Bombing In Pakistan

[the_idle_threat]

Funny that you guys are looking directly at an actual example of fascism, and yet you wanna call a little information sharing "fascist."

What are the odds, in your estimation, that an American president could suspend the Constitution, declare himself military ruler, and essentially imprison the Supreme Court?

How about zero?

I'm not worried it will happen with Bush. However, if we continue to ignore assaults on our constitution by the central government, it could happen here someday. The Constitution is the source of the freedoms we claim to cherish, and if we allow the Constitution to be weakened, we start to sacrifice those freedoms.

Although I agree with your overall theme in terms of the big picture, it's a very long leap IMO to go from sharing information with intelligence agencies in order to thwart terrorism all the way to fascist takeover of the government. When the extreme of "fascism" is invoked, all rational conversation ends.

I guess I don't see the info sharing as any more abusive to the Constitution than the rampant abuse of the commerce clause that has brought just about anything under federal jurisdiction and regulation. When that happened, the Supreme Court said the Constitution is a living document and it needs to "breathe."

[Freak Out]

People like to argue that if Musharraf falls the Taliban are going to take over the country and launch a few nukes our way but when you look at what the Pakistani regime has actually done as far as the Terrorist groups are concerned it really looks to be very little outside of pulling out of Kashmir. The Taliban operate freely and are growing in his country...he supported them before 9/11 and does so to a certain extent now. Bin Laden lives in his country and has for a few years with what some might call impunity. There have been the occasional operational foray into the tribal areas but these people are Pakistanis and the Government cannot just go in and cluster bomb them. The Pakistani military is strong enough not to lose control over their nuclear arsenal but a civilian government needs to lead the country.

[Freak Out]

When the extreme of "fascism" is invoked, all rational conversation ends.

Fascism is not just jack booted Aryans goose stepping down the street.

[Harlan Huckleby]

When the extreme of "fascism" is invoked, all rational conversation ends.

Fascism is not just jack booted Aryans goose stepping down the street.

ya know, actually it is. The word "facism" really applies to a particular ideology. But the word has morphed into meaning "authoritarian."

(I agree with Idle, my standard for when a conversion has hit the skids is when the word "Hitler" appears." )

Its like the word "holocaust." It refers to an event. I noticed the "Black Holocaust" museum in Milwaukee. Slavery wasn't the Holocaust, it's horrible, but something different. I've heard a bad football beating referred to as a holocaust. And a "facist" is now a demanding boss.

[Tyrone Bigguns]

When the extreme of "fascism" is invoked, all rational conversation ends.

Fascism is not just jack booted Aryans goose stepping down the street.

ya know, actually it is. The word "facism" really applies to a particular ideology. But the word has morphed into meaning "authoritarian."

(I agree with Idle, my standard for when a conversion has hit the skids is when the word "Hitler" appears." )

Its like the word "holocaust." It refers to an event. I noticed the "Black Holocaust" museum in Milwaukee. Slavery wasn't the Holocaust, it's horrible, but something different. I've heard a bad football beating referred to as a holocaust. And a "facist" is now a demanding boss.

HH,

Sorry, but you are wrong on the word holocaust. It is a word that has been around since the 14th century. Meaning that it far predates the "holocaust." It can and should be used any time that there is a great destruction/devastation..especially when it is from fire.

That is why is was so apropo to use the term "nuclear holocaust."

BTW, the term holocaust, to describe what happened to the jews wasn't used during that time. The word found favor in the late 50s.

Now, if you capitalize the word, then it most assuredly refers to the "Holocaust" of the Nazis.

[Freak Out]

When the extreme of "fascism" is invoked, all rational conversation ends.

Fascism is not just jack booted Aryans goose stepping down the street.

ya know, actually it is. The word "facism" really applies to a particular ideology. But the word has morphed into meaning "authoritarian."

(I agree with Idle, my standard for when a conversion has hit the skids is when the word "Hitler" appears." )

Its like the word "holocaust." It refers to an event. I noticed the "Black Holocaust" museum in Milwaukee. Slavery wasn't the Holocaust, it's horrible, but something different. I've heard a bad football beating referred to as a holocaust. And a "facist" is now a demanding boss.

Who mentioned Hitler?

[Harlan Huckleby]

Meaning that it far predates the "holocaust." It can and should be used any time that there is a great destruction/devastation..especially when it is from fire.

fuck you I knew this, and you also know I using the word in its common meaning, even if I didn't captalize it, you anal retentive pain in the ass.

And people who now steal this word are not pig-backing off of its original meaning, they are usurping the emotional content of The Holocaust.

God, you are just the worst.

[Harlan Huckleby]

Who mentioned Hitler?

nobody, I was just making my speech.

Osama Bin Laden is starting to challenge Hitler's domain as the universal bogey man.

[Freak Out]

Who mentioned Hitler?

nobody, I was just making my speech.

Osama Bin Laden is starting to challenge Hitler's domain as the universal bogey man.

Thanks to....well, you know who.

[Tyrone Bigguns]

Meaning that it far predates the "holocaust." It can and should be used any time that there is a great destruction/devastation..especially when it is from fire.

fuck you I knew this, and you also know I using the word in its common meaning, even if I didn't captalize it, you anal retentive pain in the ass.

And people who now steal this word are not pig-backing off of its original meaning, they are usurping the emotional content of The Holocaust.

God, you are just the worst.

How many days left on your period? Are you bloated as well as bitchy?

[hoosier]

Meaning that it far predates the "holocaust." It can and should be used any time that there is a great destruction/devastation..especially when it is from fire.

fuck you I knew this, and you also know I using the word in its common meaning, even if I didn't captalize it, you anal retentive pain in the ass.

And people who now steal this word are not pig-backing off of its original meaning, they are usurping the emotional content of The Holocaust.

God, you are just the worst.

Not to nitpick, but the use of "Holocaust" in the context of Jewish genocide in Germany is actually pretty controversial stuff in some circles. Not only does it mean immolation in the way Tyrone suggested, it also strongly implies "sacrifice," as if something good (as defined by Nazi Germany or Jewish survivors) could come of genocide. Shoah is the word of choice among Israelis, though that too has its limitations when it comes to finding the right term for Auschwitz.