The New Left's Appeal to Authority II

As Wretchard pointed out, liberals act differently when they're in power. They're not very effective right now when they are challenged. Which doesn't necessarily mean that they will pay an immediate price for their ineffectiveness. They have friends, after all. See also Jane's Law.

Case in Point: A Democratic congresswoman had a former policeman (who challenged the presence of union "enforcers" during a townhall meeting) removed by the police. Captain Ed:

"Shea-Porter heaped disparagement on “tea-baggers” who showed up to dissent on ObamaCare, which is rich with irony, considering Shea-Porter’s history:

“The irony is, of course, that Shea-Porter used to be a ‘tea-bagger’ on the left,” writes Nashua Telegraph columnist Kevin Landrigan. “She stalked then-congressman Jeb Bradley at town hall-style meetings the 1st District Republican incumbent held throughout his district.”

Four years ago Carol Shea-Porter protested at the State House alongside people dressed as Nazis while accusing the federal government of trying “to brand us like sheep.” On Saturday, she disparagingly referred to people who do not trust the same federal government to run our health care system as “these people.”

“We remember when, Carol, do you,” asks Landrigan. (emphasis mine).

But that was when she was one of the hoi polloi. Now, she’s in power, and Shea-Porter doesn’t deign to take questions without preselecting who can speak in her presence."

As Glenn Reynolds says, "They can dish it out, but they can’t take it. And until now, they haven’t had to . . . ."

UPDATE: "It's like they think they're royalty: Carol Shea-Porter, Harry Reid, Charlie Rangel, etc.

Why isn't Charlie Rangel getting jail time? "The swamp of corruption in DC is clearly a swimming pool for Democrats these days."