The late Senator McCarthy is remembered for, among other villainies, waving a sheaf of papers and claiming that he had a list of Communists in the US Government. Curiously, he never revealed that list--one has to wonder why a man so eagerly beavering away in the vinyards of sour grape politics, helping blacklist so many, would protect hundreds of known, identified Communists who'd deeply infiltrated the federal government.
Yes, one must wonder.
But never let it be said that the GOP forgets a useful lesson in slimy, gutter politics. No, like a dog returning to its vomit, this particular stunt was reprised just the other evening, in Southern California.
Of course, it must be remembered that history never really quite repeats, it only rhymes. No Republican was actually recorded claiming that the federal
gubmint is full of commies. (Though from a fair number of the letters tot he editor here, I wouldn't bet any money that it hasn't been happening--just in private, in the comfortable padded chambers these lunatics inhabit when they gather.)
Thursday, Rep. Brian "Duke Jr" Bilbray debated with Francine Busby, and from the reporting, it must have been a fun debate to watch; contentious, accusative and good roll-in-the-mud, elbow to the eye electoral fun. But what caught my attention was this:
Bilbray, holding a piece of paper, said he had a letter from the San Diego County district attorney's office "responding" to a complaint that Busby had tried to solicit illegal immigrants to work on her campaign.
Said he had a letter. CLAIM
From the district attorney's office. CLAIM, appeal to authority...
And while the paper at least puts the claim into a certain question with "responding" in quotes, the point isn't made that it doesn't mean anything.
Making a complaint and getting back a letter saying "You're out of your freaking mind and there's no basis to this and any further complaints about this will be treated as a criminal waste of our time" is a "response," too.
If there was any question left, the answer's clear now. Bilbray is scum, the kind of little fascist creep that the voters ought to tar, feather and run out of town on a rail.