I loathe the MSM more every day.

bbz123 on October 9, 2007 at 9:17 AM

I have long since past the point where it is possibly for me to loath the MSM any more than I already do. In fact I can no longer even view them as misguided but well intending useful idiots. Their intentions have in my opinion be become indiscernible in difference from those of Benedict Arnold.

When Benedict Arnold betrayed George Washington and the Continental Army his reasoning was that the revolution was doom to failure and a quick decisive victory by the British would spare many of the Colonists lives. His treasonous actions were not taken out of spite, but of a desire to end the suffering and death he saw as inevitable.

Likewise the treasonous actions of the MSM have equally misguided humanitarian roots. Their initial premise is slightly different in that they believe American imperialistic expansionism to be the root of all evil in todays world. Yet the core of their rational remains the same, in order for lives to be saved and suffering to be brought to an end America must lose. Only through such a humiliating loss can America be convinced to give up its imperialistic expansionism.

Regardless of their misguided faux humanitarian emotions their actions remain treasonous and they should no more be considered patriots than Benedict Arnold was and to this day is.

doriangrey on October 9, 2007 at 11:05 AM

I had thought that spite had a lot to do with it, Arnold was broke and Congress had turned down his expense reimbursement and was investigating him for corruption. He was especially bitter at Horatio Gates who villified him after the Saratoga Campaign, and at being turned down for promotions.

dedalus on October 9, 2007 at 11:46 AM

That is an understandable position considering the fierce animosity most historians have brought to the record of his deeds. However I believe when one removes the personal opinions of historians the record actually suggest otherwise.

On 19 June, as he was still too lame for field service, Washington put him in command of Philadelphia, which the British had just evacuated. The Tory sentiment in that city was strong, and had been strengthened by disgust at the alliance with France, a feeling which Arnold seems to have shared. He soon became engaged to a Tory lady, Margaret, daughter of Edward Shippen, afterward chief justice of Pennsylvania. She was celebrated for her beauty, wit, and nobility of character. During the next two years Arnold associated much with the Tories, and his views of public affairs were no doubt influenced by this association. He lived extravagantly, and became involved in debt. He got into quarrels with many persons, especially with Joseph Reed, president of the executive council of the state. These troubles wrought upon him until he made up his mind to resign his commission, obtain a grant of land in central New York, settle it with some of his old soldiers, and end his days in rural seclusion. His request was favorably entertained by the New York legislature, but a long list of charges now brought against him by Reed drove the scheme from his mind.

The charges were investigated by a committee of congress, and on all those that affected his integrity he was acquitted. Two charges — first, of having once in a hurry granted a pass in which some due forms were overlooked, and, secondly, of having once used some public wagons, which were standing idle, for saving private property in danger from the enemy–were proved against him; but the committee thought these things too trivial to notice, and recommended an unqualified verdict of acquittal. Arnold then, considering himself vindicated, resigned his command of Philadelphia. But as Reed now represented that further evidence was forthcoming, congress referred the matter to another committee, which shirked the responsibility through fear of offending Pennsylvania, and handed the affair over to a court-martial. Arnold clamored for a speedy trial, but Reed succeeded in delaying it several months under pretence of collecting evidence. On 26 Jan., 1780, the court-martial rendered its verdict, which agreed in every particular with that of the committee of congress; but for the two trivial charges proved against Arnold, it was decided that he should receive a reprimand from the commander-in-chief. Washington, who considered Arnold the victim of persecution, couched the reprimand in such terms as to convert it into eulogy, and soon afterward offered Arnold the highest command under himself in the northern army for the next campaign. But Arnold in an evil hour had allowed himself to be persuaded into the course that has blackened his name forever.

Three years had elapsed since Saratoga, and the fortunes of the Americans, instead of improving, had grown worse and worse. France had as yet done but little for us, our southern army had been annihilated, our paper money had become worthless, our credit abroad had hardly begun to exist. Even Washington wrote that “he had almost ceased to hope.” The army, clad in rags, half-starved and unpaid, was nearly ripe for the mutiny that broke out a few months later, and desertions to the British lines averaged more than 100 a month. The spirit of desertion now seized upon Arnold, with whom the British commander had for some time tampered through the mediation of John Andre and an American loyalist, Beverley Robinson. Stung by the injustice he had suffered, and influenced by history surroundings, Arnold made up his mind to play a part like that which Gen. Monk had played in the restoration of Charles II. to the British throne. By putting the British in possession of the Hudson river, he would give them all that they had sought to obtain by the campaigns of 1776-’77; and the American cause would thus become so hopeless that an opportunity would be offered for negotiation.

Arnold was assured that Lord North would renew the liberal terms already offered in 1778, which conceded everything that the Americans had demanded in 1775. By rendering a cardinal service to the British, he might hope to attain a position of such eminence as to conduct these negotiations, end the war, and restore America to her old allegiance, with her freedom from parliamentary control guaranteed. In order to realize these ambitious dreams, Arnold resorted to the blackest treachery. In July, 1780, he sought and obtained command of West Point in order to surrender it to the enemy. When his scheme was detected by the timely capture of Andre, he fled to the British at New York, a disgraced and hated traitor. Instead of getting control of affairs, like Gen. Monk, he had sold himself cheap, receiving a brigadier-general’s place in the British army and a paltry stun of money. In the spring of 1781 he conducted a plundering expedition into Virginia. In September of the same year he was sent to attack New London, in order to divert Washington from his southward march against Cornwallis.

doriangrey on October 9, 2007 at 12:06 PM

It is my intent, that when they hang Pinch Sulzberger and his editorial staff, and the news editors at CBSNBCABCCNN for treason for leaking damaging national intelligence secrets, to have applied for the popcorn concession for their execution.

georgej on October 9, 2007 at 12:13 PM

I’m angling for the beer concession myself…

doriangrey on October 9, 2007 at 1:38 PM