Do you think the U.S. should impose a ban on Republicans like Germany did after WWII?

[Hawkeye-X]

They still hold a ban on all right-wing activities in Germany. I think it'll benefit the United States in the long term if Republican Party was banned and the supporters have to create a new third-party to hold most of their right-wing ideology?

This is not your grandfather's Republican Party, people. It's been taken over but fundies and loons.

Hawkeye-X

[villager]

1. I have *long* thought this...

n/t

[DrCory]

35. If that is the case...

"I have *long* thought this..."

You have *long* possessed an authoritarian mindset. How is banning political parties a democratic principle?

[ogneopasno]

2. No. No, thanks.

nt

[Rambis]

3. I think there should be camps

re-education camps:)

[hay rick]

23. re? nt

[Release The Hounds]

27. .

[Rambis]

28. Re implies torture

we better get this done before Dimson leaves office so it will be legal right?

[norepubsin08]

4. As much as I would love to say yes, NO!!!

We live in a free society or at least we are supposed to. What I would love to do is marginalize them, so they become the laughing stock of the pundits!!!

[Hydra]

5. I think that something like this DOES need to happen

Pre-emptive war and torture are things that need to be considered illegal in our national dialogue. That means the Republican party needs to be disbanded.

[Juche]

6. No

I will agree that many people in the GOP are perfectly happy with fascism, human rights abuses and stolen elections and will lie through their teeth about what they've done, will do and stand for to achieve it (almost 100% of the GOP talking points are lies at this point). However those people can be pursued under existing or strengthened laws protecting individual liberties or civil rights.

I would support a law forcing RW radio hosts to admit when they are wrong or lying, and prosecution of Rove and all the others as well as a new 9/11 investigation and election fraud investigation. But you don't need to ban the GOP.

[Occulus]

21. That's called the Fairness Doctrine

Ended during the Reagan years. His FCC's elimination of the Fairness Doctrine allowed the rise of the unchallenged reichwing talking heads.

[Warpy]

7. That would be unnecessary

if we rid that party of racketeers.

That's their problem, they've used the churches to get into power and turned to racketeering to build wealth and keep power.

All of the national leadership and most of the state leadership would be in prison for vote suppression activities, alone, even without the bribery and theft.

[Ghost in the Machine]

8. They need to be classified as a 'continuing criminal enterprise' and be shut down

the GOP is a haven for criminals

[cobalt1999]

9. The idea sounds very republican

Sorry, I don't think that way, nor do I want to embrace their ideas (even when used against them).

[spoony]

10. Oh, I can just imagine

"Thank goodness we've elected Obama so we can restore our Constitutional liberties...Now, lock all the people up who didn't vote how we wanted them to..."

A fascist by any other name...

[DJ13]

11. I think prosecuting their leaders under the RICO Act would be enough

[Hubert Flottz]

18. I agree

And for their war crimes...

[JohnWxy]

22. yes, vigorously enforcing laws is a must. They are trying to rationalize some acts as based on

"sincere" fanaticism or "beliefs" ("Hey! it's my religion to be paranoic. So cut me some slack.") Yeah, a LOT of slack is what they want.

example: The claim they 'believed' purchased "intelligence" re Saddam Hussein (and links to Al Kaida) was true. They knew it was Bull. They just say they really "believed" it to be true. (well, maybe Doug Feith believed it. He's a genuine idiot.)

[slackmaster]

12. Germany does not have a ban on right-wing activity in general

The CDU and CSU parties are right of center, and there are a whole bunch of minor parties that are definitely to the right.

The NDP is basically a skinhead, neo-Mazi party, and it survived in court an attempt to ban it several years ago.

[gravity]

13. Are you serious?

I'm sorry I have to sound like a fundie, but this idea is unamerican to its purists form. I support the constitution, and the right for political parties to meet.

The Republican party went to far right, and America is rejecting them finally. Democracy in action.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

14. A) No. B) You're incorrect about Germany.

There are plenty of right-wingers in Germany. They've got their political parties. Some of them are in the government. There is no prohibition against being a wingnut in Germany.

[slackmaster]

15. Correct

The only things you can't be in Germany are a Nazi or a Scientologist.

[JohnWxy]

16. Well, it is an appealing idea, but I'm afraid it's impractical. You really can't legislate morality.

We will always have con-men, frauds and fearful hate-mongers. It would be nice if we could just stop the slime balls from being part of society but I'm afraid that they always find a way to creep back in. Unfortunately, as appealing as that utopian vision is it's not realistic (although, I've pondered such a possibility myself a time or two). I think we just have to deal with the darker side whether we like it or not.

[Peace Patriot]

17. I think we should ban electronic voting with 'TRADE SECRET,' PROPRIETARY programming code,

owned and controlled by rightwing nutball Bushite corporations, and let the party chips fall where they may.

If somebody wants to call what they do "Republican," fine with me. They can have that rotten reputation if they want it. But if they try again to gain control of our vote counting system, and voter registration, they can go to jail, or to hell--their choice.

[RainDog]

19. No!! But we should have war crimes trials.

and we should have people who go to jail who were giving orders in from the executive branch. I'd love to see a frog-march for Rove, as well.

But, for a start, I think all those who refused subpoena's to testify in front of congress should be arrested.

I don't think any of this will happen, however.

[asthmaticeog]

20. I don't want to live in an America that outlaws an ideology.

Even one as repellent as that held by today's extreme right. Democracy is messy stuff. Let it be.

[davepc]

24. Why do you hate the Consitution?

I. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

[moondust]

25. Maybe.

It depends on how they behave after they're thrown out of office. If they continue to cultivate destructive ideas like drowning the gov't in a bathtub (Norquist), establishing a permanent Republican majority (Rove), or if they attempt to deligitimize an Obama presidency or continue with their brownshirt ways in general, then maybe they should be allowed to change their name and start over.

[Make7]

26. Why is it necessary for you to ban an inferior political party in order for yours to prevail? nt.

[golddigger]

29. Yeah and then after that we ban the Muslims, Jews, the mentally challenged.

And then when their gone we go after the blind, the deaf and hard of hearing, etc., etc.

Yeah, that will fucking work.:wtf: :argh: :sarcasm:

[Freddie Stubbs]

30. Congress shall make no law...

...respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

31. No, they'll just feel persecuted and get REALLY ornery

Besides, it would be unConstitutional. They need to see that the sky isn't falling down, and eventually, a lot of them will come around. I think the Republican party will implode and die of its own accord if there's really a Democratic sweep.

We may eventually see a realignment, perhaps with an ascendant new party, and the ideological spectrum may redistribute itself.

[1awake]

32. You got to be fucking kidding me...

No, I don't think banning the opposition is such a smart move. How very fascist of you.

[TexasObserver]

33. that sure worked out well during Reconstruction

Oh, wait. It was the Republicans who used that approach back then.


It's wrong and it won't work.

[Dorian Gray]

34. No.