United Liberty

Oh noes, people care about the direction of their country! They must be racists if they disagree with President Barack Obama. Well, that’s not how I feel. But the folks at the Southern Poverty Law Center are in a panic over a rises in “extremist” groups:

The number of hate groups in America has been going up for years, rising 54% between 2000 and 2008 and driven largely by an angry backlash against non-white immigration and, starting in the last year of that period, the economic meltdown and the climb to power of an African American president.

According to the latest annual count by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), these groups rose again slightly in 2009 — from 926 in 2008 to 932 last year

Much like the MIAC report and the Department of Homeland Security’s report on “right-wing extremism,” the SPLC is blowing anger at the policies of the federal and some states governments completely out of proportion.

My friend Robert Stacy McCain points out the peculiarity of some of the groups that the SPLC singled-out, such as the We the People Foundation:

After finding the Web site of the Alabama chapter of ”We the People,” I phoned Huntsville resident Lesha Martin, one of the members listed on the site. Is “We the People” some kind of violent militia-type outfit?

“Good heavens, no,” said Ms. Martin, an admirer of Ron Paul who described herself as devoted to individual freedom and “resurrecting the Constitution.”

UPDATE: This afternoon, airline officials confirmed that the in-flight restrictions had been eased to allow a plane’s captain discretion about their enforcement.

For those of you still awaiting flights home from the holidays or with impending business travel in the coming weeks, you may want to read over these security directives distributed by TSA as their “official security rules” in light of the Flight 253 “Underpants Bomber:”

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Transportation Security Administration
Aviation Security Directive
Subject: Security Directive
Number: SD 1544-09-06
Date: December 25, 2009
EXPIRATION: 0200Z on December 30, 2009
This Security Directive (SD) must be implemented immediately. The measures contained in this SD are in addition to all other SDs currently in effect for your operations.
INFORMATION: On December 25, 2009, a terrorist attack was attempted against a flight traveling to the United States. TSA has identified security measures to be implemented by airports, aircraft operators, and foreign air carriers to mitigate potential threats to flights.
APPLICABILITY: THIS SD APPLIES TO AIRCRAFT OPERATORS THAT CARRY OUT A SECURITY PROGRAM REGULATED UNDER 49 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (CFR)1544.101(a).
ACTIONS REQUIRED: If you conduct scheduled and/or public charter flight operations under a Full Program under 49 CFR 1544.101(a) departing from any foreign location to the United States (including its territories and possessions), you must immediately implement all measures in this SD for each such flight.

 

1. BOARDING GATE

Congressman Ron Paul speaks about previous swine flu scares that were blown out of proportion.

“The Other McCain” gives 7,000 Teaparty goers in Birmingham, Alabama an idea if they are Right Wing Extremists, as the DHS report leaked earlier this week stated.

Over at The Liberty Papers, Stephen Gordon has the story of what seems to be a report from the Department of Homeland Security entitled, Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Environment Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment, that targets some conservatives and most libertarians.

The report says (emphasis mine):

Contributor Jason Pye recently reported on the government report emanating from Missouri which labeled supporters of Ron Paul, Chuck Baldwin and Bob Barr as possible domestic terrorist suspects.  Because of the immense public outcry, the report has been rescinded and apologies issued.

From John Tate, Executive Director of the Campaign for Liberty-

Dear Friend of Liberty,

Although it sometimes seems that freedom is shrinking everywhere we turn, the fact is a powerful grassroots stand can still stop Big Government bureaucrats in their tracks.

If your family lives on the Texas Coast, visiting during hurricane season may not be the best idea, as I’m learning right now.  With Hurricane Ike headed our way, my Dad has been playing mental ping-pong in his head: do we go, do we stay, do we go, do we stay?

Two nights ago, after a mandatory evacuation was called for Brazoria County by local government officials, we were packed ready to leave.

Yesterday, we were making preparations to stay.

Last night, Dad still wasn’t sure, but we were ready either way.

This morning, the verdict is that we’re hunkering down and waiting it out, which my kids find pretty exciting.