The Spectacle Blog
When news first broke of the shooting spree that left six dead in Arizona, the only thing liberals seemed to care about was the killer’s motive. They almost instantly surmised, without any evidence at all, that the cause of this massacre was some kind of right-wing extremism for which they could blame Sarah Palin, Fox News, Rush Limbaugh and the Tea Party movement.
As more and more evidence pointed away from their explanation of choice, however, liberals seemed to lose interest in finding clues to the political framework of the madness that police say caused 22-year-old Jared Lee Loughner to target Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.
In a story on the front page of today’s Washington Post, for example, three staff writers expend 2,756 words describing Loughner’s descent into murderous madness. Among other things, the Post story describes marathon Monopoly games, Loughern’s early promise as a jazz saxophonist, his love of sci-fi novels by Philip K. Dick and his breakup with his high-school girlfriend. But in all those 2,756 words — yes, I counted — there is one important word that is missing: Zeitgeist.
That’s the name of a 2007 documentary that has developed a cult following among conspiracy theorists. Among other things, Zeitgeist attacks Christianity as “the fraud of the age,” suggests that the 9/11 attacks were an inside job perpetrated by sinister forces in the U.S. government, depicts international bankers scheming for world domination, and warns against malign plots to embed computer chips in people. In an interview that aired Wednesday on ABC News, Loughner’s former friend Zach Osler said, “I really think that this Zeitgeist documentary had a profound impact upon Jared Loughner’s mindset and how he views the world that he lives in.”
Despite this clue from Osler, even though the entire two hours of Zeitgeist are available online — I’ve embedded it at my personal blog, in case you want to see it — it doesn’t rate a mention from the Washington Post. Nor do any other major media seem interested in following up on the worldwide “Zeitgeist Movement,” which involves the so-called “Venus Project,” the utopian socialist fantasy of 94-year-old Jaque Fresco.
As Jesse Walker of Reason magazine says, Loughner’s “profound” interest in Zeitgeist “clears things up a bit” in regard to the murder suspect’s incoherent online ramblings about monetary theory:
The best label would probably be “New Age paranoia.” If you’ve ever gone browsing in an occult bookstore (and you really should; it’s like browsing in a science fiction bookstore, only the authors really believe the stories they’re writing, or pretend to), you may have seen a shelf labeled “conspiracies” right alongside the sections marked “astrology” or “Tarot.” People who write about fringe politics often miss the extent to which New Agers serve as a transmission belt, allowing ideas from the left, the right, and the counterculture — not to mention more outré folks like the UFO buffs — to slide from one subculture to another.
While it would be unfair to say that Jaque Fresco and Zeitgeist director Peter Joseph caused Saturday’s atrocity, Loughner’s obsession with this atheistic paranoid gobbledygook is probably the closest we’re going to get to a political explanation of the Tucson shootings.
And let the reader imagine what the Washington Post would have written if the accused gunman’s friend had told a network news crew that Loughner was an avid reader of The American Spectator and that R. Emmett Tyrrell Jr. had a “profound impact” on his worldview.
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GeronL| 1.13.11 @ 2:55PM
New Age MARXIST Cult
Mary G| 1.15.11 @ 2:08PM
Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. Voltaire
VTV | 1.16.11 @ 12:12PM
I debunk the Zeitgeist/Loughner connection on my blog. You can find it at V-RADIO.org, click "blog".
James Doser| 1.18.11 @ 7:43PM
Robert Stacy McCain is not being honest. The Venus Project is not Utopian beyond Roberts belief in the many unverified Utopian theories of Orwells, Plato, etc.... This shows Roberts skewed thinking of what is theory and what is fact. What is fact that is that the world can be a better place with economic reform and the separation of church and state. This being Utopic is not exactly true. The Venus Project ideas can be better than what we have and Science can usher this in. Another thing that discredits himself as being biased "righter" is his use of "atheistic paranoid gobbledygook" this is dishonest smear tactic from which you bring childish language into play rather than analyzing and reasoning the information. The church is quite versed in this. If it wasn't for atheistic enlightenment views we would not have the laws that were written to protect us from the harsh climate of theocratical governments which ruled Europe. There is as much connection with the Tucson Murder to Zeitgeist as Judas Priest to a suicide victim of the Late 80s and 90s. Sorry Robert you fail.
James Doser| 1.18.11 @ 7:43PM
Robert Stacy McCain is not being honest. The Venus Project is not Utopian beyond Roberts belief in the many unverified Utopian theories of Orwells, Plato, etc.... This shows Roberts skewed thinking of what is theory and what is fact. What is fact that is that the world can be a better place with economic reform and the separation of church and state. This being Utopic is not exactly true. The Venus Project ideas can be better than what we have and Science can usher this in. Another thing that discredits himself as being biased "righter" is his use of "atheistic paranoid gobbledygook" this is dishonest smear tactic from which you bring childish language into play rather than analyzing and reasoning the information. The church is quite versed in this. If it wasn't for atheistic enlightenment views we would not have the laws that were written to protect us from the harsh climate of theocratical governments which ruled Europe. There is as much connection with the Tucson Murder to Zeitgeist as Judas Priest to a suicide victim of the Late 80s and 90s. Sorry Robert you fail.
PattyMor| 1.13.11 @ 2:58PM
Its much simpler than that. WND reported that Jared Loughner went to Small School Inititative designed by none other William Ayres. Just take a look at his reading list. While reading the Communist Manifesto per se is not revolutionary its HOW its taught that is of interest. And he was just an impressionable high school kid at the time.
I am still waiting the MSM to report on this aspect. No wait, I still hear the crickets chiping.
DRed| 1.13.11 @ 3:04PM
Or maybe he was crazy
CalMark| 1.13.11 @ 4:01PM
Amazing.
Before anyone knows anything Leftists immediately blame conservatives, in the ugliest manner imaginable. No possible way that this guy could be just a lunatic.
When attention is focused on possible left-leaning "root causes" (which liberals supposedly love so much), suddenly he's just "crazy."
DRed| 1.13.11 @ 4:31PM
CalMark, I'm not a psychologist, and I don't know much about this kid. So I'll grant you that it's possible a combination of the William Ayers Small School Initiative, the communist manifesto and Zeitgeist the movie convinced a kid who was otherwise sound in mind to try to assassinate a congresswoman and whoever else was nearby. But I think it's more likely he was just crazy.
Patriot| 1.13.11 @ 4:49PM
I think he was crazy AND under the influence of Leftist propaganda.
George S| 1.13.11 @ 6:02PM
Yes, he is crazy. But the salient point is that conservative rhetoric and campaign cross hairs allegedly caused him to act, and therefore right wing radio, political debate questioning statism, and political leaders are culpable and should be silenced. But when it is found out that none of that is true, then he is plain crazy and that any left wing influence is irrelevant and free from blame.
Patriot| 1.13.11 @ 6:24PM
Especially when it's revealed that the killer went to a Left Wing Bill Ayer's curriculum inspired school. Especially.
Yeah, we get it.
DaPicayune| 1.13.11 @ 7:39PM
We sure do, when his classmates define him as a Left Wing Pothead!
We also get the massive lies and hypocrisy of the Socialists Dems/Media. Can you?
KP| 1.14.11 @ 12:53PM
@DRed
A movie can't convince a sane person to do something so inhumane and insane. Nor can a book change the sanity of a sane person. That's not how mental health works.
This guy is clearly psychotic and not of stable mind. Just look at his online posts on YouTube. He's incoherent and jumps from one subject to another in a heartbeat. His mind seemed jumbled and lost. It's both frightening and sad.
Mike| 1.13.11 @ 5:22PM
Okay all this is going on about how much of a terrible and crazy person he is. But look, this kid knew that this would basically be the end of life as he knows it for him. He dedicated his life to stand up for what he truly beleived in and to relay his message. the media and everyone else is just blocking out and setting aside his perspective for the perspective of the people he hurt. watch the interviews from around that time when they talk about his motives with the old lady and the young man. they totally dodge the question. all im saying is we should really listen and pay more attention to what this kid had to say and why he thought it was necessary to hurt so many people. I think that is a very important concept to look into
Patriot| 1.13.11 @ 5:29PM
He was obviously severely mentally ill and should have been treated. Where were his parents? I believe they are culpable to some degree.
Bill| 1.13.11 @ 3:23PM
Reading Philip K. Dick novels always struck me as a sure way into madness, although I have to admit that they've made a few teriffic movies out of them.
Nick| 1.13.11 @ 6:43PM
The only important thing to do now is to quickly try, convict, and execute this murderous scumbag.
Why did he do it?
Because he succumbed to evil, that's why.
Patriot| 1.13.11 @ 7:56PM
I agree, and I believe that much of the Left has succumbed to that same evil.
Patriot | 1.13.11 @ 9:36PM
The Zeitgeist Movement and the Venus Project have nothing to do with violence. It is not paranoid, and not 'gobbledygook.' it is a movement for social change to move past a failed economic system. The Zeitgeist Movement is based of the workings of the second film anyway. Check it out for yourself, Zeitgeist: Addendum. And the third film is debuting this weekend.
Lumnicence| 1.14.11 @ 8:42AM
The Zeitgeist ideas are incredibly powerful, mostly because they are, in a sense, true.
I think it would be a step in the right direction to blame actions that are clearly crazy, not on what inspired them, but on the crazy.
hugh BNYN| 1.13.11 @ 11:45PM
---The matter of Freemasonic Luciferian 'charitable' foundations and NGO's
and their decades of sponsorship for, not only
setting up the ultra-genocidal RED Chinese,
but introducing the occult into mainstream
'pop culture' ---need calling out, auditing,
dismantling ----and the agenda setting directors and operatives need fearless and far-reaching,
definitive, comprehensive prosecution...
-AMEN-
Johnny Renata| 1.13.11 @ 11:45PM
The Zeitgeist movement is neither communist nor socialist. Just in stating such a comment tells very clearly that the author has not done his research but is stating an opinion based on zero facts.
The premiere screening of Peter Joseph’s new film Zeitgeist: Moving Forward” is the largest worldwide independently distributed, non-profit film to be released in cinemas starting from the 15th of Jan 2011. To view trailer and book tickets in your country please visit http://www.zeitgeistmovingforward.com/
I love how this tries to associate the "zeitgeist" film with some crazy person!
The Zeitgeist Movement is a peaceful movement seeking positive change and has no REAL relation to Loughner, it was sad for me to see any reason for mention of any relation between him and the films as he obviously did not understand even the basic fundamentals of the movement.
Here is Peter Josephs official press release relating to this issue
http://www.facebook.com/note.p.....=519510494
Eric Cartman| 1.14.11 @ 2:07AM
Thanks. Can I get the last five minutes of my life back?
Ulf | 1.14.11 @ 2:26AM
Oh yeah, Zeitgeist incites murder, allow me to laugh ... atheistic? There are many christians, muslims etc in the movement supporting this, simply because they are trying to put into practice what religions have only talked about.
Peace...
Mike| 1.14.11 @ 7:02AM
You blame zeitgeist without even understanding what it is. Always remember to research your topics before posting nonsense which will only do to prove your own ignorance.
http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com/Zeitgeist, The Movie- Companion Guide PDF.pdf
We understand why you believe that your religion is being attacked - but the point of the first movie (which has little to nothing to do with the Venus Project, a separate entity) has more to do with opening your mind to the scientific facts and first hand accounts than word of mouth. ever played telephone/grapevine? 20 kids sit around a circle and pass a single message... by the time it gets halfway it's normally so different it's almost unrecognizable.
Don't want to read? Understandable... a person will always refuse knowledge when they know their current beliefs (religion only being a small part) clash with fact.
Never cite works that state such obviously ridiculous statements as "...manic depression, which I guess they now call bipolar disorder." Anyone with 2 minutes on google - or even a simple dictionary - can readily tell you the difference between those terms. And since when does a "highschool fried" you havent seen in 2 years know everything about your vastly changed psychological standing... specifically when he has NO TRAINING of any sort to base on.
Mike| 1.14.11 @ 7:06AM
broken link:
"http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com/Zeitgeist, The Movie- Companion Guide PDF.pdf"
^^^ should have " " in each open space.
alternatively:
http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com/
under right picture, DOWNLOAD SOURCE GUIDE. will open in browser.
jdub| 1.14.11 @ 1:18PM
The reason the Washington Post, CNN and the like are probably not interested in drawing a connection between Zeitgeist films and the AZ shooter is because it would be irresponsible journalism akin to blaming the Beatles for the Charles Manson murders.
Peter Joseph, the Zeitgeist director, has responded with w statement to the press which I think is brilliant: http://zeitgeistmovie.com/tucson.html
The Zeitgeist Movement is far beyond conspiracy theories in its current incarnation - focusing on the scientific method as a means to solve global problems. Dive into their very publicly-available literature on the Venus Project and you will be hard-pressed to find a rational link to anything of a violent nature. In fact, the only people re-spewing the erroneous connection to "Zeitgeist" films or movement ideas seem to be those with a special personal interest in redirecting attention away from Palin and Limbaugh- also under scrutiny and victims of the same bogus media blame hype. Loughner's reported interests don't really fall in line with any ONE political or grassroots cause. He was all over the place and clearly a very sick individual.
Carter Irvin| 1.14.11 @ 2:19PM
I was wondering when the BS (Bad Science) pundits who have to think of ways to excite the masses of people who read opinions based on assumption. (Subscriptions) A Monetary Based Tool. The American Spectators writer Robert S. McCain wrote...The Missing Mass Murder Motive in Tucson By Robert Stacy McCain on 1.13.11 @ 2:47PM Gives a false impression and points the FINGER ...that since it was not the left who caused this poor soul to flip. "Let's blame it on SUCH" First of all the Zeitgeist Movement does not advocate or support violence in anyway or order Subliminal or otherwise for people to make a change from the MBE (Monetary Based Economy) to a RBE (Resource Based Economy) Such as what the Venus Project suggest or presents. Please be aware of the hype. #2 TZM (the zeitgeist movement) does not advocate or denounce religion. Only that it is Archaic and outdated.
Picasso| 1.14.11 @ 7:56PM
Zeitgeist movies are not wrong, they might be a little salty, but they speak truth to power. They do not saber rattle, if the truth is getting people angry this is the fault of reality. Debt based fiat currency is fundamentally unjust, this is the fault of politicians. Why is the argument to punish truth? This is no different than rock and roll causing columbine. The courts and the people have spoken!
mjw| 1.15.11 @ 1:41AM
When asked by reporters shortly after the shooting if Congresswoman Giffords had any enemies, her father replied, "The entire Tea Party." This is not liberal slander, but the view of the woman's father after seeing the continual attacks on his daughter.
Jamie| 1.15.11 @ 2:46AM
What about the Left's continual hateful attacks on Sarah Palin ? That IS Liberal slander.
JB| 1.17.11 @ 3:16AM
Shameful journalism.