If This Doesn't Scream "Teabagger Group," I Don't Know What Does

[ChoppinBroccoli]

1. It was done on April 15th. Tax Day. Who hates taxes more than anyone?

2. It was done in Boston, where the original Boston TEA PARTY occurred.

I'd be willing to bet you a shiny new dime that this is some far-right-wing, White (likely White Supremacist), Teabagger Militia group. I know that all the right-wingers in this country are just PRAYING that it's some Muslim terrorist group so they can blame Obama for being soft on terrorism, but the fact of the matter is that this whole situation just SCREAMS American far-right extremists.

[ellisonz]

1. Apparently we're supposed to wait an unspecified period of time before stating the obvious. n/t

[mythology]

28. At the moment it's hardly obvious

This sort of thing requires dedicated investigation which will take place over days. What this thread is doing is taking some events and linking them without any actual evidence. Sort of like how earlier today people were leaping to the conclusion that the fire at the JFK library was related, except it turned out to be an electrical fire.

Hopefully the people investigating this won't automatically assume that this is the work of any particular group so that they don't bias their investigation.

[ellisonz]

38. Date, time, place all scream right-wing domestic terrorism.

We're going to have an investigation and we may not have answers for quite some time. So I'm not going to pretend that there aren't indicators here as to motive.

[friendly_iconoclast]

80. I won't hold my breath waiting for a retraction from you.

However, the backtracking should be most amusing...

[ellisonz]

82. What is it to you?

Also, can you honestly deny there aren't right-wing militia groups capable of something like this? I'm not retracting or back tracking shit and you know the FBI watches and checked out those fuckers. So piss off with this stalker-esque bullshit. I actually just took you off ignore because I was interested to see who would be so petty as to respond to a several day old post on a day like today. I hope you're proud of yourself - because right now, it appears your position is that the belief that right-wing militia groups aren't capable of an attack like this one. You'll go back to the ignore list very soon.

[friendly_iconoclast]

85. I *live* in the area, and am not some ax-grinding kibitzer given to Pat Robertson-quality...

...pronunciamentoes against my political opponents. In fact, a friend of mine was buried out the funeral
home that is 25 feet or so from where Tamerlan Tsarnaev was killed.

So, yeah I do have a problem with some ITG's ex recto speculation.

Deal with it.

[ellisonz]

86. I hope you're relieved. n/t

[friendly_iconoclast]

114. Free Republic-style stereotyping should have no place at DU.

It's like chickenshit and horseshit:

They come from two very different kinds of animals, but they're both shit and they both stink.

[ieoeja]

87. Why would anyone backtrack from an extremely accurate statement.

This had all the earmarks of a rightwing terrorist attack. It wasn't. But that doesn't change the fact that it had all the earmarks of one.

I realize you are thrilled (and probably as surprised as the rest of us) that it was not one of your political allies. I am happy for you. Actually, I was happy about it myself. I find the Right's penchant for shouting "death to Liberals" and the idiots who follow through on that threat disturbing. I am much happier to learn the reason's are external, not internal.

However, it still had TONS of evidence pointing to it being a rightwing terrorist attack. The fact that it was not does not change that fact.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

91. What other similar events by the RW serve as the template these posts were supposedly based on?

[ieoeja]

97. OKC is the first to pop to mind.

This is where you say "but that was on April 19th" because you think such tiny little details prove your point. All we have to do is ignore the symbolism of April 15th combined with four years of people calling themselves the Tea Party engaging in scores of riots railing against government and taxes, threatening to "exercise 2nd Amendment rights", hunting permits against Liberals, etc, etc, etc.

If we can simply ignore all of that, then, yes, there was no treason to suspect RW terrorists.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

103. OK, but why would the date be the sole determining factor?

scores of riots

Laughable.

[ieoeja]

113. Yes, scores of town halls shutdown by rioters in 2008 and 2009 was laughable. n/t

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. I'm not jumping to any conclusions about this.

While all that is true, there are a lot of other possibilities. I'd rather wait until there's some hard evidence.

[Montoya]

3. I agree

[Codeine]

4. Of course you do. nt

[sad-cafe]

24. yup

on cue

[silverweb]

5. That's my first reaction, too.

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]Then again, it could have been set up by someone else specifically to make us think that.

[El Supremo]

6. Why not a Pakistani or Afghan...

who wants to pay us back for the drones on Patriots Day at a place when we are vulnerable?

[davidn3600]

7. And what if it is?

Why does it matter? You think it takes legitimacy away from the right wing? Is that what happened after Oklahoma City?

Nothing will change. We have a first amendment in this country. You can create a website and post total garbage about our government, loaded with tons of conspiracy theories, and no one can stop you.

[Honeycombe8]

8. Maybe. But it sounds a lot like the bombings in London & Europe...in subways, on buses, in cafes.

IEDs.

Could be anything, though. Anyone can build those things, with an instruction booklet.

On second thought, what you say does make sense.

[Kablooie]

17. That's what I thought. Seems a lot like IRA attacks in past decades.

[DBoon]

20. Doesn't the IRA warn of their attacks?

nt

[Kablooie]

21. Often they didn't.

I missed an IRA bomb in Victoria station by a couple of minutes in 1979.

[Unrepentant Fenian]

50. The R.A. Did make calls before every bomb attack... But...

A lot of times the warnings were ignored or taken as pranks. The I.R.A. came up with a code word, so the RUC and media would know that the warning was real. Sadly, the code word was not shared with the lower echelon people who took the calls, so the calls were assumed to be pranks. And, to be honest, a few of the devices were not built as well as they could have been and went off before the warning calls could lead to an evacuation. The RA wanted to attack military, british government targets or the RUC. it was NEVER their desire to kill any civilian targets. Any non-combatant death was a terrible tragedy and something that they went to great legnths to avoid. Hope this helps....

[Art_from_Ark]

57. Would you consider Lord Mountbatten's group a civilian target?

"The Queen’s cousin, who was a Second World War hero and the last Viceroy of the British Indian Empire, was assassinated by the Provisional IRA, who planted a bomb in his boat at Mullaghmore, Co Sligo, in the Irish Republic.

"Along with Lord Mountbatten, 79, those to die in the explosion were Nicholas Knatchbull, 14, one of his twin grandsons, and Paul Maxwell, 15, a local boat boy. Another passenger on the boat, the Dowager Lady Brabourne, 82, died the day after the attack."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/5995439/Killer-of-Lord-Mountbatten-enjoys-freedom-30-years-on-from-IRA-murder.html

[Honeycombe8]

34. Not just the IRA, but also jihadists. Lone wolfs or small groups.

Definitely affiliated with AQ or similar groups, or wanted to be.

[uppityperson]

9. That all may be true, but I'm waiting for them to look and see. I agree, it screams usanian rw extre

extremist, and it will be interesting to see how it develops and into whom.

[Llewlladdwr]

10. According to CNN, police are looking for a dark-skinned or black suspect.

They are also currently interviewing a Saudi national but have not yet declared him a suspect.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/15/us/boston-marathon-explosions/index.html

So why would tax protesters blow up a race rather than the local IRS office?

[Montoya]

13. Because its common knowledge these tea party extremists HATE Massachusettes

Its no secret these people hate liberal states and consider them traitors.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

19. Didn't they just get done voting for the former MA governor?

[Llewlladdwr]

25. Then why not the State Capitol building, or Governor's residence?

A marathon doesn't make sense as the target of tax protesters. At least not to me...

[Kablooie]

18. In Oklahoma too there were many reports of FBI looking into middle eastern involvement.

It means nothing right now.

[Llewlladdwr]

22. That's kinda the point...

...all of this is just meaningless speculation.

[Honeycombe8]

36. Hmmm. Well, you're assuming that they make any sense to begin with.

But other things could be...like the wingnut who bombed the Olympics...it's to get attention at a big event. The Boston Marathon....on tax day....on Patriot Day....in Massachusetts....which has a BLACK governor who is best friends with Obama.....I see plenty of reasons for the type of person who would do this sort of thing.

[bluedigger]

11. Who the heck knows?

It could be a disgruntled homeowner on the marathon route who hates the event. Any psycho can make IED's these days, and plenty of people have experience with them and their application after our lengthy Iraq fiasco. Unless someone steps forward to take credit I'm just going to wait and hope the evidence leads to the answers.

[Buzz Clik]

12. Gawd. Just stop.

[kestrel91316]

14. Oh, nononononono, we aren't allowed to speculate. So say DUers board nannies.

[RZM]

15. How is this different from what the wingers are doing

They're praying for it to be a certain type person and you're essentially doing the same thing.

So weird that people are pulling for a certain profile. It's not like you'll win a prize if you're right.

I am interested to see who it is, but I'm not pulling for or against anybody.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

16. I've been checking with Al Jazeera News

in the off chance an Islamic group might take credit for the bombings. So far, nothing. My instincts tell me this is domestic.

[alphafemale]

23. It was a person or persons deluded by ideology and hate.

Do the specifics of why really matter?

[Nuclear Unicorn]

92. I missed this reply originally. Best answer.

[Unrepentant Fenian]

26. It's also "Patriot's Day" in Boston...

These right wing groups all consider themslves to be "Patriots" and part of the militia mentioned in the second amendment. Their pissed as hell right now about the new gun laws. A lot of the AR-15 loving websites have been talking about starting the "revolution". They probably see Patriot's Day in Boston as the perfect time to strike back. Think along the lines of Timothy McVey and Waco.

Personally, I don't see a Middle Eastern connection to this attack. I think if it had been that sort of attack, it would have been a much bigger and more lethal affair.

[backscatter712]

27. If it turns out a right-wing groups is responsible for this, I'm calling for their fucking heads.

After Sandy Hook, the NRA and the prosthetic penis club all called for us to "hold off". To "wait and be respectful". In other words, wait for the political fire to die down so they can do damage control and retain power.

Fuck that shit. I say strike while the iron is hot.

I don't have to be respectful to a group of violent savages that are guilty of sedition and treason. I don't have to be respectful of these murderous reptiles that have repeatedly called for violence against us for daring to vote, daring to challenge them, daring to claim our civil rights. I don't have to be respectful to this toxic cancer that is eating our country alive.

If they're responsible for this, I demand vengeance. I want these right-wing sons-of-bitches to be put down.

[Llewlladdwr]

29. Will you do the same if it turns out to be Islamists? nt

[backscatter712]

30. Fine. If it's Islamic terrorists, drone-strike their asses! n/t

[Llewlladdwr]

33. Consistency is important, especially when one is talking vengeance. nt

[HangOnKids]

53. Of Course

You do care so much. It is very touching.

[foo_bar]

31. are they testing the crime scene for Cheetos residue?

[Logical]

37. Self delete this. Not funny or appropriate! n-t

[Llewlladdwr]

41. Relax Logical.

Gallows humor has a therapeutic value for some of us....

[foo_bar]

43. I think I was making a point

albeit in a roundabout fashion, but... Teabaggers aren't exactly known for, well, actually doing anything.

I apologize if this third generation Bostonian replied to a slightly absurd thread without the requisite solemnity befitting this (scapegoat seeking) occasion.

[Nevernose]

51. They do all kinds of things, or at least try to

http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/publications/terror-from-the-right

[The2ndWheel]

32. I hate taxes

So let's bomb random people in a marathon on tax day.

What does that have to do with taxes? That they were running on a road paid by taxes?

It may end up that that is who did this, but just as there may be hope by some that it's Muslim terrorists, there seems to be a similar want for it to be American right wing extremists. I don't know how it screams anything right now. April 15th. Boston. But it's also a marathon, and right now it doesn't seem like it was an attack on any specific government institution. Certainly not any organization that collects and disperses tax money.

[backscatter712]

35. They're terrorists. The whole point is to scare the shit out of people.

And the best way to do that is to kill people randomly.

These are psychopaths we're dealing with.

Personally, I don't think it's just taxes - these are right-wingers who are also frothing at the mouth against black people, foreign people, liberals, the GLBT community, feds, and I'm guessing they decided they could nail all of them with their bombing today.

[Llewlladdwr]

42. So why are the police looking for a black or dark-skinned suspect?

Doesn't sound like the type to be in a white militia.

And how in the world is the Boston marathon an attack on Blacks, foreigners and the LGBT community? That makes less sense than this being about taxes.

[The2ndWheel]

44. People that do this seem to usually have a specific reason and/or target

Right now, there's not much of anything specific here. If you're frothing at the mouth, this seems like counting on a lot of luck to hit specific groups of people. There could be straight, white, pro-gun, anti-tax men in the area who might get hit.

Again, it may have been right wingers who hate everyone. I don't know why there's a sense of wanting it to be that though.

[Zoeisright]

52. It's April 15.

And why the fuck does anyone hate "taxes"?? Grownups know that nothing in this world is free, including clean air, clean water, safe medications and food, roads, schools, air traffic control, weather forecasts, schools, fire and police departments, medical treatments, the court system, etc. etc. etc.

Grow the fuck up.

[Montoya]

39. nt

If it was Muslims they would have likely claimed responsibility by now. Its likely a domestic terrorist with tea party ties.

[Llewlladdwr]

45. Wouldn't *any* terrorist group have claimed credit by now?

That's kinda the point of commiting a terrorist act in the first place. It really only works if people know why it was done, and what the terrorists want in order to stop. The longer no one takes credit the more I'm thinking this was a lone psycho.

[SmileyRose]

40. well now

on speculometer that figures in very VERY interesting.....

much more believable than the brown people meme all over the teevee

[AsahinaKimi]

46. I would rather wait

for the FBI Analysis.

[brooklynite]

47. The problem is that too many people are "screaming"...without any actual evidence

I'll wait.

[Rowdyboy]

48. +1000

I have no interest in blaming anyone until we know something concrete. At this stage its childish speculation.

[Behind the Aegis]

55. I don't think it is "childish speculation."

IMO, most people are speculating now; it is human nature to want to know "who" and "why." When we don't have those answers, we speculate. Hell, it's how we got religion; I know not a ringing endorsement, but... What I don't care for are people who have the case "sewn up" as it were. We are all short on facts, but I have seen many people make some reasonable deductions as to "who" and as to "why." Given this is a chat board and not an investigative body, I don't see the problem with guessing, as long as people are clear they are guessing and not claiming it as fact.

It could be almost anyone given the devices, as stated by police, are IEDs. You can find building techniques for that shit on the web! As I see it, there are clues as to which group would likely be responsible (IMO it is likely a lone-wolf anti-governmental wacko) and which ones are not (Islamic groups wouldn't see the impact value in an event like a marathon). It doesn't mean it wasn't the latter, but with what we know now, it is highly unlikely IMO.

It is also important for people to remember that first reports are often wrong, and in events like this, there will lots of conflicting information for days to come, which is why some are opting for the "wait and see", which is fine. I am waiting too, but I immediately thought, once confirmed it was bombs, was that it was a "comment" on taxes.

[Rowdyboy]

56. Speculating is one thing but I've seen ugly things said here and far worse on "Freak Republic"

I simply don't hold with assigning blame when we literally know nothing of substance. There are too many potential "bad guys" in the scenario for placing blame at this point and some people here are hell bent on doing just that.

There will be plenty of time to be indignant and furious when we have a better idea of who slaughtered and maimed those innocents. And when the time comes, I'll back retribution to the fullest extant lawful. But not before. Too many innocents have been tarred and feathered by ignorant mobs in the past. I won't participate today.

[Behind the Aegis]

59. Oh, I agree there have been some OTT posts, but speculation, in general, is not bad.

Quite frankly, I see it as a coping technique for many people who are desperately trying to make sense out of a despicable act. I don't like seeing, as I said, speculation being used as "fact." That happens often in another group and it is very upsetting and quite bigoted, often. It is OK for you to "wait and see," but others process differently, and as long as it is not used to, as you say, "tar and feather," I don't see the harm. There is a thread calling for the raiding of all neo-Nazi groups, definitely not one of my favorite groups, but even I see that as excessive, no matter how strongly one feels they are the likely culprits.

Situations like this bring out different things in different people. Some want to focus more on the "who and why" and others want to focus on the victims, while others want to lash out. I am keeping an open mind, but I have my ideas as to who is responsible and why they did what they did. I could be 100%, 75%, or flat-out wrong...time will tell, but for now, it gives me focus in the light of yet one more ugly event.

[Rowdyboy]

60. And I can aknowledge what you say. It is a coping technique for many people who don't share my

particular sensibilities. And you're also right in that no one is being actively harmed by the callouts on this board. While I personally expect in coming weeks to discover this was either a rabid anti-taxer or an anti-social loner (likely but not necessarily far right wing) I just have a hard time with calling out at this time when we literally know nothing.

If we really believe in the concept of "innocent until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt" then we're no better than they are.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

93. If you keep this up you're going to gain a reputation for

level-headedness

[Catherine Vincent]

49. Well, you never know

It could be someone opposite of that group. The couple that was murdered in their home in Texas? It appears their neighbor will be charged and not white supremists that everyone thought.

[Bucky]

54. Much as I dislike the Tea Party activists, they're different from the White Power militants

I've seen hateful ugly things on Tea Party placards, and heard the dog whistles in their speeches. But it always seems to be in the interest of getting out the vote, not slaughtering citizens. The Teapers are misguided patriots, not criminals. The lesson of Boston today needs to be that we pull together when attacked--and we were all attacked today. Turning on fellow citizens without a shred of proof is not a healthy impulse.

[WCGreen]

58. Seriously, most of the jag offs can't spell and you think they could muster up a bombing...

[just1voice]

61. There are so many people blaming "whites", again conflating racists with all whites.

Which in itself is a racist statement.

[Matariki]

62. And this...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriots'_Day

practically one of their code words

[Quixote1818]

63. Don't think they would hit a marathon. Not the right symbolism at all.

They would try and hit the IRS or some Gov. building or place. If it was a Tea Bag group then the nuts in this country are going to say it's a Gov. conspiracy and Obama did it.

[Codeine]

64. Or not. nt

[Dash87]

67. I seriously doubted this was related to internal US politics.

For one, the far right these days are a bunch of whiny children that wouldn't hurt a fly (or leave their basement). The supposed "militia movement" that is passed around as a theory for every attack in the US here is in fact a laughable joke that couldn't try to punch holes into a paper bag without getting arrested. They're all toothless meth-heads or basement-dwelling losers that barely talk an intelligible talk, and certainly aren't smart enough to build a bomb (the militia movement is much different these days than in the 90's). Everybody (especially the media) needs to stop giving these doofuses so much credit.

I think these brothers probably embraced radical Islam. Time will tell, but I wouldn't doubt the motive here is religion.

[baldguy]

70. Since we're beating a dead horse, and all...

They've been here since 2000. Plenty of time to turn a young man into a blithering Objectivist.

[dems_rightnow]

65. Karl Rove now in custody

Great call.

[kenny blankenship]

66. No one expects the Formerly Turkish Chechens!

[dairydog91]

71. Their chief weapon is surprise...

[NoPasaran]

73. Surprise and fear!

[UnrepentantLiberal]

118. And ruthless efficiency.

[Puzzledtraveller]

68. Wow, right on the mark!!!

[Yo_Mama]

69. Well, it is Muslim terrorism, but kind of homegrown

Nothing to do with Tax Day, though.

I don't think Tea Partiers would bomb the Tea Party city, though. Kind of like a Muslim terrorist bombing Mecca. Not their message, dude.

[KharmaTrain]

72. Looks Like This Prediction Screams For...

[treestar]

74. Don't feel too bad

A reasonable guess at the time!

[Cal Carpenter]

76. Well then they owe you a whole dime, LOL

[cali]

77. You didn't know shit. which was clear when you posted this shit.

[Bucky]

78. Thank you.

This will be a good week for getting one's "I told you so" nards off.

[RZM]

83. That's one way to put it

[UnrepentantLiberal]

119. Didn't you make an infamous prediction a few weeks ago?

[cali]

120. No, not that I recall

I'm pretty careful about that. If you're referring to my being suspicious of the mother whose baby was murdered, I posted that I had suspicions about her story. I was wrong. It was not a prediction.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

121. Right. Nice spin.

You do not lack audacity.

[Dreamer Tatum]

81. K&S (the S is for shame) nt

[uponit7771]

84. Look, baggers have been rational, reasonable and people who stick to facts...there was no need

...to speculate about them like this

[Dr. Strange]

88. I think you were right on this point:

I Don't Know What Does

[jessie04]

89. LOL

Think he'll retract that??

[RZM]

95. Hehe n/t

[Llewlladdwr]

90. If this post doesn't scream " Credibility shot to hell." then I don't know what does.

Where do we go for our dime?

[bullwinkle428]

96. "Looking for a dark-skinned or black suspect"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2681460

Still looking!

[Llewlladdwr]

98. That wasn't speculation.

That's what the police were doing.

[Marr]

108. Oh, I don't know about that.

Going out on a limb and pronouncing it was ill-considered, obviously-- but I thought the particulars looked pretty suggestive of a Tea Party sort myself, too.

[eridani]

94. But the method suggests Islamists

Pressure cooker bombs have been widely described in jihadist pubiications. Right now I'd say six of one and half a dozen of the other.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

99. What was the purpose of reviving this thread?

To shame the OP?

Like we all haven't been wrong at some time or another? That we've all speculated about things and then had to eat crow?

I think whoever bumped the thread, if was to shame the OP, is just as revealing as the incorrect allegations of the opening poster. For shame, for shame.

People were killed and maimed, and one killer is still on the loose, but we're worried about "I told you so" moments?

[RZM]

100. The OP was pretty confident

They all but said they knew who was responsible. And they were wrong.

What's the problem with pointing that out? The fact that lots of people are wrong all of the time doesn't mean it's bad form to call them on it.

[Llewlladdwr]

102. Perhaps to raise awareness of the dangers of irresponsible speculation...

...on the assignment of blame after an incident such as this?

[Electric Monk]

104. RW gun nut assholes (but I repeat myself) saying "See? It wasn't our guys after all!"

[RZM]

105. Why does everything have to be about guns?

Many DUers, some of whom are quite anti-gun, advocated caution and stressed that it's pointless to speculate without more facts.

And now that we have more facts, the people who had done a lot of the speculating have been shown to be wrong.

But carry on . . .

[Electric Monk]

106. Just look at the names in this thread and who's posting what. Very strong correlation. nt

[RZM]

107. So you're saying that your enemies were right and you guys were wrong?

Guess you need to step up your game then.

Edit: As I said before, a lot of people who advocated caution are by no means pro-gun.

[Electric Monk]

111. re: "you guys were wrong", I made no accusations earlier of who was guilty here.

but thanks for confirming which side you're on, and it's not mine, that's for sure.

p.s. I still fucking hate nazi sympathizers, but you knew that already.

[RZM]

112. Why would I want to be on the side of a vile little troll?

Have fun with your mock purges.

[Codeine]

116. I'm not a RW gun nut asshole.

So you can bugger right the hell off, son.

[Dreamer Tatum]

110. Yes, to shame the OP.

And many who chided such posters were called "concern trolls," so I'll go ahead and call you one now.

[Codeine]

115. I bumped it.

I felt the speculation was wishful thinking and a desperate attempt to pin a tragedy on our political rivals for some kind of gain. It made us look as bad as the freepazoids.

And I'm kind of a dick. That too.

[bushisanidiot]

101. We still dont know all that facts including which terror groups, if any the belonged to

Lots of people are jumping to conclusions way too soon.
It is entirely possible the two suspects were hired by someone with an ax to grind.
The fbi will search ther house or apartment and will discover more information and they should be abe to tell if they were the bomb makers and not jst the dropoff guys who wanted some quick cash.

[Puzzledtraveller]

109. Chaibaggers, yup

[Nye Bevan]

117. Where's my shiny dime? (nt)

[Brother Buzz]

122. Somebody's gotta go back and get a shit-load of dimes!

[Nye Bevan]

123. I do give the OP credit for not self-deleting (nt)

[Brother Buzz]

124. I give Mell Brooks credit for creating one of the funniest movies - ever

Truth be told, I believed it had a Teabagger/NRA nutballs/white-wing wackadoodle smell from the onset.

[Nye Bevan]

125. Mel Brooks is brilliant (nt)