Submitted by Lawrence Rafferty, (rafflaw), Guest Blogger
Since Professor Turley is snowbound in the Winter Wonderland, the weekend warriors are back to bring your blood pressure up!
I have been critical of the Right Wing Mass Media for its continual banging of the drum of hate towards President Obama and the Democrats in general. Now, there are times that the Democrats and President Obama should be called on the carpet. For instance, for not confronting the Bush torture crowd and for claiming that the President has the authority to kill American citizens without due process, just to name a couple. However, the civility that President Obama has asked for in his latest speeches, have gone unheeded by many on the Right and some on the Left.
We all succumb to the emotion at times and say things that we shouldn’t, but the Right seems to carry these statements to an extreme and they are unapologetic for it. Yesterday, fans of Rush Limbaugh faxed death threats to California State Representative and San Francisco Mayoral candidate, Leland Yee, because Lee had requested Rush to apologize for Rush’s ill-tempered and racially charged comments about the Chinese President during his recent visit to the United States. Rush mocked President Hu Jintao’s speech and Mr. Yee “..said Limbaugh owes the Chinese community an apology for his “pointless and ugly offense.” ‘. http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/crime/2011/01/leland-yee-receives-racist-death-threat
You can guess the result of State Rep. Lee’s request for an apology from Rush Limbaugh. He continued his rant and mocked Rep. Lee on the next program. I know some of you will want to know why the authorities believe that Rush’s fans are behind the death threats. Take a look at one of the faxes on the link below and you will understand. Rep. Lee received similar threats in April of last year that are also being investigated.
I would put the fax on here, but the language is a bit “rough”. See below for a link to the faxes in question. Those who continue to voice their ugly rhetoric in the mass media have a responsibility for the result of that rhetoric. I for one think they are getting the response that they are looking for. What do you think?
http://www.sfexaminer.com/files/blog_files/Yee%20threat%20flier.pdf
Submitted by Lawrence Rafferty, (rafflaw), Guest Blogger
Goods and services will flow quickly to where they are needed? I guess the people of New Orleans after Katrina just didn’t follow your rules of economics, did they?
Gyges:
I would say government aid is looting. But then if you pay taxes the lines are blurred aren’t they? If you pay into the system then you are getting your own money sent back to you.
I think anyone engaged in a profession/trade which is a legal activity is honest. I think what you want to talk about is morality.
But there are so many permutations. For example during a disaster should people be allowed to sell a bottle of water for 10 bucks? I say yes because you will cause many people to bring water into the area and the price will go down. So I would say it moral to charge $10 for a bottle of water. Because goods and services will flow quickly to where they are needed.
Chan,
I’m trying to get you to answer what criteria you use to rate someone’s profession on a scale from “honest” to “Dishonest.”
I don’t know how much more clear I can make the question. I don’t want a list of honest ways to make a living, I want to know WHY you put them on that list.
O.k. so far we’ve got that anything legal is inherently honest? Or do you want to rephrase that? I’ve got to point out that receiving government aide is legal (assuming you’re not committing fraud), but I’m willing to bet that there are several types of government aide you consider “looting.”
you all might want to go to this as well:
http://www.summit11.org/?gclid=CJvDtffE5aYCFcNM4AodwSF31g
Gyges:
OK. Working at pet store.
I still don’t understand what you are trying to accomplish. If it is legal then by definition it is honest. Now we can debate whether something legal is moral.
For example I would say that charging someone 28% for credit on a credit card is legal but I am not sure how moral it is. But then no one forces you to get a credit card and not pay it on time.
Buddha,
Jimmy Stewart and Clarence!? Next thing we will be discussing whether Harvey was 6 feet tall or 6 foot 1 inch! 🙂
Gyges:
I agree with Mr. Webster!
“The thing is that the New Testament (not to mention the parts of the Torah stolen for the Bible), contradicts itself fairly often.”
While I am not a biblical scholar, from what I know the entire Bible is nothing but contradictions.
Buddha:
Good entertainment is hard to come by. I bow to your comedic genius 😉
Buddha,
Nah, I was just feeling superior and smug. I honestly just wanted to know what Chan felt was an honest way to earn a living. I have a feeling we might even have agreed on the principles, if not the specifics.
SL,
Every time I make someone laugh, I have it on good authority – the Gospel of Jimmy Stewart – that an angel, usually named Clarence, gets their wings. Or is that an angle gets an obtuse or complementary angle? I blame the lack of good drugs for my confusion. That and Jimmy’s stammering. As ever, one lives to be of service.
Stamford,
I always like to use Mr. Webster’s definition of Christian: Someone who claims to follow Christ’s teachings.
The thing is that the New Testament (not to mention the parts of the Torah stolen for the Bible), contradicts itself fairly often. While I’d love every one to be a “love thy neighbor” sort of Christian, the Like 12:52 Christian is just as Christian.
Gyges,
Oh no, I was not implying that you had anything to be ashamed of at all. On the contrary. I find your efforts laudable.
Buddha:
“Somewhere, a Fundie is bursting into flame.”
lmao
Buddha,
Personally, I always try and have views that even if the other person is leading me into a trap, I still have nothing to be ashamed of.
Tootie:
“What are you blathering about?”
That’s rich coming from you, the Queen of Nonsensical psycho-blatherings.
I didn’t bother reading your entire post as it is pointless. And boring.
The last thing I will say to you is this: You say you’re a Christian; your statements here contradict that. The only conclusion I can come up with is that you are Christian to “your kind” only, which makes you a hypocrite.
Toodles, Tootie.
Gyges,
No interest in answering questions, but plenty of interest in evasion and in pimping for his selfish ideological nonsense and their “upcoming events”. A mind is a terrible thing to waste. That, however, doesn’t stop them from doing so at Hillsdale “College”. He is a fine example of what rationalizing selfishness can do to a mind when it’s fed a steady diet of right-wing neo-conservative propaganda. It makes them make up terms, distort history, lie (to others and themselves), evade and regurgitate economic dogma upon command.
Tootles,
“And I should stop casting pearls before swine (as the New Testament teaches).”
Hey, now there’s a good idea: you realizing futility of your unfounded beliefs against the bright light of reason and telling yourself to shut up. However, I suggest you learn the difference between a pearl and self-rationalizing bullshit to cover your simple minded hatred and bigotry. It could lead to some interesting embarrassment for you and your choices in formal wear. A string of pearls goes with anything. A string of bullshit kind of limits you to earth tones.
Chan,
Nope, I had a question. Since you don’t seem interested in answering it. I’ll be done.
Gyges:
you have a point that you are trying to make with a question.
Gyges:
give me an example of a legal way to earn money that isnt honest.
I am New Testament Christian. And I should stop casting pearls before swine (as the New Testament teaches).
Matthew 7:6
Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
(Jesus said that).
And I don’t want to get rent.
for anyone who lives in the Washington DC area: 🙂
Please join Hillsdale College at our next First Principles on First Fridays lecture:
“James Madison: Father of American Politics”
Richard Brookhiser
Author, Founding Father
February 4, 2011
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
227 Massachusetts Avenue, NE • Washington, DC 20002
Lunch Provided
Well known as “the Father of the Constitution,” James Madison is less known for his role in shaping the American political landscape. In helping to found a major political party, organizing partisan newspapers, canvassing public opinion, and galvanizing activists, Madison contributed greatly not just to the establishment of the republic but also to its early political operation.
Richard Brookhiser went to work for National Review full time in 1977, and has been there ever since. He has written for many other magazines, including The New York Observer and The Atlantic Monthly. In 1996, he published his first biography, Founding Father: Rediscovering George Washington. Most recently, he is the author of Right Time, Right Place: Coming of Age with William F. Buckley, Jr. and the Conservative Movement. He is currently writing a biography of James Madison.
Please register to attend in-person. A recording of this event will be posted to http://www.thekirbycenter.org at a later date.