Comments on: The Ever-Worrying Fusion of Far-Right Crazies and the GOP

By: Dan Rozenson

Dan Rozenson — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 22:20:26 +0000

Ismail, will you stop it with the straw men? Nobody said he didn’t have the right to do it. What you said originally, was not just that he had the right to do it, but that you were “quite pleased” at its occurrence.

By: Ismail Ginwala

Ismail Ginwala — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 21:36:03 +0000

The relationship between a parent and their child isn’t anyway like the relationship between an elected official and his/her constituents or between two elected officials.

And no, congressional Republicans haven’t been deprived in any way, but this particular Congressman had every right to yell what he did. He’s all the more disagreeable for it, but he has every right.

By: Dan Rozenson

Dan Rozenson — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 06:43:23 +0000

I don’t think Congressional Republicans have been deprived in any way of sharing their disapproval of the president’s policies. No one is denying anyone’s rights. You have the right to call your parents dirty names, but that doesn’t mean it’s the proper thing to do.

By: Ismail Ginwala

Ismail Ginwala — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 04:37:13 +0000

But let me make a distinction between contributing to a healthy democracy and dragging the IQ level of everyone in the room down. What this Republican did today was absolutely fine and should be encouraged. What would NOT have been sane is for him or anyone else to yell “STOP KILLING SENIOR CITIZENS YOU SOCIALIST.” Again, fine line.

Do not deny your political opponents the same rights you would like to enjoy if you were in their situation.

By: Ismail Ginwala

Ismail Ginwala — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 04:34:50 +0000

I have to disagree. I was quite pleased that certain “disrespectful” Republicans actually had the guts to stand up and speak out against for what they believed was injustice. It’s moments such as these that symbolize a healthy, even Jeffersonian style of democracy - angry members of a minority showing strong opposition to the majority’s face. And what is more ballsy than calling the president a liar to his face?

I began watching the speech hoping to see democracy unfold. I did not want President Obama talking at Congress, I wanted him to talk WITH Congress.

There’s a thick line between respect and being walked upon. Respect is applauding the President when he is announced by the Sergeant at Arms (as I would’ve also done for President Bush, Reagan, Nixon, etc.). That is respect for the position itself, for being commander-in-chief, for being the head of the executive branch. Then there is being walked upon, which is what too many Democrats quietly allowed during the Dark years of 2002-2008.