Earlier I mentioned Al Jazeera's coverage of Al Gore's speech. Another Gore snippet, as highlighted by Hugh Hewitt and others:

The administration works closely with a network of rapid responders, a group of brown shirts who work to pressure reporters and their editors and publishers and advertisers, and are quick to accuse them of undermining support for our troops.

I've not been one to accuse anyone who objects to the Iraq war (which we and Congress all agreed to), nor other Bush administration policies of being unpatriotic. I believe that's all fine and fair. But hey, when Al Jazeera -- who actually works hand-and-glove with terrorists at points -- loves and uses you, it seems reasonable to draw the conclusion your words are, well, undermining efforts against said terrorists. Especially when you're lending credence to extremist conspiracy theories which run counter to the facts.

Well, there, now I've done it. I've gone and made myself a Nazi, according to Al Gore, by questioning him! Indeed, how dare I?

There's a couple of points I'd like to make here...

The first is that the left screams over and over that we non-leftists who disagree with them are questioning their patriotism. Yet let's note it is actually Al Gore, not some obscure blogger like myself, who is accusing everyone he disagrees with of being a Nazi -- a charge far beyond merely saying someone is "unamerican".

Second, when have we ever seen such speech from a former VP, or anyone at this level? It boggles the mind that Gore is willing to introduce this kind of vitriol into the political discourse. Of course, the parisans are angry -- but that doesn't excuse this kind of garbage. Isn't the excuse we use to justify Islamic terrorism and bad behavior abroad?

(The poor dears were humiliated by our existence and success. What else did we expect them to do but gang-rape those young women?)

If we're divided, and political rhetoric is over the top, I can't help but point out it is the left which is breaking new ground here.

Third, Gore's charge is absurd. I'm don't blog about this stuff because I get paid by the Republican party. No Republican strategist calls me up and say: "Hey, repeat these talking points." As I've stated before, I may be somewhat conservative, but I'm also non-partisan (so far). I've never sent a penny to a Republican, and never supported nor voted for one for President.

I blog about this stuff because it makes no sense, and I believe such irresponsible behavior is hurting American politics. I believe there are sensible criticisms which could be made about the current adminstration. (We could look at the FISA aspects of the Patriot Act. We could debate Bush's immigration policies. We could discuss his high levels of domestic spending.) But no, Al's running around calling people like me Nazis.

We bloggers often repeat the same line, not because we're being told to, but because it's the obvious thing to say. When Al Gore himsel (along with many other liberals) previously talked about Saddam's support of terrorism, then suddenly did an about-face -- and says the same statements, continuing to come from the sitting President, are now a bald-faced lie -- what else are we supposed to say? Are we also supposed to develop collective amnesia and just follow him into this madness?

The fourth problem I have is Gore's hyperbole. A Nazi? Please. When a guy like me who dares criticize his Goreness's latest speech on factual grounds (whether links existed between Saddam and al Qaeda, for example) is a "brownshirt", then when what term will be left to describe real anti-semitic socialist totalitiarians who would actually use force, lies, scapegoating, and physical intimidation to get their favorite party into power?

(Or perhaps that's the point?)

The fifth problem this little quip raises is that, as the creator of the Internet, wouldn't Gore himself bear some responsibility? :-)

Finally, remember: About half of us voted for this guy. A guy who would behave like this for political expedience might have become President. Shudder.