I hope you can see by now that I used the term specifically and accurately, and that I can defend if challenged. So we disagree on the use of Nazi imagery. So be it, I can appreciate your point of view. But I would counter with this. The Left has used it for years, in TOTAL hyperbole, TOTAL misuse, TOTAL appeal to emotions.

We on the right see what Obama and the Democrats are actually doing. It actually, in real life, has disturbing overtones for which Hitler’s rise to power are a close and not coincidental parallel. And just because the Left has overused and misused the terms does not mean I should not use them.

The Democrats immediately and instinctively moved to brutality the moment they faced resistance. Now last thing: Google this and find out who said it, and when and where:

We cannot continue to rely on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives that we’ve set. We’ve got to have a civilian national security force that’s just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded.

And tell me what that is not pronounced “brown” “shirt”.

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/record.xpd?id=111-h20090107-42&person=400652

Carter: Hamas Critical To Mideast Peace

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/11/carter-hamas-critical-to-_n_214342.html

If I were president I would revolk Carters Passport……

Senator Reid (D-NV) stating “The war is lost, and this surge is not accomplishing anything, as is shown by extreme violence in Iraq this week”. (Not Treason, but definitely Aid & Comfort). Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN1943792720070419

Quit while you are ahead.

I’m not here to defend Massa, Boss Tweed, or anyone referenced above. You’re free to write whatever you want. If you think there aren’t enough references to Nazis, Hitler, Brownshirts, the Luftwaffe, etc. in the political discourse, by all means continue to add them to your writing and inject them into the debate wherever possible. I will stand by my opinion that we have too much of this thing already and we do a disservice to the historical record by resorting to such hyperbole.

It’s ironic in a way that you would spend a whole diary (rightly) admonishing someone for misapplication of the word “treason” and yet you see fit to come down so hard on me for requesting that we avoid casual Nazi references.

Anyhow, I’ve said too much on this already. Either you’ll take it into consideration or you won’t. In the end, I mean no harm. Just wish we could do a better job separating ourselves from the people who genuinely have no idea what they’re talking about when they scream “Nazi!”

I used the term ‘brownshirts’ exactly correctly, and you can go suck it if you don’t like it.

Your guys routinely called Bush Hitler for 8 years, with no basis. Your idiot referenced in this thread accused a sitting senator of TREASON merely for dissenting from the Obama party line. Your Boss Tweed has 44 (and counting) czars – unelected, unapproved according to the Constitution – with broad, undesignated powers. He summarily, on no Constitutional authority, took effective control of the finance and automobile industries, and is seeking the same of the health care industry.

So don’t lecture me about terms. You got a whole bunch of “look in the mirror” you need to be doing.

You better get your brownshirts busy. That’s a whole ton of people you need to start rounding up, pal.

I think the ADL often gets a bit upset when people start throwing those references around without really respecting the implications, and I think their reasoning is sound. The evil of genocide is at the far end of that scale, and if you start applying the Nazi label to more benign things, the evils of Nazism become more mundane.

Maybe RS posters can make more of an effort in this area. Just a suggestion.

If I were Grassley, I’d make as big a stink as possible over this. The country is already in a foul mood over the Dem’s “let them eat cake” attitude, and blowing this up is only going to help.

Since Massa made a public accusation, Grassley should demand a public appology, preferrably on the floor of the Senate. If he doesn’t get it, he should take Massa to court; the “public figure” defense doesn’t apply to specific accusations, and members of congress are only protected for what they say on the floor; recess nutroors seminar are NOT a protected venue. And, while I’m no lawyer, I think the “absence of malice” defense would fall flat in most courts.

Apparently the folks in MA have figured out that it’s too expensive to prosecute ultra-rich criminals, so they get rid of them by making them Senators-for-life.

No beer summit for Mr. Massa.

2010 will not be about the money it will be about preserving America!

Based on his recent actions, Massa is clearly in that category.

Even in NY, this guy’s very likely burnt toast in 18 months…