Entries in radical extremism (4)

Friday
Nov062009

Fort Hood Shooting Tragedy - 4 videos

Date20091106 at 22:37

UPDATE

Major Hasan’s Hidden Militancy | Daily Beast

The alleged Fort Hood gunman had revealed a hard-line Islamist streak to acquaintances in the Muslim Community Center that he made his mosque. The Daily Beast’s Asra Q. Nomani reports.

…

“So many time I talked with him,” said Akhter, a community leader who is sort of like a mosque gadfly, challenging congregants to reject literal, rigid interpretations of Islam. “I was trying to modernize him. I tried my best. He used to hate America as a whole. He was more anti-American than American.”

Despite all the conversations, Akther said, “I couldn’t get through to him. He was a typical fundamentalist Muslim.”

It wasn’t a label assigned lightly. Rather, it emerged after many one-on-one conservations between the engineer and the doctor in quiet spots from the library to the lobby to the prayer hall, discussing issues of interpretation like jihad, polygamy, assimilation, foreign policy, and the cutting of hands for theft. Other members of the community confirm this portrait of Hasan…

While I dread the coming fallout from the tragedy, Asra Nomani’s report gives me some comfort. The Muslim community did its part here, engaging with Hasan at the mosque. It remains to be seen whether further lines of communication should be opened, so that a “fundamentalist Muslim” serving in the military warrants a tip-off to his commanding officer.

UPDATE

See also: Fort Hood Shooting: The Aftermath | Daily Beast

See also: Murder and Mayhem at Fort Hood | Psychology Today

 

Local TV report on the Fort Hood shooting rampage. My heart goes out to the victims’ families.

A few hateful, racist and politically extreme Americans are exercising their right to free speech by commenting on a YouTube video. Ironically, this right includes equating Islam and Muslims with terrorism, insulting President Obama, betraying a lack of basic respect for government and the citizens, and attempting to use a horrible tragedy to score whatever sick political points their puny minds can imagine.

 

More information on the Fort Hood shooting tragedy is being revealed.

 

WorldNet Daily claims Hasan was an advisor to the Obama transition team.

Apparently the WorldNet Daily is not even fit to be used as emergency toilet paper.

 

Tattooed Under Fire Site - Unreleased documentary about Fort Hood soldiers

“This is Fort Hood, and it goes on for miles and miles and miles.” Director Nancy Schiesari’s riveting documentary, “Tattooed Under Fire,” about the River City parlor in Killeen, Texas, and the soldiers who patronize it, was already being hailed as one of the great unreleased films of the year when it finally got picked up to air this month on PBS. But in a grim piece of poetic timing, suddenly the world is looking to understand how the largest military base in the country could become the site of one its worst mass murders, an attack that left 13 dead and 30 injured.

Much will be written in the days to come of the mind-set of the alleged Fort Hood shooter Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, a psychiatrist who counseled military personnel and was reportedly distressed over his own imminent deployment. Though Schiesari’s film predates the horrifying violence at the fort yesterday, it reveals a military culture rarely seen. By following both returning and deployment-bound young soldiers and the stories told on their bodies, she gets under their skin.”

California PBS broadcast stations and times:

CITY
 
STATION
 
DATE
TIME

Los Angeles
KLCSDT
11/10/2009
10:00 PM
San Diego
KPBSDT
11/11/2009
10:30 PM
San Francisco-Oak-San Jose
KQEDHD
11/09/2009
11:00 PM
San Francisco-Oak-San Jose
KQEDHD
11/10/2009
05:00 AM
San Francisco-Oak-San Jose
KCSM
11/11/2009
10:30 PM
San Francisco-Oak-San Jose
KCSM
11/12/2009
03:30 AM




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Friday
Sep182009

What you are watching: honorable mention: Frank Schaeffer summarizes the Right Wing

Date20090918 at 21:36

This video is still getting a lot of attention, deservedly so, because Frank Schaeffer describes the motives and methods of some extremist groups he has intimate knowledge of. August and September of 2009 have been notable for the far-right-wing media blitz and anti-democratic shenanigans. From “birthers” to “deathers” to ridiculously casual and stupid use of terms like “nazi” and “socialist.” 

Rachel Maddow guest, author Frank Schaeffer, summarizes The Right Wing

a former insider breaks down the Christo-fascist zombie brigade for Rachel

On Friday, Rachel Maddow talked to author Frank Schaeffer about the desperate right-wing town hall mobs and the dangerous, irresponsible coded messages they are sending to the lunatic fringe which implicitly call for politically-motivated violence.

Says Schaeffer: “The Glenn Becks of this world literally are responsible for unleashing what I regard as an anti-Democratic, anti-American movement in this country that is trying to shut down legitimate debate and replace it with straight-out intimidation.”

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Tuesday
Sep082009

Enter Neocon Stage Right - Exit Neocon Stage Right

Date20090908 at 24:52

UPDATE: Replaced embeds with inline text, for search and archival purposes

Haltman’s home feed on Oct. 5, 2009 - hitler hitler hitler hitler hitler czar czar czar czar czar

In February of 2009, only a short time after the new president was elected, a vibrant FriendFeed group “US Politics” was joined by a certain Michael Haltman.

N.B. Allegations of his being a neo-con were never proven, or acknowledged by him. Nor did he deny being a  neo-con, or disagree with any neo-con policy.

 

<iframe src=”http://friendfeed.com/us-politics/a095f020/well-mr-president-you-are-not-in-kansas-anymore?embed=1” frameborder=”0” height=”600” width=”400” style=”border:1px solid #aaa”></iframe>

Well Mr. President, you are not in Kansas anymore.

Well Mr. President, you are not in Kansas anymore. At what point in time will your apologists run out of the excuse that it’s only been 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks and now 5 weeks. You came into office with very big plans facing even bigger problems. You gave yourself and the Congress a very aggressive and artificial timeline of what you… 

February 25, 2009 
This is mostly cant, snark and envy. How bout some real ideas? - Rick Powell
Rick, it’s not for us to explain to them that they need to “take their party back,” or even start with “I’m a fiscal conservative, even though the Republican party was sold out to religious fundamentalists.” Stick around for this circus side-show, it’s going to be entertaining! Tax cuts are the answer to eight years of failed Bush policies, don’t forget :) - Richard Walker
Yeah, the mind boggles. I find it hard to understand how a fiscal conservative could be a mainstream Republican. But credibility doesn’t seem to be something that the GOP worries about much. See: Jindal’s response to the SOTU. - Rick Powell
Neoconservative Michael Haltman is not defending any of his controversial posts on Friendfeed. Most annoying. Very neoconish. - Sean McBride
Are the GOP trying to become non-existant by becoming non-relevant. Is that their plan? - MV3B Incorrigible of FF
Oh great, another neocon with a “megaphone.” And he didn’t even find Conservative Oasis. What a dolt. - Richard Walker
I wouldn’t call myself a neocon although leave it to liberals to use name calling as their sole defense. I guess what I am looking for from our new change agent in chief are some ideas and solutions to the problems that we face. It is not my job to come up with them. That is why he picked the people that he did, although I am sure that he wishes he could have a do over. - Michael Haltman
One change you will see in the near future; corporations will be paying more unemployment tax ( and that’s a good thing ) to support the Federal Extensions to benefits. The San Francisco Chronicle is a company worth watching. The may lay-off 200+ employees to correct a $50+million deficit. Those reporters and staff must make a lot of money! Perhaps the tax will be an incentive to stay in business…. - Wallace
It speaks! Silence, you puny serfs! - Richard Walker
How hilarious, that he deigns to speak only to say we’re “name calling.” Fine, you Ayn Randian, Straussian Free Market Ideologue & American Exceptionalist. - Richard Walker
Michael — where do you differ from the neocons? On what specific policies? - Sean McBride
“some ideas and solutions to the problems that we face”, what, solutions like an economic stimulus and banking reform? - Andrew C
Wallace - Man, I love your solution, a tax to prevent layoffs, sounds like an effort to put them out of Business! Although, I probably wouldn’t mind that much, just another lefty propaganda machine. - Brian
Wow Brian, you don’t get out much if you write off the Chron as a “lefty propaganda machine.” I guess the Bay Guardian falls of the end, wraps around, and becomes a “right-wing rag.” I can see you are completely uninterested in even attempting accuracy or objectivity. What’s it like, living in a black & white world? - Richard Walker
We are still waiting on the long-suffering Haltman to define his politics lest we insult him again with terms like “neocon.” In the meanwhile, here’s the wiki page for Leo Strauss:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki… - Richard Walker
Michael Haltman, again: your beliefs and policies differ from those of neoconservatives how? - Sean McBride
No response so far from Michael Haltman. - Sean McBride
I would suggest that Sean and Richard might want to consider getting some kind of life. Michael is to neocon as Obama is to socialist/communist. Oops. Bad comaprison. Your President Obama came out with some budget today. He is losing his abilty to pin the blame on Bush for that crap. The troika of Obama, Pelosi and Reid will lead us down the road to nowhere. - Michael Haltman
Michael — on what specific issues and policies do you differ from the neocons? - Sean McBride
“Michael is to neocon as Obama is to socialist/communist. Oops. Bad comaprison. ” This is comedy gold. - Andrew C
Let me help Michael Haltman: #profile[neoconservatives; AIPAC+ Benjamin Netanyahu+ Bush 43+ Dick Cheney+ due process- Global War on Terror+ habeas corpus- Iran War+ Iraq War+ Islamophobia+ Likud+ Mideast peace process- Military Commissions Act+ torture+ U.S. Bill of Rights- U.S. Constitution- unitary executive+ warrantless wiretaps+ West Bank settlements+ World War IV+] Where does Michael differ? - Sean McBride
One the one hand, it’s good that people such as Haltman aren’t too ashamed to spew forth their immovable worldview. On the other, it’s quite terrible that there isn’t a coherent opposition party ideology. I’m truly distressed that the God Only Party is so unprepared for life after POTUS 43. -Richard Walker
“God Only Party” — I think that’s my new favorite re-purposing of an acronym! Thanks! - Phil G
Ha! Most welcome, Phil :) - Richard Walker
Michael Haltman: you started this thread. Any chance that you will participate in it? - Sean McBride
He sorry guys. Been busy. It seems as if Phil, Sean, Richard, Andrew and others are all very happy with the start that Obama has had which I think is great. There will however come a time when the Koolaid will wear off, the neo-con crap will become less fun to talk about, your bank accounts will continue to diminish, the stock market will continue to drop, the government will continue to nationalize our industry’s, our enemies will begin to test our resolve for real and so on, and you will realize that this most liberal of all Senators who had very little experience, who is being led by the nose by the biggest liberal of them all Nancy Pelosi is a not ready for prime time player who gives great speech but who is not ready for the task at hand. You guys stay safe in your little chat room with other like minded people, secure in the fact that your ideas are all the same. You each have each other intellectual back using words like neo-con when in reality you guys have no idea of what the big bad world is. - Michael Haltman
Must have run out of room. In any case I will continue to hang out here, giving all you tough writing guys the opportunity to fall all over each other agreeing with everything the other one says. Stay strong guys and keep fighting each others good fight. - Michael Haltman
One last question: at what point in days and months does the intellectual power that is this group face the prospect of saying the words that the problems and solutions are owned by Obama, or is the plan to give him a pass for his term in office saying that everything he does is merely in response to the failed policies of the last 8 years. Come on guys, your president is a grown man, who knew the challenges, who said he had the solutions, who said he was bringing change (who knew the that change was a euphemism for mor of the same). Isn’t it just like a Democrat (particularly those complicit in the current problems who seem to forget their ownership) to attempt to get a pass by blaming everyhting on everyone else. - Michael Haltman
I think the idea that Obama is the problem with the economy is a losing argument. The only people who believe the Democrats are responsible for the CURRENT state of the economy are people so far to the right they view everyone but themselves as socialists. There are two reasons the market is reacting this way to Obama. 1) The Republicans left the economy in such shambles the only potential source for good news is the Government. 2) The market doesn’t like Change and Obama is changing things. But these two reasons don’t change the fact that Obama is left to clean up the mess Bush and the right wing created. - Andrew
@Andrew so no one has had a thought that a return to the Johnson Administration policies will bring the same economic woes of the mid 70’s? Interesting… - MV3B Incorrigible of FF
Another small point, The Republicans aren’t fiscal conservatives. They believe in cutting taxes in all situations but don’t have the balls to cut Government too. So you are left with a group that creates debt and thus problems. The Democrats, not the ideal fiscal conservatives but at least a party that is conscious of reality, are consistently left with the position of cleaning up the debt the flawed Republican governing principals creates. Republicans would do themselves a huge favor by creating an actual set of pragmatic principals that function in reality. Until they do this cycle we just lived through and have lived through in the past will continue. - Andrew
@Mark - Johnson’s policies don’t have anything to do with what I just said. Did Johnson deal with a stock market completely starved of good news from the private sector as a result of a flawed dogma based on deregulation at all costs? If so, then please continue your comparison and enlighten men. -Andrew
I could also use the massive increase of the available workforce in 1945, or even the financial deregulation in the mid 90’s, Andrew. All of these events impact the US economy as it is today. To blame one pathetic group of liars (GOP) or another (DNC) is short-sighted. That is my point. If any, one group is to blame, it is the American voter, for continuing to allow these morons to continue their public service. - MV3B Incorrigible of FF
@Mark - Another point, Lyndon Johnson passed a 10% tax increase when the top tax bracket was around 60-70%. Obama has a 3-5 percent tax increase when the top tax rate is 33-35%. I don’t think these are very comparable either in scale or economic impact. We’ve seen business thrive at the rates Obama is proposing. No business could thrive under Johnson’s rates. - Andrew
@Mark - Yeah, but you are still missing the point I was making in my first post. The stock market isn’t reacting to Obama because of his policies, they are reacting to him because they have nothing else to react to.It’s a flawed metric. But the Republicans still have a flawed ideology based on national debt in all times, not just the bad times. Which was my second point. - Andrew
Let’s say that your first post is correct; the stock market goes down, which isn’t a reaction to Obama because of his policies. If the reverse had occurred and market had gone up, would you also argue the same or would you say the market went up because of Obama’s economic announcements? As to your second point I respectfully submit that neither, major political party in the US has a clue, including economically. - MV3B Incorrigible of FF
Mark - The only news from Obama that could cause the markets to rise is that he is buying every bit of bad debt off the Banks. That would solve a large portion of the problems in the private sector. So if he did that, I would give him credit. In any other scenario, I would be selling the rally because it would be short lived. - Andrew
Mark - On your second point, I agree almost wholeheartedly. Neither side has any idea about spending or economic policy. But the Dems do one thing better, in my opinion: they pay for what they spend. I would love to see government cut by about 10-20%, but since we aren’t doing that, we should at least pay for it. Which gives them more credibility in my book. - Andrew
Fair enough. Then would you agree that Bill Clinton was correct when he publicly advised Obama to be more positive? Sort of ‘sugarcoating the turd,’ if you will? - MV3B Incorrigible of FF
I’m torn on that. Half of me believes that without a perceived crisis Congress is going to act like a mass of argueing nitwits and nothing will be done. On the other hand the US needs some optimism. People seem scared to shop which is hurting everyone. I guess we need to call it a turd and then add sugar? In my opinion at least. - Andrew
As a “direct commercial mortgage lender, broker and trainer”, Mr. Haltman, your politics are no doubt intertwined with your commercial interests. At the very least, you seem to be using FriendFeed to push your blog, and using your blog to push your commercial interests. Consider this a disclaimer on your behalf. - Richard Walker
@Andrew then I will agree with your first point. - MV3B Incorrigible of FF
And another thing, there are plenty of conservatives here, some of whom I follow and regularly engage with. You seem quite different though, and once this thread dies I doubt we’ll cross paths again. -Richard Walker
I didn’t see any references to specific issues or policies in Michael Haltman’s latest posts. Nothing much to discuss here. He doesn’t seem interested in distancing himself from any of the particular neoconservative positions I mentioned. I think he shares those positions. - Sean McBride
Sean McBride, I think you just like to hear yourself talk. I think that you are one of those narrow minded liberals that like to hear himself write because it gives him power, although Sean McBride doesn’t really say anything. Richard Walker, I do not need to promote my blog or my business, but in these groups that purport to be “political discussion groups” which are in reality liberal hunting grounds, an alternative voice needs to be provided. As for our paths not crossing again, I think that I will just have to deal with it and wonder where it is that our relationship went so terribly wrong. In reality you don’t really read what I write, only the parts that you want to. I am critical of the Bush administration where required, both parties of congress where required and of course Clinton. Open your brain as well as your mouth sometimes, and you might actually learn something. I guess this is where I have to say have a great life. - Michael Haltman
Michael Haltman — I am more a libertarian than a liberal. You still haven’t mentioned any issues or policies on which you differ from neoconservatives. Can you name any now? Which Bush administration policies did you oppose? - Sean McBride

 

Alas, his presence there was not a long-term commitment. At least he announced his departure in March publicly! 

I will no longer be posting my blog directly in groups

I will no longer be posting my blog directly in groups, but would love to have anyone interested continue to read, participate and definitely comment. Please visit The Political and Financial Markets Commentator at http://politicsandfinance.blogspot.com and sign-up for free daily delivery of the blog by either email or feed. The sign-up are in the…

March 7, 2009 
Forgive me if I spend more time reading Andrew Sullivan, Glenn Greenwald, Juan Cole, Stephen Walt, Robert Dreyfuss, James Wolcott and other writers in their class. Life is short and attention is brief. You never managed to mention a single issue on which you disagree with standard neoconservative dogma. - Sean McBride
Sean: i don’t even bother with Andrew - way too much noise. Some one show him Twitter please. -Roberto Bonini
Roberto — I am picking off Andrew’s best posts from Twitter, where he has 1,830 followers:http://twitter.com/dailydish It’s also easy to scan the headers of his posts with Google Reader. He’s a prolific writer; one has to be selective in dipping into his stream. - Sean McBride
Yes, quite. :) - Roberto Bonini
Like for comments. - Russellreno
Also liking for comments, not for the way Haltman behaved in this room :) - Richard Walker
The style reminded me a great deal of right-wing talk radio: all bluster and ungrounded assertions, no real give and take, no informed interaction. None of these “conservatives” know how to debate or defend their positions. Few of them have managed to stand their ground on Friendfeed. - Sean McBride
I tell you what ladies. Sign-up at my blog and leave all of the comments that you want and get all of the responses that you want. The problem is you would have to leave the comfort of being around all of your buddies and out in the world which I doubt you would do. http://politicsandfinance.blogspot.com -Michael Haltman
*laugh* - Andrew C
No comment. - Sean McBride
lol - Cee Bee

 

I think he may have been shamed him into departing. He was flagrantly misusing the group to push his political agenda, and his private business interests which - surprise, surprise - benefit from the sort of gross negligence we’ve seen recently at the highest levels in the financial sector.

I don’t usually see such neo-cons in the wild, so this was an interesting surprise encounter that I thought should be noted for the record.

 

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Monday
Jun082009

Oakland radicals must stop conflating Oscar Grant and Lovelle Mixon

Date20090608 at 22:42

You will see on their site that the Uhuru Movement of Oakland still (as of June 8, 2009) attempts to conflate these two young men and the events as they have developed. It is disturbing that a rapist and killer of four Oakland police officers is still deemed a “victim” by some and continually mentioned in conjunction with Oscar Grant, a victim of real police brutality, who was shot and killed by BART police while unarmed, and for no apparent reason. 

Notably absent from their site is any mention of the May 5 report that stated “DNA evidence has linked Lovelle Mixon to the sexual assaults of two Oakland women that occurred fewer than eight hours before he began a violent crime spree, which left him and four police officers fatally shot.”

March 25: Dozens march for Mixon, against police

March 25: Political Blotter: Uhuru Movement praises cop killer

May 5: DNA evidence links Oakland officers’ killer to sexual assaults of two women - Inside Bay Area

I have to raise the alarm here and warn reporters that if you interview Uhuru Movement representatives, please do not just print their radical taking points verbatim. To do that is to embrace a sort of group think where all young men (of color) in Oakland are victims - and all Oakland police are corrupt and brutal. The political aims of this radical group would be achieved at the expense of common sense and common decency, and could well just widen the divide and increase violence and anger.

This video is titled by them “March for Lovelle Mixon who shot four Oakland cops before being murdered”

The DNA evidence that links Mixon to these sexual assaults makes him a “serial rapist” and then a “cop killer” and he was most certainly not “murdered” by the police. He also had a conviction for assault with a firearm and was wanted on a parole violation. I’m amazed at the gall of the Uhuru people in attempting to paint this young man as any sort of “victim” or “hero.”

If one didn’t know such absurd folly is sincere, one would conclude that the Uhuru Movement is actively seeking to harm Oakland and instigate riots. But, I’m sure they are sincere — and extremely misguided — to the point where I can only hope many in the black community in Oakland realize it before even more damage is done. No-one wants more crime, violence and mayhem, and police brutality, surely.

Let’s actively stop people from fanning the flames, and attempt an honest dialog about real problems…. such as what happened to Oscar Grant.

Oakland residents react to the fatal police shooting of Oscar Grant

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