Nothing tests our commitment to the Constitution’s First Amendment principle of free speech than to be confronted by highly offensive speech from those with whom we strongly disagree.
So I guess it is only fitting that we now face such statements from right wing politicians and propagandists. How will we respond, given this solemn admonition?
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
In recent days, we’ve had Republican John Boehner suggest that the expenditure of $500 billion, 3,800 US troop deaths, 38,000 US wounded, hundreds of thousand of Iraqi casualties and massive destruction in Iraqi towns and cities will have been a “small price to pay” if only we can somehow claim victory over al Qaeda in Iraq. The First Amendment protects such statements absolutely, and we in turn are protected in expressing how outrageous we find Boehner’s judgment and views.
Now we have right wing radio propagandist Rush Limbaugh suggest that any US soldier in Iraq who believes the war was a mistake is a “phony soldier,” and thus someone who should be held in contempt, their views completely discounted.
Coming so soon after Congress voted twice to condemn a political organization for expressing an opinion in a newspaper, in a political debate about a general’s credibility, it is tempting to ask whether that same Congress will now consider a similar resolution condemning Rush Limbaugh, and indeed, any one else who might slander American soldiers in such an offensive and degrading manner. Surely Limbaugh’s comments deserve at least the degree of official condemnation Congress visited on MoveOn, don’t they?
The answer should be a resounding NO. Congress made an egregious error, showing utter contempt for the First Amendment, violating their oaths to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution, by officially censuring a political ad by a political organization. Those who voted for censure should themselves be censured by the public and media for seeking to intimidate the free exercise of political speech. As Jane so clearly stated, it’s Congress’ job to defend free speech. Indeed protecting America’s liberties such as free speech, and free press, and the right to petition the government — including the rights of those like Limbaugh who have never served and have no clue about what the First Amendment means — is one of the most legitimate reasons why we have armies and ask them to fight.
The needed remedy for Congress’ shameful actions last week is to rescind the resolutions they already passed. Contrary to the confused Senators who thought it would be politically shrewd only fair to also adopt a resolution condemning all criticisms of the military — e.g., those on Senators Kerry and Cleland as well as Petraeus — no resolution should ever have been offered or passed. And no such resolution should be considered for condemning Rush Limbaugh.
Like any veteran who has fought in America’s wars, I’m offended by Limbaugh’s odious statements and his ongoing disrepect for those who served in the military — but who happen to disagree with his narrow, right wing views. He deserves the strongest public criticism from us and others — but not from Congress.
The best way to deal with the likes of Limbaugh is to expose his offensive comments widely. I also support Jon Soltz’s plan to confront Limbaugh face to face, in public, on his own forum.
Finally, as Media Matters notes, just recently, members of the 82nd Airborne in Iraq wrote a New York Times op-ed, very critical of the course in Iraq, and suggesting it was time to figure out the exit strategy. Two of them just died. Will Rush call up their grieving parents and tell them that they should stop crying, because they were just “phony soldiers?”
Get the point here, Rush?
You weren’t just flat out wrong, you offended a majority of those of us who actually had the courage to go to Iraq and serve, while you sat back in your nice studio, coming up with crap like this.
My challenge to you, then, is to have me on the show and say all of this again, right to the face of someone who served in Iraq. I’ll come on any day, any time. Not only will I once again explain why your comments were so wrong, but I will completely school you on why your refusal to seek a way out of Iraq is only aiding al Qaeda and crippling American security.
Ball’s in your court.
General Wesley Clark thinks we should send Soltz’ challenge to Limbaugh. And President Clinton discusses the Republican hypocrisy about MoveOn’s ad with Anderson Cooper. Other reactions from Howie and others.
Related posts:
- Got a Question for Rush Limbaugh?
- Stark on the Hill: Will Pete King Denounce Rush Limbaugh?
- Late Night: RACISM ALERT!11! Rush Limbaugh Not Allowed to Own Football Team Because He Belongs to Oppressed Minority Class (i.e., Rich Screechy White Twits)
- RedState’s Erick Erickson Compares Rush Limbaugh to Jesus Christ
- Rush Limbaugh: Sotomayor is a Threat to Republicans’ Civil Rights
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morning all!
Good Morning, Scarecrow!
nice post- I like the high road
perfect scarecrow, thank you!
Caw, caw! Good morning Scarecrow.
Not surprised. When we camped out on the Mall in Operation Dewey Canyon III to try to bring that war to an end the Trickster said “these bums are obviously not veterans. If you had a peace sign decal on your car stateside you would get and Article 15. SOS. Oh yea, lest we forget, Jim Webb said “To be sure, Kerry deserves condemnation for his activities as the leader of Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW). In the early 1970s, this small organization — never more than 7,000 veterans out of a potential pool of 9 million — became the darling of the anti-war movement and the liberal media. Its activities went far beyond simply criticizing the politics of the war to repeatedly and dishonestly misrepresenting the service of Vietnam veterans and the positive feelings most felt after serving.”
Can’t wait for Limbaugh to have Soltz on!
You know, that anal cyst could have passed the induction physical if it weren’t for having Limbaugh attached to it.
oops!
Good Morning!
raven @ 6
wow.
I listen to Rush occasionally, for the same reason that TRex occasionally looks in on Malkin and her fellow travellers.
Stolz has a good idea. *g* A very good idea.
But he needs to bring a recording engineer with him, so as not to have his microphone cut off. Funny how that seems to happen to folks who disagree with Rush.
Oh, I get it now. Limpballs only supports the troops that agree with him!
selise @ 10
As usual, Scarecrow, you have tied up the right wing hypocracy into a neat little bundle and served it up with great links to the best voices on these interconnected topics. It is becoming more and more apparent to me that free speech in this country is defined only as the right of the Right to attack progressives, activists, liberals, gays, feminists, and minorities. When a member of one of those groups has the courage to speak out against the Right they are put down like rabid dogs. Liberal bias my ass.
Wonderful post, Scarecrow. THANK you. Dead on right about Congress, and their duty to defend free speech. Thank you also for mentioning Jon Soltz of http://www.votevets.org.
raven — remember well; you might want to remind folks about “article 15.”
Good morning everyone.
JoyB @ 15
If you want to support Soltz challenge, check out the link to General Wesley Clark — there’s a petition/letter you can send.
raven @ 13
not my hero.
i’m very grateful that he’s working hard to prevent an attack on iran, but it does seem his first loyalty is to the military hierarchy and that’s not ok with me.
Scarecrow,
You are the voice of reason, as always. I don’t know why we need to be reminded of the basics, but I guess we do, and it’s important to be reminded. It’s sort of like cooking. All the fancy recipes in the world won’t help you if you haven’t mastered the chef’s knife. First things first.
Scarecrow @ 16
Sorry, “Non-Judicial Punishment” sort of like a misdemeanor. In the Navy and Marines they call it “Captains Mast”. You could get them for all kinds of stuff, like puffing a bit (wink wink).
In spite of the tremendous desire we all feel to see Republicans in Congess squirm when they have to choose between criticizing Limbaugh and “supporting our troops”, I think you are right. There are unintended consequences to every action (witness MoveOn’s cash influx when Republicans made big stink last week).
It is just so ironic that Limbaugh avails himself of those first ammendment rights to spew such venom all of the time and he would seek to silence, and thus deny the first ammendment rights, any troop that uses those rights. You are right that we should defend the constitutional rights of all people, even those we dislike so much, but Congress should at least debate this again (even if no resolution is passed and if last week’s resolution is not withdrawn) to expose this issue (as well as the Republican hipocrisy).
Maybe a boycott campaign against Clear Channel is more appropriate – more specifically a write-in campaign to all advertisers demanding that Limbaugh be pulled or their prducts will be boycotted.
Great piece, scarecrow.
Speaking of phony soldiers.
Last week, I had the privilege of attending the graduation of 4 troops of Cavalry Scouts at the sprawling military complex in Fort Knox. One of the graduates was my son.
Prior to the graduation ceremony, we were shown a piece of DoD propaganda-cinema, which, naturally, linked the 9/11 attack to Iraq, where many of these great, brave kids, will be sent.
Phony soldiers ?
Hardly.
Someone has simply decided that they’re worth wasting in a shit mission.
biff diggerence @ 22
Congratulations!
John Kerry has an interesting thought (h/t TPM’s Greg Sargent):
I’m sure Dick Cheney will do just that, the next time he drops by.
biff diggerence @ 22
They have to keep up the charade, how else do they get the troopers to get on the fucking plane?
Best to your son.
biff diggerence @ 22
Congratulations. Wish him well. It’s a shame he has to answer to Commander in Chief Mission Accomplished. That was truly a phony soldier.
biff diggerence @ 22
Why am I surprised they are showing that kind of propaganda to this day?
Lawrence Kudlow
“The democratic platform is to round up all the rich people and send them to Burma”.
Thanks, all.
Frankly, I’m scared shitless for him.
((((biff diggerence))))
raven @ 28
You can’t make thus stuff up. If we can get a link, will make him famous. The right has gone completely crazy.
raven @ 13
When did Webb say this? Somehow, I think his views have evolved since the early 70’s.
Scarecrow @ 31
He’s on Mornin’ Joe and he just said it again.
Limbaugh is the one who has made millions lambasting the ACLU but during his troubles with the drug enforcement people, he could not wait to embrace them for their assistance. He has never answered as to how his drug abuse differs from that of Roger Clinton whom he criticized for the same practice. When he attempted to defend his ducking VN, he cited his 2S and then 4F status but it soon became apparent that he was conflating an ingrown anal hair with an anal fissure.
Most recently, his remarks about abu Gharib gave the US a black eye when his comments were broadcast in the ME. At that point, his defense was that he was not a journalist, but an entertainer.
No wonder he only has certain guests on his show; he is too slow afoot intellectually to defend himself against a reasonably competent adversary.
Scarecrow @ 31
Do you have a link to Kudlow’s comment? It wouldn’t suprise me in the least. Kudlow says a lot of stupid things.
Other known phonies:
25% that agree with Bush on Iraq – phony patriots
Limbaugh – phony idiot (that’s right he’s not even a real idiot)
Lieberman – phony senator
Petraeus – phony general
Craig – phony “not-gay”
Pelosi – phony speaker
Reid – phony majority leader
Mitch McConnell – phony minority leader
Republican Party – phony party
Most presidential candidates (both parties included and we could exempt Kucinich and perhaps Paul) – phonies period
Dick Cheney – phony excuse for a human
and finally,
Bush – phony president
Elliott @ 27
So which technique does the MSM not use?
((((biff diggerence & son)))) He’s on my prayer list, now.
It is so infuriatingly obvious (to those of us who pay attention) that the vote censuring MoveOn was actually about censuring anyone who criticizes the administration. Once again, they’ve used ‘criticizing the military’, ‘criticizing General Petraeus’ or ‘criticizing the troops’ when they mean ‘criticizing the administration’. The general in question represents the administration, not the troops; he sold them out so he could be the administration’s spokespuppet.
There’s not a snowball’s chance in hell that the same crew that insisted on censuring MoveOn will attempt to do the same for Limbaugh, even though many more listeners heard him than read the NYT ad. The dems who went along with it….well, I can’t even express my contempt for them. And you’re right, Scarecrow; I wouldn’t want them to censure Rush, but I do want them to rescend the censure of MoveOn.
When I wrote my comments to add to the boilerplate on the MoveOn e-mail to my senators & representative, I had to water down my anger, but here’s what I added:
Words cannot express my disgust with Congress. We the people want our troops home–yet you sentence them to the hell of Iraq and won’t support even letting them rotate back to the States for as much time as they are in Iraq. You give away our civil liberties like you were handing out Halloween candy. And then you censure MoveOn’s ad. Do you forget who MoveOn is? The organization represents people like myself who support the Constitution and all it stands for, AND supports the troops. What we have now is bipartisan idiocy in Congress. You can do better. If you had a son or daughter in Iraq, would you vote this way? It is the troops who gave the General his nickname….it wasn’t MoveOn. The Administration and Congress have colluded to destroy the Constitution, and now you tell the people–by censuring MoveOn–to shut up. We will speak loudly at the ballot box—loudly enough that the elections can’t be stolen again.
You can’t make thus stuff up. If we can get a link, will make him famous. The right has gone completely crazy.
Do you have a link to Kudlow’s comment? It wouldn’t suprise me in the least. Kudlow says a lot of stupid things.
I’m pretty sure MSNBC puts up the transcripts of the show.
Lawrence Kudlow
“The democratic platform is to round up all the rich people and send them to Burma”.
Why not, Larry ?
The labor is cheap as hell.
NYT and WP headline again with the incidents involving BlackwaterUSA on the 16th of Sep
twȝk @ 37
good point, tw3k
they’re experts
Emma – I like your letter.
My approach is to publish a full page ad in the major newspapers listing all the people with face time… congress critters, exec branch bloviators, news pundits, think tank bubble heads…talk show radio ranters
and next to their name… describe their military service.
America will be surprised by who did what when their country called.
((((biff diggerence and biff diggerence’s son))))
Um, Larry? There isn’t a “Burma” any more. It’s called Myanmar and if you watch the news these days, you can see what’s going to happen here when the Deciderer decides he doesn’t want to give up power to the next president and calls in his private Blackwater army…
In the eyes of Congress, the soldier chastised by the right-wing radio host is a nonperson and therefore not worthy of their attention. They are more likely to vote against what the soldier averred than they are against Limbaugh’s vomit.
I’m sorry, but it is not the rôle of Congress to uphold the amendments put forth by the anti-federalists. These amendments were meant to hold back the government. It is up to Congress and the other branches to respect the Bill of Rights, but they are not required to do so. It is up to the citizens to enforce the Bill of Rights in whatever way they see fit. Nonresistance is the most effective way. A revolutionary war is another. Of course, you could start with class action lawsuits.
People are free to speak their minds. But they must be prepared to take the consequences when others disagree or are offended.
People who have a radio show may lose advertisers if their views are too extreme. Radio and TV are free to fire people if their views are too extreme. So speech is free, but not without consequences.
We actually need more rough and tumble in politics, in the sense that people who speak out should be called on to explain or defend remarks. The press in particular should be doing a much better job of confronting people’s remarks. It’s wrong when the press seems to do that for some but not for others.
But the Congress has no business trying to police speech! End of story.
SanderO @ 44
here’s a starter list!
Memo
To: Left Blogistan
From: Lurker and occasional commenter Wilson
Subject: Snark term replacement
From now on all posters and commenters who have reason to use the “…call another blogger ethics panel” reference must replace that term with “… hold another Sense of the Senate vote.”
This is based on the new Senate function of managing press and advertising ethics that is the result of the unanimous consent repeal of the First Amendment.
Thank you for your attention to this. Management will continue to update you on other Bill of Rights changes as they occur.
Can I have a…
Remedy – Black Crowes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dbw98yWjR5s
Thanks, Scarecrow. I had to rewrite the first sentence several times because (sad to say) I was afraid someone would come knockin’ at my door if I said what I was thinking at the time. I figured the losers who represent me would throw me on some list that requires closer monitoring. (If that’s even possible these days.) Sometimes I don’t even recognize my country.
As I’ve said for ages, if I could add one required class to the school curriculum, it would be critical thinking. And I’d sure like to send democratic congresscritters to a class taught by Bill Clinton and David Schuster on the art of the verbal smackdown.
RE: Article 15 in the cases of “Forces afloat, a naval vessel is the one place where a US Citizen is NOT entitled to a trial by a jury of his peers. Everywhere else an individual may request a Courts martial in lieu of Nonjudicial punishment and they must grant that request, but onboard a ship it is entirely at the Captains discretion. Which makes any the accused’s guilt in the offense a matter of the Commanding Officer’s discretion, simply “I think you did it”. Case closed. If one is not too popular with the powers that be, well too bad…
So now you no why it is Non Judicial Punishment. We had a bunch of tickets printed up for the “Kangaroo Court” for when they charged a certain person with “Failure to prevent the presence of marijuana on a Naval Vessel.” Meaning it wasn’t his, but that he supposedly knew it was there. They denied this person’s request for a Court Martial after a lawyer specializing in military affairs assured him it would be laughed out of court.
Won’t say who that someone was but it cost him a pay grade and a months pay…
Thanks, Scarecrow, another great post.
Biff Diggerence: all the best to you and your son.
Demagogery is very easy, and a welcome distraction for Republicans who know they can’t face their constituents with the truth: they are supporting endless war, which will break our military. Their only goal is power sufficient to enrich themselves and their cronies.
It seems just a short step from the actions of Congress, of late, and the re-introduction of sedition laws. Perhaps Rahm will have built a Congress for that in the next round of elections with HRC in the oval office ready to sign off on such legislation.
Good morning scarecrow.Didn’t Mark Twain have something to say about his dumb old man gaining so much knowledge after he had grown up.All our old man’s who wrote the constitution seem smarter every day.There is no constitutional war only an illegal invasion that flunks the Nuremburg standard we so righteously held the German command to .Free press isn’t imbeded.U S attorneys are confirmed by the senate before they are installed and don’t even get me started on that clause about the DUTY of impeachment.We have the road map to follow let’s try it
But… but…. but….
Oh, you’re right. Why does taking the high road have to be so hard?
Wouldn’t it be easy and just feel so good (in the short run) to make a stink and demand the Senate censure Limbaugh?
But that’s why we’re the good guys, we don’t just submit to our whims, but stand on principle, even when it doesn’t seem quite “fair.”
Thanks for the reminder Scarecrow.
Won’t say who that someone was but it cost him a pay grade and a months pay…
Ha! I’ll bet it’s a lot harder to get on board these days!
raven @ 28
Works for me…
Why in the hell is impeachment off the table anyway?
raven @ 28
If so then. Let Kudlow be. The first to go. Burma Shave.
raven @ 58
That was back in the old days, I just thought if I was going I would ride there. In fact, I was on the ship that got the SS Mayaguez back, which was officially the last action of Vietnam conflict.
good morning, pups!
great post, scarecrow – love, love, love to see vets standing up to these bullies
and for the Constitution.
I hope this OT is not rude…seems inspiring on a cold, foggy morning.
If even the Burmese conscripts and generals can fight to defend civilians and freedom, we in America have the power to restore our Republic.
from Yangon Thu…thoughfully translated from the original Burmese post at Mizzima
[h/t to global voices online for link to above…and for the good news about the Burmese Army in Mandalay:]
27th Sept DVB news: Battalion #33 stands down in Mandalay.
and today…the Rangoon protests continue in the face of violence….
police stations burn….
and even the military cadets have turned on the junta:
Thank you for that post. I am pretty sure that U.S. government computers already listen in to all electronic communications. The U.S. government already employs tens of thousands of private soldiers who are paid huge salaries to kill more or less whoever they want to kill in Iraq. And now the Senate and the House deem it officially reprehensible to criticize a General and some also want it to be officially reprehensible to criticize anyone in the military past or present.
What would happen if America were to elect an authoritarian like Giuliani and then be attacked again by terrorists? I would be happy if Rush Limbaugh lost his job. I would be happy if Congress broke up the radio monopolies that give his such easy access to some many locations. But I do not think the Congress has any business, short of his advocating open violence on definable groups or individuals on the air (which he is probably capable of doing) telling him who he is not allowed to criticize.
There is an asymmetry here because he would not do the same for us, but we’ll just have to live with that.
Good Mornin’ all!
((((Biff Diggerence & son))))
Thanks for this excellent post, Scarecrow.
Limbaugh is an obnoxious venomous child. I truly admire the ‘high road’ too.
alank @ 55
Bingo. This is not just about “taking the high road.” It’s very dangerous for Congress to get in the habit of condemning speech, and you know there are a large group of authoritarian Congresscritters more than happy to make criticism of the war or the regime a crime.
And we watch troops beat and shoot monks in another country, because that regime thinks such laws are essential.
nonplussed @ 63
Were you on the Holt?
There is an asymmetry here because he would not do the same for us, but we’ll just have to live with that.
Yes, part of the price/benefits of free speech, depending on where you stand.
I would guess that, according to the fat radio drug addict, the blackwater thugs would be “real soldiers”. KEE-PHUK-ING-RYST
I was, and also the Robert H McCard, an old Destroyer.
I read the Harper’s piece suggesting a general strike until Congress starts impeachment hearings, and I favor that idea in principle.
However, so many people who work for corporations couldn’t risk their jobs to participate. One alternative mentined in that piece was for those who couldn’t participate to not buy anything during the duration of the strike. That got me thinking of an alternative:
Rather than an outright strike, we don’t buy anything from national chain stores (I don’t want to hurt local businesses) and if we buy from local businesses, we don’t buy products made by big corporations. If we hurt the big boys, maybe they’d get the message, and hey, they have lobbyists, and Congress listens to lobbyists but not voters.
If the big corporations saw blips in their daily sales figures, perhaps they would realize that their customers have a tiny bit of power and what we want is impeachment and we’d like it now. Maybe then the lobbyists would take our concerns to Congress. That would be irony in action.
From ThinkProgress
“Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki rejected a U.S. Senate proposal calling for the partitioning of Iraq. “Iraqis are eager for Iraq’s unity. … Dividing Iraq is a problem and a decision like that would be a catastrophe,” he said.”
Good try Mr. Biden. /s What now? How ’bout we get the fuck out, rebuild what we destroyed and let the Iraqis govern their country?
Caw! Caw!
Well said, Scarecrow. In the tradition of whichever founding fathers undertook the legal defense of British soldiers accused of the Boston Massacre simply because “every man deserves a competent defense”.
Minor quibble: I think we feel outraged, not outrageous, at LimpBalls. His comments were outrageous, which makes me feel outraged, anyway…
Morning all earlypups!
FunnyDiva
Watt4Bob @ 8
Ba-da-bump-bash!
nonplussed @ 71
Cool, my dad was on a real old destroyer, USS Crosby DD-164/APD 17. It was a WWI four piper that was converted after Pearl Harbor. Even though I was a dogface I grew up in a Navy family and am very interested in destroyers.
I shall exercise my First Amendment right to tell radio stations and advertisers why they no longer have me as a customer/listener.
much better link:
Mizzima in English: – breaking Burma news and analysis
(this ends my Burma intrusion).
Emma, I love your idea of using consumer purchases – 70% of the economy – to push for progressive goals.
entlord @ 34
In that case…”Ever have the feeling that you’ve been cheated?”
IMO, he’s neither scribe or showman…Rather, a mendacious rabblerouser pulled from the low-wattage announcer pool who never tires of flinging moldy meat to a al-yahoo base that never tires of having its own ignorant preconceptions of the world force-fed back to them.
A perfect loop of self-satisfied stupidity.
Prairie Sunshine @ 77
While you’re at it, tell them why you’ll be telling your friends about your decision also.
raven @ 76
Pick up The Last Stand of the Tin-Can Sailors if you haven’t read it already. The Battle of Leyte Gulf.
nonplussed @ 71
I love the picture on the McCard website that looks like it was shot through a periscope.
Agreed, Scarecrow. I understand what folks are trying to do but when government gets into the business of telling folks what to say it’s McCarthyism.
Enough with the language nannies.
AZ Matt @ 81
Actually it’s the Battle of Samar, s part of Leyte. Evan Thomas also wrote “Sea of Thunder” that is about two Japanese and two American officers and the battle. There is almost nothing I have read that is more chilling than the part where the sailors from the Johnston are in thew water after being sunk. The Japanese cruiser come toward them and they think they are going to machine gun them. Instead, the Japanese stand and salute the Americans in the water for their valor. That’s what this country used to be.
WaPo
More Gitmo detainees can get a lawyer.
Thanks, Kirk. I think it would be cool if we had a standard statement that everyone could print off from their computers, and even if we went to local stores, as we paid at the register we hand them the index-card sized notice that explains why we didn’t buy anything product from a large corporation that day. And we send that same message in an e-mail to the chain stores we will not be patronizing that day. Every day, over and over. The first sign we were successful would be the number of cars parked at the malls. (I hate shopping, but I’d even volunteer to go there and when there’s a noticeable drop-off in traffic count, alert the media. I don’t know if the idea has legs–as I said, I hate to shop, but a lot of people thrive on it as weekend entertainment.
How about a Sense of the Senate resolution in praise of The First Amendment, which is such a wonderful thing that Americans like Limbaugh is allowed to say (insert quote), that Boehner is allowed to say that soldiers’ lives are cheap, etc., with no fear, becfause America is a great place, in which any and all are allowed to publically be idiots?
p.s Springsteen live on Today show *now*
I just called my Rep’s office in DC. My Rep, Bart Stupak of Michigan, voted to condemn MoveOn.org, so I called his office. When I spoke to the young male page he lisened until I mentioned that Stupak could lose his job over this, to which he SNORTED into the phone and said, “Sir, if you have anything else further to add…” What a snotty b*tch! If you’re a Michigan resident, call Stupak’s office and give him hell for voting like a Republican!
Stupak’s DC Office:
(202) 225 4735
New Scarecrow thread.
Hillary Clinton’s Iran Vote
Hypocrisy knows no logical barriers.
In the quest to blame ‘others’ for their own Failures, and never accept responsibility, hypocrites will eventually blame the very people they claim to be helping – because they aren’t ‘measuring-up.’
So, in this case, Limbaugh is labeling Our Troops ‘Losers,’ if they can ’see’ for themselves that the Invasion and War was immoral and wrong – if they can see that, then they’re just Phony Soldiers.
Limbaugh expects the Troops to be as blindly Loyal to Bush as his Listenership is to him, or they’re Phonies.
Whom might he be calling Phony next?
Elliott @ 50
The batting average in this list is phenomenal. Who could have predicted that every single one of the absolute worst the GOP has to offer – did not serve or, in our president’s case, “phony served”.
Scarecrow @ 67
Yes, the intent of Congress may ultimately be to enforce respect of troops under orders to smote any sign of protest or resistance to gov’t policy.
Funnydiva2002 @ 74
Oops, an egregious error; we’ll fix. It was John Adams who defended the British soldiers.
I am in favor of someone in Congress expressing their outrage at the bullshit he spews and wish they would introduce a resolution condemning it.
It makes me sick.
Yes, he can say whatever he likes, and people in Congress also have the right to free speech – which includes the ability to express outrage at what is said on that man’s contemptible radio show.
Enough is enough.
Stand for something, Democrats.
A general strike of all workers except emergency workers and maybe health care workers is what I have been advocating for months.
Corporations are not going to fire staff they have trained who take a day off.
GENERAL STRIKE.
Expose the hypocrits
Take the road that leads to justice. You can’t go wrong.
Stop the madness.
term limits
public financing
fairness doctrine
break up monopolies
verified voting
Here’s what a neocon Bush/Sen. Susan Collins supporter (her blogger says it’s only the liberals who are vile online) said on my blog recently:
“# Noel Says:
September 26th, 2007 at 3:10 pm e
It is LIEBERALS who hate America! They agree with Iran’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (Aha-mina-nutjob)! They hail this tin-pot dictator from Iran as a hero because he hates Bush!! Oh, and he declare Iran has no faggot queers!! The liberal fags need to go to Iran so they can luuuuuuve one another and drop the “queer bomb” in Iran!!!”
This comment was tame. Believe me.
Scarecrow @ 93
Dood, you ROCK!
I assumed I was EPUd. Good ol’ John Adams…Never forget ol’ whatsisname. But I do remember the principle. It’s because of those men of principle that the Republic has lasted as long as it has. I hope it’s not past tense yet…
FunnyD
Expressing the sense of Congress that an artistic tribute to commemorate the speech given by President Ronald Reagan at the Brandenburg Gate on June 12, 1987, should be placed within… (Introduced in Senate)[S.CON.RES.1.IS]
If they can do stupid things like this for Reagan, they can condemn Limbaugh.
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that corporate owners of websites that share user-posted videos should take action to remove jihadi propaganda. (Introduced in House)[H.RES.224.IH]
See, it’s easy to promote censorship in Congress! Nothing to it!
Letter to Rep. Biggert (R-IL):
Rep. Biggert, I am sure you believe in the right of Free Speech. Why didn’t you stand up to protect that right? Why did you vote in favor of suppressing Freedom of Speech, regarding the criticism of Gen. Petraeus? I, you and MoveOn.org has the right to speak criticism of anyone else, person, organization, government official. People have fought and died for that right. Why did you disregard all of that with your vote? Do you intend to continue such voting?
Such good points Scarecrow. The American public continues to beg, demand, and cry out to congress to act responsibly, consistently and with integrity. The vote on the Move On add, the fact that the Webb Amendment did not pass, and the Kyl/Lieberman amendment passing tells us they are not listening. It also says loud and clear that there is a great deal of twisted and immoral thinking in congress.
Your point that they should either “rescind” their votes on the Move On add or apply the very same standards to the Swiftboat liars, Rush Limbaugh, Micheal Ledeen and others who rip on the military makes so much sense.
With this type of inconsistency and hypocrisy there is no need to wonder why the approval rating for congress is at 11%. They just do not seem to care what the American people think. A true sign of fascism.
I think that what you’re saying is that any government action against Free Speech is censorship; and I think that’s as illogical as saying that if it’s not the government suppressing speech, it isn’t censorship.
Okay, only the government has the power to arrest. However, no serious person is talking about arresting anyone. Just John McCain who mangles Beach Boys hits.
Which would you find scarier: the Cornyn resolution against MoveOn, or the Astroturf campaign against the Dixie Chicks using a report from a British leftist newspaper that the Country Music fans would have never heard of if not for Bushite opposition research?
How about a “Sense of the Senate” (like they have any lately) vote, AFFIRMING the first amendment.
e.g.; It is the sense of the Senate that the First Amendment to the Constitution disallows Senate participation in any legislation, non-binding or otherwise, that would abridge any rights of the people which are guaranteed under said First Amendment.
Make the bastards vote against free speech, yes?
Also the added bonus of having freedom of religion under the same clause, I would think.
Congress has turned into a bunch of homophonec(s) – to coin a word.
raven @ 20
I got two of those while in the Air Force … Nothing like a few drunken brawls to get the command in a tizzy … sheesh it was 1988, can’t a 21-year old get in a few drunken brawls every now and then?
damagedone @ 104
Homophone is a word … it means two words that are spelled differently but sound the same…. air and heir
Scarecrow @ 17
Thank you!
When discussing the “phony soldiers” comment from Limbaugh, please include Pat Tillman as on of those “phony soldiers”.
sorry, Pat Tillman (double L)
Judge Moonbox @ 102
This one completely baffles me, but I guess one response to a scarecrow is strawman arguments.
When government censures speech, it has a chilling, detrimental effect on everyone’s speech, whether or not anyone goes to jail.
As for non-governmental actions, nothing in the post condones bullying intimidation by others.
i don”t think it will make a difference, but it made me feel better. i sent an email senator feinstein and told her after her votes on the move-on business and the iran authorization she does not represent anything i stand for. i have been a democrat for over 40 years and my family has fought for this country since the war of 1812, just like thousands of other families.
There are no circumstances, ever, under which it is even remotely acceptable for the Congress to censure anyone for exercising their right of free speech. Individual Congresscritters can say whatever they want, personally. But using the official voice of the Congress is simply beyond the pale. It is representative of just how far down the path towards being a police state we’ve gone.
This is the sort of thing the governements of Nazi Germany and Stalinist Russia did. It has no place in America.
humboldtblue @ 106
Thanks, I know. Going for a one-liner, there. Maybe I should have defined the word -that is ok at least in academia. But on the other hand if you have to explain attempts at humor – it sort of kills it. Trying to suggest Congress has a fear of words that sound a-like thus the Betray-us condemnation but probably no condemnation of Limbaugh. Maybe, homophonexia would be a better made-up word.