Submitted to a Candid World

First, a former right-wing talk radio host-turned-blogger is in court for telling his listeners to “take up arms,” because government officials should “obey the Constitution or die.” Current Supreme Court precedent protests violent speech, unless it is intended to incite an imminent and likely unlawful act. Brandenburg v. Ohio, 395 U.S. 444 (1969). A protective formula, to be sure, but Hal Turner is cutting it pretty close. A real, honest-to-goodness express incitement case: by God, it’s been a while!

Second, consider the case of Pennsylvania State Senator John Eichelberger (R-???) who, last week, explained that he’s giving gay Americans what they deserve, because he suffers them to exist. Very thoughtful of him, considering the “Christian” thing to do would be to force them into therapy until they either pretend to be straight or, more likely, kill themselves.

Remarkable, isn’t it, how the far-right’s respect for the rule of law and indeed the country waxes and wanes with their political fortunes.