Rip a Tongue Out For Jesus

El Presidente got the ball rolling last week in a Veteran's Day speech: Criticize me and my war, you're unAmerican:

He said that anyone accusing his administration of having "manipulated the intelligence and misled the American people" was giving aid and comfort to the enemy. "These baseless attacks send the wrong signal to our troops and to an enemy that is questioning America's will. As our troops fight a ruthless enemy determined to destroy our way of life, they deserve to know that their elected leaders who voted to send them to war continue to stand behind them."

This is only the beginning of what will become a mounting campaign to intimidate the 57 percent of Americans who now believe El Presidente lied us into war. And there will be many willing foot soldiers in this dirty campaign, like Andrew Koeppel, Chairman of the Republican Party for the NC 7th Congressional District and a member of both the North Carolina Republican State Executive Committee and the North Carolina Republican Central Committee. Koeppel's opinions about treason were contained in e-mails that have been published on The Political Junkies site here. Highlights:

"It is time for people, especially the Republican leadership in Congress, to determine when remarks of the opposition to the war no longer represent legitimate political dissent. When do these remarks not only give 'aid and comfort to our enemies', but also cross the line that constitutes treasonous behavior? ... opponents of our war effort .... need to be warned that they have reached the limit. If they do not immediately cease and desist, they will be forced to face the consequences."

And we're fighting for whose freedom?