Civility? FUCK civility.

This post has been a while in coming, and was finally prompted by this recent development (emphasis added):

Toward the end of the conversation, I raised my hand and asked [Sen. John] McCain:

"Given that you've said that you are 'scared to death that it's going to be a very hot spring in Afghanistan,' and given that you have also said, repeatedly, that only a substantial increase in troops in Iraq would make a real difference, why not send the 21,000 troops headed to Iraq, in what is clearly an act of desperation, to Afghanistan instead?"

During his response, McCain equated those opposing his position with "the far left."

"Do you consider Sam Brownback part of the far left?" I jumped in.

The Senator flared and told me that if I'd only let him finish his answer instead of interrupting, we could have "a civil discussion."

Lately, those on the Right have complained increasingly that it's getting harder and harder to have a "civil discussion" with all us deranged, moonbat lefties, but that all depends on what you mean by "civil". Apparently, "civil" means that they get to ramble on endlessly and tediously, spewing lies and absurdities one after another, and you get to sit there and wait for them to finish. And I think it's time for that to stop.

You see this on every talking head show -- guest number one (think Dick Cheney here) drones on, with one transparently false statement after another and, if anyone has the temerity to interrupt to call him on his bullshit, what you get is this predictable, wounded puppy dog expression, accompanied by, "Wait, can I finish? Please, can you be polite enough to just let me finish my statement? Let's be civil here, all right?" At which point, the monologue resumes and the lies continue unabated. And by the time the monologue is over, there have been so many lies that it's not even physically possible to address them all.

You want smug, sanctimonious condescension? Fast forward in about two minutes to see the bullshit start:


Frankly, I would like to see progressives stop being "civil." If someone makes a blatantly dishonest claim, they should be called on it immediately. If the wingnuts want to bitch about that, let them. Civility may imply being polite enough to let someone finish what they're saying, but it should also imply not flat-out lying. And if you lie, you've automatically given up the right to be treated "civilly."

It's time to stop playing nice.