You Filthy Right Wing Extremists

[EasyEd]

First it was the "fairness doctrine" under whatever name they chose. Now, it's us pro-life, pro-2nd amendment adherents are nuts to be watched. What next?

www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/apr/14/federal-agency-warns-of-radicals-on-right/

[Boz]

I'm pretty sure that I am a man-made disasterist waiting to explode.

[quickplay]

I don't see this as particularly suprising, and I also don't see it as very unreasonable. The extremes of the right are definitely charged up, and taking note of it doesn't seem too crazy.

That being said, I hope that any action taken or extra attention paid to these issues are done within the scope of the law. I'm almost numb to the disgusting (and often times illegal) tactics used by the government to monitor people and groups, both on the left and the right.

[TC]

Nowhere in this article that you quoted are pro-life or anti-abortion groups cited anywhere. I do see mention of the Klan, skinheads, Aryan Nation, anti-government militias, and white-power militias. Apparently easyed thinks these are moderate groups.

[Bando]

Ed, if you don't think of yourself as a white-power militia member, I don't think this applies to you. Considering that these kind of groups have been responsible for American home-grown terrorism (e.g. Oklahoma City, Atlanta's Olympic Park), I don't think it's a terrible idea to keep an eye on them.

Sort of related to this, conservatives should be wary of the tea parties they're planning to throw tomorrow. Mass protests draw fringe groups like flies to honey. Witness the past years' Iraq War protests: any real message was drowned out by the 9/11 Truth nuts, the Free Mumia people, and anarchists. Similarly, expect media coverage of the Tea Parties to look a lot like this: A lady calling for book burnings. Any tax protest is going to be drowned out by Obama birth certificate loons and militia members.

[Boz]

"A footnote attached to the report by the Homeland Security Office of Intelligence and Analysis defines 'rightwing extremism in the United States' as including not just racist or hate groups, but also groups that reject federal authority in favor of state or local authority.

'It may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration,' the warning says.

I'm pretty sure that is what ed is complaining about, but thanks for your kneejerk reaction in the opposite direction.

[Bando]

Apr 14, 2009 10:40:42 GMT -5 Boz said:

"A footnote attached to the report by the Homeland Security Office of Intelligence and Analysis defines 'rightwing extremism in the United States' as including not just racist or hate groups, but also groups that reject federal authority in favor of state or local authority.

'It may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration,' the warning says.

I'm pretty sure that is what ed is complaining about, but thanks for your kneejerk reaction in the opposite direction.

I think there's a difference between your standard Right-to-Life group and Eric Rudolph. I'm pretty sure the Feds are interested in the latter.

At the same time, we have to stay vigilant that they're only looking into the potentially violent groups. This sort of power can get out of hand really easily.

[Boz]

I'm pretty sure they are too, but the point is that this distinction is not made in the report.

Here is another excerpt:

"Rightwing extremists are harnessing this historical election as a recruitment tool. Many rightwing extremists are antagonistic toward the new presidential administration and its perceived stance on a range of issues, including immigration and citizenship, the expansion of social programs to minorities, and restrictions on firearms ownership and use. Rightwing extremists are increasingly galvanized by these concerns and leverage them as drivers for recruitment.


First of all, I continue to be FRAKKED OFF that no one seems to understand the difference between the words "historic" and "historical."

We did not elect Obama 100 years ago, people! (it may seem like that at times) Get it straight.


Secondly, this excerpt could be construed as meaning that just about anyone opposed to this administration could be considered an extremist.

No, I am not worried that the FBI is going to start a file on me. Not do I really care.

But, do you think if Bush's homeland security department had issued a report saying that anyone who was against the war or objected to his re-election could be considered a leftwing extremist or potential terrorist, maybe some people would have had a problem with that? I kinda' think they would have.

To Bando's other point, I actually agree with you. I completely support anyone and everyone's right to protest....in the Bush years, at Notre Dame, at Georgetown today and at Tea Parties. As I have pointed out several times in the past, however, protesters, for the most part, tend to be complete nimrods. I am sure we'll hear of something sub-moronic taking place tomorrow.

[tgo]

"groups that reject federal authority in favor of state or local authority."

they should stake out some of the recruiting posts where these people congregate. last time i was at the jefferson memorial a lot of people were spouting off about "local authority" and talking dangerously about how this jefferson guy thought the federal govt wasnt always the best place for power to reside.

[TC]

It's a footnote, Boz. Don't pretend there aren't people out there that want to bomb clinics, kill doctors, or guard the border through armed vigilanteism or that the government doesn't have an obligation to prevent those things.

I'm sorry the report wasn't PC-enough for you and Ed and that maybe it hurt Ed's feelings because it didn't make the distinction that the majority of pro-life activists are peaceful, but suggesting that a 9-page report on racially motivated anti-government groups is some sort of Orwellian movement is ridiculous. I'd think that the people who bandied William Ayers' name about like it was going out of style would be interested in stopping home-grown terrorists.

[Cambridge]

Boz - I'm pretty sure leftist groups are and have been on the list of threats to our nation's security, since, oh, I don't know, 1918. You do know that you cannot enter the country without a long interrogation as a foreigner if you check the box that says you were at some point a member of a Communist Party. The truth of the matter is that there is growing unrest amongst a segment of the population, much like there was unrest leading up to the bombings in OKC and Atlanta, and it would be remiss of the government to not note that.

[Boz]

The other truth of the matter, which I have not mentioned yet, is that someone at Homeland Security is doing a p-i-s-s-poor job of keeping national security information secure.

[Cambridge]

Apr 14, 2009 12:13:45 GMT -5 Boz said:

The other truth of the matter, which I have not mentioned yet, is that someone at Homeland Security is doing a p-i-s-s-poor job of keeping national security information secure.

nice.

[TC]

Is this in relation to the report in the article? It said the report was distributed to police and sherriff's departments across the United States - I'm guessing that that was on purpose.

[Bando]

Apr 14, 2009 11:19:11 GMT -5 tgo said:

"groups that reject federal authority in favor of state or local authority."

they should stake out some of the recruiting posts where these people congregate. last time i was at the jefferson memorial a lot of people were spouting off about "local authority" and talking dangerously about how this jefferson guy thought the federal govt wasnt always the best place for power to reside.

Advocating for a greater tilt toward the states in the federal power structure is not the same thing as rejecting federal authority. Republicans and Libertarians don't think the federal government is invalid.

[Boz]

Apr 14, 2009 12:29:34 GMT -5 Bando said:

Advocating for a greater tilt toward the states in the federal power structure is not the same thing as rejecting federal authority. Republicans and Libertarians don't think the federal government is invalid.

As an adjective? No.

As a noun? Well, kinda.

[Bando]

Apr 14, 2009 12:13:45 GMT -5 Boz said:

The other truth of the matter, which I have not mentioned yet, is that someone at Homeland Security is doing a p-i-s-s-poor job of keeping national security information secure.

Since the memo was sent to police departments around the country, I'm guessing the leak was from their end rather than DHS's.

[Cambridge]

I think this is probably on point:

gawker.com/5211747/neo+nazis-tea-parties-are-the-white-revolution-weve-been-waiting-for

[quickplay]

www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/04/14/surveillance/

I think this sums it up nicely.

[Bando]

The thing is, I don't think anything in this report is about Malkin et al., but Malkin et al. seem to think this applies to them. This is a problem.