January 24, 2011

"If you put a gun to their head and they had to choose between one or the other..."

"... they'd pay the higher taxes without a peep. That's because, on the level of raw power, they know how the world works."

That's Kevin Drum in Mother Jones on January 22, providing an egregious example of the left using violent gun imagery to make a political point, even after the Tucson massacre and all those calls for new civility. I found that via Matt Yglesias, who quotes Drum and even puts the gun-to-the-head business in boldface but takes absolutely zero note of the extremely violent rhetoric.

27 comments:

ricpic said...

Except that the world isn't run on the level of pure power...unless you're a materialist.

chickelit said...

That's one tightly snared Drum.

vet66 said...

Anyone who would use that imagery has absolutely no idea how to handle a weapon or it's proper use.

On the other hand, if he knows precisely what he/she is saying they are as psychotic and sociopathic as Loughner and the other lone wolf assassins who occasionally perpetrate murder and mayhem on innocents.

People who talk like this need psychiatric help and distanced from society.

X said...

if you put a gun to their head

it's not a theory Drum. that's how tax collection is actually done.

Anonymous said...

"Power, Baby, Power"

Have you ever met a pacifist Darwinist?

No - it isn't possible to be one.

MadisonMan said...

Okay, okay, I'll buy the magazine. I don't want the dog to die. Or is it too late?

virgil xenophon said...

chicklet----you know what they give to punsters like you? PUNishment.. :)

PoNyman said...

By pointing this out you're inciting violence.

rhhardin said...

Arm twisting is better.

Roger J. said...

The face of the american left--scurrilous bastards all

The Crack Emcee said...

Wait - I don't get it:

What's the matter with violent gun imagery?

Fred4Pres said...

I have found left to their own devices they will take zero note of their own hypocrisy.

Anonymous said...

The real point is that labor unions want to be able to point a gun at workers to "sign the card" because given a free choice and secret ballot, they lose.

Power through violence or the threat of violence is all they know.

Phil 314 said...

All the media focus after the 2010 midterms was and is on the Tea Party movement and how it will "split" the Republican Party. The under-covered story was the losses to the Blue Dogs. Democrats in Congress as a whole are now more liberal/progressive than their predecessors. There's no reason or incentive for those on the left or the right to be more "civil". "Civility" doesn't generate grassroots excitement; doesn't generate media coverage; and certainly doesn't generate donations.

This opinion piece is just another example of a now more left wing Democratic Party. And nothing get the left wing more energized than class warfare and "protest politics"

Power to the people; power to the people right on!

KCFleming said...

"If you put a gun to their head and they had to choose..."

Sounds like they have a plan.

traditionalguy said...

Social control by violence does not need to be continuous. All it requires is an annual or so violent attack that is said to be justified as caused by the victim and never redressed...but thereafter is alluded to for subtle control. A violent attack on totally innocent people has the greatest impact.

knox said...

it's not a theory Drum. that's how tax collection is actually done.

LOL. I was wondering myself when the last time paying taxes was optional.

PaulV said...

Mao said "Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun"
Nothing new here, keep walking.

WV clinge Lefists clinge to hate rhetoric of their heroes

Unknown said...

Actually, people are in favor of spending cuts, if you believe the polls.

But, yes, the Lefties are so frustrated and emotionally immature, they can't resist the violent metaphors.

PaulV said...

Crack, NYTimes was correct. There was a conference about global cooling in the 70s that worked.

WV: pergas a horse that flew across the sky powered by gas created by liberal hate speech

Bruce Hayden said...

The under-covered story was the losses to the Blue Dogs. Democrats in Congress as a whole are now more liberal/progressive than their predecessors. There's no reason or incentive for those on the left or the right to be more "civil". "Civility" doesn't generate grassroots excitement; doesn't generate media coverage; and certainly doesn't generate donations.

Interesting comment that got me thinking.

What is forgotten here by many is that the Democrats regained Congress, both House and Senate, by intentionally running a bunch of apparent moderate blue dogs in swing seats. And, they were then sent packing when they gave in to Pelosi's pressure to vote for the left's agenda, such as ObamaCare, the "stimulus" bill, and financial "reform" by the two guys who caused the problem in the first place.

The Blue Dogs were fired because they went along with Pelosi, for the most part. It was just amazing that it was any sort of surprise. Their districts were center to center-right, and their voters were never behind that sort of legislation.

wv: hyping - is that what Drum is doing?

Alex said...

When lefties use gun imagery it's just a metaphor. When righties use it, it's obviously a call for killing. That's Liberalism 101.

Scott M said...

The real point is that labor unions want to be able to point a gun at workers to "sign the card" because given a free choice and secret ballot, they lose.

Just like ol' Teddy Kennedy's MASS special election flip-flop, I have never, ever understood how card check could be sold as anything other than anti-democratic.

gk1 said...

I always laugh when I read liberal pussies like Drum using guns for a metaphor. You just know in real life he'd pick one up like a day old fish."Ooooh Icky!"

dbp said...

If you put a gun to their head, they would agree to both items.

jimspice said...

Darwinist? Ooh, be sure to not to spill any sassafras on your knickerbockers.

jsled said...

Er, "put a gun to [the] head" is a well-worn expression about forcing an honest choice. Are you really suggesting it is equivalent to, say, Michelle Bachmann suggesting her supporters should be "armed and dangerous" over energy policy?