“There can be no high civility without a deep morality.”
The bright moment of yesterday’s vote on the “Ugh, this bill sucks” bill was Gabby Giffords’ triumphant return to Congress.
The House erupted in applause and Giffords looked marvelous, smiling, and strong. (Oddly, it was during the standing ovation that Michele Bachmann decided to slink into the room — bizarre).
The tone in Washington, however, is just as uncivil as it ever was. From Talking Points Memo:
Instead, Giffords returned on Monday to find things as bad as ever.
~snip~
In the most recent instance, Republicans are slamming Vice President Joe Biden — who stopped by the Capitol for Giffords’ big entrance — for reportedly comparing conservative lawmakers to “terrorists” in a meeting with House Democrats the same day. Biden has claimed it was a House Member who used the phrase instead, but Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) demanded an apology in a fundraising email to supporters. “Our belief that America should live within its means and not spend more than it takes in distinguishes us as patriots who love our country, not to be equated with the terrorists whose sole aim is to destroy it,” she wrote.
Michele’s outrage is disingenuous, given her statement that she wanted Minnesotans “armed and dangerous”:
I want people in Minnesota armed and dangerous on this issue of the energy tax because we need to fight back. 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. And I think this has the potential of changing the dynamic of freedom forever in the United States.
Um, Michele? What term would you use for a bunch of idiots who are arming themselves to fight the ever-looming threat of healthcare reform and the mortal danger that is cap-and-trade? Riddle me that?
Talking Points Memo has the rundown of the Beltway’s civility problem. Essentially, Democrats and Republicans are pointing fingers at each other: Democrats are likening the Tea Party to terrorists, while the GOP does little to dispel the notion that they are terrorists by watching clips from Ben Affleck’s movie The Town, in order to get fired up about the debt ceiling fight.
Last night’s vote was a culmination of weeks of rancor, accusations, and outrage — on both the left and the right. It seemed that the air was thick with tension.
And then there was Giffords:
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Again, from Talking Points Memo:
As Giffords left the House yesterday, a reporter asked Nancy Pelosi whether her vote might help the two parties put the worst partisan excesses of the debt fight behind them.
“I certainly hope so,” she said. “She’s a symbol of that.”
As I watched Giffords, I must admit, I teared up a bit. The tragedy in January occurred one miles from my parents’ house. I have walked to the grocery store where she was shot. My parents routinely shop there. Tucson was devastated by the events on that fated January day, and that devastation went almost entirely ignored.
What got lost during the tragedy and the subsequent healing process, is that Tucsonians were severely shaken up. This tragedy affected their lives in ways they couldn’t even understand. And once the media frenzy died down, it was Tucsonians who were left traumatized, to pick up the pieces — left to wonder if there was something wrong with them because six months later, they couldn’t read a newspaper or watch the news, or think about politics as a result of the fog of depression still hanging over their heads like a menacing cloud.
So, for me seeing Giffords’s grand entrance was a testament to the human spirit — to our ability to pick ourselves up after a tragedy and fight onward. To do our jobs. To do what we are here to do. To make things better.
Some say she was merely the victim of a madman and that “civility” had nothing to do with it. Others think that’s a load of horseshit. And still others aren’t yet sure who or what to blame, but nonetheless think that we could all tone down the rhetoric to a respectable level. For my part, I was solidly in Camp Two directly after the shooting, but I’ve got one toe in Camp 3 now.
Still, I don’t buy the false equivalencies that are being floated now, and I didn’t buy them then. I don’t adhere to the “both sides do it!” argument. Both sides don’t do it. (In fact one side recognizes the absolute necessity of gun control, while the other side wants to put a gun in the hands of every man, woman, child, and fetus, and thinks it’s an awesome idea to actually engrave anti-Obama rhetoric on an assault rifle.)
I also will not pretend to be above it all. Y’all know me. I’m no poster child for “civility.” I have a category on my blog called “Please Die in a Fire,” for frack’s sake. I live in a glass house and I’m not going to cast stones.
But I will say this: The reason my category is called “Please die in a fire” is that it’s my own irreverent way of signaling that I don’t advocate violence. I’m all for people taking themselves out of the humanity pool by engaging in a little self-immolation, but commit violence? No. I slapped a girl in sixth grade (I don’t remember why — she pissed me off, I guess), but that is the extent of my fightin’ experience.
I may irreverently joke that I’m going to “reach out and cut somebody” or that something or other “makes me stabby” but it should be obvious that I’m not serious. I understand that words have consequences, and I’m sure that, by now, my readers understand that, love it or hate it, it is a stylistic choice.
My irreverent hyperbole aside, if folks point out that something I’ve said is wrong, over the line, or offensive to a group of people, I’ll retract it 1 I’ve done it before! More than once!
Point is, there’s a time for snark and there’s a time for dooshery. The trick is to figure out what time it is, and act accordingly.
When a woman returns to her job after being shot in the head — when Gabrielle Giffords returns to Congress to do the job for which she was elected? That is not the time for snark or dooshery.
I’m talking to you Adam Green:
There’s something wrong with you, son.
To those echoing Adam Green’s sentiment? There’s something wrong with you, too.
It’s called “lack of compassion.” It’s also called “no damn sense.”
You’re an embarrassment to the progressive values you purport to hold so dear.
UPDATE: Here is Giffords’s press release:
U.S. REP. GABRIELLE GIFFORDS CASTS FIRST HOUSE VOTE SINCE JAN. 8 SHOOTING
Congresswoman travels to Washington to support bipartisan bill to avoid defaultWASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords returned to Congress today to vote in favor of legislation that will avoid a default by the U.S. government.
It was the first vote she has cast since she was shot and critically wounded on Jan. 8 while meeting with her constituents in Tucson.
“I have closely followed the debate over our debt ceiling and have been deeply disappointed at what’s going on in Washington,” Giffords said. “After weeks of failed debate in Washington, I was pleased to see a solution to this crisis emerge. I strongly believe that crossing the aisle for the good of the American people is more important than party politics. I had to be here for this vote. I could not take the chance that my absence could crash our economy.”
In December 2009 and again in February 2010, Giffords refused to go along with an increase in the debt limit. But this vote was substantially different, with the strength of the U.S. economy hanging in the balance.
1 Only if I agree that my statement or position should be retracted or amended, of course. Often people demand that I retract statements or positions they don’t like. That’s not gonna happen.
[via Talking Points Memo]
[cross-posted at Balloon Juice]
Sadly for this country, I am beginning to think we are up against a group of people to which “use your words” is not a meaningful response. Reasoning with bullies, even trying to, gets you hit again. And again. And maybe once more, because it makes them feel good about themselves.
Moral superiority is only worthwhile if we’re around and healthy enough to enjoy it.
Consider this an open declaration of utter disgust for much of the increasingly, overtly violent right wing.
The annoying emo-progressives, well, who really cares about them any longer?
Oh, and to Joe Biden: If you did say it, SAY IT AGAIN. (If you didn’t, start!)
Reason #345348906734906 why I will never, EVER call myself a “progressive”.
mistermix posted about this yesterday on BJ. the responses about how she was “exploited” to cast this vote really says a lot. as if she can’t make decisions for herself?
and the “great she came back, but she cast a bad vote” comments are just as absurd. i mean, so what! the point is, to the extent one thinks it’s a bad vote, her bad vote was no different than the other democrats’ bad votes.
derision aimed specifically at her is particularly heartless. it’s insane that people don’t get that.
she made a statement as to why it was important to her. let’s cut this “she’s a puppet” bullshit, can we?
This is why I like being a moderate libertarian — left-of-center on social issues, right-of-center on economic issues. Hardcore-left democrats (and likewise with their polar opposites) hate me because I often try to diffuse their absolute rhetoric with common sense points from the opposing side.
For those of you confused about my stance on things:
strongly in favor of widespread gun ownership (and a high level of training);
strongly in favor of abortion rights (less so when it concerns what could otherwise be a viable baby);
strongly weary of socialist-like economic policies – not because I have in my head some demonic spector of “SOCIALISM!”, but simply because the reality is that in a system where earners are punished while takers are rewarded, the tendency will be that the takers increase in number as the earners decrese.
I am not a tea-partier but I am selectively sympathetic to certain principles they embody, and sensitive to massively overblown charges of racism and so forth.
I support Giffords and hold the attack against her as that of a terrorist (or, more likely, an individual who truly became mentally unhinged). I personally believe the bill *had* to be passed in order for work to continue as normal – it’s not great, as everyone kept saying – but if they hadn’t come up with something to keep us from defaulting, congress and the president would have never heard the end. Firebaggers complain that Obama should have invoked the 14th, but as another commentor succinctly pointed out, “it’s hard to run for re-election while you’re being impeached”.
There is really no such thing as a “moderate” libertarian. It is by definition an absolutist stance.
If you understood at all that there is such a thing as a public good you would drop your “punishing earners” trope like a hot rock. Libertarians are pathologically unable to see that there are things that government needs to do for the well-being of everyone and it has nothing to do with “punishing” anyone. And equally pathologically unable to see that there needs to be a floor below which no one is permitted to fall, because the vast majority of those who approach that floor do not do so by choice, and because when they are not pushed into squalor- and crime-ridden margins, it is to the benefit of everyone, your self-contradictory moderate absolutists included.
On the other hand, it’s time for you stop driving on roads you didn’t pay the full cost of, and drinking the water you have not brought to the surface from your own well.
See how that works?
Pretty weak tea there, cowboy.
As for Giffords, yes, it was a terrorist attack – and one that would have been far less likely, to say nothing of less deadly, had firearms not been involved. Now, what was it they say again about one counterexample sinking an argument?
But I’ll wager you will gladly defend the right of everyone, even the mentally ill such as Loughner to own and use guns as they see fit, even in the depths of their delusions. (After all, he hadn’t been convicted of anything serious before that, had he?) Which in its own way, makes you a part of the responsibility for Giffords’ shooting, you and everyone who believes that somehow having more guns around is a good idea.
So thanks for nothing.
ABL, I’ve about had it with Balloon Juice. It’s infinitely depressing to think that they’ve turned firebagger, but it seems like most of the comments there for the past few days have turned nihilistic and purist and stupid. Glad you’re still around and still posting… but man, what a damn shame about BJ’s fall… :(
yeah. i don’t like it over there. there are tons of smart commenters and i learn a lot, but the one-note assholes are boring and bring nothing to the table. and my personality is such that i can’t read that shit and not respond, and given that most of the assholes literally do nothing but comment incessantly, it’s nearly impossible to avoid the assholes. and once i respond, it becomes a battle of stamina. Literally, a handful of people comprise about 80% of the comments on almost every thread. And they suuuuuuuuuuck. And now that the election is drawing near, there are new folks who suuuuuuuuuck and repeat the same shit on every thread. I’m talking, folks who are commenting like mad and who never commented before June.
It’s a pain in the ass. i’ve wasted entire days defending such wacky propositions as “don’t call Democrats house niggers.” I have spent too much time watching people tell me I’m too sensitive, or it’s not their fault that X,Y,Z, racist action took place, or that’s not really racist and gee whiz, stop bringing it up.
What’s the point? It’s a shame, because I really love blog communities, but I just can’t stand most of those people. People who have something substantive to say can come over here and say it. Most of the assholes never do because this isn’t “their turf.”
The funny part is, most of the assholes seem to hate everything about it: they hate cole, they hate the other commenters, they hate not having a reply button, they hate blah blah blah blah. The only decent threads are the Tunch and animal threads.
I’m over it. :)
Well, yes we do have a civility problem. In politics, all over the world, a lack of civility is a commonplace. Basically, it comes down to a failure to respect the beliefs of others; and, a failure to understand that you and your opponent may both be right. This is not ‘centrism” nor a belief in a “golden mean”. It is about: both are partially right. And, partially wrong.
The country has been through this before; and, will it go through it again on some other issue.
There are long term social and economic trends that we should start facing; but, we are not ready for that. It is more expedient to fight over a “debt ceiling”.
And, so it goes.
Why are you criticizing Adam Green for something Bob Brigham wrote?
Part of Brigham’s tweet was a re-tweet of something Green wrote.
I’m criticizing Adam Green for what he wrote. His expression of disbelief that she would come back to do her job — especially given her explanation in her press release for why she decided to come back and do her job — was dickish. His dickishness sparked even further dickishness (and that dickishness is ongoing. Just check Twitter).
Interesting that it doesn’t seem to bother you.
Cheers,
ABL
It would have been helpful if you had said that originally, but thanks for clarifying.
For the record, I didn’t say one way or another if it bothered me, but yes, what Bob wrote was pretty awful, and should not be condoned.
As for Green, you may not agree with what he wrote, but he wasn’t wishing Giffords ill will.
It is time to cut the ties with the progressive party. They are pseudo socialist with no place to go. They align themselves with Democrats, then admonish us for not being “progressive” enough. Let them run Cynthia McKinney and Ralph Nader for the next 10 election cycles, but do not allow them to be called “Democrats”.
This is not really relevant to this article, but I see that the left in the USA is doing what the left has done throughout history and in various places.
The left has shown a tendency to engage in ‘friendly fire’. Feuds, splits, arguments, etc. over arcane doctrine, supposed tactical errors, blame games, arguments over precedence, who gets the credit , etc.
That sort of thing is occuring ‘even as we speak’. It does not help.
“The enemy is that way, son.”
They can hate on Al Franken too..take some of their glue eyed hate off Gabby.
Senator Al Franken (D-Minn.) issued the following statement about his position on the debt ceiling compromise:
“As I have said all along, the consequences of failing to raise the debt ceiling and defaulting on our debt would be disastrous to all Minnesotans. Unfortunately, in a game of chicken, the player most concerned about protecting the full faith and credit of the United States is put in the most difficult position.
“As a result, the deal that has been struck is not balanced, as I would have preferred. It does achieve the laudable goal of reducing the deficit, but does so with only cuts, even though a significant majority of Americans, including a majority of Republicans, favor closing loopholes for corporations and tax increases on the wealthiest Americans to make sure everyone is paying their fair share.
“Nevertheless, I will vote for this package, because defaulting would have grave economic consequences for my Minnesota constituents. The deal does protect Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. And it will erase some of the uncertainty confronting businesses and the markets.
“I hope now we can get back to our job, which is to facilitate the growth of our economy and create jobs by investing in innovation, in our infrastructure and workforce, and by making sure our children get a world-class education so they are prepared for a 21st century economy.”
http://theobamadiary.com/2011/08/01/ah-someone-else-for-the-firebaggers-to-hate/
And, I read that Jan Schakowsky said on Rachel that she would have voted for it if it had been in danger of not passing.
“And, I read that Jan Schakowsky said on Rachel that she would have voted for it if it had been in danger of not passing.”
How heroic of her.
The Firebaggers probably already do hate Franken. A few years back, their forerunners were going on about how they knew he was too “moderate” because he didn’t yell enough. Priorities, huh?
Michelle Bachmann was talking about people being armed with words.
Read the whole thing, Angry Black Lady Racist.
Dear William,
Please, fuck off and die. ABL’s been black longer than the last week; and you, you fucking ninnehammer, have no fucking standing to try to lecture black people on racism.
Fuck you, fuck the horse you rode in on, fuck the mare that gave birth to the horse you rode in on, fuck the farmer who owns the farm where the mare gave birth to the horse you rode in on…
LOL
Look who’s talking about racist. Anyone who calls a BLACK person racist is usually racist themselves. So, fuck off racist.
As for Gabby Giffords, I’m not surprised in the least that the PL is attacking her for doing her job. They’re contemptible scuzbags.
Racecard.