The Big Militia Comeback
Tuesday, March 02, 2010 at 11:00 am
The Southern Poverty Law Center, which monitors right-wing extremist activity, finds “that an astonishing 363 new Patriot groups appeared in 2009, with the totals going from 149 groups (including 42 militias) to 512 (127 of them militias) — a 244% jump” from 2008.
There’s a lot of commentary about how conservatives are hamstrung when talking about race, or issues that touch on race at all — immediately, they’re accused of racism. But I think that militia/right-wing extremism presents a comparable rhetorical problem for the left. Pointing out that militia activity or conspiracy-mongering is on the rise is, as we saw last year, seen a slander on Americans who criticize the government, an attempt by liberals to rule all of that out of bounds.
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20 Comments
Pingback posted March 2, 2010 @ 11:52 am
[...] The Big Militia Comeback « The Washington Independent [...]
Comment posted March 2, 2010 @ 12:16 pm
But, when conservatives talk about race, how often is it “dog-whistle” type appeals to the base(st)? And, I don't believe ACORN has ever destroyed a federal building.
Comment posted March 2, 2010 @ 2:31 pm
A snippet from another one of David's posts: “Second-tier candidate Lawrence Verga calls Barack Obama’s election win 'political correctness gone awry' …”
In other words people like me voted for Obama because he was mullato, not because we thought he was intelligent, humane, thoughtful, genuine, etc.
At this point conservatives don't even bother with dog whistles.
Pingback posted March 2, 2010 @ 8:53 pm
[...] if true. This "astonishing" claim is repeated uncritically by Scott Martelle of AOL News and Dave Weigel of the Washington Independent, and breathlessly hyped by Sam Stein at Huffington [...]
Comment posted March 2, 2010 @ 9:14 pm
It's all about fear and hate. That's why Fox noise is dangerous. It appeals to the basest of human nature, and keeps on stoking it. Nuts like the Drugster are also culpable, but of course, when the first death(s) occur, they'll use Palin hypocrisy to excuse themselves from blame.
Then you have idiots like Michelle Bachmann……..
Comment posted March 3, 2010 @ 7:44 am
Very true, and yet another reason why I won't live in the Deep South states that always vote Republican. I have no desire to have my car trashed for the “Yes We Did” bumpersticker, let alone “Republicans for Voldemort.”
Comment posted March 3, 2010 @ 12:05 pm
“And, I don't believe ACORN has ever destroyed a federal building.”
of course not, why would they bite the hand that feeds them? they only destroy private property, not public.
Comment posted March 3, 2010 @ 12:06 pm
they only destroy private property, not public.
Really? Like what? Or are you just making shit up, like all wingnuts?
Comment posted March 3, 2010 @ 2:25 pm
Please provide links to verified newspapers stories describing any and all property, private and federal, destroyed by ACORN in the last two (2) calendar years. Thank you.
Comment posted March 4, 2010 @ 2:23 am
The SPLC has been slandering patriots like militia groups for decades, because these are men who are willing to fight and die against socialist tyranny.
And with Barack Hussein Obama's plan to thug a government takeover of healthcare through a pliant Congress, armed insurrection is a certainty, I'm afraid.
It starts with the banks, then health care, then the conversion of children to homosexuality, and other same sex sexual practices.
Mark my words!
Comment posted March 4, 2010 @ 7:15 am
No, the militia groups are a bunch of traitorous thugs who hate anyone who isn't a white “Christian” male. They're terrified of what they do not understand, and they respond by trying to wreck the country for the rest of us.
Comment posted March 4, 2010 @ 2:45 pm
The militia groups want a fascist (and white) tyranny. They reject the rule of law and seek to obtain by force what they can never get at the ballot box. They can only love an America that looks and acts just like them. That isn't patriotism.
No, there won't be armed insurrection over a health care bill. One of the comforting things about Tea Partiers and right wing militias is that the massive egos and microscopic intellects of the people involved pretty much ensure that these groups cannot cooperate to mount anything more imposing than an elementary school assembly. These groups always fracture, and the harm they do tends to be the result of activities of a few “lone wolves,” not the groups acting in concert.
Someone once said, “It is amazing what you can accomplish if you don't care who gets the credit.” In the case of the frightwing, it is amazing how little they accomplish because they are battling each other for the spotlight.
Comment posted March 4, 2010 @ 2:48 pm
Just like falsepatriotdittohead on the other thread, they always run way when asked for facts.
Comment posted March 4, 2010 @ 7:45 pm
The militia groups want a fascist (and white) tyranny. They reject the rule of law and seek to obtain by force what they can never get at the ballot box. They can only love an America that looks and acts just like them. That isn't patriotism.
No, there won't be armed insurrection over a health care bill. One of the comforting things about Tea Partiers and right wing militias is that the massive egos and microscopic intellects of the people involved pretty much ensure that these groups cannot cooperate to mount anything more imposing than an elementary school assembly. These groups always fracture, and the harm they do tends to be the result of activities of a few “lone wolves,” not the groups acting in concert.
Someone once said, “It is amazing what you can accomplish if you don't care who gets the credit.” In the case of the frightwing, it is amazing how little they accomplish because they are battling each other for the spotlight.
Comment posted March 4, 2010 @ 7:48 pm
Just like falsepatriotdittohead on the other thread, they always run way when asked for facts.
Comment posted August 30, 2010 @ 3:32 pm
It starts with the banks, then health care, then the conversion of children to homosexuality, and other same sex sexual practices.
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