Healthy Debate Doesn't Involve Threat Of Guns (Dionne barf alert!!!)

IBD Editorials ^ | August 19, 2009 | E. J, DIONNE JR. The lunatic

[Kaslin]

Try a thought experiment: What would conservatives have said if a group of loud, scruffy leftists had brought guns to the public events of Ronald Reagan or George W. Bush?

How would our friends on the right have reacted to someone at a Reagan or a Bush speech carrying a sign that read:

"It's time to water the tree of liberty"?

That would be a reference to Thomas Jefferson's declaration that the tree "must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants."

Pardon me, but I don't think conservatives would have spoken out in defense of the right of every American Marxist to bear arms or to shed the blood of tyrants.

In fact, the Bush folks didn't like any dissent at all. Recall the 2004 incident in which a distraught mother whose son was killed in Iraq was arrested for protesting at a rally in New Jersey for first lady Laura Bush. The detained woman wasn't even armed. Maybe if she had been, the gun lobby would have defended her.

The Obama White House purports to be open to the idea of guns outside the president's appearances. "There are laws that govern firearms that are done state or locally," Robert Gibbs, the White House spokesman, said on Tuesday. "Those laws don't change when the president comes to your state or locality."

Gibbs made you think of the old line about the liberal who is so open-minded he can't even take his own side in an argument.

What needs to be addressed is not the legal question, but the message that the gun-toters are sending.

[Kaslin]

[jwalsh07]

Perhpas somebody should tell this weasels that some left wing kook actually shot President Reagan?

[Devils Avocado]

It’s not exactly symmetrical. If some liberals showed up at a lefty political protest with firearms, the rest of them would be scared and would get out of there.

[Migraine]

Guns on the street are a ‘threat’ only if you’re worried that you might be taking someone else’s liberties away. If the shoe fits, wear it. But don’t tread on me. I’ll bite ya.

[2ndDivisionVet]

"Try a thought experiment: What would conservatives have said if a group of loud, scruffy leftists had brought guns to the public events of Ronald Reagan or George W. Bush?"

Firstly, most leftists/hippies/peacecreeps are afraid of firearms and think that they're "evil" and should be banned. Second, many of the pro-Reagan or Pro-Bush attendees would most likely be carrying already.

[jessduntno]

“What would conservatives have said if a group of loud, scruffy leftists had brought guns to the public events of Ronald Reagan or George W. Bush?”

How about “Ready on the left?”

[Kansas58]

So, DEMOCRATS and UNION THUGS and ACORN THUGS can beat people up and spit on people, and that is ok, but -—

Conservatives can't protect themselves?

Besides, I think it was a DEMOCRAT UNION THUG, in at least one instance, who was carrying a weapon, and it was a Black guy, at that!

[popdonnelly]

But it’s okay for the SEIU to engage in intimidation and beatings.

[joejm65]

The fairly simple way to address this issue is to encourage liberals and Democrats who own guns in right-to-carry states to wear or carry their weapons outside of town hall events held by Republican/conservative members of congress. Then, watch our reaction. Mr. Dionne’s opinions will either be validated or refuted. Why wonder, when this can be settled within a few days?

[Kaslin]

Well you can not be sure if the guy was in a Union or not

[Envisioning]

The fairly simple way to address this issue is to encourage liberals and Democrats who own guns in right-to-carry states to wear or carry their weapons outside of town hall events held by Republican/conservative members of congress. Then, watch our reaction. Mr. Dionne’s opinions will either be validated or refuted. Why wonder, when this can be settled within a few days?

DING! DING! DING!

We have a post of the day! IMHO

[Kaslin]

Of course. They don’t have to go by the rules

[Still Thinking]

How would our friends on the right have reacted to someone at a Reagan or a Bush speech carrying a sign that read: "It's time to water the tree of liberty"?

By thinking they were better read than I did when their signs said "Bushitler" or "Bush Lied People Died" or all the other clever things they always said.

[Kansas58]

Well, the Union Thugs in St. Louis were wearing SEIU Union purple T-Shirts.
And, they were rather easy to identify.

[Wonder Warthog]

"Pardon me, but I don't think conservatives would have spoken out in defense of the right of every American Marxist to bear arms or to shed the blood of tyrants."

Actually, the real conservative response would be "I disagree with their politics, but as citizens, they have every right to keep and bear arms", as long as they do so lawfully.

[Malone LaVeigh]

Didn't some Black Panthers show up at a Republican convention in Texas some years ago brandishing firearms?
I know, it wasn't widely reported by the MSM, so maybe it didn't really happen. /sarc

[Cheeks]

Your post is definitely the post of the day! Nice one.

[CTyank]

Yes !! We have a winner!! The difference is - when the leftists bring guns - they are concealed because they intend to use them.

[GVnana]

Perhaps it had something to do with union thugs beating a black man?

[mort56]

Oh for goodness sake, E.J. Man up you frightened little twerp.

[Kaslin]

Could be

[Kaslin]

It was not at a convention, but it was at a voting poll in Philidelphia

"Security" patrols stationed at polling places in Philly

[Kaslin]

Actually, the real conservative response would be "I disagree with their politics, but as citizens, they have every right to keep and bear arms", as long as they do so lawfully.

Bump

[FrogMom]

Try a thought experiment: What would conservatives have said if a group of loud, scruffy leftists...

That's all the further I read.

Let me get this straight, if possible. One day the loud people are Brooks Brothers clad, then next they are scruffy (assuming he's attempting to have us substitute rightists for leftists).

I'm so confused, they are going to make my head explode.

[KarinG1]

Is this moron trying to convince me I wouldn’t defend the right of a citizen to keep and bear arms merely because his ideology differs from my own? Give me a break. It is the progs who think the bill of rights only applies to them, not conservatives.

[Neil E. Wright]

self ping to reply to this rooster-sucking communist later.

[Elsie]

What needs to be addressed is not the legal question, but the message that the gun-toters are sending.

INDEED!!

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(And just what IS that 'message'?)

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We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

[ctdonath2]

How does the author think laws are enforced?

[MrB]

Hey, EJ, you moron!

How do you think the government intends to coerce everyone to comply with its policies?

GUNS, you idiot!

[bmwcyle]

I have been threatened by a Union member at Norristown High School, PA protesting Clinton. If I can carry with my CCW in a state, you can bet I am armed.