byrd comparison of republicans to nazis

[tlchristensen]

This is what Senator Byrd has to say about Republican efforts to end Democratic fillibusters in the Senate: "Witness how men with motives and a majority can manipulate law to cruel and unjust ends. Hitler never abandoned the cloak of legality; he recognized the enormous psychological value of having the law on his side. Instead, he turned the law inside out and made illegality legal." Not only is this an extremely divisive and emotionally charged statement, it is also misleading. While Hitler did exercise his dictatorship under a "cloak of legality," it is irresponsible and incorrect to suggest that Senate Republicans are using the same tactics that Hitler would have utilized. If one examines history and makes comparisons with current events, it becomes apparent that it is liberals who use tactics which Hitler would have appreciated. A major reason why Hitler was able to gain control of the Nazi Party was because he leveled civil suits against party rivals. Today, most of the civil suits in politics seem to come from liberals and be directed at conservatives. Just ask Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld about his lawsuit. Since Senator Byrd is such a history buff, he should know that it is innaccurate to suggest that a Republican majority is akin to the Nazis. The Nazis were a minority party for most of their existence. The also did not forward their political platform through legislative proceedures, but instead relied upon intimidation and paramilitary operations. They especially liked to use scare tactics, and recognized that their party became more popular as the economic and political state of Germany deteriorated. These "politics of fear" are very similar to the rhetoric practiced by the Democrats during the election of 2004. Senator Kerry's accusations about a "January Surprise" are now considered to have been nothing more than a flimsy scare tactic. Hitler wrote "Mein Kamph" while imprisoned for efforts to overthrow the German government. This was the most succesful propaganda engine of all time. In comparison, the most succesful propaganda film in U.S. history was "Fahernheit 911." This movie demonized President Bush, was accepted as fact by a large sector of the population, and was promoted as truth by many liberal supporters. The Nazis covertly burned down the headquarters of the German Legislative branch, the Reichstag. This act of vandalism was blamed on the communists, and in this environment of fear The Emergency Decree granted Hitler powers which he used to crush all political oponents. Severe restrictions were placed on personal liberty, free expression, rights of assembly, and the rights of the press. The Emergency Decree was also used to gain control of several German state governments. I haven't noticed the Capital burning or any governors being arrested, so I would say it is an exageration to say that the Republicans use these kind of tactics. Hitler gained full dictatorial power through the Enabling Act. The vote for the Enabling Act took place under a state of duress in which delegates voted in a room that was ringed with stormtroopers. Unless there are gangs of Young Republican thugs walking the halls of Congress, I guess it is an exaggeration to say that this is a tactic employed by Republicans. The most frightening parallel between the tactics of Senate Democrats and the Nazis is that Hitler was only able to come to power because of the inneffectivness of the German government. Hitler was installed as German Chancelor in a desperate attempt by Hindenburg to form an effective legistature. Hitler gained office because the German legislature couldn't get anything done. What have the Senate Democrats threatened to do if they can't fillibuster anymore? They have threatened a work slow-down so that the American legislature won't be able to get anything done. This is exactly the sort of thing that Hitler would have done. He would have degraded the effectiveness of government so that he could take advantage of the resulting chaos and discontent. I don't see what the big deal is with the fillibustering of judicial nominess. In my opinion the fillibuster is a waste of taxpayer money. Just vote yes or no and get on with the business of the Senate. It is the job of a Senator to vote, it is what they are elected to do and what they are paid to do. Stop wasting time in fillibusters, stop telling stories about Nazis, and stop threatening to shut down the government. Federal employees are fired when they go on strike. I don't see why it should be any different with elected federal employees. Maybe next election we should fire some Senators.

[Texas Eagle]

Allow me.

This is what Senator Byrd has to say about Republican efforts to end Democratic fillibusters in the Senate: "Witness how men with motives and a majority can manipulate law to cruel and unjust ends. Hitler never abandoned the cloak of legality; he recognized the enormous psychological value of having the law on his side. Instead, he turned the law inside out and made illegality legal."

Not only is this an extremely divisive and emotionally charged statement, it is also misleading. While Hitler did exercise his dictatorship under a "cloak of legality," it is irresponsible and incorrect to suggest that Senate Republicans are using the same tactics that Hitler would have utilized.

If one examines history and makes comparisons with current events, it becomes apparent that it is liberals who use tactics which Hitler would have appreciated. A major reason why Hitler was able to gain control of the Nazi Party was because he leveled civil suits against party rivals.

Today, most of the civil suits in politics seem to come from liberals and be directed at conservatives. Just ask Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld about his lawsuit. Since Senator Byrd is such a history buff, he should know that it is innaccurate to suggest that a Republican majority is akin to the Nazis.

The Nazis were a minority party for most of their existence. The also did not forward their political platform through legislative proceedures, but instead relied upon intimidation and paramilitary operations. They especially liked to use scare tactics, and recognized that their party became more popular as the economic and political state of Germany deteriorated.

These "politics of fear" are very similar to the rhetoric practiced by the Democrats during the election of 2004. Senator Kerry's accusations about a "January Surprise" are now considered to have been nothing more than a flimsy scare tactic. Hitler wrote "Mein Kamph" while imprisoned for efforts to overthrow the German government.

This was the most succesful propaganda engine of all time. In comparison, the most succesful propaganda film in U.S. history was "Fahernheit 911." This movie demonized President Bush, was accepted as fact by a large sector of the population, and was promoted as truth by many liberal supporters.

The Nazis covertly burned down the headquarters of the German Legislative branch, the Reichstag. This act of vandalism was blamed on the communists, and in this environment of fear The Emergency Decree granted Hitler powers which he used to crush all political oponents. Severe restrictions were placed on personal liberty, free expression, rights of assembly, and the rights of the press.

The Emergency Decree was also used to gain control of several German state governments. I haven't noticed the Capital burning or any governors being arrested, so I would say it is an exageration to say that the Republicans use these kind of tactics. Hitler gained full dictatorial power through the Enabling Act. The vote for the Enabling Act took place under a state of duress in which delegates voted in a room that was ringed with stormtroopers.

Unless there are gangs of Young Republican thugs walking the halls of Congress, I guess it is an exaggeration to say that this is a tactic employed by Republicans. The most frightening parallel between the tactics of Senate Democrats and the Nazis is that Hitler was only able to come to power because of the inneffectivness of the German government.

Hitler was installed as German Chancelor in a desperate attempt by Hindenburg to form an effective legistature. Hitler gained office because the German legislature couldn't get anything done. What have the Senate Democrats threatened to do if they can't fillibuster anymore? They have threatened a work slow-down so that the American legislature won't be able to get anything done.

This is exactly the sort of thing that Hitler would have done. He would have degraded the effectiveness of government so that he could take advantage of the resulting chaos and discontent. I don't see what the big deal is with the fillibustering of judicial nominess. In my opinion the fillibuster is a waste of taxpayer money. Just vote yes or no and get on with the business of the Senate. It is the job of a Senator to vote, it is what they are elected to do and what they are paid to do.

Stop wasting time in fillibusters, stop telling stories about Nazis, and stop threatening to shut down the government. Federal employees are fired when they go on strike. I don't see why it should be any different with elected federal employees. Maybe next election we should fire some Senators.

[followerofchrist]

Enough already with the Hitler comparisons. Neither party resembles him. Can't we just let him be dead? I am so sick of his name being evoked for political reasons.