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Sedition: Oklahoma Tea Party Leaders Ask State to Create Armed Voluntary Militia to Combat Federal Government

Submitted by BuzzFlash on Wed, 04/14/2010 - 9:36am.

BILL BERKOWITZ FOR BUZZFLASH

"Is it scary? It sure is": Oklahoma Tea Party leaders want an  armed militia to combat the federal government

Oklahoma Tea Party leaders are talking about creating a new volunteer militia to defend the state against encroaching federal government

Coming on the heels of the arrests and indictments of the Hutaree militia group in Southern Michigan and given the fact that April 19 is the 15th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing – the day that Tim McVeigh exploded a truckbomb outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building killing 168 people -- at first glance I thought the story I was reading had emanated from the fevered minds of the writers at The Onion -- one of the nation’s premier humor/satire publications where no issue is off limits.

But I soon realized that this in fact was a serious news dispatch from two Associated Press writers, Sean Murphy and Tim Talley.

According to Murphy and Talley, Oklahoma Tea Party leaders are so “frustrated by recent political setbacks” that they have been talking with state legislators about the possibility of creating “a new volunteer militia to help defend against what they believe are improper federal infringements on state sovereignty.”

The AP report pointed out that “Tea party movement leaders say they've discussed the idea with several supportive lawmakers and hope to get legislation next year to recognize a new volunteer force. They say the unit would not resemble militia groups that have been raided for allegedly plotting attacks on law enforcement officers.”

"Is it scary? It sure is," said tea party leader Al Gerhart of Oklahoma City, co-founder of the Sooner Tea Party – which held its first open meeting for the general public in October of last year  – and the head of an umbrella group of tea party factions called the Oklahoma Constitutional Alliance. "But when do the states stop rolling over for the federal government?"

Gerhart, a carpenter by trade, was a recent guest on Oklahoma Forum, “your source for meaningful discussion that informs, engages and connects each Oklahoman.” On November 8, 2009, at the Sooner Tea Party Blog – “limited government; individual freedom; personal responsibility” – Gerhart posted a piece titled “The Battle for the Republic Begins,” in which he maintained that “the power to stop Obama in his tracks” resides with the 10th Amendment to the Constitution.    

While Gerhart has a “Page” at the Freedom Works website, it appears that he hasn’t posted anything since September 30, 2009.

"Have they heard of the Oklahoma City bombing?" said Joseph Thai, a constitutional law professor at the University of Oklahoma. Such actions could "throw fuel in the fire of radicals," he said.

“State Sen. Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso, a Republican candidate for governor who has appealed for tea party support, said supporters of a state militia have talked to him, and that he believes the citizen unit would be authorized under the Second Amendment to the Constitution,” AP reported. The founding fathers "were not referring to a turkey shoot or a quail hunt. They really weren't even talking about us having the ability to protect ourselves against each other," Brogdon said. "The Second Amendment deals directly with the right of an individual to keep and bear arms to protect themselves from an overreaching federal government."

Another Tea Party leader, J.W. Berry of the Tulsa-based OKforTea, helped initiatite the discussion through his newsletter under the subject "Buy more guns, more bullets."

"It's not a far-right crazy plan or anything like that," Berry said. "This would be done with the full cooperation of the state Legislature."

Think Progress reported that Berry “has posted rants against President Obama: the ‘Muslim President’ — a ‘reincarnation of Pol Pot’ who is trying imprison Americans for resisting health reform. One ominous posting from Berry says that his militia should ‘launch a thousand guerrilla attacks on the plans that these people have to ruin us and our country.’”

In addition, Think Progress pointed out, “Berry frequently cites conservative news outlets like CNS [formerly the Media Research Center’s Conservative News Service which now calls itself the Cybercasat News Service] and notes that he draws inspiration from the white supremacist thriller “The Turner Diaries” [the William Pierce-authored novel that inspired Tim McVeigh].  Despite his extremism, Berry has met with Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) and other members of the Oklahoma Republican delegation, and counts them as ‘rock solid.’”

Not everyone thinks the state militia is such a great idea: “This is yet another example of the inability of national tea party leadership to control a large portion its core base,” Eric Ward of the Chicago, Illinois-based Center for New Community, told BuzzFlash. “The push by Oklahoma Republican Party elected officials and its tea party cohorts to form its own private army is short of outright sedition against the United States. The fact that national tea party leadership has failed to speak out immediately on this should send chills through the hearts of every American committed to civil rights, the Constitution, and civil rights.”

"If the intent is to create a militia for disaster relief, we have the National Guard," said Sen. Steve Russell, R-Oklahoma City, a retired Army lieutenant colonel. "Anything beyond that purpose should be viewed with great concern and caution."

AP reported that Democratic Gov. Brad Henry's communications director Paul Sund “also discounted the militia discussion, saying the National Guard handles state emergencies and security. Federal authorities say that radical militia groups have not emerged in Oklahoma, unlike many other states, in part because of the legacy of the Oklahoma City bombing.”

Eric Ward, a longtime anti-racist activist whose organization monitors right wing organizations, suggested that “What we are seeing is a naked power grab by those who lost the presidential elections. In any other country this would be seen as the start of an attempted coup against a democratically elected national leader. A coup steeped in fantasies of old white supremacy and racialized vigilantism.”

It is unclear whether the Oklahoma legislature will take action on the Tea Partiers suggestion that a volunteer militia be created to protect Oklahomans from the federal government. For now, State Sen. Randy Brogdon and Tea Party leaders Al Gerhart and J. W. Berry are making the folks Merle Haggard sang about in "Okie from Muskogee" seem like downright liberals.

BILL BERKOWITZ FOR BUZZFLASH

BUZZFLASH NOTE: Since 2000, BuzzFlash has been warning of the danger from a well-armed seditious right. Yesterday, in the editor's blog, we took note again of the grave threat that those who would commit treason pose to the government of the United States in a commentary, "Sedition is Coming to a Town Near You: The Potential Domestic White 'Christian' Terrorists in Our Midst are Locked and Loaded."  




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State Militia

Submitted by Howard Engel on Thu, 07/22/2010 - 2:17am.

I sometimes hate to disagree with someone who always seems to have the right answers. But, in this case I'd like to put my two cents worth in. It's believed that the so-called "Posse Comitatus Act" would always be there to protect American citizens and that it would be backed up by Congress. Now for those that bet that to be true I have to honestly wish them luck. Myself, I don't trust Congress to do anything right esspecially when it comes to protecting the US citizens. Look to our southern boarder for example. Look what they did concerning Obamacare against the will of the majority. The Posse Comitatus Act has already been defeated when National Guard troops were used in several northeastern states (NY,NJ,etc) while being used for drug searches and not only drugs but for weapons searches as well. Congress will not help or even listen or abide by the Constitution.That has been shown already.Ask most Americans how much trust they put in thier Congress to protect them from evil do'ers. Anybody that gose against what's written in our Constitution I consider 'evil do'ers' whether anyone else dose or not(period). Now,as for a State organized Militia I believe there is nothing wrong with hoping for the best but to prepare for the worse. If the militia is never needed then so be it. No-one has ever said that it would definately be used but if it should someday be needed then I'd rather be prepared and ready than to be caught with our pants down. When and if things do go bad it will be too late to do anything then. Of course your Left-Wing sympathizers will argue the contrary, they want you to be un-prepared. They are all NWO indoctrinated. This has been going on for years and most people have just begun to wake up to that fact. It's been said that a militia would be likend to the KKK. Well, they are the ones that are simply trying to scare the hell out of people. Giving the name "Militia" a bad name. Listen, The KKK were a group of thugs out to scare and kill inocent people. Out to do harm and cause problems. On the other hand a Militia is to curb problems not instigated to cause them. So, this is the way I look at a State sanctioned Militia. Another point I'd like to mention is about the Tea Party itself. There have been some to try to link its formation and purpose to racism and anybody with an open mind and have thier blinders laid aside should be able to see through these lies. If corrupt politicians fits the description as racisim no matter thier color then maybe they'd have a point but I don't think they have a point. Hey, the Left wanted CHANGE and they got it with Obama and the democratic congress. Now I want change and am trying to do what I have to to get it. You people that like what you've got with Obama you go ahead and keep you change and leave the rest of us alone because we're not stopping til we get our change.

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Posse Comitatus | National Guard

Submitted by opit on Tue, 05/11/2010 - 7:29pm.

opit

Established under Title 10 and Title 32 of the U.S. Code, state National Guard serves as part of the first-line defense for the United States.

The state National Guard is divided up into units stationed in each of the 50 states and U.S. territories and operates under their respective state governor or territorial adjutant general.[4] The National Guard may be called up for active duty by state governors or territorial adjutant general to help respond to domestic emergencies and disasters, such as those caused by hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes.[4]

Prior to the attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001, the National Guard's general policy regarding mobilization was that Guardsmen would be required to serve no more than one year cumulative on active duty (with no more than six months overseas) for each five years of regular drill.

Traditionally, most National Guard personnel serve "One weekend a month, two weeks a year".

The Posse Comitatus Act is a United States federal law (18 U.S.C. § 1385
 
) passed on June 18, 1878, after the end of Reconstruction, with the intention (in concert with the Insurrection Act of 1807) of substantially limiting the powers of the federal government to use the military for law enforcement. The Act prohibits most members of the federal uniformed services (today the Army, Navy, Air Force, and State National Guard forces when such are called into federal service) from exercising nominally state law enforcement, police, or peace officer powers that maintain "law and order" on non-federal property (states and their counties and municipal divisions) within the United States.

The Myth of Posse Comitatus

http://www.homelandsecurity.org/journal/articles/trebilcock.htm

Through a gradual erosion of the act’s prohibitions over the past 20 years, posse comitatus today is more of a procedural formality than an actual impediment to the use of U.S. military forces in homeland defense.

The original 1878 Posse Comitatus Act was indeed passed with the intent of removing the Army from domestic law enforcement. Posse comitatus means “the power of the county,” reflecting the inherent power of the old West county sheriff to call upon a posse of able-bodied men to supplement law enforcement assets and thereby maintain the peace. Following the Civil War, the Army had been used extensively throughout the South to maintain civil order, to enforce the policies of the Reconstruction era, and to ensure that any lingering sentiments of rebellion were crushed. However, in reaching those goals, the Army necessarily became involved in traditional police roles and in enforcing politically volatile Reconstruction-era policies. The stationing of federal troops at political events and polling places under the justification of maintaining domestic order became of increasing concern to Congress, which felt that the Army was becoming politicized and straying from its original national defense mission. The Posse Comitatus Act was passed to remove the Army from civilian law enforcement and to return it to its role of defending the borders of the United States.

....................................................................................................

The military isn't trained to be a police force, he says, so it should stick to the skills for which it is trained: surveillance, information gathering, logistical support. All of these activities are allowable under Posse Comitatus.  "I'm not sure, even with what's going on today, that Congress wants the military arresting people.''

Sec. 1385. Use of Army and Air Force as posse comitatus

Whoever, except in cases and under circumstances expressly authorized by the Constitution or Act of
Congress, willfully uses any part of the Army or the Air Force as a posse comitatus or otherwise to
execute the laws shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.


"Shadow Government, Martial Law and Locking Americans out of the Liberty Loop." You will discover that the Posse Comitatus Act has already been undermined by 32 CFR 501.4.http://www.dojgov.net/posse_comitatus_act.htm

Paranoia as Patriotism:
Far-Right Influences on the Militia Movement
http://www.nizkor.org/hweb/orgs/american/adl/paranoia-as-patriotism/posse-comitatus.html

Canada military not bound by US Posse Comitatus Act under Martial Law?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080224152200AAMqVOU

 

I'm a resident of what I jokingly call West Soviet Canuckistan : a good name for the redneck conservative Bible Belt.

I thought myself that the concerns for loss of Habeas Corpus to the misnamed PATRIOT Act and general loss of any protections from government depradations of search,arrest,imprisonment or torture would be of concern to any person concerned with restatement of the powers of government to a functioning tyranny. The so-called 'terrorists' I'm concerned with do not live in the Middle East...but are the lot that shot and killed residents of NOLA after Hurricane Katrina.

How is it that people concerned with loss of civil liberties can be marginalized as extreme right-wingers ?  There is a sad lack of perspective for the value of a citizenry allowed to live without fear of government overreach : The Unitary Executive  aka Tyranny.

State controlled militia ? Doesn't that fall under the right of the people to bear arms ?

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State Militias and the President

Submitted by bmtf62a on Sun, 04/18/2010 - 10:28pm.

Article II of the U.S. Constitution states   "The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States".   Seems clear who would be the Constitutional chief of any state's militia,

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Until I first read the

Submitted by Dakotahgeo on Sun, 04/18/2010 - 12:24am.

Until I first read the title of this article, I thought I had seen everything.  Al Gerhart and his cronies have got to be smoking something illegal to come up with a idiotic idea like this!  Just the idea has made Oklahoma the laughing stock of the entire nation of positive, supportive citizens of the USA.  I think Mr. Gerhart and his followers are darn lucky they're not swinging at the end of a rope right now.  They would be in any other dictatorial, Communist country!  Let me share a true recent event with you:  I have a friend in Brazil who is a professor in college and advanced high school.  The wages for teachers stink in Brazil but he and his teacher professionals are a dedicated group.  These past 3 months have seen the majority of teachers (18,000+) from just this one state congregate and demonstrate for higher wages... that's all... just higher wages, and they did it peacefully!  Not only were they tear-gassed, but the militia used rubber bullets on them.  One of my friend's friends got hit and was in the hospital overnight.  I think the retards of Oklahoma who think this secession/state militia crap is a good idea should ship their tired butts to any one of the countries they so despise and see what they would get away there!  I suspect Mr. Gerhart and his stupes wouldn't last a week!  At least I would hope not.  You had better be darn thankful you have it as good as you do here because it can REALLY get a heck of a lot worse.  Doggone whiners!

Dakotahgeo, M.Div.  Pastor/Chaplain

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"improper federal

Submitted by iantuttle on Fri, 04/16/2010 - 8:31am.

"improper federal infringements on state sovereignty"  Can anyone explain this in greater detail?

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Not Far-right Crazy?

Submitted by dgvb55 on Thu, 04/15/2010 - 2:10am.

   "It's not a far-right crazy plan, or anything like that",Berry said,"It would be done with the full cooporation of the state Legislature."

  I really think right now would be a good time for Obama to order the EPA to test the Oklahoma water supply for toxins and drugs. Because if this, or anything like this is brought to a vote, we'll know one thing for sure: The Oklahoma State Legislature IS "far-right crazy"!!!!  

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Toxins and Drugs in the Water Supply

Submitted by opit on Tue, 05/11/2010 - 7:46pm.

opit

I'll bet you thought you were being facetious.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/washington/story/67753.html

http://www.naturalnews.com/022946.html

http://txsharon.blogspot.com/2008/11/dick-cheney-and-halliburton-fing-in.html

http://www.naturalnews.com/025994.html

http://www.journeyoftheforsaken.com/fracpage.htm

http://americas.irc-online.org/articles/2004/0412water_body.html

http://www.grist.org/feature/2007/10/16/mississippi/

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2009/06/25-9

There's an absolute ton more like that. Then again, I monitor the topic

http://opitslinkfest.blogspot.com/2009/07/water-wealth-power.html

 

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State Militias

Submitted by ghf on Wed, 04/14/2010 - 11:33am.

I am not a bit concerned. Every state already has a militia and it can be nationalized at any time.

Let this Oklahoma militia act up at all and President Obama will federalize the OK National Guard - and I feel comfortable that they will be 'loyal' to the Constitution.

 

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Howard Engel

Submitted by Howard Engel on Thu, 07/22/2010 - 2:28am.

I believe Obama intends to federalize the Guards anyhow. And, I think they will be loyal to thier Commander-in-Chief. They have been sworn to do so no matter what he says to do.You, just like so many other Americans that have had it so good all thier lifes still believe that all is going to be well. I venture to say that you will someday eat your words because I am certain that I won't have to. Thank You

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No concern is right

Submitted by Atmost11 on Wed, 04/14/2010 - 1:19pm.

I agree, a state militia must be loyal to the Governor of that state - they don't have to be loyal to the President - so it's up to the Governor to run for or against sedition - either way Conservatives lose.  They're making a big joke of themselves.  We have blacks, we have latinos, we have asians, we have young whites, we have the blue states, we have the rank and file, we even have more churches than they have. 

The only true asset the Conservatives have, is not their ammo collection, it's the f---ing infiltrator moderate bi-partisan centrist sellouts who are so concerned about 2 things only:  not being called soft on the powerless and not being called impolite to the powerful.  The only danger is that somebody on their side might commit a felony against a  good decent American. 

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Howard Engel

Submitted by Howard Engel on Thu, 07/22/2010 - 2:38am.

All you liberals are all the same. You're all blind to whats happening to our country and won't stand up for your rights. I guess that's alright if losing your rights is what you want. Because you are sure on the right road to getting there. Maybe, just maybe, you people are just too scared to stand up for yourself. I hope that's not the case. I'd rather you just be blind.

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Context-sensitive

Submitted by Alan8 on Wed, 04/14/2010 - 11:28am.

"Oklahoma Tea Party leaders are talking about creating a new volunteer militia to defend the state against encroaching federal government"

Where were these "freedom fighters" when the Bush Administration passed laws that the Federal government could declare them to be "enemy combatants", and imprison them indefinitely without trial, and torture them?  In addition, the Military Commissions Act of 2006 (passed with the help of the corporatist Democrats) eliminates their ability to challenge their imprisonment through Habeas Corpus.

They're morons, riled up because a black man is president, being used by the wealthy in their class war against working people.

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Sedition

Submitted by smipypr on Wed, 04/14/2010 - 11:09am.

I've been hearing about the coming revolution for months, from some extremely conservative relatives. When I respond with minor facts about the Constitution, they immediately go to the now commonplace racist rhetoric. When I explain this whole deficit thing was because Bush kept the wars off the books, they blame Barney Frank(?) and then spout about how Obama was supposed to change everything. They're foaming at the mouth because he's continuing Bush's wars and other policies. Nuts.

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