Bill, I do not recall you being offended by any mention of hitler in context of repulicans and the GOP in general and GW in particular. I think you made Michelles point. I do not think she is endorcing this as much as enjoying seeing the tables turned. Kos and you are offended and think this shouldn't happen but in the past 8 years...(crickets chirping) ww

Why should we be outraged about a swastika in Obama's "O"? Is it really a "wrong?" Sure, the Hitler/Nazi motif is thoroughly overdone. But if someone looks at Obama and thinks of fascism, they're really not so far off target. (Fascism: stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition).

I'm really tired of "kinder, gentler" conservativism...it's not helping anyone except liberal politicians. We have one party rule now, in part because conservatives are so meek and polite. Enough already.

My moonbat two cents for the day. Thank you.

http://www.rightklik.net/

I have a very hard time getting worked up over this when we've been subjected to this sort of behavior, not just for the last decade, but for DECADES.

(People must have very short memories if they think the 'Reppublicans/Conservatives as Nazis' meme is an artifact of only very recent history--Christ, I was being called a "Nazi" (for being unabashedly conservative) when I was in college in the 90s, long before most of the rest of the world ever heard of GWB.)

I would also add that anyone that was alive during Reagan's years can't tell me that they don't recall instances of that great man being called a Nazi, can they? And that was before there was any such thing as the Internet as we understand it today!

Well, the First Amendment guarantees free speech, even speech we disagree with.

The fellow in the pic is exercising his rights under the First so there is really no issue there.

Did MM see/know about and/or approve of the sign prior to the picture being taken?

If the answer is anything short of a provable "Yes" then there is no issue there either.

Is there a picture of Kos himself cozying up with someone holding a swastika for Bush?

The issue is not that there are hysterics on both the right and the left who invoke Hitler imagery. That is not in dispute.

The issue is that Malkin chose to snuggle up cheek-to-cheek with one. "Swastika Guy" was also allowed up on stage with the GOP minority leader of the Colorado state Senate.

The company we keep, indeed.

So completely over the top, your reaction to this. And for anyone who believes Obama is a "Nazi", you must be on crack. If anyone in office came close to that comparison it would certainly be Bush, who single-handedly eliminated many of our freedoms quietly with the Patriot act.

Obama is our President. Get used to it.

/www.verbalpaintball.com"

What Liberals do is say that others are racist, fascist, greedy, and corrupt. (Mainly Conservative and Libertarians). They do this while they actually are doing it. Liberals vilify the other side for what they actually do.

I wouldn't call Obama a Nazi. That really doesn't make any sense. Saying that he is marching toward fascism is much more accurate. He is instituting Socialism so fast we cannot even recognize our country. The next natural step in the political progression is Fascism. That is being a moon bat. That is being educated in politics and history.

http://franklinslocke.blogspot.com/

Mussolini: "I am the state!"

Obama currently enjoys an approval rating over 60 percent, meaning some people who voted against him currently support him.

Fascism? Ha. Losers. The GOP bullied the Dems throughout the 90s--as was their prerogative--and now Obama is doing the same thing to them and their supporters, albeit with much more pleasant rhetoric. You don't have a problem with fascism--you have a problem with democracy when your side gets the shit kicked out of it.

who single-handedly eliminated many of our freedoms quietly with the Patriot act.

You mean the same Patriot Act that Obama voted for?

Yeah, thanks for playing though.

I'd be tempted to dismiss this sort of thing as meaningless and get on with life, but I can't quite. On at least one occasion in the past, Michelle Malkin has raised a stink about something that essentially meaningless. The old phrase about petards seems appropriate here...

As someone previously said, I've been desensitized to the 'Nazi motif' over the past 8 years. Unfortunately, the phrase has been so over used that it's lost it's meaning.

For the record..
Mussolini was a Facist.
Hitler was a National Socialist (which adpoted aspects of Facism) as opposed to Stalin's international socialism ("worker's of the world unite").
Mussolini was an admirer of FDR's New Deal.
Obama is an admirer of FDR's New Deal.

Draw your own parallels and conclusions.

After eight long years of Bushitler and ChimpyMcHitler and Kill Bush and Assassinate the President Now and Jesusland and Kill All Republicans... its a little hard to take Nobama with a swastika seriously.

Its especially laughable that the very people complaining about 'the swastika guy' probably have gigs of Bushitler swastika pics on their harddrives.

Yawn.

Leftie idiots called Bush a Nazi, and the right got all apoplectic about it.

Rightie idiots now call Obama a Nazi, and the left will get apoplectic about it.

Rinse. Repeat.

None of them, on either side, ever seem to have an understanding of fascism beyond Nazis = Evil. Idiots will always be idiots. Pay them no mind.

On that note, Evil Fascist Muslim President Hussein Obama X opposes any move to bring back the so-called Fairness Doctrine (and rightly so). FYI

In order to elicit a comment, first there must be that which is of interest.

Do two wrongs make a right?

Now, finally, this makes some sense.

Any invocation or use of or reference to someone or some party as being a Nazi or the party of Nazis, only serves to cheapen the horrific actions of the Nazi Party and of The Holocaust itself. (If you've ever been to Aushwitz, and I have, you would not invoke this reference with such ease. I can f-ing assure you of that.) It is patently absurb to call Bush a Nazi, as it is patently absurd to call Obama a Nazi. Neither man comes even remotely close to being a Nazi.

That said, do I "get" the joke/irony behind Malkin's little bombthrowing adventure? Yeah, I do. Do I agree with her tactic? Nah, not really. It's not terribly amusing and it's low-hanging humor fruit at best. In the end, she is wrong despite her impish attempt at ironic humor.

But what I find patently laughable is the tsk-tsk-ing and poo-poo-ing at her "joke" by hypocritical leftists who don't get her "joke" or who attempt to point out her hypocrisy while being completely ignorant of their own use of invoking references to Nazis over the past 8 years. I don't know how to react to that other than, "Do you know how absurd you look either way? Apparently not."

The White House opposes the Fairness Doctrine today.

What will their position be next week or the week after?

This is, after all, the same President, the same White House that was all whipped up in favor of transparency and openness right up until they violated their own standards by not posting the Spendulus bill online and by signing Executive Orders under cover of darkness.

So, what we have to ask is, what is the shelf life of the current White House position on the Fairness Doctrine?

Hyper, show me in your poll where they only polled voters. What's that? You can't? Hey, what great world changing issues did your canadian government accomplish this week? You are pathetic to say the least. ww

Obama currently enjoys an approval rating over 60 percent, meaning some people who voted against him currently support him.

Or that poll was simply weighted heavier in a blue state like say New York or California? No, polls have NEVER been slanted in a particular person's favor or point of view in the past. That's impossible that the MSM and pollsters would do something like that.

Bill, Im sorry to say, but 2 of your last 5 posts about Michelle Malkin? 40%? She is that important? I agree with the guy in the last Malkin post you made. This is why WB is no longer on my RSS service. Seriously down hill as far as writing is concerned.

What I read into Michelle's story was not either approval or condemnation of the fascist imagery. It was the hypocricy of those that used that imagery for 8 years suddenly being offended by it when its use doesn't suit their purpose.

"Bill the hysterical driving readers away from WB moonbat"

Fixed it for you.

J

PS - following Mantis' link: "senior adviser David Axelrod and White House press secretary Robert Gibbs left open the door on whether Obama would support reinstating the doctrine"

Wow. Some assertion there. I feel better already.

With that, WB is off the favorites list as well (dropped the RSS feed a few weeks back). Good luck to Kevin & those invested in WB - keep bleeding readers.

Feh.

It is pretty obvious that the sign says O BAMA, with a swastika inside the O.

I'm laughing at liberals who would try to say that this man carrying a sign with a swastika is a closet Nazi, and therefore Michelle is a closet Nazi supporter.

If carrying a sarcastic sign with a swastika makes you a closet Nazi, then it's probably safe to say that the whole damn Nutroots brigade are Nazis, based on stuff like this.

And as far as I'm concerned, it's a lot easier to draw parallels between German National Socialism and contemporary progressivism than with the Republican party platform. So there.

I think a lot of people just need to get a life. Sheesh.

Michelle is wrong on this one. Unlike large segments of the left, conservatives are not racist, socialist extremists and we should always endeavor to take the high road. Comparing any American President to Hitler reveals a lack of understanding of who Hitler was and what an American President is. Let KOS, Huffington and President Obama side with the left wingnuts, we don't want any part of them.

I agree that the swastika inside the "O" is just wrong. It should be a hammer & sickle.

PS - following Mantis' link: "senior adviser David Axelrod and White House press secretary Robert Gibbs left open the door on whether Obama would support reinstating the doctrine"
Wow. Some assertion there. I feel better already.

Did you miss a few words there, Jess?

That was after both senior adviser...

Fixed it for you.

In other words, after those guys were equivocal, Obama came out as definitively against it.

It's easy to make things read the way you want them when you just pick the words you like, isn't it?

Bill,

I don't think this tiff is worth getting bent out of shape. This episode is just MM doing what she does best; serve as a lightning rod for lefty opprobrium. Her intention was precisely to elicit an unhinged response and DKos gleefully obliges.

In other news today, Dog bites man...

Willie--you're a moron. Seriously, if I were the parent of a nine year old child with your grasp of English grammar, I would be embarrassed and would hire them a tutor immediately.

To anyone else: for the past 8 years Malkin and the rest of the barking harpy set have gone apoplectic every time someone at an anti-war rally has burned an American flag or held up a Bushitler sign. Why? Because it's a really f*cking stupid thing to do. And now, she's doing it. My only point: there is no reason for anyone to take this person seriously, as she's a 1) hypocrite and, worse, a 2) shitty "citizen journalist". Don't forget that 3) she wrote a book in defense of the internment of American citizens during a time of war.

Just because she is incapable of being humiliated or experiencing the emotion we refer to as 'shame', does not mean anyone has to give her an audience simply because she's a leading voice of the conservative netroots. In fact, if anyone cared about the future of this component of movement conservativism, they would do well to shun people like her. There is a reason influential Republican/conservative politicians pay basically no attention to people like Malkin, whereas the liberal/progressive netroots is a vocal and important part of liberal/progressive political culture.

Oh, and Willie, thank you for your continued interest in the goings-on of the Canadian government. For what it's worth, certain Americans who are much smarter than you (Fareed Zararia) think Obama has something to learn from us about how to manage the financial industry--and he would do well to listen, as we're the only country that hasn't had to bail out our financial sector. Our five largest banks' profit last year was equivalent to the losses of the five largest American banks' earnings (if I understand the article that I just skimmed correctly). Also, our healthcare system is more efficient on a per-dollar basis by a very wide margin.

Can't wait to read the thoughtful response I'm sure this comment will evoke from you, oh Wildest of Wingnut Wankers. Will Widdle Wanker dismiss Fareed Zakaria for having an insufficiently American surname, rather than attempt to engage with certain notions that exceed his cognitive capacity by a pitifully wide margin? Stay tuned!

With that, WB is off the favorites list as well (dropped the RSS feed a few weeks back). Good luck to Kevin & those invested in WB - keep bleeding readers.

Well Jess, I just arrived a few weeks back so your departure is offset by my arrival.

I think you've tossed around your departure on a couple of other threads already.

We get it. You're leaving. The door is over there. See ya later.

Don't be a drama queen.

The Internet doesn't revolve around you.

And as far as I'm concerned, it's a lot easier to draw parallels between German National Socialism and contemporary progressivism than with the Republican party platform. So there.

Well sure, but only because the Republican party doesn't have a platform. Hell, the unabomber manifesto bears a stronger resemblance to national socialism than does the big nothing that is modern Republicanism.

I'm sorry, I forgot, they do have a platform: Tax cuts and Aerosmith songs about prostitutes. Lincoln would be proud.

whereas the liberal/progressive netroots is a vocal and important part of liberal/progressive political culture.

That's a real laugher considering how unhinged the left has been about President Bush and conservatives.

The left is unhinged about President Bush/conservatives yet you say the liberal politicians LISTEN to them.

Conservatives laugh at how unhinged the left has been and you reason that is why politicians don't pay any attention to them.

Let me guess-It's OK for liberals to call President Bush and conservatives names because it's the "truth" and conservatives are "dumb" and so deserve it?/sarc

The reality is that MM is a pundit, just like Rush Limbaugh is. If the conservative politicians don't "pay any attention to them" it's because of that.

It's to their detriment that liberal pols listen to and pay attention to your netroots and liberal pundits. You may have won, but it doesn't mean that your politicians sound any saner than the unhinged left that they "pay attention to".

Can't wait to read the thoughtful response I'm sure this comment will evoke from you, oh Wildest of Wingnut Wankers.

HB, you're better than this...

I really can't get worked up about this. Considering how the left has treated President Bush not only in the past but even now all I can do is snicker.

And it's pretty ironic that the left is criticizing MM for this considering they yelled and screamed about how it didn't matter that Obama was friends with Ayers, went to a racist church for 20 years and considered the pastor a close personal friend, etc, etc,.

It was simply "guilt by association" and those associations say nothing about Obama or his beliefs.

They accuse Michelle Malkin who is simply a pundit and they make excuses for their guy-who wants to be the most important and powerful person in the US.

This is really nothing except fake outrage to attempt political gain.

Clay,

Um, no, he's not.

Clay--I'm generally a pleasant (pleasantly annoying?) person--at least in real life--but the sort of verbiage that Willie chooses to smear in comment threads evokes a particular sort of cruelty in me. I guess I have a problem with someone who embraces ignorant know-nothingness as a political philosophy. (I mean to seriously compare him to the "Know-Nothings" of the turn of the 20th century. This would put him in such company as John Derbyshire at NRO, who was excoriated for holding this political belief-set by fellow NRO contributor John Podhoretz--among others.)

Sue,

Atrios bears more personal responsibility for the (temporary?) derailment of Trent Lott's career than anyone else. The netroots would not drop the "macaca" story until George Allen was forever shamed from the national public stage. Joe Lieberman--incumbent-for-life--nearly lost his job because dirty f*cking hippies (as web-literate progressives sometimes refer to themselves) had a problem with a "Democrat" cozying up to Dick Cheney. So their influence is real, and it's important to people with liberal/progressive values.

But the right-wing blogosphere has Dan Rather's scalp and he's a very important person too! Say, where's Fred Thompson these days? Sarah Palin say anything stupid lately?

Hey, Sheik-Yur-Bouty: I'm pretty sure Frank Zappa would think you're a jerk, but go on, lift one of his album titles as your name.

Bush in Office - Swastika signs...
---------------------------------
Left - Hey, it's freedom of expression!

Right - Disrespect! Froth, seeth, gnashing of teeth.

Obama in Office - Swastika signs...
--------------------------------
Right - Hey, it's freedom of expression!

Left - Disrespect! Froth, seeth, gnashing of teeth.

---------------------------------------------

My view? If you were all for free speech when they were used on protest signs referring to Bush, you should still be for it if the same symbology is used on Obama. If you aren't - you need to take a look at your supposed attachment to free speech.

If you were frothing about it being used on signs for Bush - and think it's perfectly fine for Obama - THEN you need to get a blood test for hypocrisy.

If you didn't think EITHER deserved it - then you're likely a hell of a lot more rational than the frothers (on both sides) and understand the context and history better than some bozo who thought it'd be neat to put a swastika on a sign in the hopes of getting media attention by showing how much you HATE the President you're using it against..

Lawson

Nicely put.

JLawson and I, in complete agreement. Weird.

Wierd damn world these days, ain't it?

;-)

Michelle is responsible for her fans sarcastic excess but Daily Kos isn't responsible for their content?

Isn't that content exactly what the fan is mocking?

"It's easy to make things read the way you want them when you just pick the words you like, isn't it?" ~Brian

Okay, that made me laugh.

I am sensing a pattern. When those on the left can't argue the facts, they use a new mantra.

Hard to now pretend those on the left didn't spend the past eight plus years calling Republicans Nazis? Impossible to argue that some of Obama's new policies are not intrusive and scary? No worries. Just repeat after me.

"Obama won. Get over it."

If you don't like that one, try this one:

"Obama won. Deal with it."

Brilliant arguments there.

JL, that's exactly right. Malkin would have had photos of any 17 year old "anarchist" wearing a Bushitler tshirt at a political rally all over her blog, and she would publish their name and email address too if she were able to get her hands on it so that her flying monkey Freeper fanboys could descend upon them with a gnashing of teeth and a cloud of cheeseburger halitosis unlike any the world has ever known.

So now we know--and deep down inside, perhaps even she knows--that she is no better than the wanna-be-Rastafarian/anarchist/revolutionary tools wearing the Bushitler shirts at antiwar rallies. Good! That's settled. Will she please go away now? She's frightening the children.

Hyper, is it that time of the month?

It is certainly interesting to read time and time again how you look down your nose at anything republican but try to present yourself as a knowing and open minded person. You stated in your comment that 60% of americans support Barry and you stated that even the people that voted against Barry support him. I told you to produce where it stated the 60% were voters from the last election. Instead, you dismiss, degrade and demean (ususal liberal behavior) instead of supporting your comment. Now I know most of us conservatives are dumb bumpkins compared to you, but please, oh great one, enlighten us? ww

"Is it that time of the month?"

No, I got promoted and then our workgroup got "streamlined" and the lazy f*ckers who went home at 5 everyday are now looking for work while I'm putting in 60 hours. Beats unemployment, but unfortunately it leaves little time for picking fights on the internet.

To your question: every poll--all of them--has Obama at +60% approval. Now while you are correct that voters would be a subset of the population as a whole, the degree to which they might differ from the statistical mean would not--could not--be much more than a few percentage points. You would have to entertain the possibility that by some miracle of mathematics, voters were excluded (or underrepresented) from the sampling of all of the polls that show Obama enjoying a very healthy and very bipartisan approval rating. Not trying to be a dick, but that's the line of work I'm in and I know that every poll cannot be wrong.

Republicans in Washington and the establishment media saw Obama stumbling these past few weeks as he made overtures to the party that was banished to the sidelines for 2+ years, but much of the rest of the country--independents and, of course, liberals especially--saw him acting in a bipartisan spirit when there was really no reason for him to do so. People liked that, saw it as a refreshing change from Preznit Bush and his majority-as-mandate.

This guy agrees with me, and I once saw him on the BBC wearing a very nice tie so he's probably correct.

And I don't think conservatives are dumb bumpkins. I think people who are wildly unfamiliar with what they are talking about are prone to embarrassing themselves, though--liberal or conservative. I think someone who is openly intolerant of gay America is guilty of moral error.

Just so we're clear...

Some blog envy there Bill?

Hard to now pretend those on the left didn't spend the past eight plus years calling Republicans Nazis?

Why any liberal would call someone who is for putting people in camps, without a trial nazi's, is just beyond me.

Impossible to argue that some of Obama's new policies are not intrusive and scary?

Ahh quite true. Mister torture preznit however didn't scare me a bit. I'm quite comfortable getting spied on while people are put in camps. Now giving people health care... that's scary.

Hyper, what is you being gay have anything to do with the subject?

As for spending 60 hours at work reminds me of my experience over the years where employers used to think a lot of hours spent on the job meant the were getting alot done but I have known many a co-worker who will spend 14 hours a day at work but talk, goof around and bother other people for 10 of those hours. The proof is in the product and performance only. ww

To this entire story... I give a great big... Meh.

I think if Michelle were to CONSISTENTLY push the Obama version of the "Bushitler" meme, then you might have a point.

In this case, I think it only serves to show the hypocrasy of all the kos kiddies (as well as our wizbang trolls).

hyperbolist,

It isn't the first time you've said that about my moniker.

I've heard of Frank Zappa, but couldn't tell you the first thing about him or his music, not to mention the name of any of his albums.

So, if you'll kindly leave mine alone I'll try to refrain from referring to you as hyperbullshit, which is all that comes to mind any time I accidentally read one of your waste of bandwidth comments.

-syb

Willie: who's gay? Everybody who thinks your opinion of homosexuality is appalling and wants other people to know about it? What does your homophobia (your categorical moral shortcoming that I enjoy pointing out) have to do with my purported homosexuality? Would someone who defends the civil rights of African Americans have to be black? Were all proponents of women's suffrage necessarily women? I change the subject because pointing out your views on certain subjects discredits everything else you have to say about anything, which is lazy of me but valid. (Example: we might do well to listen to arguments in favour of vegetarianism, but not if Hitler--a sincere vegetarian--were making them.) As far as pissing around instead of working goes, either you're paid to say stupid things on the internet or you do not work very hard. I probably bill in six to eight weeks what you earn in one year, and I'm half your age. But you're a rugged individualist who owns (but hasn't read) the Cliffs Notes for Atlas Shrugged and has all of the Ronald Reagan action figures still in their packages so I clearly have a lot to learn from you. Preach on!

SYB: I respect your derisive tone. It's what the internet is for! FYI: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheik_Yerbouti

It's a decent album, one of his more accessible. He has more recorded and unrecorded material than perhaps any other recording artist in history, from doo-wop to full symphonic arrangements. Interesting fellow--it is said that he once pushed live cows out of a chartered plane above remote Amazon villages just to confuse the shit out of the natives who had never seen a) planes or b) cows falling from the sky. For some reason that strikes me as pretty funny.

JMC -

The Terrorists held at Gitmo had trials. Not that you care about the truth or anything.

JLawson wrote:

"If you didn't think EITHER deserved it - then you're likely a hell of a lot more rational than the frothers (on both sides) and understand the context and history better than some bozo who thought it'd be neat to put a swastika on a sign in the hopes of getting media attention by showing how much you HATE the President you're using it against.."

And Peter F. wrote:

"Any invocation or use of or reference to someone or some party as being a Nazi or the party of Nazis, only serves to cheapen the horrific actions of the Nazi Party and of The Holocaust itself. (If you've ever been to Aushwitz, and I have, you would not invoke this reference with such ease. I can f-ing assure you of that.) It is patently absurb to call Bush a Nazi, as it is patently absurd to call Obama a Nazi. Neither man comes even remotely close to being a Nazi."

I agree with both of you. Well said. People who are going around flinging the words 'Hitler' and 'Nazi' in relation to Bush/Obama, in short, don't know what the f**k they are talking about. They have no idea what they are invoking, and are completely ignorant of what Hitler and his National Socialists were doing and saying. Disagreement with either Bush or Obama is one thing--that's normal and healthy. But taking that disagreement and trying to relate it to a fanatical, hyper-nationalist, racist, sociopath like Adolf Hitler is beyond insanity.

"But you're a rugged individualist who owns (but hasn't read) the Cliffs Notes for Atlas Shrugged and has all of the Ronald Reagan action figures still in their packages so I clearly have a lot to learn from you."

Ouch.

ryan a,

Fine. Hitler is out. Musolini is in.

Either way The One is a fascist.

I'll just call him 'Il Duce'.

Hyperbullshit. I love it.

Again, I say to Hyperbullshit, you look down your long snooty nose at those that do not think like you. Now, liberals do think they know so much, but how do you know my work habits? My position? You don't. Just as I know what you say can or cannot be true. You are probably sitting in the living room of a low rent house with a wife beater undershirt and soiled boxers eating cereal out of a box while SpongeBob SquarePants is on the TV. So, move on with the personal, unverified data, and stick to the subject. If you have a problem with my stand on homosexuality, please take it up with GOD. ww

Willie, did that name just occur to you? Shitsakes you're a thick one.

I don't talk to "GOD". Do you also have conversations with shadows or wood nymphs? Superstitious weirdo...

Hyper, that says so much about you. ww

WeeWillie's got a hyperboner.

Yeah, it's flattering/weird.

Willie wrote:

"So, move on with the personal, unverified data, and stick to the subject."

Coming from someone who continually throws around flagrant stereotypes about "liberals," you should take your own damn advice. Avoid the ad hominem BS, and stick to the point Willie.

Sheik:

"Fine. Hitler is out. Musolini is in."

Ok. What makes you believe that Obama is a fascist? Feel free to be specific, and to relate it directly to fascism, or Italian Fascism, since that's the comparison you are making. I am genuinely interested in hearing your views about this.

I took a picture with a clown once. Don't recall getting a case of "Giant Red Nose" or "Squirt Flower" from it though.

Lighten up. She took a pic with a fan that happened to have bad taste in sign construction.

If you have issue with MM, then discuss it. Don't do this Middle School treatment.

When millions of people marched against the war, the only people who partook in that demonstration who mattered (according to the wingnutosphere) were the fringe radicals who held signs decrying government (anarchists) or capitalism (communists). So f*ck you, Kurt. It's your turn to lick the broad brush of loserdom.

Sheik?

[crickets]

Hyperbolist - I'll have to turn down your offer of love making, but I'm flattered.