As we mention often on AMERICAblog, when the Republicans speak about Democrats they're speaking about themselves. It's called a "tell" in poker. A nervous twitch that gives away the kind of hand you have. In Republican politics, it's a verbal twitch - they simply can't help but describe themselves when attacking Democrats.
This latest example is rather serious - Senators do not attack other Senators, it simply isn't done (believe it or not, there still is some level of civility in Washington). Far-right Republican Senator Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma (Inhofe ran years ago on the banner of "God, gays and guns," and just two years ago said he'd fire any of his staff who he found out to be gay) is so incensed that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said publicly that George Bush has lost the Iraq war that Inhofe is now demanding that Reid be forced out of office for his "un-American" crimes.
Asked if the Nevada Democrat should resign from his leadership position because of his comments, Inhofe said: "I think it’s more serious than that. I think there should be a recall . . . for saying something as un-American as that.”Inhofe wouldn't know what it means to be an American if it hit him in the ass. So let's talk about un-American crimes. At the top of the list there's risking the lives of 160,000 brave American service members for a lie, and a lie that's now a lost cause all because our commander in chief is a blithering idiot. I think killing 3,300 American soldiers, and sending even more to risk their lives, because Senator Inhofe can't admit a mistake, well, that's a pretty un-American crime in my book.
Then again, consider the source. Inhofe is a darling of the far-right of the Republican party. Let's share a few of Inhofe's other profound statements of late:
1. Sen. James Inhofe compared the Kyoto Treaty to Nazism.
Inhofe referenced a Russian report on global warming while speaking on the Senate floor. Referencing the report, Inhofe said, "There have been examples in our fairly recent history of how a considerable portion of Europe was flooded with the brown Nazi ideology, the red Commie ideology that caused severe casualties and consequences for Europe and the entire world. Now there is a big likelihood that a considerable part of Europe has been flooded with another type, another color of ideology--[and he is speaking of global warming here--again, another type, another color of ideology]--but with very similar implications for European societies and human societies the world over. He also said that imposition of the Kyoto Protocol ``would deal a powerful blow on the whole humanity similar to the one humanity experienced when Nazism and communism flourished.'' And that was the chief economic advisor to Russian President Putin. The world has certainly turned on its head that we Americans must look to Russians for speaking out strongly against irrational authoritarian ideologies." [Congressional Record, 10/11/04]
2. Senator Inhofe compared the EPA to the Gestapo. [The Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY), 2/19/05], and here.
3. Inhofe: The threat of catastrophic global warming the "greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people . . ." [Congressional Record, 1/28/03]
4. Then there's this doozy, about God causing September 11:
"One of the reasons I believe the spiritual door was opened for an attack against the United States of America is that the policy of our Government has been to ask the Israelis, and demand it with pressure, not to retaliate in a significant way against the terrorist strikes that have been launched against them." Senator James Inhofe (R-OK), Senate floor statement, on 2002-MAR-4Obviously no one takes Inhofe seriously, probably not even God. But what does matter is how extreme the current leadership of the Republican party has become. You're now un-American if you think that Iraq is a disaster. That makes the overwhelming majority of Americans un-American, at least according to the leadership of the Republican party. Beyond the Terri Schiavo Republicans, there may not be anyone left in the party by the time the current crop of Republicans get through with it.
Oh, and one more thing. Recalling a senator is unconstitutional. Leave it to one of the leading minds of the Republican party to not even understand how our Constitution works.
