Chip off the old blockheads

You may be aware that gadfly par excellence Jesus' General has had a grand old time pointing out the hypocricy of the Young Republicans upcoming shindig in Vegas with Operation Yellow Elephant.

Well, the boys running the show over at the Future Brownshirts for Jesus seem to be learning from the masters how to deflect criticsm: when those pesky Libruls point out that your actions and words have about as much in common as the Sermon on the Mount and privatizing Social Security, fight back by accusing your accusers of accusing you of something absurd and unrelated to their actual message.

The e-mails label the Convention attendees as “repuglicans” and “Wingnuts” and call upon fellow leftists to focus their protests on “a panel discussion with recently returned Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.” Despite these insults and threats the 2005 Young Republican Convention has adopted as its theme "Supporting our Troops, Honoring the Fallen", and shall host Operation Interdependence, Honor the Fallen and the National Flag Foundation, all of whom assist U.S. servicemen and their families. Additionally, star of the television show The Apprentice, former Marine and military booster Kelly Perdew shall serve as master of ceremonies at the premier Convention event. As well, the threatened panel of Young Republicans who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan shall discuss their experiences and the importance of the War on Terror.

“The childish insults and threatened protests of these leftists reveal ignorance of, and disrespect for, the sacrifice borne by many hosted by the Convention,” Taylor continued. “Most of our members either serve, have served, or plan to serve in the United States Armed Forces, or have participated in events or projects supporting the United States Armed Forces. We will not be intimidated.”

That's it, bubba. We feel you are doing too much to help, what with your "participation in events or projects supporting the armed forces." You know, like hanging out in Vegas (hey, that's in the desert, too) and "hosting" people who actually did make sacrifices.

Maybe you could even quantify your own massive sacrifice by backing a return of the Conscription Act of 1863 -- you know, the one by which the Union mandated enlistment for all able-bodied men unless they either (a) found another to take their place or (b) paid $300 to get out of it? That would be about $5500 in 2005 dollars -- the perfect amount to keep all of you sipping Mai Tais at the Mandalay while supporting the mud people proles brave men and women sent to catch IEDs in your stead while you "participate in events or projects supporting" them.

Because hey, putting a yellow ribbon on the rear window of your SUV is the moral equivalent of getting your face blown off for $1235 per month.