American links

[erudito]

Venezuela now has over 30,000 Cuban advisers.

Pointing out that every President since Nixon has vowed to reduce American dependency on foreign oil, while use of foreign oil has gone up and up.

Not a good photo moment for the Obama Administration.

Various dissidents around the world are beginning to prefer President Obama’s predecessor

Comments

Dissent is patriotic

[tcpip]

But what the Tea Party is doing is beyond mere dissent. They are turning up to the seat of government, armed and calling for an overthrow of an elected goverment.

And imagine if it was a largely coloured protest movement!

Re: Dissent is patriotic

[erudito]

Nice piece from Tim Wise.

Yes, that is going beyond dissent. The question then becomes how to respond. A mixture of firmness on public order with enough response to isolate the more extreme elements is usually clever in these matters. Blanket dismissal is likely to anger and recruit, which is not good.

Re: Dissent is patriotic

[jordan179]

They are turning up to the seat of government, armed and calling for an overthrow of an elected goverment.

A few of them are carrying (legal) firearms, and they are calling for the "overthrow" at the ballot box of said elected government. The rights to bear arms, and of peacable assembly of this sort are explicitly guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution: Second and First Amendments, respectively.

And imagine if it was a largely coloured protest movement!

(*imagines it*)

Yes? It would still be constitutional, and legal.

Re: Dissent is patriotic

[tcpip]

I think you'll find advocacy to commit a crime is still illegal in the U.S. regardless of the constitution.

Re: Dissent is patriotic

[jordan179]

I think you'll find advocacy to commit a crime is still illegal in the U.S. regardless of the constitution.

Since when is advocacy to "overthrow" a government by voting it out considered criminal?

Re: Dissent is patriotic

[tcpip]

You tell me.

http://scienceblogs.com/mikethemadbiologist/2009/11/the_republican_establishment_i.php

Perhaps you also forgot the death threats etc post the passing of the health care bill.