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Monday, November 14, 2011
Okay, I'm lost...
So, we've gone from Dubya to the election of Barry O. to the Tea Party movement to the #OCCUPY_$PLACE movement, and I just can't remember anymore: Is dissent patriotic this week or not?
Dissent directed at Republicans, conservatives, libertarians, Wall Street, and "The Man" is patriotic.
Opposition to Obama, for any reason whatsoever, remains racist and verboten. [If you're White and liberal, though, it's cool if you refer to Herman Cain as an "Uncle Tom".]
Dissent against the federal government or against federal taxation is still unpatriotic.
Oh, and dissenting from the mainstream media narrative on any issue constitutes "censorship".
"Dissent directed at Republicans, conservatives, libertarians, Wall Street, and "The Man" is patriotic."
For the moment, until Team Red gets the ball again. Then only criticism directed against Team Blue is patriotic.
Regarding #occupy, I drove from NC to MA this weekend and found much to my dismay that the Occupy The Left Lane types are as ubiquitous as ever on I-95. Rats.
11 years ago, they told us that George W. Bush was the "least qualified candidate to ever run for President"; three years ago they foisted Barack "Voted Present" Obama on us.
They scoffed at Bush's "nuc-u-lar" pronunciation and dismissed him as a chimp; Barack calls Marines corpse-men and that's just him being tired.
George Bush's two wars were American Imperialism, or "Blood for oil", or some sinister plot to enrich Halliburton. Obama's four (five? I've lost count) wars are simply America helping noble rebels overthrow vicious regimes.
We really need a playbook to help us identify which hairless ape we're supposed to be rooting for now...
The organs of the body got into a discussion, of which was the more important of the group.
The Eyes claimed, "If it weren't for us, you couldn't see to go from here to there."
The Brain responded, "If I didn't combine your inputs with what I remember and the problems I can solve, you wouldn't have anywhere to go."
The Liver said, "If you are going to keep going, you keep eating -- and I enable that digestion for fuel. Without me you would all dwindle away."
The Rectum just clamped shut. And waited.
Tam, the #OCCUPY_$PLACE stuff is the Rectum of Democracy. They aren't really dissenting so much as boosting campaign points for Barry O. #OP folk are sucking up too much establishment money for support, gain, and transport to be credible about their dissent. And they are plain ignorant about where the problems lie; bankers cannot exploit anyone without the government urging them on.
At least their mentors, the anti-Vietnam War protests, knew the government was the problem.
The Tea Party is actually dissenting, they are unhappy with the leadership of the Republican party, and with the drift away from rule by law and sound policies (fiscal and otherwise), of the current state of American government. That policy dispute is a meaningful form of dissent.
As for electing Presidents, this is simple politics.
See, to get elected you can be a politician, invent an "enemy" like maybe the opponent or what the opponent wants to do, then invent the "cure" or defense against that enemy, and convince the voters that you are dedicated to defeating that nasty enemy, if only they put you in power.
Some people used actual problems, and actually dedicated their efforts to the good of the nation. Reagan comes to mind. Others focused on re-election to the detriment of the business of being President. Nixon and, ahem, others come to mind.
Honest dissent is always patriotic, the question becomes how to determine who is honest. For me, the willingness to have an open discussion of the facts without trying to shout down the opposition, if you know the facts there is no reason to yell, is a good indication of at least good intentions. The other prerequisite is willingness to change your mind if faced with insurmountable facts. Given those two conditions dissent is patriotic.
Depends if it's a bunch of commies doing the dissenting. That makes a handy starting place for making up one's mind, I think--I've never noticed that Leftists devote themselves to arguing in good faith.
There might be exceptions, but I maintain that it's a good rule of thumb.
Well, it looks like the Astroturf + useful idiots at #occupy bare starting to wear out their welcome hither and yon.
I suspect the rapes, murders, muggings, knifings, defecation, etc, not to mention the over-the-top stupid started to stink up the place too much for the MSM to cover up.
They are about to go the way of the all the other lefty astro-turf bowel movements like "coffee party" et al.
'cept this time, I think the police and sanitation workers are actually going to enjoy their jobs.
Hell, in Trashville, they passed a shiny new curfew to keep the Bogus Army from sleeping in Legislative Plaza, & some leftist judge invalidated it. I hear from reliable sources that you can smell urine from a couple of blocks away (and as Dave Barry says, "I'm not making this up.") wv = "gamin." Alex, I'd like to buy a vowel--or maybe I can figure this out all on my own.
Dissent directed at Republicans, conservatives, libertarians, Wall Street, and "The Man" is patriotic.
ReplyDeleteOpposition to Obama, for any reason whatsoever, remains racist and verboten. [If you're White and liberal, though, it's cool if you refer to Herman Cain as an "Uncle Tom".]
Dissent against the federal government or against federal taxation is still unpatriotic.
Oh, and dissenting from the mainstream media narrative on any issue constitutes "censorship".
Got it?
http://i41.tinypic.com/70kih1.png
ReplyDelete"Dissent directed at Republicans, conservatives, libertarians, Wall Street, and "The Man" is patriotic."
ReplyDeleteFor the moment, until Team Red gets the ball again. Then only criticism directed against Team Blue is patriotic.
Regarding #occupy, I drove from NC to MA this weekend and found much to my dismay that the Occupy The Left Lane types are as ubiquitous as ever on I-95. Rats.
This week? No. Next week, Yes. Unless something happens, then who knows?
ReplyDeleteThank you, Tam. I was confused, too.
ReplyDelete11 years ago, they told us that George W. Bush was the "least qualified candidate to ever run for President"; three years ago they foisted Barack "Voted Present" Obama on us.
They scoffed at Bush's "nuc-u-lar" pronunciation and dismissed him as a chimp; Barack calls Marines corpse-men and that's just him being tired.
George Bush's two wars were American Imperialism, or "Blood for oil", or some sinister plot to enrich Halliburton. Obama's four (five? I've lost count) wars are simply America helping noble rebels overthrow vicious regimes.
We really need a playbook to help us identify which hairless ape we're supposed to be rooting for now...
Although now that I think about it, Team Red hates libertarians as much as Team Blue does, so I suppose bashing them is always considered patriotic...
ReplyDeleteUnder the last regime, dissent was tantamount to treason.
ReplyDeleteUnder this regime, dissent is tantamount to racism.
The hell of it is, the mainstream media seems to think racism is worse than treason.
Do you even have a permit to ask that question, Citizen?
ReplyDeleteMaybe we need a dissent advisory color code to let us know when it's patriotic to dissent.
ReplyDelete"Maybe we need a dissent advisory color code to let us know when it's patriotic to dissent."
ReplyDelete...and there's the internets for today, folks.
Freindster John reports clergy being arrested in Oakland. I would say hiding behind clerics almost qualifies them for enemy combatant status.
ReplyDeleteTam,
ReplyDeleteThe story goes:
The organs of the body got into a discussion, of which was the more important of the group.
The Eyes claimed, "If it weren't for us, you couldn't see to go from here to there."
The Brain responded, "If I didn't combine your inputs with what I remember and the problems I can solve, you wouldn't have anywhere to go."
The Liver said, "If you are going to keep going, you keep eating -- and I enable that digestion for fuel. Without me you would all dwindle away."
The Rectum just clamped shut. And waited.
Tam, the #OCCUPY_$PLACE stuff is the Rectum of Democracy. They aren't really dissenting so much as boosting campaign points for Barry O. #OP folk are sucking up too much establishment money for support, gain, and transport to be credible about their dissent. And they are plain ignorant about where the problems lie; bankers cannot exploit anyone without the government urging them on.
At least their mentors, the anti-Vietnam War protests, knew the government was the problem.
The Tea Party is actually dissenting, they are unhappy with the leadership of the Republican party, and with the drift away from rule by law and sound policies (fiscal and otherwise), of the current state of American government. That policy dispute is a meaningful form of dissent.
As for electing Presidents, this is simple politics.
See, to get elected you can be a politician, invent an "enemy" like maybe the opponent or what the opponent wants to do, then invent the "cure" or defense against that enemy, and convince the voters that you are dedicated to defeating that nasty enemy, if only they put you in power.
Some people used actual problems, and actually dedicated their efforts to the good of the nation. Reagan comes to mind. Others focused on re-election to the detriment of the business of being President. Nixon and, ahem, others come to mind.
I'll agree with Anon... sigh
ReplyDeleteHonest dissent is always patriotic, the question becomes how to determine who is honest. For me, the willingness to have an open discussion of the facts without trying to shout down the opposition, if you know the facts there is no reason to yell, is a good indication of at least good intentions. The other prerequisite is willingness to change your mind if faced with insurmountable facts. Given those two conditions dissent is patriotic.
ReplyDeleteDepends if it's a bunch of commies doing the dissenting. That makes a handy starting place for making up one's mind, I think--I've never noticed that Leftists devote themselves to arguing in good faith.
ReplyDeleteThere might be exceptions, but I maintain that it's a good rule of thumb.
Mike James
Obama's still in power. Dissent is still treason.
ReplyDeleteLeft wing dissent is patriotic.
ReplyDeleteRight wing dissent is treason.
Duh.
Well, it looks like the Astroturf + useful idiots at #occupy bare starting to wear out their welcome hither and yon.
ReplyDeleteI suspect the rapes, murders, muggings, knifings, defecation, etc, not to mention the over-the-top stupid started to stink up the place too much for the MSM to cover up.
They are about to go the way of the all the other lefty astro-turf bowel movements like "coffee party" et al.
'cept this time, I think the police and sanitation workers are actually going to enjoy their jobs.
No way in hell the sanitation workers enjoy this job.
ReplyDeleteMike James
Hell, in Trashville, they passed a shiny new curfew to keep the Bogus Army from sleeping in Legislative Plaza, & some leftist judge invalidated it.
ReplyDeleteI hear from reliable sources that you can smell urine from a couple of blocks away (and as Dave Barry says, "I'm not making this up.")
wv = "gamin." Alex, I'd like to buy a vowel--or maybe I can figure this out all on my own.