Sen. Byrd compares Republicans to Hitler!

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

Re: Re: Sen. Byrd compares Republicans to Hitler!

Originally posted by DinoDoc
Frist and the other Republicans are a bunch a pansies, if they really wanted to threaten the Democrats they would start ordering cots instead of allowing these soft fillibusters to keep happening.

Agreed, my point exactly. The dems wanna fillibuster I say let 'em. Byrd's getting up in years he prolly keel over.

[GePap]

Maybe the repugs don't change the rules of the senate because sentators know that in the future they might be the recipients of the problems themselves.

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

Originally posted by GePap
Maybe the repugs don't change the rules of the senate because sentators know that in the future they might be the recipients of the problems themselves.

I would agree with that assessment. OTOH the fact that they haven't forced a fillibuster shows them to be weak kneed little wuss babies. Shoulda happened back in Bush's first term.

[Sprayber]

At least he didn't compare them to the KKK. That would have really been over the top

[Sprayber]

Originally posted by Sava
Byrd

Is he one Southern Cracker you can live with Sava?

[Sprayber]

Hmm, something I didn't know about the ole byrd.

In 1964 he opposed the Civil Rights Act by setting the Senate record for filibuster, stalling it for 14 straight hours. He was against U.S. President Harry S. Truman's integration of the military. He opposed the nomination of Thurgood Marshall to the United States Supreme Court in 1967--he wrote to FBI director J. Edgar Hoover, asking if there was information about Marshall's ties to Communists. Byrd led the segregationist members of the Senate in opposition to Marshall's nomination.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Byrd#Biography

Perhaps Byrd's affection for the filibuster is more for old times sake than a particular fear of Republicans.

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

I forgot him boycotting Thurgood Marshall

[Sava]

Originally posted by Sprayber


Is he one Southern Cracker you can live with Sava?

nah, he's a tool, I was just giving him a thumbs up for calling Repukes what they are...

[Boris Godunov]

Originally posted by The diplomat
In other words, Byrd has just said that Republicans are using similar legal techniques that Hitler used. How is he not comparing Republicans to Hitler?

You answered the question yourself. He's saying that, in the past, such actions have led to the arising of despotic regimes. Hitler used a lot of techniques in his rise to power. Some are still used by virtually everyone today (the big lie). Saying someone is using a technique another used is not the same as saying that person is the same as the other. That's a basic logical fallacy on your part.

Besides, if Byrd is not comparing Republicans to Hitler, then why bring up Hitler at all? Why even mention Hitler when he is talking about senate rule procedures if he is not trying to make a connection?

Byrd brought up others as well, and it was because he wanted to drive home the point that the "nuclear option" reeked of despotic tendencies. It is not the same as saying those using it are "just like" Hitler.

And you think that the "nuclear option" could lead to the same oppression of minority rights under Nazi Germany?

I said no such thing. But Byrd is using something every politician uses - it's called hyperbole. Gets people's emotions going, don't it?

Using Hitler--among others, note--was meant to rouse emotions. But stupid comments like "He's saying the GOP is like Hitler" will arise as well. I guess he should have been prepared for the firestorm of outrage from stupid people. Not smart on his part, to be sure.

I am on the right, so obviously I must be regurgitating talking points from Right Wing HQ, right? It must be exhausting to have all that bias and prejudice inside.

That, and I saw the same thing you've written splashed on right-wing sites well before you posted. You could at least be original in your "outrage." You do realize that GOP counts on unthinking footsoldiers like you to spread their muck about, don't you? Patsy.

[mrmitchell]

If the Republicans go for the "nuclear option" it will be like they took a piss on Jackson's grave.



Filibusters

Republicans whining

[chequita guevara]

I don't see what the problem is. It's not like the GOP aren't Nazis bent on conquering the world.

[DRoseDARs]

I'm still waiting for the outrage from the right over VP Dick Cheney telling a senator on the Senate floor during Senate proceedings to, "Go f*ck [him]self."

[Drake Tungsten]

OTOH the fact that they haven't forced a fillibuster shows them to be weak kneed little wuss babies.

Forcing a filibuster isn't nearly as easy as it used to be. The Senate would have to alter the two-track system it uses for dealing with legislation in order for us to get the spectacle of Byrd filbustering for 14 straight hours again...

[Dracon II]

I don't think Byrd was referring to the holocaust, but to Hitler using his majority in the Reichstag to legislate the Reichstag out of existence...

Byrd is simply following on from de Tocqueville and J.S. Mill by warning against setting up a tyranny of the majority. He's saying that despite the fact that the Republicans have a majority in the senate, they still don't constitute the entire senate... which means a significant portion of the electorate voted Democrat. By instituting a majority rules system, the will of the minority (still a substantial amount of citizens) can be ignored. Byrd is simply saying that the minority should able to check and balance, and provide meaningful debate.

[Berzerker]

I thought the Nazis were national socialists and the Italians under Mussolini were the fascists. Anyway, there is a fascistic element in the GOP and can easily be seen/heard by their rhetoric. Constant references to opponents being out of touch with America, being anti-American, against American values, etc. The attempt to equate themselves with all that is American while their opponents are not smacks of fascism and repeatedly shouting down dissenters with the "my country right or wrong" rationale is nationalistic to the point of being fascistic. Of course, the Demoncrats have their socialistic wing, so a pox on both their houses.