GOP Congressman Sean Duffy Assaulted Outside Capitol

[head of joaquin]

Sources told Roll Call that the person may have been upset over the government shutdown, which has been ongoing since Tuesday, leaving hundreds of thousands of federal employees furloughed and key government-run facilities and programs shuttered. Duffy's office hasn't confirmed reports about the reason for the confrontation.

GOP Congressman Sean Duffy Assaulted Outside Capitol

Whether this is related to the shutdown or not (it appears to be), it's fair to say there will be more civil unrest as the effects of the shutdown and pending default take hold

 

[francois60]

I don't see why there should be unrest because of a government shutdown. Essential services are still being provided.

 

[head of joaquin]

I don't see why there should be unrest because of a government shutdown. Essential services are still being provided.

Well, if a lot of people are laid off and it appears that the GOP is hellbent on destroying the social safety net, I can see how they might feel insecure. And insecure people can do anything.

Making people feel insecure and then manipulating them to support rightwing causes (like anti-immigrant laws) is a longstanding stratagem of the GOP. In this case they may have created a Frankenstein's monster.

 

[francois60]

People being temporarily laid off are government workers. I can understand if we define "unrest" as the government being angry that the government has been shut down. As for the safety net, it's expanded in the Obama years, and there's been no successful attempts to roll it back yet.

Insecurity is part of how the political system works. Your job can be eliminated if there's no need for it and your benefits can be taken away if other priorities are greater. When the government(cough, liberals) claimed that your benefits were a sure thing forever, they lied. It would be a lie even if Republicans and Democrats were united in wanting to continue to provide them. Math is a harsh mistress.

 

[Deuce]

People being temporarily laid off are government workers. I can understand if we define "unrest" as the government being angry that the government has been shut down. As for the safety net, it's expanded in the Obama years, and there's been no successful attempts to roll it back yet.

Insecurity is part of how the political system works. Your job can be eliminated if there's no need for it and your benefits can be taken away if other priorities are greater. When the government(cough, liberals) claimed that your benefits were a sure thing forever, they lied. It would be a lie even if Republicans and Democrats were united in wanting to continue to provide them. Math is a harsh mistress.

What, government workers don't count? They don't provide essential services, their families don't need to eat?

Aircraft and pilot certification is severely hampered with the FAA furloughed. This isn't just about "government workers."

 

[francois60]

I don't mean to say they don't count, but they are the government. If the government is the main party upset at its own shutdown, that's not "unrest", that's the power structure at war with itself.

 

[head of joaquin]

I don't mean to say they don't count, but they are the government. If the government is the main party upset at its own shutdown, that's not "unrest", that's the power structure at war with itself.

I don't get the logic of this, but in any case it's moot: when the default happens it won't just be government workers laid off -- the layoffs in the private sector will likely be in the hundreds of thousands. And with the GOP anxious to destroy the social safety net, there will a lot of angry and hungry and scared people on the street.

I can only imagine what will happen next.

 

[Zyphlin]

So you know, seems crazy that it's taking eight posts in to seemingly say this but...

Shutdown or no shutdown, it's completely unacceptable and irresponsible to attack a congressman.

And this guy represents himself and himself only regardless of his views or political ideology

 

[Linc]

But it's not irresponsible for a Repub congressman to verbally attack a uniformed FEMALE National Park ranger.
What a tough Texan guy.
Can't we just negotiate on what he did?
And we've seen Repubs set these up in the past.
Duffy has a low-life history in neighboring Wisconsin.

 

[francois60]

I don't get the logic of this, but in any case it's moot: when the default happens it won't just be government workers laid off -- the layoffs in the private sector will likely be in the hundreds of thousands. And with the GOP anxious to destroy the social safety net, there will a lot of angry and hungry and scared people on the street.

I can only imagine what will happen next.

again, unlikely, because there are still more taxpayers than benefit receivers. And taxpayers are generally more motivated and organized. Even if Republicans did do what you said, the only way it would happen is with popular support, and any unrest directed at thwarting the will of the public would be met with a harsh police response.

 

[Cardinal]

Well, if a lot of people are laid off and it appears that the GOP is hellbent on destroying the social safety net, I can see how they might feel insecure. And insecure people can do anything.

Making people feel insecure and then manipulating them to support rightwing causes (like anti-immigrant laws) is a longstanding stratagem of the GOP. In this case they may have created a Frankenstein's monster.

Let's...not do this, okay? And by "this" I mean coyly downplay or justify violence in any way.

 

[francois60]

In fairness, both the left and the right condone violence at a certain point. The difference is that the right condones violence when democracy breaks down and the government is no longer bound by the supreme law of this country. The left condones violence when democracy just doesn't get the result they want.

 

[tererun]

GOP Congressman Sean Duffy Assaulted Outside Capitol

Whether this is related to the shutdown or not (it appears to be), it's fair to say there will be more civil unrest as the effects of the shutdown and pending default take hold

I am not complaining at you because you have to use the headline, but what the hell is the news thinking? That is not an assault. This overdramatizing BS has got to end. It just hypes things up. Yeah, some guy came up and tried to talk to him and may have grabbed him. They make it sound like there was a fist fight. Yes, the guy who did it should not be doing it, but calling it an assault is just stupid.

 

[tererun]

In fairness, both the left and the right condone violence at a certain point. The difference is that the right condones violence when democracy breaks down and the government is no longer bound by the supreme law of this country. The left condones violence when democracy just doesn't get the result they want.

tell that to gays, abortion clinics, blacks, hispanics, and every other group that has faced right wing violence. Please take that partisan hackery and tell it to fix noise. they are the only ones who will believe you.

 

[tererun]

Let's...not do this, okay? And by "this" I mean coyly downplay or justify violence in any way.

It was not even violence and it doesn't sound serious. Yes, you are not supposed to grab someone walking along, but they do not say he was hit. Out of hand and perhaps disturbing the peace or something, but if you are just grabbing and yelling at someone and not swinging to hit them there is a big difference. I think we are playing this up for drama a bit too much. If he had tried to punch the congressman in the head i would be right there with you, but this is more trying to get someone to listen to you, not beating your opinion into them.

 

[francois60]

tell that to gays, abortion clinics, blacks, hispanics, and every other group that has faced right wing violence. Please take that partisan hackery and tell it to fix noise. they are the only ones who will believe you.

Abortion clinics I'll concede, the rest I simply will not. Racial violence has not tended to be attached to any particular ideology. Also, abortion clinic violence is carried out by individuals. Left-wing violence is planned and organized, and predictable at least half the time lefties get together to protest something.

 

[tererun]

Abortion clinics I'll concede, the rest I simply will not. Racial violence has not tended to be attached to any particular ideology. Also, abortion clinic violence is carried out by individuals. Left-wing violence is planned and organized, and predictable at least half the time lefties get together to protest something.

Quit playing that game. We know there is a huge racist vein in the right wing. The right does organized violence all the time. The victim routine is really old and save it for your conversations with your republican pals. I am not going to play pretend with you.

 

[francois60]

The racist part of the right wing is about as active as the anti-semetic and anti-Asian aspects of the left wing.

 

[head of joaquin]

Let's...not do this, okay? And by "this" I mean coyly downplay or justify violence in any way.

The tea party is reaping what it sows. It violent rhetoric may be backfiring. Don't blame me. 2nd Amendment solutions, remember?

Don't conservative EVER take responsibility for what they say and do?

 

[head of joaquin]

Quit playing that game. We know there is a huge racist vein in the right wing. The right does organized violence all the time. The victim routine is really old and save it for your conversations with your republican pals. I am not going to play pretend with you.

More and more I'm beginning to think that the entire tea party movement is really about the fact that a black guy won the presidency. The rest is code and dogwhistling by these people.

 

[clownboy]

More and more I'm beginning to think that the entire tea party movement is really about the fact that a black guy won the presidency. The rest is code and dogwhistling by these people.

Lies and nonsense. You've been riding that particular meme for a while now.

 

[Cardinal]

The tea party is reaping what it sows. It violent rhetoric may be backfiring. Don't blame me. 2nd Amendment solutions, remember?

Don't conservative EVER take responsibility for what they say and do?

You sound like every pro-lifer who hears about the latest Planned Parenthood bombing and says "It's not right to blow up buildings like that, but then, you know [wink nudge] they were killing babies there."

If that's the kind of company you want to keep it's your choice, but don't expect any support from me.

 

[Deuce]

The tea party is reaping what it sows. It violent rhetoric may be backfiring. Don't blame me. 2nd Amendment solutions, remember?

Don't conservative EVER take responsibility for what they say and do?

Tell us more about how physical assault is an appropriate response to political grievances.

 

[apdst]

What, government workers don't count? They don't provide essential services, their families don't need to eat?

Aircraft and pilot certification is severely hampered with the FAA furloughed. This isn't just about "government workers."

The families of oilfield hands needed to eat too, but that didn't mean **** when Obama shut down drilling in the GOM. I lost my business and put 5 men on the street looking for a job because of the moratorium, so pardon me if I don't get all teary eyed over some government workers who will 1) get there job back and 2) will get back pay for everyday they missed.

 

[apdst]

Lies and nonsense. You've been riding that particular meme for a while now.

The Libbos have been riding that train since November 2009.