Thomas Jefferson called a free press vital to the functioning of a free nation, and Benjamin Franklin is purported to have said that the Constitutional Convention had produced a republic - if we could keep it. That we could lose our republican representative democracy can be seen in the ominous ambition of actor Chuck Norris, who has publicly threatened an outbreak of revolution emanating from right-wing militia cells across the land. This is no idle threat. The Secret Service is "visiting" those who make inflammatory threats [see: here and here for examples] to inform them that hostile comments attacking Obama won't play in Peoria. There will be a backlash. As was done to protect George W Bush, so will it be done for Obama — and Chuck Norris can like it!
It wasn't all that long ago that this regressive movement claimed a media victim. Radio talker Alan Berg was gunned down in his own driveway by such paranoids over his commentary on June 18, 1984. Sarah Palin's crowd-baiting comments during the electoral campaign, and Rush Limbaugh's recent CPAC blathering — which inspired The Milwaukee Small Business Times to insist that "Conservatives need to put Limbaugh in his place" — can be seen as whipping up the rabid rabble into taking violent action in a misguided attempt to save the nation by destroying it. Add in the frenzied e-mail campaign "defense" against claims of excessive weapons control on the part of the Federal Government (which can't possibly have had time to convert from the Bush laissez-faire approach to law enforcement), and the paranoia is loosed upon the land. If a chimpanzee in a Swedish zoo can plan ahead to attack the humans it despises as symbols of its captivity, could not Rush's Dittoheads - who consider themselves superior to all other simians — do so as well?
If Obama does fail to quickly fix the economy, he will only have poured gasoline onto a conflagration. The seeds of violent revolution are all in place, and you don't need a Weatherman to see which way the windbag blows. Just follow the scraps of what was once the Constitution as they waft in the breeze, accompanied by the tattered shreds of that layoff notice you attacked in frustrated rage. You don't need someone to sell you a "translated" version of current events packaged especially for your personal edification. That litter is the only truth that you need to know, and all it cost you was your entire tradition of freedom and prosperity.
Article comments
1 - Aetius Romulous
It took 30 years to create this mess, and I suspect it will take 30 years to rebuild. Does anybody have a firm grasp on the time it takes to reconfigure and reboot an entire civilization?
Patience is one thing America has learned to live without, unfortunately.
2 - roger nowosielski
I'm not certain I understand exactly your concerns, Realist. Are you suggesting that if we won't see results, and quickly, we might see a rebellion from the right?
3 - Joanne Huspek
The newspaper thing is quite troubling, and I'm not sure this pay per view tactic is going to work. The Detroit News is going for it in a few weeks, printing the "real" paper only on weekends. The paper has been thin for years and the content is teetering on the extreme left only, so I may not renew.
Of course, real journalism is in decline, so maybe this is the next step toward Armageddon?
4 - Ruvy
Bit by bit, folks, the glue holding America together is becoming unglued. The same is true for parts of Europe, and most assuredly for Pakistan, and the middle East. The civilization we knew is disappearing. Not changing, as some would argue, as they clean their rose-coloured glasses, but disappearing.
It's no happening all at once, and Realist is picking at the front end of the scene, the stuff before the real event. But, at some time soon, the rest will follow the trailblazers to oblivion.
Ah! To live in interesting times!
5 - roger nowosielski
"The civilization we knew is disappearing. Not changing, as some would argue, as they clean their rose-coloured glasses, but disappearing."
You may hit the nail on the head, Ruvy. This really is my greatest concern. I don't think you've read one of my pieces here (The Hidden Dimensions of American Politics, Part III) where I address this concern specifically, but I do. I sure hope we will be able to avert this. Unlike Chris Rose, I'm not very optimistic about the immediate future. After the dust settles - perhaps, but not before, I'm afraid.
6 - Silas Kain
Perhaps, Ruvy, the United States hasn't been 'glued' since September 11, 2001. Come to think of it, our union has been fragile since day one, they just forgot to teach that to us in our non-existent civics classes in public schools..
7 - roger nowosielski
More likely, Silas, it's becoming unglued. Which perhaps is an indication of the kinds of fissures which existed all along. Perhaps all unions and confederacies are like that.
8 - Silas Kain
Roger, I was 3 days shy of my 8th birthday when JFK was shot. Even today I remember that weekend as if it were last week. And the one thing that I remember most was an old aunt who kept saying that she thought one of 'those Southerners' did it. She detested LBJ and went to her grave believing that somebody in the South did it to Kennedy because he was a Catholic. Perhaps, you're right. Perhaps all unions are like that.
9 - roger nowosielski
I've also experienced JFK's assassination; and though I was 16 at the time, it was a hulluva impact. I didn't detest LBJ, though. I'd like to believe he had nothing to do with it. Still, we were at the zenith then. Ever since, America's been on the way down.
I suggest one heck a book - it's fiction but it reads better than the truth - by James Elroy, the author of Black Dahlia, namely, American Tabloid, dealing specifically with JFK sad end.
It reads like a movie. Damn, they ought to make a movie.
10 - Silas Kain
I loved Black Dahlia, so I will check that one out. And, you're right. It's like we've been on a downward spiral since November 22, 1963.
11 - roger nowosielski
You'll love Elroy's style - it reads like a police blotter. Ongoing action. In the Tabloid, he'd perfected it even more - beyond Black Dahlia.
I wish I could write like that, but he's not to be surpassed.
12 - Glenn Contrarian
Roger -
The Republicans do this every time. I clearly remember how just after Clinton took office, a congressman from one of the Carolinas (Jesse Helms, IIRC) claimed that Clinton should stay away because if he comes to one of the military bases there he might get shot. I think it was then that I started seeing through the right-wing bullcrap faux patriotism (that was in the eleventh year of my military career) and began my journey from being a Republican to a bleeding-heart liberal (and doggone proud of it!).
Another great example is Chuck Norris - it looks like he wants to become President of Texas since he's of the opinion that the "state of the union is turning into the enemy of the state"...and that states will begin to secede from America.
Yeah, the right wing doesn't change a whole lot.
13 - roger nowosielski
Yes, I realize the last part Glenn, just being skeptical about what they can really do. I think their power is waning - as evident, for instance, by the desperation you see on this here site.
Correct me if I'm wrong.
Glad to see you back, BTW. It was kind of hard to carry on this fight all by myself (Cindy, Jet, Handy, Silas Kain, few others perhaps). I definitely feel like I need reinforcement.
14 - Clavos
Aaaawww...
15 - roger nowosielski
Words of wisdom from Clav. Good to see you back, too.
16 - handyguy
Of course Obama won't "fix" the economy quickly. Nor would McCain have done so. I mean 12-18 months would be pretty fast. It's certainly not going to be any faster than that.
All a president can do is try to limit the damage until the economy heals itself. [Yes, I realize our GOP friends claim he is doing more damage; I say they don't know what they're talking about. And only time will tell.]
It was good at least to see the stock market go up 4 days in a row. But that probably doesn't mean much.