politics/economics/society, into private wealthy hands), because a true economy-wide 'free market' can't exist outside of theory, and trying to get there results in massive private concentration of power/wealth.

MadsL

KyussBishop wrote: »

Neoliberalism was formed by pretty much the same people, and many of the same think tanks, as the modern form of Libertarianism - it can be viewed, in part, as a less-extremist form of Libertarian's unregulated free-market views.

So, promoting the Libertarian form of (literally impossible) 'free market' policy, in place of the Neoliberal form of (much more cynical/clever/deceptive) 'free market' policy, would be supplanting crazy, with batshít crazy.

It wouldn't just be 'more of the same' (a steady shift in power over politics/economics/society into private wealthy hands), it would be an exponential leap in accelerating the same set of failed policies (into near-complete control over politics/economics/society, into private wealthy hands), because a true economy-wide 'free market' can't exist outside of theory, and trying to get there results in massive private concentration of power/wealth.

You mean much a civil war era family loyalties perpetuate a two party system of pretty much centre-right policies based on not being quite so bad as the last lot... the Irish glasshouse is a piss-poor location to be lobbing stones from...

KyussBishop

MadsL wrote: »

You clearly and fundamentally missed the whole Gary Johnson/Ron Paul Libertarian thing then.

Ok, looking back, my post was overcomplicated and hard to read, so I'll put it more succinctly:
Libertarian's are barely different to Neoliberals. They share most of the worst aspects of Neoliberal economics (except worse), since Libertarians were pretty much the inspiration for (and participated in creating) Neoliberalism.

hatrickpatrick

diograis wrote: »

I challenge anyone who says American politics isn't hilarious to watch Katie Couric's interview with Sarah Palin. You can't help but pity her, it's tragic haha.

The first time I saw that I assumed I was watching a Tina Fey SNL skit, then it slowly dawned on me that this was an actual interview.
Fey parodied it later on that week and was able to quote parts of it word for word:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IE-OCDexYrU

I remember a speech by Rick Santorum last year as well in which he started calling Obama a particular racist word and then caught himself and tried to back off in mid sentence:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egtaV6Pj8yI

Hell, I despise Sarah Palin's brand of right wing busybody 'family values' politics, but I seriously hope she runs for president next time just purely for the entertainment factor alone

And who can forget the famous Bushisms?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushism#Notable_statements

My personal favourite: "Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we." - Washington, D.C., August 5, 2004

diograis

hatrickpatrick wrote: »

The first time I saw that I assumed I was watching a Tina Fey SNL skit, then it slowly dawned on me that this was an actual interview.
Fey parodied it later on that week and was able to quote parts of it word for word:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IE-OCDexYrU

I remember a speech by Rick Santorum last year as well in which he started calling Obama a particular racist word and then caught himself and tried to back off in mid sentence:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egtaV6Pj8yI

Hell, I despise Sarah Palin's brand of right wing busybody 'family values' politics, but I seriously hope she runs for president next time just purely for the entertainment factor alone

And who can forget the famous Bushisms?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushism#Notable_statements

My personal favourite: "Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we." - Washington, D.C., August 5, 2004

brilliant.
I'm the same tbh, they don't even realise how hilarious their elections are. Last year Der Spiegel (I think?) or one of those took a poll and found 98% of Germans would have vote for Obama. NINETY. EIGHT.

hatrickpatrick

diograis wrote: »

brilliant.
I'm the same tbh, they don't even realise how hilarious their elections are. Last year Der Spiegel (I think?) or one of those took a poll and found 98% of Germans would have vote for Obama. NINETY. EIGHT.

To be fair Irish politics is hilarious too in its own way, but I reckon it's too close to the bone for some reason since some of the "hilarious" goings on in the Dail reflect, for us, the reason our country is in deep sh!te. When it's American politicians making fools of themselves we can laugh at it safely knowing that their stupidity isn't our problem.