Profiles In Courage... Lefty Courage, That Is

Oooh, the Kewl Kids are talking about me.  John Cole is droll:

Via Sullivan, this Tom Maguire quote about the benign DHS report:

Uh huh – the problem with this DHS study is not that they are threatening extra-Constitutional surveillance and interrogation of people; it is that they are coming very close to attempting to criminalize non-violent political dissent. That is deeply problematic even if they do it with all the proper warrants.

The last time we went down this “criminalization of dissent” road, it was the defense trotted out during the DOJ hiring affair. Before that, it was reeled out to defend the US attorney firings. And before that, it was during the Valerie Plame affair. I’m prepared to call bullshit.

He's prepared to call "bullshit", but not to my face - what's missing in his response to my argument is any link at all to me.  He's a bold one!  Fortunately, my spies are everywhere...

Let's see what else Cole typed before de-activating the Auto-Parody feature on his keyboard:

The DHS report does nothing of the sort- it isn’t criminalizing dissent, it is merely pointing out what we all know to be true- in this time of economic unease and with the ascent of an African-American President, right-wing extremism is something we should be concerned about.

Uh huh.  Including veterans, pro-lifers, and folks with concerns about illegal immigration?  Let's hear from Bennie Thompson, Democratic chair of the House Homeland Security Committee:

Rep. Bennie G. Thompson of Mississippi, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, said in a letter to DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano that he was "dumbfounded" such a report would be issued.

"This report appears to raise significant issues involving the privacy and civil liberties of many Americans including war veterans," Mr. Thompson said in the letter sent Tuesday.

"As I am certain you agree, freedom of association and freedom of speech are guaranteed to all Americans whether a person's beliefs, whatever their political orientation, are 'extremist' or not," Mr. Thompson said.

The report "blurred the line," and Mr. Thompson said he is "disappointed and surprised that the department would allow this report to be disseminated" to law enforcement officials nationwide.

And here is Atrios, who apparently is still blogging:

I'm so old I can remember when everyone would tell me that Tom Maguire was a "reasonable conservative."

That old?   I feel bad for the guy.  But advancing age has it compensations - evidently I have morphed into a black Democrat.

Comments

[PeterUK]

"And it ignores the fact that 20,000+ jihadists went to train in Al Qaeda terror camps during the Clinton years, after we'd fought and died for Muslims in Quwait, Saudi Arabia, and Somalia, sided with them against Serbia in Bosnia and Kosovo, and supported them in Chechnya."

Worth remembering that those good deeds earned 9/11 for America and 7/7 for Britain.
The only way the left can handle the this existential threat is the herd of Wildbeeste mentality.Keep chewing the grass and forget about those who disasppea in the night.

[Fresh Air]

O is building quite a reputation as a bully who nurtures grievances.

Pathological narcissist:

Feels that he is above the law, incl. and especially his own laws.

- Talks about himself in the 3rd person singluar or uses the regal "we" and craves to be the exclsuive center of attention, even adulation

- Has a messianic-cosmic vision of himself and his life and his "mission".

- Sets ever more complex rules in a convoluted world of grandiose fantasies with its own language (jargon)

- Displays false modesty and unctuous "folksiness" but unable to sustain these behaviors (the persona, or mask) for long. It slips and the true Obama is revealed: haughty, aloof, distant, and disdainful of simple folk and their lives.

- Sublimates aggression and holds grudges.

- Behaves as an eternal adolescent (e.g., his choice of language, youthful image he projects, demands indulgence and feels entitled to special treatment, even though his objective accomplishments do not justify it)

[glasater]

A very irreverent twitter site on the POTUS.

[Fresh Air]

From the link above:

...when a narcissist becomes the focus of unlimited narcissistic supply, where millions of people scream at his feet, he goes insane.
As narcissism maturates, the narcissist becomes more demanding for respect and compliance and more intolerant of criticism. He becomes paranoid, and divides the world into “us” vs. “them”. He casts himself and his minions as victims and instills in them the distrust of the “others”.

Col. Kurtz, anyone?

[PD]

Ever notice how often Obama begins a sentence with "I understand that ..."

Someone who understands stuff shouldn't need to assert it so repeatedly. People can just tell.

[Captain Hate]

I've never seen any evidence that Bammers understands anything other than what it feels like to be abandoned by both parents. Maybe one of the trolls can do something useful for once in its miserable excuse for a life and get us his transcripts....

[k2isnothome]

You folks here really are scary. The DHS report was initiated and completed under the Bush Administration.
Do you just not get it?
I'm a veteran and a liberal and I'm not brainwashed. The most sickening day of my life was the Oklahoma City bombing by a veteran.
Get out and get some fresh air. This room is oxygen deprived.

[PD]

Do you just not get it?

Sure, we get it. Ever heard of reading the previous comments on a thread, on the off chance that your points, such as they are, might have already been addressed?

[Neil S]

I'm so old I remember when it was cool to Question Authority, rather than bow down before it.

[Fresh Air]

k2--

Since we are crazy, we obviously can't be helped. It was nice meeting you.

[Captain Hate]

I'm a veteran and a liberal and I'm not brainwashed. The most sickening day of my life was the Oklahoma City bombing by a veteran.

Worse than 9/11? I'm calling bullshit on your entire comment. On the 1% chance that you're telling the truth: Go fuck yourself.

[PeterUK]

"I'm a veteran and a liberal and I'm not brainwashed."

Yes,and Obama is the "Wind Between Your Ears".

[jblog]

It's the old "my protest is dissent, your protest is dangerous" switcheroo.

Actually, I'm kind of sorry for them in a way. For eight years these folks have been ranging against the machine. And then one day they woke up to discover they ARE the machine.

Sucks to be them.

[verner]

So here's something to ponder for the left-wing civil libertarians.

Since the first line of the report states that there is no evidence (as in absolutely no probable cause) And no specific groups are mentioned, and the DHS issues the report to aid Law enforcement, what the hell is law enforcement suppose to do with it?

Infiltrate the Knights of Columbus? The VFW? The NRA? Tea Parties? Ron Paul Rallies?

Who defines "extremist" in America? Janet Napolitano? The local sherrif? The cop on the beat?

And why is "African-American" president so important? If Michael Steele was the prez, would they be issuing this report using that language?

At least the wire tappings had a stated purpose and goal, and addressed an actual grave security threat. What known threat does the DHS paper address?

[PeterUK]

Captain,
They are all veterans,Christians,liberals,shocked and sickened,all this before they sprout pubic hair!

[verner]

They are all veterans,Christians,liberals,shocked and sickened,all this before they sprout pubic hair!

I would add, before their testicles drop--but since they don't have any...

[Captain Hate]

Yeah I'm still trying to figure out what these periodic troll infestations are a sign of; not that the feeble minded can be expected to adhere to what we would consider "normal behavior".

[PeterUK]

Captain,
The Great Celestial Crapper flushes and there they are,the zombie army of the inconsequential.

[Captain Hate]

Thanks for the laugh PUK; it almost counterbalances how depressed I get when I read what the trolls write, and how pleased they are with such tripe.

[megapotamus]

On the DHS thing, really I'm quite glad it happened. Most non-political people, which is most people, hear these terms and know they are supposed to react a certain way but know nothing of the substance. Now Barry has declared openly who is the enemy and it is us. Even a dunderhead like McCain can not miss it. These skunks are playing for keeps. Deal with it.

[PeterUK]

Captain ,
Why get depressed? I get great satisfaction that in future they will only have each other and the master that bought them on the slave block.

[Dave]

PD - This type of person finds the idea of serving our country in the military completely incomprehensible (if not reprehensible) and concludes that anyone who does so must have been tricked into it and is thus a dupe.

So halp me, I thought that was only a botched joke.

[Roderick Reilly]

Hey, a "domestic terrorist" made it onto the FBI list. Trouble is, he's a leftard animal rights looney.

Figures, since the DHS report appeared to be totally unsubstantiated, they couldn't find a rightie to put on the list.

[submandave]

bvac: The thing that seems to escape so many, including you, is that even "right-wing" boogey-men like McVeigh are largely lone-gunman wackos with maybe one or two accomplices. There is no organized and financed "right-wing" group planning and executing violent actions. Even the anti-abortion extremists that are so often cited fall into the individual psychotic criminal category. And while they are bad people, they simply are not the sort of existential threat that requires the attention of DHS.

The association of pro-life or pro-second amendment sentiments or veteran status with violent extremists is like putting all local humane society volunteers on a watch list because of possibel recritment into ELF or ALF.

[Sue]

The difference between right wing extremists and left wing extremists is no one on the right is putting up monuments of McVeigh. Nor or we wearing his t-shirt. In fact, we petitioned loudly for his execution. One word. Che.

[fdcol63]

Heck, I didn't even see a news report of a Klan rally during the Obama media orgy this past election.

I'm sure I would have, if there'd been one.

[Squid]

I can't go a single day without bumping into a Democrat advocating violent overthrow of the government, or turn on the TV and see some Democrat leader mulling over the secession of his state from the union.

That's because they're too busy taking over the financial, automotive, and health-care sectors of the formerly private economy. That, and they find guns scary.

[BJD]

Abner,

I think you are thinking of Juan Cole. That's another issue altogether ...

[fdcol63]

Remember the old days, when they complained that the VRWC was so vast that it could STEAL elections?

LOL

[Bilwick1]

Considering that ObamaNation has, individually and collectively, made a career of pushing for a more powerful State and diminishing individual liberty, how can anyone on the pro-freedom side not be concerned over the DHS memo? It's not like "Il Dufe" and the rest of his gang are a bunch of libertarians. As the bumper sticker says, "If you want to take my gun, why would I trust you?"

On the subject of Napoleon-itano, isn't it interesting that Clinton had his Jackboots Janet and now Obama has his? What is it with these "liberal" presidents and their Rosa Klebb-like enforcers? It must be the appeal of the Strong Man.

[fdcol63]

'What is it with these "liberal" presidents and their Rosa Klebb-like enforcers?'

It reminds me of the fetish that many British men have to be caned and spanked by schoolmarmish dominatrixes. LOL

[Bilwick1]

So, fdcol63, is Hillary had been elected president, it would have been like we were one big nation of British men! And the IRS was her cricket paddle.

[Captain Hate]

Captain ,
Why get depressed? I get great satisfaction that in future they will only have each other and the master that bought them on the slave block.

Well yes PUK, they always will serve as comedic props for us. Still there's a part of me that feels bad for the feeble minded and, unlike Bammers, I'm not a complete hypocrite about it.

[PeterUK]

"It reminds me of the fetish that many British men have to be caned and spanked by schoolmarmish dominatrixes"

You are a bit behind the time,all forms of corporal punishment in schools were banned quite soem time ago.If you are thinking of Mosely,his dad was Oswald.

[LTC John]

"I think most veterans, their supporters and families would appreciate just once seeing the left speak of them as adults, instead of these hapless, easily led children and victims."

Certainly, were I not lurching, zombie-like toward the first weirdo right-wing extremist group to welcome me home...Post #57 of the American Legion? BRAIIIINS!!!

[JorgXMcKie]

Evidently patriotism is now the lowest form of dissent.

[ObamaHusseinLiberalCommieFascist]

Again, the stupid report was not talking about mainstream conservatives, or teabaggers.

It was specifically directed at (and naming the groups of) very radical extremist groups in both parties.

Why, other than playing fear politics, would any conservative immediately assume that the report was directed at them?

Did the report say "mainstream conservatives" or fringe and radical extremists?

You're doing this to yourself.

Did you see the entire leftwing of this country throw the same shitfit over the comments about "left-wing extremist elements"?? NO! Why? Because they weren't fucking talking about mainstream democrats.

Jesus fucking christ you people are dense

[Political Mom]

Cole teaches at the University of West Virginia; I think in the Communications Dept. I read some of his students' online reviews of him once. It looked like they didn't think he was a very good teacher, but recommended him because his class was an easy A.

[PD]

It was specifically directed at (and naming the groups of) very radical extremist groups in both parties.

Why, other than playing fear politics, would any conservative immediately assume that the report was directed at them?

Perhaps because the report itself characterizes rightwing extremist in terms of issues that are important to conservatives, such as states' rights, opposition to abortion, opposition to gun control.

[Cecil Turner]

And partly because it characterizes the rightwing types as violent and the radical lefties as non-violent (in their much shorter, less objectionable version).

[Brendan]

I haven't seen whining about not being linked to this pathetic since the last time Ann Althouse had PMS.

[bad]

I'll bet you are a an expert on PMS....

[Bilwick1]

"Why, other than playing fear politics, would any conservative immediately assume that the report was directed at them?"

Why not assume? If the Mafia show up at your business and say, "Hey, this is a nice place you've got here--it'd be a shame if someone broke in at night and torched it," based on their track record, who but Forrest Gump would assume, "Oh, that nice gentleman not only complimented my business, but expressed concern for its safety"?

People who tell you that, essentially, you're their serf, and that you have no rights other than what the State (i.e., them) grants you, and show that they love the power of the State and want to expand it six ways from Sunday--with the corresponding dimunition of personal liberty--should be distrusted on principle, and anyonewho values freedom should assume they have the worst intentions until they can prove otherwise.