June 21, 2005

Durbin


Since I'm way behind schedule, I'm going to turn my reply to a commenter into a blog post.

My indefatigable double dog arch nemesis Grax, in the comments to this post, says:
But that author's terminolgy: "BusHitlerHalliburtonRove-a-GoGo conspiracy", I'll be honest with you, makes me want to pee my pants. The reference to Hitler is particularly funny, considering what the righties are now doing to Dick Durbin for his statements--its as if the author is saying "Oh those irrational Dems, always invoking Hitler and the Nazis at every turn!"
Grax then provided a laundry list of folks who've compared someone to Hitler. A better, or at least more complete list is here. Well first of all, Durbin just apologized on the Senate floor a short while ago. The video is available here. Grax can write Durbin c/o of the US Senate to complain.

Now, let's see. Amnesty International says Guantanomo's a Gulag. Durbin says it's that and more. And while actual Democrat government officials haven't prominently mouthed those sort of words before Durbin (and I'm probably wrong on that point but I have nothing at the tip of my fingers to back that up), the BushHitlerHalliburton type of thing is commonplace. Did you see this? Only an example. I can post more.

But I love the notion that something is being "done" to Durbin. What's being "done" is exposing his words for what they are -- outrageous and far beyond merely being inapt. Durbin's apology still fell short but he'll get away with it. Grax's problem is that the guys he supports (and their supporters) all too often start chewing on their toes past the nuckles and when the podiatric implications of this are pointed out, accusations fly that the critics want the foot munchers to starve.

Let me make this really really clear. There's nothing wrong with criticizing Bush for the way Guantanamo's been handled. But by comparing apples with rocks, Durbin and his ilk has demeaned not only the dozens of millions killed by Hitler, Stalin, and Pol Pot (and their living survivors), but also the US soldiers who, he says, now repeat that butchery. That's the BIGGEST difference, if one must be found, between Durbin and the other offenders on both our lists. I mean, what does "We support the troops but not the war" mean, if you think the troops are running HitlerStalinPolPot gulags? Saying he was going after Bush and not the troops is gibberish. If Bush is running gulags who is doing it for him?

If "You're as bad as Hitler" doesn't really mean "You're as bad as the guy that deliberately put in place the mass execution of millions", then what the hell does it mean?????????

Posted by Peter at June 21, 2005 10:10 PM
Comments

Geez, we hit some kinda nerve here, didn't we?

Since righties always like to characterize what the left says in the worst possible light, the left needs to fight back. Your reply in this post again takes the pressure and attention off of what is HAPPENING at Guantanamo, and places it on something that someone SAID about it. Which is worse? Durbin's misinterpreted/misunderstood/poor choice of words? Or torturing prisoners? Which should we concentrate on, hmmm? Or is torture OK? Isn't it true that at least some of the "detainees" (in the Orwellian, we can't call them "prisoners") might be innocent? Might not be terrorists? What we do know is that they have been there for years and no charges have been filed.

You could say, we need to get information out of those people, to help us in the war on terror. But after years of captivity, don't you think we've found out what we need by now? Shouldn't we charge these guys? Try them?

What about the points I gave you about Republicans using the Nazi analogy? How come those individuals weren't hounded mercilessly like Senator Durbin?

The right always likes to turn it into-- "you are against the troops." There isn't a more horse shit argument anywhere. The Bush Administration wants us all to believe this simple but wrong equation:

George W. Bush = America

So that if you are against the President, if you don't like his policies, you must hate America! If you Dare to Criticize Administration Policy, you hate America! If you criticize torture tactics, you must be against the troops! What hogwash. Troops do what they are told; they follow orders. The troops are not the real problem here-- it is Adminstration policy that condones and promotes mistreatment of prisoners like this. To say Durbin is against the troops is a tactic. This is a tactic. As is the right's constantly harping on what their critics SAY, not on what they are SAYING-- you know, the old SUBJECT MATTER.

And its not just the left that is unhappy with what is going on at Gitmo-- a number of conservatives are now beginning to express concern about it.

As for Durbin's apology, it carries no weight. If you've been through what he's been through over this, the constant barrage of attacks from the well-oiled machine, you'd probably apologize too. Hell, you'd make up stuff to apologize for.

I already wrote too much. I should have simply used one of your techniques, Pete-- I should have just given you a link to read that expresses my opinion exactly. Well, here it is. Enjoy, and as they say in blogville, read it all:

http://www.startribune.com/stories/1519/5467045.html

Posted by: Glenn at June 21, 2005 11:31 PM