14-year-old writes a right-wing book, gets published

[DaShi]

I think it is obvious that he's Rush Limbaugh's bastard love child.

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by Apocalypse
You know...

I was 14 when I ran the Alpha Centauri Nexus and no one really had a problem with me except my grammar was lacking now and then.

Maybe I'm just incredibly great though.

I take it that the Alpha Centauri Nexus was devoted to SMAC, and to other topics which generally appeal to a younger audience.

This is very different with politics. Political journalism requires:
1. A strong analytical ability, as well as the ability to write these analyses in a way that appeals to the reader, whatever the age.
2. An ability to think within the boundaries of the society in general, NOT within your individual (i.e, political jounralism isn't some exercize of "I do", "I think" "My School" etc.)

I have read a few articles from him, and this guy hardly looks further than his bellybutton. He is read because he is 14, not because he's good. Exactly the same way people go to the school festival to see kids perform, NOT to see a good performance.


BTW, I'm not sure this guy parrots everything his parents say. There are precocious people out there, who develop an early understanding of politics separate of their parents' (even though it is under influence). I should know, I am one.

[Dr Kellogg]

Originally posted by Spiffor
I have read a few articles from him, and this guy hardly looks further than his bellybutton. He is read because he is 14, not because he's good. Exactly the same way people go to the school festival to see kids perform, NOT to see a good performance.

Yes, indeed.

[Apocalypse]

Originally posted by Spiffor
I take it that the Alpha Centauri Nexus was devoted to SMAC, and to other topics which generally appeal to a younger audience.

This is very different with politics. Political journalism requires:
1. A strong analytical ability, as well as the ability to write these analyses in a way that appeals to the reader, whatever the age.
2. An ability to think within the boundaries of the society in general, NOT within your individual (i.e, political jounralism isn't some exercize of "I do", "I think" "My School" etc.)

There are many pundits out there with no analytical ability.

And boundries? SMAC had boundries and my units when outside those all the time. But seriously, more people were coming to ACN than Apolyton when SMAC came out. I must have been at least somewhat good.

[GePap]

I just did a search for this kid

He is a regular political collumnist for Worldnetdaily.
I read one of his collumns. It is well written, and not very different from what I would expect from Micheal Savage or Sean Hannity.

Which is not saying much, given my very low opinion of Savage and Hannity.

[Spiffor]

I don't doubt you were good Apoc. But had you been a political pundit, the demands of the job would have been very diffent than for a videogame pundit.

The boundaries of SMAC / Civ are quite simple, and thinking within them is possible for many younger people, and I don't doubt you had a very deep knowledge and understanding of SMAC.

Having the same degree of knowledge and understanding in the field of politics is much harder. I don't know whether you had it or not at 14 (I sure know I don't have it yet at 22). But I have seen this kid doesn't know anything on what he's babbling about.

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by GePap
He is a regular political collumnist for Worldnetdaily.
I read one of his collumns. It is well written, and not very different from what I would expect from Micheal Savage or Sean Hannity.

I have read a few columns too, and I would laugh at any column written like that. Full of "I am" and "I think" as well as not-backed assertions... The style is only slightly better than Fez's and the content manages to be as full of BAM

[Jeltz]

I thought this was somewhat funny too:

"1 person recommended The Kindness Curriculum: Introducing Young Children to Loving Values instead of Seen And Heard : America’s Youngest Political Pundit Tackles the Lies and Truths of Politics and Culture"

Book Description
When you create opportunities for kids to practice such things as kindness, empathy, respect, and conflict resolution, youll be amazed at the results. The Kindness Curriculum is designed to provide such opportunities. It is the outgrowth of the authors ten years teaching in the Early Childhood Education Program of St. Paul, Minnesota, and is in contrast to most other preschool curricula, which emphasize the cognitive domain. The activities in this book help build character. They teach the loving values and skills that children need in order to develop into happy, productive, and caring individuals.
The first four chapters deal with the fundamental values of Love,

Empathy, Gentleness, and Respect. In the fifth chapter, children learn about the powerful technique of Visualization followed by chapters on Self Control, Friendship, and Conflict Resolution. There is also a chapter of take-home exercises to encourage parental participation. The activities are fun and easy while creating an atmosphere of acceptance, and love in which children can seek out the goodness in themselves and each other.


About the Author
Judith Anne Rice teaches in the Early Childhood Family Education Program of the Saint Paul, Minnesota, Public School System. She is also the author of Lets Party and the best-selling childrens books Those Mean Nasty Dirty Downright Disgusting but...Invisible Germs, Those Itsy-Bitsy Teeny-Tiny Not-So-Nice Head Lice, and Those Icky Sticky Smelly Cavity-Causing but...Invisible Germs. She has first-hand experience in dealing with various health issues facing children, parents, and providers in...

[GePap]

Originally posted by Spiffor

I have read a few columns too, and I would laugh at any column written like that. Full of "I am" and "I think" as well as not-backed assertions... The style is only slightly better than Fez's and the content manages to be as full of BAM

Spiff: you are forgetting the role of a pundit. It is to tell us their opinions, since for some reason, ususally never stated, their opinion is somehow more valid than not, not that it comes from their education or training, just that they are strident enough and loud enough to get attention.

[St Leo]

Originally posted by DaShi
I think it is obvious that he's Rush Limbaugh's bastard love child.

I prefer Nurture over Nature. Being Limbaugh's lovechild wouldn not make him a loon. However, having Limbaugh as his loving sugar daddy would.

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

The entertainment media of this nation is a major influence on Americans, most specifically the younger Americans who tend to be obsessed with movies, music and television.

The negative effects of that, however, which are expected, cannot be proven scientifically. Any negative incidents that are seen as a result of the lack of reality and morality in entertainment cannot be proven, they are simply assumed.

However, there are some cases around the country that clearly show the extent to which young people will imitate movies. There is one key motivation and inspiration with these four incidents, which is pretty obvious: Hollywood.

On Tuesday in Sarasota, Fla., 18-year-old Paul Smith jumped from the roof of a five story condominium. Apparently, the goal was to jump from the top of this apartment building into the pool below. One of his "friends" recorded the stunt from below, and the videotape shows that he barely missed the pool, with his legs and torso slamming against the concrete.

On April 14, in eastern Idaho, teens tore up a local neighborhood while videotaping the whole thing. They vandalized cars, houses and sprayed graffiti, damaged property, lit a fire, and even stopped cars on the road. Because of the teens' lack of judgment and common sense, all four of them faced several charges of vandalism and two of them were also charged with felony arson.

Last month in St. Paul, Minn., a 14-year-old looked into a camera saying, "Don't try this at home." He then went on to light himself on fire. The stunt resulted in third-degree burns on 65 percent of his body, three major surgeries, being on life support for six days and, according to a report by the Minneapolis-Star Tribune, the teen-ager will be in the hospital for a minimum of two months.

Late last year, an 18-year-old died in Ohio after failing in a crazy stunt. The teen, with other friends, lit a chair on fire in the back of a pick up truck. While they were trying to push it out of the bed, the truck took off quickly. College freshman Adam Ports slipped out of the back of the truck and hit his head on the pavement.

So, what's the theme? Well, with all of these cases, the teens are too stupid to think of outcomes. Secondly, all of the cases resulted in severe consequences. Lastly, these four incidents are in a long line of amateur stunts inspired by the reality series and movie "Jackass." Ever since the series appeared on MTV and even more so after the movie was released, Americans have heard of idiots who decide to imitate the stunts.

This particular issue causes physical harm to teens. Still, what about the other parts of entertainment: music, movies and television?

On this aspect of the entertainment industry, there are two sides to the coin. First, the media and the entertainment industry are in business to make a profit and, of course, we live in a capitalist society. The moral downside to this is that some will do anything for a buck, especially in terms of immorality in entertainment.

Yet, at what price are they making a buck? Look at the effect it has on society. Look at the role entertainment has played in the moral downslide of America. The "Jackass" stars are certainly not responsible for imitators, Eminem isn't responsible for the role he plays in the immorality of America, and neither are the actors of Hollywood. This is a free country. However, they obviously realize the far-reaching and long-lasting results of their work.

Celebrities are not responsible for actions of those who see them as role models, but if I were a mainstream celebrity with a conscience, I would definitely have a hard time sleeping at night.

The question is this: If these teens are inspired by a movie to light themselves on fire, jump off five-story buildings and commit other insane stunts, then how many teens out there are imitating the immoral virtues that other parts of the entertainment industry espouse?

One of his columns.

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

This week, I saw the next movie in the blockbuster trilogy of "Lord of the Rings." "The Two Towers," I must say, is better than the first one: "The Fellowship of the Ring." I admit that I am a big fan of J.R.R. Tolkien's masterpiece and director Peter Jackson did an amazing job translating Tolkien's books.

People take this **** seriously? The boy's barely literate.

[MikeH]

After reading those two together...

Once he'd seen LotR did he get a ring and run away to a distant volcano and try and throw it in, despite the risks to himself...

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

All liberals have to do is give government handouts – bribery for votes. Therefore, people simply do not want to become involved (it takes too much time and energy).

These days, the popular term to assign such people is "sheeple." They follow the most charismatic leader and take them at their face value. Yet, charisma is not intended to rule the nation, principle is.

Here's a game!

Try replacing the word "liberals" with "conservatives", and "government handouts" with "tax cuts".

[Stefu]

then how many teens out there are imitating the immoral virtues that other parts of the entertainment industry espouse?

I mean, here we obviously have an example of an youth seeing immoral (well, at least damn silly) virtues being promoted by Fox, National Review and all those groups with 'Family' in their names and then rushing to imitate them.