Internet Jihadists are silly conspiracy theorists

Internet Jihadists are silly conspiracy theorists

The Guilliam Foundation has released a fascinating report on the content of pro-Jihadist Internet message boards. Focusing on the ideology and “social dynamics” of Arabic-language web-forums, the study finds that internet jihadists spend a lot of time attacking other Muslims, restricting free debate, and re-posting the same pro-Jihad texts. Users have little knowledge of scripture, continue to cite material from “recanted” Jihadists, and they love Saudi-funded Wahhabbi clerics. They also actively ignore information that contradicts their beliefs, shut out “bad news,” and are super-paranoid.

They sound like half the wing nuts on the net. Truthers, Birthers and Ayn Rand followers all exhibit the same on-line behaviors.

The Secret World of Extreme Militias | TIME

The Secret World of Extreme Militias | TIME

Their unit seal depicts a man with a musket and tricorn hat, over the motto “Today’s Minutemen.” The symbol invites a question, Who are today’s redcoats? On that point, the group takes no official position, but many of those interviewed over two days of recent training in and around the abandoned Roseville State Prison near Zanesville voiced grim suspicions about President Obama and the federal government in general. (See Obama’s troubled first year.) “I don’t know who the redcoats are,” says Brian Vandersall, 37, who designed the exercise and tried to tamp down talk of politics among the men. “It could be U.N. troops. It could be federal troops. It could be Blackwater, which was used in Katrina. It could be Mexican troops who are crossing the border.”

Amazing how much of the Clinton era nuttiness disappeared during the Bush years and then came back without missing a beat. All the same imagined villains with only one addition: Blackwater.

Embarrassed By Beck? | Andrew Sullivan

Embarrassed By Beck? | Andrew Sullivan

Compared with Sean Hannity, for example, Beck seems to me to be a relative innocent. Hannity is a cynical liar and cool propagandist. You can trust nothing he says and although I find it hard to diagnose the motives behind Beck’s enthusiasms (money? fame? emotional instability? misplaced patriotism?), he is, compared with Hannity, a model of genuineness.

I can imagine that there are people on Fox that are genuine and believe that they are in the news business and they inform their audiences in an honest way.

I can not imagine that Beck is such a person. 

The fact the some people at Fox can see this makes me hopeful.

Why liberals will be glad to see Rahm Emanuel go. – By David Weigel – Slate Magazine

Why liberals will be glad to see Rahm Emanuel go. – By David Weigel – Slate Magazine

Emanuel’s arrival at the White House was, for progressives, an original sin. It was compounded by the way he made sure that Dean would stay outside of the White House. “There was never any intention to hire Dean,” says one Democrat who talked to Berman, “and in fact there was a great deal of satisfaction in dissing him.” That, according to the professional left, just proved what they thought about Emanuel. He thought the left was so overzealous and useless that he relished in ignoring it. Proving the left wrong was synonymous with having the right policy.

Both the GOP and the Dems are afraid of their bases. How they react to those fears is what distinguishes the policy arms of the parties.

Who You Gonna Believe?

Suppose you had spent the last five years actually believing what you read from the usual suspects — the WSJ opinion pages, National Review, right-wing economists, etc.. Here’s what would have happened: In 2006 you would have believed that there was no housing bubble. In 2007 you would have believed that the troubles of subprime… Continue reading Who You Gonna Believe?