"An Absence of Class"

[Pexster]

By Bob Herbert.

We can’t allow ourselves to remain silent as foaming-at-the-mouth protesters scream the vilest of epithets at members of Congress — epithets that The Times will not allow me to repeat here.

It is 2010, which means it is way past time for decent Americans to rise up against this kind of garbage, to fight it aggressively wherever it appears. And it is time for every American of good will to hold the Republican Party accountable for its role in tolerating, shielding and encouraging foul, mean-spirited and bigoted behavior in its ranks and among its strongest supporters.

This column eloquently captures my own sense of anger.

This is the party of trickle down and weapons of mass destruction, the party of birthers and death-panel lunatics. This is the party that genuflects at the altar of right-wing talk radio, with its insane, nauseating, nonstop commitment to hatred and bigotry.

. . .

The G.O.P. poisons the political atmosphere and then has the gall to complain about an absence of bipartisanship.

[SiliconJon]

I don't want to fish - I want to farm in a highly skilled manner that essentially requires someone else take on the fishing knowledge for their own high-tech specialized implementation of modern methods for if I were to learn both my head may well explode.

I couldn't agree more, Pexter. The republican party has become far too inviting to the bigots, insane, and otherwise completely detrimental behaviors. I have yet to meet a neo-nazi that's in the democratic party, though I have met plenty in the republican party, but then I hear the libertarian party has some of that culture in it. Hell, maybe the democrats do too...I'm just less exposed. Where was I going with this? Frack if I know...

[Chuckiechan]

There are two Americas. One where people think money grows on a community tree, and like the air we breath, have a right to it. And another where money is earned by working, and spent, and voluntairly shared. Where all people are treated equally, rather than as groups of voting blocks to direct taxpayers money to.

I'm not in Hebert's group.

[brandon184]

I love how the faux-fiscal-conservatives (voogru, Chuckie) can never quite help themselves when it comes to being apologists for people who think it's appropriate to call other people faggots and niggers, as if these folks actually know the issues or contribute anything to a discussion aside from ignorance and vitriol.

Voogru, if you think the average "nigger"-screaming Republican actually shares your "we should teach a man to fish!" attitude, you're out of touch with the party and need to find other people to root for.

[brandon184]

I'm not an apologist for them. I don't think it's appropriate to call people faggots or niggers.

Don't tell me this! Tell the people who are calling people those names!

From another thread today:

I denouce violence. I do not support it. You label me as a racist, bigot and all of those good names, because you label the right that way, and I am right.

People who do stuff like that are embarrassing the right! They are demonstrating that they are, apparently, fueled primarily by vitriol and racism and ignorance and that they are not willing to have any kind of reasonable discourse. If the right doesn't want to be judged by the actions of their extremists, they need to denounce the behaviour. I watch FOX News and haven't seen anything of the sort. Where are the leaders of the right coming forward to say "knock it off"?

If my regional football team is playing in another city, we lose and the fans of my team go and start throwing rocks through windows, that makes us ALL look bad. Agreed?

.

[MTAtech]

It's all going to come around and bite them in the ass. America doesn't like extremists, bigots and those that advocate violence. When Republicans lay down with these dogs they wake up with their fleas and America sees them scratching.

[Pexster]

As I have said before, reasonable and rational Republicans need to take back their party. It starts with having to the courage to stand up to Rush, Glenn, Sarah, and even their own foolish party head, Michael Steele. Where are the leaders? If the aforementioned are they, we are in a world of hurt.

[Whir]

You guys are a hoot. You think the democratic party doesn't have the same breed of violence-mongering, intolerant bigots? Get your heads out of the frickin' dirt.

[thephilosophizer]

Yeah, I'm all for rational discourse, but when I see congresspeople in front of frothing crowds talking about a government takeover of healthcare, far what is actually being talked about, I worry.
I worry that the mainline republicans are catering to the extemists, and emboldening them by not taking part in honest disucssion, but instead screaming about talking points, and waxing tragic about not having bipartisanship.

Healthcare aside, where are the republicans when it comes to financial reform? We are in desperate need of a financial regulatory system that works, and that doesn't work against the majority of Americans. The dismantling of control by the Reagonites, and redistribution of the tax burden from the wealthy to the middle class, are destroying our country.

[MTAtech]

You guys are a hoot. You think the democratic party doesn't have the same breed of violence-mongering, intolerant bigots? Get your heads out of the frickin' dirt.

Not the mainstream Democrats. In any case, show me an anti-Iraq War protest where anyone was called racist names.

[thephilosophizer]

At least the anti-war protesters had a legitimate point. Iraq was a bad idea, one that has cost us hundreds of billions of dollars, and thousands of lives. Bush lied to the world, and borrowed against the future to fund an unjust war.
Obama sets up a health care program that will not only reduce the deficit, but also shift the tax burden back toward the wealthy, and will for the first time, provide near universal health coverage to americans.
Some how, I just can't see how these two things should equate in regards to levels of public discontent.

[Whir]

Not the intelligent people with morals and an ounce of self-respect.

Fixed that for you. You forgot to include a bunch of people.

[sharder8]

Gawd, am I glad I'm a registered Non-Partisan and don't have to worry about my party having members like the Democrats and Republicans . . . and Teabaggers.


Harder

[Pexster]

You guys are a hoot. You think the democratic party doesn't have the same breed of violence-mongering, intolerant bigots? Get your heads out of the frickin' dirt.

Not in significant numbers. Most of the violent protesters on the left are not Democrats. Actually, I'm not even sure they are really leftists. Mostly, they are anarchists, I think.

Anyway, the current administration has angered its progressive wing almost as much as it has angered the right. Clinton did so, too. So, no, my head is not in the dirt. The level of discourse on The Rachel Maddow Show, for instance, is light years ahead of the like of Rush and Beck in the area of intelligence. And the Democratic Party does not kowtow to her or to any other liberal media critic. Contrast that to the Republicans, who cannot "restate" their comments fast enough when they upset the Drugster!

[SiliconJon]

Pointing out the insane and out of control problem with the Republican party's methods does not mean all others are excempt, Whir, nor do other problems negate the insane problems with the Republican party. That is the very sort of popular fallacy that is at the heart of the issue.

[Toadman]

Those who decide to "go it alone" are not appreciating being demonized in this divide and conquer campaign. The libs here are doing more to destroy unity than any fringe extremist group could.

On another note, why is Obama in hiding signing the no public assistance for abortion clause of the bill? What fanatics is he hiding from?

[MTAtech]

The level of discourse on The Rachel Maddow Show, for instance, is light years ahead of the like of Rush and Beck in the area of intelligence.

Case in point: when Dick Cheney was hospitalized Maddow wished him the best.

[Atomic Rooster]

You guys are a hoot. You think the democratic party doesn't have the same breed of violence-mongering, intolerant bigots? Get your heads out of the frickin' dirt.

I was thinking the very same thing Whir. It's fun watching the pots call the kettles black.

Bush lied to the world, and borrowed against the future to fund an unjust war.

A lie that Obama continues to propagate and fund. Funny how that worked out.

[zen]

I love how the faux-fiscal-conservatives (voogru, Chuckie) can never quite help themselves when it comes to being apologists for people who think it's appropriate to call other people faggots and niggers, as if these folks actually know the issues or contribute anything to a discussion aside from ignorance and vitriol.

Voogru, if you think the average "nigger"-screaming Republican actually shares your "we should teach a man to fish!" attitude, you're out of touch with the party and need to find other people to root for.

Nigger screaming republicans? You are something else. Like Democrats\Liberals don't have a lunatic fringe! Do I need to post links to Liberals acting like idiots again? Whir is right.

You guys are a hoot. You think the democratic party doesn't have the same breed of violence-mongering, intolerant bigots? Get your heads out of the frickin' dirt.

[SiliconJon]

Ahhh yes, the fallacy gains popularity as three now rally its cry.