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Warblogger finally figures out what the DHS report on extremism was about

June 11, 2009 8:49 am ET by Eric Boehlert

Back to the enlightened Jawa Report, which in the wake of the Holocaust Museum killing announced:

When the DHS talked about right-wingers, I think this is what they had in mind.

Well, duh. 

Of course that's what the DHS report was about. How did I, and every other rational person, know that's what the report was about when it was released? Because that's what the DHS warning reported. Meaning, that's what the words on the page meant.

But for some strange reason the GOP Noise Machine, led by Michelle Malkin and Rush Limbaugh and the entire Fox News crew, decided that even though the DHS never once used the word "conservative," and even though the DHS report was quite clearly about "domestic rightwing terrorist and extremist groups," "terrorist groups or lone wolf extremists capable of carrying out violent attacks," and "white supremacists," despite all that, the Noise Machine went bonkers claiming the DHS report was about them. (Which begged the rather uncomfortable question of why conservative bloggers and pundits immediately saw themselves in a report about skinheads and right-wing terrorists. Yikes.)

But now, after a deadly lone wolf attack at the Holocaust Museum by an alleged white supremacist, the Jawa Report figures out that, oh yeah, that's what the DHS was talking about.

Meanwhile, Malkin maintains her silence regarding the "piece of crap" attack she launched against the now-prescient DHS report.

BTW, the DHS report also warned about anti-Semitic acts of violence. Any comment Michelle?

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    • Author by NiceguyEddie (June 11, 2009 8:57 am ET)
      3  
      These people are sofa king stupid. I hope they continue with their party-purity nonsense, so they can go the way of the Federalists and the Whigs and the 'debate' in the futrue can be between leftwing-liberal-democrats and centrist-populist-libertarians. This country needs these Right Wingers like it needs a giant pool of toxic sewage.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by terrapin53 (June 11, 2009 9:18 am ET)
      3  
      The right wing email newsletter has probably come out on how to blame all of this on liberals and the DHS report is still way off base. If you want to consider radical islam right wing (which I do), then thats 3 killings in the past two weeks from right wing extremists. How many more people have to be killed before the hate speech from the right tempers down.
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      • Author by Easy to refute wingnuts (June 11, 2009 10:30 am ET)
        1  
        How many more people have to be killed before the hate speech from the right tempers down.
        Thousands killed in Iraq hasn't even started to slow the hate from the right.
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    • Author by Easy to refute wingnuts (June 11, 2009 10:29 am ET)
         
      But for some strange reason the GOP Noise Machine, lead by Michelle Malkin
      Eric, that should be "led." My proofreading offer still stands...

      Thanks for your clear writing and your hard work on this site.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by Easy to refute wingnuts (June 11, 2009 10:33 am ET)
        1  
        Also, Eric, "begging the question" doesn't mean what you think it does. It's something that is also called "circular reasoning," where the conclusion is argued to be true because the conclusion is assumed as one of the premises.
        Report Abuse
        • Author by Don Hussein Fabuloso (June 11, 2009 11:38 am ET)
             
          Thanks, Easy. I've almost given up on that, but it drives me nuts.Highly-paid radio & TV personalities abuse and misuse that term constantly. It's not being pedantic at all, trying to rescue the term. Especially since it seems to be competing with the strawman as the go-to logical fallacy of wingnuts everywhere.

          More times than I can count at this site, I've had a con trying to argue with me using this flawed line of reasoning. INvariably, when I mention that they're "begging the question", and that I won't continue until they fix their problem, I get the same response;

          "What's your question?"

          You've inspired me. My fight is renewed.
          Report Abuse
      • Author by pete592 (June 11, 2009 11:40 am ET)
           
        I with ya on this, Easy. I've found it necessary to let Eric know about this kind of thing several times before. I love his work and were his heart's at, but he's still human and should have a second pair of eyes looking over his stuff before he posts it.
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    • Author by seeryer (June 11, 2009 11:22 am ET)
         
      EB,
      I noted this response yesterday in reply to the original thread on Jawa. These folks are incredible. But even more incredible are the folks STILL climaing the DHS report was an attempt to silence critics of the left. Malkin will address this issue but it will only be to say that her views about the DHS report have not changed. We can't expect too much soul searching from the right.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by harley (June 11, 2009 11:37 am ET)
      1  

      UPDATED! Liberal Hunting License sticker

      Liberal hunting season has been declared. Get your permit today!

      "Liberal Hunting License -- 2009-2013 -- No Bag Limit -- Tagging Not Required."

      [http://patriotshop.us/images/DSC_0033.jpg]
      Report Abuse
      • Author by Don Hussein Fabuloso (June 11, 2009 11:40 am ET)
        1  
        Ha ha!! Don't be so sensitive, Harley? Can't you see that's just a clever joke? As if there's anybody buying this sticker who's crazy enough to... oh, sorry, never mind.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by pete592 (June 11, 2009 11:44 am ET)
        1  
        Wow. From a website that bills itself as a place for patriots. I guess patriotism has a different meaning for some people. Killing, or even joking about killing your fellow countrymen based on politics... unbelievable.
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    • Author by paul8616 (June 11, 2009 3:47 pm ET)
         
      I believe the hook the right-wingers used to attack the report was that it made mention of returning vets as a potential danger. Given that, it was easy to also say that it was the Obama administration attacking conservatives. I mean, easy to say if you have no integrity.
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