Have Conservatives Gone Mad?

Serious thinkers on the right have finally gotten around to a full and open debate on the epistemic closure problem that's plaguing the conservative movement. The issue, to put it in terms that even I can understand, because I didn't study philosophy much in college: has the conservative base gone mad?

This matters to journalists, because I really do want to take Republicans seriously. Mainstream conservative voices are embracing theories that are, to use Julian Sanchez's phrase, "untethered" to the real world.

Can anyone deny that the most trenchant and effective criticism of President Obama today comes not from the right but from the left? Rachel Maddow's grilling of administration economic officials. Keith Olbermann's hectoring of Democratic leaders on the public option. Glenn Greenwald's criticisms of Elena Kagan. Ezra Klein and Jonathan Cohn's keepin'-them-honest perspectives on health care. The civil libertarian left on detainees and Gitmo. The Huffington Post on derivatives.

Mark Armbinder, The Atlantic
Most Republicans face long prison sentences and they know it.

Dissenters Should Carry Wills Under Their Arms

Arce Gomez
146 reject Dissenters Should Carry Wills Under Their Arms

As Bolivian Interior Minister in the 1980's Arce Gomez abducted, tortured and murdered over 1000 of the dissidents who chimed their opposition to the Luis Garcia Meza regime. They dealt equally with priests, Congressmen, students and intellectuals.
Dissenters Should Carry Wills Under Their Arms

This is a warning from a war criminal. He could be any one of the tens of thousands of traitors, torturers and murderers who enjoy employment and protection from the Federal government. Is he one of the Republicans raking Sonia Maria Sotomayor over the coals of racism? Could he be one of the FBI Agents who sold atomic secrets to the Pakistanis?


As Bolivian Interior Minister in the 1980's Arce Gomez abducted, tortured and murdered over 1000 of the dissidents who chimed their opposition to the Luis Garcia Meza regime. They dealt equally with priests, Congressmen, students and intellectuals.


Drug trafficking was a pre-occupation of the Garcia Meza crew, and Arce Gomez played a big part. He was an innovator. He developed a government tax on coca leaf sold to traffickers and hired air taxis to bring the narcotics to the United States. This earned him extradition to the USA and a big jolt in prison from the American authorities.

Here, the Gomez story would have ended if it were not for the industrious prosecutors in Bolivia. They tried Arce Gomez in absentia convicting him of many crimes including murder. This allowed them to escort Gomez from his US prison to a Bolivian one.

Former Bolivian Interior Minister Luis Arce Gomez (2nd L) listens to his sentence of 30 years in prison in Chonchocoro jail July 13, 2009. Arce Gomez, wanted in Bolivia for crimes that include murder, human rights violations and genocide, was handed over to Bolivia by the U.S. on Thursday. - Bolivia's State Press Agency (ABI)

President Evo Morales thanked the US for deporting a figure whose name once inspired dread among leftists, trade unionists and journalists. "It is a historic day for human rights."

If you agree with President Morales, you are probably wondering how we can incarcerate the American versions of Arce Gomez. His circumstances suggest patience is in order. The DEA limited the charge to drug trafficking the easiest charge to prove in the USA. Arce Gomez was a vicious thug with fearsome colleagues such as Klaus Barbie. The Bolivians had to wait a while until tempers cooled on the other side. Then, they could go forward with the more controversial charges.

Today, we can see the South American leap into democracy is incomplete. The Peruvian government has seized the lands of indigenous people. They have parceled them out to private interests and they use the army to discourage dissent. In Honduras the right wingers have had the temerity to exile the democratically-elected President. They have ignored complaints from the UN and the OAS.

The actions taken against Arce Gomez should warn traitors in Peru, Honduras and the USA to desist from murderous exploits. There is no statute of limitations on murder. The present hostility towards human rights is subject to change. Individuals can initiate suits that can mushroom into class actions. Gradually, the evil doers will lose their grasp on due process.

Fear Right and Left

Fear Right and Left

The Republicans fear massive arrests and executions for crimes against humanity and murder. Three preemptive wars have killed over six millions Asians and tens of thousands of Americans. Ironically, the Republicans have constructed an 'injustice' system geared to put them to death without trial.

Democratic officials are largely aboard this sinking Ship of Fools. They accepted bribes at similar watering holes. They stood by while the FBI sold our nuclear secrets to Muslim powers. They joined the bankers in the looting of America. They voted to fund the three wars and supported the perpetrators when they were discovered.

The Patriot and Military Commisions Acts can define the majority of Democrats as enemy combatants. As such, they can rot in prison without trial with the Republicans totally f**ked.

Unfortunately, this concept is beyond the Pale for most brain washed Americans. They will muddle through until the backlash from one of their preemptive wars puts them out of their misery.

by Jason Paz