Wow. If you've been following politics and the blogosphere, you might have noticed the discussion about Michelle Malkin. Maybe you haven't, but as of the writing of this post, Technorati shows 1,575 posts with Malkin and Phone Number. That's a lot. In case you're not familiar with the sequence of events, I'll get you up to speed:

1. Communist, Anti-American ADULTS violently threatened and even attacked military recruiters at UC Santa Cruz. You may see them referred to as "kids" and "students," but they're over 18, legally adults. They threw rocks, slashed tires, and physically blocked people from moving through public areas. Due to fear of a riot and kindness on the part of the military, only one adult was arrested.

2. The group that supported this action, SAW, consisting of more adults, published a press release. The press release celebrated the group's ability to physically block access to movement of people in public areas. That press release included contact information (as most do) including emails and phone numbers of people to contact for more information about the event or the group.

3. Michelle Malkin linked to the press release and provided her comments about it. This is, or so I thought, the purpose of press releases -- to get people information about an event.

4. The anti-American thugs who rely on intimidation to crush freedom of speech (that's the SAW members) apparently got some phone calls from their press release -- people actually contacted the people listed in the public press release. It's not clear whether the people who called got the numbers from the initial press release, Michelle Malkin's copy, or any of the other millions of places on the internet to which things released into the internet go.

5. The aforementioned intimidating thugs decided to "get back" at Michelle Malkin. Using their usual tactics, they decided to try and intimidate her by publishing her home phone number and satellite maps of her house.

Those who support the anti-Americans on the left claim they're just dishing out what she's giving. Of course, that's completely untrue, as the press release is what included the phone numbers. A press release is DESIGNED to be read and spread far and wide. Those who are posing her information had to dig to find it.

But, it is what this is. Who knows where it will be going. While the "poor kids" are supposedly scared by the reaction of America to their hatred, Michelle is not.

It's causing wide ripples in the blogosphere. Rick Moran is de-linking anyone who decides to participate in such skulduggery. Don Surber is annoyed at Michelle. And, as I mentioned, there's thousands of posts about this topic.

Me? I just wonder if that's what passes for political discourse today. Have the people of this country become so divided that the only way to get your message across is to rely on physical or violent intimidation? It sure seems that way -- and it's a logical progression, if you ask me.

You see, the left has had one primary way to get their message through: crisis. Seriously. Every single "issue" that the left brings up is wrapped in a crisis. This has worked well for them for a long time, but people are getting weary of it. People just aren't believing there IS a crisis. So the next logical step needed to convince people of their side is threats and intimidation.

That's how the environmentalists have been getting their point across for years. Now look at the criminal invaders -- their actions are nothing BUT intimidation -- and there's NO repercussions for the lawbreaking or the intimidation, so why not continue it?

Apparently there's no room for peaceful protest nor logical discussions in this country. You have two options today for political discussion:

1. Violent intimidation, as successfully used by criminal aliens (aka illegal immigrants) and the taxpayer-funded students at UC Santa Cruz.
2. Nothing. Sit back and ignore it all and hope it goes away. Take little Johnny to soccer practice and ignore the news networks. Pay your taxes and hope that nothing bad happens to you.

What other options are left? Serious discussion and discourse is simply not an option in today's environment.

Posted by: Ogre at 03:43 PM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
Post contains 712 words, total size 5 kb.

1 Interesting article, Ogre. Meant in all seriousness. So far, I have completely and totally ignored this bruhaha. The shame of the the extremist positions taken by the Left is that we on the right can often not even have honest, serious, discourse on subjects we may disagree on, for fear that the Left will take this as a sign of weekness, sign of discord, sign of "waking up," etc. Heck, we disagreed on the lottery, mostly. There was good discussion on many a Conservatives site about it. But, that kind of thing is rare. On the forum I frequent, I disagree with the other conservatives at times. SOmetimes I think they may go to far. But, I rarel ever say something like "hey, enough," or "you are wrong," for the above reasons. And that is a shame.

Posted by: William Teach at April 21, 2006 12:22 AM (doAuV)

2 Rand tried to warn us about the Aristocracy of Pull over half a century ago. When justice favors thugs, free men are transformed into slaves... until such time as they Shrug.

Posted by: Mr.Atos at April 21, 2006 01:31 AM (Y/v/+)

3 I will tap dance on the windpipe of anyone that tries to harm Michelle Malkin or her family. All she has to do is say the word and an Army of folks like me will come runnin to her neighborhood. We will protect her the same way the Bikers protect the military families. GO 'HEAD, MAKE MY DAY. Richard Davis Philadelphia, PA USN Ret

Posted by: Richard Davis at April 21, 2006 01:52 AM (1gtZh)

4 That reminds me, Teach, I think I'm supposed to call you some names or threaten you or something since the lottery passed, right? Mr. Atos -- I am continuously amazed at the accuracy of Rand's predictions from so long ago. Indeed, free men have been turned into slaves today ... I'm just waiting for the shrug. And Richard, thanks for stopping by -- you illustrate where we have come to today in political discussion. One side threatens, so the other has to physically defend. It's insane.

Posted by: Ogre at April 21, 2006 11:31 AM (/k+l4)

5 So far, I have only bought 2 $1 scratch offs. Just doesn't really occur to me, and I do not hit convenience stores that much. Now, Powerball, that will be another story.

Posted by: William Teach at April 21, 2006 04:07 PM (IRsCk)

6 Did you hear about the car thief who was shot in Florida -- who had won the $60 million lottery 2 years ago? That better not be you, Teach!

Posted by: Ogre at April 21, 2006 04:10 PM (/k+l4)

7 Hmmmph! I only steal ships

Posted by: William Teach at April 21, 2006 11:29 PM (doAuV)

8 I was planning on taking a ship to Ireland...

Posted by: Ogre at April 22, 2006 12:25 PM (blszc)

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