times square

Thank goodness the gasoline in that Nissan Pathfinder SUV didn't ignite in Times Square yesterday. That would have been ugly.

And now, as we await word who was responsible for the attempt, some on the right are attempting to shape the information battlefield. This guy says he thinks it was probably Islamic terrorists (based in part on some undefined degree of proximity to Comedy Central headquarters and the timing so soon after South Park attempted to depict Muhammad), but if not, it was liberal/anarchist nutjobs. The evidence for the left-wing attack theory? It was an SUV, and liberals hate SUVs. One commenter at this blog suggest an inside job by the Federal government so President Obama and FEMA can start rounding up and arresting opponents. Sort of a Reichstag fire scenario, I guess. The evidence for this view? Fevered imagination as far as I can tell.

Regardless of whether it was Islamic terrorists of the domestic or international kind, right-wing domestic terrorists (many "militia" types hate New York City, though there is at the moment ZERO public evidence for their involvement), left-wing terrorists, or people who just hate the theater, this was clearly an attempt at terrorism.

preparing for the insurrection

So maybe Oklahoma would like to be the South Carolina of the second Civil War? Some right-wing legislators in that state along with whacko tea party leaderrs (pardon the redundancy) are apparently considering creating a new volunteer state militia. Purpose? "(T)o help defend against what they believe are improper federal infringements on state sovereignty."

It isn't exactly clear how they propose to do this. The what, however, of such a proposal is clear. The what is treason, or perhaps insurrection.

How else to describe people taking up arms to resist by force the legitimate acts of a legitimate government? That's what these embittered loons are implying, though for sure they will resent the implication and will try to back off and say this isn't about treason or insurrection or intimidation of their political opponents. The fact that they are trying to do it at a state level doesn't change the basic equation. South Carolina and the rest of the Confederate state also committed treason in 1860-65.

Not all Oklahoma Republicans are drinking this Kool Aid. Republican state Senator Steve Russell said that the existing Oklahoma National Guard can handle disaster relief, and "Anything beyond that purpose should be viewed with great concern and caution." But at least two state legislators - Randy Brogdon and Charles Key, both Republicans - have made positive noises about this prospect.

I guess they would rather contest the issues of the day by armed intimidation, instead of using legislatures, courts, and the polling booth. A new twist on the modern yet half-baked tea party concept of nullification.