GOP "Changing the Tone" To Violence

[Jon8503]

From: David Sirota on his blog:

Here's a new chapter in the GOP's increasingly frightening use of violent language to intimidate its political opponents...

Some background first: A few weeks back, I traced a brief history of how the GOP is infusing its rhetoric with thinly-veiled threats of violence. The post was in response to House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX) threatening judges with retribution for their ruling in the Terry Schiavo affair. Delay said, "The time will come for the men responsible for this to answer for their behavior."

In case you thought that wasn't a threat, Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) subsequently took to the Senate floor to justify physical attacks on judges (this came just a few weeks after a federal judge's family was murdered).

Which brings us to this weekend, and back to DeLay. Facing more and more corruption/ethics questions, DeLay told the National Rifle Association this weekend that he wasn't worried. "I feel really good," he told the group, because "when a man is in trouble or in a good fight, you want to have your friends around, preferably armed."

http://www.davidsirota.com/2005/04/gop-changing-tone-to-violence.html

[BOSSHOG]

1. And "christians" being told from the pulpit

to hate homosexuals and support any efforts to "remove" liberal judges. This from the god fearing and life lovers amongst us.

The very sad irony of all this is that if these american "citizens" succeed in their goal to destroy the constitution, they will suffer just as much as anyone else. They are sick people who would benefit from disconnecting themselves from their hate sustaining sources.

Thanks for the post.

[thecai]

25. Christ Didn't Teach That

Don't judge God by the hypocrites you see and hear. I can't even call those people Christians.

[carnie_sf]

26. They're not Christians

they're Pharisees

[aquart]

2. So ask, Who are you fighting with guns, Mr. DeLay?

Who do you think should be killed, Mr. DeLay?

If they use violent language, force specifics. Ask who is on the list.

[Jon8503]

3. I really believe these guys will self destruct and the sooner the

better for all the world.

[agincourt]

4. I still think liberals need ,

their own version of the NRA, and this reinforces it.

[ClintonTyree]

5. Both the NRA and DeLay are marginalizing themselves...

with this type of rhetoric. Normal, level headed Americans of both Parties can see that this testosterone fed hate and retaliation frenzy has reached it's pinnacle. There's nowhere but DOWN for both the NRA and DeLay after a spectacle such as this.

They've come to the point where they're doing more harm than good for their cause when they stoop to idiotic, macho bullshit like this. They appear (rightly so) as fools, and are painting a strict line that the more sane gun owners will never cross. As a mighty wave, they've crested and now they'll ebb back into oblivion.

Keep crowing you morans, you distance yourself further and further from regular Americans with each inane word you speak.

[stevedeshazer]

7. I hope you're right

Unfortunately, I think this is only the beginning. :(

[tubbacheez]

12. I agree.

I've come to accept a certain amount of saber-rattling as par for the course in politics. But just because a little rattling has some effect doesn't mean a lot will do anything more.

This antisocial hype doesn't advance human civilization one iota.

[Bozita]

6. Tom Delay's NRA speech -- replay Monday at 11:30am EDT

schedule:

http://www.620kpoj.com/listen/index.php

[Gman]

8. They are sending out the message to defend the right wing coup of 2000

by violence if necessary. Any means necessary including violence. These are actually a call to arms. We are in civil war, literally.

[merbex]

14. My prediction: just as in the Civil War the reactionary right wing

will be the ones to fire the first shot.

If it comes to that

I pray not

[Bake]

30. And THAT will be the pinnacle

We're not there yet. Although we may not be far from it.

Bake

[confludemocrat]

9. To call these people Nazis is never not appropriate (N/T)

[UCLA Dem]

10. Like I've been saying, he's flipped his switch...

:crazy:

[Q]

11. I started a thread on the same subject...

...sorry...didn't see this thread.

But you make a very important point. Bush and DeLay are feeling the heat and they're sending signals to their frothing fans in the NRA and Religious Right that they may have to resort to violence against the 'heathen' liberals.

It's only the beginning in a culture of 'win by any means'.

[ClintonTyree]

18. You mean, "The Culture of Life", correct ?

This meshes well with their insipid "culture of life" mantra, doesn't it? :eyes:

"Culture of life as we define it", would be more accurate. :puke:

[gordianot]

13. Just not enough vigilantism to go around.

My son frequents a local gun store. He told me last week that proprietor of this establishment had taken down certain political posters as well as the picture of Chimpy. They were so angry it is reported they quit playing Rush on the radio. Explained to my son why they took them down (actually he did not notice or ask) WHY? It seems there is not enough government support for the Minutemen. These idiots are honestly upset. Sounds like DeLay is shoring up the base providing a new target.

[bklyncowgirl]

15. Tom DeLay, the gift that keeps on giving. nt

[Melynn]

16. Delay and nut-wingers are trying to provoke the fringe

Delay, Dobson and Cornyn are trying to provoke the Freeper fringe into attacking judges in order to intimidated the judiciary.

Notice that Eric Rudolph didn't get the death penalty. Now what kind of message those that send out? That it is alright to commit terrorism as long as your white, rightwing and Christian.

We are in a civil war indeed. And the other side isn't taking prisoners.

[ClintonTyree]

20. After he experiences life in prison....

he'll WISH he'd asked for the death penalty. A nice, fresh, child and mother killing white boy like him is going to be the butt (intended) of many jokes and the object of affection for many other lifers.
I wouldn't be surprised if he gets snuffed in prison. There's always someone looking to "up their rep" in the prison system.
He'll either be, or wish he were dead.

[NVMojo]

17. I guess I'd better head down to the local gun shop and buy me some

wild west per-tec-sion!!!!

I must add that I live in a town where most folk have guns in their trucks, concealed weapons or not!!!

[leftofthedial]

19. they are fascist brownshirt thugs

and always have been

now that they have virtually absolute power, they are lowering the facade of civility

[Mr_Spock]

21. They are losing their grip - a reaction.

Just like the nit-wit redneck at work who decided to send all us "liberals" some RW trash about religion in our courthouses, so is DeLay realizing his loss of momentum, and thus power. You can only influence people in this country so much with the threat of violence - then it's put up or shut-up time. Since they can't put up - they had better shut up - and quick before somebody gets hurt.

[Frederik]

22. SturmAbteilung

[struggle4progress]

23. There's no question that the collection of extremists ...

... who have launched an attack against basic rights such as habeas corpus and the right to trial by jury, who have practiced kidnapping and torture and put individuals who support such practices onto the federal bench and into the Attorney General's office, who want a death-squad technician to oversee "National Intelligence," who have funded decades of hate-radio and hate-literature (and who could possibly forget the viciousness of Cheney on Limbaugh's show?) -- all under the same pious claim of defending "Christianity" familiar from the heydays of the KKK -- there is absolutely no question that these extremists HAVE BEEN and CONTINUE TO excite their troops with calls to violence.

Don't fail to take them seriously. After WWII, a lot of Germans said, "We didn't think the Nazis meant it. We didn't think they would actually do what they said." But by then, of course, it was too late.

[Hebegirl]

24. Self-Defense

I hope WE have enough troops at the ready-- for self-defense!! I hope it doesn't come to blows, but... Duh-Lay and co. are inciting it.

[struggle4progress]

29. Much more than self-defense is required. People need to think ...

... carefully about politics, and the development of power, in everyday life.

[colonel odis]

27. the righties would be very ill-advised to escalate things to violence.

because if we're the lowlife, wild-eyed freaks we think they are, we could kick the crap out of them before they could even call for daddy.

[DeathToEgo]

28. har

"The time will come for the men responsible for this to answer for their behavior."

He's probably referring to God's post-death Judgment of these men. No, he probably isn't threatening them with nukes. At any rate, I guess it's important not to underestimate the "limp-wristed left" as an effective check and balance. We'll cry foul at anything!






(Queue the consequent freak-out: "omg ur 1 of them! ur a republicrat!!1)
Sorry if I hurt your pride, which happens to be one of mankind's worst traits!

[chomskysright]

31. FLATTEN FRIST: # 1 in a continuing series....talking points...

Frist DISENGENOUS MANIPULATOR

: flatters the Religious right with his attentions to matters outside his expertise:

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/041705D.shtml

In a private letter to Frist, NEWSWEEK has learned, 31 of the 165 members of his medical-school class accused him of using his medical degree improperly. Frist's office declined to comment; according to public records, at least 13 of the 31 had donated money to Democrats in the last five years. Still, Dr. Lewis Rose, an oncologist who said he voted for Bush last year, insisted Frist had overstepped. "He had no right to use the cloak of the Hippocratic oath, no matter who was right," Rose told NEWSWEEK. "He's got medical training and a medical perspective, but he is not a practicing physician and has no business using that in politics. Period. If he does, he won't get any of his classmates' votes who signed this."


Frist: THE DIVIDER:

Frist Likely to Push for Ban on Filibusters
Failure Risks Conservatives' Ire; Success May Prompt Legislative Stalemate
By Charles Babington
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, April 15, 2005; Page A04


Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist is all but certain to press for a rule change that would ban filibusters of judicial nominations in the next few weeks, despite misgivings by some of his fellow Republicans and a possible Democratic backlash that could paralyze the chamber, close associates said yesterday.
The strategy carries significant risks for the Tennessee Republican, who is weighing a 2008 presidential bid. It could embroil the Senate in a bitter stalemate that would complicate passage of President Bush's agenda and raise questions about Frist's leadership capabilities.....
Santorum and Allen, meanwhile, are pressing Frist to act. "We've got to go for it, call their bluff," Allen said in an interview. In talking with Frist, he said, "I've been prodding, goading, encouraging such action. I think we need to move sooner rather than later."