Flashback: Republicans mocked DHS report warning of ‘antigovernment’ violence

[LaPera]

"Republicans derided and dismissed an April 2009 report by the Department of Homeland Security warning law enforcement officials of a spike in homegrown "rightwing extremism" fueled in part by "antigovernment" sentiments, which in retrospect appears to have been a chilling omen for the tragic Arizona shooting Saturday.

The report (PDF), which was coordinated with the FBI and titled, "Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment," warned of a rise in violence spurred by the economic downturn and the election of the nation's first African-American president.

Eighteen were shot, some fatally, in the attacks Saturday at a Tucson grocery store, including Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (AZ), who was critically wounded, as well as members of her staff and a federal judge.

The suspected gunman, Jared Lee Loughner, 22, has apparently posted anti-government screeds in videos on YouTube -- first uncovered by Talking Points Memo's Evan McMorris-Santoro -- which include paranoid rantings about the government, mind control and grammar.

At the time, republicans slammed the report as a political attack.

"The person who drafted the outrageous homeland security memo smearing veterans and conservatives should be fired," former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA) remarked.

Conservative blogger Michelle Malkin called the report a "hit job on conservatives," decrying it as "one of the most embarrassingly shoddy pieces of propaganda I'd ever read out of DHS. I couldn’t believe it was real."

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/01/flashback-conservatives-mocked-dhs-report-warning-antigovernment-violence/

[toddwv]

1. They definitely have a pre-Gifford shooting mentality.

It's amazing how fast the right-wing sycophants line up to justify their angry, violent and dangerous rhetoric.

"Them ain't no gun sights! Theys surveyor marks!" Right, we're supposed to ignore the obvious references to the Almight American Gun Culture.

[jpak]

4. We were warned - but the GOP refused to listen

again

[WillyT]

2. Great Reminder !!! - Thank You !!!

:kick: & Rec !!!

:hi:

[seafan]

3. Department of Homeland Security: "Right wing extremism in the United States..."

Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment, April 7, 2009








Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' blood is on Sarah Palin's hands after putting cross hair over district, NY Daily News, January 9, 2011


From a right wing site: (will not link to site)


March 23, 2010

Today, Governor Palin targeted 20 leftists in the US House of Representatives to be voted out, three of whom are retiring. “Commonsense Conservatives & lovers of America: ‘Don’t Retreat, Instead – RELOAD!’ Pls see my Facebook page,” (Palin, 2010, ¶1) she said on Twitter at 1331 EDT.

With the president signing this unwanted and “transformative” government takeover of our health care system today with promises impossible to keep, let’s not get discouraged. Don’t get demoralized. Get organized! (Palin, 2010, ¶1)

We’re paying particular attention to those House members who voted in favor of Obamacare and represent districts that Senator John McCain and I carried during the 2008 election. Three of these House members are retiring – from Arkansas’s 2nd district, Indiana’s 8th district, and Tennessee’s 6th district – but we’ll be working to make sure that those who replace them are Commonsense Conservatives. The others are running for re-election, and we’re going to hold them accountable for this disastrous Obamacare vote. They are: Ann Kirkpatrick (AZ-1), Harry E. Mitchell (AZ-5), Gabrielle Giffords (AZ-8), John Salazar (CO-3), Betsy Markey (CO-4). Allen Boyd (FL-2), Suzanne M. Kosmas (FL-24), Baron P. Hill (IN-9), Earl Pomeroy (ND-AL), Charlie Wilson (OH-6), John Boccieri (OH-16), Kathy Dahlkemper (PA-3), Christopher Carney (PA-10), John M. Spratt, Jr. (SC-5), Tom Perriello (VA-5), Alan B. Mollohan (WV-1), and Nick J. Rahall II (WV-3) (Palin, 2010, ¶3).

We’ll aim for these races and many others. This is just the first salvo in a fight to elect people across the nation who will bring common sense to Washington. Please go to sarahpac.com and join me in the fight (Palin, 2010, ¶4).

Stand tall, America. Real change is coming (Palin, 2010, ¶5)!

References:

Palin, S. L. H. (2010, March 23). “Don’t Get Demoralized! Get Organized! Take Back the 20!” Facebook, Sarah Palin. Retrieved March 23, 2010 from: http://www.facebook.com/sarahpalin#!/notes/sarah-palin/dont-get-demoralized-get-organized-take-back-the-20/373854973434

Palin, S. L. H. (2010, March 23). “Don’t Retreat – Reload” Twitter, Sarah Palin. Retrieved March 23, 2010 from: http://twitter.com/SarahPalinUSA/status/10935548053

(AP) This March 2010 photo shows a man identified as Jared L. Loughner at the 2010 Tucson Festival of Books in Tucson, Arizona. LINK


FBI director: Shooter's target was Giffords , January 9, 2011

FBI Director Robert Mueller said federal charges will be filed today against alleged Arizona shooting suspect Jared Lee Loughner.

Mueller said Loughner will face charges stemming from Saturday's gun rampage in Arizona, which left Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., fighting for her life. Six people, including U.S. District Judge John Roll, died in the incident and 14 others were wounded.

"The target was the congresswoman," Mueller said.

.....

Sarah Palin and the rest of the right wing hate careerists who are inciting a wave of right wing murderers should be held to account for the evil they are perpetrating on the people of this country.

[malaise]

5. Super recall

Thanks

[robdogbucky]

6. Examples of which are contained herein:

At the time, conservatives used the report to launch attacks on President Obama and DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano. Michael Steele, for example, said the DHS was trying to "segment out Americans who dissent from this administration." A few of the other criticisms included:

Rep. Bachmann: "To me, it looks like the extremists are those running the DHS."

Rep. Burgess: "I don't know that the secretary understands the depth of the disruption that she's caused...I think the appropriate thing to do is for her to step down and let's move on."

Rep. Boehner: "The report that came out of DHS was offensive, and unfortunately, Secretary Napolitano still has a lot of explaining to do."

Rep. Peter King: " has never put out a report talking about look out for mosques. Look out for Islamic terrorists in our country. Look out for the fact that very few Muslims come forward to cooperate with the police. If they sent out a report saying that, there would be hell to pay."

Sen. Ensign: "...this report raised some serious red flags about the mission of the Department of Homeland Security."

Sen. Inhofe: "I believe this report to be very offensive to many Americans."

Newt Gingrich: "The person who drafted the outrageous homeland security memo smearing veterans and conservatives should be fired."

Source: NBC 4


I wonder what each will say when asked about this now?

[Bluebear]

7. kick

[Overseas]

8. Yes they did. I remember that. K&R. ///nt