Oklahoma City, Waco, and crisis exploitation
Today marks the 15th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing. The Oklahoma City National Memorial is here. 168 of our fellow Americans died in this evil act of terrorism. Take a moment to learn about their lives here.
Today is also the 17th anniversary of the deadly siege at Waco. After a 51-day standoff with the feds, 76 Americans (including 17 children) perished. It, too, was a shameful act of violence.
But one anniversary will get more attention the other today because the establishment Left isn’t interested in sober reflection. And Bill Clinton certainly isn’t interested in taking responsibility for horrors under his watch that do not fit the conservatives=violent extremists narrative:
“What we learned from Oklahoma City is not that we should gag each other or that we should reduce our passion for the positions we hold – but that the words we use really do matter, because there’s this vast echo chamber, and they go across space and they fall on the serious and the delirious alike. They fall on the connected and the unhinged alike,” he said.
“One of the things that the conservatives have always brought to the table in America is a reminder that no law can replace personal responsibility. And the more power you have and the more influence you have, the more responsibility you have.” Clinton made the remarks at events sponsored by the Center for American Progress Action Fund on the upcoming anniversary of the bombing.
…Clinton argued that the Boston Tea Party was in response to taxation without representation. The current protesters, he said, are challenging taxation by elected officials, and the demonstrators have the power to vote them out of office.
“By all means keep fighting, by all means, keep arguing,” he said. “But remember, words have consequences as much as actions do, and what we advocate, commensurate with our position and responsibility, we have to take responsibility for. We owe that to Oklahoma City.”
What does he owe the victims of Waco who died as a result of gross FBI incompetence, negligence, and zeal?
Flashback: “The Fire Last Time,” Jacob Sullum, Reason Magazine, 1998, review of Waco: The Rules of Engagement, directed by William Gazecki, Fifth Estate Productions and No More Wacos: What’s Wrong with Federal Law Enforcement and How to Fix It, by David B. Kopel and Paul H. Blackman…
As Kopel and Blackman show, the investigation of the Branch Davidians by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, the BATF’s February 1993 raid on Mount Carmel, the 51-day FBI siege, the April 19 assault that led to the final fire, the trial of the survivors, and the subsequent explanations can all be understood in terms of prevalent prejudices and familiar failings. Hostility toward private gun ownership and unconventional religions played an important role in the government’s actions against the Davidians and in the public’s indifference to their fate. Another conspicuous factor was the tendency for overconfident people to screw up, dodge responsibility afterward, and rationalize their behavior as justified by some greater good. As scary as it is to contemplate, it’s doubtful that anyone involved in this shameful episode felt in his heart that he was doing wrong.
At the same time, to blame the deaths of 86 men, women, and children (including four BATF agents) on a series of errors does not do justice to the government’s conduct at Waco, which rose at least to the level of negligent homicide, or to the cowardly cover-up that followed. And to blame the dead themselves is audacious, since all would be alive today but for the government’s gratuitous use of force…
Today in Washington, gun owners will march in defense of Second Amendment rights.
Predictably, left-wing groups are taking their cue from Clinton and using the event to smear Tea Party activists, the NRA, and limited-government advocates all as potential OKC bombers.
In the Left’s playbook of Rahm Emanuel-esque political crisis exploitation, the Timothy McVeigh card has no credit limit.
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Hey, if you really think that this current, political environment is starting to get rough, just “put some ice on it,” Bubba.
And I posted the April 19, 1775 “shot heard round the world at #65. We had the Second Amendment March in Washington, DC and one in Phoenix to commemorate the cause of the battles of Lexington and Concord-those damn rebels would lay down their arms nor disperse. I have tried to find photos of it but it seems to have eluded our media.
As did those farmers, merchants and tradesmen stand your ground for your Rights as Free People are a gift from God and not at the whim of King or Parliament, President nor Congress. These too are the times that try men’s souls.
White Trash Billy’s Attorney General Reno also said that in the drug war the nations of the Caribbean would have to give up their outdated notions of state sovereignty. And of course these little gems from the Attorney General
Go to Church be put on a list, they are checking it twice so to Big Government be nice. Eric Holder was her Deputy-scary huh? Be careful cultist and Damn Rebels.
Unlike the current POTUS, Bill Clinton isn’t dumb. He might be a fool, but he’s an intelligent fool.
He’s also very comfortable lying. Lies come so easy to this man, you have to really wonder if he’s not somewhat sociopathic.
Regardless, he knows fully well that there is no representation in DC right now. What just happened with Health Care cannot, in any way, be said to reflect “representative democracy.”
Nancy Pelosi & Company knowingly, willingly, and maliciously turned our Congress into a Parliament, knowing full well that the Congress does not have the parliamentary checks and balances to operate in this way.
“Reconciliation” was always referred to as a nuclear option.
Once we get the Congress back, I say “take us to launch depth, and hover the boat…”
Elections have consequences. We had better win the next one.
Can somebody say, “Fear Monger?”
President (slick willie) clinton was personally responsible for killing about as many children at Waco as Tim McVeigh was at Oklahoma City. Why hasn’t he been brought up on crimes charges like Milosevic or McVeigh? These progressive/socialist pukes can accuse, charge and arrest people who disagree with their narrative. Every time I turn around, the progressive/socialists want to charge Bush with war crimes.Why can’t we flyover people draft charges against him for his proven crimes?
Liberals are never at fault.
Clinton’s egotistical actions at Waco that’s not collateral damage.
Who would demonize peaceful America loving Tea Partiers after a despicable, slimy career in office?
The Willy would.
Surveyor and ArizonaNeanderthal,
I hadn’t read the earlier comments before submitting mine. Thanks for bringing this to people’s attention… I didn’t intend to steal your thunder.
Not stealing-it’s spreading the word-keep it going
I was going to wear a tricorner hat yesterday but couldn’t find any–NRA cap had to do.
Used to be: Boxers or Briefs? and the crowd would go wild… now it looks like it’s just Depends for Billy Boy.
Added flavor.
Hey everybody. I thought I’d pass this info on.
Yesterday was the anniversary of the “shot heard round the world” at Lexington.
Did Bill violate the Logan Act, and attend a Bilderberg meeting? Is this where he learned his talking points, and how to murder little children in Waco?
Clinton:
And this comes from the same tough guy who labeled his 1992 Presidential Campaign, The War Room.
All hail the Rapist In Chief!
The Clintons, like herpes, the gift that keeps on giving.
Just another opportunistic prick, like Obama.
Noisy damn muskets those folks had weren’t they?
No thunder stolen pill.
I think I need to chill a little. Just another bad day at the home office.
I should be glad others recognized as well.
Okay, I admit I missed it. The anniversary that is. I apologize to Surveyor, Itooktheredpill and AZ Neanderthal for goofing on their thing. I just wanted some attention. I promise it won’t happen again today.
Poor cheating, lying, perjuring ex-president; why would anyone listen to you now? Jimmy Carter has claimed the title of “worst ex-president ever.” Why would you want to enter into this fray? Why would you even bring up the subject of Oklahoma City, lest questions be raised about the way your administration handled Waco. McVeigh was a monster and there is no excusing his actions; but you lit the fuse.
Your legacy has enough tarnish without adding to it. Sit down and shut up.
I think he has become senile.
Waco was the government waging war against its own people. In that sense Clinton is no different then Hitler.
I’ve spent many years in Burma as a reporter and what I’ve witnessed there – the wanton killing of civilians by government – is exactly what happened in Waco.