No excuse for the stomping, No Way, Under No Circumstances.

[Raven]

There should be no debate on this. If this country is going to debate the relative merits of putting a boot to the head of a fellow citizen,man or women, we are truly on the slippery slope and maybe we all should lock and load and hunker down.
Every decent politician in this country should be outraged by this. I have heard no outrage except here. No quarter on this, folks, for it is a very bad omen. If I don't hear Paul Hodes or Annie Kuster (dem NH candidates) come out on this, I am going to be very afraid. Believe me, my gut says that this one must not be ducked.

[kentuck]

1. I agree Raven...

No time for silence.

[Crazy Dave]

2. I could care less about what the politicians think!

What outrages me is why that guy isn't behind bars right now! :grr:

[pacalo]

17. It's *because* of the politicians that these people were gathered.

They are bots for Paul who are so wound up they thought they were "protecting" him from a little woman -- by herself -- whose only "danger" to Paul was a dissenting view.

It's time now for Paul & other politicians like him to rein in the unhealthy zeal.

[Crazy Dave]

27. It doesn't matter how or where it happened

The man acted on his own free will and only *he* and whoever helped should be held accountable. He must be related to the local sheriff or something. Even if you kick and stomp a helpless little dog you get put in jail.

[pacalo]

31. There were others the Kentucky police are seeking to arrest, so see how

this behavior is not just one person's free will? It escalated in this tightly-wound crowd.

It's because of Paul that this group assembled, that his platform put them in anarchy mode, & it's up to him to tell those who apparently worship him to tell them, who hang on to his every word, that he will not tolerate this behavior in his name.

I agree that these people shouldn't be on the streets. Put them in jail before they kill someone.

But someone who has leverage with these people has to speak up & put a cork on it now. And in this case, it's Paul, who's done a very lame job of it. So, why not separate those politicians lacking substance & those who are principled & expect them to reject this antisocial, thuggish behavior.

[pacalo]

33. Also, if no one speaks out -- & can we really count on Bush's clones to do it? -- this behavior

will be perceived as just another day at the campaign rally.

It will become even worse -- until who-knows-what will happen.

[lunatica]

3. Just because someone is silent who isn't in any way even remotely part of this

Is not a reason to claim they're condoning it. Get real.

[Raven]

5. You get real. Everyone has a piece of this. n/t

[lunatica]

6. Tell me why Jerry Brown or Barbara Boxer should say anything about this

unless they're asked. Do you think that by not saying anything they're automatically complicit?

[Raven]

12. Well, the silence of good Germans in the '30s comes to mind. n/t

[lunatica]

19. So you think they're complicit?

Or that somehow they condone this?

Wow. Just wow.

[Raven]

23. No, at this point I don't think they condone this but at some point

their silence will condone this. You really need to brush up on your history.

[tavalon]

45. They have created this mob and yeah, there is some culpability

[tavalon]

49. See my statement to you above

For any who don't care to look:

"The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in times of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality."
— Dante (Inferno)

[walldude]

14. Because this is becoming the norm...

And it goes against everything this country stands for.

There is actually a candidate in Texas who thinks that if he loses violent overthrow of the government should be "on the table". Violent overthrow of a legally elected Democratic government. That's what these people stand for. And instead of buying into the "Both Sides Do It" mentality every single Democrat should be making a statement about the safety of their supporters. The guy who did this actually said today he wants the woman to apologize for "starting it". THere is something wrong with that mentality, seriously wrong, and if people just ignore it, it will continue to become more prevalent right up until some liberal with a sign gets shot for his trouble.

[lunatica]

22. So a candidate in Texas is a symbol for of all candidates?

I'm sorry, but the assholes you are talking about aren't all the candidates running for office.

[Raven]

24. Well, I guess your answer is for everybody to shut up, mind their

own business and get on with business as usual because this obviously doesn't affect the country. See you when they start burning the books.

[lunatica]

25. Again you're wrong

No one should shut up, but then maybe one should think through what they think before they accuse all candidates of condoning violence.

[tavalon]

46. Most of the Teabaggers are using dog whistle language to rile their constituents

and yes, they are responsible for loosing the beast which now slouches toward Bethlehem, with gun in hand and jackbooted feet on heads.

[tavalon]

48. I'll quote Dante to answer you

Thereby avoiding Godwin's Law though perhaps it shouldn't be avoided at all. If it quacks like a duck and walks like a duck.................

"The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in times of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality."
— Dante (Inferno)

[MadMaddie]

38. The problem is that those Republicans that are silent

are in fact condoning it. The Republican members of Congress has said absolutely nothing about this violence. Has Sarah said anything? Rush blamed the victim? Beck? any number of Republican leadership?

This is what's happening, when Sarah Palin started ginning up the "He is not one of us", this is when it started taking a turn for the worse. What did the Right Wing media do? They excused the behavior of the racist.

I will use this comparison because unfortunately for America it's true. "The Good Republican American's(Germans)", stand by and do nothing. They could stop Beck, Rush, Sarah and others in their tracks if they said that the behavior was not acceptable. But the CHOOSE not to, the Reblican Congress members who are supposed to be leaders of their parties CHOOSE not to take this task on. They apologize to Rush and Sarah as when they do say something. Even fracken Rove is apologizing.

So I will disagree, by remaining silent they have made a choice.

[Matariki]

4. You are absolutely correct.

The flippant way that Rand Paul is dismissing this and Tim Profitt's lame-ass excuses/deflection/fake apology/demand for apology from victim/ is very disturbing.

Anyone in their right mind would be deeply ashamed at having such deplorable behavior broadcast all over the world. Anyone with the most minimal moral compass would see themselves doing that and BEG for forgiveness.

And if the situation were reversed - if one of Conway's supporters did that to a Teabagger - you can be damn sure we'd be bombarded with media outrage and Republicans DEMANDING that Conway apologize and personally condemn what happened.

[NNN0LHI]

11. If it were reversed the media would be camped out in front of the perps and the victims houses 24/7

The Dem pol associated with such scum wouldn't be able to leave his house without reporters screaming questions at him.

A Dem pol would probably be forced out the race for something like this. Even other Dem pols would be condemning him and the thugs working for his campaign.

Don

[pacalo]

7. I agree! It's because this brown-shirt behavior that started with Bush

was never reined in that his minions' behavior is getting more & more vile.

There's one element in this incident that could prove favorable for change: the stomper is disillusioned enough to blame the police for his action. The police won't take that kindly & are sure to help prove he's quite wrong about that. He put the pin in the party hog when he put the blame on the police.

[northernlights]

8. Agreed.

I have been called a "sucker" today by a DUer because, after 7 years of literally having my person, my property and my animals verbally and physically assaulted by rightwing nutcases, I have cut off all unnecessary interaction and banned them (with threat of criminal trespassing charges) from my life. I spent 17 years on the "reason and civil discourse" path. The last 7 have been beyond the pale. I expect it to get worse, not better and am one step away from arming myself to defend my property, my animals and my person.

My direct experience for the last 7 years has been this: that when I have reached out a hand in neighborly friendship, or tried to reason and have civil discourse, I have been assaulted verbally and physically.

During the 10 years prior, I was subjected to verbal harrassment out of the blue...sitting in the library, driving down the road, minding my own business.

The tone got worse -- with police intimidation and threats -- in 2002 after the Supreme Court appointment of a false president.

In 2003 I moved to escape harrassment by a registered sex offender, and landed in red territory. I never thought that way before, to be honest, and never understood the verbal harrassment. Now it has escalated and it's been crammed down my throat for 7 years.

[OneGrassRoot]

15. ...

Not a sucker.

You're standing strong in the face of outrageous harassment.

I support you.

:hug:

[pacalo]

26. If at all possible, please try to move to a better place.

Call me a sucker, too, because I keep my politics to myself in my red neighborhood. It just makes sense. I believe one's behavior can speak a lot louder than any bumper sticker or yard sign.

[northernlights]

28. just another big reason I'm trying to sell...

I actually drove through several villages and towns right before the 2008 elections in order to count Obama vs McCane signs, to see where it would be good to potentially move to. My village was almost 100% McCane -- I think I saw 2 or 3 Obama signs tops versus dozens of McCanes. Most of the rest of them were mixed. One was funny -- everybody on the south side was McCane. Pass through the center of town. Everybody on the north side was Obama.

There were several rural areas that were predominantly Obama -- in the mountains. I like to visit mountains, but not for daily winter driving. :scared: My guess is the areas where the organic farmers and MOFGA are will be safe.

There was one coastal village about 1 1/2 hours to my north -- Belfast, ME, absolutely quintissential and lovely village -- there was not a single McCane sign -- 100% Obama. Even better, the day I visited there was a peace march on the green. Half a dozen or so people with signs :D And an anti-war sign posted on the front lawn...of the VA I thought I fell asleep and woke up in the 60s. :rofl:

Once I hit the village limits, the signs turned to McCane. But there weren't too many of them. I expect to be doing 50% of my upcoming clinical training in their hospital --the microbiology and serology/bloodbanking portion. Hopefully they'll like me and have a job. Then if I sell, I'll have a place to go.

Otherwise, I'm thinking 4 corners, northeastern New Mexico side.

[pacalo]

32. Good luck, northernlights.

Thank goodness you'll have the resources to move. I was afraid you might be retired with a limited income & would have no options.

:hi:

[northernlights]

50. ha! I have no income right now, and student loans

and there is no market to sell into. And the way things are going, even if anybody wants to buy, they'll have a heck of a time getting a mortgage.

But at least I have a clear title, and as more and more of the mortgage crap meets the fan, people may run from bankruptcy properties and back to higher priced but insurable-title properties. :shrug:

[KT2000]

9. I agree with you

This is not business as usual - aw shucks it's just politics.
This incident demonstrates the vacuum of leadership in this country. So many people yelling but no one willing to step up and put a stop to it.
When the prosecutors get the arrest warrants for the idiots who did this - they will water down the charges and make it disappear - what do you want to bet.
And then it gets worse because "power" to some means control of all others.

[livetohike]

10. Chris Matthews should replay his piece on the far right

and Sarah Palin and her "call to arms". It emboldens the thugs and empowers them to do whatever they want. Afterall, they've been sanctioned by their Tea Bag Queen.

Silence is not acceptable. Every candidate needs to speak out on this before someone is killed.

[OneGrassRoot]

13. Silence is consent...

This simple graphic sparked a whole lotta debate on FB today.

[supernova]

16. I totally agree with you

that there is no justification for the shoving and head stomping.

Public discourse in this country has been so scarey and hyperbolic for so long that it really makes me wonder if we are in for another period of social unrest.

[spin]

18. Obviously the lady was no threat. Excessive force.

[spanone]

20. assault, nothing less

[City Lights]

21. I couldn't agree more, Raven.

What really bothers me about it is that had the parties been reversed and the stomping been done by a Democratic volunteer to a reTHUGlican, the reTHUGlican politicians and their corporate media cohorts would be screaming 24/7 about it. It would be the only message from now until election day.

[NOLALady]

29. In the end,

In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.




Martin Luther King, JR.

[Ignis]

30. K&R. Absolutely no reason, at all, ever.

:kick:

[leftstreet]

34. Do politicians ever get outraged when cops are stomping our heads?

I don't get why there is SO MUCH outrage about this, but a collective yawn when the police state is doing the stomping.

:shrug:

[Iggo]

35. Yep. Ask Briseno, Koon, Powell, and Wind.

[KatyaR]

36. You're right...

it's getting so bad I'm just not sure how much more politics I can take. I have to shake my head so hard and so often to make sure I'm not imagining things that I'm dizzy most of the time, and I'm pretty sure I've given myself a concussion at least twice, and today for sure with that crap about "asking for an apology."

I said yesterday that I'm scared for either way the election turns out--the country will go straight back down the shitter if the Repukes gain control of Congress, and if they lose--well, I'm terrified to see what happens next.

And don't get me started on my state....

[zbdent]

37. Don't forget ... despite his distance from the situation, John Kerry had

"Don't tase me, bro!" become a stigma for him ...

[Generic Other]

39. Jackboot fascists deserve our contempt. Bully scum

And since they were officially part of Paul's campaign, he is responsible. Hope the young woman presses charges and sues.

[TomCADem]

40. It is spooky that some "Democrats" On This Board Are Defending The Brown Shirts...

...Latinos for Reform type progressives.

[somone]

41. We're dealing with a crowd who think waterboarding is a minor inconvenience

and a firm press of the foot on the cervical vertebrae can do no harm.

[donheld]

42. Never

[madmax]

43. Eloquent, Raven nt

[tavalon]

44. No excuse

I'm still angry at many Democrats but I voted straight Democratic ticket. A few weeks ago, I said it was to spite the Democrats because I wanted them to explain to me how they couldn't get anything done in Washington when we hand them a supermajority. But, Keith Olbermann stated it well in his Special Comment tonight. I will not be party to the Republicans and the Teabaggers destroying what little is left of our Democracy. They may still manage it but I am doing my part to stop them.

[tavalon]

47. Silence is consent

You and your progeny have not been quiet, and thank the Goddess for that, especially for your eloquent and driven son. Our people and our nation must stand up and follow your lead.

The time after 9/11 was a time of rising nationalism and creeping fascism. We are there again. It must be stopped.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

51. You are absolutely correct.

Zero tolerance for anyone acting in like manner.