It’s important to label craziness as craziness
I get these emails too — scary stuff way beyond what is posted here on this blog. Good for Shepard Smith for calling it what it is, and doing so on Fox.
As Steve Benen points out at Washington Monthly:
“Two months ago, Richard Poplawski, a right-wing extremist, allegedly gunned down three police officers in Pittsburgh, in part because he feared the non-existent “Obama gun ban.” A few weeks ago, Scott Roeder, another right-wing extremist, allegedly assassinated Dr. George Tiller in Kansas. A few hours ago, Von Brunn, another right-wing extremist, allegedly opened fire at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.”
Benen also cites the earlier case out of Tennessee, in which a gunman walked into a Unitarian Church during a children’s musical and started firing, killing two and wounding six. Afterward, police found a four-page screed from the killer expressing his hatred of liberals and gays, as well as books such as “Liberalism is a Mental Health Disorder” by Michael Savage, “Let Freedom Ring” by Sean Hannity, and “The O’Reilly Factor.”
I’ve written before that I think it’s wrong to blame O’Reilly and others for the acts of sick individuals, and I still believe that. But it’s also true that we have a pattern of behavior emerging here that is troubling and dangerous. The anger — the sometimes murderous anger — that’s out there exists independently of the media, driven by deep cultural, racial and economic reasons, but it matters whether that anger is validated or rejected by people perceived to have standing and influence.
A couple of months ago we had a poster here who advised others of his political persuasion to “Just pick your targets for the day the revolt begins. There are more of us than them. I figure in a week they’ll all be gone.”
That person was banned, a decision that was uniformly supported by regular posters here. I appreciated that, because that’s how social boundaries are drawn. That’s what Shepard Smith was trying to do in the segment posted above — draw boundaries.
Human beings are social creatures, and that’s true even of the loners cited above. They are more likely to act on their delusions if they believe those acts will be validated by others they respect. When Scott Roeder said that he knew of others who were planning attacks on abortion clinics, he wasn’t expressing any inside knowledge, he was expressing the hope that he was part of something larger than himself, that others would do as he had done, that he would be seen as a hero by some. For that reason, the universal condemnation of his crime by the anti-abortion movement afterward was appropriate and necessary.
But you still get the sense that something larger may be building here, that unless the trend changes, the individual acts of individual lunatics may blossom into something even more tragic in the months to come, something perhaps along the scale of Oklahoma City.
I hope that’s wrong. But that’s how it’s beginning to feel.
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232 comments Add your comment
Kamchak
June 11th, 2009
1:24 pm
Some at Fox incite the emails, then Shepard Smith reports on the emails. Talk about “creating” the news…
AmVet
June 11th, 2009
1:30 pm
Jay to your point,
I hope that crazy old scumbag lives.
I hope they parade his picture and more importantly his story around for a good long while.
He railed in a recent blog posting that “America is a Third-World racial garbage-dump — stupid, ignorant, dead-broke, and terminal.”
Hmmmm. Sounds just like a couple of posters here, doesn’t it?
And an enormous disdain for the federal government?
Hmmmm. Sounds like a couple of others here.
And is one of the birther nut jobs that thinks the Uppity One is an alien.
Hmmmm. REALLY sounds like several here.
The blood lusting, ultra violent though otherwise impotent far right political nuts in this country have always tacitly accepted their murderous in-bred cousins.
Nope, cons. He’s one of yours.
jewcowboy
June 11th, 2009
1:34 pm
As I posted below, words have meaning, and have repercussions. You can not label someone a “mass murderer” and think that would not dehumanize that person to someone listening.
Bosch
June 11th, 2009
1:38 pm
I forgot who that crazy poster here was – good riddance, I do remember he was way over the top – and yes, kudos to Jay for banning him. Jay, ya’ might want to hang on to his IP address though for potential future police investigations.
What is crazy are that these extremeists blame others for their own damn problems or are worried about imaginary things like Jay mentioned the imaginary “Obama gun ban.” I see it here all the time – people get mad about things that just aren’t real or totally exagerrated. I have written this before, but I think one of the worst things to ever happen to our country is the 24/7 news channels. They have these people who get paid a fortune to sit around and analyze an event to death and exagerate things where it is no wonder these crazy paranoid idiots think that it is reality – when the pundits are there mainly for entertainment purposes – like the blog.
Kamchak,
Ronaldo is going to Real Madrid – pop open a cold one.
Kamchak
June 11th, 2009
1:42 pm
Bosch
Yeah, I read that earlier today at Soccerway.com. In the words of the Python boys…”and there was much rejoicing.”
RealityKing
June 11th, 2009
1:43 pm
Apparently Jay doesn’t concider those who murder our soilders on our own streets as left wing extremists.
I say bring back public hangings for ALL extremists.
N.J,
June 11th, 2009
1:43 pm
Of course the real blame for this stuff goes to the Sean Hannity’s and Bill O’Reilly’s of the world when they manage to assert that the result of Republican policies are really caused by Democratic policies. The Republicans create rules that cut an old man’s social security payments by giving tiny cost of living increased while tripling the medicare deduction in eight years, and its the Democrats fault.
Normal
June 11th, 2009
1:45 pm
Jay, You ol’ censor you, I don’t believe there are anymore wacko’s
percentage wise today, than say back in the sixties, but today there are billions more people so even with the same low percentage, there are a lot more wackos now. What a happy thought, shall we sing?
Brian
June 11th, 2009
1:46 pm
To paint Richard Poplawski and Von Brunn as strictly right wing extremists is irresponsible. What those two were above all else were white supremacists plain and simple.
I Rule You :-)/ You Whine :-(
June 11th, 2009
1:46 pm
A few hours ago, Von Brunn, another right-wing extremist,
Limbaugh is right, the libs can barely contain their joy over the murders at the Holocaust museum, bookman is equally thrilled which can be shown by the fact that he propagates a politically expedient lie.
The guy hated NEOCONS, both Bush presidents and he admired Hitler, a state power socialist if there ever was one.
The murderer was a pinko liberal.
He’s all yours.
N.J,
June 11th, 2009
1:47 pm
Yes, American no longer has new broadcasts, but rather infotainment and those who give opinions. The Bush Administration rails against networks like Al Jazeera and Radio France, but I doubt an American has ever listened to either. Al Jazeera pretty much has NO opinion broadcasts. Its just straight out news readers who say, today President Obama spoke in Cairo, or there was a fire at such and such a place today. Their spoken and televised programming could be one of those tickers at the bottom of the television screen when you watch CNN for all the opinion it gives.
RB from Gwinnett
June 11th, 2009
1:49 pm
Gee, Jay, another surprise. You didn’t mention any of the left wing nut cases who do this same stuff. Not even the recruiting office killing recently. You could even have included Obama’s good friend Bill Ayers. But no, you stick with the usual “demonize Fox News and everything they stand for” routine. You might even be able to get your sheepish followers on here to believe there is actually some connection between books written by conservatives and nut cases who do stupid things, Jay. The rest of us will just laugh at your shallow minded stupidity, however.
I wonder if any of the murder suspects in Atlanta have a copy of the AJC at home? Maybe even a copy with something Jay wrote in it (or copied and pasted)? Could be a connection there!!
getalife
June 11th, 2009
1:49 pm
Rush on the day of another terror attack by a birther:
“You know a lot of people talk about Obama and his Messianic complex,” said Limbaugh. “He does have one thing in common with God. Barack Obama has one thing in common with God. Do you know what it is? God does not have a birth certificate, either.”
But lets get outraged over a Letterman joke.
Geez.
Bosch
June 11th, 2009
1:50 pm
RealityKing,
Well, since the guy who killed the soldiers was one of them Mooslims, it’s hard to label him exactly “left wing” more like Islam extremist.
Normal
June 11th, 2009
1:51 pm
Whiner, you haven’t had your hug yet, have you?
Bosch
June 11th, 2009
1:52 pm
RB,
Do we really need to include all the domestic terrorist attacks for the past 40 years in this analysis? Jay is talking about recent events not ones from radical anti-war left groups 40 years ago. But yeah, if you want to go back that far, go for it.
RealityKing
June 11th, 2009
1:54 pm
This is only the beginning. As Obama drives government spending to 26+% of GDP, our way of life will come to a screeching halt. Extremists will be coming out of the wood works. Only these aren’t the extremists today, just ordinary citizens that will be driven over the edge by our bloated government.
mazy in milton
June 11th, 2009
1:54 pm
I just wonder why Fox News and the right-wing radio blowhards never call these lunatics “domestic terrorists?” If a liberal blew away say, a minister, every other word in their “reporting” would be “terrorist.” I guess that’s fair and balanced in the Deceptican playbook.
getalife
June 11th, 2009
1:55 pm
When will they apologize for being dead wrong?:
http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/cls-collection-right-wingers-denouncing
They are not man enough.
Bosch
June 11th, 2009
1:55 pm
Another thing RB,
Bill Ayers is kind of old news – I think it was pretty well established back in the fall that Obama and Ayers were acquaintances, nothing more. I’ve been to the house of someone who wound up killing someone later on in life – does that make me a murderer too? I have several acquaintances that have done bad things – does that make me bad too? If you think back to everyone you have ever had a remote acquaintance with in your life – I’ll bet you’ll find at least a couple who were unscrupulous – doesn’t mean you are.
Bill Ayers is soo yesterday.
RealityKing
June 11th, 2009
1:56 pm
Haven’t you heard Bosch.., we don’t use the word terrorist or islamic extremists anymore. Which only leaves left wing nut in my book.
McAmnesty
June 11th, 2009
1:56 pm
Wasn’t the guy that shot the soldiers at the recruiting station a home grown Muslim convert of the extreme variety. How does that make him a liberal RealityKing? Nice try at creating that illusion. But it’s just not reality.
RealityKing
June 11th, 2009
1:57 pm
And what do we call Obama’s pastor? I mean.., ex-pastor of 20 years.
Bosch
June 11th, 2009
1:58 pm
RealityKing,
“our way of life will come to a screeching halt”
That’s already happened – but it was about a year ago when things started to crumble.
RealityKing
June 11th, 2009
1:58 pm
Anti-military == Left Wing Extremist
Doggone/GA
June 11th, 2009
1:58 pm
“And what do we call Obama’s pastor?”
Reverand
Bosch
June 11th, 2009
1:59 pm
RealityKing,
If you are going to insist upon using hyperbole, then what’s the point of trying to debate?
McAmnesty
June 11th, 2009
2:00 pm
RB from Gwinnett, maybe you can explain how the Muslim convert is a liberal since you are trying to spin it that way as well. Wouldn’t he be more like a religious fanatic? That aligns more closely with right wing talibaptists does it not?
Bosch
June 11th, 2009
2:01 pm
Doggone,
And I certainly don’t remember hearing Rev. Wright shooting anyone or even asking anyone to go do it? Do you? Did I miss that somewhere?
Good God wingnuts are you really going to bring up Ayers and Wright again? That’s all you got?
Normal
June 11th, 2009
2:01 pm
I just knew this subject would bring out the best in us…just sayin’
McAmnesty
June 11th, 2009
2:02 pm
Also RealityKing, the guy by his own admission was waging his own jihad against those he percieved were killing brother Muslims. You are certainly ill informed on this issue.
DB, Gwinnettian
June 11th, 2009
2:03 pm
Benen also cites the earlier case out of Tennessee, in which a gunman walked into a Unitarian Church during a children’s musical and started firing, killing two and wounding six. Afterward, police found a four-page screed from the killer expressing his hatred of liberals and gays, as well as books such as “Liberalism is a Mental Health Disorder” by Michael Savage, “Let Freedom Ring” by Sean Hannity, and “The O’Reilly Factor.”
So, Jay, you’re saying you too noticed that particular church shooting?
I was beginning to wonder if anyone on the editorial page had, since this is the first that I’ve heard it mentioned. (The AJC did publish a fine piece by Leonard Pitts a few days hence, but that was it.)
If memory serves, this blogger-guy in my acquaintance wasn’t very happy about that sin of ommission that at the time, either.
getalife
June 11th, 2009
2:03 pm
Gaze upon the cons spinning furiously to blame the other side for their terrorism.
Man up and own it cons.
Bud Wiser
June 11th, 2009
2:03 pm
Uh, say what you want Jay, and your gay little band of lunatics, but if the nutbag in DC could be labeled anything at all, it would be a left wing extremist, due to his published hatred of Bush ! and Bush II.
It just goes to show that your stupid little followers rejoice in seeing this kind of singular hatred, because it gives them a case that they and you can twist into right wing extremism, or whatever convenient term you use for some sort of sick political leverage.
Von Brunn was a nut, pure and simple, as was the black muslim in Arkansas that killed the white soldier. Politicizing these killers only gives the sickos from both sides tha satifaction of trying to make it a political issue, a hate crime, you name it, the sickos call it.
Of course, it is the democratic way to assign blame for all wrongs (in no particular order) to:
a. G W Bush
b. Hannity, Limbaugh, O’Reilly etc…and Jay, you are the worst because your transparency of ..”lets not blame O’Reilly…” has just the opposite effect of what you claim you want, which in fact is exactly what you want. The funny part is that your little turd chasers are too ignorant to see it, because they hate everything anyway, so it falls on deaf ears, because I see it for precisely what it is, and what it is intended for….
c. all Republicans
d. all conservatives
e. anyone and everyone except themselves, and of course, the perpetrator, because criminals are all good people that are given bad information by other bad people (see a – d above)
The stench emanating from your cracker chasers is a bit strong on a warm day like today.
Oh, and Chad, you’re an idiot, and every person with a semi-functional brain or better still just scrolls right past you, as always. How’s the medical practice going?
hahahahaha
Redneck Convert
June 11th, 2009
2:05 pm
Well, I might of knowed it. A few good old boys knock down the wrong house over in Carroll County and everybody wants to blame the rednecks. I never heard such squawling in my life. It was a honest mistake. They went to the right area and just picked the wrong house. I’m pretty sure they thought it was strange that the house had furniture and dishes and all that stuff, but some people want to get rid of a bunch of junk while they’re getting a old house knocked down and hauled away. Anyhow, I know the sensible people on this blog wouldn’t be upset like that if they come home from work and find a empty lot where their house was. Sometimes you just can’t please nobody.
I think sometimes Bookman is a little hard on the Conservatives. We didn’t have nothing to do with shooting that guard in DC or killing that baby killer in Kansas. So what if old Bill O’Reilly had that abortion Dr.’s picture over the line Baby Killer on his show 28 times? He didn’t tell nobody to go out there and shoot the guy. Sometimes people just go off on their own. It ain’t our fault if they don’t know we’re just throwing out some BS and decide to take it serious. You always got some weak minds that think like you do.
And I reckon if my Social Security check went down I’d be mad too. Just not mad enough to take a 22 rifle to a museum and start blasting away.
That’s my opinion and it’s very true. So all you idiots out there, don’t take what @@ and Whiner and mike and all the other godly Conservatives on this blog say so serious. Leastwise, leave your weapon at home. Unless you got a carry permit. You can think it, just don’t do it. Have a good day everybody.
Bosch
June 11th, 2009
2:06 pm
Bud Wiser,
Are you really that sick to think that anyone here rejoices in the deaths of a security guard, a soldier at a recruting station, a doctor, or anyone else?
That’s way out of line.
Normal
June 11th, 2009
2:09 pm
Bud wiser, I have one word for you: PROZAC!
jewcowboy
June 11th, 2009
2:10 pm
getalife,
“Man up and own it cons.”
Personal responsibility is a buzz word used only in terms of taxes and welfare when it comes to the Republicans.
Doggone/GA
June 11th, 2009
2:10 pm
“Bud wiser, I have one word for you: PROZAC!”
Nothing like stepping up and actually PROVING the point of the whole article is there? Watch it BudW – you may go the way of the poster that Jay quoted, and that was banned.
Brian
June 11th, 2009
2:10 pm
Rev. Wright was too busy telling everyone that the US Government created the AIDS virus to kill off the black man and GD America! to kill anyone himself. Extremism swings all directions!
TW
June 11th, 2009
2:12 pm
Great post, Mr. Bookman.
jewcowboy
June 11th, 2009
2:12 pm
“Extremism swings all directions!”
Very true.
Mac
June 11th, 2009
2:13 pm
Actually, Bosch, yes, you are bad.
Just kidding.
Citizen of the World
June 11th, 2009
2:13 pm
See what Rush and his ilk hath wrought. When you spew anger and venom, lies and distortions to people who have no depth of historical understanding and no breadth of experience, you feed their fears and prejudices until they are worked up to a frenzy of frustration and they have to vent — either with invective filled e-mails and blogs that reveal their state of arrested development or through violence. Its heartening to see Sam Shepard express concern. Maybe others on FOX News and talk radio will realize the dangers of what they are doing and tone it down.
I Rule You :-)/ You Whine :-(
June 11th, 2009
2:13 pm
Why do I get the feeling that getalife would also like to knock up Palin’s 14 year old daughter?
And there are several reasons why the libs don’t want to discuss left wing extremists, it’s usually because they wind up blowing themselves up before they get to their targets.
Dorn and Ayers should be so proud!
Bosch
June 11th, 2009
2:14 pm
Well Brian,
Do you know of anyone in his congregation who has killed anyone because of is teachings?
josef nix
June 11th, 2009
2:14 pm
NORMAL–are we upstairs or downstairs? And I’m only on my second glass…a nice “fruity merlot with a cork.”
getalife
June 11th, 2009
2:14 pm
jewcowboy,
Yes, these current events prove my theory that conservatism is a mental disorder.
A couple of symptons:
A. Never admit being wrong and blame the libs.
B. Can’t distingish right from wrong.
C. Deflect and obfuscate everything.
Doggone/GA
June 11th, 2009
2:16 pm
“Maybe others on FOX News and talk radio will realize the dangers of what they are doing and tone it down.”
Don’t hold your breath. FOX news and other like them are firmly trapped in the “good news is no news” mindset. And if they can’t find any bad news, they’ll twist something to MAKE it bad.
AmVet
June 11th, 2009
2:16 pm
I AM SO CONFUSED!
The murderer is an admitted admirer of Hitler.
He was a de facto anti-Semitic American Nazi.
He was as far to the right on most political matters as possible.
That he was “even-handed” (HA!) enough to hate Bush as well as Clinton is proof to the two biggest loons on this forum that he was a liberal pinko.
Stupid is as stupid says…