"Is it appropriate for a member of Congress to speak in any context about being armed for revolution?"
Crazy Rep. Michele Bachmann Calls for Armed Revolution
www.alternet.org...
www.immelman.us...
It's obviously just rhetoric from overly-excited far-right lawmakers. It's no doubt intended to fire up the activists (and donors) who help
Republicans succeed.
But when Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) casually refers to elected Democratic officials as the "enemy," and nonchalantly refers to keeping her
supporters "armed and dangerous," it's probably a good time to remind Republican lawmakers to turn the temperature a bit. (via the University of
Minnesota and the Dump Bachmann blog.)
Bachmann appeared over the weekend on the First Team radio show with John Hinderaker and Brian Ward, speaking about the horrible stuff that the
Democrats are doing: "I'm a foreign correspondent on enemy lines and I try to let everyone back here in Minnesota know exactly the nefarious
activities that are taking place in Washington."
Bachmann also spoke out against the cap-and-trade proposals currently making their way through Washington, and how she'll be distributing information
against it at an upcoming event in the district. "I want people in Minnesota armed and dangerous on this issue of the energy tax, because we need to
fight back," said Bachmann. "Thomas Jefferson told us, having a revolution every now and then is a good thing. And the people -- we the people --
are going to have to fight back hard if we're not going to lose our country."
On the one hand, it seems clear that Bachmann was speaking figuratively. On the other hand, is it appropriate for a member of Congress to speak in any
context about being armed for revolution?
No, probably not. But this seems to fit in with a larger trend. We have one GOP lawmaker saying the party should emulate the insurgency tactics of the
Taliban. We have another arguing the party should position itself as "freedom fighters" taking on the "slide toward socialism."
And now Bachmann is throwing fuel on the fire of right-wing rage.
Obviously, Bachmann and other unhinged conservatives have the right to say what they please. But at a minimum, I think it's fair to describe this
kind of talk from elected leaders in positions of authority as irresponsible.
Now is this Congresswoman crazy or is she right?
Seems to me she might be on to something...
Being as she's a Representitive of the people she should be looking out for their Life, Liberty, and pursuit of Happiness...
...Not the interests of the Government...who are
supposed to be our employees...
Seems our Founding Father lived by this Credio...
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The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions that I wish it to be always kept alive.
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in
government.
We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that
among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Every citizen should be a soldier. This was the case with the Greeks and Romans, and must be that of every free state.
For a people who are free, and who mean to remain so, a well-organized and armed militia is their best security.
We may consider each generation as a distinct nation, with a right, by the will of its majority, to bind themselves, but none to bind the succeeding
generation, more than the inhabitants of another country.
When a man assumes a public trust he should consider himself a public property.
When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.
My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government.
Never spend your money before you have earned it.
Nothing is unchangeable but the inherent and unalienable rights of man.
Our country is now taking so steady a course as to show by what road it will pass to destruction, to wit: by consolidation of power first, and then
corruption, its necessary consequence.
That government is best which governs the least, because its people discipline themselves.
If the present Congress errs in too much talking, how can it be otherwise in a body to which the people send one hundred and fifty lawyers, whose
trade it is to question everything, yield nothing, and talk by the hour?
I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of
them.
Every generation needs a new revolution.
I own that I am not a friend to a very energetic government. It is always oppressive.
I hope we shall crush in its birth the aristocracy of our monied corporations which dare already to challenge our government to a trial by strength,
and bid defiance to the laws of our country.
Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it
into tyranny.
Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves are its only safe depositories.
A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth
of labor the bread it has earned - this is the sum of good government.
All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.
War is an instrument entirely inefficient toward redressing wrong; and multiplies, instead of indemnifying losses.
Commerce with all nations, alliance with none, should be our motto.
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Thomas Jefferson
Am I way off base here or what?
[edit on 3/27/2009 by Hx3_1963]