Here's the column:
Patriots must be sent packin' -- Problems start when one side brings weapons to the conversation
Errol Louis
Thursday, April 8th 2010, 4:00 AM
It's too soon to conclude that the latest uptick in far-right political activity represents a serious threat to our democracy. But it looks like things will get worse before they get better.
I trust the good sense of the people, embodied and supported by the Constitution and the rule of law, will ultimately send the extremists packing.
I also tend to think that half of the problem - the threats and vandalism directed against politicians, the loose talk about armed revolt against an allegedly Marxist administration in the White House - could be solved by a 5-point drop in the unemployment rate.
But the economists say that we won't see a real increase in jobs until the middle of next year at the earliest, and the national level of frustration will surely rise until then. And that creates fertile soil for extremism.
The Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks violent groups, says so-called Patriot organizations, which argue that the federal government is fundamentally oppressive and out of control, soared to 512 groups in 2009 from 149 groups in 2008.
In that same one-year period, says the law center, the number of armed militia groups affiliated with the movement increased to 127 from 43.
The recent capture of the heavily armed Hutaree group for allegedly planning attacks on law enforcement was followed by this week's arrest of Charles Wilson, who allegedly left a series of threatening messages on the voice mail of Washington Sen. Patty Murray.
"Kill the f-----g senator! I'll donate the lead. Now that you've passed your health care bill, let the violence begin," said one message, according to authorities.
Wilson faces up to 10 years in prison for his actions. His arrest should serve as a warning to those tempted to cross the line separating dissent from criminality.
Far less threatening, but of great concern, are the self-styled patriots who marry far-out theories of government with enthusiasm for guns.
I recently talked with Daniel Almond, founder of something called Restore the Constitution. Almond thinks the Constitution has been abused and is calling for people who feel the same way to gather on the border of Washington, D.C., with guns.
"We're holding our demonstration, and we're exercising our First and Second Amendment rights," Almond told me. "I'm going to carry my pistol loaded."
He'll also be carrying an unloaded rifle and a pouch full of ammunition.
The date Almond chose for the demonstration, April 19, is known to many Americans as the anniversary of Timothy McVeigh's 1995 terrorist attack in Oklahoma City that killed 168 people. He insists that he chose the date because it's also the anniversary of the battles of Lexington and Concord that launched the American Revolution in 1775.
Like any good activist, Almond clearly seeks to be provocative. Mission accomplished on that score: the date, the guns and the proximity to the White House will surely rattle and enrage a lot of people.
I'm less bothered by Almond's tactics than by his faulty reading of history and the Constitution.
He thinks the federal government has been violating the Constitution ever since the New Deal in the 1930s, and believes the federal minimum wage and all drug laws - and, of course, the recently passed health care law - are all unconstitutional.
Like many in the Patriot movement, he assigns an infinite amount of weight to the 10th Amendment, which limits federal power, without taking into account the Constitution's Supremacy Clause, which declares actions of Congress the ultimate law of the land. (You can hear our conversation online at errollouis.com.)
The tension between conflicting passages of the Constitution has frustrated and bedeviled generations of judges, lawmakers and scholars. And we have more than enough universities, courts, newspapers and town squares where it can all be debated peacefully.
The problems begin when one side, frustrated by losing at the ballot box and in the courts, decides to tip the scales by bringing weapons to the conversation.
At that point, we have no choice but to stop debating and start denouncing. And call in the authorities.
elouis@nydailynews.com
Here's my email response:
-----Original Message-----
From: georgemason1776@aol.com
To: elouis@nydailynews.com
Sent: Fri, Apr 9, 2010 10:19 am
Subject: From the guy who urged people to break windows, a comment on your column.
Mr. Louis.
Your column is entitled "Patriots must be sent packin' -- Problems start when one side brings weapons to the conversation." Pardon me if I disagree with the first part, but wholeheartedly agree with the second.
You see, the way we look at it, it was your side who brought the guns to the table first.
The new "Health Care" law very philanthropically orders us, all of us, to play or pay in your new nanny-state tyranny of good intentions. We MUST buy what the law tells us or we will be fined. If we refuse out of principle to pay the fine, we will be arrested. If we resist arrest at the point of an IRS raiding party's firearms, we will be killed. Your "law" does not SAY that in so many words, but I think we're all familiar with the way things work in federal law enforcement. If you are unclear about this point you may look up a Davidian and ask them, if you can find any still alive.
Ironic, ain't it? You intend to see to our "health care" by killing us, and the new law provides for many thousands of new IRS agents to do just that. It was your side then, sir, who first brought guns to the table. Now you are bleating earnest protestations that we have returned the favor? A tad disingenuous and hypocritical, don't you think?
Your new law is tyrannical and anti-constitutional on its face. You seek to impose it upon us with federal firearms, indeed, with the entire weight of the Federal Leviathan. We are trying to use every means short of exchanging gunfire to get you to see that you will have to kill us before we submit.
And we will not go gently into that collectivist good night.
So take the hint, but please don't shower us with hypocrisy.
Your side first brought guns to this table.
And, if you must insist, let's eat.
Mike Vanderboegh
The alleged leader of a merry band of Three Percenters
PO Box 926
Pinson AL 35126
GeorgeMason1776@aol.com
http://sipseystreetirregulars.blogspot.com
28 comments:
..."and call the authorities."
It might make him wet his knickers to be told this, but We The People ARE the authorities.
All political authority IS vested in the People. Government has not authority beside what We give it.
It is the server, WE are the authority to which it responds.
It's the bedwetters' incessant pleadings for more "somebody do SOMETHING" that has lead us to this mess.
Stand aside, peewee, and let the real men -and very capable womenfolk - deal with it.
We have two weeks to go and he's already trying to stir up animosity. Doesn't he know that an armed society is a polite society?
Besides, the reason arms are being carried to begin with is that no one will be able to roll in and suddenly declare it an 'unlawful assembly' like they did at G20.
You know one of the very real problems with the left is they thin that 50% + 1 allows them to rule as a dictatorship, laws, customs, and the constitution be damned.
I forget which supreme court justice said it but he said something about laws and the constitution were designed to prevent a tyranny of the majority.
Its also ironice that an obviously well educated black man would thin this way. If it were not for those of us in this country who were willing to misbehave and do what was right vs. what the majority wanted or what was legal, he's still be in chains.
Let's eat.
You certainly have a way with words Mike. I love it!!
You are absolutely right though, they brought firearms to the table first.
If the Progressive or to better put Repressive Main Stream Media still want to dwell on McVie let them. Who cares what these Assholes say anyway they can't even get their Facts Strait. The Branch Dividian's where a splinter group of the Mormon Church who separated, or where kicked out of their base religions orgainization.
They where NOT ANY KIND OF MILITIA.
What McVie did was WRONG, understandable, but WRONG he killed Innocent Children in Oklahoma City making himself Just As Guilty as Janet Reno and the rest of the Federal Circus, with the BIG DIFFERENCE being that McVie PAID for his crimes with his LIFE by Lethal Injection, Unlike the Federal Stoges at Waco.
What McVie did was a act of revenge againt the Feds. Nothing more nothing less, a Horrific act but nothing more than revenge for his own Personal Satisfaction End of Subject,Period.
What we as Constititnalist Militias or Independent Agents seak to insure is that such events as Waco, Ruby Ridge, and New Orleans don't happen again. that the Power of the Federal Goverment and in the case of New Orleans Local Goverment is Reined in and that any Authoritys who Perpertrate such Offences do Recive Punishment as Due Under Law. Laws that are already in effect, just not Enforced against Upper Echelon Agents or Authoritys.
But Mainstearm Repressive Media doe's not understand this and they don't want to understand it either.
Though they have eyes they shall not see,and though they have ears they shall not hear,enough said.So there OPINIONS no longer matter.
Be carefull and remain True GOD BLESS
dennis
III
"Laws passed by congress are the supreme law of the land".
(It amazes me what people get for their education dollars).
What about the unconstitutional laws that have been struck down by the supreme court? Didn't congress write those?
Only those wrote in "pursuants to the constitution" are the,"supreme law of the land".
Note*, Anyone using the word "democracy", in context to law. My be well educated, and thus dangerous to themselves and other weak minded types in the area. But risk of infection is low for anyone with reading comprehension skills above fifth grade......mthead
"...They pull a knife, you pull a gun. He sends one of yours to the hospital, you send one of his to the morgue.
*That's* the *Chicago* way!"
And *that's* who's in charge in Washington DC...the Chicago Machine.
This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.
pursuant means in conformance to or in agreement with.
the constitution and pursuant law, and not the whims of congress made to appear alongside these two things, is the supreme law of the land.
everything the congress has done without authority from its definition in article one is invalid and not law.
everything the congress has done which does not explicitly agree with or explicitly conform to the constitution is invalid and not law.
the document is written in plain english so that anyone can read and understand it.
there is no excuse for failing to understand this.
Yeesh... Dennis, while I don't disagree with your sentiments, would it kill you to spellcheck?
Back to topic, being armed makes counter protests a bit trickier for the left. It's one thing to send SEIU thugs to rough up folks. It's another when the thugs might wind up being centerpunched for 'attempted assault' in front of witnesses who are all packing heat legally. Oops!
"We, the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow men who pervert the Constitution." Abraham Lincoln
The Constitution has been perverted for a very long time.
My email in response:
I read your article about the Restore the Constitution event, and there are two points I want to make.
First - it is extremely interesting to note that Mr Almond points to the battle of Lexington and Concord as his inspiration for the date of his event. Yet you obviously would rather associate him (and the rest of us) with Timothy McVeigh and the OKC bombing. That is such an old tactic: associate the worst offender you can possibly find with those whom you wish to besmirch.
Second - I will concede that there are some conflicting interpretations of the Constitution that have led to some legitimate differences of whether something is or is not Constitutional. But anyone mindful of the old truism "you can't see the forest for the trees" would be willing to look at the far larger picture: Too long have all those divergent interpretations been resolved in favor of growing government power, and reducing individual liberty. You speak of Almond's knowledge of history being faulty; but either you are ignorant of the Founder's view of what the Republic was supposed be, or you are dismissive of it. My first point about how you chose to characterize the event date leads me to believe the latter - rather than the former.
Presumably, then, Mr. Louis will come out and denounce the Deacons for Defense. They brought weapons to the table and did some great work in standing up for their rights in the face of thugs who would have taken them away.
Just sayin...
Eric
III to get ready . . .
Any time I hear a lefty run their mouth against "patriots" I remind them that us modern day patriots are in good company with the likes of George Washington, Ben Franklin, James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, etc. I also remind those lefties that if they don't like patriots they must be aligned with the likes of Benedict Arnold.
chicopanther
Mike, Whats up with the ,"enemy belligerents act". This should warn everyone about McCain.....mthead III
Don't piss down our backs and tell us it's raining.
This piece of garbage likes to quote Our Constitution,to bad the retard has upside down and backwards.
The Left-scum should just come out and admit what they are,...But that would mean telling the truth.
Trying to use the Constitution to subvert it,doesn't work on those of Us who are Constitutionally literate.
III
Larry
"Problems start when one side brings weapons to the conversation"
Spoken like your average wife-beater.
"Woman, don't you dare raise your hand to me..."
4Q2, schmuck.
j3
You don't need to ask Davidians. Lots of "normal" folks getting the hose, as noted here,
"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself."
-- John Stuart Mill
Toastrider said:
"being armed makes counter protests a bit trickier for the left. It's one thing to send SEIU thugs to rough up folks. It's another when the thugs might wind up being centerpunched for 'attempted assault' in front of witnesses who are all packing heat legally."
I don't think we really have to be concerned with SEIU thugs attending the rally in Virginia. Thugs are cowards at heart, SEIU thugs in particular. They won't show up anywhere that a recipient of their thuggery could shoot the asshole in the face if they tried it.
And it's these same ijits that threatened Bush and his staff with death, multiple times and in public venues no less. Hell, even movies were made. And what did this ilk do? A full pass and some even cheered them on.
Two faced pricks. They will get theirs soon enough...
What do they really expect from folks when bonds were stolen by the UAW (Chrysler. &obama let it happen), some pensions lost in whole or in part, home values gone to hell, jobs lost... all due to the marxist pricks gaming the system for 'social justice'. They sure are in for a rude awakening...
Wanna bet they'll come to us to save their a$$? Sorry boys, we're busy fixing what you broke...
Bob Katt
With all this talk about the "left", am I to suppose that Bush Jr. was ... "right"?
Let me rephrase it another way:
You all voted for the left all these years ... and here we are.
You all voted for the right all these years ... and here we are.
I find it amusing that people have no problem with voting for the lesser of two evils ... yet have a serious problem with voting for the lesser of the two.
But then again, most men do not ... will not ... vote for principles ... but rather ... convenience.
I can think of only one man in the last presidential debates who consistently quoted the constitution (imperfect as it is), quoted the founding fathers (imperfect as they were), told us where we have been, told us where we are going (he was right), and WHO did YOU vote for?
GUNS ARE FOR PUSSIES!!!!!
"You know one of the very real problems with the left is they thin that 50% + 1 allows them to rule as a dictatorship, laws, customs, and the constitution be damned...."
UNLESS the one who won by 50%+1 were the Retardlicans - in which case it's perfectly acceptable to do everything we've done AND MUCH MUCH MORE, because "Dissent is THE HIGHEST FORM OF PATRIOTISM."
As to the lies - no question they're lies - one should expect no different from anyone on the left. When they open their mouths, lies come out. They lie so much they no longer KNOW when they're lying.
I'll be there on the 19th...
I'm seriously considering renting a "minuteman" costume to wear under my SKS and Makarov or AR and 1911... So many choices, only one event!
DD
OK, let's see here . . . this guy has a B.A. in Government from Haaavaaaard, a Master's in political science from Yale (figures) AND a J.D. from Brooklyn Law School. Wait! The leftist brainwashing he received in those three schools explains EVERYTHING - specifically why he doesn't understand two vital subjects in this whole debate: history, and Constitutional law.
And they let him actually write articles that people are supposed to read? I guess when TSHTF, and the dust clears, we're going to have to re-evaluate the curriculum in a LOT of scools across the nation and see just how in the world teachers could be so far off base that somebody like this could graduate without ANY knowledge of the subjects he's taken degrees in.
-JRM
"would it kill you to spellcheck?"
Some people are bad spellers and refuse to let a machine do their spelling for them. Would it kill you to put up with bad spelling instead of being a jerk?
"They won't show up anywhere that a recipient of their thuggery could shoot the asshole in the face if they tried it."
But they may find a stupid enough thug to show up for just that reason. The left wants violence to ensue and they don't care how it happens. They own the media and can frame it any way they want.
Hi Mike and other III pers we went to protest yesterday , our Representative Charlie Wilson at a banquet . The drive-by media says extra security had to be called in to hold back the angry mob. Of six people. LMAO My friend had his Gasden flag and I had a sign that says "III ARE EVERYWHERE" ...You can check it out at WFMJ.com under Baard energy plant videos ,as im not able to link yet. Its at the end of the video they show the mob. Cant wait till the 19th . I ll be there
"GUNS ARE FOR PUSSIES!!!!!"
Yes, that's true. Guns are for everyone.
At 5'10", 145 lbs, I'm not the toughest guy on the block and I will run from every fight possible. But God have mercy on the man that forces me to fight, because I wont.
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