Giuliani Wants To Make Criticism Of Petraeus Illegal

by: Chris Bowers

Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 14:12

I am really glad the Senate condemned us all yesterday, because there is no real danger such a condemnation will lead to anything worse. From TPM:

"Whether you agree with the war in Iraq or you don't; whether you agree with the surge or you don't; Democrats even came back from Iraq and said that he's having more success than anybody had thought.

"So to attack the man's integrity, and honesty, and decency, is in my view indecent. It passed a line that we should not allow American political organizations to pass."

Maybe it is just me and other such people who were condemned by the Senate yesterday, but I think that when the Republican candidate for President currently leading in most national polls suggests that it should be illegal to criticize members of the military, that might qualify as a "gaffe" the media should focus on. Or, perhaps the Senate should condemn Giuliani for saying that political speech against the military should be outlawed entirely. Or, maybe some Democrats who condemned me and the other three million members of MoveOn.org should say something about this.

Rudy Giuliani wants to make ads like MoveOn.org's illegal. Let me restate just so everyone understands: he thinks it should be illegal for ads like that to appear in the American press. And yet, somehow, half of all Senate Democrats are taking Rudy Giuliani's side in this argument. Welcome to McCarthyism revisited.

Don't forget to Googlebomb Giuliani, and hard.

Chris Bowers :: Giuliani Wants To Make Criticism Of Petraeus Illegal

Tags: Rudy Giuliani, media, Senate, MoveOn, civil liberties, (All Tags)

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Giuliani Wants To Make Criticism Of Petraeus Illegal | 16 comments

speechless (0.00 / 0)

Because I honestly do not know what to say.

by: bystander @ Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 13:26:20 PM CDT

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'enough is enough' (4.00 / 1)

That's what I say. Then I sign MoveOn's petition http://pol.moveon.or... saying I will not be quiet and this is not acceptable. Then I make sure this issue does not go away and that my Senators know how unhappy I am with this. Then I call/write into various media orgs to let them know what I think of their lackluster reporting on this issue. Then I post/reply on blogs so the conversation continues and the media is forced to pay attention at some level.

by: ehofteig @ Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 13:33:47 PM CDT

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In other words, (0.00 / 0)

Giuliani would make it illegal to criticize the commander in chief. And of course the Dems think that's just fine -- I mean, why should be let anybody trash Hillary?

Been not-such-a-long-time coming.

by: DaveW @ Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 13:36:31 PM CDT

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Except That Hillary Voted Against It (0.00 / 0)

I'm no Clinton fan, but this can't be laid at either of their feet. The one good thing about the both of them is that they fight back.

The problem is that they're not always on the right side. NAFTA, "welfare reform," the 1996 Telecom Act, etc., etc., etc.

"You know what they say -- those of us who fail history... doomed to repeat it in summer school." -- Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Season 6, Episode 3

by: Paul Rosenberg @ Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 13:46:49 PM CDT

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What I meant was, (4.00 / 1)

I no longer see the Dems as thinking this would be such a bad thing -- or at least nonnegotiable. I mean it would apply to their presidents, too. Not a slam on Hillary this time.

by: DaveW @ Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 13:55:35 PM CDT

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You Assume The Dems Are Thinking (0.00 / 0)

Why in the world would you assume that?

"You know what they say -- those of us who fail history... doomed to repeat it in summer school." -- Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Season 6, Episode 3

by: Paul Rosenberg @ Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 15:17:37 PM CDT

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Because only very special people (0.00 / 0)

voluntarily give up power or privilege. And the Dem political class has amply proved its lack of specialness.

by: DaveW @ Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 19:02:57 PM CDT

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People With Power And Privilege Frequently Don't Think (0.00 / 0)

I see it all the time when I cover public officials. Most exercise of power is done without thinking.

"You know what they say -- those of us who fail history... doomed to repeat it in summer school." -- Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Season 6, Episode 3

by: Paul Rosenberg @ Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 19:12:42 PM CDT

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Too Much (0.00 / 0)

You're making mountains out of mole-hills. Yes, his comments were egregiously wrong; however, that quote does not suggest that he wants to outlaw anything. It simply states that such speech is "indecent" and "should not be allowed"; while you may feel that latter implies illegality, it is unlikely that he meant it that way.

by: Begoner @ Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 14:23:56 PM CDT

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As someone who lived in New York during the Giuliani years ... (4.00 / 2)

... he meant it.

Full Court Press! http://www.openleft.com/showDi...

by: jeffroby @ Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 15:18:34 PM CDT

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True (0.00 / 0)

As far as I'm concerned, he might want to have all his political opponents shot -- I don't know what goes through his mind. However, he's not going to let that slip on the record. The same applies to that comment: regardless of what he may think, he's not going to push such an extreme agenda publicly. And yes, he did curtail civil liberties throughout his career, but did not advocate anything as severe as the author suggests.

by: Begoner @ Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 20:19:23 PM CDT

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So as long as he's only a closet fascist ... (4.00 / 1)

... he's okay. Given the extent that Bush has been able to actualize his dark desires (Guantanamo), and the Democrats have been able to only wring their hands, a Giuliani presidency should make us afraid, very afraid.

Full Court Press! http://www.openleft.com/showDi...

by: jeffroby @ Sat Sep 22, 2007 at 11:35:13 AM CDT

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just idly googlebombing (0.00 / 0)

by: TValley @ Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 15:08:22 PM CDT

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Happy to Join You in That (0.00 / 0)

Rudy missing in action from Iraq panel: Giuliani's campaign fundraising kept him from commitment to panel studying Iraq, by Craig Gordon, Newsday, June 18, 2007.

by: RandomNonviolence @ Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 15:57:22 PM CDT

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Rudy Giuliani... (0.00 / 0)

...is the best argument for abortion there is.

"We judge ourselves by our ideals; others by their actions. It is a great convenience." -- Howard Zinn

by: Master Jack @ Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 17:40:01 PM CDT

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Nope (0.00 / 0)

I never stated that it was OK, but rather that you cannot wildly criticize a candidate based on what he didn't say. The title of the post and its initial claims are insanely hyperbolic and don't reflect the truth of what Giuliani said. Whether or not they represent what he feels but doesn't say is another matter.

by: Begoner @ Sun Sep 23, 2007 at 10:23:27 AM CDT

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Giuliani Wants To Make Criticism Of Petraeus Illegal | 16 comments

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