Both the Moveon.org ad about General Patraeus and Rush Limbaugh's "Phony soldiers" comments are examples of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution; Freedom of Speech. Both Moveon.org and Rush Limbaugh have the right to say whatever they want about whatever they want. People can agree or disagree.
Invisible Intangible Something in the Sky Bless America!!!
Where the problem lies (no pun intended, Rush) are the reactions. The republicans got all in a tizzy about the Moveon.org ad referring to General Petraeus as "General Betray-Us?"
Anyone notice the question mark there? It was in the ad, right? The ad wasn't calling him that, they were pre-testimony commenting on the fact that the White House was preparing the General's testimony. It was a hopeful - albeit ineffectual in the grand scheme of things - nugde to the General. A "Well, General, what's it gonna be? Your testimony of the president's?"
- What a powerful bit of punctuation, the question mark. Fox News uses it alot. Check this out: http://www.crooksandliars.com/2006/09/14/jon-stewarts-hilarious-look-at-the-use-of-the-question-mark/
See, the majority of Americans have had enough of this administration wiping their collective asses with the Constitution; specifically, the Bill of Rights. When it was reported - pre-testimony - that the White House would be preparing the General's testimony, the majority of Americans became doubtful they would hear the truth from the General, due to the Bush Factor*. The ad by Moveon.org was an attempt to voice what the majority of Americans were thinking.
SO, the reaction:
The republicans pass a resolution condemning the ad and the organization. Does that surprise anyone? The republicans distracted from the real issues, like they are wont to do. The war is going poorly? So what, a left leaning organization is taking out ads in the NY Times!! This must be stopped at all costs!!!
A waste time, money and the Americans' focus.
Now, onto Rush:
{By the way, for those of you unsure, the monicker "Betray-us" originated with Rush, referring to Sen. Chuck Hagel as Sen. Betray-us.}
Rush Limbaugh is not my favorite person in the world. Just wanted to put that in there.
I've read the transcript - the WHOLE transcript - and heard the segment of the show - the WHOLE segment. There's something hinkey going on with Rush and his comments. I believe Rush Limbaugh is pro-troops. In actuality, I cannot think of a single American that is anti-troops. Really, can you? Can you think of a single person you've ever heard say, "Fuck those soldiers over there!" or "The policy is correct. It's the troops that are screwing it up!"? Of course not. The troops are brave men and women that have sacrificed alot -in many cases, everything - for this country and its citizenry. Rush Limbaugh used the term "phony soldiers" with the plural for soldier. You know, that 's' he uttered after the word soldier. His excuses for what he said are mixed, edited for content and conflicting at times. He shouldn't have said it. If it was a mistake, apologize Rush. "I meant soldier, not soldiers. A slip of the tongue. Sorry to any that took it the wrong way. What I meant was the one phony soldier, Jesse MacBeth.". BOOM! See how easy that was. Over. Done. Next... Don't then go on and refer to Rep. Jack Murtha as a phony soldier AFTER the controversy started, then expect us to believe you when you say Media Matters is misrepresenting you for personal gains.
The Democratic Party latched onto this and did the same thing the republicans did; condemn the comment on the floor of the Senate. I find this sad. It smacks of well-you -did-it-to-people-on-our-side-so-we're-gonna-do-it-back. nanny-nanny-boo-boo!!! If the situation were reversed - the "phony soldiers" comment happening before the "General Betray-us" ad. The outcomes would have been MUCH different, don't you think?
I guess my point is this:
HEY CONGRESS, STOP WASTING OUR TIME, MONEY AND FOCUS ON THIS BULLSHIT!!! ENOUGH'S ENOUGH!!!
DEMOCRATS: GROW SOME STONES! YOU TOOK OVER AND YOU STILL CAN'T DO SHIT! STAND UP TO THE NEO-CUNTS THAT ARE CONTINUING TO RUIN THIS COUNTRY BY ACTUALLY DOING SOMETHING REAL AND NECESSARY! BRING THE TROOPS HOME! IMPEACH BUSH AND CHENEY NOW! THEY'VE DONE ENOUGH TO PUT THEMSELVES AWAY FOR A LONG, LONG TIME. YOU KNOW IT. WE KNOW IT. WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR. QUIT BEING SUCH INEFFECTUAL PUSSIES ALREADY! YOU MAKE EVERYONE THAT VOTED FOR YOU IN THE '06 ELECTIONS REGRET THEIR HOPES AND VOTES!
rEPUBLICANS: QUIT FINDING USELESS THINGS TO PULL OUR ATTENTION AWAY FROM THE FACT THAT YOUR PARTY IS GOING DOWN HARD AND FAST DUE TO YOUR HYPOCRITICAL ATTITUDES AND LACK OR MORALITY IN TERMS OF AMERICANS' PERSONAL LIVES. HOW ABOUT LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE THAT ELECT YOU AND WORKING FOR THEM INSTEAD OF WORKING FOR A FEW RICH SHIT-DICKS THAT WOULD WILLINGLY THROW YOU UNDER A BUS THE MOMENT THEY COULD!
...but I digress.
The Moveon.org ad and Rush's "phony soldiers" comment are both important because they exercise free speech and show us that our legislators would rather focus on things that really don't matter - meaning non-binding resolutions and condemnations - instead of fixing this mess the White House denizen has put us in.
Speaking of distractions, I watched Fahrenheit 9/11 again last weekend. Britney Spears said then we should just listen to the president and trust what he says. You think all of her latest antics - to put it kindly - are really a neo-cunt funded scheme to distract us more? A wild accusation, to be sure, but think about it. If that was true, would it really surprise you? What political affiliation is OJ? Anyone? Anyone? Something R-E-P.., perhaps?
ps. some of you may have noticed I did not capitalize the word 'republican'. This is because they continue to use the disrespectful term "Democrat Party". When they show respect, they'll get respect, dammit! Fuckin' douchebags!
pps. Just in case, HEY rEPUBLICANS, QUIT YOUR BITCHIN'. FREEDOM OF SPEECH GOES BOTH WAYS. HOW'S ABOUT FIXING THE DAMAGE YOU'VE DONE TO THE REST OF OUR RIGHTS?!
*Bush Factor - term referring to the effect George W. Bush has on something (ie. a topic, issue and/or event); most often, negative
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