Why We Let Rush Live

There's a coffee place I go to, every morning. You might imagine that in LA, it could be very easy to surround myself with only like-minded leftists, but you'd be surprised how many people are across the political persuasion, even here in crazy Cali-for-nia. Still, someone on my side of the bench had made a comment, a while ago, 'How was it for eight years, with everything George Bush did, no one ever took the guy out?'

"We're kind," said another person. "We would never do that. We don't shoot guns." Then, "Lucky guy."

In 2004, a Texas couple wearing anti-Bush T-shirts was arrested at a Bush event. It happened on the Fourth of July. Ironically, they said "America the Beautiful" was playing over the loudspeakers as they were led out.

Yet people carrying guns are now being escorted into Presidential rallies. When did this become acceptable, allowable, okay? I know we're the nice guys. We don't carry guns. We don't even want people to be sick.

The ACLU is investigating a case in Pennsylvania, where a man was arrested after giving another driver and a cop the finger. He was later cited for 'Disorderly Conduct.'

Yet -- in cities and states across the land -- that man's fellow citizens are carrying loaded weapons into rallies where there is a President. And being seated. Hmm. How high does one really have to fly to hit 'Disorderly?' How many Hitler posters does that take??? I think it's way past time -- dangerously past, in fact -- for us to stop being such nice guys, start showing legitimate outrage when people do things that are outrageous.

Case in point. I happened to listen to Rush Limbaugh, last week (wiping spittle). It was on 9/11. It was completely random that I did. My late Grandmother, with whom I joined the ACLU, listened to him, years ago, when she was wheel-chair bound and blind. She'd listen the whole day. "It's very impo...tant that we monitah them!" she would declare. "How can you stand it?" I would reply. But in my way, I, too, listen to both sides. I try to listen to Fox news, because I already know what I think. But as an actual human, I do find that I have to change the channel after just a little while.

Still, oddly, I turned Rush on, last week. I literally happened to hear him say (a longer version) of the following words. "Pres. Obama spoke to the schoolchildren, and he told them to do public service. Now, you know what that means. Community service is one of the baby steps to fascism. And... President Obama is un-American." Un - American. "He hates America," Rush has freely said.

Strangely, Rush is someone I have in the past -- in my 'fair' leftist manner -- even defended. "It's a marketplace. And he's allowed to -- evil character or not -- spout over the marketplace as long as people tune him in. If insulting Michael J. Fox was not enough to get (unkind) people to tune him out, well, that's the way a market works."

In fact, there's been only one time that 'fair I' believed Rush Limbaugh crossed a line so egregious that he should have been immediately sanctioned and punished. (I know you're hanging onto your hats. What on earth could have so crossed a line that Ms. Kum-bah-yah was ready to file a lawsuit)?

That's the time, during the 2008 election, when Rush Limbaugh actually told his Republican listeners in Texas to sign up for the Democratic primary and vote for Hillary Clinton, so they could mess up the process. Yes. That's what they do, folks. That was treasonous behavior, by the way, at least to crazy pinko leftist me, a person who reveres the voting process.

Barack Obama is our President. He was fairly and legally elected. I spent much of my childhood with Presidents I didn't care for (Tricky Dick), but I'd salute both them and the flag. We watched on a tiny B&W TV in our public school auditorium, where we watched the NASA moon landings. I was taught to respect our country.

And yet people are freely walking around with guns. How is that alright?

Why is it OKAY to shout in the House of Representatives? Who raised such people? Uninsured sick wolves? I, like other fellow... liberals, you might say, was taught what it is to be polite. Why are we this way? Should we stop? If I thought, by the way, Rep. Joe Wilson's outburst had been anything but calculated and politically motivated... Well, that might have been different. But it wasn't. It wasn't right.

Rush Limbaugh, that same day, also called Obama's school speech request for our kids' to perform public service: "Socialism." Really. Really? Sounded to me like code for the Peace Corp, and when one crazy kid actually asked if maybe someday he, too, could be President, Barack Obama said, "Well, I want you to be careful what you post on Facebook." Woo -woo! You're one scary fella, Mr. President! (Now, Nixon said a bunch of funny stuff about dirty Jews).

I turned Rush off, as I always have to. Randi Rhodes and Ron Reagan (whom I heart) later played the same clip. We talk a lot about disrespect. We are too freakin' kind.

George W. Bush -- maybe at the very soiree where he had the couple arrested for wearing the anti-Bush T-Shirts ("Love America, Hate Bush", it read) -- George W. Bush made jokes about looking for the Weapons of Mass Destruction (you remember, don't you? You remember, he looked under the podium and laughed)? And we let him live.

I would never advocate harming Rush or his kind. We are too kind. But I think it's time to stop behaving like ourselves. I think Rush and anyone who brings a GUN TO A RALLY needs to be roughed up, and not just by Michael J. Fox, but by patriots everywhere, who will take him down.

I think someone's going to get hurt. Because we're too nice.

Follow Jodi Lampert on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Jodila

Comments

[QueenCeleste]

How can such a dreadful man as RL (I can't bring myself to say or spell out his name) be so beloved by so many Americans? It is a scary thought, as is the idea it's okay to carry guns into rallies. What on earth is wrong with such people?! Ah well, one can only imagine such a mentality--and hope they live very, very far away from us!

[Jodi Lampert - Huffpost Blogger]

I've actually been quite impressed by the response to him wanting to buy into the NFL. It's quiet, thoughtful, not disrespectful -- what used to be referred to as 'polite society.'

[Jodi Lampert - Huffpost Blogger]

Thanks for all your comments. You have given me something to think about. Because if I am the opposite of Rush, let's say, and just spewing stuff, that's no good, either. I will definitely think about that. But I hope you understand that what I am advocating is the polar opposite of that.

We can vent, as 'liberals' do, but we'd just wind up tossing our computers at each other. (Well, not me, because I've got a Mac, but maybe you're PC). I fear a scenario like what you've described above, but I see these people getting all stirred up with no idea why. When interviewed, I don't get a sense that I get a clear thought process in their hatred. If I did, would that make it better? Worse? I don't know. Someone made the comment about a sign saying, "Not loaded... THIS TIME." Is that really all right? Now, I'll make your argument for you... that I'm the one that said we all have a right to carry and express every opinion we want. I agree. I'd march for that guy's right to carry that sign. But that doesn't make it a cool sign to carry. In MY opinion. Again, that's an opinion where, like most, I'm skating on both sides, for a moment. But I just want to know at what point do YOU find a sign like that uncool?
Final question, are you on a PC? (Now, I'm just stirring up trouble). Thanks again.

[OdinsEye]

I understand venting, but do not assume that all liberals are pacificists. For the record, I know many libs who own firearms.

The "Not loaded, This time" sign may not have been "cool', but it is a form of political speech and so long as it does not contain a direct threat, it is protected, much like flag burning.

And I have a Mac, a couple PCs, and this particular box is Linux.

[OdinsEye]

Oh, and just an FYI: Although I will defend people's rights to say things I do not agree with, please be aware that using electronic communications to advocate violence or communicate threats can be a violation of federal laws. In your suggestion that people "rough up" Rush or people who carry firearms to rallies, you are skating on dangerous ice, and while what you are doing is mostly venting and engaging in rhetoric, I would simply caution to use care when doing so via electronic media. Additionally there is always the concern that someone actually takes your advice to heart and acts on it, in which you could be held responsible. Finally, by far the worst scenario is that one of your readers takes your advice and acts on it and gets killed or kills someone in the process.

[chipkeyes]

The guns in question may be technically legal, but it's the implied threat of use, meant to intimidate, that chills. I saw a photo of some bozo with a gun and a sign that read "Not loaded...THIS time." Not hard to read between THOSE lines. Guns aside, I agree that the current lack of civility is disheartening and really poisons the atmosphere. As intended. I am amazed how readily much of America is to be frightened and whipped into an irrational frenzy, led around by the nose. Apparently Truth is not just the first victim of War, it is the also the first victim of today's Republican extremists. BTW, forget moderates, are there ANY even-handed Republicans left beside Olympia Snow? All I'm hearing is hysteria and shameless hypocrisy. I got whiplash being surprisingly moved by Orin Hatch fondly speaking of his "dear friend" Ted Kennedy and then within days gleefully bludgeoning the essence of Kennedy's healthcare ideals.

[OdinsEye]

"The guns in question may be technically legal"

The firearms were definitely legal. So too was carrying them.

[Ohio9]

there was no implied threat of use. Just legally carrying a gun does not constitute an attempt to threaten or coerce. Just because you find it unsettling doesn't make it an arrestable offense.

[Jodi Lampert - Huffpost Blogger]

Carrying a gun is legal. So is wearing a t-shirt, for that matter. Or, carrying a sign. I'm not sure what it was in the "Love America, Hate Bush" t-shirts that caused those people to be removed from that Bush event. But I'm pretty sure wearing them was absolutely legal. They weren't even obscene. But, since the event is somewhat questionable -- exactly what happened to those two people is not clear -- I will say this. I could never for the last number of years, wrap my head around this. That people who used to show up at Bush speeches with protest signs were forced by the Secret Service to stand two miles away. I remember I couldn't get over that. Expressing your opinion is both our privilege and our right. Again, both legally and morally right (in my opinion).
You know, I hate that this always turns so partisan. I hate that. But I also hated being called un-patriotic by my own government, when actually, this country does make me cry.

[OdinsEye]

The people who were arrested were protesting in an area where it was not allowed, in violation of the law.

The people who have been bring firearms to events have been, for the most part, in full-compliance with the law. In the one case that I know of where the person with a firearm was not in compliance with the law, he was arrested, just as were the protestors you mentioned. And actually the charges against him were much more serious than the charges against the protestors you mention.

Also, these people with firearms were never allowed near the President. They were not allowed in the meeting. They were not allowed in the building where the meeting took place. They were not allowed on the property containing the building where the meeting took place. In fact, they were several blocks away in designated protest areas and never were even in line of sight with the President. Additionally, the police and Secret Service kept an eye on them.

[Jodi Lampert - Huffpost Blogger]

I do agree with part of what you are saying. I know that people might be well within their rights to carry arms. I actually think Rush Limbaugh, with the exception of the incident I mentioned, where he encouraged listeners in Texas to 'mess with the system,' Rush Limbaugh has every legal right to spew whatever he wants. In fact, the ACLU and I would march for his right to do so. But that doesn't make it right.
Do you understand why I think that? You can have a moral response to things, too.

[OdinsEye]

If you are lecturing me on disagreeing with what someone says, but defending their right to say it, you are preaching to the choir. For three decades that has been part of what I do for a living.

[Ohio9]

That doesn't mean you have the right to advocate violence against people who are complying with a law you oppose.