June 13, 2018

"The ACLU is no longer a neutral defender of everyone’s civil liberties. It has morphed into a hyper-partisan, hard-left political advocacy group...."

"The headline in the June 8 edition of the New Yorker tells it all: 'The ACLU is getting involved in elections — and reinventing itself for the Trump era.'... Since its establishment nearly 100 years ago, the ACLU has been, in the words of the New Yorker, 'fastidiously nonpartisan, so prudish about any alliance with any political power that its leadership, in the 1980s and 90s, declined even to give awards to likeminded legislators for fear that it might give the wrong impression.' I know, because I served on its national board in the early days of my own career. In those days, the board consisted of individuals who were deeply committed to core civil liberties, especially freedom of speech, opposition to prosecutorial overreach and political equality. Its board members included Republicans and Democrats, conservatives and liberals, right wingers and left wingers, all of whom supported neutral civil liberties. The key test in those days was what I have come to call “the shoe on the other foot” test: Would you vote the same way if the shoe were on the other foot, that is, if the party labels were switched? Today, the ACLU wears only one shoe, and it is on its left foot. Its color is blue...."

Writes Alan Dershowitz.

232 comments:

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JackWayne said...

“Funny, I don't see people dying to move from America to Venezuela, Cuba, or North Korea. You're lucky you never got to experience a police state so your profound ignorance could grow. But under some systems you have the freedom to say as much stupid shit as you want.” Funny how when you’re on the wrong side of an argument the first refuge is to shoot the messenger. You can look at the micro level of the USA as much as you want instead of the macro level. Take me literally if you want. But when I said no difference, I meant no macro difference as you well know. Why do people move from california to texas? For the micro differences not for the macro differences. You are implying that the USA is a limited government. I disagree completely. The only real difference between us and the rest of the world is the second amendment. That power has constrained our government to be very careful with the police power. And they keep a distance from the rest of the Bill of Rights except the pitiful 9th and 10th amendments. But if we are limited, explain how we have the greatest debt ever seen in the world, how we are at war in 7 countries, how we’ve been at war for 17 years, how the federal register runs to 4 million PAGES, how we have the biggest Empire ever seen in the world, how we are spied on by the government, how the government lies about nearly everything? Your limited government is very odd in my opinion.

Bilwick said...

Mussolini gave us "Everything for the State, nothing against the State, nothing outside the State." So I guess Inga's okay with Il Duce.

About twenty or so years ago, NATIONAL REVIEW ran a very interesting and illuminating article about how American and European "liberal" and "progressive" intellectuals praised various dictators. I knew about Lincoln Steffens and others praising the Soviet Union, and creatures like Lillian Hellman apologizing for Stalin; and I think I had heard of George Bernard Shaw being a fan of Mussolini; but the real eye-opener for me was "progressives" praising Hitler, at least early in his career. "Liberals"--stupid then, stupid now.

bagoh20 said...

Robert Cook: "Also, there is no such thing as "Trumpism."

Not only is it a thing, it may be the most original, unprecedented, most discussed and possibly most effective "ism" ever demonstrated by an American leader. The entire world today talks of little else. His name crosses millions of lips in many languages every day. I never expected it at all, but here it is. It confounds all the experts, and surprises all the prognosticators, and it really pisses a lot of people off for being something that does not exist. It is the most existent thing in the political, social, intellectual and non-intellectual spheres. It is the defining thing of today's world.

Michael K said...

Gahrie, it's nice of you to try to communicate with the fool.

You know what they say about wrestling with pigs ?

Loren W Laurent said...

Inga, your 5:15 PM comment was an argument.

You explained the processes and connections of what you see as the causal points.

One may agree or disagree with the summation, but it shows more depth of your viewpoint, and what buttresses it. That is substance.

An expert's quote can be enlightening, but (for me) the strength of reading comments on a topic is to get what people think in their own words -- for them to provide a take that is not readily found in the abundant sameness of the usual sources.

As I said before, I am not an elitist: food for thought can come from anyone. On the internet we can all be taco trucks.

Thanks for the burrito.

-LWL

Michael K said...

I think I had heard of George Bernard Shaw being a fan of Mussolini;

Mussolini was even in a movie with Lionel Barrymore. The New Dealers were very interested in Fascism.

The NRA was an obvious Fascist organization until the Court threw it out as unconstitutional.

buwaya said...

It would have been very difficult for the Nazis to beat the Italian Fascists on the matter of nationalism. Italians pretty much invented the idea of radical ethnic nationalism back in the 19th century, and took it to absurd extremes long before Mussolini.

The Fascists simply inherited that already hysterical Italian invention.

Antisemitism was a Hitlerian innovation. Much of the Italian Fascist leadership, especially their intellectuals, early on, were Jewish, as they too had switched from the (very Jewish) socialists/communists along with Mussolini.

chuck said...

Planned Parenthood and the ACLU both went full political at about the same time and I stopped contributing to both when it happened. If I ever want to give money to lefty loons, I'll do it directly without the middle man^W woman^W fish.

Inga...Allie Oop said...

“An expert's quote can be enlightening, but (for me) the strength of reading comments on a topic is to get what people think in their own words -- for them to provide a take that is not readily found in the abundant sameness of the usual sources.”

That’s nice. I don’t comment for your edification, I comment for mine. I offer my own opinions and then I like to bolster them with links. This is my style. I won’t apologize for that, I don’t need to. I often use others words to reinforce mine, there is nothing wrong with that. If you don’t like it, go read some other commenter. Maybe you could try to be less controlling and let others comment the way they see fit. You can skip my comments altogether. What you’ve done here is opened the door to the typical assholes who usually only comment when the thread has become a “let’s bash Inga thread”.

Did you see me criticizing the way you comment Laslo? Some of your comments are so disgusting I can barely read them and I’m not a prude. I didn’t single you out for criticism. I would’ve defended you from the vile people here who have penchant for bullying.

As I said before, go fuck yourself and the horse you rode in on. Thanks for the poo poo platter. If you have grandchildren you’ll get the reference.

ccscientist said...

It is interesting that when an organization goes hard Left, it never seems to lose its tax exempt status. But supporting candidates on the right...BOOM

chuck said...

> The NRA was an obvious Fascist organization

Including the symbolism.

Drago said...

Inga: "That’s nice. I don’t comment for your edification, I comment for mine."

LOL

You don't "comment". You bleat out a talking point and unthinkingly lard up on quick google search results which often disprove the very point you are making....because you are not thinking and commenting.

You are acting as a mind-numbed pass-thru only.

Which makes you an absolute perfect lefty.

Inga...Allie Oop said...

@ The Propagandizer

And you propagandize 24/7.

#PropagandizersGottaPropagandize.

mockturtle said...

I'm not convinced Inga really IS a Prog. Most Progs I know wouldn't be caught dead on this blog. Just as upper-case Chuck is not really a LLR. They both come here for a reason and it must be that they love the abuse, which they doggedly and persistently bring upon themselves. Strange. But then, people are strange. I'm strange, too, in my own way.

Inga...Allie Oop said...

Mockturtle, all it takes to be abused here is to be a lefty and to express one’s opinions.

Birkel said...

Did nobody notice Royal ass Inga LITERALLY used the 'No True Scotsman' argument about socialists.

Beyond. Parody.

Birkel said...

I really look forward to people expressing their own opinions instead of those they cut and paste.

Inga...Allie Oop said...

I really look forward to Birkel not being a parrot. Oh wow Birkel that was such an original thought, lol.

Inga...Allie Oop said...

And honestly I’ve never met more strange people than I’ve run into here. Nutty psychologists, senile MDs, professional Propagandists, sociopaths and a few psychopaths. Is there something about being weird that made you folks vote for Trump?

Ah well, I’m tired.

mockturtle said...

Ah well, I’m tired.

So are we, Inga. You've beaten so many dead horses today you will be hearing from PETA.

Inga...Allie Oop said...

I don’t beat dead horses, that would be a waste of my time. I beat live horses asses.

Birkel said...

While I have enjoyed mocking Royal ass Inga for her modest intelligence and poor reasoning, I am going to make an effort never to engage with her again. Reading several comment threads I recognize just how worthless she is. There is no depth.

I ask that people join me in my quest to ignore Royal ass Inga as most of us have done with TTR/PPPT/Ritmo.

Inga...Allie Oop said...

YES!!!!

WooHoo! At last.

mockturtle said...

I ask that people join me in my quest to ignore Royal ass Inga as most of us have done with TTR/PPPT/Ritmo.
Birkel, you are right. I'm game.

Inga...Allie Oop said...

What you people have failed to realize for all the years I’ve been commenting here is that I want to say what I say and then I’m quite happy to have absolutely NO responses to my comment. I’m going to enjoy commenting much more in future if you and others stay true to your promise to shut up and don’t bother me with your responses. Hallelujah!

I do thank you Birkel, I hope you get a whole slew of followers, lol.

Inga...Allie Oop said...

Now let Drago be the third to join you and Mockturtle!

But that would be just too much to hope for.

CWJ said...

Nazis/Skokie was forty years ago. Forty. Give that one a rest. If the ACLU'S nonpartisanship has any credibility, you need to be citing many more recent examples. Otherwise, it's just some graying bar fly high school hero bragging about his glory days.

Trumpit said...

Opposing Trump is everyone's patriotic duty - for the love of country. DJT is an unhinged, know-nothing, nut. Dershowitz represented the killer OJ Simpson, so he is tarnished beyond repair. Stop giving him air time, and he will go to the old folks' home.

becauseIdbefired said...

Consider the government is well organized and well funded, as are many of its component parts.

Some functions of government could achieve their goals a lot easier if it weren't for pesky constitutional rights.

With the press distracted by Social Injustice, and the ACLU distracted by Social Injustice, who is looking out for everyday rights?

The government has passed laws that abridge freedom of speech.
NYC was stopping and frisking people.
DUI checkpoints stop people and invade their privacy without warrants.
Recently there was an article about local law enforcement use of Stingray, and how the police are not allowed to even describe to courts, the press, etc., about it's use, and how Stingray can be used to locate people's cell phones, and even perform a man in the middle attack on cell phone calls.
The previous Attorney General threatened to prosecute anti-Muslim speech.
My own home was entered by the police with no warrant after I declined entrance to them, because "someone in the area" had called 9/11.

And Europe and Canada are severely attacking speech.

With a press and ACLU distracted by social justice, who is left to protect our pesky constitutional rights?

Quaestor said...

Inga wrote ...the body politic

Haw! haw! Inga, before you look up body politic, look up sophomoric, (hint: it's your own image staring vacuously back at you.)

Quaestor said...

And while you're at it, look up Mrs. Malaprop as well. It is instructive to the wise.

Quaestor said...

If you're not careful, Inga, that Nazi allegory of yours might bite off your leg.

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