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The Far Right's First 100 Days: Getting More Extreme by the Day

Their talk is turning ugly, and it's not unthinkable that we could be in for a wave of domestic terrorism unseen since the mid-'90s.
May 6, 2009  |  
 
 
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Sometime back in February, about three weeks into Barack Obama's administration, everybody on the left suddenly noticed that there was something different going on with the conservatives.

The outrageous screeds and paranoid delusions sounded pretty much as they always had -- but there was a new fury behind them, a strident urgency that hadn't been there before, and a very audible shift of the gears in right-wing behavior and rhetoric.

None of this came as a surprise to veteran right-wing watchers -- we'd been predicting a bad backlash since the 2006 election -- but more than three months into the new administration, it's increasingly hard to ignore the fact that this ominous new trend is taking on a momentum of its own.

On April 7, the Department of Homeland Security ratified some of those observations. Fueled by bone-deep racism, an unnatural terror of liberal government, frustration over the economic downturn, and fears about America's loss of world standing, they said, the militant right wing is indeed rising again.

Its numbers are up, its talk is turning ugly, and it's not unthinkable that we could be in for a wave of domestic terrorism unseen since the mid-1990s.

I've been meaning for a while to talk about what changed after the inauguration, and why, and what it means to the country going forward. Our observance of the end of the first 100 days seems to be a good time to do that.

The DHS report laid out the history and the current drivers in straight factual terms and made some safe predictions about what might make the situation worse. But the report stopped short of taking the next step.

(Interestingly, the nightmare scenario for most right-wing watchers -- a white-hot backlash in the wake of another major terrorist attack -- appears nowhere in the DHS assessment. Perhaps they didn't want to put ideas into paranoid right-wing heads.)

We need to look at what long experience has taught us about the past escalation patterns of right-wing rhetoric and violence and figure out where we currently stand within those patterns.

We actually know quite a bit about this. Most national agencies tasked with keeping tabs on political and religious extremist groups look for specific signs that help them sort out who's just talking the talk and who's actually getting ready to walk the walk.

The criteria vary from agency to agency; and our collective insights into these patterns changes and deepens every year. But there are some generally accepted principles -- and applying them to the current state of conservatism gives a clearer view what's changed in the past 100 days, what the shift really means and what could be coming next if the right keeps going down this road.

I want to make it clear: The DHS report emphasizes that there's no specific evidence that any particular group is planning any particular action.

At the same time, what's equally clear from the pattern analysis is that the upshift we heard was the right wing going into overdrive -- the speed at which talk about revolution (which has been going on for years, but intensified after 2006) accelerates into concrete preparation for action.

Here's why:

Ready ...

The far right wing has been laying the groundwork for violent action for decades. Long before they turn dangerous, political and religious groups take their first steps down that road by adopting a worldview that justifies eventual violent action.

The particulars of the narrative vary, but the basic themes are always the same:

First: Their story is apocalyptic, insisting that the end of the world as we've known it is near.

Second: It divides the world into a Good-versus-Evil/Us-versus-Them dualism that encourages the group to interpret even small personal, social or political events as major battles in a Great Cosmic Struggle -- a habit of mind that leads the group to demonize anyone who disagrees with them.

This struggle also encourages members to invest everyday events with huge existential meaning, and as a result sometimes overreact wildly to very mundane stuff.

Third: This split allows for a major retreat from consensus reality and the mainstream culture. The group rejects the idea that it shares a common future with the rest of society, and curls up into its own insular worldview that's impervious to the outside culture's reasoning or facts.

Fourth: Insiders feel like they're a persecuted, prophetic elite who are being opposed by wicked, tyrannical forces. Left to fester, this paranoia will eventually drive the group to make concrete preparations for self-defense -- and perhaps go on the offense against their perceived persecutors.


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Sara Robinson is a fellow at the Campaign for America's Future and a consulting partner with the Cognitive Policy Works in Seattle. One of the few trained social futurists in North America, she has blogged on authoritarian and extremist movements at Orcinus since 2006 and is a founding member of Group News Blog.
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Right
Posted by: Tom Degan on May 6, 2009 12:39 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
They are light years beyond the point where they could talk about ideas. Why? Because their ideas suck. Their desperation tactics are becoming more ans more amusing - and highly entertaining - with each passing day. and I am loving every minute of it.

They are going down. That's the good news. Here's the bad news: They're determined to take the rest of the country down with them.

Can you even imagine, given their extremist position, where they would lead us if they had their way - if they had the dictatorial powers they so obviously crave? This much is certain - it ain't about freedom. God help this poor country if the American people are stupid enough to ever place them in power again.

There Goes Arlen

Tom Degan
Goshen, NY

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» RE: ight Posted by: 2thepoint
» Bush worship Posted by: LMNOP
» Jim Jones revisited Posted by: 2thepoint
» RE: ight Another day; another nail. Posted by: sasquuatch55
» Ok girls, start cheering! Posted by: 2thepoint
» RE: Ok girls, start cheering! Posted by: iolanthe
» RE: Ok trolls, start booing! Posted by: Crazy H
» RE: ight Posted by: tginmn
» Wrong! Posted by: justAnEgg
» RE: ight Posted by: Hiroak
» RE: ight Posted by: Frugalvoter

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Amy Philo
Posted by: amyphilo on May 6, 2009 1:28 AM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I find this article extremely offensive toward conservatives. I am an independent / libertarian. I was a democrat for my entire life until last year. I am not racist, I don't even own a gun, I simply do disagree with the agenda of the Democrats to an extreme degree. I had my eyes opened when working on a legislative effort and finding out how little gets through to Democrats. I can't side with any one party but I do feel that the libertarians and conservatives are more often in line with personal freedoms than the Democrats. How about you tone down your hatred of Republicans and stop pissing everyone off. The main reason you see people getting so angry is because Democrats who do control the Government right now have labeled Conservatives as terrorists. I am shocked to imagine that if I don't support Barack Obama, people will label me this way and equate me with Timothy McVeigh.

Get a freakin' life and stop obsessing over Conservatives! We're all in the same country and do not want to see it go down the tubes so stop fearmongering and arousing hatred for your fellow Americans.

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» homo-hatin' liberals Posted by: techcafe
» RE: ROTFL! Posted by: Crazy H
» RE: ROTFLMAO! Posted by: PakiBoy
» RE: OTFL! Posted by: TexasVietVet
» RE: Amy Philo Posted by: RSW58
» RE: Amy Philo Posted by: christyStarr7
» Common "Paid Shill" Trick Posted by: iolanthe
» RE: Amy Philo Posted by: Lilly
» This is a very well informed and Posted by: outsideagitator
» RE: Amy Philo/troll Posted by: orwellturns
» RE: Amy Philo Posted by: Frugalvoter
» RE: Amy Philo Posted by: tginmn
» RE: Amy Philo Posted by: grailsnail

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Corporate right-wingers playing with fire
Posted by: Moonray on May 6, 2009 1:53 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Corporate right-wingers such as Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Lou Dobbs, Bill O'Reilly et al like to engage in Red Dawn rhetoric. That action flick from the '80s envisioned brave American survivalists battling commie invaders, and the righties now often raise similar scenarios in their daily TV agit-prop programs. But the Pandering Patriots are smart enough to know that their golden goose is paranoia, not paramilitary action. There's little media money to be made in actual violence, so they tip-toe to the brink of advocating such action, then back off. Remember the hate ad that greeted JFK in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963? That's the kind of thing these cowards are good at, not the actual dirty deeds, which are more likely to be carried out by disgruntled kooks such as Oswald, McVeigh etc. Problem is, the Pandering Patriots appeal most to the lunatic fringe, with predictable results every decade or so.

No wonder the Republican Party is becoming ever more irrelevant. Let's be glad for that.

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So what do we do about this?
Posted by: atheistcable on May 6, 2009 2:41 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Sara Robinson wrote these three observations:
"[I]t's very likely that land is already being quietly bought up. . . . "
"[T]he past 100 days have seen record gun sales and nationwide ammo shortages. . . "
"[F]rustration over the economic downturn. . ."

During our economic downturn, where is the money coming from to "quietly" buy up land (I'm taking this as a more-than-likely event), and enough guns and ammo to establish records and cause shortages?

The author is talking about a specific slice of angry people. But there are other specific slices that needed to be discussed: All those people who were arrested for drug dealing, spent years in prison, were then released to find themselves jobless because of the needless drug incarceration in the first place. These are very angry people too.

I can only ask questions and hope someone with more data can provide possible answers:

Are the right-wingers just looking to assassinate the President?
Will there be urban warfare?

What I didn't like about this article is that Sara Robinson doesn't suggest what we can do as citizens about this situation. Whenever you discuss a problem, discuss possible solutions as well.

So, why isn't there a movement in our Democratically-controlled U.S. House to immediately release and pardon all non-violent drug offenders? Why are Schedule One drugs being sold without being taxed by the federal and state governments? Why isn't Congress putting pressure on our politically-moderate President to abolish the Drug Enforcement Agency? Why aren't states allowed to grow hemp? If the drug war isn't working, if the drug war is only capitalizing national and international terror groups, then why do we have a DEA? Why isn't the lazy Left not doing what it needs to do to assassinate this horrible drug war?

My goodness, how long, how long must Drug Prohibition continue?

I say "Lazy Left" because of the California experience. Enough gays thought that Prop 8 wouldn't pass, so there was no need to drop their more important social activities and get political.

The first thing that needs to be done is to hold a series of locally-sponsored public debates on the drug war. The Internet is fine, but citizens need to talk to one another face-to-face. That isn't happening. City councils need to pass Resolutions condemning the drug war, which will be picked up by the local and national news media.

Here in Minnesota, Congressional District 5, Rep. Keith Ellison knows my views about the stupidity of the drug war. But he has blended into the background of Congress and won't budge on the drug issue because he feels comfortable about up-coming re-election next year. And there's no organized effort in this state to abolish the DEA.

Until we take real steps to eliminate Drug Prohibition, Sara Robinson, and others like her, can continue to write similar predictions. And then one day all our dreams will come to pass! We are our own worst enemy.

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» Well said Posted by: NYmediator
» RE: So what do we do about this? Posted by: atheistcable

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I take heart in the fact
Posted by: Perry Logan on May 6, 2009 2:43 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
that right-wingers are essentially cowards.

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» RE: I take heart in the fact Posted by: Fishbone Soldier
» All Talk? Hope So Posted by: iolanthe

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Franchising McVeigh
Posted by: RICHARD RALPH ROEHL on May 6, 2009 3:29 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Yesss... Old Coyote Knose that the hard core right-$wingers in corp-rat fascist Amerika have gone bananas since Mr. Obama $lipped into the 'Caucasian House'. Not that the left-$wingers on the political 'espect-rump' are any less fanatic than the Neanderthal right (who are still howling for Jeeezass and more tax cuts for the rich).

Right? Left? It doesn't matter! Crazy is crazy, the Zionists being the craziest of all!

The real issue, an issue that is NEVER openly discussed in the main-$tream corp-rat owned media, is the interminable gap between the have and the have $nots in Amerika. THIS is the real issue. The biggest tabboo-boo!

As happened with $tar-bucks and Pizza $mut and Taco $mell and McFondle's faster poo food... we predict the franchising of Timothy McVEIGH!

Whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad...(off)!

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» RE: Franchising McVeigh Posted by: richholland

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to amy
Posted by: nitroxscubafreak on May 6, 2009 4:29 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
i understand where you are coming from, however, the title does say the FAR RIGHT (ie the extremists). just like the far left are extremists. it is a small number relatively, but both are dangerous. everything in moderation as they say, right..... errr correct? that's we in the middle of the bell curve with the proper balance of centralism lie. the balance of social freedom with fiscal responsibility tends to be that center that really works the best. not judging or telling what others do as long as it does not affect me. this article was just about a small group of dangerous people. that's all.

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» RE: to amy Posted by: lindalee

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When Bush and gang were in power they totally ignored the opposition
Posted by: vioibi on May 6, 2009 5:05 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
First of all the election was stolen from Gore. Did the democrats go crazy and tell their followers that armageddon was around the corner? No. During the campaign Bush said that he was a "compassionate conservative". Once in office there was no compassion. They deliberately weeded out Democrats from being hired. Did democrats urge an uprising? No. They fought his policies from within the political forum. In other countries the losing party is referred to as the loyal opposition. Is American not a two party system? The republicans lost and the democrats won. The losing party usually regroups and acts as the opposition to the President's policies. From the get go they issued statements about hoping that the President fails, that he was a communist, a socialist, that he wasn't born in the US, that he is a muslim, that he wouldn't know how to deal with a terrorist attack, and on and on. They have persistently attacked everything the President has done to date. Do they care about the welfare of all Americans or just do they just represent a small minority? They kept saying that they would be bipartisan. Hasn't happened. Their behaviour is totally repulsive and anti-democratic. There have already been incidents of violence based on false rumours about gun control. They are on a very dangerous path as they incite hate against the President and the Democrats. They are sore losers and their response is totally unseemly and ugly.

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Don't believe everything DHS tells you
Posted by: greenferret on May 6, 2009 5:15 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I'd be very, very careful about treating DHS reports with such reverence, even if they do give you ammunition against the other side. We shouldn't blindly accept the encroaching national security state. There is a fine line between responsible policing and spying on political dissenters. Ever hear of COINTELPRO? If it was wrong for the government to harass and spy on MLK, why isn't it wrong for them to spy on Ron Paul and Bob Barr supporters?

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Useful idiots
Posted by: scheherezade on May 6, 2009 5:38 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
If history's any gauge, America's disaffected authoritarian personalities will likely prove useful foot soldiers -- for the same old crowd that's currently cleaning up on bailout cash.

Manipulative demogogue leaders of the sort mentioned here tend to be eminently corruptible -- they're universally socially insecure, sexually anxious; and primarily seek recognition as a playa among the big boys and a nice slice of the pie. Hitler was despised, but also used by, the Prussian aristocracy.

He eventually created and then destroyed his own police force to counter theirs, but today's aristocracy won't make the same mistake. Modern day demogogues (Limbaugh, Robertson, Dobson...Warren) are deferred to and offered a seat at the table. Most importantly, they make big MONEY -- which if push comes to shove, they'll NEVER place themselves in a position to lose. Rich demogogues are by definition not "revolutionary" material. They will be "managed" and turned to good use.

As always, any "threat" modern aristocracy feels from unfocused conservative anger is petty compared to those posed by informed, rational people interested in social justice and real democracy -- and potentially quite useful in countering such liberal ideals.

Childlike authoritarian personalities will ALWAYS defer to power, once their egos are slaked. Liberals are not so accomodating, and thus pose the greater "threat."

Which probably explains why "threatening" treason-spouting idiots continue to get an enormous amount of airtime from people who OWN the airwaves.

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the center is always right--
Posted by: mwildfire on May 6, 2009 5:44 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
wing?
I disagree with the previous poster that the extremes are automatically wrong and those in the center naturally right. The centrists have brought us to this point.
But I do want to acknowledge that many of the symptoms listed in this article apply equally to the left, which is severely disappointed in Obama (those that drank his Kool-aid in the first place). I expect they're much less of a threat, though, for three reasons: a hefty percentage are pacifists who have no problem with resisting government but are not willing to do violence to persons; they are not religious and thus not prone to commands from Above that violate logic; and they're fierce individualists unwilling to line up and all march in the same direction.
It's necessary also to consider this: those John Birchers are not altogether wrong. My sister is one, and sends me clips and links all the time--half of which are right on, and the other half some of the craziest shit I've seen. We're living in a world in which our nice centrist president has capitulated to Wall Street, handing them several trillion dollars. We may never recover from that--especially as he is simultaneously feeding the military-industrial complex at even higher rates than his predecessor. He has ratified the assault on the Constitution of his predecessor. Meanwhile, we have the most urgent crisis in history, with climate change and other environmental threats burgeoning and the population still growing. Obama has been better on this issue area but not good enough. My point is that calm acceptance of the status quo is not necessarily the most rational or responsible approach. Government IS our enemy--since it has allied into a seamless whole with United Corporate America and the mass media which functions as the propaganda wing. The current outrages are well beyond those that propelled our ancestors into revolution. It's a shame most of those willing to do something about it are the racist, gun-loving, authoritarians of the Right.

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» RE: the center is always right-- Posted by: garblesnatchy
» He's right Posted by: CUnknown

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Right on, sister!
Posted by: eeuropean2000 on May 6, 2009 5:56 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The author is spot on in her analysis of all that is wrong with America today (I grew up in Chicago but have lived in Europe now for nearly 20 years). But I don't think that Fox News deserves the completely in-passing mention that it gets in this piece. That is the key source of information for the bozos who turn into violent cretins -- people like Limbaugh and Fascist Coulter have all but been calling for that kind of behavior. America is not a censorious place, but if a lightning bolt were to come out of the sky and absolutely obliterate the Fox News studios, I would weep no tears. A more mendacious group of jackasses and jackassettes cannot be imagined, and they are to be held entirely accountable for every bit of right wing looniness that there is in the country. People like Coulter, Hannity, Beck, O'Reilly and Limbaugh are, in fact, traitors to what America is, and they should be tried and punished as such.

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» I'm glad you are old too. Posted by: Ellie1

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THEIR story is apocalyptic, insisting that the end of the world as we've known it is near?
Posted by: Beck on May 6, 2009 6:00 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
"dualism that encourages the group to interpret even small personal, social or political events as major battles in a Great Cosmic Struggle"?

"a major retreat from consensus reality and the mainstream culture"?

"a persecuted, prophetic elite who are being opposed by wicked, tyrannical forces"?

"constantly naming and accusing their enemies and insisting on their essential evilness"?

"stories that are just flat-out fabulation, without even so much as a nod to reality"?

"overweening humiliation growing every day that the Democrats and their new president stay in power"???

Okay, I could keep pasting in quotes from the article for quite some time, but I still don't get it. Yeah, maybe the far right is doing this, but all these quotes could describe what has gone on right here for months. Shouldn't ALL of us be careful to avoid becoming what we abhor? Not be guilty of that which we accuse?

And to especially not step right into the opposing role that the far right needs. If they love nothing better than an enemy, deprive them of it. Stop demonizing words like "consensus". Not all the right is Far Right. The very qualities that make Democrats objects of derision are probably the only qualities that can save this polarized, hateful nation.

If these paranoid, divisive qualities connected to the right are wrong and dangerous, everyone needs to pay attention to the warnings, and find better ways to relate to other Americans.

I said I'd stop quoting, but this one is just too appropriate:

"The group rejects the idea that it shares a common future with the rest of society, and curls up into its own insular worldview that's impervious to the outside culture's reasoning or facts."

This thinking isn't just being embraced by the far right. Even if they started it, others can't be a mirror image, justifying their own disconnection by the perceived rightness of their own stance.

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whatever
Posted by: Frankenstein Dragon on May 6, 2009 6:01 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The thing that sucks about this article is that people of all kinds, mostly on the left are fed up-and this article describes them all--not just right. I am no where no where near the right but i do believe a revolution is needed--these people in power are absolutely corrupted, and yes, commit very real eveil acts. They are not going anywhere. they need to be removed from power with force. i believe that. Will it happen. No. Will it happen through 'legal' means--No! They system is too corrupt.

And i am not inthe right. my profile is no where near the right. the fact is america is so dumb-down, and so brainwashed, and so unique compared to the rest of the world in their riculous reality that they love to classify reasonable people as insane.

Yes there are some right-wing looneys out there--all of them. But they are right about one thing--the governemnt is a iie. they just think so for clearly absurd reasons. I think most of them are just upset about a black president. BUt these are ignorant people.

Thats why I think this article is just more propaganda--as usual it wantas to paint anybody who sess the government for what it is--evil--and in need of destruction--as crazy or terrorists. The only real terrorists are the government.

They've been tryign to make everyone crazy for years. tahts what right-wing nutty fascists do.

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» RE: whatever Posted by: Lilly
» RE: whatever Posted by: spacekase

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Brought to You by the Same Idiots Who Say that Patriotic Veterans are TERRORISTS ... yeah, sure
Posted by: joeocho88 on May 6, 2009 7:08 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Homeland Security was Bush's idea of THE GESTAPO and bad things were happening when this simple-minded Hitler wannabe ( so sorry, Georgie, Hitler had more class and no DADDY put him in office) who enjoys watching torture films and frat boy pranks gone wrong videos came up with something his international bankster and Nazi lackey grandfather, Prescott Bush would have done!
Unfortunately, Chaney and Daddy were REALLY running things and didn't know that a Nazi-style gang of IDIOTS would engender more RIDICULE than old-fashioned knock in the door, cuff & stuff, cart em away in an unmarked meat wagon style TERROR that would have done STALIN proud. ( Not that much difference, really, between Hitler & Stalin, they both liked to kill Jews and Roma people).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FixBaPxUFs
These four things are from a paranoid rant.In case you haevn't heard it is ALL the SAME party of elites running things, just different labels. My father, Dad, grandfather and my nieces and nephews and me ALL are veterans. Guess that makes US terrorists.

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The article does seem kind of tone deaf...
Posted by: leafsong1 on May 6, 2009 7:13 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
...for an Alternet audience which includes people who would like to see both parties go down in revolutionary flames and who spent the last several years dealing with their own somewhat justified paranoia concerning actions of Bush's DHS, NSA, and DOD. We aren't as afraid of violent extremists as we used to be. In fact, we tend to look on them as fellow travellers, regardless of their ideology.

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Wow
Posted by: VanWinkle65 on May 6, 2009 7:16 AM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
You are right dude, that is getting pretty extreme!

RT
Online PRivacy when it COunts

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Ok
Posted by: cmic on May 6, 2009 7:33 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I agree that these extreme right wing groups should be taken seriously and could become a threat. The author describes right wingers as having nothing to fear and that nobody is out to get them. I would disagree. They have a lot to be angry about and there are groups out to get them.

Mostly they had already been got. The banksters have already robbed and pillaged all of us. Since 1980 they have stole our rights, our jobs, our economic security, switched our pensions for 401ks, then they stole all the 401k money, now they want the wealth in our homes. On top of that they want us to bail them out with tax payer money and we did. They are right that people are out to get them, they are just confused about who those people are.

They listen to the voices of the master (Hannity, Limbaugh, Savage, Beck) who's job is to divide the great beast, oi polloi or whatever they are calling the "people" these days. On behalf of the corporations these voices redirect the anger towards minorities, immigrants, gays, Liberals, Communists etc. The old divide and rule. Never gets old.

The corporations would like to see things stay in the middle so they can continue to rule with little effort. The problem is if the "Left" gains ground and begin to fight against embedded corporate power and actually succeed with serious reforms such as health care, Employees Free Choice Act etc. I would think these modest reforms would not set things off. But larger more serious reforms such as revoking corporate person hood to name one could provoke corporations to wield the power of the extreme right. This is of course last resort because they know they can not control these groups 100%. Just like they used the Christian right in the elections. Corporatist Republicans lost large chunks of the country to radical Christian candidates. They lost control of their monster.

Nothing new here. We will see if these groups are all talk or if they are serious. They should be taken seriously because in the right hands things could get ugly. Tim McVeigh enough said.

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» RE: Ok Posted by: Juven

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A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION
Posted by: VZEQICVA on May 6, 2009 8:35 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
That's true. But what other "small percentage of the population" can make the same threats and not get arrested. Seems to me that they are a protected group. I don't see things their way and I get hung out to dry. Their speech is "free", mine comes at a high price. These people are gearing up for a war against their own country and we're in Afganistan killing women and children and handing out bibles. It might be a great country if we were all on the same page. Thanks, ANNA

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Pity the poor rethugs
Posted by: willymack on May 6, 2009 9:14 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Even their puppet-masters couldn't steal the election this time. It must come as quite a shock to realize that even when they mouth off with their usual drivel, they're STILL not in power, and the usual knuckleheads who supported them in the past have diminished to a few tea bagging dunces. This doesn't mean that all is well. Far from it. Unless the TRUTH of 911 is forthcoming-and soon-our people will have forgotten that they were never told what really happened and who's really responsible for the crime of the century. While rabble rousing in public, the rethugs are working feverishly to destroy the Obama presidency from the inside. This is a race against time as more details of the bush regime emerge in all their horrific splendor, and, while the possibility of prosecutions still exist. Just look at the ludicrous attempts to soft pedal torture, for instance. Never forget, NOTHING can be put past these homicidal thugs, and even though they don't control the White House, they still present a mortal danger while they work in the shadows.

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Independents Eyes Are Open Wide....
Posted by: greatdanes on May 6, 2009 9:18 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Your Article is So "Lame" and unimportant to concentrate on the republican Party as your enemy .... this is just what they (Elites in power) want you to focus on.
The Republicans or any voters for Bush last time around have Opened their Eyes to the GAME being played on the Citizens. We have No Loyality to a Party anymore and we SEE they are both "One & the Same" ! EVIL and Not to be Followed any more !!! We are ahead of you because of Bush . You have Obama and are following Blindly , just as we did with Bush. I understand and it's Okay .

In a matter of Months when you see where this Country is Headed ......You'll be on the Same side as us & on the List of Terrorists . Both Parties PASS out the "cool aid" and tell voters to drink and believe......Until the Cup runs Dry.
PUT Down the CUP and Let Your Eyes OPEN to SEE what is Right in Front of your face.

WHY do you think the Republican Party is disintegrating and have No Members left....the people are Awake and .....

The Game they have been Playing is coming to an END.

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Rich People Rioting
Posted by: PaulK on May 6, 2009 9:24 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I have to first note all the diehard radicals who advocate something that vaguely sounds like a violent revolution, but the revolution never happens. It's called hyperbole.

I would pay to see 1000 millionaires run down to a housing project, break a few windows, flip over a car and throw rocks at a line of police. However, it's far more likely that they will all rent funny, high quality costumes, indulge in hyperbole that they'll never try themselves, and stand around for media photogs.

The Christians, even the worst Fundie cults, need to convince themselves to throw vitriol in a child's face, and somehow Jesus Himself approves of attacks on a bunch of innocent little kids. If Jesus has happened to say the exact opposite, then the cults have a moral issue. The next Tim McVeigh and friends need to think about the day care center in the building they're bombing.

I do worry about an assassination attempt on President Obama for racism reasons.

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» RE: ich People Rioting Posted by: Hiroak

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A Little Light Reading on townhall.com
Posted by: Lilly on May 6, 2009 10:37 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I am fascinated by the Right Wing and spend many happy hours cruising townhall.com, where plenty of those folks dwell. One thing I've noticed is that they do reductio ad absurdam then react to their bizarre fantasy as if it were definite reality. Therefore: Obama will not only ration health care, but will establish gulags where the elderly will be sent to die without doctors. Obama will not only force young people into involuntary servitude, but his "service corps" is a polite name for the Hitler Youth (with Obama as Hitler). Obama's announcement that tax loopholes will be closed and tax cheats made to pay up was quickly translated into "Obama has suspended the policy of 'innocent until proved guilty'". No claim about Obama's future behavior is too-far out to be repeated and believed.

It's interesting that the tone of craziness has shifted since the election---before, the rhetoric was often religion-based; we heard that he was going to deliver us up to the Muslims or call in an air strike right after being sworn in, or else that he would operationalize Black Liberation Theology and have his black thugs invade our homes and brutalize us. Now, it's more often a kind of psychotic distortion of his policies.

Perhaps the most frightening is the lesson being taught by some Rightist media personalities that violent reaction to Obama = patriotism eg Glenn Beck rants about the need to save America from Obama while in the background he rolls footage of the Nazi army marching in Germany under the swastika. The issue of gun rights is never far away, and townhall posters speaking of being "locked & loaded", of stockpiling hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and of being "ready for them when they come".

I will say one thing: townhall.com (a site developed by The Heritage Foundation though it's now run by others) is a well-run site where the administrators have graciously allowed me to post my dissenting liberal rants. They are not quick to ban liberals, as some rightist sites are. Do not fear to post there. And it's a very, very interesting place to go and play, assuming you don't mind playing in traffic.

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The consequences of mainstreaming right-wing nuttia
Posted by: DaBear on May 6, 2009 11:02 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Already seen it tear one family into ruined little pieces. Sickening.

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False flag?
Posted by: Juven on May 6, 2009 1:48 PM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
So the DHS report is a good thing? could it not just be hype? Could it just be that people are not happy with the way things are going-- I know I haven't been happy with the way things have been going since Reagan!

Bush made things worse-- now you can be called a terrorist and stripped of all rights-- is that what the "left" wants? Fellow Americans who are not happy to be labeled terrorists? (remember the Patriot Act?)

If this is the case, we are in for some hard times and eventually the left may find itself alone facing an enemy it had not realized was in its midst: a state that will not put up with any dissent. The left runs on dissent--

What happens when you too can no longer protest under the threat of being a terrorist?

Or is this the agenda? Everyone linking arms happily into the future with our thoughts and opinions regulated by a government agency?

This can not be America.

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» RE: Happy since Reagan??? Posted by: Quist
» RE: Happy since Reagan??? Posted by: Juven

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Sara is right.......................
Posted by: timenotonmyside on May 6, 2009 1:58 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
My ''good ole boy'' born and raised in Alabama friend just told me this past Sunday he's selling more guns and ammo than he can get his hands on. He said and I quote '' Obama's gonna take our guns away''.
Sara's right about the extreme right - they are getting ready - but for what I'm not sure.
Our Congress has their collective heads up their asses because they are beholding to corporate america not Americans.
We have a really big disconnect in this country.
Too many people think that they can ''blog all the country's problems away''.
I just don't think that's the case this time around.

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Well, if nothing else, this article brought the right-wing nuts out in droves.
Posted by: GuitarBill on May 6, 2009 2:30 PM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Actually, the right-wing nuts should feel neglected.

After all, the Department of Homeland Security issued three reports on Left-wing extremism concerning broad-based cyber attacks, disruption of the Republican National Convention and environmental and animal rights activists, which I've included below:

[1] Department of Homeland Security: Left-wing Extremists Likely to Increase Use of Cyber Attacks Over the Coming Decade, dated 26 January 2009;

[2] DHS: Plans to Target Transportation Infrastructure Surrounding Republican National Convention, dated 27 March 2008;

[3] DHS: Ecoterrorism: Environmental and Animal-Rights Militants in the United States, dated 7 May 2008.

So, why all the whining, howling and crying from the nattering nabob's of the far right?

%^)




Conspiranoid Theories and Far-Right Disinformation.

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GOP chained to Reagan & Trickle Down
Posted by: reg373 on May 6, 2009 3:06 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The cloture vote is significant, but Specter and Lieberman both pretty much rubberstamped the failed government of the last 3 decades in America -- found a cool site; Balkingpoints ; incredible satellite view of earth

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The problems is that the nation has been moving towards the lowest common denominator.
Posted by: Quist on May 6, 2009 3:30 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
A government is made up of the people...including fascist states and dictatorships. As I have said many times before, "There would not be shepherds if there were not so many sheep." From my observations and understanding, this country has been moving towards the era of idiocracy. There is a total lack of rationality, critical thinking, problem solving, responsibility, reason, free thought, cooperation, empathy, intelligence, and logic being used in all areas of our country. We cannot expect a better government unless we have a better populace. The extreme right wing, along with many other ridiculous ideologies, are just a product of the growing idiocracy in this country due to ignorance, apathy, gluttony, greed, stupidity, spin, propaganda, and dangerous indoctrination.

BTW, to just blame a politician or political party is being very shortsighted and myopic. To paraphrase George Carlin, "Maybe it is not just most of the politicians that suck, but most of the public. Garbage in...Garbage out."

Seeing all the greedy idiots, apathetic drones, ignorant ideologues, and indoctrinated zombies in this country makes me realize that I do not want to be part of a government controlled by the people...at least a fair amount of the people in America presently. It really is tough to be a free-minded, aware, realistic, empathetic, rational, logical, responsible, and reasonable independent in this land of idiocracy and foolishness.

We do not just need a better government, but we need a better society. Only PEOPLE can change our government, economy, culture, and society. The thing is, people in the U.S. cannot agree on the most reasonable, logical, sensible, rational and empathetic solutions to help make our society a better society. I have but a hope...and have not totally given up yet...but PEOPLE really need to get their shit together.

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Far Right, far left ? What about moderates and independents?
Posted by: Ranjit Kumar on May 6, 2009 4:43 PM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I continue to be amazed that the left wing argues there is something really wrong with those Republicans. While true, logs needs to be removed out of the eyes of Democrats and Republicans alike. We have a barely hidden dictatorship under Obama as we did under Cheney and I'm at times regretting my vote for Obama as I see him become more of Bush than himself. Usually, I don't even read articles about how stupid and bankrupt those evil Republicans are while the left wing ignores the absolute corruption within their own midst. Detainees are being tortured in Gitmo right now. The occupation in Iraq is still going on and both parties are interested in messing around with Afghanistan and Pakistan. Our war criminals come from both major parties. And what about tax cuts? Obama's stimulus package is not much different from Bush's version. We're still borrowing more money from other countries to finance all the wasteful spending from both parties. And both parties are selling out to Wall Street. We need to quit worshipping authority no matter what "side" that authority comes from. If we don't pull our minds together to see the truth, if we don't protest wrongdoing whenever it occurs, no matter who is doing it, we will forever remain losers.

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Consensus Reality?
Posted by: rojelio271 on May 6, 2009 5:25 PM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Consensus reality? This breaks Hegels rule that the first thing to understand is there is no such thing as absolute truth except facilitated through Synthesis (which is FANTASTICALLY FALSE). So what is REALLY being said is anyone who does not subscibe to or agree with the dialectic process should be labeled as extremist. Also used is the language "and our collective insights" whose collective insights? Lenon was a collectivist, Stalin and Hitler were both collectivist, what about North Korea, or China yes they are collectivist as well. The only reason the dialectic is used is to decietfully push society in the direction of totalitarianism which many call "world unity". Even Aristotle was aware of what dialectics is used for. Also what about "sustainable development" progressives think humanicide of over 90% of the current population is ok???? I mean that HAS to happen for sustainable development to EVER work. So while collectivists are for World Unity (whether the world wants it or not), Sustainable Development and Spiritual Unity so were the above mentioned dictators. The scary thing is if people dont believe collectivists can do it and go against the world push for collective rule they are labled a terrorist. Should we be gassed or thrown in a Gulag for our beliefs? Isn't THAT real terrorism?

I might ask does the "Campaign for America" subscribe to the same realm of philosphy as the above mentioned dictators who were horrible brutal murders, they answer is YES Campaign for America is collectivist. Furthermore what possibly could "Cognitive Policy Works" be doing ? If we look at their website we see the below.

"Cognitive Policy Works is an educational center and consulting service that provides strategic guidance to the progressive world. Our cognitive approach offers sound methodologies, informed by cutting-edge science, to help you understand the ways people think and feel about the issues and how those perspectives influence their behavior."

So this is yet another wash to demonize anyone who holds to anything individualistic falsely calling it a "selfish" and "greedy" ideology, only worse now labeling individuals as terrorist or extremists.

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Oh Please, stop already
Posted by: Myboygage on May 7, 2009 6:55 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
It gets simply tiresome listening to the rants and real stretches here. I consider myself a social liberal and really have had enough of making these so called "connections" where they don't exist. The liberal left really want to continue to keep people in a tizzy. Sure we need to be watchful of the conservatives, but let us please be realistic.

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the left and right.
Posted by: rafaeltoral on May 7, 2009 7:35 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
are both totally full of shit.
there are one and the same.

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Gentle De-escalation and Reality orientation
Posted by: Purple Girl on May 7, 2009 9:18 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
We on the Left are now going to have to play the psych ward staff.
We on the left can not be as hardline and incompromising as the Right has been for the last few decades.
Let's talk about the Right to responsible Gun ownership. Let's talk about wanting to end the use of Abortions (education& birth control) and Personal responsiblity. Let's Talk about the undefinable realm of God. Let's Talk about our own fears about 'End of days'....
The more we remain staunch immoveable in our philosophy the more they Right digs it's heels in and the further they stick their heads in the sand.
We too have allowed the devisiviness of politics to obscure our image and theirs. When Politics creates this facade of US & Them, they win and we all lose.
this is the reason Obama Won- he spoke to all of US discussing the numerous areas of common ground. We have let the fanatism of both fringe Left & Right Define US. Far left Screams and the Far right Screams Back, and the rest of US get caught in the cross fire- ENOUGH!!!
I'm not against guns,but for Respsonsible ownership.Nor am I an abortion advocate- but a supporter of both choice and reproductive responsibility. I have faith,but I'm not associated with any particular religion. I'm all for Going Green, but am not willing to go back to living in the pre industrial times. I'm all for equal rights but I'm not interested in splitting hairs on Marriage vs Unions. I am a huge animal lover- but I still eat meat.
I think the majority of Americans are just as 'Grey' as me, so until we prove this to both Fringes, they will be the ones who continue to control the conversation and innaccurately define US.

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Where is the Mainstream alternative for the Working Class
Posted by: Hitchhicker101 on May 7, 2009 9:37 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I was interested to read your article on the far right in America as we in Britain are beginning to have the same debate regarding the BNP(British National Party(fascists)). While not trying to criticise the article I personally feel you've omitted a glaring reason why the fascists may be gaining a slight foothold.

When the political process fails to represent the interests and wishes of the working class it is at this point a percentage will seek extreme alternatives. At what point during the campaign did Obama address the concerns of this sizable constituency. Many times he talked of middle class interests but never once did he mention working class problems or solutions. While at the same time the Right pandered to their fears using typically fascist language and metaphor.

If the political system in the U.S is going to combat this scum then it needs to start representing the interests of the working class. To pay lip service without concrete policy is to fall foul like the govt. in Germany pre 1929. Here in Britain, the rise of the BNP can be attributed to the failure of The Labour Party to address the needs of it's core voters. For too long it has taken these votes for granted as no other party in the political sphere represented their interests. Isn't it time the Democratic Party started to address the issues and seek policy solutions for the working class? Failure to do so will only drive them further into the margins.

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Orientation /= Paraphilia
Posted by: Parazel on May 8, 2009 2:33 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The Pam's House Blend post in the "incest" link quotes an article which claims that "The DSM IVR ... lists more than 30 'sexual orientations' and 'Gender Identity Disorders,' including pedophilia." I've seen this claim around in various places.

The APA, which publishes the DSM, defines sexual orientation as:

"...an enduring emotional, romantic, sexual, or affectional attraction toward others ... Sexual orientation exists along a continuum that ranges from exclusive heterosexuality to exclusive homosexuality and includes various forms of bisexuality. ... Sexual orientation is different from sexual behavior because it refers to feelings and self-concept."

What Liberty Counsel and other organizations appear to not understand is that sexual orientation and paraphilias are not the same. So what is a paraphilia, anyway?

The DSM-IV-TR defines the "essential features" of paraphilias as:

"recurrent, intense sexually arousing fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors generally involving 1) nonhuman objects, 2) the suffering or humiliation of oneself or one's partner, or 3) children or other nonconsenting persons that occur over a period of at least 6 months."

Sounds a tad bit different from the definition of "sexual orientation", doesn't it?

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Too much emphasis on "far right"
Posted by: troy on May 9, 2009 7:14 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
AlterNet seems to be a site less of Progressives and more of mainstream Democrats. The comments and legislation coming out of the Democratically controlled Congress and White House actions are, on the whole, quite disappointing for anyone considering themselves Progressive. I saw nothing on the AlterNet of Max Baucus (D-Mon) Congrssional Finance Committee Chairman 1) not inviting single-payer advocates, 2) Shutting down protests at being shutout, 3) Joking about needing more police to facilitate the shutting down of protest for this non-inclusion, during a forum on so-called health care reform. This forum featured the usual suspects who have created the current health care nightmare in America and offered no solution. The majority of Americans want a single-payer system and the Democratic Chairman being true to his real constituents - insurance executives - proved his allegence to corporate socialism and against Progressive politics.
Fixation on far-right boogey-men distracts from mainstream, largescale corruption of our polical process and constitutional laws perpetrated by Democrats as well as Republicans.
Come on AlterNet editors, lets keep our eye on the ball!
TRC

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totalitarians are dangerous
Posted by: luzmejor on May 9, 2009 10:28 PM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Reactions like these have all the features of the thinking of psychopaths. They are always dangerous, wherever they are.

Like the writer said, they are generating their own nightmares and forcing us to live within them too.

It's long past time to give them a reality check along with plenty of anti-psychotics. Just tell them their ideas are crazy and they need professional help.

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konawriter
Posted by: konawriter on May 9, 2009 10:40 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I recommend a great book by Alan Wolfe -"Does American Democracy still work?" Written before the 2006 elections makes it even more interesting. Wolfe takes apart these neo-cons who have been running things. They are haters and not going to compromise or be part of a greater community. They believe in "rule" not democracy and governing. They cannot compromise because they believe their opposition in "sinful" and they can't compromise with "sin"...the left needs to fight back hard and go for the throat...I think Obama understands this...these people are no different than the people who created the confederacy...

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BA
Posted by: mnstra on May 10, 2009 7:36 AM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Not to worry . after the Govt suppression at both political conventions, there is no chance that the right will win anything.
Except for some up county compounds. The banks have taken all their wealth anyway with the help of the govt.

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Lanerd
Posted by: lanerdion on May 10, 2009 9:11 AM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Look out the radical right (which is all of them) is out to get us !! Really!!! so fall in line don't ask questions don't complain ,yea we(the liberal "didn't you know" left) are the way, you poor lost confused right wing looser radical!!! And anyone who doesn't agree and fall in line must be planning revolution ,those crazy bastards . I say..... Bullshit

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to Sara Robinson on fewr mongering.
Posted by: dr. Lou on May 10, 2009 1:11 PM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Dear Sara
thanks for your blog or whatever it is called.
Just a short reminder. Any mention by the
Home Security bunch or whatever they're called about crazies running around is just baloney.
Please remember, the 911 horror was not a terrorist attack it was a decision to build a
powerful consensus for Dumbya Bush to be able
to tear our rights away from us pronto. And it
worked. He and his brother Melvin, and countless others in whatever groups whether the skull and bones or the Federal Reserve simply
staged the horror of 911. Melvin had bombs planted on the towers and radio controlledl planes ran into them. No aircraft were hijacked and none crashed at Shanksville and none crashed at the Pentagon. So there is nothing to
worry about. The terrorists have all they can do to keep the Taliban and Iranians happy at
screwing around with the world. So the whole idea of being afraid of "another" terrorist attack is silly since the first one DID NOT EVEN HAPPEN. If you recall, even Osama Bin Laden immediately stated after 911 tha HE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. However, the CIA or whoever it was immediately went over and told him to shut his big mouth and they created a phony video of him admitting he did it! Duh!!
So PLEASE, let's forget all about a new shocking terrorist attack!!
sincerely Dr. Nathan Louis
for a copy of "911 TRUTHFUL LIES" Write Dr. Louis at po box 124 bloomington ca 92316.

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Wow!!!
Posted by: Blacktiger1 on May 10, 2009 5:26 PM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Sounds like the inbred incestuous factions are going berzerk!!! Does the mainline population really believe all this drivel?? Are educated people actually thinking these far out attitudes are the way to go. I say let them go to the mountains from which they were bred and forget them. These are the same type of people who hung black men, women, and children for just being black! Lets get real people, you are better than that!

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guns
Posted by: lindalee on May 13, 2009 10:14 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I'm seeing a little of this type of thing up in the liberal northeast corner of the country. A friend of mine who works for Smith & Wesson started on me about Obama taking away his guns. I went back at him about gun shows and gun control and the fact that Obama has no intention of taking away his gun. He just sat there looking like a rabbit caught in the headlights. And then he went on to quote the bible...apparently it's in there that our economy is going to move to euros. This smart man is filled with bullshit from who knows where and he truly believes all of this. When asked why he believes this so strongly he wouldn't answer but he did say he stocked up on bullets. I asked him who he was planning to shoot? The same look. We may be liberal up here but we have plenty of hate groups. I didn't need to read this article to be worried.

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Robinson's Credentials - A System Thinker with lots of Puff
Posted by: Ligeia on May 19, 2009 9:55 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
From: OurFuture.org site

"Job Title:
Fellow, Campaign for America's Future
Website:
Orcinus
Favorite Quote:
All the free men are dead or still fighting.
-- Geronimo

Sara Robinson is one of the few trained social futurists in North America, and will complete her MS in Futures Studies from the University of Houston in 2009. Her skill set includes trend analysis, scenario development, futures research, social change theories, systems thinking, and strategic planning. She holds a BA in Journalism from the USC Annenberg School of Communication, and has worked as a columnist or editor for several national magazines."

System Thinking is right.

This piece is a classic example of what I like to call an Academic Puff. Robinson has taken one simple sentence "Right-wingers might react" and skillfully puffed it into a composition of literally hundreds of words without adding one concrete fact or interesting idea.

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Was there a wave of domestic terrorism in the mid-90s?
Posted by: Ligeia on May 19, 2009 10:02 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Sara: "Its numbers are up, its talk is turning ugly, and it's not unthinkable that we could be in for a wave of domestic terrorism unseen since the mid-1990s."

Some people think that the CIA did the OK City Bombing, but even if you believe that Timothy McVeigh was at fault, there was no significant wave of domestic terrorism during the 90s. One crime does not a wave make.

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Who or What is she talking about? GOP = Demos
Posted by: Ligeia on May 19, 2009 10:29 PM   
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Sara Robinson: "When Limbaugh is considered the GOP's spiritual leader, and Beck is its leading prophet, the conservative movement's entire discourse is now driven by whatever outrageous rhetoric seems most likely to boost Fox News' ratings. The moral hijacking of the movement has begun, and nobody should be surprised when these folks finally end up in the same moral abyss these kinds of leaders always bring their followers to."

Fox News, Limbaugh, Beck? How are these System Politicos going to upset the Zionist New World Order? They, and those like them (ex. Palin) are in fact Trotsky-ite: They believe that Israel should rule the entire world, and that the American tax payer should bankroll Israel, even funding unnecessary wars that cost more than $1 Billion per day during a major economic crisis; they believe that "diversity is our greatest strength," and oppose any American political movement which would limit the extravagant entitlement packages doled out even to illegal aliens; they believe that Affirmative Action is a successful government program, and that it should be continued indefinitely; they believe that abortion on demand and gay marriage should be forced on every state, even though the people don't agree; they claim also to believe in the Holocaust, and that Jews should be allowed stipends as victims' comp (never mind that we Americans actually fought against Germany in WW2; the more senseless the argument, the more governmental).

The "GOP" and the Democrats are the exact same.

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