Extremism, always a co-conspirator of the GOP in their quest for absolute control of the nation, is emerging as the dominating force in the Republican Party's new war against Democrats and President Barack Obama.
Led by hate-spouting iconoclasts like Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh and Newt Gingrich, Republicans are comparing Obama to Hitler, Democrats to Nazis and invoking all the fear they can muster in an effort to turn back and the clock and restore their political fortunes.
But the extremism that worked so well for Republicans in the past doesn't stir Americans of the present. The excessive patter from Sarah Palin, Dick Cheney and other GOP sycophants isn't selling in today's America.
Americans today want hope, not fear. They've been fooled too many times by the fearmongering tactics of the rabid right wing. The hate politics of the past won't be the future.
Still, the hate continues to flow from GOP mouths like regurgitated bile and there are always those on the fringe who will lap it up.
Writes Michael A. Cohen in The Politico:
Watching Fox News’ new sensation Glenn Beck is not for the faint of heart. It is a disquieting entree into the feverish mind of a conspiracy theorist who believes, among other things, that the government wants to remotely control our thermostats, that the relaxing of the ban on stem cell research — as well as efforts to prevent global warming — is reminiscent of Nazism, that the Federal Emergency Management Agency might be setting up concentration camps and, finally, that the country is on the path to socialism or possibly fascism but definitely some “-ism” that should be avoided.
Yet for all of his conspiracy-addled and occasionally tear-filled declarations, Beck has become the new darling of the conservative right. His show is a regular stomping ground for Republican congressmen and party pooh-bahs like Karl Rove, Sarah Palin and Michael Steele, and his ratings rival those of Fox stalwarts Sean Hannity and Bill O’Reilly. According to The New York Times, Beck has become “one of the most powerful media voices for the nation’s conservative, populist anger.”
Populist agitators such as Beck are nothing new, particularly in times of economic instability — and they aren’t restricted to the right. During the Bush years, liberal anger over the administration’s policies bred bizarre conspiracy theories of its own, like accusations that the Sept. 11 attacks were an inside job.
However, Beck’s paranoid style is seeping into the discourse of conservative politics, which should be of concern to Republicans. The charge that President Barack Obama is a socialist, first raised in the 2008 campaign, has become a de rigueur epithet heard not only on talk radio but in the halls of Congress. Calls by China to consider replacing the dollar as the global reserve currency have been met by bizarre warnings from congressional Republicans that the Obama administration wants to scrap the greenback for a new global currency. Thirty-four House Republicans have even signed on to a constitutional amendment that would prevent this from occurring, though no such proposal is being considered.
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Lady Liberty in the days of yore would have wasted no time taking a huge crap,
and with one giant Baa-Whoosh,
float these parasitical feces down the Potomac and out to sea to be dispersed among the whale bones of tyranny and subterfuge.
Too bad she's constipated. -!
Return? They never left! Druggie and the wannabes have never left. They've been preaching hate since day one and will continue to do so.They've just ramped up the rhetoric and volume.
Politico demonstrates again they are not much better than the tabloids. "...liberal anger over the administration’s policies bred bizarre conspiracy theories of its own, like accusations that the Sept. 11 attacks were an inside job...." I don't know of any major &/or reputable liberal talk show host who supported that bizarre idea. Those conspiracies came from wingnuts on both end of the political spectrum.
“We should not be directing our anger at the AM Hate radio hosts[and Foxhole TV propagandists], but at their audience of tens of millions of conservative bigots who keep them in business.” Rack Jite- http://rackjite.com
I thought it bizarre that 3 steel constructed buildings, one which was not struck by a plane, would fall into their own footprint due to fire defying the laws of physics and the history of steel constructed structures. I guess that makes me a conspiracy wingnut.
And never mind the administration that was in charge on this fateful day has been proven to lie about everything from Medicare drug benefit costs, to the economic recession/depression, to the reasons for war in Iraq, but their explanation for 9/11/01 is taken on faith as if it were right from the Bible, Torah, or Koran. So go ahead and follow the advice of meth addict Brittany Spears.
Yup, I'm the crazy one for demanding scientific explanation for this bizarre event and not taking a proven liar on his word. And before you bring up NIST and Popular Mechanics, they both ignored Building 7's collapse which is the most mysterious of the 3.
I recall being called a conspiracy wingnut when the torture, the illegal wiretaps, and the mobilizing of our military on US soil were all first discovered. How about Dick Cheney's special forces death squad?
It's like the ADL calling anyone that dare speak the truth about Israel an anti-semite. Calling people conspiracy theorists is used as a means to silence the truth by discrediting the messenger. Remember the media attacks on Joe Wilson and the names they called him. They do it all the time. I used a link to a Cliff May story since he's posted on CHB regularly.
Nor has it been adequately explained why an armored F-4 Phantom fighter jet, traveling at 500 MPH, literally splashes itself over a 20 inch thick reinforced concrete containment building, but a passenger jetliner penetrates the 18 inch blast-resistant walls of the Pentagon - knocking out heavy structural steel beams instead of being shredded by them.
Save for one blurry, jerky mess, why have dozens of recordings from security cameras aimed along the supposed flight path to the Pentagon not been released to the public?
Why cannot items recovered from the Pentagon lawn "debris field" be identified as belonging to commercial jetliners.
When properly investigated, these conspiracy "theories" may just become conspiracy "fact!"
A spot-on well-written rebuttal to 9/11 conspiracy naysayers woody188... : )
It's amazing how many folks will completely discount the need for the reopening of a thorough unbiased investigation into the 9/11 tragedy after witnessing eight years of habitual lying on every issue coming from the BushCo administration. They had zero credibility on all issues...!
Carl Nemo **==
Thanks guys, but I'm not trying to hijack the topic. But some 50% of Americans do not buy the official 9/11 story. So to call us all conspiracy wingnuts is to call half of Americans crazy. Now how could that be?
Interesting, how things come to light...
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Scientists_find_acti...
Collectivism is slavery...
LOL, note in your story NIST still fails to mention Building 7's collapse and focuses only on the Twin Towers. That's some comprehensive investigation NIST. Leave out an entire building and hope no one remembers.
I understand completely, Woody. My point is that there is much more to learn and know about it all... from a forensic perspective.
Collectivism is slavery...
Spot on, Doug. These men are hateful, fear-mongering bigots. They'd be hysterical if there weren't that core group of crazies that believes every word that comes out of their paranoid, lying, crazy, and drug induced mouths (I wonder how many of them suffer from Limbaugh syndrome?).
What concerns me about these demagogues is their ability to stir up the morons who listen to them. Chuck Norris and his ilk, along with Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann, are attempting their followers (and constituents) to stockpile their weapons and overthrow this government: they seemed determined to foment an armed rebellion. Most of us dismiss this stuff as nonsense and the work of the extreme nutters. However, it must also be pointed out that the Bush administration fed our troops overseas a steady diet of right wing talk radio, and no other points of view, for eight solid years. In short, they were brainwashed. While I find the ramblings of these lunatics ridiculous and funny, they should also be taken very, very seriously because of the effect they're having on a small percentage of our population, part of it, undoubtedly, in our military. (Don't forget, the Roman military, in the end, chose emperors, not the people, nor family ties.)
In short, I find these howling monkeys scary. At least with the far left and their conspiracy theories, you know most of their members weren't packing.
Hi woody188,
That's exactly how Glen Beck, Rush Limbaugh et al. referenced in Doug's article operate. When they want to overwhelm the opposition they simply start calling people names; ie., "wingnuts" and worse. If their agenda is to stir up hatred and self doubt in the masses then they'll be successful more often than not, at least with undiscerning individuals.
Carl Nemo **==
I have purposely listened to Rush to see what his arguments are against the President to see if he is convincing. After 3 months of listening to his rattling on about petty issues with the President like the teleprompter, I really just had to turn the radio off. He really ticked me off when he wanted to have a debate with the President.
Jobs in Birmingham
Jobs in Maine
Bin Laden vowed to drive the US out of sacred Saudi soil with an even larger terror attack. But in 2003 US troops left Saudi Arabia. So Bin Laden would not want to do anything that would lead to Holy Ground desecrated again.
Terrorists from the US were captured in Somalia not vice versa.
However Newt Gingrich, Rush Limbaugh and Cheney are enticing al Qaeda by trying to make sure Obama would be blamed if al Qaeda attacked the US again. So far al Qaeda is just encouraging the US to bankrupt itself.
Woodie, I keep posting the idea that the government didn't want its construction secrets shown, so it seized the pictures. Why wasn't it celebrated that only three died on the ground, If the plane actually hit a section under reconstruction for fortification purposes, it would have been celebrated as a second little miracle the first being the heroic passengers who fought back. How come neither you nor any of the other 9/11 buffs don’t respond to this frequent comment of mine.
LaRouche is all over the 9/11 Truth Stuff,
www.opednews.com/articles/genera_michael__071030_q...
It's a mystery that the third building was leveled to hide something, but the implosion stuff, by I guess government moles, hides the importance of the third building knocked down to hide something. I saw the towers pancake. How would a demolition expert guess what floor the plane would hit? See what demolition experts say,
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_kmske/is_4_1...
The so-called Israeli missile striking the Pentagon without a peep of complaint from the anti-Defamation League may mean that they would let Bush officials spread antisemitism without complaint. Not the stuff of an omniscient lobby.
I hope the 9/11 rehash gets one column and the other stories aren't frequently distracted by it. But please some control but not outright censorship. I hope vigorous response to wild stories will discourage the urge for outright censorship.
It’s time for a South African Truth Commission where people won’t be prosecuted for what they testify to only for what they don’t reveal. We have a Federal System so a state prosecutor could still try Cheney, and relatives sue, giving Cheney the O J Simpson treatment. It worth a chance instead of the possibility that holding out for trials someday which might instead lead to the criminals in charge again
Thanks Doug for outing the three traitors who I think are enticing al Qaeda to attack.
http://capitolhillblue.com/blog/2419
RichardKanePA
Well Doug, I must disagree COMPLETELY.
I have listened to Rush alot lately - out of the ordinary for me - and Hannity too... just to see what they're saying... i.e., what's happening in the minds at the top of the heap. I hear fear for the future of our republic. I hear them say that if we don't wake up, we'll regret it. I hear them say that our new leadership is selling us out. I hear them say they wonder how we have come to this place. I hear bewilderment. I DON'T HEAR HATE.
Beck may be over the edge, but that's fear, too.
After The Big O's trip abroad this week, with his statements that the US is to blame for the world's problems, his "quiet" expansion of the FISA provisions to keep anyone from suing for denial of their constitutional rights, his embrace of immature monetary policies that will bankrupt this country soon, and his narcissism that will soon belie his "I'm in it for you" attitude...
WHO can actually blame anyone for pointing out the TRUTH?
The problem I see is the unwillingness to evaluate such statements for their merit, instead of the feelgood, kneejerk response of of political correctness.
I expect better from you.
Collectivism is slavery...
I wouldn't put too much stock in their born-again conservatism. Some of their rhetoric may be truthful, but I wouldn't trust any of them. The Democrats' rhetoric was truthful too - until they got their hands on the keys to the kingdom.
I also see this as an opportunity for them to draw in not only ratings, but Libertarians and Independents as well. As we've seen with Obama, they're just setting us up for betrayal.
It's not about stock... it's about fawning all over The Big O.
You and I agree on the yin-yang of all these politicians and their hood-winking ways. The problem it seems to me is deciding just exactly where REAL changes can be made... and then effecting a plan to get it done.
As for the Rush's of the world... gotta have a mouthpiece to stir the pot.
Collectivism is slavery...
"Led by hate-spouting iconoclasts like Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh and Newt Gingrich, Republicans are comparing Obama to Hitler, Democrats to Nazis and invoking all the fear they can muster in an effort to turn back and the clock and restore their political fortunes."
It wasn't long ago that the Democrats and their media whores were likening Bush to Hitler and the Republicans as the Nazis. But I guess that was okay. I offered no argument on that front. Hell, so was I.
But now we have the shoe on the other foot, and no matter how much we pretend that Obama and the Democrats are any different, reality has a way of shattering that facade.
The first thing folks should realize is that Bush and the neo-cons are not Republicans, nor are their minions. Sure, they fly that banner, but you really can't perpetuate the two-party system with only one party. The Republicans welcomed them foolishly.
Bush and the neo-cons are actually neo-liberal fascists, as are their "opposition". Historically, fascism has been a product of the left, often spurred on with populist rhetoric and mass movements. You can pretend all you want that the Bushies are far right, but that is a completely contrived and false characterization advanced and maintained by our "independent media".
We have now in this country two very similar factions that offer very different rhetoric but identical policies when given the opportunity to strut their stuff. They merely fight over who gets the biggest chunk of the spoils.
Again, Carroll Quigley from "Tragedy and Hope"...
"The argument that the two parties should represent opposed ideals and policies, one perhaps of the Right, and the other of the Left, is a foolish idea acceptable only to doctrinaire and academic thinkers. Instead, the two parties should be almost identical, so that the American people can ‘throw the rascals out’ at any election without leading to any profound or extensive shifts in policy… But either party in office becomes in time corrupt, tired, unenterprising, and vigorless. Then it should be possible to replace it, every four years if necessary, by the other party, which will be none of these things but will still pursue, with new vigor, approximately the same policies."
If any one at this point should have any misconceptions as to the accuracy of this assessment, please leave your brain at the door on your way out, or donate it to someone that could use it.
Such as brain is not worth the oxygen it would take to feed it.
Collectivism is slavery...
Hi griff,
"Tragedy and Hope" by Carroll Quigley happens to be former President Clinton's all time favorite read.
Clinton, a brainy guy, had his own skewed nation destroying doctrine, but on a far grander international scale...
***
"as a globalist, Clinton promotes "multipolarity" – the doctrine that no country (such as the USA) should be allowed to gain decisive advantage over others." extract from first supplied link
***
Evidently Clinton also believed in compromising our nuclear arsenal both in warhead technology and its delivery thereof. Yep, these guys are really looking out for the American people...NOT!
They're main mission is looking out for the welfare of their shadowy NWO controllers along with a what's in it for me attitude. We now have his wife as Secretary of State looking out for our well-being and safety on the international front...no?! /:|
http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2003/...
http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2003/...
Carl Nemo **==
"We can't be so fixated on our desire to preserve the rights of ordinary Americans." - Bill Clinton, USA Today, March 11, 1993.
Noble Americans all! They only want the best for......................themselves.
I have a good solution that really is their practices from the past somewhat modified. Let's lock them in a room together and tell them that the first to stop talking will be sent to Abu Wasdi, the secret prison in the desert of Saudi Arabia. The next to stop will be deported to a secret prison in the suburbs of Murmansk where they will be issued thin cotton PJs and a flea ridden blanket of horsehair. Finally, the last to stop will be freed, but will have to report to serve as hunting partner to Dick Cheney, and will be required to listen to Gingrich/Limbaugh rantings 23 hours a day. Although free, they will remain under 'house-arrest with George Bush as the roommate.
Or we could just hang them after some non-waterboarding waterboarding.
I personally never compared Bush to Hitler. However Rush Limbaugh is charismatic and inspires people similar to how Hitler did.
All politicians aren't the same, Carter tried to change things and now I have my fingers crossed that Obama actually will.
Politicians seem to get in trouble only when they start to do right. Or when someone connected to the wrong middle east lobby tries to buy a Senate Seat from Gov. Blagojevich, for a politician more sympathetic to the Arab point of view. To complete my thought, see,
http://www.capitolhillblue.com/node/16865#comment-...
I'm really glad "Return of the Republican hate mongers" remains on the front page and hope to see a Ted Stevens story remain on the front page.
By the way Cheney and Co. constantly saying that too much civil liberties will lead to a terror attack, and the possibility of al Qaeda pressuring a released prison suspect to claim to be an al Qaeda leader is clearly slowing Obama's plans to restore more civil liberties.
http://capitolhillblue.com/blog/2419
RichardKanePA
Obama planning to restore civil liberties? I hope that was sarcasm.
Hannity, Beck, Lamebrain, and the adulterous ex congressman from Ga are nothing but the leaders of a modern day sect of self-righteous Pharisees. Oh, I forgot O'Riley, the "high priest". If these hypocrites ever see the "Pearly Gates", then Judas will be there to welcome them. They are a disgrace to this country and a blight on humanity. I equate them and their "disciples" to Jim Jones and his followers.
For those who lack the ability to engage in critical thinking skills...well those are the perfect audience to Rush, O'Reilly, Hannity and so on.
But I guess my fear is...that the audience population that I just described makes up a very large number of our citizens who, at the hands of even way more destructive than our radio spin jockies...School Board Members who have been dumbing down our society for the last 30 years by removing civic classes from their respective school districts.
Remember, most School Board seats are by election. So, whom do we think these folks are financed by during their elections. In other words...who is the most interested to get specific people in a board where they influence the entire education process? Follow the money...
"fter The Big O's trip abroad this week, with his statements that the US is to blame for the world's problems, his "quiet" expansion of the FISA provisions to keep anyone from suing for denial of their constitutional rights, his embrace of immature monetary policies that will bankrupt this country soon, and his narcissism that will soon belie his "I'm in it for you" attitude...
WHO can actually blame anyone for pointing out the TRUTH?
The problem I see is the unwillingness to evaluate such statements for their merit, instead of the feelgood, kneejerk response of of political correctness."
such intellectually bankrupt tripe. Obama did not blame all the worlds problems on America. That's the EIB of profond stupidity spinning you stupid mate. reality based facts never were your strong subject. as for the rest of the mindless drivel you have posted, ever notice people like you only make the charge but can never actually back your charges with reality based facts?
I wouldn't call your blogs "immature" but most assuredly I would call them sophomoric drivel. and as for narcissist? try listening to Limbaugh, a fool who has taken narcissist to an art level.