This hour long video was on MSNBC tonight. It is well documented.
Each segment will be featured on this blog. Part 1 is about 9 minutes.
I find it upsetting. Many who post here will not.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Perhaps since the overarching emphasis is on the Constitution, perhaps it might be more accurate to call this a “Constitutionalist Awakening and Revival” rather than the advent of a “New Right.” The movement reminds me much of those things which caused Americans to pull up stakes in New England, Pennsylvania, and Virginia and head to the greater freedom of the American West.
The opposition appears on the surface to be taken up far too much with the frightful idea of armed militias. Family, friends, colleagues, associates, acquaintances — I’ve never met anyone in a “militia” and have never even had a conversation with anyone about such a thing. And I am a native of Michigan. Look, for the people I know the “Second American Revolution” will come not through the pulling of a trigger but through the pulling of a lever in the voting booth. In my opinion, the opposition spokespersons are using political scare tactics on the rest of you. They will always find just a bit of an odd sliver and then claim that an entire tree is about to fall on your head.
And I feel that the New Right is using oppositional scare tactics on people.
I actually find both sides horrifying–the far right and the far left. And Obama isn’t functioning as the far left.
I have never met a militia person, that I am aware of. However, I know lots of people with what I would call militia mentality. I have met several Klansmen though. The rest of the show isn’t necessarily about militias.
We’ll have to agree to disagree. I guess that, if I tell you the policies of the current administration appear to be leading us toward future fiscal chaos, you might well claim I am using scare tactics. But, how does that differ from telling me that, if a comprehensive health care reform bill is not passed, our health care system will suffer immensely? It’s a political thing common to almost every issue of acute interest and debate. That is far different than someone telling you that, if you do not get with my political agenda, you are going to be rousted out at bayonet point by civilian militiamen in camo gear. Bet I would hear you scream to High Heaven about the use of scare tactics if I suggested that, someday in the dead of night, government agents in jackboots may come to take away the conservatives on charges of “treason.”. Quite frankly, there are some fringe elements on both sides who are so focused on these kinds of extremes that they cause all the rest of us to lose track of our own thought processes and start to forego honest debate over the real issues. It then becomes much harder to find those compromises which will allow us to continue to live with each other at the end of the day.
Well, I didn’t tell you that about comprehensive health care reform. I never got to hear much about those because everyone was shouted down.
From everything I have read over the past 10 years, I did understand that health care costs were going to go through the roof if we didnt find a way to insure those folks who were getting a free ride at our expense. I firmly believe some sort of reform was needed. I continue to question whether the timing was right on it. That 2008 crash just came a little too close to the real thing for comfort.
Frankly, I don’t think I am sure what conservatives are any more. They certainly aren’t the people I thought were conservative when I was growing up. When I was growing up it boiled down to those who wanted change vs those who didn’t want change. Life is more complicated now.
Speaking of treason, I hear what I consider to be seditious remarks on TV almost every day. I hate the political climate I live in now. I mainly hate it because it is incredibly mean.
I spent a year in Iraq. I know what happens when citizens select to settle their differences with arms instead of civil politics. Trust me, it’s not a pretty thing, no matter whose side you’re on. It’s not something one would wish upon this country.
I am not sure that the religous wars in Iraq or Ireland have any application to the discussion of freedom from government intrusion. I am also facinated by the idea that any reporting by “shivers-up me leg” Mathews has any credibilty – to anybody. Those awful tea partiers who talk about limited constitutional government, who take the Bill of Rights literally, who have read the Federalist Papers – without which we would not be a country today and, OMG they quote Jefferson, of all people, regarding the need to overthrow governmental on a recurring basis. What a threat to America these people are.
But to suggest that “Obama isn’t functioning as the far left.” Wow! What in the name of Jupitor and all that is politically correct is then the agenda of the far left – if not relected in Obama.
I find it odd that we are expected to take the Bill of Rights literally and not the 14th amendment literally. Talk about cherry picking.
Wow on, there TP. Ask yourself why those who would tell you they were liberal what their beefs are with President Obama.
Any talk of overthrowing the government, to me, is simply unacceptable.
Doesn’t the title of this tread bring to mind Sith Lords coming out from the Dark ready to attack the good towns folk?
Overthrow of the government can be both literal and symbolic. To overthrow may just mean to use your voice and your vote to effect change.
I keep hearing that it is all symbolic….yea…right.
There are some of us, many of us, who don’t want our government overthrown. We came close enough in 2000 when supreme court justices were practically lobbied to chose a president. If the system works after all that, we have something good going.
Try again. What part of the Obama agenda is not from the far left? The speed at which the left is trying to overthow the government is a different question.
Oh PUH-leez
Are we now defining ‘the left’ as anything left of the John Birch Society?
Can I get an “oh Puhleez” credit for future use without being remanded?
Answer the question or is this the “Duh, inciteful ability to note the obvious” ” you got it right response. Hmmp. Thanks Moon.
Start with continuing 2 wars and not closing Gitmo. That’s a good starting place for you. The left doesn’t like that. There is a great deal out there that is more central than the far left would be willing to admit. It hurts their cause.
Washington Post review of this show:
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/right-now/2010/06/tea_partyers_push_back_against.html
I’ll agree here with Starryflights. Internicine battle is definitely something you do not want to see in any way, shape, or form. Once you open that can of worms, you may never be able to close it without the appearance on the scene of the proverbial man on a white horse, who usually is an iron-fisted dictator. Both sides listen up. This includes not only the so-called militias but also those Latinos who are huffing and puffing in Los Angeles about starting their own revolution in America. Revolutions tend to wind up eating their own, with one of the rare exceptions being our own revolution in 1776.
@Moon-howler
Actually, the problem is that we don’t take the 14th literally, because we have not clarified the meaning and applicability of the clause, “and subject to the jurisdiction thereof”. I would just like the all of the Bill the Rights to be held to the same standard as the 1st or the penumbra of the right to abortion. I mean, I don’t see any other enumerated rights being regulated by an agency like the 2nd.
Obviously the bill of rights is different from
Roe v Wade that is grounded in 3-4 amendments, but mainly in the 14th and the 9th, if I recall. It is obviously not stated explicitly, any more than Brown v Board of Education, Griswold or any of the famous cases.
I don’t fight with people over 2nd amendment. I just avoid places that have people swaggering and posturing all over the place. I make sure the store owner knows why. We don’t live in the wild west any more.
First amendment- hmmmm that is just full of tricky ones. free speech? yes and no. For instance, Elena and I have free speech on this blog but that only goes as far as we extend it to others. Same with the WaPo. (arrogant, huh, putting ourselves right up there with the waPo)
Establishment clause- people will fight about that for the rest of eternity. None of it is cut and dry. Is putting ‘In God We Trust’ on monee establishing religion? Some say yes, some say No. How about having chaplains in the military? How about that business that was going on a few years ago out at the Air Force Academy? School prayer? When I was a kid church women would come in and do bible study once a week.
That’s why the foundings pops invented the Supremes I guess. They and their underlings need something to so.