Saturday, March 27, 2010

Way cool! I am denounced by a talking head! WaPo collectivist columnist Eugene Robinson pimps my novel Absolved. Thanks a bunch, Eugene!



Here's the link.

Stopping the health-care madness

By Eugene Robinson

Friday, March 26, 2010

Let's not pretend anymore that the tea party movement is harmless. The right to protest is one of our cherished American freedoms. But there is no right to vandalism, no right to threaten our elected officials' lives. Someone is going to get hurt unless those who lead the movement -- and those who exploit it -- start acting like responsible adults.

What are the chances of that?

It was Sarah Palin, the Eva Peron of the tea party crowd, who used Facebook to target 20 Democrats who voted for health-care reform, indicating their districts' locations on a map with the cross hairs of a rifle scope. It was Palin who wrote on Twitter: "Commonsense Conservatives & lovers of America: 'Don't Retreat, Instead -- RELOAD!' Pls see my Facebook page."

That anyone still listens to this person is one of the most unfortunate unintended consequences of social networking.

At least 10 House Democrats have had to request additional security since Sunday's health-care vote. Someone left a coffin on the lawn of Rep. Russ Carnahan's home in Missouri. Glass doors and windows were broken at the district offices of Reps. Louise Slaughter of New York and Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona. Vandals have damaged Democratic Party offices in Wichita, Cincinnati and Rochester, N.Y.
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And Rep. Bart Stupak of Michigan, whose last-minute compromise on abortion funding guaranteed final passage of the reform act, has received a flood of abusive phone calls at his office and home. Someone faxed him a drawing of a noose. One voice mail, subsequently posted on the Internet, was left by a woman who wanted Stupak to know that "there are millions of people across the country who wish you ill." Another caller was more direct: "You're dead. We know where you live. We'll get you."

One would expect responsible Republican leaders to do everything in their power to lower the temperature. House Minority Leader John Boehner said on Fox News that "violence and threats are unacceptable." Minority Whip Eric Cantor disclosed that he has received numerous threats in the past and that a bullet was fired through the window of his Richmond campaign office last week. Given all this, one would think these two might have intervened Sunday when fellow House Republicans were whipping up the angry tea party crowd at the Capitol.

Some of the vandalism appears to have been inspired by an Alabama blogger, Mike Vanderboegh, who trumpeted the bright idea that opponents of health-care reform should throw bricks at Democratic headquarters across the country. After someone did just that in Rochester, a reporter from the Democrat and Chronicle called Vanderboegh for comment. "I guess that guy's one of ours," Vanderboegh said. "Glad to know people read my blog."

If authorities tried to file any charges against him, Vanderboegh said, a trial "would certainly give me an opportunity to make my case to a larger public." The nature of his "case" may be illuminated by a short story, titled "Absolved," that he published on a right-wing Web site. His fictional protagonist fights to the death against unnamed, uniform-wearing "thugs" -- apparently police -- who have come to his house to confiscate his huge arsenal of guns and explosives.

On Thursday, tea party leaders around the country issued statements strongly denouncing threats or violence against members of Congress or anyone else. A number of the leaders said there was no proof that the perpetrators were members of tea party organizations.

But this strikes me, and probably will strike others, as disingenuous. The tea party movement is fueled by rhetoric that echoes the paranoid ravings of the most extreme right-wing nutcases. When tea party leaders talk about the threat of "socialism" and call for "a new revolution" and vow to "take our country back," they can say they are simply using vivid metaphors. But they cannot plausibly claim to be unaware that there are people -- perhaps on the fringe of the movement, but close enough -- who give every sign of taking these incendiary words literally.

And does anyone doubt that the movement attracts the kind of people who take these words literally?

Organizations such as the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center have documented the troubling rise of right-wing militia and "patriot" groups. Political leaders who appropriate and reinforce the extremists' language -- who urge angry people to "reload" -- are being reckless. They must stop this madness before someone gets hurt.

eugenerobinson@washpost.com

24 comments:

parabarbarian said...

Short version:

Oh no! The goddamn peasants are revolting!

Anonymous said...

It appears in a small way some sanity might be dawning in the minds of the politcos. A little fear never hurt anyone, when it is from a dose of reality, like a reminder to elected folks that they work for the people.

Some more medicine and just maybe the status quo may be returned to normal... politians fearing and respecting the electorate.

wl moses

Anonymous said...

Do people still read the Post?

The fact that Absolved received a plug is - in the words of Eric Cartman

The relevant question: Can we buy a copy of Absolved yet?

Cory

jon said...

"That anyone still listens to this person is one of the most unfortunate unintended consequences of social networking."

unintended consequences? pray tell, whose intentions? and what, in your estimation, are these intentions behind social networking? and why, might i ask, are you giving the impression that it is a creation of the establishment?

no, certainly, this man is no evil genius. simply an arrogant prole who desperately wants a seat at his master's table. another fool that believes the government produces goods and services.

here's a real unintended consequence of the social networking phenomenon: the death of print and broadcast media.

Anonymous said...

Here's the money quote...

"They must stop this madness before someone gets hurt"

I couldn't agree more...

G-III
Louisville, KY

Anonymous said...

They know that you are telling the truth in this blog and the lame stream media is scared to death of truth

Moe Death said...

I agree with ol' Eugene... the socialists in Washington should stop their madness before they hurt America terminally.

Bill
III

Doc Enigma said...

The hubris, as well as the demonstrated presence of some sort of mind altering drugs in the water supply, of the left (nice way to say, "communist totalitarians") is just simply amazing.

The narrative goes something like this:

1 - Count on the decency of the people you wish to enslave so that when you put your synthesis forward, they smile, nod, and back up a step because they're trying not to be rude and they're practicing, 'live and let live'.

2 - Scream like a wounded pig the moment they stop backing up or when they say, "No, thank you, we don't want your idea...leave us alone!" Start to demonize their value system as 'neanderthal' or 'living in the past' or 'uncaring' or 'wrong headed'.

3 - Demand that others (usually armed LEO's, the military, or mercs) go in and forcibly 'persuade' the 'decent' people to accept your diktat. Nod your head sadly when the body counts are announced, especially if children are killed. Interject statements like, "We did all we could to convince them to come out and just talk with us...."

4 - Piously go forth to major main stream media to announce your inability to understand why these same 'decent' people want nothing to do with your synthesis, and always end with, "something had to be done....for the children."

5 - Always end any crisis with the sadly faced official (on your side, of course), "This had to be done for the public...we may have to do this again, unfortunately."

This Op-Ed from the WaPo falls right into the narrative....

johnnyreb said...

Good to know our enemies are reading these words!

Mr. Robinson:

When I was growing up, there were times I was disciplined with a belt to my seat of learning. Although it was infrequent ( I can count the times on one hand ),I always knew it was there, and available in case I went over the line.

And even though he was hesitant to do it, I knew the consequences. And that knowledge was a great deterrent.

It would be wise, Mr Robinson, for you and your Marxist friends to apply my experience to your present course of action.

Richard
III

Anonymous said...

What bothers this guy (and all those who agree with him) more than anything else is the fact that they have discovered - to their horror - that there are loimits to what their precious government can shove down our throats before they begin to get some push-back. As one reporter in "t
The Window War" says, be glad that people with guns are throwing bricks.". The events of the past week or so are minor in physical impact, but they should be a 150 decible alarm going off in the minds of every would-be tyrant out there. Too f'ing bad if a very few people have burst their bubbles and given them a dose of reality.

I found this guy's use of the phrase "unintended consequences" to be a delicious irony. Maybe someone should suggest that he read John Ross' book of the same name...but that he read it while sitting on the toilet.

David L said...

Did I miss something? All I can recall is a few bricks through a few empty storefronts (selling an even emptier message!), someone saying 'the N word' that no one else heard but the 'victim' and a few nasty telephone messages rife with naughty words. And this is proof of a revolution? of the resurgence of the KKK, of barbarians at the gates?

Maybe the Left Progressives should give the same courtesy they give to muslim terrorism that is excused because it is perpetrated by a 'tiny minority' who somehow misunderstand the religion they grew up in. Seems like they are screaming the sky is falling or the social fabric is tearing with little to no provocation. At least not compared to what Leftist/Progressive demonstrators get away with in causes supported by the media/Democrats/progressives (sorry for the redundancy).

Anonymous said...

The madman can be expected to believe that everyone opposed to him is mad in themselves.

straightarrow said...

Throughout our history it has been largely true that Democrats and other assorted liberals have been the ones to resort to violence in the political arena. Therefore I challenge his assumption that the Republican leadership can call off the likely dogs.

Surely he isn't saying there are no Democrats who are pissed.

Anonymous said...

See folks, they really expect us to just bend over and submit to their every diktat. In their eye's, we are nothing more than their subjects ... and in their eye's, they are nothing more than your Kings and Queens ... your masters.

Slavery is alive and well in these united States of America.

shiloh1862 said...

Thank you God - for putting fear into the statists. May they see the error of their unholy and amoral ways. For if not, may the fear they presently possess increase ten million fold. For this I pray.

In God's hands we remain, Amen.

Pickdog
III

Nathan said...

America is a nation that was born in violence. The history is undeniable. It is written in black and white for any person to read....who can/wants to read it. Eugene has not availed himself of that opportunity methinks.

Eugene is conveniently ignorant. I have been a lifelong student of history and finding the truth, good bad, ugly or whatever. Many folks like Eugene like to look at only that part of history that fits their ideology.

The founders gave us the tools and made it out duty to, if we ever faced what they faced, do the same thing again. If a bad guy broke into my home at 2:00 am and threatened to harm my family and I, then I have to pick up the 12 ga riot shotgun by my bed and commit a hideously violent act, but one that would be fully justified.

It is funny how hypocrisy affects history for some folks. I am a child of the 50's and college student of the 60's and remeber the Viet Nam War protests well. Obama's best friend, Bill Ayers, was convincted and went to prison for bombing buildings and hurting people. Acts he is unrepentant for today. Funny how that is overlooked by the lefties.

And mike has received dozens of death threats in responses to this blog, from the same left side of the aisle.

If Eugene condems throwing bricks as a violent act, and suggests that this kind of thing has no place today, he is ignorant of our history and the Idea that is America.

Maybe he is OK as a writer, but as a historian he sucks.

NP

drjim said...

"Someone is going to get hurt"
Well, at least they might be getting a glimmer....

Anonymous said...

Bottom line: the collectivists want us to be slaves but are also terrified of slave revolts.

Steve K said...

This guy is a moron. Theres no "leadership" of the Tea Party. Its almost as if they are trying to force a leader out so they can use Alinsky tactics to destroy him.

"I'm onto your game, Rommel. I read your book!"

Toastrider said...

Yeah, this is the one I referenced in an earlier comment thread. Guess MBV was writing about it. :)

Robinson's pretty much a lily-livered dolt. I can't even remember the last time he wrote something useful, or even insightful.

Oh, and Johnnyreb: Read? Are you kidding? My comment earlier mocked Robinson for not actually reading the first chapter of Absolved, instead relegating it to 'old man kills cops'. They may see letters and words, but I doubt they actually comprehend what they see.

Anonymous said...

What I don't think they understand is that a lot of us are not Tea Partiers or Republicans. Palin and that crybaby Beck do not speak for us.

We are certainly not mindless sheep who will simply go along to get along.

Some of us are just disgusted at the immorality of the whole lot of them, their political parties, their support of criminal corporations and banking cartels.

Time for Tar and Feathers is getting closer, no need to worry about years of brick throwing. After the Tar and Feathering I would warrant that there will be some hangings.

a threeper

Happy D said...

This is a wonderful look into how a "Drive by Media""reporter" does its job and lies by omission.

Eugene Robinson said;"The nature of his "case" may be illuminated by a short story, titled "Absolved," that he published on a right-wing Web site. His fictional protagonist fights to the death against unnamed, uniform-wearing "thugs" -- apparently police"

Most people can figure out it it the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. The F.B.I. is mentioned so you could safely assume that they are federal law extortion professionals.

Eugene Robinson said;""thugs" -- apparently police -- who have come to his house to confiscate his huge arsenal of guns and explosives."

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is the agency that does this primarily.
I guess mike could have had Phil Gordon notice the big yellow ATF markings on the bad guys vests as he shoots them. But why?

This also proves my theory that most reporters don't read.

Nothing in the story would lead you to the conclusion that Phil Cordon's collection was huge large perhaps, but not huge.
A good rule of thumb for you reporters is that a small collection has at least ten guns with several being the same model. Also one thousand rounds of ammo is not much. In the last competition I participated in individual shooters used that much in the qualifying and preliminary rounds.
An arsenal is a place of manufacture of arms and explosives Would the fictional Phil Cordon's home really qualify?

Now Mike if you had that book finished this article might translate into sales!
So back to the salt mine and finish that book!
So we can give you money for copies of it!
Love, Happy D

sofa said...

Did Eugene the marxist say "unintended consequences"? lol

Anonymous said...

If you want to put a stop to the ADL's BS, make it plain to the leadership of outfits like AIPAC, the AJCmte & the Conference of Presidents that the ADL's behavior toward a large part of America has been noticed, then remind them that these same Americans the ADL's lying about & demonizing also happen to be the ones who are Israel's most reliable & open non-Jewish supporters & that their continued support depends on what they do to about the ADL's bigoted attitude. As blacks & the Left have, in a delicious bit of irony, largely turned against Jews/Israel respectively, it isn't smart to alienate those who are rapidly becoming the only real friends Jews & Israel have for political purposes.


Cassandra (of Troy)