First, an “open letter to conservatives” calling them out on their rude and unhelpful behavior, and inviting them back into the fold. Read it.
Or if you prefer video, Olbermann pretty much saying the same thing:
Will the Republicans be able to back themselves out of the looney bin? It isn’t looking very likely right now. The far-right has made the often fatal mistake of believing their own hype.
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I agree, the Republicans seem to have collected enough rope to hang themselves once again. (My own recent take — Dying to Stop Health Care Reform.)
Democrats could sit back and let them continue to commit political suicide, but it says something that some — Olbermann in this case — are calling them back from the brink. It would help the Democrats’ agenda if the G.O.P. marginalizes itself even further, but the price would be further racist (and perhaps terrorist) incidents against Americans (a la Austin attack on IRS office) and the sidelining of legitimate conservative dissent.
So Olbermann’s appeal to the right’s better instincts is remarkable and admirable.
Republicans and their Conservative followers/dummies have unfortunately opened a dangerous floodgate of hate, racial epithets, death threats and actual acts of violence against Democrats. A sad reminder of Nazi Germany when roving gangs started to attack Jews, Jewish businesses and synagogues after listening to incendiary speeches by Nazi leaders. The Republican Party will be hard-pressed to put the brakes on this behavior because they have encouraged it. Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck, for example, say whatever they want on the air without any self-restraint or fear of restrictions by their networks. Bad publicity is still publicity. I hope we see some arrests soon. Threatening a Congressman is a federal crime if I’m not mistaken.