Hatewatch Tweets
Hatewatch is managed by the staff of the Intelligence Report, an investigative magazine published by the Alabama-based civil rights group Southern Poverty Law Center.
Former Militiaman in Alabama Called for Breaking Dems’ Windows
It wasn’t quite the shot heard around the world, but the sound of glass shattering at Democratic Party offices around the country has put the spotlight on former militiaman Mike Vanderboegh, who furiously called on followers last Friday to protest health care reform by breaking Democratic windows.
Vanderboegh posted his message on his blog, Sipsey Street Irregulars, calling for “all modern Sons of Liberty” to break the windows of local Democratic Party offices. Since that time, Democratic offices across the country have reported windows smashed in an apparent response to health care reform. Vanderboegh called health care reform backers “collectivists” and added that they “certainly do not hear the soft ‘snik-snik’ of cleaning rods being used on millions of rifle barrels in this country by people who have decided their backs are to the wall.”
“[I]f you wish to send a message that [House Speaker Nancy] Pelosi and her party cannot fail to hear, break their windows,” the Pinson, Ala., blogger wrote. “Break them NOW. Break them and run to break again. Break them under cover of night. Break them in broad daylight. Break them and await arrest in willful, principled civil disobedience. Break them with rocks. Break them with slingshots. Break them with baseball bats. But BREAK them.”
Vanderboegh seemed to take credit for instigating at least some of the attacks in interviews. He told the Kansas City Star that his call was meant “to get everyone’s attention.” To the Rochester (N.Y.) Democrat & Chronicle, he said: “If it takes a few bricks and broken windows for people to understand how close we are to widespread violence in this country then the bricks in the windows will have been worth it.”
Vanderboegh’s blog has been used to promote the Three Percenters, an antigovernment “Patriot” group that claims to represent 3% of U.S. gun owners. The name is inspired by the 3% of American colonists believed to have actively opposed England. Vanderboegh describes himself as “the alleged leader of a merry band of Three Percenters.” In the 1990s, he was associated with radical groups including the Alabama Constitutional Militia, the Tri-States Militia and the 1st Alabama Cavalry Regiment, Constitutional Militia.
Vanderboegh has been keeping tabs on the “Window War” by posting news reports of the incidents on his blog. And there’s been a fair amount to keep track of.
Windows have been smashed at Democratic Party headquarters in Monroe County, N.Y., and Sedgwick County, Kan. The brick hurled at the New York headquarters had a note attached that said, “Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice,” according to a news report. The quote comes from Barry Goldwater, the 1964 Republican presidential candidate and conservative champion. The brick thrown in Kansas had anti-Obama and anti-healthcare messages, CNN reported.
A window also was broken at the Niagara Falls office of Democratic Rep. Louise Slaughter of New York. (Vanderboegh told a reporter that incident occurred before he posted his message Friday.) Slaughter was an outspoken proponent of health care reform. A glass panel was shattered at the Tucson, Ariz., office of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. But Vanderboegh told CNN he’s only encouraged acts at Democratic Party offices, not congressional offices because he “didn’t want to be responsible for anybody breaking a federal law.”
Vanderboegh’s post describes health care reform as “Nancy Pelosi’s Intolerable Act.” Proponents have touted the legislation as covering tens of millions of currently uninsured Americans. As for Vanderboegh, his health care is already covered. He’s got private health insurance through his wife’s employer and he’s also receiving Social Security disability payments from the federal government, according to the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle.
on March 23rd, 2010 at 2:53 pm
Mike Vanderboegh sounds like a little ‘girl’, what a sissy and cowardly action by the ‘militias’ Big men, with little brains and yellow stripes running down their backs.
on March 23rd, 2010 at 2:55 pm
So… can he be arrested for inciting violence? The hypocrisy (having health insurance through his wife’s job) of the likes of him is always stunning.
on March 23rd, 2010 at 3:04 pm
Hmmm. There should be a term for encouraging the use of violence to promote or oppose a political agenda. Oh yeah, “terrorism”.
Maybe the guy is just imitating his idols, the Nazis, in the broken glass campaign. No matter what, he should be arrested by the feds for inciting terrorism, since his followers have done so across state lines.
on March 23rd, 2010 at 3:26 pm
>>>Break them [windows] and await arrest in willful, principled civil disobedience.<<<
I'm pretty sure Gandhi and MLK, Jr., never broke a window while they were practicing civil disobedience. This guy is clearly a crackpot. Unfortunately, he is one of many.
on March 23rd, 2010 at 4:03 pm
My guess is that breaking windows is as civil (and as mature) as these folks get! Keep up the good work Mark and SPLC. Forty years ago in Alabama this hate would have been spewed by the governor on television instead of tucked away in an obscure blog somewhere.
on March 23rd, 2010 at 4:37 pm
Katja, the guy’s not just a crackpot, but a terrorist! He preached violence to followers he knows will act. It’s not a question of free speech. Didn’t Congress give us the “Patriot Act” for protection in part against just such Jacobins who commit such thuggery against others (genuine patriots!) who happen to hold a differing opinion?!? Who are guilty of what? – passing a law in a body where they held the duly elected majority, OMG!! Where is this pitiful moron from? – Oh, wait – the great equality-loving state of Alabama, thank you, Mitch. The plae where they imprisoned a governor BECAUSE he was a Democrat. This creature SHOULD BE arrested, held without bail, tried and imprisoned for terrorist, treasonous acts! Let’s see if the authorities have the cojones to move against a radical-criminal who happens to be RIGHT-of-center! By the way….i wonder if HIS house has, um,…windows?
on March 23rd, 2010 at 5:02 pm
Oh, that is just rich! Not at all surprising, though, given the very common hypocrisy and just plain ignorance of those people. This guy is so “anti-government” that he’ll take money from the government for his own health problems, but he damn sure doesn’t want anybody else to get any money/help from the government!
on March 23rd, 2010 at 5:18 pm
Hi Jack. I certainly sympathize with your sentiments. Several years ago my wife and I visited Dachau and I was struck by the analysis posted in the museum there of the political climate in Germany that resulted in the nazi takeover. The argument was that society had become so polarized that folks just shouted at each other instead of attempting to reach some accommodation that would allow them to live together. I’m probably preaching to the choir here but personally I would prefer not to see anyone’s windows broken and would love to see the so-called Patriot Act meet the fate of the administration that spawned it. The terrorist murder of Dr. Tiller was perhaps a more appropriate time to invoke such draconian measures but the people of “Bloody Kansas” seem to have done just fine without it.
on March 23rd, 2010 at 5:33 pm
Mahatma Gandhi said: “Be the change you want to see in the world.” Thanks SPLC for staying true to such.
on March 23rd, 2010 at 6:36 pm
So disheartening. It makes me think that no matter what percentage of the world’s population learns to read and write, we will always have morons. Breaking windows, calling names, SPITTING. These things are done by people who belong in a loony bin. Unfortunately Reagen locked them out.
on March 23rd, 2010 at 6:47 pm
Kristallnacht, anyone? Maybe they use a different word in Alabama.
on March 23rd, 2010 at 8:37 pm
I fully believe Mike Vanderboegh is a terrorist. He should be put as the number one public enemy. People like him are the reasons abortions need to stay legal-imagine how wonderful things would be if people like him, and he, himself had been aborted!
on March 23rd, 2010 at 10:06 pm
While discussing healthcare legislation and Congress, Rush Limbaugh said something to the effect that “They must be wiped out” in the midst of less hostile comments. Was this an advocation of terrorism?
on March 24th, 2010 at 6:14 am
“Willful, principled civil disobedience”!?
What the…
Alright, to be fair he was referring to the “await arrest” part, which just happens to follow the terrorizing (hmm) acts. But, with all the running he’s referring to, I think a few people he calls for might get a little confused.
Example: “Okay, when was I supposed to wait for my arrest or should I keep breaking windows. Because I think that last brick hit someone.”
on March 24th, 2010 at 9:02 am
I respect our military but some of these people seem to have been brainwashed. I just lost a friend because health care reform passed. I guess he wasn’t much of a friend. But what does the military put in their kool-aide?
on March 24th, 2010 at 10:22 am
Gregory echoed my initial thought when reading this post: Kristallnacht. Not as focused, not as organized, but the intent seems to be the same: to terrorize a specific population.
on March 24th, 2010 at 10:42 am
I too thought of Kristallnacht. I think it is important to keep some perspective by noting that Kristallnacht was organized by the group in control of the government and perpetrated primarily on the powerless. I believe one thing the SPLC has done very well over the years is to help the intended victims of terrorists mount a response other than to simply be terrified. In my opinion this is more appropriate than using some loony with a blog or a brick (or even an attack on New York) as a Reichstag Fire to justify draconian measures by government.
on March 24th, 2010 at 1:44 pm
Quoth Patti Raye:
If such be the case, perhaps the FCC should open enquiries about the licences of stations carrying Rush Limbaugh’s programme in syndication to see if such remarks indeed amount to “advocation [sic] of terrorism”.
Never mind Limbaugh’s likely meme claiming that his show is “simply entertainment” and shouldn’t be considered as serious news or information.
on March 24th, 2010 at 2:30 pm
Mitch
You know, one reply to “being terrorized” is to move.
Heavens, my relatives have been going to other countries for decades – to work, to live (legally).
In fact, haven’t our illegals gone to other countries to live and isn’t that still an option for them? Of course, it is.
They can leave here and go to Central American countries, Spain, South America… or to any place on the globe.
Why would they stay here and “be terrorized”? They have already left their native countries – so that tells us they can do it. They CAN leave and find their happiness at someone else’s expense.
on March 24th, 2010 at 2:38 pm
While I certainly don’t agree with Mike Vanderboegh’s tactics, or even know him, I certainly am against the health care takeover by the government. I think the actions he called for were wrong however. The fight should be in the courts. I also believe that he is not a part of the true Tea Party movement. I myself am a veteran, and I love this country and want to live free. I don’t want BIG BROTHER intruding into my private life, and I don’t think they should be able to force me to buy insurance. However, once again the fight to repeal health care should be through peaceful protesting and in the court system
on March 24th, 2010 at 3:09 pm
Surprise surprise, right-wingers resort to petty, cowardly attacks when things don’t go their way. Just more proof that conservatism is basically arrested development.
on March 24th, 2010 at 3:39 pm
Hi Granny
I’m not quite sure what your point is. Moving would also be a possible response to “government takeover of healthcare,” perhaps a more appropriate response than breaking the windows of those who disagree with you. Personally I would not ask anyone to “love it or leave it.” I believe debating and disagreeing civilly over important issues generally moves us in the direction of better solutions. I hope that my countrymen will participate in this sort of discussion rather than resorting to slinging rocks or mud.
You seem to suggest that undocumented immigrants are mostly here because they have been terrorized in their homelands. Actually American law generally makes it lawful for those who face persecution in their homelands to immigrate. My family mostly came here (at various times since the first of them arrived in Pennsylvania with the Quakers) because they wanted a better life for their children. That’s why most immigrants still come today. Let’s hope they won’t be driven out by terrorists.
on March 24th, 2010 at 3:48 pm
I’m sure Mark Matheny, as a veteran, has already suffered Big Brother’s intrusion into his life in many ways that I would find unacceptable. I agree that we shouldn’t be required to buy health insurance (or auto insurance for that matter). Frankly I think a much better solution would be a single payer system. I have read that one of the most cost-effective ways to do this might be simply to open the VA medical system to all Americans.
on March 24th, 2010 at 3:53 pm
All granny is doing is blaming the victims. That makes her no better than a terrorist!
on March 24th, 2010 at 3:57 pm
I did not say that immigrants in 2010 are coming here because they are terrorized in their homelands. They are coming here to sell drugs (often) and terrorizing us.
I see nothing wrong with the “love it or leave it” attitude since those coming here didn’t find satisfaction in their homeland and “left it”. Kind of amazing that they expect us to do for them what their own people couldn’t do, now, isn’t it?
Love it or leave it – sounds good to me.
on March 24th, 2010 at 3:59 pm
No, I am a civil rights advocate. Civil rights for Americans – especially my white grandchildren.
Have a lovely day. :)
on March 24th, 2010 at 4:11 pm
I don’t think people whose families have been here for at least 400 years need to think of moving for even a second. In fact, they need to be given preference in hiring. Their ancestors stayed here through the Civil War, through an attack at Pearl Harbor by the Japanese, through the Great Depression. Their views should be listened to. They are the Americans with staying power.
NOT the illegals who even now are sending money to their “homes” in other countries. That is not loyalty. That is a drain.
on March 24th, 2010 at 4:43 pm
Many immigrants, with or without papers, maintain ties with their families at “home” and share the bounty of their new lives in America with others who have not been fortunate enough to come here. I don’t see this as a bad thing.
After the second world war my grandparents sent care packages to family members in Germany. I sincerely hope that they will return the favor if nazis like Mike Vanderboegh are ever able to do to this country what they did to Germany.
Granny I hope that when your great grandchildren arrive you will love them regardless of their shade or how many generations their parents have been in the USA.
on March 24th, 2010 at 5:20 pm
OH, my. My posts are disappearing – and this – a free country and all…..hmmmm.
on March 24th, 2010 at 6:44 pm
was he arrested
on March 24th, 2010 at 6:57 pm
Our neighborhood was “hit” by the Norteno gang – who did tremendous property damage. These were not tiny, insignificant grafitti markings. They were about 50 feet long and 6 feet high. Homeowners must pay for all damage themselves.
I think this should be categorized as “hate” activity.
on March 24th, 2010 at 9:51 pm
GrannyofWhites,
Are you aware that not all immigrants came on their own accord? Are you aware that some have been trafficked here?
I understand you are angry about the job situation, as well as the economy! Yet, you fail to realize that the businesses/corporations have lured most here.
You also fail to recognize that regardless if the immigrants go home, that still will not guarantee you, or any other American a job. Hint:Whirlpool is in Mexico. Look at the VIN number of your American made car, if it begins with other than a 1 or 4, it is considered not made in U.S.A. There have been a lot of American farmers who have move to Mexico and Brazil years ago.
So, to blame the immigrants, it is just plain wrong!
And again, for these militia groups, anti-government groups, we need to crack down on them now! There is no excuse for this type of behavior. This type of behavior is not protected by the 1st amendment! We need to, if nothing else, charge these groups with RICO!
on March 24th, 2010 at 9:58 pm
Hello. This is your local friendly right wing nut job chiming in on this subject. I will be honest with you . I know nothing about this crazy bloger guy telling people to throw stones. He does not show up on our american resistance or 3%er sites. All I can say that what this guy did is just messed up.
I do not condone this kind of childish crap.
For what it’s worth, the only reason we at the ARM / 3%ers exist is because we :
Stand against the unjust wars in iraq
Stand against the soon to come war with Iran
Stand against both the democrat and republicans who have been hijacked by the same criminals and bankers who see us as nothing but food for the debt machine.
I hope some some day you will join us to stop these unjust wars for profit.
The Democrats and Republicans are all bought and paid for and working with eachother to keep us fellow Americans devided,conqured and distracted in a combined effort to prevent us from seeing the crimes they are commiting against fellow americans.
I’m not sure were you guys come up with all this hate group stuff. It makes no sense. I don’t care if the founder of The American Resistance Movement is a gay person. He is still a fellow American fighting to restore the American Constitution like the rest of us true Americans.
This left vs.right crap doesn’t mean crap to us . WE ARE ALL AMERICANS!!!!
on March 25th, 2010 at 2:51 am
Last year alone 14,000,000 background checks were run as part of firearms purchases. On a lot of those, more than one gun was bought. You gov’t folks are extremely lucky that Mike didn’t say “Shoot the bastards.”, there would have been a more hearty reply. As it stands, he is untouchable. If something should happen to him his followers, which number in the thousands, would certainly carry out justice as they saw fit. I know several people who cleaned their guns the day the health reform bill passed, so his warning about the “snick-snick” of cleaning rods in rifles is true. I think his vocal warnings have gone unheeded and the brick thing is a last ditch effort to prevent civil war. BTW, the NAZI’s hate his guts for being friends with members of JPFO (Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership) among other things.
PS:
He really does enjoy all the publicity the SPLC gives him and has for about the last few years.
on March 25th, 2010 at 7:20 am
You know I really do not recall “luring” any immigrants here.
Did you do this?
And to completely disregard the US Customs and Border Protection press releases which show the constant barrage of drugs entering across our border is just so immature of YOU as a human, a citizen and an adult who cares about black children. Although I am not black, I see those children as most impacted by the drug trade over the last 40 years.
What kind of racist are you – not to see that?
on March 25th, 2010 at 7:24 am
And, I do not need a job or welfare. I am quite content.
I do need more space on the freeways and cleaner air to breath which our immigrant load does affect.
Haven’t you taken a class in Population Studies?
It doesn’t help to import anyone here – since Americans consume the most resources. It’s not like poorly educated immigrants are going to come here with a conservation mindset.
We need to stop immigration altogether.
We need more troops and drug-sniffing dogs at the border – and YOU know that illegals are involved in cartel activity?
on March 25th, 2010 at 10:17 am
Granny I’m sorry to hear that you were a victim of gang violence. I’m not sure why you concluded that those who perpetrated the violence were undocumented. It is a shame that your community doesn’t have a program to assist homeowners in cleaning up after activity of this sort. I’m sure the expense was a burden. I doubt that it was as much of a burden as the billions we paid to give bonuses to incompetent bankers. Perhaps we should deport them whether they’ve been here for 400 years or not!
US drug policy has been a disaster, creating narco states in many parts of the world including Latin America and Central Asia. Had prohibition not been repealed I’m sure Canada would be an “alco state” by now. The free market will assure that drugs continue to be smuggled for unimaginable financial gain unless and until we revise our drug laws. Can you possibly think that, once a conduit for drugs has been established, the same conduit won’t be used to smuggle people?
Would there be lots of problems associated with decriminalizing drug use or liberalizing immigration policy so that anyone who wants to come here and contribute to our free society is welcomed? You bet there would. There are problems by the hundreds with outlawing drugs and trying to stop people from seeking a better life in America. I for one would like to see us do the right thing for a change and just deal with any problems that arise.
on March 25th, 2010 at 10:43 am
Excuse me, Mitch, but I went to college. When I did, the emphasis was on population control — birth control — concern about the environment and other issues which have been swept under the rug. So, in other words, we controlled births – millions of us – so that our country could be swamped by illegals who have less education and don’t care about birth rates or consumption?
They also could care less about getting on the public dole – which is something my family condemned.
Don’t give me this “better life” baloney. That is the garbage that most Americans increasingly won’t buy. We’ve been sold that and we’re returning it.
In my state our immigration watchdogs send out e-mails about once a week on the latest ICE holds and what the criminals have been caught doing. These are criminals – who have been arrested. Crime after crime – some against small children that even judges don’t want to repeat. They are sickened. Wife-beating, girlfriend beating, assault, battery, drug-dealing and every other crime imaginable. And these all are illegals.
It doesn’t even factor in the legal immigrants who are also committing criminal acts.
on March 25th, 2010 at 10:51 am
Alabama Code Section 13A-11-4 – Inciting to riot.
Charge him Alabama.
on March 25th, 2010 at 11:25 am
i was watching about America’s first years where someone was complianing about the “Indian problem”. The other soldier said it was not worse than the “German and Irish problem”. Back in the day German’s and Irish were PERSONA NON GRATA
on March 25th, 2010 at 11:46 am
ARM may not condone it but the forum on their website is loaded with all kinds of “childish crap” and since ARM is “an non-hierarchical, distributed (leaderless) movement” I’m not sure who decides what they condone and what they condon’t! It would be a lot scarier if the folks spewing the crap could write proper English. Considering the sorry state of public education in many parts of the country I’m sure that is also the fault of the government.
I sympathize with the frustration AR expresses with bought and paid for public officials. There was a time in my life when I too thought that armed resistance was the only solution. It seems to me that, even if it was possible to defeat a nuclear armed government with the six-shooters we are grudgingly permitted to “keep and bear,” one would still be faced with a populace that willingly surrenders its liberty in exchange for full bellies and security from “terrorism.”
“We who prayed and wept
for liberty from kings
and the yoke of liberty
accept the tyranny of things
we do not need.”
Wendell Berry
Perhaps a better solution than armed resistance is to educate Americans about the trade-offs that are required for us to live together in peace. If you vote for a candidate only because she promises lower takes you are likely to be voting for a liar. If you vote for someone only because he opposes reproductive choice you are likely to be voting for a scoundrel. None of us can get everything we want all the time anymore than the government can fool all of the people all of the time.
on March 25th, 2010 at 12:39 pm
So typical of the Tea-Bigots’ “Do as we say, not as we do” crowd: “As for Vanderboegh, his health care is already covered. He’s got private health insurance through his wife’s employer and he’s also receiving Social Security disability payments from the federal government.”
Another parasite railing about parasites…
@grannyofwhites: Using your logic, I guess the million or so native Americans should get first pick of everything; some of THEM have stuck around here for millenia!! What you’re really saying is white Americans should have preferential treatment because we STOLE this country first.
on March 25th, 2010 at 1:49 pm
Granny I’m not sure why you believe that most Americans agree with you that immigrants are coming here commit crimes or to take advantage of our social safety net (do we even have one?) rather than to secure a better life for their children. If I were going to risk death from thirst while crossing the desert or abuse from the coyotes who profit from US immigration enforcement I believe I would continue on to Canada where they actually have a social safety net. Actually most Americans voted for Barack Obama who promised, among other things, immigration reform. If I’m not mistaken most Hispanic voters also voted for him so It’s hard for me to imagine that anyone expected immigration reforms of the type you are espousing, “more troops and drug-sniffing dogs.”
I’m sure the reports from your local “immigration watchdogs” are as fair and balanced as Fox News but apparently they don’t offer any evidence that crime is more prevalent among immigrants than it is in the general population, only that there are criminals among the immigrants as there are among Congressman and Priests. I certainly applaud the altruism of anyone who practiced birth control primarily out of concern for the environment. I suspect that most practiced it for the same reason folks from around the world come to America, to make a better life for their children.
The world has become very small. I’m not sure how much difference it makes whether an exploding population produces food, energy, and goods (not to mention pollution) for US consumption across the border in Mexico or around the world in China. I think I’d just as soon have them doing it here where there are some regulations a few of which are actually enforced (in a sort of half-a—- way). I do know that population grows more slowly in developed countries. I’m pretty sure that, while birth rates among some immigrant groups may be higher than the US birth rate, second and subsequent generations will strive to be more like Americans than Americans themselves in birth rate as in everything else. I’m pretty sure of this only because no mention of second generation birth rates was made on the numerous fear-mongering websites that attempt to stir up anti-immigrant sentiment with forecasts of environmental disaster. Thanks for inspiring me to do a bit of research on this.
Of course the other side of the coin is that Americans consume more per capita than anyone else in the world. I’m afraid immigrants are likely to prove more American than Americans in this respect too. So perhaps you are correct that we should keep them on their side of the border, slaving away for a pittance, so that we can continue to eat, drink, and drive ourselves to death and the rest of the world to environmental disaster.
on March 25th, 2010 at 3:12 pm
I, for one, think that if we are going to listen to a demographic because they’ve been her longer (“legals” vs. “illegals”) we should probably listen to the Aboriginal Americans (since I have a feeling someone would have a problem with calling them “Native Americans”) since they’ve been here for, at least, 10,000 years (I don’t have my World Prehistory book with me, so I’m guessing).
10,000 years>400 years. OR we could just follow the values of some French monstrosity:
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
on March 25th, 2010 at 3:41 pm
Why, my posts seem to disappear? So, this is the America of freedom my relatives fought for – or not?
No wonder the SPL Center is no longer viewed with the respect it once was.
on March 25th, 2010 at 4:00 pm
The rocks & bricks are just a warning of what is to come. The right wingers are incited to do violence, & GOP leaders are not trying to stop them.
By the sound of (taped) phone calls made to Dem Congressmen, the TeaBag Party is mostly the lowest IQ you could imagine. It is almost “hilarious” if not so full of venom. Maybe we should post a few addresses of GOP guys & say it is the “bad” guys & let them blow themselves up.
Just kidding. But in times of War, “All is Fair” (they used to say) & this looks like War.
on March 25th, 2010 at 4:16 pm
This is especially irritating because Republicans claim to be Christians and yet think they are better than others. If they read the bible it says something totally different!!!
Romans 12:3 3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
on March 25th, 2010 at 4:40 pm
So, it is okay to categorize Republicans, but you don’t like being categorized?
I think I know Democrats who claim to be Christians, as well.
on March 25th, 2010 at 4:41 pm
I thought Obama was a Christian?
on March 25th, 2010 at 4:59 pm
What about all the people who are part Native American – which includes many who are “white” in appearance?
Are they considered a hate group if they object to illegal immigration?
on March 25th, 2010 at 7:13 pm
And for those of you who think that whites were wrong to steal Native American land – may I ask what YOU are doing here?
Do you think we have forgiven YOU?
on March 25th, 2010 at 9:23 pm
Mitch Beales , I agree with most of what you say.
There are kooks in every movement. I have seen it with the animal rights people yet I still respect their right to protest. 1st amendment applies to all.
I think the one thing that upsets me the most are these extreme left and right wingers pointing the finger of blame at eachother for our nations problems. I would love it if they could drop their hatered for eachother for just one day and take a good look as to how both the democrats and republicans have turned us into debt slaves.
Do you remember the criminal banker bailouts durring the G W Bush years? That was a terrible event yet, it gave me hope that we could come together as united americans to stop this crime. We had liberals and conservatives fighting together to protest and shut down washingtons phone lines and email. The results were bad but we got the attention of both parties because we were united as one american people.
Now lets fast forward the clock with the health care deal. This was nothing more than a health insurance company bailout for the big four. These providers fought tooth and nail against the public option and our leraders sold us out yet again just like bush did with the bankers. It is un american to force people to buy from one of the mega corperations. Now 30 million are going to be forced into doing just that if they want it or not. 30 million new buyers added and forced to buy from these fat cat rich health care giant corperations. Think about it. It’s just wrong.
As far as your comments about armed resistance, I suppose I would be more able than the average american in dealing with a home invasion by thugs (government or not) but I would never go out and hurt someone over petty disagreements or politics.
I do feel the the extreme left and right need to wake the hell up. Guess what ? The Republicans and Democrats don’t give a danm about us little serfs who serve them. They only look out for their rich corperate, banking and health provider buddies. Sorry. I am just trying to be as truthful and honest as I can be. I do not not have any bad feelings towards you or anyone on this site.
on March 26th, 2010 at 8:04 am
ABOUT THE THREATS & VIOLENCE:
With respect to both sides, we have to let “cooler” heads prevail. Otherwise none of us would ever again be able to walk down our sidewalks in peace. Even going to church.
We would eventually have to declare “martial law” & this can spell the end of our most precious freedoms, with tanks & bayonets, armed militia would stand guard & enforce curfews.
For the radical GOP leaders:
YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW.
Once the violence escalates, YOU will also be Targets. It is just the Rules of the Game.
Remember Newton, who said:
“For every Action, there is an equal & opposite REACTION.”
on March 26th, 2010 at 10:16 am
Marcia I’m pretty sure you were speaking figuratively but if this looks like war to you you have never seen war and I hope you never do. I agree that those who promote violence fail to realize that the result is much more likely to be Afghanistan than the Nirvana they hope for.
AR I think it would be much easier if, “The Republicans and Democrats [didn't] give a danm about us little serfs who serve them.” I believe that most folks in public life do very much give a damn about the nation and its people. Unfortunately there is no one quite so dangerous or persistent as those who think they’re doing what’s best for everyone, be they democrats, republicans, or three percenters.
I hope for your sake that you won’t meet government intrusions with armed resistance. That will most likely lead you to death or long imprisonment. A good friend of mine recently had occassion to suffer a great deal at the hands of the Department of Child Services in Tennessee. Eventually things worked out reasonably well after she and her family were put through hell for several months. My conclusion from this and many other incidents is that, most of the time, the law leads to a reasonable solution after you’ve been put through hell. So it appears to me that the choice most often is between legal hell for several months or the hell of death or prison for much longer.
Regarding your comments on right and left I think it is interesting to note (if I’m not mistaken) that gun laws as they are today began to be passed when the Black Panther Party began to arm themselves.
Granny I don’t think anyone here would characterize folks who oppose immigration as a hate group just because they oppose immigration. What seems hateful to me is referring to fellow human beings as “illegals.” They are our neighbors whichever side of the border they’re on. I believe that those who love their neighbors as themselves have already entered the kingdom of heaven. So, Granny, here’s wishing you heaven.
on March 26th, 2010 at 10:44 am
Immigration groups are on the SPLC Hate map.
Haven’t you even looked at it?
I have worked with people of all races and I KNOW that Latinos can be racist.
And yet – wella – not one group of Latinos are on the Hate Map.
Blacks, Jews, and whites – are.
on March 26th, 2010 at 10:53 am
I used to have nothing but sympathy for the “immigrants” – I supported them fully. And, I thought of myself as a liberal.
However, with a few FACTS, you will find yourself changing – to the other side.
After all, illegals are not saints. They are people. They are not somehow above us. Cleaning a toilet does not make one a saint. Most Americans clean their own toilets. And there are still many of us who brought in the crops and worked in canneries. That didn’t make us saints and it sure as heck doesn’t make the illegals saints, either.
on March 26th, 2010 at 11:02 am
Our property taxes came to over $5,000 this year and went up $300 even though our home value dropped $100,000.
And you wonder why the Republicans are angry?
Property taxes go for schools and my age group were among those who controlled births.
Is that easy enough to understand?
on March 26th, 2010 at 1:44 pm
Unfortunately a few facts can often be very misleading. All the facts or as many of them as you can get your hands on usually lead to a better conclusion. And that bit about loving your neighbor is, I think, truer than any mere fact could ever be.
Our assessment actually went down slightly this year. I expect our taxes to go up anyway but we’re hoping for the best. Considering the irresponsible spending on undeclared wars and bailouts for billionaires we should probably pay these taxes into an escrow account for our grandchildren! Where I live property taxes go for a lot more than just schools but frankly I wouldn’t mind higher taxes if the schools provided a decent education. I am also aware that I am very lucky to be in a situation where I can honestly say that. The way things stand my grandchildren will pay more for interest on the national debt than has been paid for all their schooling.
on March 26th, 2010 at 5:00 pm
Democracy is about debate. Violence is not democratic and when used politically is a step down the road to totalitarianism.
on March 26th, 2010 at 7:37 pm
I’m starting to regret being a semi-Mennonite. I might need to protect myself from these wackos. Sooner or later there are going to be some kind of Oklahoma City thing going on. These nutcases only need a Ruby Ridge before they go off the deep end. And I wanted a Federal job, too, because they’re “always hiring”. These guys afraid of martial law (unless this is a different conspiracy-minded group of lunatics) might be setting up a self-fulfilling prophesy.
on March 27th, 2010 at 3:05 am
“GrannyofWhites”, your pseudonym says it all. Just by your need to show off that your entire family tree for “400 years” is white (you think), you tell us where you’re coming from. The ladies auxiliary of the KKK?
I do agree wholeheartedly with you about birth control, if little else. talk to the Pope about it, I beg you! As 100% honkey, you might be able to catch his ear. To be fair, we need more reproductive responsibility.
To be more fair, “they” spew environmental toxins no matter where “they” live. More may be spewed by American companies in foreign lands, as they go there to avoid regulations (the companies are taking our jobs away-far away).
I wonder who invented all this dirty technology and filthy chemicals? Could it be…mostly white Americans? And who took our jobs to loose-regulation countries…you guessed it-mostly white Americans.
I agree about your property taxes. They ought not to go up when values go down, but do you really want more poor, uneducated kids, of all colors, storming your gates for lack of a better enterprise?
Alternately, you could try being entirely disenfranchised yourself. They don’t take taxes from the destitute (though they may try).
I’m not sure why you complain so much about your posts being deleted. You seem to get one posted every 5 minutes.
As a born (uh-oh white) American, I would give anything to have the means to go somewhere else, as there doesn’t seem to be any means to deal with generations of brainwashing.
Mr. Vanderboegh is just one more example of what it’s come to. The “war” isn’t now, it’s around the corner-and I don’t want anything to do with it!
on March 27th, 2010 at 10:51 am
Granny of Whites
I am only half white. And you wouldn’t be so harsh to me if you looked in my dark brown eyes, (since you are prejudiced against whites).
Hypocrits.
on March 28th, 2010 at 3:59 am
What has happened? I have been very busy for the last 2 days, & must have missed something.
No more violence or threats? No more harrassing phone calls to Congressmen? That is a shock.
SEEKING Patriotic CACTUS for Rally Against Harry Reid:
Maybe it took the wind out of their sails to bus all the way down to Searchlight NV to see Harry Reid’s hometown. And to find nothing but a few trailers among the gravel & sand dunes.
Only one lizard was there & he was not a registered voter.
on March 28th, 2010 at 4:03 pm
Clearly, Vanderboegh does not have a firm grasp on the English language, as he obviously doesn’t know the meaning of “civil disobedience.” This fault pales in comparison, however, to his failure to grasp reality.
on March 29th, 2010 at 12:19 pm
Oh how funny, only one lizard. Yeah, I’ve noticed that the cameras have put a tight squeeze when covering the Tea events. Not so many goobers showing up these days.
on April 6th, 2010 at 4:29 pm
Vanderboegh,Limbaugh,Glen Beck and their ilk are inciting the radical Right to violence.President Obama has been called everything from a Moslim Terrorist to the Anti-Christ.Every time there is a new entitlement program,like Medicare and now Healthcare Reform,the extreme Right starts screaming -Socialism and an end to Freedom.These Hate Groups worry me because they belong to the Party that has wanted to be the moral compass for the Country.The Radical Right almost always brings God into their politics.They remind me of the Puritans,that see evil in the Government where there is none.
on April 7th, 2010 at 9:46 am
Right and left, when reason and facts don’t support their position, cite God and Chairman Mao proving yet again that dogma is a bitch.
on April 9th, 2010 at 11:53 am
The real problem is that both the right and the left have been selling us out to ingratiate themselves. The dangerous part of this is that National sovereignty is now on the line – and with that individual freedoms.
I know that on the left and on the right there are good people – people who love this country and want to protect it. But there are some very sinister people in those parties as well. The Tea Party movement has arrisen because we are tired of the Left-Right Paradigm, and their goals of internationalism at the expense of National sovereignty and individual freedoms.
This Vanderboegh guy is just an instigator, and not a part of the genuine Tea Party movement that just wants to preserve the Constitution in order to protect freedom.
on April 9th, 2010 at 3:30 pm
There are doctors who are members of the Tea Party – interesting. Are physicians now becoming “far-right”?
Quit labeling, people. Listen to yourselves.
on April 9th, 2010 at 5:44 pm
The tea party sure looks right wing to me. You claim to be concerned about individual liberties but where was Sarah Palin when Bush’s government suspended habeas corpus? Individual liberties have to be for everyone or they don’t exist. You can’t talk about individual liberties out of one side of your mouth and complain when the FBI informs suspected terrorists of their constitutional rights out of the other.
Vanderboegh is more than just an instigator, he is urging people to step outside the constitution and use bricks to communicate with their representatives instead of votes. What’s sinister is when folks in or out of any party claim that “most Americans” oppose this or support that regardless of the fact that most Americans who performed their duty as citizens voted for President Obama and a democratic majority in both houses of Congress.
I don’t know why you believe that individual freedoms and internationalism are mutually exclusive but like it or not internationalism is a fact of life. Sooner or later we will have world government or we will have world anarchy. If you want to know what world anarchy looks like you could review the films of the World Trade Center from September 11, 2001.
on April 10th, 2010 at 11:03 am
Using your logic “most” people supported Hitler so therefore, they should ALL have supported him. I didn’t vote for Obama – nor did about half the people in my state.
on April 12th, 2010 at 5:14 pm
Granny perhaps you could take your own advice and stop labeling human beings as “illegals.” Many physicians are indeed pretty far right. Those I know who might be considered so (or who consider themselves so) do not engage in hate speech or propose throwing bricks through the windows of those who disagree with them. I don’t see anything wrong with people disagreeing as long as they do it civilly and respectfully.
I do see something disingenuous about the tea party, American Resistance, or 3 percenters representing themselves as somehow outside the whole spectrum of right and left although they espouse most of the positions that have always been associated with the right. I also object to implicit claims by the tea party that they somehow represent the views of the “silent majority” although they have never won (or even run in) a single election.
In my opinion the fact that anyone could imagine that the tea party is anything but right wing shows just how far to the right our politics have swung. Since the McCarthy era our foreign policy has been driven by anti-communist rhetoric to produce instability in the countries to our south that has directly impacted the economic disaster that drives so many to seek a better life north of the border despite the horrendous sacrifices required to make the journey. The right wing fanatics also insisted on funding Al Qaeda, the Mujahideen, and the Taliban to oppose the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan because it had asked for assistance from it’s neighbor, the Soviet Union.
In an earlier post you stated “Don’t give me this “better life” baloney. That is the garbage that most Americans increasingly won’t buy.” So it appears to me that you are the one arguing that what most folks want is what should be. The primary difference between your argument and mine seems to be that there are election results that show that most voted for Obama while all you provide is an unsupported claim that most Americans don’t believe immigrants come here for a better life. I don’t mean to suggest that what most folks want is right (although it often is, that’s the basis of democracy), but I object to unsupported claims that most Americans oppose immigration or health care reform.
on April 13th, 2010 at 8:11 am
GrannyofWhites,
My family has always been here. We were in New Mexico when America took it over. My father WW ll vet, my maternal grandfather Korean war vet. I am against illegal immigration for a lot of reasons, half which are the negatives experienced by the children of the immigrant. Having said that you eluded to why your heart is so mean. You are staring up at the well healed upper middle class. Was it because your parents did not have big money to fund your education or you did not have the skill set to start and grow a successful business? I don’t’ know but I know that you do not live in an upscale neighborhood because you said and I quote, “Our neighborhood was “hit” by the Norteno gang ”
That Granny does not happen in upscale neighborhoods. I am on the board of our community and we have no such activity because there are no gangs for miles of our neighborhood. Here live judges, music artist, business owners, dentists and such.
That, Granny is why you are full of spite. You are bitter because failed to achieve your vision of the American Dream and rather than saying, “I should have worked harder” you want to blame the illegal immigrants.
on April 16th, 2010 at 2:15 pm
Doctors in the Tea Party? I find that very hard to believe. I attended a group in Southern California that included many doctors – real MDs. They are working very hard for Obama’s health care plan.
If there were doctors in the Tea Party wouldn’t they correct all the spelling errors on the Tea Party members signs?
Oh my gosh just saying it makes me laugh like crazy. Poor Tea Party members are uneducated racists being played like a fiddle by big Corps.