December 6, 2009 in City

A passion rising

Meghann M. Cuniff The Spokesman-Review

Schaeffer Cox, a 25-year-old organizer from Fairbanks, Alaska, speaks Wednesday at the Greyhound Park in Post Falls about how a movement sprang up in Fairbanks from a coalition of people disgusted with the government and the economic system.
(Full-size photo) (All photos)

They’re angry, and they’re getting organized.

Groups once seen as fringe political outcasts are banding together, powered by what experts describe as an unprecedented fear of the federal government and disgust with the political climate.

It’s happening across the country, and in the Inland Northwest it’s drawing big crowds of diverse attendees.

More than 1,000 people, including local sheriffs, state representatives, lawyers, families and blue-collar workers, gathered in Post Falls last month to hear a former Arizona sheriff blast the federal government. About 500 met last week in another event organized by the Friends of Liberty Coalition – a coalition of about 10 Inland Northwest groups hoping to create a forum to share ideas and create a louder voice in politics.

Some aren’t afraid to use the word militia.

“We need to rob that word back from the people who villainize it,” said Schaeffer Cox, a 25-year-old from Fairbanks, Alaska, eliciting a roar of approval from the crowd in Post Falls Wednesday night.

It was the second Freedom Festival held at the Post Falls Greyhound Park – evidence, some say, of a new rise of the militia movement in America, but one that blurs the line between extremism and mainstream.

“These groups are popping up like mushrooms after a spring rain.” said Mark Potok, director of the Southern Poverty Law Center’s intelligence project.

The center, a nonprofit that focuses on education programs, prosecuting white supremacists and tracking extremist groups, issued a report this year on the “return of the militias” that said “the movement clearly is growing again.”

The militia movement sprang up in the 1990s, “sparked by a combination of anger at the federal government and the deaths of political dissenters at Ruby Ridge, Idaho, and Waco, Texas,” the report said.

Wednesday’s meeting was the first event locally since the large gathering on Veterans Day for a speech by Richard Mack, a man described by Potok’s organization as “an iconic hero of the militia movement.”

Mack wrote a book with Randy Weaver in the 1990s about the federal siege at Ruby Ridge and was part of a successful lawsuit against the Clinton administration challenging sweeping gun control legislation.

Mack was joined at the Post Falls event by Washington state Rep. Matt Shea and Idaho state Rep. Phil Hart. County sheriffs were invited to dine with Mack before his speech. Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich missed most of the dinner but said he enjoyed Mack’s speech.

“I didn’t hear hate. I heard the exact opposite,” Knezovich said. “I heard respect. Respect for states, respect for individual rights, for the job of the sheriff.”

‘Greatest threat … is our federal government’

Knezovich said he received more invitations to Mack’s speech than any other event since he was elected sheriff in fall 2006. Everywhere he went, it seemed, people asked if he planned to go.

“I thought to myself, ‘If that many people would like me to attend this event, I’ll do that,’ ” Knezovich said.

Mack has long been a speaker on the constitutionalist circuit, gaining fame in the militia movement in the 1990s. “There’s really a remarkable amount of anger out there that this movement reflects,” Potok said.

Still, Potok added, “it’s a little shocking that Richard Mack, given his ideas, could draw such a large crowd, including so many public officials.”

On Mack’s Web site, he says “the greatest threat we face today is not terrorists; it is our federal government.”

His speech last month emphasized that sheriffs are the supreme law enforcement agent in the county, capable of standing up to the federal government and resisting concentrated power.

“This meeting is not racist,” Mack said in the beginning of the speech, according to a video recording. “This meeting and this movement is freedom for all Americans, all people.”

Mack is a member of the Oath Keepers, a national group that describes itself as being dedicated to protecting the Constitution. Potok said the group is founded on conspiracy theories.

“The group believes that martial law, foreign troops on U.S. soil and the rounding up of U.S. citizens and placing them in concentration camps is just around the corner,” Potok said. “These ideas were absolutely parts of the militia movement in the 1990s in the United States that produced so much political violence.”

Knezovich said he heard nothing from Mack that promoted militias.

But talk of a well-organized and well-armed militia kicked off Wednesday’s event, which included speeches refuting climate change and linking local sustainability projects to the United Nations.

About 10 groups hosted information booths on topics ranging from global warming myths to private property rights and privacy.

“We all have our little niches, but we felt it was important for us to get together at times to provide that critical mass,” said John Christina, a coordinator with Campaign for Liberty. “What we want to do is channel the anger in a positive way.”

Trying to change the system

More and more, people are showing an interest.

“We used to be thought of as extremist,” said Liberty Lake resident Rob Chase. “But the mainstream won’t laugh anymore. They’re looking for answers.”

Knezovich said the crowd at Mack’s speech ranged from “your everyday citizen, your everyday businessmen, your soccer moms.”

The diverse crowd reflects the widespread political angst Knezovich said he’s seen since President Barack Obama’s election.

The surge in gun and ammunition sales is one example, he said.

“I’ve never seen that type of response to a change in government,” Knezovich said. “There are a lot of people in there who are middle of the road.”

Attendees at Wednesday’s Freedom Festival had different ideas centered on one thing: the loss of freedom and the perceived trampling of state powers by the federal government.

“Basically, I’m just tired of the way our system is working and we need to change it,” said Don Dyer, who traveled to the events from Waverly, Wash. “The Republicans and the Democrats aren’t doing it.”

One attendee, Rathdrum resident Brody Scott, said he’s a member of the North Idaho Light Foot Militia, which has 65 Idaho members and 18 members in the Spokane area. He said he’s seeing more interest in the 3-year-old group. “It’s finally started to take off,” Scott said. “We’ve had people just contacting us like crazy.”

A man in neo-Nazi regalia at the event said he represented the Aryan Nations but stayed for only a portion of the program. Event organizers said the group wasn’t invited.

The man’s presence underscored a dynamic emerging in the militia movement: mainstream Americans joining a cause once thought to be so extreme that neo-Nazis see it as a potential recruiting place.

“It can’t be an isolated little clique of angry people,” Cox, the Alaskan militia representative, told Wednesday’s crowd. “It’s got to be a group of people brought together by respect and a power to act.” About 3,500 Alaskans have joined a militia, Cox said.

North Idaho militia members are armed and train together through activities like target shooting and hiking a couple times a month, Scott said.

They’ve contacted county sheriffs, including in Bonner and Boundary counties, about working with search and rescue crews.

“I would call it a community help group,” Scott said. “We’re just everyday Joes.”

38 comments on this story so far. Add yours!

meelee on December 06 at 6:28 a.m.
And I thought the only thing we had to fear was fear itself. On second thought that may be true.
Ninch on December 06 at 6:56 a.m.
No paranoia here, but rather just keeping Obama et al accountable.
These “militias” are an authentic response to Obama's (and certain Democratic leaders) efforts to nationalize education, health care, energy, etc. while trying to destroy federalism (state rights) and individual rights. The “fear” is real as executive orders and legislation chop away at powers given to the states by the U.S. Constitution.

Little known FACT: Obama has also proposed a “domestic” national military controlled by him… apparently to oppose Americans who stand up for their rights… because why else would he need such?
ChefGus on December 06 at 7:40 a.m.
I was a Captain in the Army 68-70… and took “The Oath”… and I am still compelled to respond to the “call” of that oath to the constitution and not any individual leader. That was not a happy time to have served in the Armed Service.

I wonder if anyone has a percentage for us, of how many of the people that are “Oath Keepers” actually DID serve in the armed service, or took the Oath to the Constitution when they served in public office?

My sense is that the “Oath Keepers” actually has a fair number of folks that are playing soldier, rather than those of us that actually served as soldiers.

Any Statistics anyone?? John
CalJones on December 06 at 8:22 a.m.
John -

Oathkeepers is an organization made up entirely of current and retired law enforcement and/or military who refuse to obey unconstitutional orders.
Fuschia on December 06 at 8:55 a.m.
Matt Shea would be hard pressed to pass a political sanity test. Beware of personal injury lawyers who pose as politicians or vice versa.

CalJones..any law enforcement who refuse to obey constitutional orders? We got a passle of them in the SPD and a couple (not enought) are practicing for a good rug dance in front of a Federal Grand Jury for Civil rights violations, when they should be hanging for premeditated murder.

And dont leave out our Congressional representative whom tells people not to contact her because she has an “ethical” problem representing voters and citizens. Thats a pile of horse pattooty that needs to be placed in a trash can mucho pronto.

“Patriot”. One whom is willing to give their life, protecting their Country…from their Government.

It used to be our representatives and bureaucrats were sane, wise, intelligent, hardworking and compassionate leaders whom one could reach out to and the upstart fringe groups were nutjobs. Somehow that now has become reversed.

I also want to know how soon, if not already that our undercover political surveillance agencies are unconstitutionally infiltrating/watching/listening PJALS and the other groups whom are exercising their constitutional rights.

While theoretically we cut off the head of the snake when we elected our current president, the rest of the body is still intact and active in our government. We may have changed the lock on the door, but we have failed to clean the house.
Zelda Krup on December 06 at 11:45 a.m.
Knowing that Knezovich attended this event, rather enthusiastically, too, means one less vote for him next time he runs for office. He says he didn't hear hate, but I sure read paranoia and plenty of gun lovin' in this article.

That's what keeps this area so gothic and backward — what's fringe thinking elsewhere is mainstream here.
southie4573 on December 06 at 12:18 p.m.
Why don't these people care or angry about the real threat against them. Corporate America!
Safeway knows more about your life then the US Govt.
shanusmaximus on December 06 at 12:25 p.m.
@Zeldas

“Knowing that Knezovich attended this event, rather enthusiastically, too, means one less vote for him next time he runs for office.”

Yeah, I am sure he had your vote before the fact, eh?

“but I sure read paranoia and plenty of gun lovin' in this article.”

Yes, yes….it is all a conspiracy. Your federal government REALLY cares about you and yours. I mean look at all they have done! ALL FOR YOU! Yes sir, they love you. They would never want anything bad to happen to you. Now just lie down and go back to bed, with all your elitist thoughts dancing through your head.

“That's what keeps this area so gothic and backward — what's fringe thinking elsewhere is mainstream here. ”

Oh I know! It is like living in the stoneage around here, innit?
shanusmaximus on December 06 at 12:30 p.m.
@southie

“Why don't these people care or angry about the real threat against them. Corporate America!
Safeway knows more about your life then the US Govt.”

They are one in the same. With the most offending member being Goldman Sachs. If anybody hasn't read this yet, I highly suggest you do…..

The Great American Bubble Machine

http://www.correntewire.com/great_ame…
Fetch on December 06 at 12:38 p.m.
Zelda, I was at both events, were you? Simply by reading a short, not quite accurate article, Ozzie loses your vote? It reads like you don't like people who state they will uphold the Constitution. Or that those who support the Constitution are “fringe thinking”. Interesting, very interesting.
robchase on December 06 at 12:46 p.m.
I was interviewed by reporter Meghann Cuniff and photographer Jesse Tinsley who asked most of the questions. I explained that the Freedom Festivals were not organized by any one group, but by several individuals.

We had over 1,200 attendees at our first one and since only the NY Times sent a reporter I contacted S/R reporter Jim Camden aboud Freedom Fest 2.

We have no control over whether a Neo Nazi or someone from the Southern Povery Law Center shows up. The subject of Freedom Fest 2 was Climate Change, and we brought in two distinguished speakers, Dr. Edwin Berry, and Michael Shaw of Freedom Advocates. Unfortunately reporter Meghann felt this only deserved one sentence and decided to focus on one 10 minute speaker who used the “M” word, and she also leaned heavily on Mark Potok from the Southern Poverty Law Center, who wasn't even there to my knowledge.
Shazamm on December 06 at 12:55 p.m.
Give me a break. The only “extremists” in this story are Mark Podunk and his so-called Southern Poverty Law Center. Somehow, they fashion themselves as some kind of morally superior “watchdogs” sniffing around for any whiff of “hate” as defined by them. In reality, they are nothing but a bunch of emotionally constipated, left-wing liberal lawyer loonies who think they need to be in control of our lives. Along with Obama and his Chicago cronies, they are already well on their way to creating the next wave of “neo-fascism”. That is exactly why groups like Campaign for Liberty and the Oath Keepers are forming.

When is the next meeting? I'm there…
Shazamm on December 06 at 12:58 p.m.
Shanusmaximus, if this area is too conservative for you, you are welcome to move back to California any time.
shanusmaximus on December 06 at 1:08 p.m.
^
I guess I should have put this at the end of my comments? <sarcasm>

sarcasm

(noun)

1. A cutting, often ironic remark intended to wound.
2. A form of wit that is marked by the use of sarcastic language and is intended to make its victim the butt of contempt or ridicule.
Zelda Krup on December 06 at 1:29 p.m.
Reading comments from someone whose avatar is a crazed clown getting ready to stab someone with a 10-inch knife doesn't inspire me to give thoughtful consideration to his philosophy of government.

And, yes, I did vote for Ozzie. However, the adoration of local sheriffs on principle just doesn't cut it for me as a valid political system. The rallying cry might just as well be “The South shall rise again!” Still fighting the Civil War, eh?
Patriot1964 on December 06 at 1:50 p.m.
I too was interviewed by Meghann Cuniff at this event, as i was the person manning the Oath Keepers table. As a matter of fact, it's my car shown in the pictures. The stickers on my car is me excercising my 1st ammendment right to free speech. Rights that we would not have if some had their way. Rights that allow this paper to print the story everyone is reading and commenting on…and rights that allow everyone above to comment. While the Freedom Festival event was open to the public and anyone was allowed in ( we don't screen for possible dissentors at the door like most of a certain presidents political campaign rally's did) the bulk of the people present DO NOT represent the so called “fringe” anywhere in this country…except maybe Chicago. We are all nothing more or less than people who work for a living and demand that our representatives do the same. That those same representatives answer to their employers- the people of the United States of America- and not to special interest groups. This country was founded as a republic and the CONSTITUTION is the basis for the laws of this country.
As for comments about Oath Keepers, here's the scoop from a member. Contrary to what one comment said, we are not solely military, police, and veterans there of. Our membership is open to anyone that cares to join…but in response to the other comment about how many are just playing army…the bulk of the members are currently serving military or police or veterans there of. We are not “playing army”. Our goal is to educate those in uniform as to what their oath to “defend and protect the constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic” means. Our goal also is to educate those same people in uniform to the contents of the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Any current or past military member knows what the UCMJ is, and so they also know that in that codex of military regualtions, it is in writting that any military member is obligated to refuse, by military regulation, any order that he knows is unlawful. Our goal is to remind them of this…and to help them find the tools to make informed decisions rather than blindly follow orders.

OathKeepers is non-partisan and our ONLY allegiance is to the Constitution of the United States and to the Constitutional Republic that it defines.
shanusmaximus on December 06 at 1:52 p.m.
@Zeldas

“Reading comments from someone whose avatar is a crazed clown getting ready to stab someone with a 10-inch knife doesn't inspire me to give thoughtful consideration to his philosophy of government.”

Lol! Superb! I am glad that you like it! Why so serious?

“And, yes, I did vote for Ozzie. However, the adoration of local sheriffs on principle just doesn't cut it for me as a valid political system. The rallying cry might just as well be “The South shall rise again!” Still fighting the Civil War, eh?”

So following the Constitution is not a valid political system? What this federal government does is Constitutional? Explain that to me….
I would much rather have the police on the side of the people and not this sick, corrupt, federal Oligarchy. You really aren't that clueless about how corrupt our government is are you?
Zelda Krup on December 06 at 2:02 p.m.
The U.S. Constitution is a Federalist document. To say that the federal government is evil and the gravest threat to citizens while simultaneously defending the Constitution is a contradiction and a delusion.

There is no reasoning with the militia, esp. those who imply violence, so it's OAO on this subject for me.
Fetch on December 06 at 2:30 p.m.
Wow Zelda, LOL your comment is interesting. You are leading us on, right?
Fuschia on December 06 at 3:09 p.m.
Sheriff Knezzovich at least attends public events and listens unlike counterparts in other agencys in town. He also doesn't have that clown Nix breathing down his throat where ever he goes.

He got my vote when he finally canned the back yard peeper deputy that fought with the SPD, that had so many warnings. I dont know why we consolidate the County/City departments.

Zelda sounds like one of those extremists you dont want as a neighbor in Hillyard.
WA_63rd on December 06 at 3:22 p.m.
The reserve militia/unorganized militia

All able bodied men, 17 to 45 of age, are ultimately eligible to be called up into military service and belong to the class known as the Reserve Militia, also known as the unorganized militia. Able bodied men who are not eligible for inclusion in the unorganized militia pool are those aliens not having declared their intent to become citizens of the United States (10 USC 311) and former regular component veterans of the armed forces who have reached the age of 64 (32 USC 313). All female citizens who are members of National Guard units are also included in the unorganized militia pool (10 USC 311).

Many individual states have additional statutes describing their residents as part of the state militia; for example Washington law specifies all able-bodied citizens or intended citizens over the age of eighteen as members of the state militia, as explicitly distinct from the National Guard and Washington State Guard.
WA_63rd on December 06 at 3:26 p.m.
I did not vote for Sheriff Knezzovich last time, I will next time due to his support of Constitutional princples. So the loss of Zelda the great and addition of me, he is still even money. Who knows, maybe Zelda will move back to Calif or Oregon and he will be one up come next election.
BajaRat on December 06 at 4:19 p.m.
There's nothing wrong with militias…. in fact the founders encouraged militias to make sure loathsome governments (like the Marxist-infested Obama regime) don't get out of control.

One must understand just what the despicable SPLC is; a hand full of radical Left-wing beard scratchers who fear monger in order to raise funds for their operation… much like the vile ADL and many race-pimping groups (La Raza, MALDEF, et al). These cretins ought to be in prison and not meddling with school children brainwashing them as to how to NOT oppose the corrupt feds, the Mexican invasion, and anything else these dirtbags care to lie about. It's outrageous.

Check out this link (PDF document): http://u.nu/5u454 — It tells you all you need to know about the professional fundraiser guttersnipes at the SPLC.
Lewis on December 06 at 11:07 p.m.
I voted for Ozzie and always will. i knew him years ago he is a stand up god fearing man, i wish we had more like him.
RKeefe57 on December 07 at 3:54 a.m.
Mr. Potok has no legal or law enforcement experience. He is a public relations man who is compensated with more than $146,000 donor dollars a year to maintain an ongoing fear campaign that will keep the SPLC's mostly elderly donor base sending in the cash.

Potok is very successful in his work. Last year, gullible but well-meaning donors sent in more than $36 million donor dollars and the SPLC ended the fiscal year with more than $156 MILLION tax-free, donor dollars in its “Endowment Fund”. Not bad for a “non-profit”.

These figures are from the SPLC's own web site

(http://www.splcenter.org/pdf/static/S…)

This year's fear campaign focuses on militias, last year “racist skinheads” were going to take over the country, and the year before that, the Klan was the biggest threat to hearth and home, yet again. And every year, nothing much ever happens, except the SPLC adds a few tens of millions to its coffers.

This is nothing more than classic Bernaysian public relations propaganda.

Mr. Potok, if you REALLY have the names and addresses of “50 new militias” as you say in your most recent press releases, then just PUBLISH them and prove it. Not just some digital pinhead on an interactive map, but the REAL goods.

You can't because you made your “facts” up out of thin air, yet again.

For a six-figure salary, (Potok's bosses, multimillionaires Dees, Cohen and Levin, split the first $1.1 million donor dollars that come through the door each year), most people could find “hate” behind every rock and tree too.

Well, maybe not so much the people who have scruples.

(http://wp.me/pCLYZ-C)
PatrickWood on December 07 at 10:02 a.m.
Cunnif's unveiled left-wing bias will backfire against the Spokesman Review and cause thousands more to attend future meetings like the one she criticizes.

While she quotes the far-left SPLC (Southern Poverty Law Center) more than any other source, she completely ignored the keynote speaker, Michael Shaw, founder of www.freedomadvocates.org in Santa Cruz. Shaw is widely known as the leading U.S. expert on the United Nation's Agenda 21 and Sustainable Development. He exposed at length the City of Spokane's ties to ICLEI (Local Governments for Sustainability, www.iclei.org) ICLEI is international, not American, not approved or authorized by Congress, and has no authority to tell American's how to run their communities.

Likely Cunnif as been duped into playing a political game that she knows little about. Those in Spokane's leadership who are in bed with ICLEI are more likely behind this attack on American and Constitution-loving citizens who are hungry to understand what is going on with their country and community.

Lastly, this was most certainly NOT a militia movement. Cunnif's subtle tactic of association with hate groups serves only to intimidate future attendees.

Like I said above, it's going to backfire. American's really are fed up with leadership at all levels, and if the Spokesman Review refuses to educate them with accurate and unbiased reporting, then they will go directly to the experts to learn the truth.
PatrickWood on December 07 at 10:06 a.m.
Cuniff's unveiled left-wing bias will backfire against the Spokesman Review and cause thousands more to attend future meetings like the one she criticizes.

While she quotes the far-left SPLC (Southern Poverty Law Center) more than any other source, she completely ignored the keynote speaker, Michael Shaw, founder of www.freedomadvocates.org in Santa Cruz. Shaw is widely known as the leading U.S. expert on the United Nation's Agenda 21 and Sustainable Development. He exposed at length the City of Spokane's ties to ICLEI (Local Governments for Sustainability, www.iclei.org) ICLEI is international, not American, not approved or authorized by Congress, and has no authority to tell American's how to run their communities.

Likely Cuniff as been duped into playing a political game that she knows little about. Those in Spokane's leadership who are in bed with ICLEI are more likely behind this attack on American and Constitution-loving citizens who are hungry to understand what is going on with their country and community.

Lastly, this was most certainly NOT a militia movement. Cuniff's subtle tactic of association with hate groups serves only to intimidate future attendees.

Like I said above, it's going to backfire. American's really are fed up with leadership at all levels, and if the Spokesman Review refuses to educate them with accurate and unbiased reporting, then they will go directly to the experts to learn the truth.
Mr. Natural on December 07 at 1:11 p.m.
“There is no need to sally forth, for it remains true that those things which make us human are, curiously enough, always close at hand. Resolve then, that on this very ground, with small flags waving and tinny blast on tiny trumpets, we shall meet the enemy, and not only may he be ours, he may be us.”

Walt Kelly 1953
sband on December 08 at 3:58 p.m.
It's hard to claim non-partisianship when the you stood by for 8 years with nary a peep while our government:

- oversaw the worst terrorist attack on our soil, and the first bio-terrorist attack on our soil
- cherry picked raw intel to justify a war, the Executive had never before come between raw intel and the intel community.
- sent our military off unprepared and under equipped to occupy two foreign countries and quell two civil wars.
- suspended Habeaus Corpus for the first time since the Civil war
- Illegally spied on it's own citizens inside the U.S. .. warrantless wire taps.
- Infiltrated and spied on pacifist religious groups who did not support the war. We even spied on the Mennonites for christ's sake.
- approved torture in direct violation of our laws and our treaty obligations (treaty obligations are US law according to the U.S. Constitution)
- violated 1st amendment rights by baring dissenting voices from public events, by forcing protestors into Orwellian “free speech zone” cages blocks away from public appearances, by actually detaining and arresting people who were suspected of not supporting the administration when they tried to enter public events when they rightfully held tickets.
- racked up 3.6 TRILLION in additional debt.

The list goes on and on.
None of this is up for debate.
These aren't partisan attacks on the supposed motivations of political opponents and they're certainly not loony conspiracy theories about supposed FEMA concentration camps or, as an above poster claimed, a Presidential call for volunteerism becoming some secret marxist domestic army.
This all happened. It's all been documented. The last administration used to brag about it.

Where were all these patriots when the last administration shredded our Constitution? Where were you when they eroded our 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 8th amendment rights?

It's all paranoia and hyper-partisian hate until I hear a clear rebuke and demand for accountability across the board.

Demand, vocally and forcefully, investigation and when warranted prosecution of past offenders and you'll have a moral leg to stand on when you demand the current administration not repeat the excesses of the past.

Steven.
robchase on December 08 at 9:34 p.m.
Since the S/R didn't tell you anything about the keynote speakers you can view the speeches here http://friendsforliberty.com/
AppleMaggot on December 09 at 3:02 a.m.
I'm very disappointed that the Spokesman tried to connect the Friends For Liberty Coalition with the militia movement. None of the members of the coalition have ties to the militia. There was one speaker who talked about it in his remarks, but the main thrust of this event was to enlighten and educate concerned citizens of the Inland Northwest about the UN's Agenda 21 and to give them the truth about climate change.
shanusmaximus on December 09 at 10:38 a.m.
@sband

“Where were all these patriots when the last administration shredded our Constitution? Where were you when they eroded our 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 8th amendment rights?”

Uh….we were all screaming about it, but we got the same roadblocks as we do now. Ron Paul and his supporters were diminished as “crazy” from both sides, even though he was 100% correct. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. Now if you mean where were are representatives? Well you can't count on our non-representative representatives. I think I can literally count on one hand the Congressmen that actually represent their constituents honestly. The rest is all smoke and mirrors….triangulation and misdirection. They will continue the pro-wrestling front except for a small few of Republicans and Democrats.
fortboise on December 10 at 4:22 p.m.
So did Cox not actually get a “roar of approval” from the crowd?

I visited friendsforliberty.com and dipped into one of the featured speeches, and I have to say it doesn't make it seem less extremist. In the spot where you thank someone for the nice introduction (i.e. the first sentence), Dr. Michael Shaw refers to “demonic demonstrations of globalist activity here in the greater Spokane area.”

Demonic.

The list of “warm and fuzzy expressions” we're supposed to watch out for pretty much insures that anyone buying into his conspiracy theory can full on paranoid.

I was curious what Shaw was a doctor of, and didn't see any evidence. He's an attorney, a CPA, and he's been waging legal battles with Santa Cruz for decades, developed a business of sharing his paranoia with others.

In Shaw v. County of Santa Cruz, he got the 400A service he was after for his property, but not any of the rest of his complaint;
the court dismissed the entire complaint with prejudice. His appeal failed. He cost the rest of the citizens in the County a pretty penny for his snit.
halberst on December 23 at 6:30 a.m.
We came up to visit the North West for a white Christmas, but this isn' t what we were hoping for! Where was all this crazy talk when the (white) previous president was running this country into the ground?
kkrimmer on January 02 at 11:51 a.m.
GOP =

$700 Billion for War OK
$700 Billion for Banks OK
$700 Billion for Weathiest OK
$700 Billion for Pentagon Every Year OK
$700 Billion for hard working average Americans NOT OK
kkrimmer on January 02 at 11:52 a.m.

CONGRESS IS JUST GONNA KEEP DRIVING DOWN THE SAME ROAD…

Wealth Gap Is Increasing, Study Shows

The rich really are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer, a new University of Michigan study shows. Rising inequality isn't new. The gap between rich and poor started growing before Ronald Reagan took office, and it continued to widen through the Clinton years.

But what happened under Bush is something entirely unprecedented: For the first time in our history, so much growth is being siphoned off to a small, wealthy minority that most Americans are failing to gain ground even during a time of economic growth — and they know it. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/…

WATCH MOORE'S CAPITALISM FILM - It shines a light on both Rep and Dem darkness.
TOOBAD2 on April 08 at 10:55 a.m.
IT'S OUR COUNTRY AND IT'S TIME THEY UNDERSTAND IT. THEY WORK FOR US , NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. WE ARE SICK AND TIRED OF THE WAY THEY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF US , IT'S TIME IT ENDED. TIME FOR A REVOLUTION . ANBODY INTERESTED ? MEDIA , ANYBODY ? ANYBODY THERE? O-WELL IT'S A DEEP SUBJECT.
TOOBAD2 on April 08 at 10:56 a.m.
When Obama died, George Washington met him at the Pearly Gates. He slapped him across the face and yelled, “How dare you try to destroy the nation I helped conceive?” Patrick Henry approached, punched him in the nose and shouted, “You wanted to end our liberties but you failed.” James Madison followed, kicked him in the groin and said, “This is why I allowed our government to provide for the common defense!” Thomas Jefferson was next, beat Obama with a long cane and snarled, “It was evil men like you who inspired me to write the Declaration of Independence.” The beatings and thrashings continued as George Mason, James Monroe and 66 other early Americans unleashed their anger on the radical, socialist, leader. As Obama lay bleeding and in pain, an Angel appeared. Obama wept and said, “This is not what you promised me.” The Angel replied, “I told you there would be 72 Virginians waiting for you in Heaven. What did you think I said?”…..”You really need to listen when someone is trying to tell you something!”