Next time a Senator says "Civil liberties are no good if you're dead,"

[The Witch]

EDIT: Because there's a point to using this instead of the Patrick Henry argument.

(I just had this thought randomly this morning and wondered if it was a stray idiocy or something good.)

Next time a Senator says "Civil liberties are no good if you're dead,"

we should not use the Patrick Henry argument - it doesn't hold water with GOP-types, we all know they value their life more than their liberties or they wouldn't be such chickenhawks. Instead, let's compare it to something they REALLY value:

"Neither's your Senate seat, but you're sure doing your damndest to keep THAT safe!"

:evilgrin:

[Warpy]

1. Living without liberties is living in hell

and death would be preferable.

But your answer's good, too.

[The Witch]

14. Just trying to compare it to something they DO find important.

Their own damned power.

[kenny blankenship]

2. Civil liberties are how free people keep from being killed

by their own governments. Without them WE HAVE NOTHING.

[originalpckelly]

3. No someone should say:

"Your life is no good if your liberties are dead."

[Bluerthanblue]

6. our state motto:'Live free or die"-

... editing to give the full quote from John Stark- Live free or die: Death is not the worst of evils.

as well as "Give me liberty or give me death"- P. Henry

Not a 'new' notion.

Willing to die while excercising our freedoms. Which is different than killing others because 'we fear' them, and saying our freedom relies on not allowing people who frighten us live on this planet too-

[The Witch]

15. But GOPers don't get that.

Thus - take it to something they DO find important enough to protect - their power.

[whistle]

4. Right, can you provide a list of senators who have said this?

...Their names and quotes need to be circulated broadly and quickly

[The Witch]

12. Pat Roberts comes to mind.

http://www2.ljworld.com/blogs/kansas_congress/2006/may/19/roberts/

Also General Idea, I mean, Hayden:
http://www.headsetoptions.org/2006/05/18/hayden-says-%E2%80%9Cyou-have-no-civil-liberties-if-you-are-dead/

Jeff Sessions & John Cornyn:
http://leftcoastbreakdown.blogspot.com/2006/05/profiles-in-courage.html

[Ishoutandscream2]

5. Or...

"With remarks like that, I'm sure our founding fathers are rolling over in their graves."

And another one, "Does 'Give me liberty or give me death' ring a bell?"

[kskiska]

8. Then there's New Hampshire's license plate motto

"Live free or die."

[bluestateguy]

7. I'll take civil liberties over death. Um, thank you.

I suppose we could live in a pretty safe country if we just gave police, the military and the government unlimited powers, but then we'd have to live in a totalitarian state.

Death is preferable to that.

[mike_c]

9. I thought Patrick Henry had the last word on that issue....

"I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"

The whole speech is well worth reading if anyone needs reminding: http://www.law.ou.edu/ushistory/henry.shtml

[Ishoutandscream2]

10. You'd think, wouldn't you?

Time to bring out the civics books and colonial American history texts. It's time for "Freeper 101."

[The Witch]

13. Re-review the OP, I edited--

there's a reason I went the route I did instead of the Patrick Henry route.

[Ishoutandscream2]

16. Yes, I did read that, and I understand

There's a selfishness and lack of understanding with someone in government saying this. While I do get your overall point, there is a great many Americans who need to "go back to school," so to speak. Including some of our folks serving in government.

[tanyev]

11. Dead people no longer need civil liberties.