The "all-or-nothing" mentality of the anti-government right is on full display this week. Given the complete incoherence of their talking points (regardless of whether they were bused in by lobbyists or not), it's clear that these people:
1. have no idea what is actually being debated in Washington viz-a-viz health care reform;
2. are not actually debating health care reform, but something broader and less tangible--they would probably liken it to authoritarian statism (if they had the vocabulary) but will probably just refer to it as the "commie takeover" being "shoved down our throats" (they really do like the throat-shoving metaphor ... perhaps we need a drinking game) ; and
3. are NOT interested in their First Amendment rights ... which protect *expression*, not disruption.
Seems that Legal Insurrection's William Jacobsen has taken offense to my characterization of the Town Hall Blitz movement as a "war".So screams left-wing blogger Zandar feeding off of the frenzied writings of Washington Post columnist Steven Pearlstein, who declared health care protesters "political terrorists." To make sure we didn't miss the point, Zandar put the words in bold type. The blog is Zandar Versus the Stupid. If ever there were an ironic blog name, that is it.My reponse: Greetings. Zandar here.
You took my words out of context, sir. When I wrote this morning "So, they've gone into Town Hall Blitz mode. The country is already a poorer place for it. They've tapped into Obama Derangement Syndrome for a toxic boost of raw energy. They're willing to take any and every risk to win. They have to. I dont think the Democrats quite understand it yet (some do), but more and more people are coming around to this fact. It's war."
The "they" I was talking about was the astroturfing tea party movement disruptors, and the Republican Party. That is the side that has declared a "war". As I have said, I believe the conservative side considers defeating this measure an existential battle. Remember the comments of Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC), who called health care reform "Obama's Waterloo" and said the goal was to "break him."
That, and other statements like it, was the declaration of war I was referring to.
Even you have to admit that if the Democrats are able to pass a robust health care reform bill with 99% of the Republican Party opposing it, the millions of people the bill does help will not be inclined towards voting Republican, yes?
3 Comments
Close this window Jump to comment formNice takedown of Colonel Mustard!
(I call him that because he started that whole Dijon-mustard nontroversy.)
August 7, 2009 at 9:28 PM
PFFFFFFT
Him? Well, damn, does this mean you're moving on up, Zandar? That's pretty cool.
August 7, 2009 at 10:56 PM
The "all-or-nothing" mentality of the anti-government right is on full display this week. Given the complete incoherence of their talking points (regardless of whether they were bused in by lobbyists or not), it's clear that these people:
1. have no idea what is actually being debated in Washington viz-a-viz health care reform;
2. are not actually debating health care reform, but something broader and less tangible--they would probably liken it to authoritarian statism (if they had the vocabulary) but will probably just refer to it as the "commie takeover" being "shoved down our throats" (they really do like the throat-shoving metaphor ... perhaps we need a drinking game) ; and
3. are NOT interested in their First Amendment rights ... which protect *expression*, not disruption.
Great job Zander. Stick it to the stupid
C. Walker
http://postboomer.blogspot.com
August 8, 2009 at 12:54 PM