In Oklahoma City, a new anti-government wave

[TomCADem]

Source: LA Times

The Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum now occupies the site of the Murrah building, and it honors the 168 people killed that April 19 and the many others injured. Very little is mentioned there about the bomber, Timothy J. McVeigh, and his distrust of the federal government.

But last week, fear of federal power was a noisy side note as the city prepared to mark Monday's anniversary.

For two days, thousands of "tea party" members gathered on the statehouse grounds shouting anti-government slogans and waving flags such as "Don't Tread On Me" and "End the Fed!" A proposal expected to be introduced soon in the Legislature to create a new state militia, out of the control of federal authorities and staffed by armed and uniformed volunteers, drew praise. "That is how we can protect ourselves," said John Slocum, in the crowd at a Thursday rally. "We're real big on states' rights. We want to bring back the balance of power."

* * *
Most tea party people are peaceful," Thai said. "But it only takes one person to choose violence, just one person to be another Timothy McVeigh."

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-oklahoma-city18-2010apr18,0,1284.story

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The irony is thick as Oklahoma legislators propose forming an anti-government militia based on right wing hysteria, yet they commemorate the bombing of the Federal Building in Oklahoma City 15 years ago.

Also, it just takes one person? Haven't we already had several terrorist acts by right wing nuts?

[FailureToCommunicate]

1. Tea baggers who ignore history are doomed to repeat it, and repeat it, and repeat it, and

[roguevalley]

18. the city better step up if something stupid happens there. Honestly,

of all the towns and states that should have stupid going on, this is the last one I would think to name. I pray that tomorrow passes peacefully.

[SoapBox]

2. Crazy...

I just don't get it either.

They hate government...but...they were attacked (and had men, women, and children killed) by a government hater.

??????

Just plain nuts.

[ShockediSay]

17. They're like madhatter maggots swarming to their next feeding frenzy n/t

[tulsakatz]

3. they need to consult the US constitution.............

....because the constitution clearly states that the President is commander in chief of any militia whether it be federal or local.

Somehow, I doubt that they would be happy if the leader of their militia were Obama.......

[slackmaster]

13. That is not exactly right

Article II, Section 2 states:

The President shall be commander in chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the militia of the several states, when called into the actual service of the United States...

Most of the time the state militias are under state rule. Every state constitution I've read names the state's Governor as commander in chief of the state militia(s). The President has the power to summon the state militias for federal duty.

[Thor_MN]

15. I say Obama should summon ALL American militias for federal duty and command them to watch their

local farmlands for crop circles. Make these wannbe soldiers say "Your not the boss of me!!1!!11!!!"

[Demstud]

20. So he is commander and chief

So Obama would have control of the militia if he decided to call them up for duty? At least that's how I'm reading it. Could he send them to Afganistan? :-D

[slackmaster]

21. He is, he has, and he did

There are National Guard units serving in both Iraq and A-stan.

[Skittles]

4. these folk are fucking nuts

it's like Obama's election turned on a light and sent the cockroaches scattering

[ixion]

11. It's Pavlovian

and the Pavlov would be the folks who initiated the so-called Tea Party, which came into being before the ink was dry in November.

[rpannier]

5. They can call their first brigade

The Timothy McVeigh Brigade. I know he'd be proud.

[cayanne]

6. Militias in Idaho

Check out my post in the Idaho forum.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=149x774

[Haole Girl]

7. The amount of hatred is really scary

:-(

[okieinpain]

22. what really frightens me is these people are being used by the

conservatives to bolster their numbers. I just read stephen kings book "under the dome", and it's the same tricks be used by the bad guy in the book, being used on people in real life. it's no different then a policemen shooting a black kid, then some nut case coming along and stirring up the crowd.

they are actually trying to pass a law in oklahoma that the local police force will not have to cooperate with the feds investigating a hate crime in oklahoma. they are also trying to pass a law that before you can get an abortion you will have to look at the sonogram and have a doctor read a description of the fetus to you.

since the repugs have taken over the state house it's been one stupid thing after another. some idiot was even moving president obama's picture from behind the speakers chair so it would not show up on TV during televised events from the state house.

[No Elephants]

8. In the real American Revolution, conservatives would have been on the side of King George, just as

they were fro 2000 to 2008, when King George Dunnya Bush was busy creating this mess.

[madrchsod]

12. conservatives were on the side of the crown during the revolution

old lady bush`s kin thought slavery was acceptable....

[RoyGBiv]

9. never mind

[ixion]

10. So, are they going to create a Tim McVeigh day?

Since, you know, that was his message and all.

Indeed. The irony is double-wide on this one.

[WatchWhatISay]

14. If Obama turns out to be a one term President, will they still feel the same way under a Republican

president. Something tells me the whole idea would fade off into nothing.

[FailureToCommunicate]

19. Teabaggers probably will...if he's, you know, ah, um, not white.

[DiverDave]

16. Fucking TRAITORS!

Go ahead and try to form a "Armed militia"and try and use it.
See how fast the 82nd airbourne shoves an m16 up your asses.

They wont do anything, they just talk big.

[Green_Lantern]

23. states already have state guard militias...

These other groups are operating outside legitimate law.

State and local militias are fine as long as they exist to abide by the law under legal authority.