Let me first start off by saying that I like Joe Manchin. At least when I considered the alternative: a Tea Party nut in John Raese (who needs to understand that after three times of not getting elected, that he's doing something wrong). I do like that he supports Obama on a lot of the key issues.
However, me being a liberal does not mean that I have to agree with everything that Democrats say or do. Hell, me being an American means that I can agree or disagree with basically anyone or anything I want to. Of course, it should make sense, and my reasoning should, too. This showed when I called out the banning of World Wrestling Entertainment clothing from polls during 2010 (which I am not sorry for doing this). I never agreed with Linda McMahon's beliefs or ideas, but I didn't think that censorship was the answer there. Me being a liberal didn't mean I had to agree with that. Unlike the GOP anymore, we actually have value in the notion that the right decisions can only come from disagreement (the GOP seems to want everyone to agree with every letter that comes from a few figureheads' mouths).
I am also an avid gamer, as you no doubt have known from me getting on the issue of Jessica Nigiri from earlier this year (which I also am not sorry for and I stand by my opinion, as I do with the WWE apparel I mentioned above). I was somewhat disappointed that Kossers weren't as into gaming, or seemed to not understand it, as much as I was. At least that was the consensus I got from the replies I got. Now, it might be that a good bit of us are gamers at heart, and who could blame us: gaming as an entertainment service has exploded in recent years, and you can be hard pressed to find someone who doesn't play SOME kind of game, whether it be the latest Call of Duty, or someone tending to a farm on Facebook, or someone joining their friends for a raid in World of Warcraft or Guild Wars 2, or something in between. It'd be difficult to find someone who has honestly shunned all forms of gaming.
And yet, we're sane people. We live happy lives and go out with friends, play sports or have decent jobs, and when we are stressed, find release in entertainment such as video games.
So why, then, does Joe Manchin, a guy I'd agree with the other 95% of the time, went on MSNBC and declared that a video game franchise, Grand Theft Auto (which has a new installment due out next year), be banned, right after telling us that he is a proud member of the NRA? And why are we forced to go though this cycle once again right after yet another school shooting when we fail to even understand the elements of how these things work?
Read More