The Incredible “Right”-ness Of Being… Seditious

So says Joe Klein and John Heilemann:

“I did a little bit of research just before this show – it’s on this little napkin here. I looked up the definition of sedition which is conduct or language inciting rebellion against the authority of the state. And a lot of these statements, especially the ones coming from people like Glenn Beck and to a certain extent Sarah Palin, rub right up close to being seditious.”

As Klein pointed out, the legal definition of sedition is “a revolt or an incitement to revolt against established authority.” And, sedition has been declared a felony in Supreme Court opinions, thus making Klein’s national television accusation a fairly serious one, one of which New York magazine’s John Heilemann agreed with. However, Heilemann added conservative talker Rush Limbaugh to that list.

How can I mock this, let me count the ways…and don’t even get me started on the New York Times, the LA Times, and a host of other seditious co-conspirators during the Bush years. Nevermind what our dear misguided friends did to undermine our war efforts and level the playing field for our enemies.

Recall, if you will, the First amendment which conveys to us the right to openly disagree with our Government. No where in there does it describe how nice we have to be about it…regardless former President Clinton’s recent attempts at defining that for us…or how kissy-face we’re expected to act about having it stuck to us day after day by our Government. Remember also the Declaration of Independence and that whole “long train of abuses and usurpations” bit or the part where we throw off such Government that reduces us under under absolute Despotism.”

The only “throw off such Government” talk I’ve heard in recent years was when it was the left wanting to do it to President Bush – “arrest Bush for war crimes” anyone?

I have yet to hear Palin or Limbaugh or Beck or anyone else for that matter call for “inciting rebellion against the authority of the state.” What I have heard is their voices, and millions of other American voices, speaking out against the Government for how dramatically they have abused that so-called “authority of the state.”

Still, I might have otherwise passed this drivel…but this bit stopped me in my tracks:

Heilemann also suggested that the alleged up tick in militia activity is a result of the Obama presidency. Klein said it was not only the Obama presidency, but that he was “African-American,” and had “Hussein” as a middle name, along with the “scary” economic crisis.

“Two are two things going on here and one thing is certainly that,” Klein said. “One thing is he is African-American, but that his name is Barack Hussein Obama. The other we’ve had a very scary economic crisis. And when people get scared, they get defensive and they get a little crazy.”

Really guys? REALLY? We “seditious” right wing nutjobs might routinely bring to light specific examples of the varied and sundry “abuses and usurpations” by our President and our Government, but the only ones that keep bringing up Obama’s color and name and policy positions are the ones most threatened by them-the whack jobs on the left that keep having to apologize for a President by making it OUR fault he’s failed at his job.

If speaking out about what’s going on in this country…and not being happy about it…is seditious, then count me in.