If you're a lefty and you want to get a rise out of a neocon fascist, tell him you're a member of the ACLU. If you want to stop a conversation short with a lefty, tell them you're a member of the NRA.
The NRA supports a lot of really slimy politicians and has perfected teaching fear to maintain the right to bear arms guaranteed in the 2nd Amendment. I'd rather the NRA accomplished their goals using other strategies and tactics, but hell, they are the only organization effectively protecting the 2nd amendment.
The ACLU makes sure that the Bill of Rights sans the 2nd Amendment is adhered to strictly. The ACLU also makes sure that the 13th, 14th, 15th, and 20th stay strong although the 14th has taken a beating lately basically unopposed. "The ACLU is our Nation's guardian of liberty." They do a damn fine job too. The Rumsfield Torture suit shows some serious nads.
Together the ACLU and the NRA make sure the Bill of Rights is defended against the neocon fascists.
Now this is where this post gets a little dicey. I think that neither the NRA nor the ACLU could accomplish their goals without the other. The ACLU helps the NRA keep their message out there and the fact that there are 250 million guns in the United States keeps the neocon fascists from declaring and being able to maintain martial law the next time we are attacked. What I am saying is the threat of an armed uprising gives the ACLU the cover they need to do their very important work.
Have at it.
