Josh Marshall: The Agony and the Derp

[babylonsister]

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/the-agony-and-the-derp


The Agony and the Derp

By Josh Marshall
Published January 4, 2016, 2:48 PM EST


I wanted to add one other coverage point on this Oregon white militants situation. On the one hand, a major reason why we've always been so interested in these stories is just how outrageous they are and the fact that the federal government is increasingly wary or simply unwilling to enforce the law.

As I said earlier, this really amounts to white privilege performance art. We always want to avoid violence and bloodshed whenever possible. But we are also a republic. We have a rule of law. People aren't allowed to take over government buildings, threaten federal officials with violence or keep demanding free handouts from the government (which is the underlying issue here) on the threat of violence. This is a mix of violent outlawery and domestic insurrection. And I think, if we think about it, we all know that it doesn't get a very tough response because the country just takes it for granted that white people in the interior West just act weird and do stuff like this.

And yet, the obvious comparisons between these bozos who seem to think the federal Constitution authorizes you to steal federal property and kill federal officials doesn't quite capture the whole story. As one Facebook commenter on one of our original stories put it with admirable understatement, the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge visitors' center is "probably one of the least critical spots to occupy in all of the United States." The whole stunt has all the hallmarks of what the rightwing extremist movie would play like if it were produced by the guys who made Best in Show or Waiting for Guffman.

Here's the latest, a video from these goofs featuring Blaine Cooper and anti-Muslim activist Jon Ritzheimer calling for people to join them. "This is going to be a historical site for this country," Ritzheimer said in the video. "We don't want bloodshed."

(Video at link)

Also, worth noting on the more serious side, they're also bringing in children as human shields.


snip//

So like I said, it's one part the mainstreaming of violent right wing extremism but also a major part comical nonsense by a bunch of losers who not only would be funny if weren't so serious but also manage to be fairly funny even though it is serious.

[Buzz Clik]

1. "this really amounts to white privilege performance art" Love it! WLM: White Lifestyles Matter

[MohRokTah]

2. And people were ALL OVER me yesterday when I called for immediate armed federal action.

Now these religious nutballs have brought in children as human shields, just like David Koresh.

The Feds have already let this thing get 1000 times worse.

Coddle the White Radical Mormon Extremist Terrorists, that's always the answer.

[Warren DeMontague]

3. They should just surround the place. Nothing in, anyone comes out gets arrested for trespassing, etc

Eventually these people will get hungry, and tired of looking at stuffed bird exhibits in a log cabin.

[Jerry442]

4. Yup.

Block the access roads with concrete barriers so no 4WDs can go in or out. Pull the plug on the utilities (if any) going to the building. Shut off all known cell phones there; the goal being to shut down communications completely. And...for any occupiers that can be identified, levy a fine for each day of trespassing and put out the word that liens will be placed on assets to ensure the payment of the fines.

[Warren DeMontague]

5. Totally.

I think there is a middle ground between "go in full ATF/Waco" and "give them a free pass"

[hunter]

6. Yes, turn it into a very unpleasant camping trip for them.

Laugh at them when they surrender.

Take them to jail.

Try them in court.

[Jim Lane]

9. I agree with you except on the fines.

The President can't just make up a law on the spot to deal with an unpleasant situation. He could, however, proceed with whatever laws are already on the books. Presumably there is at a minimum something about trespassing, and buried in the statute books there's probably other stuff that can be thrown at them.

Also, for a little bit of performance art based on the performance art: The President sends to Congress a proposed Defense Against Domestic Terrorism Act, with provisions to deal with a variety of the behaviors we've seen: brandishing weapons at federal employees, trespassing, seizing buildings, blocking roads or establishing "checkpoints", not paying grazing fees, etc. The bill would provide for criminal and civil remedies.

This couldn't be enacted, of course. That's why it's performance art. The fun would be in watching the Congressional Republicans squirm. If they vote for the bill they'll get primaried by a real whacko. If they vote against it, or refuse to sign a discharge petition to bring it to the floor, their Democratic opponents can run against them on a law-and-order platform.

[TrollBuster9090]

7. This quote pretty much sums it up

"because the country just takes it for granted that white people in the interior West just act weird and do stuff like this. "

I don't know if people in general believe this, but the PRESS certainly does, every time they cover these criminals in a way that makes it sound like their cause is half-way rational.

[tishaLA]

8. that is a great piece