Big news today as the Southern Poverty Law Center issued an
alarming report "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.
The entire report presents a rather grim and alarming portrait
of the state of extremist organizations in America. Pointing to
media figures (Fox News's Glenn Beck) and lawmakers (Rep.
Michele Bachmann) who have indulged in some of the conspiracy
theories that drive these groups and their members, the SPLC
suggests that a radical ethos is gradually becoming
institutionalized in American politics.
OK, so who are these dangerous "new Patriot groups" we are warned
about? The SPLC's roster includes 48 separate listings of a
group called "We the
People." This a non-profit organization founded
by Robert Schultz, a hyper-litigious critic of the Internal
Revenue Service.
"We the People" appears to be generally libertarian in
orientation: 2004 Libertarian Party candidate Michael Badnarik
addressed the group's 2009
"Constitutional Convention," and Schultz
himself was a guest (along with libertarian figures
like Reason magazine editor Nick Gillespie and Rep.
Ron Paul) on an
August 2009 broadcast of Judge Andrew Napolitano's Fox
News TV program.
After finding the
Web site of the Alabama chapter of "We the People,"
I phoned Huntsville resident Lesha Martin, one of the
members listed on the site. Is "We the People" some kind of
violent militia-type outfit?
"Good heavens, no," said Ms. Martin, an admirer of Ron Paul who
described herself as devoted to individual freedom and
"resurrecting the Constitution."
How many peaceful citizens like Lesha Martin are lumped together
to create the "grim and alarming portrait . . . of
extremist organizations" presented by the SPLC?
Come on Glenn Beck and Michele Bachmann driving extremist groups?
Why? Because they dare to question the socialist policies of the
first Yes I'm going to say it, Black President who has surrounded
himself with avowed Communist and Marxist advisors?
I can see why the SPLC would be upset! Martin Luther King would
be upset about what is going on as well. Since when does the SPLC
not want people to enjoy ALL the rights granted to them by the
Constitution?
I guess though that is no different than Louis Farakan or
Jeremiah Wright stoking the Black Panthers or the Nation of Islam
right?
This is an effort by the SPLC to cause people to fear those evil
white extremist groups like the Tea Party, and the
Libertarians,and the Independents... they are coming to take away
ALL the government giveaways they have been getting for the last
50 years!!
Run for your lives !! The extremists are coming,the extremists
are coming!
MRD
Good points... Except the Constitution does not grant rights. The
constitutions assumes that individuals have those rights and
protects them from the government.
Alan Brooks| 3.3.10 @ 8:45AM
Libertarians are harmless, after all these decades they are still
so cannibalistic they can hardly get their people elected.
Libertarians aren't so harmless, and I'm referring to the ones
inside the Beltway who have a disproportionate influence on our
politics, and that largely due to corporate funding. One of the
damaging things they do is advocate for massive/illegal imm.,
joining with the far-left against the wishes of the vast majority
of Americans.
As for this post, I've got 78 posts about the SPLC going back to
2004, including catching them in misleading statements and
including a very interesting link they have:
Influence in Washington? Trust me. I used to work there. The
place is anything but a libertarian hotbed. What a couple of guys
at Cato. A couple other guys drinking beers over at the LP
headquarters? We are only begining to influence the system in any
real way.
Sean| 3.2.10 @ 10:00PM
I consider the SPLC an extremist group.
brad| 3.3.10 @ 1:38AM
They are extremists, they are communists. Read the history of the
SPLC, you'll find a who's who of communism in america in there
rank and file.
Geno Canto del Halcon| 3.3.10 @ 3:00PM
To paraphrase Barry Goldwater (and his libertarian speech writer,
Karl Hess), "Extremism in the defense of JUSTICE is no vice." The
last thing modern day Ds and Rs want is JUSTICE; they are only
interested in power. Attacking the SPLC as "communist" is a
shallow, transparent smear aimed at weak minds.
Janie| 3.4.10 @ 1:34PM
You're entitled to you own opinion, Geno--but you're not entitled
to you own facts--even if you are a weak minded liberal.
SPLC is indeed a communist organization and you know it.
Mike| 3.2.10 @ 10:53PM
McCain,
Okay, you are having fun. I get it.
But it the Libertarians ever really gain sway and actually have
the power to abolish the Federal Reserve and the IRS and you are
still pitching the same bs, I will know for certain that you are
an idiot.
Alan Brooks| 3.3.10 @ 8:49AM
You're the idiot, Mike; libertopians will be too busy tearing
each other down to abolish the Federal Reserve and the IRS, or
anything else but perhaps each other.
Ephor| 3.2.10 @ 11:24PM
If.
Concerned Citizen| 3.2.10 @ 11:33PM
It doesn't matter what a bunch of Libertarians think about the
IRS and the Federal Reserve -- this country is BROKE and some
things are going to have to change. Once everyone finishes losing
all their money to the banksters, it'll be Judgement Day for all
the socialists out there, including many Republicans.
dorkafork| 3.2.10 @ 11:48PM
But it the Libertarians ever really gain sway and actually
have the power to abolish the Federal Reserve and the IRS and you
are still pitching the same bs, I will know for certain that you
are an idiot.
If libertarians gained enough sway in this democratic society to
abolish the Federal Reserve and the IRS, they would by definition
not be extremist.
Even now I fail to see how that makes them "extremist",
particularly in the sense the SLPC has used the term in the past.
More "loopy" than "grim and alarming".
Calvin Dodge| 3.3.10 @ 12:28AM
The SPLC also refers to "Oath Keepers" as dangerous. What are
they doing which is dangerous?
They're pledging to NOT disarm citizens or blockade cities.
I guess "dangerous" must mean "dangerous to left-wing power
mongers".
evil monger| 3.3.10 @ 12:44AM
MSDNC had a guy on the Dylan Ratigan show from SPLC hyping these
numbers. Actually Ratigan seemed more unhinged than the SPLC
functionary, but the point is this was the focus of the episode.
They ended with a segment on the so-called Coffee Party (they
must have wanted to keep using their CPUSA stationary and
sweatshirts; they are only profligate with the taxpayers' money).
evil monger| 3.3.10 @ 12:44AM
MSDNC had a guy on the Dylan Ratigan show from SPLC hyping these
numbers. Actually Ratigan seemed more unhinged than the SPLC
functionary, but the point is this was the focus of the episode.
They ended with a segment on the so-called Coffee Party (they
must have wanted to keep using their CPUSA stationary and
sweatshirts; they are only profligate with the taxpayers' money).
It's interesting, when I was a kid during the 90s I was dimly
aware of all these right wing groups throughout the nation's
hinterland who hated America in general and Bill Clinton in
particular.
Now, of course, I have a much more fuller awareness of the nature
of the media that was inundating me with tales of sinister
rednecks and their secret agendas. It's going to be a revealing
bout of nostalgia to see the same hit pieces being written again,
this time with immediate, widely disseminate rebuttals on the
Internet.
What we have here is a failure to selectively communicate.
Jeremiah| 3.3.10 @ 5:00AM
I remember the 90s. Who could forget Bill Clinton and Waco--he
was responsible for the incineration of about a hundred Americans
there; many of them young children.
Yeah, I remember Bill Clinton, too.
bigfingo| 3.3.10 @ 6:52AM
Don't forget the assassination of Randy Weaver's wife (with a
child in her arms). Or the guns pointed at Elian Gonzalez. I
believe that our current president and his minions (his flying
monkeys) are fully capable of these types of thuggery and perhaps
more.
Missy| 3.3.10 @ 7:06PM
Definitely MORE!
Orson| 3.3.10 @ 2:09AM
Sean said "I consider the SPLC an extremist group."
They lied that Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo was a racist.
The lie became became a textbook "fact," which then had to be
sued.
And back in the mid 1990s, the SPLC claimed that Colorado had
eight racist white power groups - including four in Northern
Colorado.
Now, considering that I personally knew constitutionalist and
pro-gun-rights libertarians active with three of these, I knew
the SPLC to be a lying racist hate group.
NO ONE can be a libertarian and a racist. By definition,
libertarians are too individualistic to be collectivist, which is
the idiocy racism demands.
epobirs| 3.3.10 @ 3:51AM
Now that is certainly false on its face. There is no reason one
cannot have a specific dislike of a racial group and also be a
libertarian. The difference between such a person and those who'd
seek to make their hatred enshrined in law, is that the
libertarian would not seek such power and his personal prejudices
would remain solely limited to himself and not a matter for
governmental policy.
He would be free to exercise his dislike of a group in his
personal conduct, so long as he remains within the law. Likewise,
those around him would be free in turn to legally exercise their
right not to associate or do business with such a person.
Freedom to be a jerk also means freedom of others to treat you as
a jerk.
Forrest| 3.3.10 @ 2:16AM
Anybody here actually read the report, or know anything about
SPLC. In their extremist/hate-group listings SPLC lists
Neo-Nazis, KKK and black nationalist (Nation of Islam, Black
panthers). Holocaust deniers and the Jewish Defence League.
Extremist Christian Anti-gay groups, extremist Muslim groups, and
left environmental groups (ELF, ALF).
Since to my knowledge there are no ORGANIZED violent or
threatening "socialist/marxist" groups of current. Yes, there are
individuals that define themselves as Anarchists that commit
property damage, which a simple search of SLPC site will reveal
documentation of.
Just as these groups are aloud to PEACEFULLY speak their minds,
other groups like the SPLC are allowed to offer their
interpretation.
Their publication called the, Intelligence Report, is widely used
in academic settings. But this fact might be too
'intellectual-elitist' for this lot.
ps. Adam Smith, Rand, Friedman, Hoyak, Mises are used in academic
settings too (sociology, philosophy, economics and political
science) so don't go getting all hypocritical here about
academic-elitists.
FORREST| 3.3.10 @ 2:39AM
Furthermore, SLPC reports on secessionist groups as well, which
the author of the article is proudly a member of.
That is partially the point Forrest. The SPLC, which is a
Cultural Marxist hack outfit, has declared the League of the
South a hate group. This alone reveals the SPLC for what it is,
an agenda driven group of Cultural Marxist, whose entire reason
for being is to demonize anyone slightly to the right of center,
and raise truckloads of money doing it.
Mike D| 3.3.10 @ 3:16AM
"(now now just because it Al-Jazeera, don't be a self-fulfilling
prophecy)"
I think you've already been the "self-fulfilling prophecy" (is
English your native tongue?) of the moonbat leftist.
Forrest| 3.3.10 @ 3:56AM
How so? I have offered accounts of SPLC documenting 'right-wing"
and 'leftist' extremeist groups.
All you offer is name calling.
Never mind libertarians, the SPLC thinks that the Constitution
Party are "extremists"!
Forrest| 3.3.10 @ 4:12AM
"The party (Constitution Parry) puts a large focus on
immigration, calling for stricter penalties towards illegal
immigrants and a moratorium on legal immigration until all
federal subsidies to immigrants are discontinued.[2] The party
absorbed the American Independent Party, originally founded for
George Wallace's 1968 presidential campaign."
George Wallace s best known for his Southern populist[3]
pro-segregation attitudes during the American desegregation
period.
"The party opposes same-sex marriage, and believes state and
local governments have the right to criminalize "offensive sexual
behavior
The SPLC monitors anti-immigrant groups."
-SPLC monitors anti-gay groups
"George Wallace s best known for his Southern populist[3]
pro-segregation attitudes during the American desegregation
period."
George Wallace is also best known for being a Democrat. A fact
that seems to be surprisingly missing from your "piece."
Jamie| 3.3.10 @ 6:22AM
Fascist Liberals never let 'inconvenient' facts get in the way of
their beliefs.
Forrest | 3.3.10 @ 9:32AM
Yes George Wallace was a Democrat so is Byrd and he was a KKK
member too.
And Lincoln was Republican.. yes of course.
Fascist anybody's don't let fact get in their way.
But if you actually read the above post, you would see that I
didn't mention that he was Republican or Democrat, but that he
started the American Independence Party which was later absorbed
by the Constitution Party.
You just proved my point that the Constitution Party could be
considered a extremist party because it was founded, in part, by
George Wallace (former-D-Alabama), a segregationist, a racist.
Nadorn| 3.3.10 @ 1:15PM
So because the group had people in it a couple dozen years ago
that came from another group headed by a guy that was a
segregationist makes them obviously preparing to storm their
local courthouse with Uzis, totally irregardless of their current
membership and stances?
So being restrictionist on immigration makes one a hate group? As
I said, the SPLC is nothing but a bunch of Cultural Marxist
hacks. Thanks for making my case for me.
Forrest| 3.3.10 @ 9:50AM
I would say no, I understand the reasoning (in some arguments)
for being restrictionist. However, the history, and current
occurrences, of anti-immigrant violence in this country by
vigilant and law enforcement is a reality.
Illegals are illegal, they should be dealt with accordingly, by
the proper law enforcement authorities.
And unfortunately, another reality is that civil discourse on
immigration is blurred by the fact that there ARE white
supremacists that act violently against immigrants illegal or
legal.
Forrest, anyone who thinks the Constitution Party is a hate group
is either delusional or deliberately attempting to slur.
Immigration restrictionism and opposition to gay marriage are
both entirely mainstream positions that can easily be defended
from a traditional conservative standpoint. Not that being
"mainstream" is inherently virtuous. Just that the notion that
these are "extremist" positions could only be thought by someone
who never gets outside their hyper PC bubble.
Forrest has no trees| 3.3.10 @ 1:21PM
So, the Constitution Party is in favor of restricting
immigration, and people who beat immigrants are in favor of
restricting immigration, therefore the Constitution Party are
people who beat immigrants?
ZerObama| 3.3.10 @ 7:36PM
Forrest is a troll. The SPLC is a radical Marxist group, and
anyone who cites it as a reasonable source is highly suspect.
Forrest | 3.3.10 @ 4:25AM
It sucks to be pooled together with Nazi's and fascists is
it?
A taste of your own medicine (if you can afford it).
Jeremiah| 3.3.10 @ 4:54AM
Touchy touchy! Unfortunately for us, you America hating COMMIES
are in the White House--that's real bitter medicine.
Better watch it, though; you leftists could get a good, strong
dose of your own nasty medicine. We are fed up with your
treacherous policies.
Just par for the course for the left. If I had a dime for every
liberal who used those words to describe the entire political
right, I could afford to fund a political campaign that could
outspend Obama 2:1.
mezzrow| 3.3.10 @ 7:18AM
The SPLC, Frank Rich, and the Obami in general are casting about
for the TimMcVeigh/Militia trope to troll in front of America.
Crawl into their mindspace - It bailed them out after '94 (which
they see as inevitable again), and 'it'll work again'... It's
their socialist version of bubba bait for the booboisie. The guy
to fear is white, wearing camo, and is holding a gun. Wash,
rinse, repeat.
P. Aaron| 3.3.10 @ 7:36AM
How many colleges nationwide are controlled by anti-American
leftists? Probably more than 500.
College students don't listen to their professors much - they
mostly follow the group speak around them, which, these days, can
also be driven by the internet. The more truths are outed, the
better chance the next generation has.
Some ol'dude| 3.3.10 @ 10:00AM
Kinda like the well mannered folks that post on here.
Group Speak driven by the Internet or the Cable News 'Spin'
Commentators or , Talk Radio Blowhards, or partisan comment
posters for that matter
ZerObama| 3.3.10 @ 7:10PM
Kinda' like the DNC talking points robots who post as trolls,
too. Group Speak indeed.
I'm shock, just shocked, that Beltway cosmotarian Dave Weigel
repeated SPLC propaganda. Cosmotarians would never go after their
own like that, would they?
Actually the Weigel commentary is pretty fair. I just wish he had
criticized the SPLC's contention instead of just dumping it out
there.
Bob| 3.3.10 @ 10:14AM
True libertarians will never be accepted by the religious
extremists known as "conservatives" because they believe in
liberty which means they are pro-choice and are willing to allow
gay marriage. We want the government out of our pockets and out
of our bedrooms.
It's really too bad that the Republican party has been taken over
by the religious right and the anti-intelligence class because we
do agree on fiscal conservatism.
"because they believe in liberty which means they are pro-choice"
Yeah, all those dead babies are really basking in their liberty.
Bob| 3.3.10 @ 1:06PM
You do mean dead fetuses, don't you? How many crack babies have
you adopted? Are you willing to pay for their hospital bills?
That must mean you want universal health care, right? Gee, if you
allowed gays to marry, we'd have more adoptions, right? Isn't
that what you want?
Nadorn| 3.3.10 @ 1:18PM
The issue clearly isn't as black and white as you'd like us all
to believe, is the point.
Common Sense| 3.3.10 @ 1:29PM
NEWS FLASH: Because a random person (Red Phillips) does not adopt
crack babies, fetuses have no right to live. Now, using this
logic, does it follow that unadopted crack babies have no right
to live?
Bob, you clearly have an anti-Christian obsession that you
inflict on the rest of us in thread after thread. Some might say
I have a non-interventionist obsession, but at least I confine my
pet issue commentary to threads actually related to foreign
policy. You, on the other hand, work your anti-"religious right"
commentary into threads that have nothing (or only marginally) to
do with it. Like this one. Why are you so bitter against
Christians? All Jesus did was die on the Cross for the sins of
the world, including yours. Perhaps you should take Him up on the
offer to save your immortal soul, instead of grousing about
Christians who don't want women to be able to kill their own
babies legally. And for the record, I have six kids so I am
certainly doing my part to continue the species.
Derek Leaberry| 3.3.10 @ 2:04PM
Bob maintains that Hitler was a Christian despite overwhelming
evidence to the contrary. People who are willfully blind to an
obvious truth are not worth arguing with.
Bob| 3.3.10 @ 2:10PM
Hitler claimed that he was a Christian. Do you really disagree?
Do you want the multitude of quotes from him? You just don't want
to admit the truth. Whether you think he was Christian is
irrelevant.
Margie| 3.3.10 @ 2:38PM
So what if he claimed himself a Christian? Actually though, he
claimed himself a Catholic, specifically. And wasn't that for a
brief time anyway? If you are above the age of 12, you'd know
that just because someone says they are something, doesn't make
it so. If you had a basic understanding of right from wrong and
everything wasn't "relative" to you, you'd recognize that
fact.
But you repeatedly choose to play games. Hitler claimed to be a
Catholic, but he served the Devil.
Bob| 3.3.10 @ 3:16PM
Actually, Margie, he claimed to be a Christian for most all of
his life. Here are his quotes:
OK~ even so, it doesn't make him one. He was a liar. On this I
know you agree.
Bob| 3.3.10 @ 3:54PM
Actually we do agree that Hitler was "inhuman" and a blot on all
mankind. By the way, all politicians are liars and thieves
whether they are Democrats OR Republicans.
Margie| 3.3.10 @ 4:45PM
No, all politicians are not liars and thieves. They may be rare,
but they are not all such!
Derek Leaberry| 3.3.10 @ 3:49PM
People can claim anything in public for political expedience. For
instance, Obama claims to be a Christian but that is only for
show. Lincoln and Jefferson were religious skeptics yet those two
men used religious imagery in their writings and speeches,
especially Lincoln.
Bob| 3.3.10 @ 2:09PM
Red, I'm not "anti-Christian" at all. I'm against ANY religion
forcing their beliefs on all of society through legislation. I
believe in true liberty where we trust individuals, not
government, to make their own decisions. The reason I rail
against "Christians" so much at AmSpec is because the Republican
party has morphed more into a Christian offshoot than a true
political party. Secular topics, such as fiscal conservatism, are
thereby relegated to a secondary position. If the Republican
party welcomed ALL fiscal conservatives including pro-choice and
gay's, you wouldn't hear a peep from me about Christians.
And Jesus was supposedly a good teacher, but he wasn't the
messiah to most of the people of the world. So quit trying to
make him so.
Margie| 3.3.10 @ 2:23PM
Jesus IS the Messiah.
Just because "Bob" says He isn't, doesn't it make it so.
"Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see
Him, every one who pierced Him; and all tribes of the earth will
wail on account of Him. Even so. Amen." Rev. 1:7.
Bob| 3.3.10 @ 3:14PM
YOU BELIEVE he's the messiah. Atheists like me certainly don't.
Jews don't. Buddhists don't. Muslims don't. In fact, most people
in this world don't.
Margie| 3.3.10 @ 3:24PM
But it isn't based on what I or you believe. It's based on fact.
It is historical fact that He was born, performed miracles for
everyone to see with their own eyes, was crucified, risen from
the dead and sits at the right Hand of the Father. Since He
became the sacrificial Lamb for all of our sins, tis means there
no longer remains a sacrifice, and that because of this, it means
that "we were bought with a price."
You are basing your life on whether or not this is true. Either
Jesus is a liar, or He is the Son of God. It's your "choice" to
not believe Him, but you're making a BIG mistake!
Bob| 3.3.10 @ 3:52PM
"Historical fact" that he performed miracles and rose from the
dead?????? That's funny.... It's historical fact that Hitler
claimed he was Christian.... It's historical fact that we evolved
from the apes... Do you believe that? You certainly have a right
to believe as you do, but that doesn't make it an "historical
fact". Those books were written by men. You should study the
ancient religious books that were not accepted by the ancient
Christian church. They are in the Vatican. Perhaps the most
telling are those that ended up in Ethiopia since they were less
edited by the church of that day. The church elders removed all
passages inconsistent with their views. And you call their
revisions "historical fact"?
I suggest you actually use your mind and study ancient Christian
history. Belief is not something that depends on "historical
fact" as most religious intellectuals will tell you. The fact is
that you are viewing history THROUGH your beliefs. Since I don't
believe in God, I view history through that lens. That doesn't
make either of us "right". That's what choice is all about.
Margie| 3.3.10 @ 4:14PM
Bob,
You're going off the deep end again. In fact, Jesus still
performs physical miracles, even today. The greatest miracle,
though, is the one where you accept Him into your heart and He
"recreates" you from the inside out. Like in John 3:3. Then you
KNOW He is real. You would have to humble yourself though, and
admit your need for Him. That your life isn't working and you're
a big fat zero! Yes, He came only "to seek and to save the lost."
Are you one of those? The Good Shepherd leaves his flock of 99 to
go after the 100th that is missing.
I know from personal experience that this is so. I can only wish
the same for you.
~Also Bob~ God doesn't ask us to believe "blindly." He says "if
you seek Me with all of your heart, I will be found by you." You
can't believe in something that doesn't exist. He exists, but
you'd have to want to find Him. And even if you don't think you
want to find Him, you could be just trying to tell yourself that.
:^)
Margie| 3.3.10 @ 3:12PM
Bob says:
"It's really too bad that the Republican party has been taken
over by the religious right.."
~Hilarious! Is that why the big problems with "RINO'S?"
"..and the anti-intelligence class.."
~To Bob, that means anyone who doesn't think like he does. Like
an Atheist.
In TRUTH~ everyone is welcome in the Republican party. It's the
party of Reagan. Fiscal conservatives, libertarians, and all are
welcome. But not to "take it over" and turn it into a
"non-interventionist" or pro-choice party.
Bob| 3.3.10 @ 3:20PM
If that is TRUE, Margie, then do you really think a pro-choice
candidate, let's say like Tom Ridge, could get the Republican
vote? The true test of who is welcome is who could get the vote.
I don't want the Republican party to be either pro-choice OR
anti-abortion. Neither should be in the platform or a litmus
test. Furthermore, I don't want it to be either interventionist
or non-interventionist. You intervene where it is necessary, not
where it is optional, like Iraq.
Margie| 3.3.10 @ 3:36PM
My opinion is that we conservatives would not nominate a
pro-choice candidate. Why would we want to? Abortion is wrong
even though it's legal. And it shouldn't be. It was done by the
activist Judges, not voted on by the people. I don't think most
Americans are pro-abortion.
In all, if the people are allowed to freely choose their nominee
for President, it wouldn't be a pro-choice person. The
establishment Republicans who aren't paying attention have been
"put on notice."
Same thing with non-interventionism. Most Americans do not think
this is correct. These things don't have to be a litmus test. The
people choose, and most just don't want someone who is either
pro-choice, or non-interventionist.
So~ it really IS all about choice. The freedom to choose the
candidate we want to.
Bob| 3.3.10 @ 3:43PM
What you have is liberty versus your religious views. The fact is
that our country needs fiscal conservatism and your religious
views limit the convergence of all fiscal conservatives behind a
fiscally responsible candidate. You would accept an unqualified
candidate like Palin because of her religious views, right?
Margie| 3.3.10 @ 3:59PM
No, actually it isn't liberty vs. religion. It's your basic right
from wrong. Certain things are just in you to know they are wrong
because God made us that way. He gave us a conscience to be able
to tell. It's what we do with it that's the problem. Ever say to
yourself when you were younger~ "Oh, I'll NEVER do THAT." Only to
eventually do it and you feel awful, but then you continue doing
it and "get used to it?" There goes your conscience, and as we
get older it gets worse. Just look around.
The point is, I know that we need fiscal conservatism, now more
than ever! We also need a decent person who doesn't agree that
abortion is a "right." The people will choose.. but why does
there have to be a separation between what you want and what I
want? Are you that dead set against a pro-life candidate? There
really shouldn't be the need for that. I think you are just
looking at it in the wrong light.
No. Sarah Palin isn't unqualified to me. What are the
requirements to become President? You have to be over 18 and a
citizen. To me, you have to love your country and know right from
wrong. You have to understand that Socialism is wrong and that
individual freedom is right. (and that doesn't include the
so-called "freedom" to kill the unborn.) Sarah would be a fine
candidate, though I do prefer a man for the job. :^)
Bob| 3.3.10 @ 4:13PM
Margie, true to my convictions, I have no problem with an
anti-abortion candidate if they are well educated, understand the
issues, and show they have intellectual curiosity. This includes
Romney, Jindal, Ryan, Ridge, etc. Palin has proven she doesn't
understand economics, history, the Supreme Court, the
Constitution, etc. The fact that you would consider her qualified
is what bothers me. Give me someone qualified and I won't care a
rat's a___ about their religious or abortion views.
Margie| 3.3.10 @ 4:26PM
Well, we will disagree about Sarah. But the things you assign to
her about her not understanding I think are false. Do you just
"blindly" believe what the Leftist media tells you about her?
Maybe if you read her book you would see what she truly thinks.
She is a right thinking person!
~There are plenty of good conservatives out there in the
Republican party. No candidate is going to be perfect, though.
Personally, I'm psyched about 2012 and can't wait to see who's
going to come forward. Conservatives are serious and are "stoked"
and are tired of so called moderates. I think we can agree on
that? I think you just might be a bit more conservative than you
think you are, Bob. (sorry, don't mean to blow your cover :^)
tonypal| 3.3.10 @ 4:41PM
Thanks Bob for clearing all of this up. Whenever I'm confused on
an issue, I can always count on you for guidance. All this time,
I thought the right way to go was pro-life because who the hell
knows when life truly begins and maybe I'm condoning murder if I
support abortion rights. But reading through today's posts, I
understand how wrong I've been.
As an added bonus, given your stated position that you're an
atheist, I've decided to chuck this whole God thing. Now my mind
is free and I'm totally liberated. I just wish the rest of the
fools on this site - and they are fools, because you say they are
and who am I to argue with you - would just drop their silly
obsession with God and a messiah who redeemed all of mankind. How
stupid and weak-minded. I'm with you now Bob.
SoCon| 3.3.10 @ 7:17PM
Bob is a bigot who hates believers--how absurd that he tries to
deny it. Bob also believes everything the psychopath, Adolf
Hitler, spewed. We all know that Hitler told the truth, right?
Bob, why don't you post on Globaloney Warming threads anymore?
Huh?
Wrong wrong and more wrong--Bob is a moron, an idiot and a fool:
A yellow-bellied chicken, too.
Margie| 3.3.10 @ 8:03PM
Oops. You must be age 35 at least to be President.
Why not. Ending imperialism is a good conservative thing to do.
You guys changed the GOP from a peace loving noninterventionist
party. Now perhaps is the time to turn it back. War is hell. We
have no business waging hell-unless we are defending ourselves-
than I say have at- quickly and decisively.
Ken (Old Texican)| 3.3.10 @ 10:47AM
Yes, Libertarians are dangerous, to themselves. They will
instantly shoot their own........nose off to spite their
...........faces.
Nominate the right Republicans and lets get on with turning the
country around. If those Republicans have a libertarian leaning,
great!
Who do you want us to support. Palin? Romney? My God if you do
there is very little hope for the republic. We need to radicaly
reform the GOP into a Goldwater-small government party- or else
the GOP will lose and so will the country.
Derek Leaberry| 3.3.10 @ 10:59AM
The SPLC is just a shakedown outfit that manipulates white guilt
to fill Morris Dees' coffers. The Libertarians are relatively
harmless, best left to esoteric arguments regarding the theories
of Austrian economics and whimsies concerning with drug
legalization. Most don't respect culture and have a difficult
time relating to the world as it is, not as they would wish it
is. After nearly forty years of existance, Libertarians rarely
receive more than one percent of the vote.
Margie| 3.3.10 @ 2:51PM
According to their website, the Constitution party is another
"non-interventionist" party. Rather than having an interest in
restoring the Republican party, they want to see it destroyed.
NOT a good thing.
SoSueMe| 3.3.10 @ 3:36PM
We Libertarians have no desire to destroy the Republican
party...it's doing a very fine job of that on its own.
Margie| 3.3.10 @ 3:38PM
Well SueMe,
I guess you really haven't been paying attention then, have
you?
But is that what you want?
Don't you get it? The GOP is a shadow of what it once was. The
TEA Party thing started with Ron Paul and is a reaction against
big government- which the GOP supported. George Bush destroyed
the party. The public is not pro-GOP it is increasingly anti
state/taxes/bailouts etc. The GOP is part of the problem.
SoCon| 3.3.10 @ 7:31PM
Ronald Reagan did NOT support a third party--he supported a
'strengthened' Republican party.
We have to hold our Republican politicians accountable--no more
'Beltway Fever'!
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beejeez| 3.4.10 @ 11:37AM
Please don't make us have health care as cheap as other
countries!
Please don't tell me the Weaver fiasco happened before Clinton
was president!
Please don't make the government restrict Wall Street
bankers!
Please don't tell me federal taxes were higher under Reagan, Bush
I and Eisenhower than they are now!
Please don't tell me the only libertarian country is
Somalia!
NAAA NAAAA NAAAA I'M NOT LISTENING!!!!
Janie| 3.4.10 @ 1:43PM
Whatever, moron.
Please admit that the American people have rejected ObamaCare by
2 to 1!
Please admit there will be 'death panels' under ObamaCare!
Please acknowledge unemployment has sky-rocketed under
Obama!
Please admit that taxes on the middle class are going to shoot
through the roof soon!
Please admit that you liberals can't govern!
Please admit that you democrats are drowning in your own filthy
corruption!
I unquestionably understand what you have said. In fact, I
browsed throughout your other articles and I think that you’re
certainly right. Congrats with this site.
Bill from WV| 3.2.10 @ 9:53PM
Come on Glenn Beck and Michele Bachmann driving extremist groups? Why? Because they dare to question the socialist policies of the first Yes I'm going to say it, Black President who has surrounded himself with avowed Communist and Marxist advisors?
I can see why the SPLC would be upset! Martin Luther King would be upset about what is going on as well. Since when does the SPLC not want people to enjoy ALL the rights granted to them by the Constitution?
I guess though that is no different than Louis Farakan or Jeremiah Wright stoking the Black Panthers or the Nation of Islam right?
This is an effort by the SPLC to cause people to fear those evil white extremist groups like the Tea Party, and the Libertarians,and the Independents... they are coming to take away ALL the government giveaways they have been getting for the last 50 years!!
Run for your lives !! The extremists are coming,the extremists are coming!
MRD
Stephen Macklin| 3.3.10 @ 7:41AM
Good points... Except the Constitution does not grant rights. The constitutions assumes that individuals have those rights and protects them from the government.
Alan Brooks| 3.3.10 @ 8:45AM
Libertarians are harmless, after all these decades they are still so cannibalistic they can hardly get their people elected.
24AheadDotCom| 3.3.10 @ 1:37PM
Libertarians aren't so harmless, and I'm referring to the ones inside the Beltway who have a disproportionate influence on our politics, and that largely due to corporate funding. One of the damaging things they do is advocate for massive/illegal imm., joining with the far-left against the wishes of the vast majority of Americans.
As for this post, I've got 78 posts about the SPLC going back to 2004, including catching them in misleading statements and including a very interesting link they have:
http://24ahead.com/s/southern-poverty-law-center
It's odd how RSM didn't link to that or to the DTN page, considering that there's a lot of information there.
Nick| 3.4.10 @ 1:34PM
Influence in Washington? Trust me. I used to work there. The place is anything but a libertarian hotbed. What a couple of guys at Cato. A couple other guys drinking beers over at the LP headquarters? We are only begining to influence the system in any real way.
Sean| 3.2.10 @ 10:00PM
I consider the SPLC an extremist group.
brad| 3.3.10 @ 1:38AM
They are extremists, they are communists. Read the history of the SPLC, you'll find a who's who of communism in america in there rank and file.
Geno Canto del Halcon| 3.3.10 @ 3:00PM
To paraphrase Barry Goldwater (and his libertarian speech writer, Karl Hess), "Extremism in the defense of JUSTICE is no vice." The last thing modern day Ds and Rs want is JUSTICE; they are only interested in power. Attacking the SPLC as "communist" is a shallow, transparent smear aimed at weak minds.
Janie| 3.4.10 @ 1:34PM
You're entitled to you own opinion, Geno--but you're not entitled to you own facts--even if you are a weak minded liberal.
SPLC is indeed a communist organization and you know it.
Mike| 3.2.10 @ 10:53PM
McCain,
Okay, you are having fun. I get it.
But it the Libertarians ever really gain sway and actually have the power to abolish the Federal Reserve and the IRS and you are still pitching the same bs, I will know for certain that you are an idiot.
Alan Brooks| 3.3.10 @ 8:49AM
You're the idiot, Mike; libertopians will be too busy tearing each other down to abolish the Federal Reserve and the IRS, or anything else but perhaps each other.
Ephor| 3.2.10 @ 11:24PM
If.
Concerned Citizen| 3.2.10 @ 11:33PM
It doesn't matter what a bunch of Libertarians think about the IRS and the Federal Reserve -- this country is BROKE and some things are going to have to change. Once everyone finishes losing all their money to the banksters, it'll be Judgement Day for all the socialists out there, including many Republicans.
dorkafork| 3.2.10 @ 11:48PM
But it the Libertarians ever really gain sway and actually have the power to abolish the Federal Reserve and the IRS and you are still pitching the same bs, I will know for certain that you are an idiot.
If libertarians gained enough sway in this democratic society to abolish the Federal Reserve and the IRS, they would by definition not be extremist.
Even now I fail to see how that makes them "extremist", particularly in the sense the SLPC has used the term in the past. More "loopy" than "grim and alarming".
Calvin Dodge| 3.3.10 @ 12:28AM
The SPLC also refers to "Oath Keepers" as dangerous. What are they doing which is dangerous?
They're pledging to NOT disarm citizens or blockade cities.
I guess "dangerous" must mean "dangerous to left-wing power mongers".
evil monger| 3.3.10 @ 12:44AM
MSDNC had a guy on the Dylan Ratigan show from SPLC hyping these numbers. Actually Ratigan seemed more unhinged than the SPLC functionary, but the point is this was the focus of the episode. They ended with a segment on the so-called Coffee Party (they must have wanted to keep using their CPUSA stationary and sweatshirts; they are only profligate with the taxpayers' money).
evil monger| 3.3.10 @ 12:44AM
MSDNC had a guy on the Dylan Ratigan show from SPLC hyping these numbers. Actually Ratigan seemed more unhinged than the SPLC functionary, but the point is this was the focus of the episode. They ended with a segment on the so-called Coffee Party (they must have wanted to keep using their CPUSA stationary and sweatshirts; they are only profligate with the taxpayers' money).
Don Meaker| 3.3.10 @ 12:53AM
To crooked eyes, truth has an arwy face.
hitnrun| 3.3.10 @ 1:27AM
It's interesting, when I was a kid during the 90s I was dimly aware of all these right wing groups throughout the nation's hinterland who hated America in general and Bill Clinton in particular.
Now, of course, I have a much more fuller awareness of the nature of the media that was inundating me with tales of sinister rednecks and their secret agendas. It's going to be a revealing bout of nostalgia to see the same hit pieces being written again, this time with immediate, widely disseminate rebuttals on the Internet.
What we have here is a failure to selectively communicate.
Jeremiah| 3.3.10 @ 5:00AM
I remember the 90s. Who could forget Bill Clinton and Waco--he was responsible for the incineration of about a hundred Americans there; many of them young children.
Yeah, I remember Bill Clinton, too.
bigfingo| 3.3.10 @ 6:52AM
Don't forget the assassination of Randy Weaver's wife (with a child in her arms). Or the guns pointed at Elian Gonzalez. I believe that our current president and his minions (his flying monkeys) are fully capable of these types of thuggery and perhaps more.
Missy| 3.3.10 @ 7:06PM
Definitely MORE!
Orson| 3.3.10 @ 2:09AM
Sean said "I consider the SPLC an extremist group."
They lied that Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo was a racist. The lie became became a textbook "fact," which then had to be sued.
And back in the mid 1990s, the SPLC claimed that Colorado had eight racist white power groups - including four in Northern Colorado.
Now, considering that I personally knew constitutionalist and pro-gun-rights libertarians active with three of these, I knew the SPLC to be a lying racist hate group.
NO ONE can be a libertarian and a racist. By definition, libertarians are too individualistic to be collectivist, which is the idiocy racism demands.
epobirs| 3.3.10 @ 3:51AM
Now that is certainly false on its face. There is no reason one cannot have a specific dislike of a racial group and also be a libertarian. The difference between such a person and those who'd seek to make their hatred enshrined in law, is that the libertarian would not seek such power and his personal prejudices would remain solely limited to himself and not a matter for governmental policy.
He would be free to exercise his dislike of a group in his personal conduct, so long as he remains within the law. Likewise, those around him would be free in turn to legally exercise their right not to associate or do business with such a person.
Freedom to be a jerk also means freedom of others to treat you as a jerk.
Forrest| 3.3.10 @ 2:16AM
Anybody here actually read the report, or know anything about SPLC. In their extremist/hate-group listings SPLC lists Neo-Nazis, KKK and black nationalist (Nation of Islam, Black panthers). Holocaust deniers and the Jewish Defence League. Extremist Christian Anti-gay groups, extremist Muslim groups, and left environmental groups (ELF, ALF).
Since to my knowledge there are no ORGANIZED violent or threatening "socialist/marxist" groups of current. Yes, there are individuals that define themselves as Anarchists that commit property damage, which a simple search of SLPC site will reveal documentation of.
However the realities of "right-wing" extremism are true.
http://english.aljazeera.net/p.....16797.html
(now now just because it Al-Jazeera, don't be a self-fulfilling prophecy)
Just as these groups are aloud to PEACEFULLY speak their minds, other groups like the SPLC are allowed to offer their interpretation.
Their publication called the, Intelligence Report, is widely used in academic settings. But this fact might be too 'intellectual-elitist' for this lot.
ps. Adam Smith, Rand, Friedman, Hoyak, Mises are used in academic settings too (sociology, philosophy, economics and political science) so don't go getting all hypocritical here about academic-elitists.
FORREST| 3.3.10 @ 2:39AM
Furthermore, SLPC reports on secessionist groups as well, which the author of the article is proudly a member of.
Red Phillips| 3.3.10 @ 8:54AM
That is partially the point Forrest. The SPLC, which is a Cultural Marxist hack outfit, has declared the League of the South a hate group. This alone reveals the SPLC for what it is, an agenda driven group of Cultural Marxist, whose entire reason for being is to demonize anyone slightly to the right of center, and raise truckloads of money doing it.
Mike D| 3.3.10 @ 3:16AM
"(now now just because it Al-Jazeera, don't be a self-fulfilling prophecy)"
I think you've already been the "self-fulfilling prophecy" (is English your native tongue?) of the moonbat leftist.
Forrest| 3.3.10 @ 3:56AM
How so? I have offered accounts of SPLC documenting 'right-wing" and 'leftist' extremeist groups.
All you offer is name calling.
Forrest| 3.3.10 @ 4:13AM
the following link is an SPLC article about the ELF
http://www.splcenter.org/get-i.....-necessary
Forrest| 3.3.10 @ 4:22AM
And another one that site the SPLC documentation of radical environmental groups.
http://www.environmentalgraffi.....rorism/878
Mike D| 3.3.10 @ 3:17AM
Never mind libertarians, the SPLC thinks that the Constitution Party are "extremists"!
Forrest| 3.3.10 @ 4:12AM
"The party (Constitution Parry) puts a large focus on immigration, calling for stricter penalties towards illegal immigrants and a moratorium on legal immigration until all federal subsidies to immigrants are discontinued.[2] The party absorbed the American Independent Party, originally founded for George Wallace's 1968 presidential campaign."
George Wallace s best known for his Southern populist[3] pro-segregation attitudes during the American desegregation period.
"The party opposes same-sex marriage, and believes state and local governments have the right to criminalize "offensive sexual behavior
The SPLC monitors anti-immigrant groups."
-SPLC monitors anti-gay groups
David Jack Smith| 3.3.10 @ 5:42AM
"George Wallace s best known for his Southern populist[3] pro-segregation attitudes during the American desegregation period."
George Wallace is also best known for being a Democrat. A fact that seems to be surprisingly missing from your "piece."
Jamie| 3.3.10 @ 6:22AM
Fascist Liberals never let 'inconvenient' facts get in the way of their beliefs.
Forrest | 3.3.10 @ 9:32AM
Yes George Wallace was a Democrat so is Byrd and he was a KKK member too.
And Lincoln was Republican.. yes of course.
Fascist anybody's don't let fact get in their way.
But if you actually read the above post, you would see that I didn't mention that he was Republican or Democrat, but that he started the American Independence Party which was later absorbed by the Constitution Party.
You just proved my point that the Constitution Party could be considered a extremist party because it was founded, in part, by George Wallace (former-D-Alabama), a segregationist, a racist.
Nadorn| 3.3.10 @ 1:15PM
So because the group had people in it a couple dozen years ago that came from another group headed by a guy that was a segregationist makes them obviously preparing to storm their local courthouse with Uzis, totally irregardless of their current membership and stances?
Red Phillips| 3.3.10 @ 8:57AM
So being restrictionist on immigration makes one a hate group? As I said, the SPLC is nothing but a bunch of Cultural Marxist hacks. Thanks for making my case for me.
Forrest| 3.3.10 @ 9:50AM
I would say no, I understand the reasoning (in some arguments) for being restrictionist. However, the history, and current occurrences, of anti-immigrant violence in this country by vigilant and law enforcement is a reality.
Illegals are illegal, they should be dealt with accordingly, by the proper law enforcement authorities.
And unfortunately, another reality is that civil discourse on immigration is blurred by the fact that there ARE white supremacists that act violently against immigrants illegal or legal.
Red Phillips| 3.3.10 @ 12:51PM
Forrest, anyone who thinks the Constitution Party is a hate group is either delusional or deliberately attempting to slur. Immigration restrictionism and opposition to gay marriage are both entirely mainstream positions that can easily be defended from a traditional conservative standpoint. Not that being "mainstream" is inherently virtuous. Just that the notion that these are "extremist" positions could only be thought by someone who never gets outside their hyper PC bubble.
Forrest has no trees| 3.3.10 @ 1:21PM
So, the Constitution Party is in favor of restricting immigration, and people who beat immigrants are in favor of restricting immigration, therefore the Constitution Party are people who beat immigrants?
ZerObama| 3.3.10 @ 7:36PM
Forrest is a troll. The SPLC is a radical Marxist group, and anyone who cites it as a reasonable source is highly suspect.
Forrest | 3.3.10 @ 4:25AM
It sucks to be pooled together with Nazi's and fascists is it?
A taste of your own medicine (if you can afford it).
Jeremiah| 3.3.10 @ 4:54AM
Touchy touchy! Unfortunately for us, you America hating COMMIES are in the White House--that's real bitter medicine.
Better watch it, though; you leftists could get a good, strong dose of your own nasty medicine. We are fed up with your treacherous policies.
Mike T| 3.3.10 @ 7:26AM
Just par for the course for the left. If I had a dime for every liberal who used those words to describe the entire political right, I could afford to fund a political campaign that could outspend Obama 2:1.
mezzrow| 3.3.10 @ 7:18AM
The SPLC, Frank Rich, and the Obami in general are casting about for the TimMcVeigh/Militia trope to troll in front of America.
Crawl into their mindspace - It bailed them out after '94 (which they see as inevitable again), and 'it'll work again'... It's their socialist version of bubba bait for the booboisie. The guy to fear is white, wearing camo, and is holding a gun. Wash, rinse, repeat.
P. Aaron| 3.3.10 @ 7:36AM
How many colleges nationwide are controlled by anti-American leftists? Probably more than 500.
birdwoman| 3.3.10 @ 8:12AM
College students don't listen to their professors much - they mostly follow the group speak around them, which, these days, can also be driven by the internet. The more truths are outed, the better chance the next generation has.
Some ol'dude| 3.3.10 @ 10:00AM
Kinda like the well mannered folks that post on here.
Group Speak driven by the Internet or the Cable News 'Spin' Commentators or , Talk Radio Blowhards, or partisan comment posters for that matter
ZerObama| 3.3.10 @ 7:10PM
Kinda' like the DNC talking points robots who post as trolls, too. Group Speak indeed.
Red Phillips| 3.3.10 @ 9:01AM
I'm shock, just shocked, that Beltway cosmotarian Dave Weigel repeated SPLC propaganda. Cosmotarians would never go after their own like that, would they?
Red Phillips| 3.3.10 @ 9:06AM
Actually the Weigel commentary is pretty fair. I just wish he had criticized the SPLC's contention instead of just dumping it out there.
Bob| 3.3.10 @ 10:14AM
True libertarians will never be accepted by the religious extremists known as "conservatives" because they believe in liberty which means they are pro-choice and are willing to allow gay marriage. We want the government out of our pockets and out of our bedrooms.
It's really too bad that the Republican party has been taken over by the religious right and the anti-intelligence class because we do agree on fiscal conservatism.
Red Phillips| 3.3.10 @ 12:53PM
"because they believe in liberty which means they are pro-choice"
Yeah, all those dead babies are really basking in their liberty.
Bob| 3.3.10 @ 1:06PM
You do mean dead fetuses, don't you? How many crack babies have you adopted? Are you willing to pay for their hospital bills? That must mean you want universal health care, right? Gee, if you allowed gays to marry, we'd have more adoptions, right? Isn't that what you want?
Nadorn| 3.3.10 @ 1:18PM
The issue clearly isn't as black and white as you'd like us all to believe, is the point.
Common Sense| 3.3.10 @ 1:29PM
NEWS FLASH: Because a random person (Red Phillips) does not adopt crack babies, fetuses have no right to live. Now, using this logic, does it follow that unadopted crack babies have no right to live?
Red Phillips| 3.3.10 @ 1:56PM
Bob, you clearly have an anti-Christian obsession that you inflict on the rest of us in thread after thread. Some might say I have a non-interventionist obsession, but at least I confine my pet issue commentary to threads actually related to foreign policy. You, on the other hand, work your anti-"religious right" commentary into threads that have nothing (or only marginally) to do with it. Like this one. Why are you so bitter against Christians? All Jesus did was die on the Cross for the sins of the world, including yours. Perhaps you should take Him up on the offer to save your immortal soul, instead of grousing about Christians who don't want women to be able to kill their own babies legally. And for the record, I have six kids so I am certainly doing my part to continue the species.
Derek Leaberry| 3.3.10 @ 2:04PM
Bob maintains that Hitler was a Christian despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. People who are willfully blind to an obvious truth are not worth arguing with.
Bob| 3.3.10 @ 2:10PM
Hitler claimed that he was a Christian. Do you really disagree? Do you want the multitude of quotes from him? You just don't want to admit the truth. Whether you think he was Christian is irrelevant.
Margie| 3.3.10 @ 2:38PM
So what if he claimed himself a Christian? Actually though, he claimed himself a Catholic, specifically. And wasn't that for a brief time anyway? If you are above the age of 12, you'd know that just because someone says they are something, doesn't make it so. If you had a basic understanding of right from wrong and everything wasn't "relative" to you, you'd recognize that fact.
But you repeatedly choose to play games. Hitler claimed to be a Catholic, but he served the Devil.
Bob| 3.3.10 @ 3:16PM
Actually, Margie, he claimed to be a Christian for most all of his life. Here are his quotes:
http://www.stephenjaygould.org.....itler.html
Margie| 3.3.10 @ 3:26PM
OK~ even so, it doesn't make him one. He was a liar. On this I know you agree.
Bob| 3.3.10 @ 3:54PM
Actually we do agree that Hitler was "inhuman" and a blot on all mankind. By the way, all politicians are liars and thieves whether they are Democrats OR Republicans.
Margie| 3.3.10 @ 4:45PM
No, all politicians are not liars and thieves. They may be rare, but they are not all such!
Derek Leaberry| 3.3.10 @ 3:49PM
People can claim anything in public for political expedience. For instance, Obama claims to be a Christian but that is only for show. Lincoln and Jefferson were religious skeptics yet those two men used religious imagery in their writings and speeches, especially Lincoln.
Bob| 3.3.10 @ 2:09PM
Red, I'm not "anti-Christian" at all. I'm against ANY religion forcing their beliefs on all of society through legislation. I believe in true liberty where we trust individuals, not government, to make their own decisions. The reason I rail against "Christians" so much at AmSpec is because the Republican party has morphed more into a Christian offshoot than a true political party. Secular topics, such as fiscal conservatism, are thereby relegated to a secondary position. If the Republican party welcomed ALL fiscal conservatives including pro-choice and gay's, you wouldn't hear a peep from me about Christians.
And Jesus was supposedly a good teacher, but he wasn't the messiah to most of the people of the world. So quit trying to make him so.
Margie| 3.3.10 @ 2:23PM
Jesus IS the Messiah.
Just because "Bob" says He isn't, doesn't it make it so.
"Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, every one who pierced Him; and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of Him. Even so. Amen." Rev. 1:7.
Bob| 3.3.10 @ 3:14PM
YOU BELIEVE he's the messiah. Atheists like me certainly don't. Jews don't. Buddhists don't. Muslims don't. In fact, most people in this world don't.
Margie| 3.3.10 @ 3:24PM
But it isn't based on what I or you believe. It's based on fact. It is historical fact that He was born, performed miracles for everyone to see with their own eyes, was crucified, risen from the dead and sits at the right Hand of the Father. Since He became the sacrificial Lamb for all of our sins, tis means there no longer remains a sacrifice, and that because of this, it means that "we were bought with a price."
You are basing your life on whether or not this is true. Either Jesus is a liar, or He is the Son of God. It's your "choice" to not believe Him, but you're making a BIG mistake!
Bob| 3.3.10 @ 3:52PM
"Historical fact" that he performed miracles and rose from the dead?????? That's funny.... It's historical fact that Hitler claimed he was Christian.... It's historical fact that we evolved from the apes... Do you believe that? You certainly have a right to believe as you do, but that doesn't make it an "historical fact". Those books were written by men. You should study the ancient religious books that were not accepted by the ancient Christian church. They are in the Vatican. Perhaps the most telling are those that ended up in Ethiopia since they were less edited by the church of that day. The church elders removed all passages inconsistent with their views. And you call their revisions "historical fact"?
I suggest you actually use your mind and study ancient Christian history. Belief is not something that depends on "historical fact" as most religious intellectuals will tell you. The fact is that you are viewing history THROUGH your beliefs. Since I don't believe in God, I view history through that lens. That doesn't make either of us "right". That's what choice is all about.
Margie| 3.3.10 @ 4:14PM
Bob,
You're going off the deep end again. In fact, Jesus still performs physical miracles, even today. The greatest miracle, though, is the one where you accept Him into your heart and He "recreates" you from the inside out. Like in John 3:3. Then you KNOW He is real. You would have to humble yourself though, and admit your need for Him. That your life isn't working and you're a big fat zero! Yes, He came only "to seek and to save the lost." Are you one of those? The Good Shepherd leaves his flock of 99 to go after the 100th that is missing.
I know from personal experience that this is so. I can only wish the same for you.
~Also Bob~ God doesn't ask us to believe "blindly." He says "if you seek Me with all of your heart, I will be found by you." You can't believe in something that doesn't exist. He exists, but you'd have to want to find Him. And even if you don't think you want to find Him, you could be just trying to tell yourself that. :^)
Margie| 3.3.10 @ 3:12PM
Bob says:
"It's really too bad that the Republican party has been taken over by the religious right.."
~Hilarious! Is that why the big problems with "RINO'S?"
"..and the anti-intelligence class.."
~To Bob, that means anyone who doesn't think like he does. Like an Atheist.
In TRUTH~ everyone is welcome in the Republican party. It's the party of Reagan. Fiscal conservatives, libertarians, and all are welcome. But not to "take it over" and turn it into a "non-interventionist" or pro-choice party.
Bob| 3.3.10 @ 3:20PM
If that is TRUE, Margie, then do you really think a pro-choice candidate, let's say like Tom Ridge, could get the Republican vote? The true test of who is welcome is who could get the vote. I don't want the Republican party to be either pro-choice OR anti-abortion. Neither should be in the platform or a litmus test. Furthermore, I don't want it to be either interventionist or non-interventionist. You intervene where it is necessary, not where it is optional, like Iraq.
Margie| 3.3.10 @ 3:36PM
My opinion is that we conservatives would not nominate a pro-choice candidate. Why would we want to? Abortion is wrong even though it's legal. And it shouldn't be. It was done by the activist Judges, not voted on by the people. I don't think most Americans are pro-abortion.
In all, if the people are allowed to freely choose their nominee for President, it wouldn't be a pro-choice person. The establishment Republicans who aren't paying attention have been "put on notice."
Same thing with non-interventionism. Most Americans do not think this is correct. These things don't have to be a litmus test. The people choose, and most just don't want someone who is either pro-choice, or non-interventionist.
So~ it really IS all about choice. The freedom to choose the candidate we want to.
Bob| 3.3.10 @ 3:43PM
What you have is liberty versus your religious views. The fact is that our country needs fiscal conservatism and your religious views limit the convergence of all fiscal conservatives behind a fiscally responsible candidate. You would accept an unqualified candidate like Palin because of her religious views, right?
Margie| 3.3.10 @ 3:59PM
No, actually it isn't liberty vs. religion. It's your basic right from wrong. Certain things are just in you to know they are wrong because God made us that way. He gave us a conscience to be able to tell. It's what we do with it that's the problem. Ever say to yourself when you were younger~ "Oh, I'll NEVER do THAT." Only to eventually do it and you feel awful, but then you continue doing it and "get used to it?" There goes your conscience, and as we get older it gets worse. Just look around.
The point is, I know that we need fiscal conservatism, now more than ever! We also need a decent person who doesn't agree that abortion is a "right." The people will choose.. but why does there have to be a separation between what you want and what I want? Are you that dead set against a pro-life candidate? There really shouldn't be the need for that. I think you are just looking at it in the wrong light.
No. Sarah Palin isn't unqualified to me. What are the requirements to become President? You have to be over 18 and a citizen. To me, you have to love your country and know right from wrong. You have to understand that Socialism is wrong and that individual freedom is right. (and that doesn't include the so-called "freedom" to kill the unborn.) Sarah would be a fine candidate, though I do prefer a man for the job. :^)
Bob| 3.3.10 @ 4:13PM
Margie, true to my convictions, I have no problem with an anti-abortion candidate if they are well educated, understand the issues, and show they have intellectual curiosity. This includes Romney, Jindal, Ryan, Ridge, etc. Palin has proven she doesn't understand economics, history, the Supreme Court, the Constitution, etc. The fact that you would consider her qualified is what bothers me. Give me someone qualified and I won't care a rat's a___ about their religious or abortion views.
Margie| 3.3.10 @ 4:26PM
Well, we will disagree about Sarah. But the things you assign to her about her not understanding I think are false. Do you just "blindly" believe what the Leftist media tells you about her? Maybe if you read her book you would see what she truly thinks. She is a right thinking person!
~There are plenty of good conservatives out there in the Republican party. No candidate is going to be perfect, though. Personally, I'm psyched about 2012 and can't wait to see who's going to come forward. Conservatives are serious and are "stoked" and are tired of so called moderates. I think we can agree on that? I think you just might be a bit more conservative than you think you are, Bob. (sorry, don't mean to blow your cover :^)
tonypal| 3.3.10 @ 4:41PM
Thanks Bob for clearing all of this up. Whenever I'm confused on an issue, I can always count on you for guidance. All this time, I thought the right way to go was pro-life because who the hell knows when life truly begins and maybe I'm condoning murder if I support abortion rights. But reading through today's posts, I understand how wrong I've been.
As an added bonus, given your stated position that you're an atheist, I've decided to chuck this whole God thing. Now my mind is free and I'm totally liberated. I just wish the rest of the fools on this site - and they are fools, because you say they are and who am I to argue with you - would just drop their silly obsession with God and a messiah who redeemed all of mankind. How stupid and weak-minded. I'm with you now Bob.
SoCon| 3.3.10 @ 7:17PM
Bob is a bigot who hates believers--how absurd that he tries to deny it. Bob also believes everything the psychopath, Adolf Hitler, spewed. We all know that Hitler told the truth, right?
Bob, why don't you post on Globaloney Warming threads anymore? Huh?
Wrong wrong and more wrong--Bob is a moron, an idiot and a fool: A yellow-bellied chicken, too.
Margie| 3.3.10 @ 8:03PM
Oops. You must be age 35 at least to be President.
Nick| 3.4.10 @ 1:44PM
Why not. Ending imperialism is a good conservative thing to do. You guys changed the GOP from a peace loving noninterventionist party. Now perhaps is the time to turn it back. War is hell. We have no business waging hell-unless we are defending ourselves- than I say have at- quickly and decisively.
Ken (Old Texican)| 3.3.10 @ 10:47AM
Yes, Libertarians are dangerous, to themselves. They will instantly shoot their own........nose off to spite their ...........faces.
Nominate the right Republicans and lets get on with turning the country around. If those Republicans have a libertarian leaning, great!
Nick| 3.4.10 @ 1:47PM
Who do you want us to support. Palin? Romney? My God if you do there is very little hope for the republic. We need to radicaly reform the GOP into a Goldwater-small government party- or else the GOP will lose and so will the country.
Derek Leaberry| 3.3.10 @ 10:59AM
The SPLC is just a shakedown outfit that manipulates white guilt to fill Morris Dees' coffers. The Libertarians are relatively harmless, best left to esoteric arguments regarding the theories of Austrian economics and whimsies concerning with drug legalization. Most don't respect culture and have a difficult time relating to the world as it is, not as they would wish it is. After nearly forty years of existance, Libertarians rarely receive more than one percent of the vote.
Margie| 3.3.10 @ 2:51PM
According to their website, the Constitution party is another "non-interventionist" party. Rather than having an interest in restoring the Republican party, they want to see it destroyed. NOT a good thing.
SoSueMe| 3.3.10 @ 3:36PM
We Libertarians have no desire to destroy the Republican party...it's doing a very fine job of that on its own.
Margie| 3.3.10 @ 3:38PM
Well SueMe,
I guess you really haven't been paying attention then, have you?
But is that what you want?
Nick| 3.4.10 @ 1:51PM
Don't you get it? The GOP is a shadow of what it once was. The TEA Party thing started with Ron Paul and is a reaction against big government- which the GOP supported. George Bush destroyed the party. The public is not pro-GOP it is increasingly anti state/taxes/bailouts etc. The GOP is part of the problem.
SoCon| 3.3.10 @ 7:31PM
Ronald Reagan did NOT support a third party--he supported a 'strengthened' Republican party.
We have to hold our Republican politicians accountable--no more 'Beltway Fever'!
Nick| 3.4.10 @ 1:53PM
It can not happen. The GOP loves stealing from the tax payer just as much as the Dems. I should know I used to work with them in DC.
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beejeez| 3.4.10 @ 11:37AM
Please don't make us have health care as cheap as other countries!
Please don't tell me the Weaver fiasco happened before Clinton was president!
Please don't make the government restrict Wall Street bankers!
Please don't tell me federal taxes were higher under Reagan, Bush I and Eisenhower than they are now!
Please don't tell me the only libertarian country is Somalia!
NAAA NAAAA NAAAA I'M NOT LISTENING!!!!
Janie| 3.4.10 @ 1:43PM
Whatever, moron.
Please admit that the American people have rejected ObamaCare by 2 to 1!
Please admit there will be 'death panels' under ObamaCare!
Please acknowledge unemployment has sky-rocketed under Obama!
Please admit that taxes on the middle class are going to shoot through the roof soon!
Please admit that you liberals can't govern!
Please admit that you democrats are drowning in your own filthy corruption!
The DEMOCRAT CULTURE OF CORRUPTION!!
SAVE THE DATE: NOVEMBER 2, 2010!
WE HAVE!
dave| 3.24.11 @ 7:22AM
I recommend http://www.Libertarian-International.org the Libertarian International Organization to see how dangerous they are.
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