On Congressman Cohen and Total states

[nadinbrzezinski]

So the Congressman spoke the uncomfortable truth. Yes, they are using the BIG LIE Techniques, and yes Goebbels perfected it. He called them on it.

But in total states you cannot speak the truth, without a bag of bricks falling on you, and PRESSURING you to fall right back on line. In open societies the worst that happens is a little tsk, tsk, tsk... but here you had the bricks.

This is but one more example that we have crossed the rubicon. You can say all you want about how you should never use Nazi allusions... and I will keep telling you that the lessons of the Holocaust are not behind glass, and we are not delicate flowers that cannot handle it. It is time to stop getting our panties in a wad... and I say that as a daughter of a holocaust survivor.

But what we saw... was a CLASSIC of a closed society... this is EXACTLY what happened in Germany. If you spoke the truth, you were pressured to back down by the regime or agents of the regime. This is exactly what happened here. And to those going... he went too far... hate to point this out... this is what he is talking about. The inability to speak the truth. The society will close around you and force you to accept the accepted, albeit not right, narrative.

Oh and yes, they are using nazi techniques... and Goebbels would be amazed at how far and how sophisticated they have become. They actually make Goebbels and his propaganda movies... look like rank beginners. Well after this is over... a future generation will speak in awe not of Goebbels, but of Roger Aisles, and Frank Luntz... and before you get your panties in a wad, I did not call them Nazis either.

[provis99]

1. we just can't use Nazi against Republicans, apparently

after all, Ribikoff didn't get into trouble when he accused Daley of Gestapo tactics in Chicago; but dare tell the truth about Republicans, and the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy kicks into high gear to defend itself. It seems to be ok, also, for Republicans to call liberals communist/Marxist/Nazis, though. The hypocrisy stinks to high heaven.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. That is precisely out of the same play book

the Nazis used... we are the other, the fifth column... and they will treat us as such.

Again, another sign of a closed and TOTALITARIAN state.

But, but where is the Gestapo?

IF and when we see it, is further down the road...

[texastoast]

2. This is EXACTLY what happened in Germany

As the Germans stood by.

[cali]

9. Not. Even. Close.

[Flo Mingo]

3. Kick & Rec

Very well put.

[socialist_n_TN]

5. The BIGGEST lie is the false equivalency. Kick.

At least Cohen did the RW apology instead of a real apology. You know, I'm sorry if anyone was offended.

[provis99]

6. yeah, I give Cohen kudos for his non-apology apology.

It's about time people started using this tactic against Republicans. "I'm sorry if you were offended", indeed.

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. But the fact that the establishment fell on him

is a really troublesome sign.

[bobbolink]

12. Yup. "I'm sorry you feel that way." = You are nutz, and I am waay above you.

:puke:

[cali]

8. oh for the love of reason

The Nazis didn't invent the Big Political lie, Goebbels codified it, but hardly invented it.

By "total states", I can only assume you meant totalitarian states, and no we're not there yet. Nothing is going to happen to Representative Cohen. No, he didn't get bricks, he got tsk, tsk. He isn't going to be dragged from his bed at night and beaten. He isn't going to be brought up in front of a "People's Court".

We haven't crossed the rubicon, and even if we have, yours is an absolutely absurd example. Sure you can use all the Nazi comparisons you want, and if you get scoffed at by Jon Stewart or scolded, well, politicians aren't delicate flowers.

What we saw was decidedly NOT an example of a closed society. It's ludicrous to state that- and shows no knowledge of history, or for that matter, reality whatsoever.

Yes, I know that you have me on ignore. This post is a response to what you've written. Such absurd claims deserve to be countered.

[steve2470]

10. The question is, when do you dare to make the comparison ?

When some RW fascist is "elected" ?

When a far more drastic version of the Patriot Act is passed ?

When innocent Muslims begin to be rounded up in "anti-terrorist" sweeps ?

The Patriot Act was the beginning of the end. It has to be repealed or, at bare minimum, drastically reworked to protect civil rights.

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. I started the day after the USPA

I read it... unlike Congress... and have been calling it the Enabling Act since.

I wish more people realized that.

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. kick

[jwirr]

14. Bravo. When I saw him being forced to apologize I wanted to stand

up as scream NO don't apologize. He was correct. The detractors may not think we are headed in the same direction but they are ignoring the nature of man. We are capable of real evil and it is very easy to tell ourselves that we are the ones that are good.