The Real Threat
I shed a tear for the first time in more than thirty years this evening. I watched one of the highest-ranking public officials in my country call for a new aged Inquisition of her fellow Congress Members. Michele Bachmann today accused not only Barrack Obama, but many Congress people of being "anti-American", and that the media should investigate to find and identify subversive members. If you watched Ms Bachmann of Minnesota's gestures and facial expressions, you didn't feel that she was merely questioning Mr. Obama's patriotism, you didn't hear her making the case for Mr. McCain's greater sense of American ness. What we all witnessed was absolute conviction and unequivocal belief in the claims that she felt was making. We didn't hear political spin, talking points, or the standard narrative, what we saw in every muscle in her face was true alarm and disdain for the possibility of a fellow colleague who, just because he has differing political views than hers, might be President. Ms Bachmann feels that anyone who is liberal left or a Democrat is an imminent threat to the country.
How I wish she were reading from a teleprompter, or a RNC issued note card. She and Sarah Palin earlier today actually admitted that anyone, in any place in this country who doesn't agree with them couldn't have this country's best interests at heart. I've been in some tough neighborhoods before, I've traveled to some places where I definitely should not have been, but I've never experienced a level of sheer fright and oppression that I experienced this evening right in my own living room. Chris Mathews, you have made news today on Hardball. Today marks the day that constituents of both political parties truly begin to examine the people that we choose to represent us.
I'd heard Alice Walker say at a seminar several years ago "it is far more dangerous to be led by a crazy man than to be followed by one." Michele Bachmann today proved that Ms Walker's statement is genderless!
Contribute to either of Ms Bachmann's opponents:
Elwin Tinklenberg (D)
http://www.tinklenberg08.com/
Bob Anderson (I)
http://bobandersonforcongress.com/
I made donation to Elwin Tinklenberg. I checked on Hardball site and cannot obtain transcript of text from this show until Monday afternoon. Does anyone know how to get text of this show before then?
I hope all who read this, makes like donation. This woman is horrific. Frightening.
Thanks so much for posting this and strongly rec'd.
October 18, 2008 1:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
Here is a link to the video:
http://www.politicalbase.com/profile/jnail/blog/&blogId=4914
October 18, 2008 3:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Lynn Sweet posted the transcript.
http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2008/10/rep_michele_bachmann_tells_chr.html
October 18, 2008 9:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
I am fighting rolling up in a fetal position and staying in bed.
My post "I fully support a test of whether you support America' might take the edge off a little for you. It's how I cope.
October 18, 2008 4:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
Actually, on some level I have to agree with Bachman's words but not as she intended them. Bachman believes that liberalism is anti-American. While we could all debate her on ideology, she reminded me that some members of Congress DO behave in anti-american ways. When I used to listen to Tom Delay, or more recently Boehner or McConnell as they obstructed some piece of legislation over some "purely partisan" stance (often simply becuase it was proposed by a Democrat) they were working against the interests of their country and then lying about it. Puttng Party above the interests of the country isn't very American.
October 18, 2008 11:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hmmm. Not sure. You agree we should scrutinize members of Congress for "Un American" activities, but under your own definition?
That ain't right either.
If you mean we should scrutinize and then vote them out of office, then I totally agree. Any time you bring in the concept of "unAmerican" you presuppose a definition of what it means to act "American". That's the same slippery slope.
October 18, 2008 6:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
That anyone who has sworn an oath to the Constitution could undermine civil society to this degree is so reprehensible, I simply have run out of words.
That someone who behaves this way could call herself a Christian.... well, I leave that to the Lord.
October 18, 2008 11:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
ThereP: That anyone sworn to protect and defend the constitution to the best of her/his abilities allows that Constitution to be pulled apart, one piece at a time, as has happened over the past 8 years, is a shock to the conscience.
Sadly, while this has been mainly a Republican — okay, "neocon" or "neo-fascist" would be more accurate — effort, there have still been Democratic and Independent enablers in the ranks.
To me, this only seems the next logical step in the process.
We have Bush the Lesser stationing the 3rd Infantry's 1st Brigade Combat Team on active duty within our borders (against the spirit of the Constitution) with special training and a package of "...nonlethal weapons designed to subdue unruly or dangerous individuals without killing them." When this story was originally published at the time this group was activated, they said this package of non-lethal measures could be used within the US borders. When this got attention, they have now made a "correction" suggesting these "tools" are not for use in the U.S.
Next, we have the RNC, McCain, Palin — and now rabid congressional members — attempting to foment racists and lib-hating fascists with fear tactics.
Maybe they're hoping for some "domestic unrest"? Why not: That's one reason Bushco. had NorthCom activate the 1st Brigade Combat Team on American shores. Oops. So now they say they didn't mean to admit that. Bushco: Sorry for the slip folks.
Yes, we have to make it through the next two weeks, past all the neo-fascist meddling with state voter registrations, and hope that the mob they are inciting to riot doesn't.
But that's only the initial step (if Obama has enough votes to make it through the tampering).
We are not going to really be safe from these true anti-Americans until Bush the Lesser exits the back door to the White House for the last time.
We MUST be successful in staging the most huge peaceful demonstration we can -- by putting every last warm-bodied, breathing and sentient Obama supporting voter in the lines to those polling stations on November 4. We MUST speak in numbers that will even give these crazy fascists pause, otherwise we could be in for a rough ride.
October 18, 2008 12:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
You laid that out well. The blessing, to me, is that Obama is so cool under pressure that his aura is overshadowing all of us, keeping us cool too. It is heartening to me to see that people are donating instead of doing anything which would trigger the repression the right would love to enforce.
This is one time that peaceful dissent through giving of time or money may protect our Constitution for a bit longer. But how easy it is to shred the Rule of Law. And how hard we must work to protect it.
Peace.
October 18, 2008 3:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
To sign a petition for Congress to censure her, go here:
http://www.censurebachmann.com/
October 18, 2008 1:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
I am actually thankful that Bachmann finally had her "breakout" moment. Its moments like these that finally shine the light on these cockroaches and allow the entire country to see just what the "base" of the Republican party looks like and supports -- because it just not something that gets done well enough by the MSM.
Moments like these are what finally brings the question to the American people: "Are you for this type of thinking, or are you against it?"
October 18, 2008 1:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
I posted the video of the exchange between Bachmann and Chris Matthews.
I also included the powerful follow-up comments from Katrina Vanden Heuvel, editor of "The Nation."
Finally, I add links to the petition drive to have Bachmann censured, as well as links to contribute to her opponent's campaign.
It's all at:
http://scootmandubious.blogspot.com/2008/10/censure-michele-bachman.html
October 18, 2008 1:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
The latest number is over $180,000 has been donated online to her opponent. Amazing....
She is only leading her race 42-38 with 15% undecided and the RNC is putting money into her race as are the Dem committee. Hopefully this screed and a big Obama win in MN will destroy this wack job.
Have you seen McCain denounce this? This is far worse than anything John Lewis said but McCain is out there today calling Barack's policies "socialist" while Barack drew 100,000 people to his St. Louis rally!!!
October 18, 2008 3:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
I suppose there's room for a few armchairs in the room.
October 18, 2008 4:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
After more than 24 hours, I still can't get the Bachmann interview out of my head. She isn't an "Entertainer" as many right wing radio hosts veil themselves as. She isn't a journalist on a major newspaper, or politically leaning blog. This woman is 1 of 537 people who makes policy for this country and votes on bills that become enforceable law in our courts. And she didn't state a single fact during the entire interview.
Think about how many war supplementals have been passed in recent years as programs like Healthcare for Children have gotten vetoed by the President.
Chris Mathews made sure that Ms Bachmann made her true feelings and unadulterated views be known to us. This was NOT a political ploy.
October 19, 2008 12:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
This woman just doesn't know when to shut up. From now on, every time she opens her mouth, I'm donating $10 more. I'm up to $50 so far. I have a feeling this is gonna cost me. I may as well just click to send $500 and be done with it.
I can't help it. I guess Palin/Bachmann would call me a "liberal elitist with money burn" from on of those "anti-American" parts of the country.
PS... I live in Boca Raton, Florida. So do I love America or hate America? I'm not sure. Can someone please ask the GOP and get back to me? Thanks!
October 19, 2008 8:25 PM | Reply | Permalink