Matt Lewis at the Daily Caller:
So if you are a conservative talk radio host, for example, might you not look at Bundy through the prism of Ruby Ridge? In the beginning, it might have been easy to assume Bundy would also go out in a blaze of glory, becoming a sort of martyr. And in this scenario, it would have been important to have staked out a pro-Bundy position before the government turned him into a real folk hero.
In other words, if we didn’t call dibs on Bundy’s corpse, someone else would have claimed it.
I got this from Reading is for Snobs, who points out that the Hannity interviews with Bundy were full of Sean asking Bundy if he was going to shoot back at the feds.
feebog
Of course he was. If it bleeds it leads, and Hannity was itching for a shootout at OK corral.
Just Some Fuckhead
It was just plain bad luck Bundy wasn’t killed before his dissertation on the Negro. Or a government plot to keep him alive to make him look bad.
CONGRATULATIONS!
I’ll buy this argument. Hannity seems like the kind of guy who gets hard at the idea of someone dying to improve his ratings.
cleek
true indeed. and it was pretty obvious (to me anyway) that “conservatives” were hoping it would turn into another Ruby Ridge. a good martyr is worth his weight in flag decals.
Certified Mutant Enemy
It’s amazing how many people think Ruby Ridge happened during the Clinton administration…
Bill in Section 147
@Just Some Fuckhead: +1
Hannity was hoping to turn lead into gold. Another failure in basic chemistry.
Amir Khalid
Better for the right wing to have Bundy’s bloody shirt to wave than to have the man himself; no bloody shirt ever opened its piehole and said embarrassing things. They don’t object to what Bundy says, as Lewis admits, or at least they don’t think it matters —
— but they know it makes them look bad, whereas none would dare question a martyr to The Cause.
dubo
As you say, remember as all the apologists say “maybe Bundy was in the wrong, but the Feds handled it poorly” what they REALLY mean is “they didn’t light him up and give us what we wanted”
Bill in Section 147
@Certified Mutant Enemy: Funny how the stink was/is applied. Everybody forgets the actual incident happened during the reign of that horrible Democrat President Bush.
Scott S.
Bad enough that we don’t treat white terrorists like, you know, terrorists — but why shouldn’t Hannity, Fox, and talk radio be treated as terrorist supporters? In Dubya’s day, contributing to the wrong charity would get you thrown into Gitmo — why shouldn’t Hannity fry for encouraging and promoting terrorists?
David Hunt
@Scott S.:
IOKIYAR
Phantom 309
@Bill in Section 147: Yes, he truly wants his head made of gold!
Violet
@Scott S.: White people can’t be terrorists. They’re freedom fighters standing up for their rights.
boatboy_srq
@Certified Mutant Enemy: Big Gubmint Overreach™ trampling the rights of Righteous Xtian Hetero Caucasian Patriotic Real Ahmurrcans™ only occurs on Democrats’ watches, as it has been from the beginning: just look at what happened at Ft. Sumter- oh, wait…
/snark
They’re so convinced that unGawdly Librul IslamoFascoSoshulists are coming for their guns, their land, their
ill-gotten gainsrightfully earned compensation, and their marriages, that they’ll believe anything.Villago Delenda Est
@Scott S.: Sean Hannity is not dusky or Muslim. Nor is Cliven Bundy.
Therefore, Hannity cannot be encouraging or promoting terrorism.
Villago Delenda Est
@Phantom 309: I concur.
Time to take the Khal Drogo approach to these assholes.
schrodinger's cat
From TPM: About the WashPost ABC poll
WTF is wrong with these people?
Gene108
Yeah Ruby Ridge was botched and could have been handled better, but the Weavers were not innocent angels.
They were fucking selling sawed off shotguns to white supremacists.
There’s a very under reported intersection between second Amendment expansionists and white supremacists / militias. The end result of stripping away gun laws would be to allow these groups to be armed more heavily. There’s no way the NRA, GOA and other gun-nut groups cannot be aware of this outcome.
cleek
@schrodinger’s cat:
whatever’s wrong with them, it’s probably related to this:
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/young-americans-midterms
CONGRATULATIONS!
@Gene108: Aware? I think they’re thrilled. I think it’s deliberate.
Because if all the crazies arm up, I’m arming up too. Moar moneys for the merchants of death.
Belafon
@schrodinger’s cat: Because most of them aren’t seeing what we see: Continued Republican obstruction of the president trying to do anything. They are thinking in terms of two sane parties that balance each other.
? Martin
@cleek:
The timing is very important. They need to first establish that the individual destined to die in a hail of Social Security hollow-points is a true Conservative Prophet™. Once their martyr is properly framed, then they need to die promptly, before the pressure comes off and they find themselves rambling about the negro.
Cassidy
Speaking of blood lust, another good guy with a gun: http://m.ajc.com/news/news/cobb-police-investigating-shooting-at-fedex-facili/nfkNR/
Too bad other good guys with guns didn’t go all Chuck Norris in him.
schrodinger's cat
@Belafon: I am wondering whether this poll was conducted using landlines? Did they correct for cell phone users?
justawriter
Yeah, I’m old enough to remember when being a cop killer was a bad thing no matter the circumstance. The law enforcement officers who died at Ruby Ridges and Waco (and earlier at the hands of Gordon Kahl in North Dakota) will always get a raw deal from the right wing version of history.
Keith G
@schrodinger’s cat:
Question:
Answer:
The leadership of the Democratic Party.
For more than a generation. the leadership of the GOP has understood an unfortunately inconvenient truth that a significant number of the American voting public act no better than sheep. that is:
With the right dogs, they can be scared, rounded up, and herded in ways that otherwise would be incomprehensible.
During this same period of time, the dominant approach of the Democratic leadership has seemed to be:
We are better people with smarter ideas. Just listen to the logic of our arguments and you will believe.
I am not sure if that has ever happened across a whole society in human history; yet, it is a conceit inherent in many idealistic leaders, Mr Obama included.
The GOP has continually worked the crowd. Time and time again, pushing all the right buttons to stoke the emotional reactions that are a part of the human experience. They operate where the people are, while Democrats operate where they wish the people to be.
What are the results? Well, look at the Congress and look at the Supreme Court. Look at public opinion on issues such as gun control and access to abortion, then look at the laws that have been passed.
Being “smarter” or being correct is not enough.
Chyron HR
@Keith G:
Hypothetically, is there anything a Republican could do that you wouldn’t tie yourself in pretzels to blame on Democrats?
CONGRATULATIONS!
@Chyron HR: He’s right in this case. The GOP does populism masterfully. The Democratic party seems to have forgotten what populism is, much less how to work with it.
Being “smarter” is getting the Democrats exactly what it used to get me back in school: a kicked ass and a bunch of nerdy, unpopular friends.
Elizabelle
At what point does Hannity and Fox News cross over to “shouting fire in a crowded theatre” territory?
Yes, we have a First Amendment, and yes, Fox News probably has some very smart and well paid lawyers.
However, some of the management and on-air talent are likely crazier than shithouse rats, even while they are lucratively milking the rubes AND watched carefully by network lawyers for compliance with the letter of the laws, if not their spirit.
So: how far does Hannity get to go?
People are lining up to denounce Bundy — once his “The Negro” comments hit the airwaves — and they’re denouncing that LA Clippers owner. It’s the new thing now that MH 370’s disappearance is not.
Why can’t and don’t we denounce Hannity and others who throw matches on gasoline for ratings, money, and political means that don’t benefit the American public?
(I always wonder if the piling on on Clippers Owner Sterling, et al. by CNN etc. is a production so viewers and readers can say — “See? We’re not like THOSE people. We aren’t [racists, sexists, adulterers …]”
Meanwhile, the racism and other ugliness under the radar goes unaddressed and unreported on. Because we as a society have moved past that. Conservatives on our Supreme Court say so. Right.
Elizabelle
At what point does Hannity and Fox News cross over to “shouting fire in a crowded theatre” territory?
Yes, we have a First Amendment, and yes, Fox News probably has some very smart and well paid lawyers.
However, some of the management and on-air talent are likely crazier than shithouse rats, even while they are lucratively milking the rubes AND watched carefully by network lawyers for compliance with the letter of the laws, if not their spirit.
So: how far does Hannity get to go?
People are lining up to denounce Bundy — once his “The Negro” comments hit the airwaves — and they’re denouncing that LA Clippers owner. It’s the new thing now that MH 370’s disappearance is not.
Why can’t and don’t we denounce Hannity and others who throw matches on gasoline for ratings, money, and political means that don’t benefit the American public?
(I always wonder if the piling on on Clippers Owner Sterling, et al. by CNN etc. is a production so viewers and readers can say — “See? We’re not like THOSE people. We aren’t [racists, sexists, adulterers …]”
Meanwhile, the racism and other ugliness under the radar goes unaddressed and unreported on. Because we as a society have moved past that. Conservatives on our Supreme Court say so. Right.
Elizabelle
At what point does Hannity and Fox News cross over to “shouting fire in a crowded theatre” territory?
Yes, we have a First Amendment, and yes, Fox News probably has some very smart and well paid lawyers.
However, some of the management and on-air talent are likely crazier than shithouse rats, even while they are lucratively milking the rubes AND watched carefully by network lawyers for compliance with the letter of the laws, if not their spirit.
So: how far does Hannity get to go?
People are lining up to denounce Bundy — once his “The Negro” comments hit the airwaves — and they’re denouncing that LA Clippers owner. It’s the new thing now that MH 370’s disappearance is not.
Why can’t and don’t we denounce Hannity and others who throw matches on gasoline for ratings, money, and political means that don’t benefit the American public?
(I always wonder if the piling on on Clippers Owner Sterling, et al. by CNN etc. is a production so viewers and readers can say — “See? We’re not like THOSE people. We aren’t [racists, sexists, adulterers …]”
Meanwhile, the racism and other ugliness under the radar goes unaddressed and unreported on. Because we as a society have moved past that. Conservatives on our Supreme Court say so. Right.
Elizabelle
At what point does Hannity and Fox News cross over to “shouting fire in a crowded theatre” territory?
Yes, we have a First Amendment, and yes, Fox News probably has some very smart and well paid lawyers.
However, some of the management and on-air talent are likely crazier than shithouse rats, even while they are lucratively milking the rubes AND watched carefully by network lawyers for compliance with the letter of the laws, if not their spirit.
So: how far does Hannity get to go?
People are lining up to denounce Bundy — once his “The Negro” comments hit the airwaves — and they’re denouncing that LA Clippers owner. It’s the new thing now that MH 370’s disappearance is not.
Why can’t and don’t we denounce Hannity and others who throw matches on gasoline for ratings, money, and political means that don’t benefit the American public?
(I always wonder if the piling on on Clippers Owner Sterling, et al. by CNN etc. is a production so viewers and readers can say — “See? We’re not like THOSE people. We aren’t [racists, sexists, adulterers …]”
Meanwhile, the racism and other ugliness under the radar goes unaddressed and unreported on. Because we as a society have moved past that. Conservatives on our Supreme Court say so. Right.
Gene108
@Belafon:
I think it is more a “both sides do it” mind set that discourages Democratic voters.
People do not grasp how Republicans have screwed the non-rich by favoring one sided policies.
They just see that things are not good and Democrats may only be marginally better than Republicans, so why bother.
Distrust of government, whether it is caused by Ed Snowden or the FCC not being able to save Net Neutrality in the courts, hurts Democrats far more than Republicans.
raven
Is there an echo in here?
Elizabelle
Very sorry for the duplicate post. Can moderators remove the extras?
Elizabelle
@raven:
Hi Raven. Sorry about that. And such a wordy post too. Ugh.
raven
@Elizabelle: It’s been happening to me as well!
Elizabelle
@Gene108:
The logical flaw.
The “margin” includes the Affordable Care Act, Equal pay (Lily Ledbetter), acceptance of climate change, support for voting rights, sane Supreme Court justices, not shooting first and diplomacy later.
Marginally better my ass. Purposely misinformed general public.
Elizabelle
@raven:
Ah. Ah. Ah.
My mom’s in the hospital for tests (she’s doing very well). Figured it might be a problem with the hospital’s wireless.
Have missed you guys!
Keith G
@Chyron HR: That is a senseless and I dare say foolish calculation.
The GOP have been getting out-sized results ingeniously playing a weaker hand on many topics. They are wrong, yet they prevail.
Schlemizel
@Bill in Section 147:
But of course Bush was not a true conservative/Republican!
raven
@Elizabelle: Glad she’s doing well.
Villago Delenda Est
@Elizabelle: Forget it, Elizabelle. It’s FYWP.
If Bill O’Reilly can cheerlead the murder by a forced birth terrorist of George Tiller and get away with it, obviously it is possible to yell “Fire!” in a crowded theater and not be held accountable for it.
Comrade Scrutinizer
@Villago Delenda Est: That worked so well for Drogo..
Villago Delenda Est
@Comrade Scrutinizer: Well, Viserys got his golden crown, didn’t he? Drogo fulfilled his part of the bargain!
Villago Delenda Est
@Cassidy: Chuck Norris doens’t need guns. Sylvester Stallone, on the other hand, needs a crew-served weapon in each hand.
Kirk Evans
It should be noted that Lewis’s comment was in the context of criticizing conservatives for identifying with Bundy. The OP was ambiguous, and could be read as implying that Lewis was endorsing such a strategy.
Gene108
@Elizabelle:
Look at from a non-engaged voter’s view point.
I made $9/hr telemarketing in 1996 and I make $12/hr in 2014, in the service sector.
Government sucks because my situation is not better off in nearly 20 years.
The people, who are happy they are getting tax cuts and wages are stagnating are OK with the status quo.
Convincing people Democrats can cause change for the better is hard. The last 20 years have wiped out people’s faith in government.
Explaining how a cut in the capital tax rate or inheritance tax rate hurts a working stiff, by allowing the super wealthy to seek rents instead of investing in actual economic growth is really hard.
Chris
@schrodinger’s cat:
Americans will continue to be fucked until they understand what their forefathers in the 1930s did:
If you want a working government, a healthy society and an honest day’s pay for your honest day’s work, vote Democrat.
If that doesn’t do enough for you, vote for more Democrats.
If that doesn’t do enough for you, vote for more liberal Democrats.
Republicans are your enemies. Period. Understand that and vote aaccordingly, and you’ll have a healthy country.
Gene108
@Keith G:
Population distribution favors Republicans. Our Constitition gives disproportionate representation to Republicans.
CA can give a Democratic Senator millions of votes, but the couple of hundred thousand people that vote in WY will put a Republican in the Senate.
Same goes for the House, where rural areas get more than their share of representation versus urban areas.
Rural Anerica tilts Republican, so a guy with a few thousand votes in WY has the same status as a Senstor as someone from CA or other blue states.
GregB
@Amir Khalid:
He waved a bloody calf instead.
boatboy_srq
Almost forgot:
Indeed. Better a dead Martyr to The Cause than a living, breathing, seditious bigoted grifter who can be hung around The Cause’s neck.
Perhaps we could use this to our advantage: the suggestion that so long as they’re breathing they’re at least as likely to end their 15 minutes as a rank humiliation as they are a cause celebre, and that the only way to avoid that fate is Death By Federal Agents In Front of Fauxnooze Cameras, could dissuade at least a few.
Paul in KY
@Chris: We need our Democratic leaders to be more forceful & to-the-point with those facts.
Don’t worry about the screamers from the other side whining about your ‘class warfare’, they will scream anyway, so you might as well tell some hard truths.
Also, when they scream, point out how much shreiking they are doing & note that where there’s smoke, there’s fire.
The Pile On
@justawriter: You’re so dead on about the damage to the law enforcement personnel on site caused by these right wing Jihads . My family lives in Waco, and I know of one FBI agent who was suicidal after hearing the screams of the children burning alive in the compound, set by Vernon Howell (aka David Koresh. I will NEVER call him that…) And the Republican a$$hats make heroes out of these murderers.
Cacti
The most illustrative part of all of this is how Bundy’s cult status has been fueled by nothing but hatred for the African American, Democratic POTUS.
Bundy’s rights haven’t been violated in any way, shape, or form. He had due process of law and lost, so he decided to get violent instead of taking no for an answer. He and his followers wanted a bloodbath and did their best to provoke one.
And for the cherry on top, he turns out to be a nasty racist.
This loon needs to be tied like an anchor to the neck of every GOPer who propped him up.
Elizabelle
From Matt Lewis’s column:
Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2014/04/25/why-we-made-cliven-bundy-a-folk-hero/#ixzz30IHLZvbs
What’s lamentable is that conservatives won’t look beyond government and the media for culprits.
They aren’t looking for unfettered capitalists, war profiteers, oligarchs, the corrupted, the greedy, those who game the system. Those are the folks who have eviscerated the middle class.
Government and the media — when properly applied — can counterbalance that threat.
Conservatives can’t think or look as well as they can shout.
Soonergrunt
@Gene108: Somebody needs to sue the congress and force them to abide by the Constitution. There’s nothing in there limiting the number of representatives to 435, and there is a requirement for something like a minimum of 1 representative per 30,000 persons. The current average is something like 1 per 700,000, which gives smaller states even more power than they should have in that body.
Soonergrunt
@Elizabelle: “What’s lamentable is that conservatives won’t look beyond government and the media for culprits.
They aren’t looking for unfettered capitalists, war profiteers, oligarchs, the corrupted, the greedy, those who game the system. Those are the folks who have eviscerated the middle class.”
You do know that those people you’ve named are the primary conservative constituencies, no?
Roger Moore
@schrodinger’s cat:
They don’t pay much attention to politics except the time immediately around an election, and when they are paying attention they get their information from the MSM.
SatanicPanic
@Keith G: Yeah, look what it’s got the Republican party- a group of uncontrollable morons that ignore party leadership. Thanks, but I’ll pass on that.
Roger Moore
@Keith G:
No. The GOP has been getting good results by playing a stronger hand on one single topic that a lot of voters care a lot about: group solidarity. People are willing to vote for candidates who are one of Us rather than scary Others, even though those candidates go on to vote for policies that disproportionately benefit a small fraction of “Us” at the expense of the majority.
This is a drawback of representative government, especially in a two party, plurality winner system. It’s very difficult for voters to find a candidate who agrees with them on everything, so they are forced into some kind of compromise, picking candidates who agree with them on more issues or more important issues even when they might prefer a different candidate’s views on other issues. It makes it possible to get very unpopular results on issues that a majority of voters see as being of secondary importance.
Roger Moore
@Soonergrunt:
That’s exactly backward. The actual language of Article I Section II says that there shall not be more than one representative for each 30,000 population*. There was never an upper limit on the size of Congressional districts. I would definitely approve of increasing the size of Congress, but shrinking the average Congressional district to 30,000 constituents would result in a House with more than 10,000 members, which would be unwieldy in the extreme.
*Where population as originally defined excluded 2/5 of each slave and 5/5 of each “Indian not taxed”.
justawriter
@Gene108: I’ve always thought that if a fraction of one percent of the Dems in the urban enclaves would move to (or back to) rural haunts we could wipe out the GOP in a generation. Right now the state of North Dakota is advertising something like 25,000 open jobs due to the oil boom. If 80 percent were filled by right thinking individuals, it would swing quite a few of the statewide races blue.
AxelFoley
@Cassidy:
Considering Chuck Norris is a wingnut, I’m not sure that’s a good example.
AxelFoley
@Chyron HR:
Thank you. I was trying to wrap my mind around how Keith could blame the Dems for the GOP’s actions, but it’s become par for the course for him by now.
AxelFoley
@Elizabelle:
This.
Someguy
It’s a shame he didn’t go down in a blaze of glory. Everybody could have capitalized politically on that. This particular denoument, if it is in fact over, is disappointing.
Phantom 309
@Villago Delenda Est: Well, to be honest, I’d prefer a deuce and a half with a couple of M242 Bushmasters or M230s. Blammo!