‘Second Amendment remedies’? That suggests treason
Sharron Angle, the GOP nominee for U.S. Senate in Nevada, has espoused so many radical notions over the years that she’s had to be gagged for a few weeks by her Republican handlers while they attempt a political makeover.
However, no amount of makeup or image polishing can disguise the ugliness of some of her ideas. Consider, for example, her statement about the Second Amendment and Congress a few months ago during an interview with a conservative radio host (audio available here):
“You know, our Founding Fathers, they put that Second Amendment in there for a good reason and that was for the people to protect themselves against a tyrannical government. And in fact Thomas Jefferson said it’s good for a country to have a revolution every 20 years.
I hope that’s not where we’re going, but, you know, if this Congress keeps going the way it is, people are really looking toward those Second Amendment remedies and saying my goodness what can we do to turn this country around?”
People are looking toward those Second Amendment remedies? If so, they need to be locked up as soon as possible.
Astonishingly, that viewpoint is being applauded in some quarters. For example, the editor of my former newspaper, the Las Vegas Review-Journal, endorses Angle’s viewpoint in a blog post headlined “What do you think the Second Amendment is for? Rabbit hunting?”
Before we go any further, I think it’s important to define terms. Angle argues that the Second Amendment exists as insurance against a tyrannical government, and I agree. But how do you define “tyrannical government”? To my mind, it would be a government that cancels elections, that refuses to allow the peaceful transfer of authority, that uses military force to keep itself in power or that tries to defy judicial limits on its power.
In the extremely unlikely event of such a situation, “Second Amendment remedies” would indeed be justified and I’d be among those trying to implement said remedies.
However, to cite “Second Amendment remedies” as a way to “correct” the acts of a duly elected Congress and duly elected president is to suggest treason. And that’s just what Angle and her ilk are doing. It is the self-indulgent whining of losers who can’t compete in the political arena and thus have to threaten to impose their viewpoints through violence. It is fascist in its motivation and intent, and deeply antithetical to concepts of freedom.
People who spout such nonsense are not patriotic Americans; they are not lovers of liberty or believers in the rule of law or self-governance. By claiming the right to impose their viewpoints through violence rather than the ballot box, they seek to become the very tyrants they claim to oppose, and wrapping their ugliness in the American flag does nothing to change its vile character.
In fact, it makes it more offensive.
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396 comments Add your comment
Scooter
June 16th, 2010
11:53 am
FIRST?
Scooter
June 16th, 2010
11:53 am
Lord Help Us
June 16th, 2010
11:55 am
This is why Angle, along with Palin, Paul and many others can only communicate with a like-minded audience. Their ‘ideas’ are quickly knocked out of the park once exposed.
Kamchak
June 16th, 2010
11:55 am
OH MY FREAKING G-D!
THE SWISS DEFEAT SPAIN!
Off topic by the way.
bleary
June 16th, 2010
12:00 pm
This been my question all along. Take my country back!!! Take the country back from who? Take the country back to where? Take the country back to when?
Doggone/GA
June 16th, 2010
12:01 pm
“Take the country back from who? ”
Wrong question. They don’t want to take it back “from” someone, they want to take it back FOR the poor, oppressed majority white man /snark
Scooter
June 16th, 2010
12:03 pm
Aw come on Jay,she just miss spoke!
Matilda
June 16th, 2010
12:04 pm
“…wrapping their ugliness in the American flag does nothing to change its vile character.”
Nicely put, Mr. Bookman.
Gale
June 16th, 2010
12:09 pm
I don”t know about “treason”. The only thing that surprises me about calls for revolution is the age group. It is usually the young 20-somethings calling for revolution. In my early adult years (Viet Nam era) I thought a revolution was needed. I would have been a willing participant. Fortunately, cooler heads and the ballot box prevailed. However, a peaceful revolution that would make a real impact on the political process could take us a long way. Our government, like most governments, is rife with corruption. Power and money will do it every time.
Lord Help Us
June 16th, 2010
12:10 pm
After a very fair chance to explain his recent criticisms of the Fair Housing Act and the Civil Rights Act to Rachel Maddow, Rand Paul (and his new GOP puppet masters) quickly figured out they needed to stuff a sock in his mouth. Thus, they decided he needed to be ‘too exhausted’ for an appearance on Meet The Press.
If Pauls’ and Angle’ ideas are so good, why can’t they debate them openly?
Paul
June 16th, 2010
12:12 pm
Sen Reid’s best hope for reelection was the nomination of Angle. Question is, will it be enough?
Scooter
June 16th, 2010
12:12 pm
Take the country back to when?
To when “God and Country” was allowed in our schools.
Fly-On-The-Wall
June 16th, 2010
12:13 pm
For all those World Cup people, this is for you – http://www.theonion.com/video/soccer-officially-announces-it-is-gay,17603/
Doggone/GA
June 16th, 2010
12:13 pm
“To when “God and Country” was allowed in our schools.”
It’s allowed NOW. Don’t you mean back to when God and country was FORCED in our schools?
Paul
June 16th, 2010
12:15 pm
LHU
“If Pauls’ and Angle’ ideas are so good, why can’t they debate them openly?”
Isn’t that what Rand Paul did before the Maddow cancellation? Appear on shows and answer the questions? Seems to me after a while it’s same questions, different show.
One Voice
June 16th, 2010
12:16 pm
This administration was elected by a large majority of the United States’ people, in contrast to the Bush election of 2000. Actually, President Obama won in a relative landslide, unlike the razor thin margins Bush won by both times. The people have chosen this administration and this congress. If they disapprove of their actions they will vote them out. But considering the small numbers of the over-hyped and dwindling Tea Party, that’s unlikely to happen; turnover this election cycle looks to be below historic norms (28 seats in the House and 6 in the Senate).
The majority of U.S. citizens spoke in 2008. Anyone who attempts to use violence against this government, elected by the people, is guilty of treason and the law should treat them as such. It is the very definition of being unpatriotic and unAmerican. The use of force makes it a crime.
@@
June 16th, 2010
12:17 pm
Obama’s the one with the gun.
Thanks to my husband’s obsession, I can choose from any of (what seems like thousands) of knives. Not gonna use MY David Yellowhorse collectible though. It’s the most valuable one in the collection.
Outhouse GoKart
June 16th, 2010
12:17 pm
Take that Country back from who? From YOU!
I wasnt aware there was a 2nd amendment…I thought they skipped it.
Paul
June 16th, 2010
12:18 pm
Scooter?
Whose God? The Catholic God? The Protestant God? The punishments and floggings and other such that were meted out to those who worshiped the wrong god or who deviated from proper observances?
Me, I’d go for the Greek or Roman gods. Those gods knew how to have a good time – but learning all their names might be too much for our schoolchildren
Outhouse GoKart
June 16th, 2010
12:19 pm
You are guilty of treason!! No Im not, you are! Nuh uh, you are. No its you that is guilty. Well lets step outside and find out just how it guilty…
Scooter
June 16th, 2010
12:20 pm
Don’t you mean back to when God and country was FORCED in our schools?
No,Doggone. I said what I meant. “forced” is your word.
Outhouse GoKart
June 16th, 2010
12:20 pm
@@ Sometimes ya can find really cool swords at the flea markets.
getalife
June 16th, 2010
12:20 pm
Treason. Send her to gitmo.
July 2011 withdraw from Afghanistan.
He got 20 billion from bp.
Outstanding action President Obama!
Eat that cons.
Matilda
June 16th, 2010
12:22 pm
To when “God and Country” was allowed in our schools.
Scooter, I was indeed FURIOUS when I learned that the President’s address to America’s schoolchildren was NOT shown at my child’s school in our heavily Republican (or is it tea party? I keep getting them mixed up) neighborhood. This is an excellent example of noisy traitorheads taking over and putting PARTY FIRST. The President’s message was straightforward, “America’s future will be brighter if you all knuckle down, finish school, and enter the workforce with an education and some goals.” But NOOOOOOO….. That was not in keeping with the “American sux with that *bleep* in the Whitehouse” crowd, of which only half a dozen or so needed to threaten the school board and principal to deny 2300 students the opportunity to hear the Presdient of the United States of America address American’s children.
As for God, FCA chapters abound in most of our local public schools, and nobody tries to stop them from praying to Jesus ON CAMPUS. Please look at their website and talk to ANY middle or high school administration for confirmation, so you can sleep better at night.
Dave R.
June 16th, 2010
12:23 pm
Ah. Always wonderful when Jay and the libs pull out the “treason” card.
In a just world, every member of Congress who voted for the health care reform act would be tried for treason. After all they all violated their oaths to the Constitution many times with those votes.
You wouldn’t know treason if it bit you on the buttocks, Jay.
Dave R.
June 16th, 2010
12:25 pm
Hey, Kamchak! Have you noticed that there have been a couple of posts about the World Cup on this blog this morning and . . .
. . . nobody cares!
Paul
June 16th, 2010
12:25 pm
One Voice
“This administration was elected by a large majority of the United States’ people,”
Reminds me of Cartman on Southpark: “I’m not fat! I’m big-boned!!!’
Hello, Dave R.
You just gotta explain the reasoning behind your 12:23 -
@@
June 16th, 2010
12:26 pm
Outhouse:
To be honest with you, the thought of hitting gone causes me to cringe. I was trying to cut an electrical cord once to repair a plug. Dang knife went into my hand, hit a bone, and I passed out, but only after throwing up.
@@
June 16th, 2010
12:26 pm
Oops! “gone” should have been “bone”.
Peadawg
June 16th, 2010
12:28 pm
Looks like we got wacko extremists on both sides. Atleast Angle isn’t the POTUS…..
Dave R.
June 16th, 2010
12:29 pm
Hi, Paul. Easy. Health care is NOT a right. Nothing to protect from the government’s point of view, if you believe that government’s role is protection of rights.
Each Senator and Representative took an oath to preserve, protect and defend the U.S. Constitution, and they knowingly violated such an oath by voting on HCR.
As treasonous to me as Sharron Angle talking about 2nd Amendment solutions.
professional skeptic
June 16th, 2010
12:29 pm
The woman is absolutely insane.
John K
June 16th, 2010
12:30 pm
“To when “God and Country” was allowed in our schools.”
Oh please, could you be any more whiny? God is allowed now. Any kid can pray if they want, they just can’t interrupt instruction or coerce other students. Same with teachers, they can pray if they if they want, but can’t coerce students to do so.
But I know what you really mean. You want to force it on everyone, and make it public, so you can have everyone look to you and see what a wonderfully devout, Godly person you are. Doesn’t the Bible talk about those looking to get their reward on earth?
As for country, I was not aware American history and civics were taken out of the classroom.
As for the greater point, maybe civics were taken out of the classroom, it seems there are just too many people who think tyranny = losing an election.
@@
June 16th, 2010
12:30 pm
I’m thinking that if we could just get rid of the far-left, the far-right would settle down.
Scooter
June 16th, 2010
12:30 pm
Hey Paul! Everyone’s “Creator” is one in the same,only different by name.IMHO
That’s the only way I know how to answer your question. ????????
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
June 16th, 2010
12:31 pm
Without credits, housing market index declines
Homebuilders are feeling less confident in the recovery now that government incentives for buyers have expired. Their pessimism could drag on the economy, which may not benefit so much from the job creation that construction typically generates.-Urinal
Gosh, letting people keep more of their own money, instead of throwing it off into the gaping stupid maw of government, causes more economic activity?????!!!!!!?????
Why, who would have ever thought it, um, besides me, that is….
Dave R.
June 16th, 2010
12:31 pm
Now, I have to go off and (as AmVet likes to say) pay for the occupation. But in my case, the occupiers are our elected officials.
Later.
TaxPayer
June 16th, 2010
12:33 pm
Oh Noes, Jay. You has it all wronged. The 2nd amendment was put there for when the conservative Republicans get in need of a constitutional (i.e., they lose power) and cannot find any other way to dump on folks.
DebbieDoRight
June 16th, 2010
12:33 pm
@@: Obama’s the one with the gun.
Could you PLEASE explain that one. Enquiring minds……
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
June 16th, 2010
12:35 pm
gitmo- In the deluded, psychotic world of liberalism, where do y’all think BP will get the 20 billion from?
Just askin…
Jay
June 16th, 2010
12:36 pm
So Dave, voting for health-care reform equals treason?
Even if it’s held to be unconstitutional, which I very much doubt, it’s not treason. Differences of opinion on political matters are not treason.
TaxPayer
June 16th, 2010
12:36 pm
This new Angle from the conservative Republicans sure sounds like more of the same to me. They just are not hiding in the closet quite as much as they used to.
Glenn Beck
June 16th, 2010
12:37 pm
A tyrannical government is one that forces you to buy healthcare.
That, my fellow Americans is tranny!
Paul
June 16th, 2010
12:38 pm
Dave R. 12:29
Seems your argument hinges on healthcare as a right. If it’s not a right, but just a good thing Congress thought needed doing, does that change your view? Doesn’t Congress pass lots and lots of laws that have nothing to do with rights?
Scooter
June 16th, 2010
12:38 pm
Matilda
June 16th, 2010
12:22 pm
I agree with you. I was just trying to answer one of “bleary’s” questions about what the tea partiers are talking about. I don’t know any tea partiers but I can understand what they are talking about. I think?
DebbieDoRight
June 16th, 2010
12:38 pm
Matilda: Scooter, I was indeed FURIOUS when I learned that the President’s address to America’s schoolchildren was NOT shown at my child’s school in our heavily Republican (or is it tea party? I keep getting them mixed up) neighborhood.
This is not new for the South. Back in the early 50’s and 60’s (Before “I Spy”), the south routinely did not play any programs that pictured blacks in a favorable light. As long as they were “subservient” or pictured as “beasts” without thoughts were they allowed to be shown. The “Grand Ole Party” is just keeping with its long tradition of pandering to the lowest common denominator of its collective members.
Scout
June 16th, 2010
12:39 pm
Jay:
Three points:
1) I agree with your position as follows ……….. “But how do you define “tyrannical government”? To my mind, it would be a government that cancels elections, that refuses to allow the peaceful transfer of authority, that uses military force to keep itself in power or that tries to defy judicial limits on its power. In the extremely unlikely event of such a situation, “Second Amendment remedies” would indeed be justified and I’d be among those trying to implement said remedies.”
However, once you get that far ………. it’s too late. Therefore, the 2nd Amendment is there also as a “reminder” to the government to not even ATTEMPT to go that far! Remember, if it ever gets that bad, not only will citizens be prepared to lay down their lives but a large part of the military would be in rebellion also.
2) For those of us who have ever taken an oath in military or civilian life (I have four times) that oath was to the Constitution (not the President, Congress or the Supreme Court) as at one time or another all three of those entities have violated the Constitution..
3) Do you realize from your study of history (and as compared to today) just how little it took for our founders to go to war against Great Britain? Only 10% were prepared to risk everything, 30% supported the war somewhat, another 30% could have cared less (mostly those west of the mountains) and yet another 30% were Tories who actually fought in organized regiments against the Colonial Army (and then they went to Canada ……………
professional skeptic
June 16th, 2010
12:41 pm
John K
June 16th, 2010
12:30 pm
“…it seems there are just too many people who think tyranny = losing an election.”
Amen, brother.
Outhouse GoKart
June 16th, 2010
12:42 pm
“and I passed out, but only after throwing up.”
LOL…what a mess…
Del
June 16th, 2010
12:42 pm
First of all Harry Reid is tyrannical and if the polls are any indication it appears that the good folks in Nevada are going to dump him. Now whether or not Sharron Angle is really espousing armed revolution, I don’t know. If she is, then I would agree with Jay’s commentary. It’s getting into the “silly season”, so her comments could very well been taken out of context by her opposition. I think the voters in Nevada are better suited to make the right judgment call.