Kos:

"It was a time that was very stifling for liberal voices in the American landscape," he remembers. "No one could criticize the president because it was considered treasonous to criticize the president in time of war." But as an Army veteran who served in artillery logistics in the first gulf war, he felt he could question the rush to combat with impunity. "I vowed my life for the right to criticize our leaders. Nobody was going to tell me I could or could not criticize anybody."

Yes, I recall well the night all the dissenters were rounded up and sent to the work camps, with just the scraps of clothes on their backs--the wails of anguish, the cries for missing loved ones. Just a few brave souls, veterans like Markos Zuniga, were willing to stand up to the man, and speak truth to power, in defiance of the storm troopers.

--

It's funny, he probably said this with a straight face, and the Newsweek reporter sees no need to align it with reality. Other than Ann Coulter, I recall very few people being accused of "treason" for "criticizing the president" (and even in her case, I think that the charge was a little more involved than that). Hell, I criticized the president--I still do. What he means is that he (and many others) weren't allowed to spout inanities and insanities issued from the depths of their dementia and Bush derangement without being criticized for it.

Sorry, Kos, but the rest of us have free speech rights, too.

Back during the time... Nobody knew who "Kos" really was. The brave man, who put his life on the line for his country, didn't have the nerve to actually pen his name to his dissent. In 225 years, the people who "speak truth to power" have gone from John Hancock to Markos Zuniga. Sadly, John Hancock actually had something to worry about.

If they're going to live their lives by fantasy and non-sequiturs, why not make up an agreeable one to live by?

im not sure what he means, but its certainly more than ann coulter saying that if youre against the president youre objectively pro-al qaeda or anti-american. you do it yourself, rand. perhaps hes saying less people take such talk seriously now than they used to, as the presidents policies look weaker and weaker. i dont think the president is pro-al qaeda (except in so far as he enjoys having an enemy), but one could make the argument that things like the administration's broad interpretation of its powers as the executive are anti-american, though not treasonous.

*should say: except in so far as he may enjoy having an enemy.
i realize that's speculation.

Oh yeah, I'm sure the president is glad to have AlQueda as an enemy, reality and you are strangers I see.

"Sorry, Kos, but the rest of us have free speech rights, too."

Not if he and his ilk ever get to be in charge.

Collected Kos snark:

- - Markos Moulitsas looks smaller on TV than in person. He is actually seven feet tall, with hands that could crush a bowling ball. He sharpens his teeth by chewing beer bottles, and the rumor is that he shot Billmon just for snoring. He scares us all because he enters our villages and eats our livestock at night. - Rude Pundit

- - Chuck Norris is the only mortal that can survive as Markos Moulitsas' sparring partner. Kingpins are immune to roundhouse kicks. - DH from MD

- - Markos Moulitsas does not own a computer. He calls the server from a payphone and hisses the site updates in raw binary.

I would suggest a review of the treatment of the "Dixie Chicks"
for a counterpoint to Mr Simberg's Argument.

In reference to the Dixie Chicks; sorry anonymous, but the rest of us have free association rights, too.

The Dixie Chicks' First Amendment right of free speech doesn't include the right to an audience.

"Other than Ann Coulter, I recall very few people being accused of "treason" for "criticizing the president" (and even in her case, I think that the charge was a little more involved than that)."

i think thats what anonymous is referring to.

kos' criticism is a cultural one, not a legal one. or perhaps you're being purposefully obtuse.