This Is How Liberals Think:

[Borg warner]

The right-wing movement surrounding Daniel Penny is barbaric

Republicans and right-wing pundits see vigilante brutality as something to champion. 

 

May 18, 2023, 3:45 PM PDT
By Zeeshan Aleem, MSLSD Opinion Writer/Editor

Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley on Tuesday called on New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to pardon Daniel Penny, the Marine veteran charged with second-degree manslaughter for killing Jordan Neely, a mentally ill man, on the New York City subway with a chokehold in April. 

Haley made the remarks in an interview on Fox News, saying it would help the city deal with crime. “Criminals will continue to rule the streets of New York, because they will know that there’s no accountability for anyone who tries to stop them,” she said. “And if she pardons him, that sets a right on a lot of things — it’ll put criminals on notice. And it’ll let people like Penny who really were very brave in that instance, it will let them know that we’ve got their back.”

Penny is being swept up into a broader right-wing narrative that valorizes vigilante extrajudicial killing as a noble pursuit.  Shocking as that rationale sounds, Haley’s position isn’t an outlier. There’s a growing movement of right-wing politicians, activists and pundits staking out an extreme position in ardent support of Penny. They don’t just defend his actions but glorify them as heroic. They don't see tragedy in the needless death of Neely, but a potentially exciting model for dealing with social problems.

 

As we saw with Kenosha vigilante Kyle Rittenhouse, Penny is being swept up into a broader right-wing narrative that valorizes vigilante extrajudicial killing as a noble pursuit. It underscores the hollowness of the American right’s claim to favor “law and order”; what it really favors is upholding a certain kind of order by any means.

 

Haley isn’t the only 2024 contender who has signaled support for Penny. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis tweeted a link to a crowdfunding page set up by Penny’s lawyers, wrote that it’s imperative to “take back the streets for law abiding citizens” and called for support to show him that “America’s got his back.” Former biotech executive Vivek Ramaswamy sent $10,000 to the fundraiser, which has raised over $2.5 million. (Donors to that fundraiser have left comments like “No tears for the [man] who died….” and “take back our country from these villains bent on destroying our nation.”) 

 

Former President Donald Trump said that he didn’t want to make a “definitive statement” but that “I think he [Penny] was in danger,” adding: “And it sounded like the other people in the car were in danger. And it also looks like this man [who was killed] was arrested over 40 times and had lots of problems.” 

The list of right-wing VIPs celebrating Penny goes on and on. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., deemed him a “Subway Superman.” Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., called him a “hero.” One America News asked readers whether Penny should be honored. This isn’t just about the MAGA corners of the right: The Wall Street Journal ran an editorial defending Penny as “the Subway Samaritan.” Twitter CEO Elon Musk liked a tweet calling Neely, the victim, “worthless,” as well as a tweet poll circulating on the right asking whether Neely was murdered or “had it coming” (the overwhelming majority believed the latter). 

 

This rhetoric is so extreme it can be easy to forget that what happened was a gratuitous act of violence against a person who appeared mentally unwell and homeless. Reporting about the incident indicates that Neely appeared to be experiencing acute mental distress on the subway. “I don’t have food, I don’t have a drink, I’m fed up,” he reportedly yelled. “I don’t mind going to jail and getting life in prison. I’m ready to die.” Reporting and an eyewitness statement relayed by the police indicates that he directed threatening language at passengers. It’s not hard to see how Neely created a situation that made passengers nervous. But no reporting indicates that Neely showed signs he was going to physically harm anyone before Penny used physical force against him. 

Penny’s actions were both an escalation and a strikingly aggressive use of force. According to reports, he didn’t bargain with Neely or issue a warning. He struck from behind. He placed Neely in a chokehold, a restraining position which aims to restrict blood flow or air flow and can easily be lethal — something a Marine, in particular, ought to know. 

 

According to at least one eyewitness account, Neely used the chokehold for an astonishing 15 minutes. But even if that’s contestable, what’s not, as video and reporting indicate, is that he used the chokehold for minutes well after the subway train had stopped, authorities were on their way, he had the aid of at least two other men, and the car had emptied of other passengers. It is plausible that Penny didn’t want or expect to kill Neely, but it’s evident that he didn’t use force reasonably or in a manner that was remotely commensurate with the perceived threat.

[LostinTexas]

[Walt Longmire]

Mess with the bull......

[gwalchmai]

I don't think liberals think. I think they feel. Or do I feel they feel? No, I'm not what we think of as a liberal, so I think. I think. 

[Borg warner]

58 minutes ago, gwalchmai said:

I don't think liberals think. I think they feel. Or do I feel they feel? No, I'm not what we think of as a liberal, so I think. I think. 

Rene Descarte  is often misquoted as saying, "I think therefore I am" But they always cut the statement short. What he actually said was, "I Think, therefore I am (not a Liberal.) "

[tous]

Y'all are making the basic mistake that the hippie Marxists depend on:  Oh, those nutty liberals and their crazy ideas.

The hippie Marxists are neither nutty or crazy, They know exactly what they are doing and it works well for them.

Assert a concept that is not just outside of the mainstream of thought, but far outside, such as, children must be able to choose their own sex at six years old.

Using social and mainstream media, repeat the absurd over and over and over again from influential sources, such as politicians, medical professionals, government workers holding or having held positions of high responsibility.

Point out to the universities and giant medical practices that a six-year-old transsexual is a patient, a well-paying patient, for the next 20 years.

If they don't kill themselves.

Declare all opposition to the obviously ridiculous as racist, sexist, homophobic -- hate speech; wild-eyed conspiracy theories.

Using social and mainstream media, repeat that condemnation  over and over and over again from influential sources, such as politicians, medical professionals, government workers holding or having held positions of high responsibility.

Repeat.

Works for them doesn't it?

This is how the hippie Marxists not only think, but plan and execute that plan.

Because we deem them stupid or vapid and we have no one on the side of rational ideas and moral behavior, they're winning and will continue to win.

 

 

[LostinTexas]

8 minutes ago, tous said:

Y'all are making the basic mistake that the hippie Commie Marxists depend on:  Oh, those nutty liberals and their crazy ideas.

The hippie Commie Marxists are neither nutty or crazy, They know exactly what they are doing and it works well for them.

Assert a concept that is not just outside of the mainstream of thought, but far outside, such as, children must be able to choose their own sex at six years old.

Using social and mainstream media, repeat the absurd over and over and over again from influential sources, such as politicians, medical professionals, government workers holding or having held positions of high responsibility.

Declare all opposition to the obviously ridiculous as racist, sexist, homophobic -- hate speech; wild-eyed conspiracy theories.

Using social and mainstream media, repeat that condemnation  over and over and over again from influential sources, such as politicians, medical professionals, government workers holding or having held positions of high responsibility.

Repeat.

Works for them doesn't it?

this is how the hippie Commie Marxists not only thing, but plan and execute that plan.

Because we deem them stupid or vapid and we have no one on the side of rational ideas and moral behavior, they're winning and will continue to win.

 

 

FIFY, and you are right, nothing stupid about them, well the ones running the show anyway. Calculating, evil, deliberate, and patient are a better description.

[tous]

I appreciate the edit, amigo, but I suggest that Marxism and Communism are interchangeable; two names for the same doctrine

Others suggest that Marxism is the belief, communism is the means to realize that belief, but I maintain that fascism, which communist societies are the very definition of, do not depend on Marx.

I further suggest that the hippie philosophy, though heavily influenced by socialism, of all human endeavor has equal value, do your own thing, drug yourself into a stupor as much as possible and other tenets is different from Marxism or Communism, though hippies found the idea of a commune appealing.

[LostinTexas]

I always thought of Marxism as socialism. Communism is a different animal, or used to be, we are living a combined philosophy.

Could be wrong. I'm not the big thinker you guys are.

[tous]

You opinion is as valid as anyone else's, amigo.  I could be wrong as well. 

I consider communism, as practiced in the 20th century, as modern feudalism.

Consider:  there is a supreme, infallible, unchallenged leader (the king.) supported by other, wealthy, privileged leaders, the  apparatchik, (aristocracy)   of less power, loyal to the king that rule over the vast, impoverished, docile population  (serfs.)

As I mentioned, the concept of a ruling, brutal elite that keeps the population in line with terror and utter ruthlessness does not now and didn't then depend on the Marx/Engels philosophy.

Just my analysis and as I mentioned, it may well be wrong.

One thing I do know, it's about time for Texas to secede.

 

[LostinTexas]

1 minute ago, tous said:

 

One thing I do know, it's about time for Texas to secede.

 

And,,,, long overdue on slamming the door to the Left and Right coast. Not to mention the southern boarder.

I know the way to stop the invasion, but don't think the "public" has the stomach for it. It would get the message across in a hurry, and probably save countless lives in the process by cutting off the commerce.

[DAKA]

On 5/19/2023 at 11:19 PM, LostinTexas said:

And,,,, long overdue on slamming the door to the Left and Right coast. Not to mention the southern boarder.

******I know the way to stop the invasion, but don't think the "public" has the stomach for it. It would get the message across in a hurry, and probably save countless lives in the process by cutting off the commerce.

******  A few well placed rounds would also do the trick                     (I'm kidding...  not really)

[Rellik]

Socialism is communism for slow learners. 

All ends in tears. 

[Cougar_ml]

"this is how liberals think"

No, because they don't actually bother to think.  All they do is go with whatever action "feels" right, no matter how obvious it is that it won't work how they feel it should.