[lbo-talk] The Nation invokes "sedition" against the right

[c b]

You have a flawed premise. The Left's or the Nation's refraining  from
using state power to repress the right will not cause the right to
refrain from using the state to repress the left. The American
tradition "The Nation" joins here is that of Lincoln fighting the
Confederacy for sedition.

CB

^^^^^^^^

Jesse Lemisch

Jesse Lemisch March 26, 2010 The Nation joins a great tradition (Alien
and Sedition Acts, Palmer Raids, Smith Act) by invoking "sedition"
against Teabaggers. It seems utterly suicidal for the Left to invoke
"sedition," as Melissa Harris-Lacewell does in condemning Teabaggers
in The Nation . What a proud tradition we would join by doing this:
Alien and Sedition Acts, Palmer Raids, Smith Act. And what's up with
Harris-Lacewell's adoration of The State, with its "monopoly on the
legitimate [sic] use of violence, force and coercion"?

^^^^^^
CB: Calling Teabaggers traitors is more in the tradition of calling
Confederates (racist defenders of slavery) traitors, like Lincoln did
in fighting them , than the examples you give.

Of course,  Jesse covers up his eyes to the racism of the Teabaggers, 'cause...

^^^^^^^

^^^^^^^

 Huh? Are we really happy with this utterly unqualified approval of
such government action, and, as a result utterly unqualified
prohibition of such things when used by non-governmental people? There
goes the picket line, and anything else that they might deem to be
"coercive."

^^^^^^^
CB: Do you defend the KKK's "freedom" of speech , too ?

If The Nation says nothing about the "sedition" of the Teabaggers, the
right when in power will still attack the rights of unions, picketers,
communists, etc.

You have a flawed premise. The Left refraining  from using state power
to repress the right will not cause the right from using the state to
repress the left