Please dial back the hysterical rhetoric.

[Demo_Chris]

I am not a fan of these right wing blackmail tactics. Comparatively few people are, and that number is decliding every day. This is fantastic for us as a party, and a disaster for the GOP. They are increasingly viewed as being disconnected and irresponsible -- rapidly heading toward dangerously unhinged. Our party, despite all the false equivalence noise from the media, is seen by the public as the responsible adults in a room a shrieking children. Much of the credit for this goes to our President who has addressed this in a calm and mature manner.

This is the correct tone.

The Republicans are acting like ten year olds scratching dirty words on grade-school bathroom stalls, children practicing destruction for spite. We should be like the street cop who has caught them and is dragging them home to their parents. Hysteria is NOT called for, calm maturity is.

What they are doing is not treason, it is not a coup, it is is not even illegal. Claiming that it is any of these things and posting about it publicly makes us sound as silly and over the top as the people we politically oppose. Deal with it as you would an out-of-control child. Point out the damage that they are causing and leave it there. No comments about their theoretical motivations -- they have no plan, so stop crediting them with having one.

And no, nothing these imbeciles do will cause any long term ill effects to the world economy. Not so long as the calm rational people (that would be us) are seen as standing by waiting to intercede. Right now they are largely just harming themselves, and doing a bloody good job of it. When your opponents are doing something stupid let them do it. When the enemy army is marching into a swamp don't march after them. Just shake your had and wave goodbye.

In my opinion.

[grasswire]

1. yeah?

If Democrats had not "toned it down" in 2000, there would have been no Bush presidency, likely no 9-11, likely a real attempt to address global warming, no Patriot Act, no Iraq war, no attacks on the middle class and the Constitution....yada yada yada.

Honestly, I don't like your nanny tone. We are way overdue in raising hell.

[valerief]

30. +1000

[Katashi_itto]

85. +1000

[lostincalifornia]

2. What would you call Conspiring to destroy the countries economy?

[NuclearDem]

3. Real liberals advocate indefinite detention under the Patriot Act and colorful definitions.

Apparently.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

6. All right thinking people know this.

[matt819]

4. Hysterical is fine

Here. And in conversation with friends and neighbors. Even by Harry Reid, et al.

I'll leave the calmness and maturity to the President. He's doing fine.

[Peregrine Took]

5. They have a plan--see link to incredibly important article:

They don't care about what the majority thinks - they are thinking way beyond that and we better wise up to their ultimate vision for this country:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/06/sunday-review/the-benefits-of-intransigence.html?_r=0

[FSogol]

7. LOL: Hey everyone, let's be more respectful of the asswipes that are wrecking the economy

for short term political gain.

Even Ctrl-C/Ctrl V will not allow me to this as much as it deserves. In my opinion.

[Orsino]

15. Because exaggerating on an Internet message board would be treasonous.

Or something.

[FSogol]

22. If this counts as avoiding hysterical rhetoric, check out the OP's avatar.

[Scuba]

45. Hey Terp, welcome to the Big 10!

[FSogol]

48. Thanks. Hopefully we won't spend too much time in the cellar there. n/t

[Scuba]

52. No, there's always Indiana in football and (now) PSU and Nebraska in basketball to take that place.

Is the "Electric Head" still operating just off campus?

[FSogol]

61. Nah, they're long gone. n/t

[leftynyc]

58. My niece is a Freshman at UM

Go Terps!!!

[FSogol]

82. Good for her. UMD is an awesome place to go to school. n/t

[Katashi_itto]

107. Too Funny! I hadnt noticed till you pointed it out!

[Segami]

26. BWHAHAHAHAHAH!!

[ProSense]

59. Check out this comment

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023796374#post2

Evidently "hysterical rhetoric" is good when directed at Obama, but bad when directed at the RW hostage takers, who are behaving like terrorists.

There is always someone ready to tell everyone to play nice with the RW terrorists. Very suspect.

[FSogol]

62. Great find. n/t

[Pretzel_Warrior]

91. nice. this guy's something.

[JDPriestly]

93. Yes. They took our jobs. Let's just calmly let them take our ACA, our Social Security, our

Medicare, and food stamps. What do we need health care or food for? Or jobs for that matter?

(If you think this is about the ACA and not about Social Security and Medicare, listen to ALL of the Stephanopoulos interview of Boehner yesterday on ABC. Boehner wants these closed-door talks so that he can put the President on the line for no tax increases and instead, cuts to Social Security and Medicare. If they focused on bringing industry and jobs back to America instead of budget cuts, they wouldn't have a problem.)

Main thing is stay calm.

Please.

The Republicans want to denude our government down to the military. That is what libertarians are really about.

Just tear off everything from Lady Liberty except her military armor.

The Republicans delight that the military is functioning well. It is a good thing that our military is doing a good job. But when you have a government with only the military functioning, you call that a coup. This is not violent coup, and I don't think our military leaders agree with being the only thing around that is functioning. But that is what the Republicans have achieved.

Sorry. I'm just looking at the facts and drawing the obvious conclusion. The Republicans are leaving a skeleton government with only the military funded and functioning.

We end up with a military in charge. That is a peaceful equivalent of a coup. We don't have the military marching down the street, but they are the only part of the government that the Republicans have allowed to function.

Sorry if this sounds hysterical, but the Republicans' unwillingness to bring up a budget is classic passive-aggressive. It is important not to allow passive-aggressive conduct to pass as just bad behavior. That is not what it is.

[geek tragedy]

8. "nothing these imbeciles do will cause any long term ill effects to the world economy"

I take it you're not familiar with the consequences of the US defaulting on its debt.

[Demo_Chris]

14. We are not defaulting on our debt...

The entire WORLD knows that we have the money to pay it and more than enough wealth to cover any problems. Right now, in essence, we are already "defauting on our debt" -- the 800K federal workers and all the millions of government contractors who are getting hosed might well think so. How many of them are saying, "Whoa, they're bankrupt, guess I better look for another job!"?

Answer: none.

They know this is just a political game and a temporary inconvenience. Right now they are increasingly looking to our party as the calm and sane people who will step in and get things going again as soon as this GOP meltdown has run its course.

And that's exactly what we want.

[geek tragedy]

24. Ugh, you don't understand the debt ceiling issue at all. If Congress fails to raise the debt

ceiling, it will start defaulting on its bills from vendors. It will stop paying ALL federal employees. It will stop paying Medicare. It will stop paying Social Security. And, on November 15, it will physically default on its debt obligations by failing to make interest payments to bond holders.

http://www.businessinsider.com/chart-of-the-day-this-chart-destroys-the-debt-ceiling-truthers-2013-10

[Demo_Chris]

40. No expert here, but I am familiar with the issue...

Address that. Address the damage the GOP's irresponsibility is threatening. You know, like you just did. Nowhere in your post did you use the word 'treason.' I see no mention of sedition or calls for the arrest of republicans. In other words, you did it perfectly in my opinion. You addressed the PROBLEM, the issue, and left it there.

[geek tragedy]

41. Well, how would you characterize deliberately trying to ruin America's economy?

Of course they are not legally guilty of treason. But such behavior is seditious and treasonous in its very nature. It is something that no person loyal to the United States would contemplate.

[Scuba]

46. I would argue not that ruining the economy is treasonous, but that ...

... the extortion tactic of "subvert the democratic process or we'll ruin the economy" is treasonous.

I also think defaulting on (particularly) Social Security would be treasonous. As was lying us into war.

But that's just me.

[geek tragedy]

53. I agree with you on all points, except that I do think deliberately ruining our

economy is the very essence of treason.

[Katashi_itto]

97. Agree. But just use Sedition not Treason.

Treason is working on behalf of a Foreign power. This is home grown.

[geek tragedy]

102. Point taken. Sedition it is. nt

[quakerboy]

114. Or both

Are the Multinational Corporations foreign or domestic? Many of them started here, but then so did Benedict Arnold and Jeffrey Carney. And some of them didnt even start here. Eg Rupert Murdoch.

I see no immediate reason that it couldn't be a collaboration of traitors and seditionists

[Demo_Chris]

54. Insane and irresponsible. Discuss the FACTS. In this case that's all that is necessary...

Bush, for example, lied to convince us to go to war. We have evidence for this, and it is all that needs to be said.

What should never be said is that Bush lied to get us to go to war because he hates America and wanted to make his daddy love him by being a macho man and it's treason and Bush needs to be sent to GITMO. Once you start saying crap like that you are the Democratic party equivalent of Glenn Beck or Donald Trump.

[JDPriestly]

94. Are you in favor to the cuts to Social Security and Medicare that Boehner alluded to in his

discussion with Stephanopoulos yesterday on ABC?

That is what this is really about, you know.

[TheKentuckian]

9. If they cause us to default then there will be lasting damage no matter how calm and rational anyone

else is seen to be and to suggest otherwise is even more silly than anything you are trying to head off because it is nonsensical, faith based politics.

[Demo_Chris]

23. Yes, but the uncertainty and damage will be FAR greater if we join them in their foolishness...

Stability and confidence requires that someone remain calm. All I am saying is to dial back the rhetoric. Call it what it is: damaging and grossly irresponsible. Call it faith based vandalism and insanity. But leave off words like treason and sedition, words that imply a FORCEFUL response. It's not fucking treason, no one is going to be arrested, no one is going to hang or go to prison. It's just a faction of a political party showing the world just how batshit crazy they really are.

[LaydeeBug]

10. I respectfully disagree with you.

What they are doing, and their STATED intention, subverts our government.

And to suggest that they are only hurting themselves is straight up bullshit. They are hurting every federal employee out there. It must be nice to be so dismissive of their plight.

[Demo_Chris]

20. So address their plight without spewing nonsense about sedition and treason and all the rest...

It's not hard to do.

[AlinPA]

11. Did you see this? Doesn't sound like hysterics to me and apparently a lot of others. Default

is Boehner's goal.
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2013-10-06/a-u-dot-s-dot-default-seen-as-unprecedented-catastrophe-dwarfing-lehman

[snappyturtle]

12. Oh, they do have a plan. Not a good one. nt

[Demo_Chris]

35. No, they really don't. They are doing what their Social Conservative voters want...

They are puppets on strings being jerked by faith-driven armageddon craving imbeciles. There is no plan here. The GOP members of Congress don't even know what victory looks like, because they know that there is literally nothing that would satisfy the craziest and loudest voices in their base. No matter what they do, no matter how extreme they sound, it isn't enough.

[1000words]

13. Well said.

Rec

[Bucky]

16. People who exaggerate are no better than koala bear lobotomists.

Worse, even!!

[grasswire]

29. they might even have boxes in their garages. nt

[enlightenment]

17. Dealing with the potential impact of a default

is not hysterics - it's just fact.

http://www.cfr.org/budget-debt-and-deficits/us-debt-ceiling-costs-consequences/p24751

[Demo_Chris]

18. Of course. I didn't say ignore what's going on. nt

[LaydeeBug]

27. just don't call it 'illegal' or 'sedition' or 'treason' because *THAT* is what is over the top.

[Demo_Chris]

47. The GOP already looks like loons. Why join them?

Their words and actions are seen as being dangerously irresponsible and borderline nuts. Do we want the public to see Democrats that way as well?

All I am saying is to drop the silly over the top rhetoric. Stop posting bullshit about treason, sedition, rounding up congressmen and sending them to gitmo, all that crap. Just take it down a notch and discuss the actual ISSUE and PROBLEMS like adults rather than like Republicans.

[LaydeeBug]

50. Calling it what it is, calling a spade a spade is not 'over the top'. Acquiescing to the inside the

beltway meme of not calling a bald faced liar a liar because it's 'over the top' is what's crazy.

When a liar lies, call them a liar. It's pretty simple.

[HappyMe]

21. Of course, what's going on shouldn't be ignored.

It just all the wild treason and put them in jail stuff that's over the top silly.

[LaydeeBug]

28. Not calling it those things IGNORES what they're actually doing.

[HappyMe]

34. No, it doesn't.

If you want to call it that, go right ahead.

You want people arrested under the Patriot Act, get the ball rolling.

I think all that is basically useless rhetoric, and it ain't going to happen.

[Demo_Chris]

49. Well said. nt

[Taverner]

19. Point made. I do think we can at least call them "unprofessional"

What if you hired a landscaper, and they wouldn't do any work until you gave them a car?

[Demo_Chris]

25. There is no shortage of things we can say that are ACCURATE and DAMAGING. nt

[FSogol]

32. Say them. That would be better than criticizing Democrats on Democratic Underground.

In my opinion.

[Demo_Chris]

37. I have. I am not speaking to "Democrats on DU" but to the relative few who are going over the top...

If this does not apply to you (and I doubt it does) then we are on the same page.

[MineralMan]

31. We can call them worse than that without stepping

on our own fingers. Obstructionists. Deadbeats. Disruptors.

Your example isn't quite accurate, though. Depending on what you hire the landscaper to do, he or she may expect a partial payment before beginning the contracted work. I'm an independent contractor. If I haven't been paid for a previous contract by a client, no work is going to be done by me for that contractor until that previous contract is paid. I can't tell you how many times I have had to point that out to a slow-paying client. It generally gets the check in the mail.

I also insist on partial payment of a contract before beginning work. It focuses the client's mind on the job at hand and keeps things focused for me, too.

Terms of Payment: All invoices are payable on presentation.

[fredamae]

33. No. This is Unprecedented

So How do you Know they're doing Nothing Illegal? We aren't hearing Much from those who understand the Legal Wrangling's of Statute and Constitution-that they are Not breaking the law either. And that worries me more.

[sibelian]

72. It's not unprecedented at all...

There have been several shutdowns in the past decades.

[fredamae]

84. I believe at this point

we mostly understand that this Isn't "just about the shutdown" - this was Always intended to be part of the Debt Ceiling. Even I got that on the first day of the shutdown...yes, on shutdowns NO on linking it to and taking it through-all the way to Debt Ceiling Default.

[arthritisR_US]

36. I see your point but it is not in our interest to sit

back quietly while they continue spewing lies and disinformation ad nauseam. Their approach is to repeat their lies over and over again until they become perceived truth... Just look at the meme of Iraq being involved with 911, this is only one example of how many! Sit back and watch them implode but not countering their lies with facts is not an option, IMO.

[Demo_Chris]

42. So counter their lies with facts rather than emotion. That's what I believe we need to do. nt

[arthritisR_US]

104. Ya, that's where I'm at. n/t

[Demo_Chris]

44. Who said anything about defending the GOP? They are killing themselves...

Let them do it.

The LAST thing we want is for the country to assume that we are as unhinged as they are.

[Skeeter Barnes]

39. I just saw a post saying they should be sent to Gitmo.

If you can't beat them in an election, send them to the gulag. That sets such a great example. Go against us and you disappear!

[Demo_Chris]

43. That's exactly the kind of silliness we need to avoid saying. nt

[grasswire]

110. please post a link to that, thanks nt

[ProSense]

51. At times, I'm absolutely convinced

"Please dial back the hysterical rhetoric.

I am not a fan of these right wing blackmail tactics. Comparatively few people are, and that number is decliding every day. This is fantastic for us as a party, and a disaster for the GOP."

...that the hypocrisy being displayed by some is because they're RW apologist.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023796374#post2

So the "hysterical rhetoric" is good when directed at Obama, but bad when directed at the RW, who are behaving like terrorists?

Where Are The Anti-Shutdown Protests?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023766244

The Morning Plum: John Boehner doesn’t really want to `negotiate’ with Obama
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023799223

[Demo_Chris]

55. President Obama is handling this perfectly. nt

[ProSense]

57. The terrorists have taken the country hostage.

They deserved to be called out.

President Obama slams Republicans: "I won't pay a ransom in exchange for reopening the government"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023789988

[Demo_Chris]

64. Did he call them traitors and suggest rounding them up? No?

So what's your point?

If you want to rebut what I actually SAID have at it, but all I see is you setting up strawmen and wailing the hell out of them.

[ProSense]

66. Fuck 'em

Still think the choice between Obama and Putin is the same as asking: "Who's the better babysitter: Ed Gein or Jef Dahmer?"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023796374#post2

[Demo_Chris]

67. When it comes to the Nobel Peace Prize? Yes.

The only President I can think of who deserves a Nobel Peace Prize would be Jimmy Carter.

The suggestion that President Obama or Putin deserves one is laughable.

[ProSense]

71. You have the audacity to tell people to "dial back the hysterical rhetoric"

aimed at the RW terrorist.

The OP is pure hypocrisy, and I'm convinced it being displayed by some because they're RW apologist.

[Demo_Chris]

74. Get a grip. nt

[ProSense]

76. The OP is hypocritical bullshit.

The only person who needs to "get a grip" is the one trying to defend a bunch of hostage-taking RW assholes who are threatening to blow up the U.S. economy

[FSogol]

79. +1 n/t

[JI7]

83. i thought i remembered something like this from the OP

so it's odd they would actually start a thread like this considering this type of previous comment.

[grasswire]

56. the enemy army isn't "marching into a swamp."

the enemy army is forcing EVERYONE else into the swamp.

Fail.

[Demo_Chris]

63. No, they do not have that power...

The ONLY thing they have so far managed to do is to demonstrate to the entire world exactly why they do not deserve to be entrusted with power. Our nation has not crumbled, the world economy marches on, and President Obama's power as President (and our credibility as a party) has only grown.

As for the Teaparty and the GOP, they have shown themselves to be irrational and potentially dangerous. Even disinterested moderate Republicans are beginning to see them for what they are. We have been through many many shutdowns before. We have even "defaulted" on our debt -- though it could be argued that (even without some unusual action by the President) this is not even possible and will not happen. For more on this:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/richardfinger/2013/10/04/the-u-s-debt-ceiling-fallacy-agreement-or-not-there-will-be-no-default/

[grasswire]

73. they don't have that power if they remain within the Constitution.

They have demonstrated that they have the means, the motive, and the opportunity to breach the Constitution. And it looks as if they have the will to do so.

If a citizen or group of citizens does not intend to be constrained by the law of the land that governs democratic processes, they are anarchists. (Oh, is that word taboo, too?)

[Zorra]

60. Captain Edward Smith of the Titanic:

"Oh for crissakes, it's just a little fucking hole. Just stay calm, and everything will be just fine. Trust me!"

I left the country after Bush was selected, before 9/11, Afghanistan, Iraq...

I always keep 1 - 2 months supply of everything on hand in case of emergency ~ food, water, propane, light, heat, etc, and a motor home with enough gas in it to get me across the border if the RW wackos should go further off the rails. These people are extremely unstable, and, IMO, could become deadly in the blink of an eye.

And they all have guns. Lots of them.

May get another months supply of food and water if this goes to the 17th; I can always eat and drink it if things don't go south for us.

[sibelian]

65. I'd just like to jump in here and draw attention to an AWESOME argument on THIS HERE VERY SITE...

that clarifies this entire situation beautifully.


Have a look at this...


http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023800671

Post numbers:

#40
#42
#43
#45
#51
#53
#55
#56

[warrior1]

68. bullshit

they are not doing their jobs period.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

69. I'll say what I want and when I want. If you don't like the drama, you can alert them

and see where that gets you. A LOT of people are pissed off. Oh, and if what you are saying is true, why was Obama's Sec Treasury Mr. Lew on the Sunday talk shows saying a default will create massive problems for US and world economy?

Sounds like we're stating fact--not being "dramatic".

[Blue Idaho]

70. Thank you for being today's "Tone Monitor." nt.

[quinnox]

75. Agreed, the "treason!“ and "round them up and throw them in jail!" nonsense is embarrassing

of course, there are authoritarian types who love this kind of reaction.

[ProSense]

78. This is for

those who want to play nice with the RW.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023801564

Should we send them flowers?

The OP is what's "embarrassing" nonsense.

[Laelth]

77. They could do great damage to the world economy.

I will not pretend otherwise.

That said, I do approve of the way the President has handled this matter so far.

-Laelth

[dawnie51]

80. I always go to 'Who Benefits?"....

Perhaps the Kochs have made investments in foreign capital, so US dollars imploding would be a benefit to them? Instead of instructing us to play nice, we need a functioning press to find out just where the bodies are buried. There is something in it for these guys; the Boner, Cruz, all of them. We need to find out what, quickly and expose it. Where is Greg Palast when you need him?

[ProSense]

81. John Boehner: Pathological liar, political extortionist, economic terrorist

John Boehner: Pathological liar, political extortionist, economic terrorist
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023801697

[BKH70041]

86. Huh!?!

"Calm rational people" is not a term I would use while reading here. "Hysterical Rhetoric" is the cog of the wheel.

[Chico Man]

87. Chicken little would be a perfect avatar

The rhetoric and bandwagon jumping is way over the top.

Hey how many have read the ACA? Or researched precedent?

Attaching legislation to appropriations is extraordinarily common.

[stonecutter357]

88. You seem concerned!

[JDPriestly]

89. Hey! How long has it been since you had a two-year-old in your house.

They can wreak a lot of havoc, and when mom and dad are tired, really tired, the two-year-old can very well stage a successful coup and take over.

The Republicans have gone way beyond the temper tantrum. It is time out for them.

This is the time to be strong and to recognize what the dangers of allowing the Republicans to continue their tantrum are.

Boehner really wants the Baby Boomers' Social Security and Medicare. That is what this is really about. The ACA is just an excuse.

Watch ALL of Stephanopoulos's interview with Boehner yesterday.

Maybe you don't need Social Security. Maybe Medicare is not important to you. Maybe you are not a Baby Boomer. But for those who need those programs, who paid in money they could have used for other things and are now told to eat sand, these are life and death matters.

This is not a time to act like business as usual.

For many of us, this is really a huge thing.

Like the surveillance, it is really a very serious deviation from the American way. This is again the 1% moving in on the 99%. We are in a crucial period, and we need to let people know about it.

[JoePhilly]

90. They are Extortionists. Extortion is a THREAT. In this case, a threat to damage

the US economy.

Now, you may claim that the gun they are pointing at us is probably empty. And then claim that therefore, there is no threat.

Me, I don't trust them. They're crazy. Crazy enough to point a gun at us, empty or loaded.

[mnhtnbb]

92. The Tea Party agrees that government should be drowned in the bathtub.

But, gee, I can't seem to find the part of The Constitution that says,

"if you don't like laws duly passed, signed by the President and declared
Constitutional by the US Supreme Court, just shut down the government--especially
if you're in the minority--until you get your way. Because democracy is really
about whatever faction can scream the loudest or figure out how to hold
the rest of the country hostage until it gets its way."

Fuck that. This is a conspiracy to subvert The Constitution--and the process which it defines
for the rule of law--and needs to be treated as such.

Give in to a bully--there will be more bullying; give in to terrorism--there will be more terrorists.

[Coyotl]

95. Dear GOP: Please dial back the hysterical rhetoric.

[hatrack]

96. I'll dial back well-placed concerns on what morons with power may do . . .

. . . when they dial back the hysterical rhetoric.

[1000words]

98. Surely, you're better than they are.

[grasswire]

99. you know what's REALLY offensive about your OP?

How many times have we heard this admonishment...

...to African Americans?

...to women?

...to LBGT?

...to Democrats?

"Don't get hysterical"

"Go along to get along"

"Don't sink to their level"

"We become just like them"

"Wait"

"Don't be a sore loserman"


All part of the same mindset to keep people down.

[1000words]

101. GOP crazy talk is decidedly working to the Democratic Party's advantage

Not sure why anyone would want to negate that by adopting their tactics.

[Demo_Chris]

106. Because! Adults screaming vapid emotional insults at each other is awesome! nt

[grasswire]

109. there is no evidence for your assertion...

....aside for some polling showing a current loss of GOP popularity.

But polling on popularity means NOTHING until election day; it ebbs and flows.

Meanwhile, this very week our system of governance is being attacked by intractable ideological adversaries who intend not to just "talk crazy" but intend to destroy the common good, the societal contract, the ORDER of our lives.

We can afford no waiting for popularity contests to sink their fortunes.

[backscatter712]

100. In my experience, there's nothing to gain by dialing down the tone.

Playing nice and coloring within the lines gets us nowhere when dealing with these extortionist gangsters.

[Squinch]

103. Ahhhhhh! It's the Attack of the Comportment Teachers again!

Nothing is scarier than a Comportment teacher!

[RagAss]

105. Hell No !!!...Call an Assclown an Assclown !

These fuckers have been hanging out of our asses since Reagan....Fuck 'em !

[xfundy]

108. They DO have a plan. They've been working on it for years. In refining it they ruined nations.

Set aside an hour to watch what was revealed in The Shock Doctrine.

Terrifying stuff. And it's definitely part of their plan.

[grasswire]

111. ^^^^^nt

[markpkessinger]

115. Just watched this last night -- amazing

With regard to the stuff about Chile, while I was certainly aware of the Nixon administration's close support for Pinochet, I had no idea, until watching the film, about Milton Friedman's connection. Shocking, to say the least!

[grasswire]

112. at points in our past we had a name for those who tip-toed past ...

.....creeping facism and oppression of civil liberties and attacks on the Constitution.

Appeasers.

Appeasers.

Think hard.

[moriah]

113. The salaries of hundreds of thousands of Americans are being held hostage right now.

.... which sounds an awful lot like the way terrorists work to me. But no, I'm not saying they've committed treason, or should be arrested.

If you prefer the child analogies for the sake of not making the Republicans seem all-powerful (and therefore harder to challenge), I understand.