Last week, conservatives were complaining Obama was establishing a socialistic fascist dictatorship.
This week, conservatives are complaining Obama does not want to torture his opponents. from Talking Points Memo
I reckon this is another one of those damn paradoxes Washington is full of.
There are plenty of reasons to vigorously oppose Obama’s power grabs (like Bush’s power grabs before him).
But the parade of apologists for torture on Capitol Hill and in the media is appalling. Championing torture symbolizes the blind faith in unlimited power that taints many Republicans and Democrats alike.
Jim,
What’s this phenomenon called, the paradox of power? No body can properly do “market rescue” or “public/private initiatives (fascism) or “freedom fighting” (torture) unless they’re Republican/”conservative”.
Little anecdote. The other day I asked a rather accomplished, retired executive of a regional company, with a long history in the local Republican Party, what the difference between TARP I (Bush) and TARP II (Obama) was. And this was his god-honest reply: ‘well Obama declared himself a socialist while working as a community organizer in Chicago.’
Okay then….
Bush good because he say so: Obama bad because he say so….
That’s about the extent and depth of the debate. Sadly, we don’t even get bullshitted with very much flowery rhetoric anymore. Has belle lettres completely fallen out of favor in establishment schools?
If we’re going to get royally rogered at least they ought to blow in our ears a little beforehand…!
Paradox actually assumes a bit of brain-stretching quixotica. This current sideshow doesn’t merit such a lofty term because this is just good old fashioned smarmy stupidity.Belle lettres aint just out of favor, it’s been replaced by Twitter and anybody who suggests research and writing is howled out of the room as a lunatic. Devolution begun, we shall be watching a debate between a Mandrill and a Baboon running for Congress within the decade.
That’s right, Mr. Sabin, and anybody who doesn’t give the debate his fullest attention will be declared to be plainly unpatriotic.
I think that maybe “debate” is perhaps a little too lofty also. It seems this so-called debate can be summed up as follows:
Rightwing Fascist: I’m against whatever my opponent is for and if he changes his mind, I will change my mind.
Leftwing Fascist: We will have to disagree to agree on this issue of agreement. But, at the end of the day, I will be disagreeable until such time that I agree.
Dirk, are you underestimating the number of baboons currently holding office in Washington??
Tom – your summary hits the nail on the head.
Funny to look back on the Frost-Nixon interviews as practically an apex of thought-provoking exchanges, compared to what is prevailing these days.
The Obama administration is ramping up the war hype and saber rattling. Troops are moving from Iraq to Afghanistan/Pakistan (per General Hillary). Mexicanos are dropping like flies. Senor Holder wants our AR-15’s (my personal paranoia). O’Reilly (Bill) is warning us to commend Bushian torture (fake drownings). Bush saved the Brooklyn Bridge (hooray) !
[O’Reilly & Hannity Bunker Sales Inc, makers of fine Terror resistant bunkers).
If we refuse to surrender our assault rifles then Senor Holder is going to incite and sanction Arab patriots to ignite another domestic explosion. ‘Crisis’ gives govt whatever they want.
One more hit, people, and it’s all over. First thing they’ll do is shut down the Freedom outlets (Bovard Bros. Ltd., Cato, Hornberger and Rockwell).
Maybe all they want is our guns and a little privacy. Govt is always our worst enemy. Is there anything we can do to make them go away and leave us alone ? How much more freedom can we give them ?