Internet radio host Hal Turner, variously described as a right-wing shock jock, a white supremacist and a neo-nazi, has been arrested for threats against three federal judges. The judges, Frank Easterbrook, Richard Posner and William Bauer, had upheld a handgun ban in Chicago.
In a June 2 blog posting, Turner wrote, "Let me be the first to say this plainly: These judges deserve to be killed. Their blood will replenish the tree of liberty. A small price to pay to assure freedom for millions.” These words foreshadow the rhetoric of armed protesters at recent public apppearances by President Obama.
Turner also published the judges' work addresses, phone numbers, and photographs, as well as map to and photo of the building where they work.
Turner's savage comments are part of a pattern, just one instance of the right wing's steadily ratcheting up its provocations since Obama's election; Rep. Joe Wilson's heckling of the president earlier this week is only the most recent case. Protesters carrying assault weapons, assassination of abortion providers, openly racist signs and speech at "tea parties" and "town hells"--these people are openly testing the government, daring the president and the FBI to take action, after which they'll cry "Tyranny!" and raise the spectre of insurrection. If it's not the Turner arrest, it will be something else, and it will be soon.
Make no mistake: this is what the hardcore racists, the militia-mongers, the confederate flag-wavers have been salivating over in their dreams for years , and now they smell it in the air like blood. They can't wait.
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C.K. Dexter Haven
john blumenthal
Robin Sneed
neilpaul
moveovermommy
TheBarkingLot4
Salon.com
Comments
Myriad--The potential terrorists are a small minority, but there's a much larger group of zealous-to-middling sympathizers. Broader support depends on how far the extremists go, and in what way.
Robin--Unwell, yes. But you could say teh same for many of the early Nazis in Germany.
Odette--The problem is, with the media as it is, he's bound to get more exposure and a fat book deal out of it. Don't forget, Ann Coulter has made statements almost as extreme.
Ocular--"We can't control people." You've hit the nail on the head; that WILL be the line they take.
Eva--True, but somehow Ann Coulter not only gets away fantasizing about the death of liberals, the press, and anyone else she doesn't like, but also has a nice bank account and millions of adoring fans.
i think it is time to round up the hate criminals - rush, glenn, this dude, and so many others, that are doing nothing but fomenting rage and inciting to riot - they are not "dialoguing" "discoursing" or "discussing." they are giving people "reason" and permission to commit violence.
Arrest another. Collect them all.