Tea Baggers and violence

[KC Elbows]

Please, share your shock at the weeks events.

Usually, reactionary, revisionist mobs are so well behaved.

[Drake]

They're almost a domestic enemy, if you ask me. Attacks against congress because they can't handle a process once it stops going their way? Nobody attacked congress over the Patriot Act or Iraq, yet when democrats start winning elections, suddenly democracy is inconvenient? The health care bill passed, and it passed legally. Get over it.

[dimethylsea]

It's only going to get worse in the short term.

Just another ongoing part of the Culture War in America.

On the opposite side of the spectrum.. California has a Marijuana Legalization Initiative on the November Ballot (polls show a narrow majority in favor of legalization). Given how the DoJ is treating the medical marijuana issue I expect alot of folks who wouldn't bother to come out for a "protest vote" are likely to turn out and vote cause it might actually mean.. gosh.. legal weed in Cali.

I suspect after the November elections some of the "Tea Party" types might think about smoking up a bit to help them relax.

[YouKnowWho]

Tea Baggers mind set:

- As long as I can go to heaven, you guys can all go to hell as far as I'm concern.
- I make $200,000 a year because I'm smart. You make less than that because you are stupid.
- When I hold a gun, I'm patriot. When you hold a gun, you are terrorist.

[Drake]

I don't care what their beliefs are. It's a free country. My problem comes when they resort to violence. That begins to step into my lane.

[bustr]

I am shocked that republicans would act this way!!!

Check out this vid of their leader shewing on their asses.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQGBYY6HVMs

[dimethylsea]

I don't care what their beliefs are. It's a free country. My problem comes when they resort to violence. That begins to step into my lane.

One thing I would note is that people are much more prone to resort to violence if they believe (correctly or not) that they are *retaliating* against violence done to them.

Which begs the question.. what ethical responsibility (not legal.. freedom of speech is nearly absolute in my book) do the pundits and commentators bear for convincing some of the tea party folks they are victims of an "attack"..

It's not like yelling fire in a theater.. I'm not suggesting the pundits should be legally sanctioned.. but ethically I know I would feel responsible if I egged on someone who was about to attack a third party.

[uki]

the people are gonna explode either way... america is young and ripe for another revolution - just part of the process... we all know this, we all see it coming, no one seems to embrace the inevitable... my heart goes out to people with small children. all i can say is to stand tall, be strong, and speak the truth... oh and some extra bullets may come in handy to make sure your kids will stay somewhat safe.

[Drake]

One thing I would note is that people are much more prone to resort to violence if they believe (correctly or not) that they are *retaliating* against violence done to them.

Which begs the question.. what ethical responsibility (not legal.. freedom of speech is nearly absolute in my book) do the pundits and commentators bear for convincing some of the tea party folks they are victims of an "attack"..

It's not like yelling fire in a theater.. I'm not suggesting the pundits should be legally sanctioned.. but ethically I know I would feel responsible if I egged on someone who was about to attack a third party.

The ones inciting the violence are also guilty. It's a legitimate crime called subversion. For example, if I went to a corner and yelled that everyone should take up arms against congress, and watched them storm over there, I'd be guilty of subversion.

The difficult part would be proving that they intended for this to happen. You can badmouth political figures, badmouth their policies, and even say how they are destroying the country. However, if you never bring up that they should move to overthrow the government illegally, then it wouldn't stand in court.

[dimethylsea]

The ones inciting the violence are also guilty. It's a legitimate crime called subversion. For example, if I went to a corner and yelled that everyone should take up arms against congress, and watched them storm over there, I'd be guilty of subversion.

The difficult part would be proving that they intended for this to happen. You can badmouth political figures, badmouth their policies, and even say how they are destroying the country. However, if you never bring up that they should move to overthrow the government illegally, then it wouldn't stand in court.

As I said I think free speech should be as close to absolute (at least for citizens) as is practical, and then a good bit more.. just to make sure.
Generally those in power align themselves at least vaguely with the prevailing culture, and thus there is a significant impetus towards conformity and group-think. This impulse and habit in free societies is something we should be aware of, and a guarantee of free speech (and as absolute a one as possible) is the only practical counterweight I personally know of.
Consequently I think crimes like "subversion" are ones that should be struck down on a Constitutional basis, and moreover should be treated as legitimate political speech by free-minded peoples. Obviously this is just my opinion .. YMMV.

I am frankly far more concerned about the tendancy towards religiously-tinged demagoguery than I am by "subversion". A free and secular society can and must survive the wide application of freedom by it's constituents. It cannot co-exist with theocracy (or rather.. theocracy cannot coexist with it.. by definition).

I'm far more comfortable with "subversive speech" being fought by exercise of intellectual freedom by others than I am with any sort of application of legal process to suppress the "subversive speech".

[SanHeChuan]

Christian militia members charged in Michigan

According to the grand jury indictment unsealed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, the eight men and one woman were members of a group called the Hutaree that planned to kill a police officer in Michigan and then ambush the law enforcement officers who attended his funeral.

Michigan "Hutaree" militia group had Tea Party connections

The "Hutaree" militia--eight members of which were arrested over the weekend--were Tea Partyers. Watch this video from CNN and pay attention to the footage of the group's website: they actively advertised their participation in a Tea Party event.

I'm not sure how legitimate the connection is, I can't watch the video.

[Lucas]

i was informed this morning by a co worker about this stuff. i dont watch tv so i miss out on a lot.

im not too sure whats happening but, threatening lives? threatening to blow people up? kill people?

is this a new branch of the taliban?

same **** to me. terrorism is terrorism.

[sanjuro_ronin]

Violent tea bagging !!
What is this world coming to?
LOL !

[Lucas]

ok this was strange:

A couple of my clients today got in a mild clash. One man has an Obama bumper sticker on his car. The other man said he should remove the sticker.

man who is upset about the sticker comes into my office. i provide service, as he is leaving the man who owns the sticker comes in to the office. he says to the upset man 'im sorry, i couldnt make out what you said in the parking lot'

the upset man EXPLODES and says " YOU NEED TO REMOVE THAT **** BUMPER STICKER, HE IS RUINING OUR COUNTRY. YOU **** SOCIALISTS NEED TO GET OUT"

it was very obvious he lost it. his eyes read murder and a very mild an assuming man became a raging irate killer in seconds....because of a sticker.

it was a shock because I have known both men for several years. Both men, to my knowledge, are good people.

i am assuming this outburst is in connection with all this other stuff.

[Lucas]

Violent tea bagging !!
!

man thats the only way i teabag!