by David Safier
Last week I broke tradition and put my Explorer column on BfA, the one about Jefferson's "Tree of liberty" quote that is beloved to lots of wingnuts.
Over at the Explorer, I got more comments than I think I've ever received, and none of the commenters are all too fond of me. I'm sure week after week they think I'm a liberal idiot (liberal with my idiocy?), but this column struck a nerve.
Here are some of the comments, excerpts or the whole thing. I'm sure these folks will say I'm quoting them out of context, which I am, but anyone can go to the column (which, unfortunately, disappears into the ether on Wednesday) and read the comments in all their glory.
" It has nothing to do with Obama "sitting in the White House." It has everything to do with watching the US Constitution being shredded and the Federal government taking over, what will soon be, a majority of the US Economy. A White House replete with self-avowed Communists and Marxists and a Socialist agenda, the likes of which this country has never seen! If you believe Jefferson would have accepted this in stride, you are the one that is deluded. "
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And in what ever "context" Jefferson wrote the sentence, the meaning is quite clear. "
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" At what point do you feel it would be appropriate to defend the Bill of Rights and the US Constitiution? When the Government says you can no longer write what you want? (Oh wait, that's already happening.) You simply haven't awoken yet because you agree with the Administration. While you have the right to your opinion, you have misjudged this movement. This mother and citizen will continue to speak out for Freedom in a non-violent way, but will not hesitate to defend herself and her family. "
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" This is the one of the most pathetic, preposterous pieces of "journalism" I have have ever read – a work of low brow, anti-intellectual ad-hominems and countless other logical fallacies. However, it is quite typical behavior of a person of the Liberal mindset, and is quite fitting in today's trash journalism media. I do not recall hearing Mr. Safier's criticisms of the bombings of military recruiting offices, and countless arsons, assaults, and burglaries committed against Bush and McCain supporters.
The use of implied fraudulant quotations speaks volumes to the man's need to apply filler to his articles, which are nothing more than intellectual diahrrea, in themselves.
Quoting:
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants…It is outrageous — beyond outrageous — that members of the right wing of the Republican Party have adopted these words which will always be linked with the Oklahoma City bombing…"No sir, ithis quote shall forever be linked to Thomas Jefferson!
Mr Dave Safier, you should be ashamed of yourself. You are nothing more than a puppet and agent-provocateur. Keep to your obscure, fringe blogging, where you belong, because you are unworthy of anything else. "
The last, which I quoted in full, is my favorite, I have to say. I've never been called an agent-provocateur before.
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It’s a proud day that I will always remember, the first time I was called an agent-provocateur. It was more than twenty years ago and I had the temerity to suggest that the psychiatrists with whom I worked should consider talking with their patients before creating a “treatment plan”. When they whip out that term you have really struck a nerve. Congratulations, David.