Comments on: Liberals seeking to silence and demonize those who oppose their benighted plan

By: danielg

danielg — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 18:04:07 +0000

Louis, if they were Fascists, wouldn't they be FOR fascism instead of saying "No Repeat" and "NO to fasicm" See how confused 'you people' are?
They are saying that the Obama plans are socialist, if not Fascist. I don't agree with the latter, but they have a right to say that.
But what is so stoopid is that liberals play this out like these people are some sort of white supremacists – what the hell is that? LYING.

By: Louis

Louis — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 16:12:15 +0000

fascists with swastikas

By: James

James — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 07:23:35 +0000

Here's some more with relevance for folks who really love Paul Krugman. First, his post from the NYTimes:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/07/opinion/07krugm…
Seems pretty sensible, right? Well except for the ending part where he smears anyone who disagrees with Obamacare as a racist. That's not very supported, is it?
Oh, wait, except there's a problem with his article:
http://thenextright.com/jon-henke/protests-2008-v…
Oh, and when I use the super secret search tool (Google) and enter "2005 protest Bush effigy", I'm sure you're not suprised at what I see…
I don't think there's a lot of use coming from the Left and decrying astroturfing (Google "David Axelrod Astroturfing hired PR firm" together, the man is a pro, then Google "Moveon.org astroturfing bus" or "union astroturfing bus"). For that matter, our POTUS is a community organizer who just emailed all of his followers to get out to these meetings… is that astroturfing?
I also don't think there's a lot of use coming from the left and decrying people shouting down political opposition…
You should simply come from the position of someone who holds dear the ability to dialogue and support your ideas openly and despises anyone who would replace debate with rudeness. I know I despise it, no matter which side it comes from. Of course our elected representatives create their own risk when they ignore their constituents. They are spending a lot of time talking, no time listening, and it will cost them their seats, hopefully nothing more.

By: James

James — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 06:51:57 +0000

By: danielg

danielg — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 23:46:37 +0000

>> LOUIS: And this includes the hate radio crowd: demogogues like Limbaugh (who compared Pelosi to Hitler today),
Actually, it was PELOSI who first alluded to the town hall protesters being Nazi ('carrying swastikas' I think she said). Rush just shot back at her in kind, saying that the Obama healthcare emblem looks a lot like the Nazi emblem. Sure, it was a cheap shot, but it was a return shot, and at least he was not broad brushing the citizens as she shamefully and shamelessly did. She is an embarrassment.
I don't see any big deal here. He stooped to Pelosi's level in part to show how ridiculous, partisan, and anti-democracy this administration is.
The big deal is the error and arrogance of the Obama admin and the left.
>> LOUIS: I used to think he was just a clown but this is downright dangerous
Fearmongering. Ooh, he's so dangerous. What nonsense.
How many injuries and deaths have been accomplished by these mobs? How much property damage? How many gays were beat up?
None that I know of. You think grass roots opposition, rightfully angry but self controlled, is mindless hatred, rage, and ignorance, but really you just want an unchallenged liberal autocracy. For the sake of our people and our children, we say no thank you. Stop projecting onto us your fears. It's anti-American.

By: Louis

Louis — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 22:13:55 +0000

btw: Limbaugh isn't just using the Nazi meme against Pelosi, but against Obama as well. I used to think he was just a clown but this is downright dangerous given the audience of dittoheads he commands. The right is showing its true colors: fascist, anti-American, dangerous. I hope the rest of America sees this and wakes up to the real threat. And, of course, these are the people who are the most anti-gay rights. I think I'll buy a gun.

By: Louis

Louis — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 22:06:34 +0000

This isn't by any stretch of even the most sick imagination peaceably assembling to petition the government. Rather, it is a concerted effort to demonize both the Democratic party and President Obama. It started during the campaign when both McCain and Palin egged on "real Americans" to a mentality close to a lynch mob. These Brown Shirts are on a mission to stop the debate and intimidate civilized people (Democrat or Republican) for their right-wing agenda. And this includes the hate radio crowd: demogogues like Limbaugh (who compared Pelosi to Hitler today), Hannity, Beck, etc. It's disgusting and profoundly unAmerican. It's sick and monstrous. And it goes beyond health care to a visceral hatred of Obama and the rest of us. And, of course, it fits right in with the fascist, christianist mentality intent on imposing its authoritarian will on America. See here for another example. Sieg Heil!

By: Cineaste

Cineaste — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 21:51:37 +0000

"These Brown Shirts have been exposed for what they are…"
Wow! A very powerful metaphor. That really makes me see this in a different light.

By: danielg

danielg — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:37:40 +0000

BTW, when I search for Town Hall in youtube, I get the following, none of which seem like mobs. What I see are disrespectful pro-Obama people leading the meetings, dismissing the citizens.
Liberal Senators are losing control of their meetings because:
- people are angry
- the people feel like they are not being heard, and dismissed
Poor public servants.
1. AARP TOWN HALL MEETING
Liberal AARP Decides to Stop meeting because they tire of their members disagreeing with their one-sided pro-Obama perspective, and their sponsorship of Obamacare. I saw people being civil, but realizing that the AARP is just an Obamatool, and are deciding to cancel their memberships.
2. US SOLDIER DEMANDS APOLOGY FROM SENATOR MCCASKILL
I saw a soldier speaking calmly, I saw raucous applause and one standing ovation, but no violence or threat – people sitting in their seats. I do think that demanding an apology is a stunt, though, but um, no mob.
3. MCCASKILL TOWN HALL MEETING – TEA PARTY BREAKS OUT
The person who posted this must have been against the protests, but this 'revealing' video showed people cheering for about 20 seconds. A little annoying, but um, no mob.
4. STEVE DRIEHAUS TOWN HALL MEETING
A woman airing her grievances on a microphone, people sitting quietly, and cheering loudly from their seats when she finishes. She was not the most articulate person, but her displeasure is clear. Again, no mob.
Perhaps you could guide me to a video that shows mobs?

By: danielg

danielg — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:21:06 +0000

>> 1. blame the liberal demons for the very thing you are guilty of and refuse to accept any responsibility whatsoever for your own misbehavior
What misbehavior? Do citizens not have a right to be angry? I agree, shouting people down is not good, nor extended chanting over people, but by and large, the protesters have been articulate, have presented reasoned but passionate arguments, and are expressing their grass roots displeasure at the Obama/Congress steamroller. This is called Democracy, not misbehavior.
There is a difference between real protest and the fringe manufactured kind, and this is not the latter.
>> 2. Thus, we witness organized mobs invading Democratic townhalls to shout down and generally intimidate the speakers and anyone else who wants a real discussion.
First of all, these are democratic with a small "D". Second, they aren't mobs, they are local citizens. Just because people are more passionate about the gross missteps of this administration doesn't mean that they are mobs. That's demonization again.
I think you are picking and choosing when you talk about shouting down.
>> 3. These Brown Shirts have been exposed for what they are, and the right-wing christianist fascists like Bauer
What you call 'facism' we call the right to free assembly and speech. Trust me, if GWB ever called for people to organize while in office, you would scream bloody murder. But when St. Obama does it, he's trying to ward off fanatics.
When more than half of the nation disapproves, perhaps you should re-evaluate your knee jerk accusation of 'fringe' and 'fanatic.' It's the Obama plan that is truly insane.

By: Louis

Louis — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 15:44:06 +0000

Typical sociopathic behavior from the lunatic right: blame the liberal demons for the very thing you are guilty of and refuse to accept any responsibility whatsoever for your own misbehavior. Thus, we witness organized mobs invading Democratic townhalls to shout down and generally intimidate the speakers and anyone else who wants a real discussion. These Brown Shirts have been exposed for what they are, and the right-wing christianist fascists like Bauer and daniel are trying to spin it to their own advantage. Sickening.