Treason.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

Whoever, with intent to cause the overthrow or destruction of any such government

I haven't seen any information from the tea party advocating the overthrow or destruction of the US government.

And if that position is out there, It's likely on the fringe of the fringe.  And really, I'd be interested to see what that nutjobbery's idea is to replace it with, just so I can laugh good and hard about it.

Wow. You really need to read the whole things and see how ALL of the words work together in context in order to understand it.

I'm monumentally disappointed with this board, right now. The sheer, mind-numbing inability to read and understand a fairly simple piece of US code is disheartening.

[Adios]

And I thought my reading comprehension skills were in the tank.

[Cain]

It's quite simple. 

What the Teabaggers consider "constitutional" has no basis in the actual Constitution.  They want to enact laws which subvert and will destroy US constitutional government (so do the Democrats, as per Obama's administration proves, but anyway...).  Also, turning up to political rallies with guns, or saying "we forgot our guns...this time" is an implicit threat and proof that there is an acceptance among Teabagger crowds that violence is an acceptable solution to not only US foreign policy problems, but domestic US policy problems as well.

[Adios]

It's quite simple. 

What the Teabaggers consider "constitutional" has no basis in the actual Constitution.  They want to enact laws which subvert and will destroy US constitutional government (so do the Democrats, as per Obama's administration proves, but anyway...).  Also, turning up to political rallies with guns, or saying "we forgot our guns...this time" is an implicit threat and proof that there is an acceptance among Teabagger crowds that violence is an acceptable solution to not only US foreign policy problems, but domestic US policy problems as well.

Once they get what want and the constitution is dead(er) they will be very surprised and unhappy with the results. I am thinking on the piece Roger wrote about the downfall.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

It's quite simple. 

What the Teabaggers consider "constitutional" has no basis in the actual Constitution.  They want to enact laws which subvert and will destroy US constitutional government (so do the Democrats, as per Obama's administration proves, but anyway...).  Also, turning up to political rallies with guns, or saying "we forgot our guns...this time" is an implicit threat and proof that there is an acceptance among Teabagger crowds that violence is an acceptable solution to not only US foreign policy problems, but domestic US policy problems as well.

Right.

Voting your opponents out of office isn't treason. Overthrowing the government by vote is not treason. Overthrowing the government through violence is treason. Inciting violence for the purpose of governmental change is treason.

Is it inciting to use firearm imagery and verbiage in political propaganda? It might be. Intent would have to be proven.

[Phox]

It's quite simple. 

What the Teabaggers consider "constitutional" has no basis in the actual Constitution.  They want to enact laws which subvert and will destroy US constitutional government (so do the Democrats, as per Obama's administration proves, but anyway...).  Also, turning up to political rallies with guns, or saying "we forgot our guns...this time" is an implicit threat and proof that there is an acceptance among Teabagger crowds that violence is an acceptable solution to not only US foreign policy problems, but domestic US policy problems as well.

Cain nails it, as usual.

[Cain]

So far, the trends have been disturbing, but likely not enough for legal action.  The breaking of the windows and harassment after the healthcare vote was passed.  The aforementioned fixation with implicitly threatening political opponents with guns.  The claims that the government in charge is like Nazi Germany/the Soviet Union/the CSA (all of which were militarily resisted).  The uncritical promotion of mass political violence abroad.  All of these are rhetorical implications which suggest contempt for the democratically elected ruling government and suggests, in a rather coy manner, that political violence may not be entirely out of the question.

Not that I expect more than a few idiots to act in any case.  Political violence in the US is still far lower than it was in, say, the 1960s.  And even that wasn't as bad as what happened under the Italian republic in the 60s and 70s.

The problem is you only need a few idiots.  September 11th was operationally carried out by 19 idiots.  The reaction...well, who wants to even guess at how many people have died between the US government and its allies, and Al-Qaeda and Saddam Hussein and their allies?  Things tend to spiral out of control very quickly once violence gets introduced into political situations, because politics makes people, as a rule, tribal, enthocentric and willing to go to great lengths to crush even minor percieved threats.

While it is debateable how much violent rhetoric may contribute to any individual act of violence (for instance, it seems to have had no effect in the current Arizona case), the overall effect is one where a political culture more prone to violence forms.  And that opens up the very real possibility of treasonous acts, and subsequent crackdowns on dissidents of all kinds, legitimate and peaceful or not.  Just remember, in the last bout of craziness, the FBI were spying on Quakers and the Rotary Club.  Next time around, they might be throwing (more) people in legal black holes.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

Whoever, with intent to cause the overthrow or destruction of any such government

I haven't seen any information from the tea party advocating the overthrow or destruction of the US government.

And if that position is out there, It's likely on the fringe of the fringe.  And really, I'd be interested to see what that nutjobbery's idea is to replace it with, just so I can laugh good and hard about it.

Poor DP.  His tea party is going all sick and wrong.  

[LMNO]

I like Cain's analysis.  Whenever I start going all paranoid, I can rely on him to give me a solid basis for my fears.

[Phox]

I like Cain's analysis.  Whenever I start going all paranoid, I can rely on him to give me a solid basis for my fears.

i completely agree, on all accounts.

[Adios]

I like Cain's analysis.  Whenever I start going all paranoid, I can rely on him to give me a solid basis for my fears.

My paranoia is strong. People are stupider these days.

[Disco Pickle]

Whoever, with intent to cause the overthrow or destruction of any such government

I haven't seen any information from the tea party advocating the overthrow or destruction of the US government.

And if that position is out there, It's likely on the fringe of the fringe.  And really, I'd be interested to see what that nutjobbery's idea is to replace it with, just so I can laugh good and hard about it.

Poor DP.  His tea party is going all sick and wrong.  

It went sick and wrong years ago and I patently washed my hands of any involvement with the local groups here.  Still some good, well intentioned people involved, but too much religion for my tastes.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

Whoever, with intent to cause the overthrow or destruction of any such government

I haven't seen any information from the tea party advocating the overthrow or destruction of the US government.

And if that position is out there, It's likely on the fringe of the fringe.  And really, I'd be interested to see what that nutjobbery's idea is to replace it with, just so I can laugh good and hard about it.

Poor DP.  His tea party is going all sick and wrong.  

It went sick and wrong years ago and I patently washed my hands of any involvement with the local groups here.  Still some good, well intentioned people involved, but too much religion for my tastes.

It was always, from the beginning, exactly what it is today.  Know-nothing populism.

[Cain]

It went sick and wrong years ago and I patently washed my hands of any involvement with the local groups here.  Still some good, well intentioned people involved, but too much religion for my tastes.

Unfortunately, there are good people in almost any cause.  Even fucking PETA.  The problem is when they are outnumbered by idiots, demagogues and content camp followers.

[Disco Pickle]

It went sick and wrong years ago and I patently washed my hands of any involvement with the local groups here.  Still some good, well intentioned people involved, but too much religion for my tastes.

Unfortunately, there are good people in almost any cause.  Even fucking PETA.  The problem is when they are outnumbered by idiots, demagogues and content camp followers.

With the 3rd largest Southern Baptist church square in the middle of 11 blocks of downtown Jacksonville it was perhaps inevitable that there would be a lot of christians drawn into the group.  The social conservative bent they brought turned me completely off.

Not my cup of tea.