Homeland Security wages war on conservatives.

In a most stunning display from a high level office that I have ever witnessed, Department of Homeland Security has released a 10 page report titled: Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment. (click on link to download PDF, courtesy of MM blog).

The premise of this report is to alert the powers that be of a rising threat of rightwing radicalism and extremism within the country as a result of the economic crisis, attack on the 2nd amendment, disgruntled soldiers and of course the election of the first socialist…err…half white, half black President.

I read the document and urge you to do the same, because this is where our tax dollars are being spent, to research and write about a perceived threat that cannot be quantified or measured. What is by far the most vulgar aspect, is not so much the vague generalities and slander, but the complete disconnect between a small handful of nut jobs and the entire conservative movement. The document brashly groups people who are anti-illegal immigration, anti-centralized government and regulation, with neo-nazis, anti-Semites, skinheads and militia members. How can a document so callous be allowed to circulate in the highest echelons of our government is truly frightening and smacks of Orwellian control and Big Brother control.

“Rightwing extremist chatter on the Internet continues to focus on the economy, the perceived loss of U.S. jobs in the manufacturing and construction sectors, and home foreclosures. Anti-Semitic extremists attribute these losses to a deliberate conspiracy conducted by a cabal of Jewish “financial elites.” These “accusatory” tactics are employed to draw new recruits into rightwing extremist groups and further radicalize those already subscribing to extremist beliefs. DHS/I&A assesses this trend is likely to
accelerate if the economy is perceived to worsen.”

I am quite familiar with these conspiracy nuts and they do not represent even one iota of the conservative agenda, but instead belong in the Ron “Dr. Crank” Paul’s revolution – a whose who of paranoid sycophants and the fringe elements of society. Alex Jones and Stormfront.org and their racist/mindless drivel have as much to do with conservatives as Obama has with capitalism.

Equally disturbing, but more ironic is the failure to recognize the sheer hypocrisy of the claims made against rightwing groups meanwhile ignoring the involvement of left wing groups for the very same agendas. Similarly, grouping anarchists and neo-nazis with conservatives is an age old liberal tactic used to smear red blooded Americans. While I am not going to recite all of Goldberg’s book, the idea of coupling together Americans interested in personal liberty, fiscal responsibility and reduced government with those espousing Nazi ideologies of dictatorship, central control, suppressed media/freedom and racist dogma is amateurish and childish. Liberal fascism at it’s finest – observe the following:

“Historically, domestic rightwing extremists have feared, predicted, and anticipated a cataclysmic economic collapse in the United States. Prominent antigovernment conspiracy theorists have incorporated aspects of an impending economic collapse to intensify fear and paranoia among like-minded individuals and to attract recruits during times of economic uncertainty. Conspiracy theories involving declarations of martial law, impending civil strife or racial conflict, suspension of the U.S. Constitution, and the creation of citizen detention camps often incorporate aspects of a failed economy.”

Continued use of righwing and the term conspiracy intertwined with unsubstantiated subjective terms like “prominent” serve to drive the message home. Meanwhile completely ignoring that liberal groups and blogs (Daily Kos, i.e.) during Bush’s years espoused martial law, suspension/abuse of the US Constitution and a vast neo-conservative agenda. Once again, being anti-government and being loony-toony conspiracy nut in the eyes of the authors is a difference not worth mentioning. ACORN’s deep link with the new black panthers, lets not forget paramilitary black panthers at a voting booth in Pennsylvania – is obviously ignored, because they are NOT a leftwing organization, NOT implicated in crimes, extortion, fraud and theft and do NOT represent a strong political leaning. No, of course not.

The document goes on with drawing analogies between the Oklahoma city bombing and modern day radicalization and warns that a combination of disgruntled military personnel can be used as a recruiting agent. No numbers or statistics are provided, no real evidence other than isolated events that can be attributed to any political stripe. Furthermore and almost humorous in it’s stupidity, claims are made that certain groups and elements have been growing over the past 5 or 6 years – even though the document’s objective clearly states that the research is being done as a result of the economic downturn and Obama’s election + illegal immigration policies. Seems like the floodgates have been opened and an open war can be waged with blessing from above.

Due to this gross generalization, any individuals propagating the concepts of controlling illegal immigration, shrinking government and criticizing federal involvement with the economy over “Internet chatter” can now be classified as rightwing extremism.

The fact that this comes on the heels of mass tea parties across the nation and Obama’s continued plummeting ratings in the polls is obviously a coincidince. Yes, nothing to see – keep moving folks.