That was fast. It was just one year ago that right-wing martial arts guru Chuck Norris was a sought-after "get" for the GOP presidential candidates like Mike Huckabee, who paraded the star of "Walker, Texas Ranger" around the nation after the anti-abortion actor endorsed him in the primaries.
But now it's 2009, Barack Obama is in the White House, and the inventor of chun kuk do is preaching the martial art of insurrection against the U.S. government. He also wants to run for -- and no, I'm not making this up -- "the president of Texas.":
The call by some right wing leaders for rebellion and for the military to refuse the commander in chief’s orders is joined by Chuck Norris who claims that thousands of right wing cell groups have organized and are ready for a second American Revolution. During an appearance on the Glen Beck radio show he promised that if things get any worse from his point of view he may “run for president of Texas.” The martial artist/actor/activist claims that Texas was never formally a part of the United States in the first place and that if rebellion is to come through secession Texas would lead the way.
Norris really comes close to crossing a line with this:
Norris claims that; “Thousands of cell groups will be united around the country in solidarity over the concerns for our nation.” The right wing cells will meet during a live telecast, "We Surround Them," on Friday March 13 at 5 p.m.
He closes with the words of Sam Houston followed by a plug for his next martial arts event.
“We view ourselves on the eve of battle."
You really have to almost laugh at some of this. For eight years, progressives were lambasted -- in the face of the most unpopular and arguably the worst American president since the Civil War -- as victims of "Bush derangement syndrome" or as "Kos Kooks." That was largely because in the face of a government that invaded another nation on bogus pretenses and violated laws on core issues like torture and domestic spying, a few people advocated impeachment, a deliberative process under the U.S. Constitution, and a tiny handful talked about things like moving to Canada.
Meanwhile, less than two months into the Obama administration, right-wingers are stocking the basement pantry, piling up the shotguns and organizing "cells," all with the help of a talk-show host who coincidentially became unhinged after he drove down the ratings at CNN Headline News, something that most people didn't think was possible. There's a lot to hash out in this country over the next few years but it's becoming more and more clear who respects the Constitution, and who does not.
Posted by Will Bunch @ 10:20 AM
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77 comments
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Just remember, you right wing kooks, I warned you. Bush/Cheney and the GOP handed Obama the tools to throw you away and lock the key, for pretexts much less than idle talk about insurrection.
In 2005 a survey of registered Democrats showed 51% of them acknowledged the wanted G W Bush to fail. Now that a few fringe righties say the same thing, they are labeled as anit american kooks. Guess they just joined you Will.
How could Obama be doing nothing? I thought he was busy socializing the banks and health care. I thought he was authorizing the holocaust of frozen embryos. Flip a coin, Genius.
Don't worry, Chuck Norris is about as influential as Keith Olbermann. Remember, we keep our kooks to the fringe, whereas lib kooks are front and center in the Democrat party.
Comment removed.
Is there a point in the near future, CB? Whatever your "survey" shows, you're saying it was wrong for Dems to root against President Bush, but okay for Republics to root against President Obama. Is that your point?
jmc, did you forget about the kook who was the Republican VP nominee last year? And I gotta wonder if the guy who selected her was also a kook.
"but it's becoming more and more clear who respects the Constitution, and who does not."....You forgot to mention the fairness doctrine, will.
"Bush's 'sins' as Will sees them was in defense of his country." Really? cutting taxes while fighting two wars (one against a secular dictator with no ties to terrorism, no air force, no navy, and no WMDs)helped defend our country? Speaking of defending our country, maybe those brave souls you saw buying guns were thinking of volunteering for Afghanistan?
'Meanwhile, less than two months into the Obama administration, right-wingers are stocking the basement pantry, piling up the shotguns and organizing "cells,"' First of all, there was plenty of similar kookery on the left during the Bush years - posts on Democratic Underground spoke of rebellion against Bush and preparing for such. The party out of power from the White House is much more prone to wingbattery. We're starting to see contrails posts on Free Republic again after they were absent for eight years. Second, that is a small segment of the right wing. Posts calling for session or armed revolution are pulled from Free Republic, so this is not mainstream conservatism. But third, Will, you are missing a key point. In addition to sessessionist nonsense, a lot of folks who have not been all that politically active in the past are getting out protesting against the excesses of the Obama Admin when it comes to spending and large programs in a time of declining revenues. People both left and right feel more dispossessed by their federal government - streching back a long ways. What you are seeing with sessessionist sentiments are a symptom of a much larger malady - the feeling that, no matter which party is in power, they will vary only by the methods they bash on the interests of working stiffs, all the while concerned first and foremost about enriching themselves with their office. If you want to do something about such movements, work to fight corruption in both parties and quit being such a cheerleader for Obama's excesses.
"Remember, we keep our kooks to the fringe, whereas lib kooks are front and center in the Democrat party." Except when that fringe is with the nation's No. 3 radio show whose host is a Fox News personality, and when he appears on stage with the second place finisher in the party's presidential primaries.
I got it. Why don't we just give Texas back to Mexico? It's half full of Mexicans anyway, and the Cowboys would then become Mexico's Team.
What is it with the GOP and their fixation on actors? For a party that spends the better part of it's time lambasting the "Hollywood" liberal, they continue to fall all over themselves when an actor pledges allegiance to their party. Doesn't matter that their terrible actors (Reagan, Schwartzengger, Fred Thomas, and....Chuck Norris?). Seems like a case of talent-envy.....
I care as much about Chuck Norris' political ideas as I do those of Garafalo, Penn, Baldwin, Streisand, Springsteen, Robbins, Sarandon, et al.
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About Will Bunch
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Will Bunch, a senior writer at the Philadelphia Daily News, blogs about his obsessions, including national and local politics and world affairs, the media, pop music, the Philadelphia Phillies, soccer and other sports, not necessarily in that order.
Will Bunch, a senior writer at the Philadelphia Daily News, blogs about his obsessions, including national and local politics and world affairs, the media, pop music, the Philadelphia Phillies, soccer and other sports, not necessarily in that order.
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