My latest “reading” is “Alt America, The Rise of the Radical Right in the Age of Trump,” (ie individual 1) by David Neiwert. I’d LOVE all my “conservative” acquaintances to read this book, but I know NOT of a single one who would do so. The TRUTH of what has been happening to America since the days of Ronald Reagan is NOT something they’re interested in. In fact, I don’t know ANY of them who read anything aside from what they can find on right wing websites. And, of course, when they have their TV’s on, they’re watching propaganda outlets like Fox “news,” “Newsmax,” and “OANN.” I’ve read recently how Fox has gone farther off the “guardrails” since the day their election prognosticators pointed out Joe Biden would win Arizona prior to any of the other “prognosticators,” in order to keep their audience.

The Fox viewers were so outraged they would make that prediction, which, of course, was “right on,” but the viewers could care less. They’ve never been much “in” on the TRUTH if it doesn’t comport with their “wishes.” It was reported after this right wing “fiasco” Fox was losing viewers in droves to Newsmax – and, I can confirm I know some of the fleeing viewers – who actually told me “Fox is too liberal” – and, subsequently Fox has become even MORE outrageous in their attempt to get their viewers back – which seems to be working. Just as republicans are all about POWER so to is Fox all about the MONEY – no matter what damage is caused to this great nation. Republicans have accepted LYING as part of their “means to an end.”

So, in Neiwert’s book, the actual history of what took place on January 6th, 2021 is traced back to the beginnings of the right wing “populist” movement leading to today’s extremism from various groups attempting to instigate another “civil war.” The underlying foundation of ALL these groups is the white nationalist/supremacist movement which has been part of America since her earliest days. For example, much of today’s “extremism” on the “right” comes straight from the “bowels” of the KKK. Of course, the KKK was much more “out in the open” many years ago, but, today, leaders like David Duke and Don Black operate more stealthily, but, for example, the website “Stormfront.com” is a “hub” for much of the right wing “militia’s” who were at our nation’s Capitol Building on January 6th, 2021.

One of the groups I’m presently reading about in this book is the “Oathkeepers.” This group was founded by a paranoid ex-military person named Stewart Rhodes. This group and groups like it are full of members who are manipulated via FEAR mongering. The “Oathkeepers” are recruiting former members of the military and police departments – which is a bit alarming when you realize how many of those people are willing to be “sucked in” to these DISHONEST groups (Many were ARRESTED after January 6th, 2021). Rhodes is making a good living grifting off members who fall for his shtick and, of course, while there were numerous “Oathkeepers” arrested after January 6th, 2021 it was no surprise to me to find out Rhodes wasn’t one of them. Just as individual 1 will likely avoid accountability for INCITING the INSURRECTION, so to with Rhodes who encouraged his followers to participate, but when push came to shove, he was no where to be seen, just like individual 1.

Paranoid, I say and you might say, huh? Well, here’s a “quote” from Mark Potok on the Bill O’Reilly show back in 2010 after Rhodes claimed the Obama administration planned to “disarm Americans”: “What the group is really about is the fear that martial law is about to be imposed, that Americans are about to be herded into concentration camps, that foreign troops are going to be put down on American soil. The Oath Keepers say specifically, we will not obey these orders, we will refuse orders to put Americans into concentration camps. Now, is that dangerous? It seems to me the danger is that these are men and women, in the case of police officers, who are given a real power over the rest of us, sometimes the power of life and death. They make very important decisions. And if these men and women are animated by the idea that, you know, foreign forces are about to come into this country and put us under martial law and throw us all into concentration camps, I think there is a certain danger associated with that … They’re operating on the basis of crazy theories that may cause one them to draw a gun one day.” These people are fear mongering wack jobs!

Here’s the irony of all this: They call themselves “Patriots” and “Constitutionalists” – yet, there they were marching into the Capitol Building on January 6th, 2021 in an attempt to overturn the constitutional ordered process of certifying the Electoral College results of the 2020 election – results confirmed in OVER 60 FAILED – by individual 1 – (and frivolous) lawsuits after the election. I certainly DON’T call them either “patriots” or “constitutionalists.” I mean, suggesting they’re constitutionalists is absurd on its face, and “patriots?” I say, “Are you kidding me?” They use these names to help them recruit people who are unable to think critically. And, trust me, I know a bunch of “conservatives” who are unable to think critically.

One of the offshoots of the “Oathkeepers” was a group called the “Three percenters,” another group “grifting” off disaffected “conservatives” who, in essence, are “all in” on the white nationalist/supremacist movement in America. These types of groups go well back before President Obama took office, but, it seems, it was the election of our first President of “color” which spawned the “Oathkeepers” and, then, the “Three Percenters.” The “Three Percenters” “militia” was concocted by Mike Vanderboegh at about the same time as Rhodes started the “Oathkeepers,” and his “vision” was to enlist American gun owners. These are two examples of extremist “anti-government” groups who chose to represent our TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING (ex) president in an attempt to keep him in power after building up their groups via FEAR MONGERING. So, anti-government? Most of these groups claim what they really don’t like is when elections don’t turn out the way they would want – which is when they become “patriots.” Give me a break!

Just as individual 1 is delusional, so too are these groups who somehow have allowed themselves to be convinced they’re “patriots” and/or “constitutionalists,” or “conservatives.” As I’ve been thinking about what has happened to our country I’ve been reminded of the reality of an “infection” or, maybe a better analogy would be “dry rot.” In both instances when the “rot” or the “infection” first appears it is critical to address it or it simply continues to grow. The “infection” of all these so-called “militias” or “patriot movements” in America have been “festering” for years. Things got really “out of control” under the administration of Barack Obama as virtually ALL these groups were in “panic mode” once “we the people” had elected a person with African American ancestry to the “White House.” I’ll never forget Chuck Norris, in a public interview, warn of “10,000 cells” across America ready to “take our country back.” (From what? A duly elected president?)

Well, in addition, during the first years of President Obama’s administration we all saw the “Tea Party” emerge – with the help of the Koch brothers and Fox “news” – and the “Tea Party” became somewhat intertwined with many of these right wing militia movements – the “Oathkeepers” were right in the middle of many of the “Tea Party” rallies. And, if you saw what took place at those rallies you saw OVERT racism in a group which has now gained a stranglehold on the republican party. I’ve still got acquaintances who are “die hard” republicans who look at you funny when you point out the party is controlled by RACISTS. They always respond with “I’m not a racist” as if I should be ashamed to even bring it up. Of course, there’s one “conservative” I know who then points out “There’s going to be another ‘civil war.'” Yikes!

I would recommend to anyone who wants to understand the “underpinnings” of what is going on in America to read “Alt America.” It goes much deeper into the right wing extremism problem in America than simply the “Oathkeepers” and the “Three Percenters” and what led to January 6th, 2021. (If you’re confused why I keep writing that date it’s because I’m trying to do my part to prevent people from “forgetting” what happened) This extremism goes well back beyond President Obama – it seems to “grow” when there’s a democrat in the “White House” – but, the INSURRECTION is confirmation of what Chris Wray has been talking about since before January 6th, 2021, “the greatest threat to America is domestic right wing extremists.” Republicans in Congress would have us all believe this is “poppycock” – that the INSURRECTIONISTS were simply “visitors to the Capitol” and they’re being abused by the FBI.

This is where we have to look to Merrick Garland to follow through on the promises he made during his confirmation hearings – to investigate the INSURRECTION and the root causes behind it. As I’ve said here, over and over, the TRUTH is going to come out. In my view, it’s incumbent on Mr. Garland to expedite the process as much as he can within the bounds of the law. So far, I’m not that excited about his job performance. He’s appealing a judges ruling about a “memo” from Bill Barr which Judge Amy Berman Jackson said was “disingenuous” (translation: LYING) about Mueller’s report and the OBSTRUCTION allegations (which is likely to prevent any investigation of the OBSTRUCTION allegations against individual 1) AND he’s appealing the ruling which said individual 1 would have to “fend for himself” in the defamation suit filed against him by ONE of the two dozen or so women who accused him of sexual assault. Garland didn’t exactly gain my confidence with EITHER of those choices. (Even if he loses the appeals, another year or two has lapsed – therefore, Barr’s mission “accomplished”) “Looking forward” solves NOTHING!

Keep in mind, the Justice Department is scheduled to PROSECUTE around 500 cases involving the INSURRECTIONISTS – and counting, with a possible number in the 800’s if the FBI can identify all those caught on tape inside the Capitol on January 6th, 2021 – and, we can hope he’s going to be aggressive in these prosecutions. However, he’s showing signs of being timid in the face of a growing number of right wingers OPENLY expressing the desire to attack our government. So far, there’s NO reports he’s investigating individual 1, Rudy Giuliani, individual 1 Jr., Mo Brooks, or any others of those who worked up the crowd prior to the INSURRECTIONISTS invading our Capitol. Let’s just hope Garland doesn’t have the same FEAR of individual 1 shown by the bulk of republicans in Congress. And, is he not wanting to “poke the bear” by going after all the right wingers who are making seditionist threats online – for FEAR of stirring up violence? Here’s the deal: The longer our government ignores those making the online threats the worst the danger of violence will ultimately become.

I pointed this out back when Barack Obama famously said: “We’re going to look forward instead of back.” To republicans, that was like a “green light.” Just more evidence democrats don’t have the stomach to hold them accountable. Therefore, we got the rise of the so-called “alt right” during Obama’s administration and, of course, then the administration of our TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING (ex) president to exacerbate things by making white nationalists/supremacists feel as if he was their “fuhrer.” I know that sounds hyperbolic, but check out those who hang out at Stormfront.com if you don’t believe me. Now, if individual 1 is not held accountable for at least SOME of the plethora of CRIMES he committed while in office, well, then it will just get worse the next time. That’s how it works. And, for any republican who happens across this site, NO, the democrats don’t commit CRIMES like the republicans in the White House. (I know what you’re thinking: “What about Bill Clinton?” – he LIED about sex; apparently “no big deal” to republicans after the LIES of individual 1! – Actually, on the Access Hollywood tape he told the TRUTH)

Final Thought: Today (actually last night) it was revealed the Sessions/Barr Justice Department was ILLEGALLY SPYING on democrats in the House Intelligence Community. Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell. Not only were both Schiff and Swalwell SPIED on, but so were their associates, their staffs, and EVEN their families – including, at least, one minor – according to published reports. I’m pretty sure Attorney General Garland didn’t anticipate all the ISSUES left over from individual 1’s assault on our “rule of law,” but he REALLY needs to act – and, not in a way which simply puts off the inevitable – as he’s doing with the two (egregious) “appeals” I mentioned above. Not only should he be putting an emphasis on an investigation which won’t take more than a year (like an IG investigation), but he KNOWS who the “culprits” in the Justice Department are who participated in this act of Judicial cowardice and they should either RESIGN immediately or be FIRED. According to the reports, this SPYING was the result of demands coming from our TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING (ex) president – and, if you were paying attention you heard his demands – in real time – he wanted Schiff “arrested” – but, the SPYING had to be ordered by either Sessions or Barr or both and the Justice Department lawyers who participated KNEW better and SHOULD have resigned on the spot. So, based on reports, at least FOUR of them are still there, they SHOULD resign post haste or be FIRED by Mr. Garland. We’ll see how this goes, but, so far, Attorney General Garland hasn’t impressed me.

I will add: Today, Mr. Garland FINALLY announced the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department would begin CHALLENGING the onerous voter SUPPRESSION laws being passed in one right wing controlled state after another. When the Supreme Court GUTTED Sections five and four of the 1965 Voting Right’s Act Chief Justice Roberts claimed “pre-clearance” was not needed any more for states with a history of passing voter SUPPRESSION laws aimed at minorities – as in African Americans. He said, at the time, Section two was sufficient to stop any attempts to disenfranchise voters based on their minority status. Well, let’s hope this is a sign Attorney General Garland is intent on holding Mr. Roberts to his word and that the rest of the Court agrees. The problem is, by the time these onerous bills can be challenged in Court we could be in the 2022 election cycle. I was glad to hear Garland say these laws were going to be challenged today, I’m just wondering what took the Justice Department so long? Stay tuned……