Oklahoma Patriots?

[fotd]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100412/ap_on_re_us/us_tea_party_militia
OKLAHOMA CITY – Frustrated by recent political setbacks, tea party leaders and some conservative members of the Oklahoma Legislature say they would like to create a new volunteer militia to help defend against what they believe are improper federal infringements on state sovereignty.

Tea party movement leaders say they've discussed the idea with several supportive lawmakers and hope to get legislation next year to recognize a new volunteer force. They say the unit would not resemble militia groups that have been raided for allegedly plotting attacks on law enforcement officers.

"Is it scary? It sure is," said tea party leader Al Gerhart of Oklahoma City, who heads an umbrella group of tea party factions called the Oklahoma Constitutional Alliance. "But when do the states stop rolling over for the federal government?"

What is it with Oklahoma? Anti-intellectual? Makes Texas look normal. Move if you think you stand to prosper financially in this crazy place.

[TheArtist]

I don't get it.... What exactly would this militia do to defend against these "improper federal infringements on state sovereignty"?  I assume they are talking about things like "Obamacare" for instance, so what would this militia do to "defend" against that?  March in front of hospitals and insurance companies with bayonets?   What are these federal infringements and how would a militia defend against them?

[Conan71]

Just a bunch of guys wanting to play army.  Nothing to see here, move along.

[fotd]

Just a bunch of guys wanting to play army.  Nothing to see here, move along.

Something similar to what German Jews said of the nazi movement in the late 1920's and early 1930's....

Thanks for the history lesson Conan.

[PepePeru]

If you think this "militia" is a good idea or something that will affect a change in any way shape or form:

YOU
ARE
INSANE
.


"The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over." - Hunter S. Thompson 

[patric]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100412/ap_on_re_us/us_tea_party_militia
They say the unit would not resemble militia groups that have been raided for allegedly plotting attacks on law enforcement officers.

Good.  It's so hard to get white robes to match with anything.

[Gaspar]

Something similar to what German Jews said of the nazi movement in the late 1920's and early 1930's....

Thanks for the history lesson Conan.

Except the opposite.  The Nazis were extreme nationalist, and based their philosophy on empire building.  American Militias are individualist and/or constitutionalist.  Their philosophy, and basis of power is outlined in the constitution of the United States and it's strict interpretation.

This is nothing new.  Militias already exist in most states and over history their power and visibility has waxed and waned.  They mostly exist as a mythical threat against federal power.  The media likes to drag them out from time to time, and various movements love to invoke the term.

I seriously doubt the viability of such groups in today's society.  Even if such organizations began to gain power, they would have very little effect against the power of federal force. . .Perhaps back in the days of knives and flintlocks, but not today.

An effective militia today would consist more of lawyers than warriors.

[sgrizzle]

What worries me is that a well supported candidate for Governor like Brogdon said he's "open to the idea"

[fotd]

Read up...stop posting that crud, Gaspar. Strict constitutionalists my a$$....more like little dicks, literally, that find the need to run a sidearm to cover for their lack of vibrancy.

http://www.splcenter.org/what-we-do/hate-and-extremism

"The Intelligence Project identified 512 "Patriot" groups that were active in 2009. Of these groups, 127 were militias, marked with an asterisk, and the remainder includes "common-law" courts, publishers, ministries and citizens' groups. Generally, Patriot groups define themselves as opposed to the "New World Order," engage in groundless conspiracy theorizing, or advocate or adhere to extreme antigovernment doctrines. Listing here does not imply that the groups themselves advocate or engage in violence or other criminal activities, or are racist. The list was compiled from field reports, Patriot publications, the Internet, law enforcement sources and news reports. Groups are identified by the city, county or region where they are located. "

[Cats Cats Cats]

I enjoy the fact that the Militia people who want to protect themselves from the Fed Gov.  Vote for people that want to pour a crap ton of money in the military.  Which would then be used to put down a militia if it came to it.

[Gaspar]

Read up...stop posting that crud, Gaspar. Strict constitutionalists my a$$....more like little dicks, literally, that find the need to run a sidearm to cover for their lack of vibrancy.

http://www.splcenter.org/what-we-do/hate-and-extremism

"The Intelligence Project identified 512 "Patriot" groups that were active in 2009. Of these groups, 127 were militias, marked with an asterisk, and the remainder includes "common-law" courts, publishers, ministries and citizens' groups. Generally, Patriot groups define themselves as opposed to the "New World Order," engage in groundless conspiracy theorizing, or advocate or adhere to extreme antigovernment doctrines. Listing here does not imply that the groups themselves advocate or engage in violence or other criminal activities, or are racist. The list was compiled from field reports, Patriot publications, the Internet, law enforcement sources and news reports. Groups are identified by the city, county or region where they are located. "

I greatly enjoy your balanced point of view, and the fine sources you choose to post.

[fotd]

Are you being sarcastic?

Noam Chomsky, the leading leftwing intellectual, warned last week that fascism may be coming to the United States.
"I'm just old enough to have heard a number of Hitler's speeches on the radio," he said, "and I have a memory of the texture and the tone of the cheering mobs, and I have the dread sense of the dark clouds of fascism gathering" here at home."

Gassie, do you have this long of a tension span? (credit to Shadows)

[Conan71]

He's losing it again.

Quick call Walgreens and get your scrip refilled!

[fotd]

I think the word is script....short for scriptures. Many people worship their meds. You should know.

What's with the Holocaust origination denial, Conan?

[Red Arrow]

...do you have this long of a tension span? (credit to Shadows)

tension span?  Is that the opposite of a compression span?