I had to pass on a couple quotes from the book, Why We're Liberals: A Political Handbook for Post-Bush America, from Media Matters' own Eric Alterman. It's time for progressives to re-define what the Right has mutilated. Here's a good start.
What do our opponents mean when they apply to us the label "Liberal"? If by "Liberal" they mean, as they want people to believe, someone who is soft in his policies abroad, who is against local government, and who is unconcerned with the taxpayer's dollar, then ... we are not that kind of "Liberal."
But if by a "Liberal" they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people -- their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, and their civil liberties -- someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicions that grip us in our policies abroad, if that is what they mean by a "Liberal," then I'm proud to say I'm a "Liberal." - John Kennedy, September 1960
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Now here's another view, this one from Michael Savage, né "Weiner":
"Liberalism is a mental disorder, and it is also a cover," he says. "All this do-gooderness is a cover for very, very, very evil deeds."
He continues: "You say, 'Are you generalizing?' The answer is no. I have long tried to comprehend the madness of the American left. I have long tried to figure out what motivates them to hate the family, the church, the police, the military. In fact, why they hate the male, the patriarch. The answer is because they know they're no good, they're know they're dirty and are afraid of being found out. They're afraid Daddy will punish them for what they're doing."
Liberals and progressives, he says, are "degenerates" who are "on an express train to Hell."
"I am warning you that many of your progressive friends -- the permissive ones, the ones who laugh at conservatives, the ACLU types, the antiwar types? If they have children, I am warning you to watch your children when they go over to their houses."
Whoa, Michael. You're demonstrating the classic psychological defense mechanism called projection. All that hate you're screaming about is originating from what you see in the mirror.
Who ya gonna listen to, America? You had enough childish name calling and misdirected rage, yet? It wasn't those liberals that screwed things up so royally for the last (thirty) seven years. Now, go pay attention. As George Clinton says, "Think! It ain't illegal yet."
“Irreverence is the champion of liberty, and its only sure defense.” – Mark Twain - 1888
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About Me
- Dave Dubya
- History will not judge us kindly if we as a nation fail to defend and promote democracy. I am an old-fashioned American citizen who believes in our traditional values of freedom, truth, and justice. When I see our laws and government subverted and twisted into service of the undemocratic, powerful, corporate oligarchy, I must react with a patriotic defense of our values. I strongly oppose the ongoing destruction of what is left of American democracy and shall give voice to our common cause of freedom. I invite you to share my thoughts. I also welcome your comments, be they contradictory, corrective, or complimentary. Only one comment and response will be allowed for anonymous trolls. Repeated, unidentified, and off-topic trolling will be deleted as spam.
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10 comments:
Well said, Dave. Today's liberal movement is actually quite centrist. The policies of Bill Clinton were to the right of those of Dwight Eisenhower. Sadly the progressive wing of the Democratic party is a minority. However the Republicans have driven out almost all the moderates from their party and become an alliance of neocons and theocons. Their goals are world domination through military power, total control of the individual through the writing religious dogma into law, the creation of only two classes (ruling elite and working poor), and the establishment of one party totalitarian rule through subverted elections. Now is the best opportunity we have ever had to stop that agenda. But if McConJob wins and appoints one more activist ideologue, like Roberts, Alito, Scalia and Thomas, to the Supreme Court, what is left of democracy in the US will die.
Since the advent of that mistake for a man Bush I have found liberal to be a dirty word and I don't get it. I am labeled a liberal because I care about everyone and equal treatment. That use to be called being an American.
When I heard McCain classifying Democrats and our desire to take care of the down trodden I was apalled. We to them are America's enemy not the terrorists. The terrorists are the tool for the Right to follow their new order agenda!
liberals hate;the church? Render unto Cesar what is Cesars, and unto God the things that are Gods.
The police? Blesed are the peacemakers, the Army, blessed are the meak for they shal inherit the earth. How could a Christian support policies that leave the family without insurance or jobs, a police force that breaks the law in the name of justice or a military, paid for by the citizens used as an instrument to attack and kill tens of thousands of inocents(estemated between 150,000 and 500,000 Iraq civilans). Weather you believe in abortion, gay rights or health care for all citizens, how can you ignore the utter criminality of this government. God help us all,A.W
This might be to simplistic, but given the choice how I want my tax money spent - I would rather spend it on the well being of people, not bombs. If that defines me as a liberal, so be it.
alterman was great on colbert the other night. i want this book.
more excellent points herein, dave.
Tomcat,
I share your sense that this year's election is the last chance for America. What will we decide?
Jim,
You know about the Reich wing terror plot on America. Remember Keith Olberman's comment on the nexus of politics and terror? I still have not seen anyone else on national TV point to the 2004 pre-election terror warnings the Reich used to frighten (terrorize) voters.
Anon,
We know all the greatest Americans had liberal tendencies. Good to hear from you, A W. (Another Dubya)
Time,
Anyone with a conscience has the essence of being liberal. Many just don't know it yet due to the vast right wing propaganda machine.
Annie,
It was funny seeing Alterman tell Stephen Colbert Jesus was a liberal.
I think that one really rocks their foundation.
If caring about the poor, the elderly, the working people and about peace means you are a Liberal, then I welcome than mantra.
Larry,
Yes, and there is the proof Jesus would never be a Republican. He always spoke and acted with compassion for the downtrodden. He certainly never advocated war and tax cuts for the rich.
I would also add, given such a hypothetical topic, Jesus would not be a Democrat either. He would see through their hypocrisy and self-serving motives.
If Jesus were here today, we know the administration would treat Him as a potential enemy combatant, as they do towards all peace advocates. He would be under constant surveillance, at the very least, just like anyone else who refuses to accept Bush as the supreme authority of the planet.
when i was on vacation last month in florida -- i was sitting in the pool and i heard this 14 year old kid talking to some person about how he was proud to be a republican and hated the fact that "old people" were getting "handouts" from medicare
14!
indoctrinate early....
D Cap,
When I was 12 I wanted to be a Marine Corps aviator. I soon came to my senses when my brother went to tour exotic Southeast Asia as a guest of the 101st Airborne.
The little Bush Youth better have a big inheritance coming from Daddy or he will be singing the blues in fifty years.
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