Divisions in the Confederacy: Racism is key element of Lost Cause memory erasing memory of divisions.

This is an interesting article at the "Atlantic Constitution."

http://www.ajc.com/living/content/living/stories/2008/08/24/south_confederacy_civil.html

It is titled, "Historian suggests Southerners defeated Confederacy." What the historian points out is that a lot of Southerners didn't support the Confederacy, but generations later the memory of that opposition was erased in support of white supremacy.

I wonder how many Southerners will discover their ancestors opposed the Confederacy and adopt that historical memory in defining themselves.

In reading about this book I can also see why the Sons of Confederate Veterans don't consider or review whether a Confederate ancestor was also a deserter as well as a veteran. It might thin the ranks down a lot.

I think I will purchase a copy, "Bitterly Divided: The South's Inner Civil War," by David Williamas.

Corsi on Political Cesspool radio show

Corsi is the author of "Obama Nation," a book that attacks Obama.

Corsi is scheduled to be on the Political Cesspool radio show. This radio program is one of the Council of Conservative Citizens favorite radio shows. They report on it at this link.

http://cofcc.org/?p=2202

The CofCC reports that Corsi is to be on the show August 10th, but the Political Cesspool website says August 17th. The name of the radio show seems so apt. It is a Cesspool of rabid extremism.

http://www.thepoliticalcesspool.org/

The CofCC is one of their sponsors.

Toby Keith's says song is about the West and not the South

Toby Keith has responded to Max Blumenthal's blog post calling him a moron.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,400084,00.html

Toby Keith says it is about the "Old West" and not the South. So is Toby Keith saying lynching okay in the West!?

Despite Toby Keith's denials let's not kid ourselves about what his lyrics mean.

"Grandpappy told my pappy back in my day, son, A man had to answer for the wicked that he'd done, Take all the rope in Texas, Find a tall oak tree, round up all of them bad boys, Hang them high in the street."

"Find a tall oak tree," then round up who the public thinks are villains and hang them. Where is the trial and law in this process? I am not an expert on the old west, but did lawful governments use "tall oak trees" or did they use gallows? I think they used gallows.

Toby Keith song then talks about saddling up the horses and smoking guns and after his preferred type of "justice" is handed out, the group handing out this "justice," meeting afterwards at a saloon to celebrate with drinks.

Go to Max's blog on the song to read the lyrics.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/max-blumenthal/toby-keiths-pro-lynching_b_115526.html

Doesn't sound like any judicial system I am familiar with. Toby Keith's song is about lynching. I don't think lynching is good anywhere and is dispicable anywhere it happens.

Fox News very selectively quotes from the song.

There should not be complacency about lynching. It is kept at bay by the knowledge that law enforcement will not tolerate it, and that intolerance by law enforcement is driven by public opinion against lynching and support for the law. If the view of the public becomes tolerant of lynching, it could come back.

Max Blumenthal Reports on Pro-Lynching Country Western Singer

Max Blumenthal reports on the pro-lynching song by country western singer Toby Keith here in this blog at Huffington Post.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/max-blumenthal/toby-keiths-pro-lynching_b_115526.html

It is a good blog since it reminds people what lynching was all about. I would further add that it took some effort and doing to get rid of lynching. It persisted a long time in American life and wasn't restricted to the South, though it was Southern congressional representatives which were the loudest and most determined opponents of national anti-lynching legislation. You only have to read the debates over the Dyer anti-lynching act in the House in the early 1920's to realize how there can be a substantial pro-lynching political force. It is probably the creepiest section of the Congressional Record.

What is the most shocking thing about Toby Keith's song isn't the song itself which is appalling, it is the tolerance for the song and acceptance of Toby Keith by major media despite him singing and promoting this song.

Max Blumenthal has done the public a service by reminding people what lynching is in concrete terms.

The neo-Confederates are strong supporters of being violent as a southern quality. League of the South president Michael Hill called the IRA the equivalent to a Medieval Scottish clan. Former League of the South member of the board of directors, Thomas Fleming has pushed the idea of violence in Chronicles magazine.

Max Blumenthal has a follow up blog on Toby Keith and his comments concerning Obama.

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/notion/342063

With the economy going bad there will be a lot of discontent. Having a song which legitimatizes lynching is appalling at all times, but especially dangerous now.

James Webb and his neo-Confederate thinking in "The Scotsman"

Euan Hague, editor of "Neo-Confederacy: A Critical Introduction," had an Op Ed published in The Scotsman regarding James Webb's neo-Confederate Celtic theories. The Scotsman is the leading newspaper of Scotland and read by most everyone.

The link to the article is:

http://news.scotsman.com/opinion/Celtic-warrior--poised-to.4182509.jp

You have to register for the full article, but it is free.

I think Alexander H. Stephens was one Confederate Vice-President too many and we don't need another one.

I think the Democrats need to conside that the 150th anniversary of the Civil War is coming up and do they want a Democratic Vice-President going on and on with a Lost Cause interpretation of the Civil War period. If it is like the Civil War Centennial, activities will start in 2009 and last until 2015.

James Webb and his Confederacy problem hit the news

David Mark has an article "Webb's rebel roots: An Affinity for the Confederacy," on James Webb and his Confederate Celtic theories and pro-Confederate viewpoints.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0608/10994.html

The question that needs to be asked is whether James Webb is a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, a racist group.

I have a paper on the Confederate Celtic identity theory that was published in Scottish Affairs, at the University of Edinburgh. http://www.templeofdemocracy.com/ScottishAffairs.htm It has a section that explains the bogusness of this Confederate Celtic theory.

There is also Diane Robert's article in Oxford American. http://www.templeofdemocracy.com/YourClanOrOurs.htm

Though these article focus on Scotland, the basis of this Confederate Celtic identity theory is the same as for James Webb. They both quote Grady McWhiney and the others in the Confederate Celtic movement to support their theories.

I am mentioned, though I am not the author, but one of three editors for "Neo-Confederacy: A Critical Introduction." The web page for the book is at:

http://www.utexas.edu/utpress/excerpts/exhagneo.html

Incidentally, I contributed the research materials for this article on Bill Clinton and the United Daughters of the Confederacy.

http://www.blackcommentator.com/274/274_clinton_udc.html

Signing another book contract soon

I will be signing another book contract soon. Negotiations are in progress. The book manuscript is to be delivered Oct. 15th this year. I will have more details somewhat later.

After this book, I have a couple other books projects to finish up and an article I am writing might become book length also. It is at least the length of a small book now.

Updated: Bill Clinton UDC story to be on Sirius Talk Left Radio Channel 146

The editorial staff at http://www.blackcommentator.com/ will be on Sirius Left channel 146 http://www.sirius.com/siriusleft on the Mark Thompson show tomorrow, Thursday, to talk about Bill Clinton and his letters of praise for the United Daughters of the Confederacy. The story is the lead story of their web page. If the interview gets posted to YouTube or something I would like to know.

The direct link to the Bill Clinton UDC story is:

http://www.blackcommentator.com/274/274_clinton_udc.html

The story has appeared in the Michigan Chronicle, the Detroit African American newspaper as a front page story, by Bankole Thompson, senior editor. Vol. 71 No. 32, April 23-29, front page, with follow up to page 3. The article is online at the following link:
http://www.michronicleonline.com/articlelive/articles/2638/1/In-report-Clinton-praises-KKK-supporters/Page1.html

Blogs are beginning to pick up on the story and it seems to be getting around the blogosphere.

Bill Clinton and the United Daughters of the Confederacy story on www.blackcommentator.com

The story of Bill Clinton and the United Daughters of the Confederacy is on http://www.blackcommentator.com/

Click on the link to go to the lead in to the story or click on this link to go directly to the story.

http://www.blackcommentator.com/274/274_clinton_udc.html

I will have more information later.

Updated: Book on neo-Confederate announced by the University of Texas Press

The book, of which, I am one of three editors, has been announced by the University of Texas Press.

The link describing it and its contents is at:

http://www.utexas.edu/utpress/excerpts/exhagneo.html

The Introduction to the book is on the web page.

James W. Loewen, author of "Lies My Teacher Taught Me," "Lies on the Landscape" wrote the Foreword. I think he has sold about a million copies of his book.

Ed

Bill Clinton Enables Neo-Confederates & Betrays Carol Moseley-Braun: UPDATED

http://www.blackcommentator.com/ has picked up this story with all the documentation. 4/20/08 Direct link to story is: http://www.blackcommentator.com/274/274_clinton_udc.html

I have updated this essay.

BILL CLINTON ENABLES NEO-CONFEDERATES & BETRAYAL OF CAROL MOSELEY-BRAUN

On July 24, 1993 in a New York Times’ editorial, “Ms. Moseley Braun’s Majestic Moment,” the editors praised the U.S. Senator Braun from Illinois as follows:

“On Thursday, Carol Moseley Braun woke up a sleepy Senate to the unthinking way the white majority can offend minority Americans. Before Ms. Moseley Braun interrupted, that body was about to renew the patent of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. Alone at first, then joined on the Senate floor by others whose awareness she raised, the Senate’s only black member stopped the renewal of the Daughters’ design patent with the Confederate flag insignia.”

Moseley-Braun’s oratory was eloquent and persuasive. In an article titled, “Daughter of Slavery Hushes Senate,” writer Adam Clymer in the July 23, 1993, New York Times writes:

“The Senate’s only black member, Carol Moseley Braun, made the chamber listen today as freshman seldom do. Her oratory of impassioned tears and shouts, stopped Jesse Helms in his tracks as he defended the Confederate flag.”

The U.S. Senate reversed itself from a 52 to 48 vote in favor of the United Daughters of the Confederacy to a 75 to 25 vote against the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) and the patent was not renewed.

However, one powerful white politician wasn’t touched by Moseley-Braun’s oratory. U.S. President Bill Clinton, Toni Morrison’s “first black president,” wrote his first letter, dated June 21, 1994, of congratulations to the UDC celebrating their 100th anniversary. Later Clinton wrote a letter September 8, 1994 letter of congratulation to the Georgia Division of the UDC celebrating their 100th anniversary, then August 9, 1995 welcoming to Washington, D.C. for their 1995 national convention. Each letter was given a full page with Clinton’s picture in the United Daughters of the Confederacy Magazine (UDC Magazine) giving legitimacy to the UDC.

What type of organization is the UDC? Some might say that they are just a harmless organization of “little old ladies.” However, racism isn’t heavy lifting and doesn’t require physical strength. One recent example is in the Nov. 2007 issue of UDC Magazine, where in an article titled, “Confederate Classics,” in her regular column, “Confederate Notes,” Retta D. Tindal writes:

“Some books are classics that never go out of style. As we approach the gift-giving season, there are four books that I treasure and use over and over, whether for research or reference or just to refresh my memory of the special heritage I have.”

Tindal recommends these books for UDC members children and grandchildren, friends, and family members saying that “these books are sure to become their treasures too.” The first book which Tindal recommends is the white supremacist racist text, “Southern By the Grace of God,” by Michael Andrew Grissom, a Ku Klux Klan praising book, not just the Klan of Reconstruction but the Klan of the 1920s, a book which recommends the racist books of Thomas Dixon, “The Clansman” which later was made into the notorious movie “Birth of a Nation,” and the movie itself, and recommends the organization of the Council Conservative Citizens, praises a lynching and much, much more. The UDC helped launch this book when it was first published by running a segment of the book in its September 1988 issue of UDC Magazine.

Nor is this a unique example of the UDC’s promotion of racism. The prior columnist for “Confederate Notes” Clara Erath promoted the neo-Confederate magazine Southern Partisan and the books it published. Erath promotes and praises Richard Weavers’ book “Southern Tradition at Bay,” an anti-democratic racist book defending slavery. Other neo-Confederate texts are also promoted, such as “Secession, State & Liberty” by David Gordon of the neo-Confederate Ludwig von Mises Institute. The horrors of the Transatlantic slave trade are minimized in a speech by Walter W. Lee III printed in the April UDC Magazine. The Red Shirts, violent white terrorists of Reconstruction in South Carolina are held up as heroes in the June/July 2001 issue of the UDC Magazine.

The racism of the UDC isn’t a new phenomenon but goes back generations of Klan praising and white supremacy to the early 20th century. In the late 1950s the UDC Magazines were clogged with denunciations of Brown vs. Brown, integration and civil rights. A typical article is “Jefferson Davis – The Man America Needs Today, an address by Bruce Dunstan printed in the June 1958 UDC Magazine. The article explains that Jefferson Davis was for states’ rights, and the nation needs states’ rights for local control of education for the following reasons:

This constant waste of America’s wealth, together with forced shameful race-mixing, that causes lowered educational standards, immorality, and finally a mongrelized people, will bring about the down fall of America, as integration of races doomed the once cultured, and prosperous cities and nations of Carthage, Athens, Rome, and Sparta; and made of Egypt the weak world power that she is today.

This is the organization that Bill Clinton congratulated. These are the “special memories,” “traditions,” and “community spirit” which Clinton’s letters congratulated. That the UDC is a proponent of racism and white supremacy is not surprising. It is the Confederacy and did not Bill Clinton or anyone in the Clinton administration know what the Confederacy was about. This well known and infamous speech by Alexander H. Stephens should have given them a clue.

The prevailing ideas entertained by him and most of the leading statesmen at the time of the formation of the old Constitution were, that the enslavement of the African was in violation of the laws of nature; that it was wrong in principle, socially, morally and politically. It was an evil they knew not well how to deal with; but the general opinion of the men of that day was, that, somehow or other, in the order of Providence, the institution would be evanescent and pass away. This idea, though not incorporated in the Constitution, was the prevailing idea at the time. The Constitution, it is true, secured every essential guarantee to the institution while it should last, and hence no argument can be justly used against the constitutional guarantees thus secured, because of the common sentiment of the day. Those ideas, however, were fundamentally wrong. They rested upon the assumption of the equality of races. This was an error. It was a sandy foundation, and the idea of a Government built upon it; when the “storm came and wind blew, it fell.”

Our new Government is founded upon exactly the opposite idea; its foundations are laid, its cornerstone rests, upon the great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery―subordination to the superior race―is his natural and moral condition. (Applause.)

This, our new Government, is the first, in the history of the world, based upon this great physical, philosophical, and moral truth.

The larger issue is the empowerment by elected officials of neo-Confederate organizations. When a public official, whether president or governor or mayor or senator or other elected office, writes a letter to a neo-Confederate organization they lend the prestige of their office and their name to legitimatize neo-Confederate organizations and to normalize the Confederacy. Elected officials enable neo-Confederate organizations and normalize the Confederacy in other ways, by participating in ceremonies and events to celebrate the Confederacy or take actions on their own to celebrate the Confederacy.

Will the next president of the United States praise and honor the Confederacy. Will the next president of the United States annually around the time of Jefferson Davis’ birthday send a wreath annually to the Confederate monument in Arlington cemetery? When will the president of the United States serve as an example that public officials shouldn’t by their actions normalize the Confederacy and empower neo-Confederate organizations.

"Washington Times" gives neo-Confederate editors the boot.

The Washington Times has given its neo-Confederate editors the boot. Both Wesley Pruden and Robert Stacy McCain are gone.

http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?aid=895

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/11/business/media/11times.html?ref=business

Interestingly enough, the new editor is John Solomon, who I think is the same John Solomon who has done some excellent reporting on the neo-Confederates.

Also, it is interesting that The Washington Times is ditching its neo-Confederates while The Charleston City Paper is putting on its staff The Southern Avenger http://southernavenger.ccpblogs.com/. Of course The Washington Times, for all its failings, isn't likely to have columnists for the amusement of its readers. Well at least not intentionally.

Leonard Pitts, columnist explains, "Nazis have a heritage too." Students harass anti-Confederate student editor

The article is at this link:

http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/ci_8429894 or this link

http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/227589

Leonard Pitts in his column introduces the story as follows:

"Last week, a fellow journalist wrote to ask me for help. His name is David Tintner, and he's a senior at Cooper City (Fla.) High South, where he's the editor of the school paper. Recently, he wrote a column criticizing those who wear what he regards as "an extremely offensive symbol": the Confederate battle flag. David says a group of students known on campus as "the Redneck Nation" took exception. A gang of them cornered him at lunch to yell at him. They've made threats and tried to stare him down."

Leonard Pitts explains in his column:

"They will tell you the flag just celebrates heritage. Remind them that "heritage" is not a synonym for "good." After all, Nazis have a heritage, too."

My sense is that a group that harasses people and calls themselves "the redneck nation" are truly representative of "Confederate heritage."

I doubt the Southern Avenger will comment on this story since it does reveal what the issue of Confederate heritage is all about.

Hilarious cartoon on automobile license plate with the Confederate flag.

http://www.floridatoday.com/blogs/jeffparkertoonsin/2008/02/0228-cartoon.html

The above is a link to a hilarious cartoon.

Is Southern Avenger calling me politically incorrect?

That is essentially what Southern Avenger is doing. I am pointing out the possibility that Southern Avenger is a new Joe Bog Briggs for the Charleston City Paper, and in response, besides some gratuitous name calling, he is calling me elitist.

There is yet another blog by the Southern Avenger on my assertion that he is possibly hired as a colorful character for the amusement of the Charleston City Paper.

http://southernavenger.ccpblogs.com/2008/03/04/neo-confederate-hunter-sebestas-elitism-continues/

Southern Avenger writes:

Regardless, Sebesta’s latest blog suggests that the Charleston City Paper only publishes my stuff (and CP readers only read it) for pure amusement. His proof is that the CP also features articles on the arts and wine tasting - cosmopolitan tastes, worlds apart apparently, from the redneck diatribes of “da Suthern Avingerr.” Woodoggies!

However, in my blog I made no such claim that these interests are worlds apart.
http://newtknight.blogspot.com/2008/03/southern-avengers-serious-interest-in.html

What I do claim is that people who are engaged in these things often, though not always, think that these things are worlds apart. In regards to art galleries, expensive resturants, the people interested are often, though not always, are young professionals with various roles relating to class status which can be enacted through various activities. They may not be at all conscious of it, but it is true. Modern consumerism is about purchasing identities through the purchase of a style of clothes, cars, wine, art, etc. It may be politically incorrect to point this out, but the readers of The Charleston City Paper can be understood to some extent from the advertising and articles directed towards them.

In the 19th century, one Southern magazine, either the "Southern Review" or "Southern Magazine," I think it was the later, had a serial with a fictional speaker with heavily dialectical language, colorful and comical speaking, speak on the Civil War and other things. I think Moses Adams was the characters name, but when he spoke it it was spelled Mozas Adums or some such thing. Southern publications have been doing this for some time. It is nothing new. Maybe Southern Avenger is continuing a southern tradition.

Publications do parade around some fictional characters or real people in their publications thinking it will amuse their readers.

Evidently, it is politically incorrect for me to bring up that publications do this. That the alternative weeklies have a readership that would like to think they are avant guard, chic, cool, hip or whatever and these readerships might find Southern Avenger amusing.

Finally, I never said Southern Avenger was a redneck. My paper on banal white nationalism specifically points out the problems with such stereotypes. http://www.templeofdemocracy.com/breaking.htm

Let me see, Southern Avenger episode No. 101, in the last episode, Pauline Pureheart was being cornered by Bart Blackheart, when the Southern Avenger spoke out, "Never fear, Miss Pureheart, I am here to save you." "My hero, replies Pauline Pureheart."

Like I said, who is kidding who?

John McCain's South Carolina Presidential campaign head Richard M. Quinn, another Hagee.

As people may remember, John McCain got a lot of political heat over the employee of Richard Quinn, editor of the Southern Partisan, as the director of his South Carolina campaign in 2000.

Later Quinn left the editorship and some erroneous information is circulating out there that the Southern Partisan doesn't exist anymore. It does exist and seems to be doing as well as ever. Another piece of misinformation that seems to be out there, is that Richard Quinn is no longer associated with the Southern Partisan.

Quinn is still involved with the Southern Partisan, he is one of two owners of Southern Partisan.

In the Vol. 24 No. 5, Sept./Oct. 2004, published date Oct. 2005, on page 34, has a statement of circulation. In the statement of circulation the owners are given as Charles Hamel, and Richard M. Quinn. The Southern Partisan now has a dual dating system, one date given is an "official" date and the other is a published date.

John McCain never has rejected Richard M. Quinn despite the expose' of the Southern Partisan. It seems odd that Obama is questioned about Farrakhan, but McCain is not questioned about Quinn.

Kevin R. Gutzman, author of "The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Constitution" claims not be a neo-Confederate.

Some how Kevin Gutzman, author of "The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Constitution" found out that I had blogged a reference to a review of his book at the Claremont Institute. The blog is here: http://newtknight.blogspot.com/2008/02/bizarre-claremont-institute-calls.html

The review of his book is here:

http://www.claremont.org/publications/crb/id.1513/article_detail.asp

Gutzman emailed me and in a short email he said that he wasn't neo-Confederate as claimed in the Claremont Institute review. The claim didn't have a lot of credibility with me, because he refered to an article at the www.lewrockwell.com site where in an article he denies that he is a neo-Confederate.

His name seemed familiar. So I searched my indexes and he came up as a contributor to Southern Partisan for several book reviews and a letter to the editor about a book review in Southern Partisan.

I replied that I would form an opinion based on reading his book reviews in the "Southern Partisan."

I have ordered his book, and I have also ordered the books he reviewed that I didn't already own. The books I have ordered have started to come in. I going to be reading his Southern Partisan book reviews this week.

I am thinking that I will blog something on Gutzman in a couple weeks. I need to write up something on who is and isn't a neo-Confederate. I suppose when the book, "Neo-Confederacy: A Critical Introduction," is published there will likely be some people who will deny that they are neo-Confederate for one reason or another.

Southern Avenger's serious interest in professional wrestling. Avenger's further response to my idea that he might be on the papers staff for laughs.

Southern Avenger has this item as one of his latest blog entries.

http://southernavenger.ccpblogs.com/2008/03/01/multiculturalism-in-practice/

He thinks it is hilarious, but I am sure he will be outraged that I think it just reveals his neo-Confederate racism. (His blog is at http://southernavenger.ccpblogs.com/)

Southern Avenger did another blog continuing his theme that I am elitist. This time it was because I couldn't imagine him as merely being on the staff of the paper for his ideas.

http://southernavenger.ccpblogs.com/2008/02/27/neo-confederate-hunter-sebesta-responds-to-sa-with-even-more-elitism/

All I can say is come off your soap box. The name of your blog and column is "Southern Avenger." It isn't Southern Conservative, Southern Heritage, Southern Viewpoint, or some other name, it is "Southern Avenger." Some people who read the Charleston City Paper are reading you for amusement.

This is a few of the articles that run in the paper:

http://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A40632

http://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A41002

http://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A40987

I am sure to the readers of these articles the Southern Avenger is delightful local color. Perhaps they will talk about him at the arts and wine festival or at Starbucks after seeing an art house movie.

William Buckley, the real story

Some years ago I went through all the issues of National Review from 1955 to 1964. (Or did they start in 1956?) William Buckley & National Review were opponents of the Civil Rights movement. There was no need for a Southern Partisan magazine then, because you had the National Review pushing what was called southern conservatism, or racism wrapped up with fine sounding rhetoric.

There is some effort to portray him as some gentleman conservative.

Here are some articles about him that see him clearly.

This article is about William Buckley white washing the reputation of a nasty racist reactionary Westbrook Pegler in the New Yorker.

http://www.slate.com/id/2096673/

This is an article by the racist American Renaissance from the Internet archive about when the National Review held their views.

http://web.archive.org/web/20001018141517/http:/www.amren.com/natlreview.htm

A lot is said about William F. Buckley later rejecting racism, but I don't think he would want to be brought down and the National Review brought down by a losing cause. Certainly he new what happened to American Mercury magazine.

Buckley's white washing of Westbrook Pegler I think shows where his heart was in 2004 and that he would promote racists if he thought no one would be the wiser.

Southern Avenger misrepresents my blog on Southern Avenger.

I think I have a classic example of a major tactic of neo-Confederate argumentation.

I recently blogged on Southern Avenger, a neo-Confederate blogger and writer for the "Charleston City Paper." It is the alternative weekly paper for that city, much like the "Dallas Observer" is for Dallas. This is the link to the blog.

http://newtknight.blogspot.com/2008/02/neo-confederate-ranter-columnist-for.html

This is the link to his blog. http://southernavenger.ccpblogs.com/

In my previous blog I was somewhat perplexed as to why the Charleston City Paper had him on their staff. Then it occurred to me that they might had him for amusement of their readers as some colorful character. This has been done by other papers, such as Joe Bob Briggs for the Dallas Observer. The other question is whether Southern Avenger understands this or not, and if he understands it, is he playing to his audience. That is consciously choosing topics and themes and writing his column to play to that audience. I blogged on Southern Avenger Feb. 19, 2008, and yesterday, Feb. 26, 2008, I get an email which just a heading, "Thanks for the Plug" and this link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgwWhPFsz5I

It is a You Tube video, which after describing me, goes on to take umbrage at this sentence in my blog, in fact Southern Avenger has it on screen in his video.

"Southern Avenger recently has had a couple columns on professional wrestling as if it is a serious topic. Perhaps Southern Avenger is trying to be the professionally colorful southerner."

I didn't actually say anything about my opinion about professional wrestling. I am discussing how Southern Avenger portrays it. Obviously saying "as if it is a serious topic" implies that others might write about professional wrestling differently. I want to make it clear how Southern Avenger writes on professional wrestling.

However, for the Southern Avenger, this means I am elitist for an opinion which I didn't express. This is a key tactic used by neo-Confederates.

You argue position A.

The neo-Confederate argues position anti-B, which implies you argued position B, when you did no such thing. Position B usually is some position which is indefensible and if you can lose the argument if you don't realize that the neo-Confederate has misrepresented your position or really fall for it and start defending position B. The best reply is simply to say to his argument, "What does that have to do with the question at hand?"

The other tactic here is to take one sentence and focus all attention on it to exclude attention from the major questions of the blog.

1. Why is the Charleston City Paper having him on the staff. Is it for amusement of its readers?

2. If the Southern Avenger is on the staff of the Charleston City Paper for their readers amusement is Southern Avenger aware of this, and even playing to it?

Inquiring minds want to know, however, I don't think I will get an answer to this. Some other issue will be pulled out of thin air on some rational and SA will go on and on.

There are other minor items. Southern Avenger claims I am angry, which I am not. Perhaps the SA's telepathy is on the blink. Also, claims I am a leftist, which is a surprise to me. Of course, when Thomas Fleming, editor of Chronicles has an issue, with the cover title, "Turn Left at the Renaissance," your realize that you are probably a leftist to someone. I like the Italian Renaissance.

At least the Southern Avenger isn't denying that he is a neo-Confederate like some others.

"The New Republic" article. I am mentioned in it.

The article is here about the white supremacist reponse to Obama.

http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=907272c4-54db-4fba-9149-e95b7293d6a0



I still haven't gotten the Bill Clinton story about his letters to the UDC in the news.The whole story is at this blog:http://newtknight.blogspot.com/2008/02/will-hillary-clinton-honor-jefferson.html

Another news story about neo-Confederates coming up, this blogger mentioned.

I will be posting when the news story is published. I am mentioned in it.

2/22/08 Update: The story is published here:

http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=907272c4-54db-4fba-9149-e95b7293d6a0

I still haven't gotten the Bill Clinton story about his letters to the UDC in the news.

The whole story is at this blog:

http://newtknight.blogspot.com/2008/02/will-hillary-clinton-honor-jefferson.html

Neo-Confederate Ranter a Columnist for the "Charleston City Paper"

Surprisingly enough, the Charleston City Paper has a neo-Confederate columnist who titles his column "Southern Avenger." Though it is a column title that might remind you of a character in a comic book, and even perhaps a title of a comic book, the picture of the columnist doesn't show someone in tights and sporting a cap.

In this column "Southern Avenger" is ranting and making Stalin and Lincoln comparisons. Kosovo independence is setting him off.

http://southernavenger.ccpblogs.com/2008/02/18/sa-radio-lincoln-and-secession/ (click on this link for column).

Perhaps the Charleston City Paper has him as a columnist to amuse their readers. Perhaps Southern Avenger knows this. Southern Avenger recently has had a couple columns on professional wrestling as if it is a serious topic. Perhaps Southern Avenger is trying to be the professionally colorful southerner.

http://southernavenger.ccpblogs.com/2008/02/15/the-post-couriers-mike-mooneyham-on-the-passing-of-johnny-weaver/

http://southernavenger.ccpblogs.com/2008/02/15/carolina-wrestling-legend-johnny-weaver-1935-2008-rip/

Or perhaps Southern Avenger isn't doing anything self-consciously, but the editors find it a classic stereotype southerner to add amusement to their paper. Who knows.

This isn't a good sign that Southern Avenger is published. He is mainstreaming neo-Confederacy. He might have a column because the editors are sympathetic to his view points.

The Dallas Observer used to have a guy like Southern Avenger called Joe Bob Briggs for the public's amusement. Then there is the whole Greater Tuna comedy that has proven to be popular, http://greatertuna.com/. Perhaps Southern Avenger is published by the Charleston City Paper for similar amusement.

Vermont Secession Reports Vermont Secession movement going nowhere.

A good blog to be kept abreast of the Vermont Secession movement is Vermont Secession. However, the writer of this blog isn't advocating secession, just reporting on it and the antics and bogus claims of the Vermont Secession movement.

I recommend this latest blog:

http://vermontsecession.blogspot.com/2008/02/finally-poll-on-secession-in-vermont.html

The blog reports that the Vermont Secession movement failed to get a single townhall vote for secession.

There are comical elements in tracking the Vermont Secessionists, in that they are engaged in various dubious representations of themselves and the strength of their movement.

"American Idol" Or "Confederate Idol" creepy video by Kristy Lee Cook

http://www.rendleman.net/dvd.htm

One of the American Idol contestants is a country western singer and stars in a video with the Confederate flag. Sort of creepy video with fairly heavy handed symbolism.

The video does take time to load and the web page asks you to be patient, you will have to be.

Yes, I have decided to include popular elements in this blog.

Incidently, if you know of some interesting item to blog about, let me know. I can't promise to undertake each one, but I would like to have a choice to consider items.

Update: I am beginning to pin point why this video is strange or creepy. First thing, it opens with the singer singing into a sleeping man's face. I can see a visual in which a man is sleeping in the background and the singer singing in the foreground. However, singing right in the face reminds me of when you are in a deep sleep and some idiot wakes you with noise.

Secondly, I think singing how devoted your are is conceited. Others may think you are devoted, but I think a person doesn't brag how devoted they are. It would be like a singer going on and on how modest they were or how good they were.

Thirdly, why is she so devoted? Is her love object kind, tender, thoughtful? The song could have him giving her flowers or some such. However, the theme is that he is a military hunk with his shirt off who picks her up and throws her into the lake where she can then have a brief wet shirt scene.

"Bizarre," Claremont Institute calls Gutzman's "Politically Incorrect Guide to the Constitution"

The excellent review of the book is here:

http://www.claremont.org/publications/crb/id.1513/article_detail.asp

Not every conservative sees Confederate and conservative as synonymous.

The Claremont Institute takes on the neo-Confederates and the neo-Confederates criticize them.

On violent so-called anti-racists; For the Record

I don't support violence against racism. It is wrong in so many ways. It underminds criticism of racist violence. Racists use it to legitimize their own violence. Violence always has the potential to spiral out of control. I don't think violence is effective against racism. It can give racists public sympathy and make public opinion negative towards anti-racism. Almost everyone has had an unpopular opinion at some point and can imagine themselves being the target of violence.

If you want to be violent in your so-called anti-racism please keep away from me and don't contact me. I also don't want to associate with those who associate with violent people.

I think some people that are all fired up at using violence against racism, are really people who just want a justification to engage in violence.

Also, I think it is because real activism against racism takes hard work. You have to do reading, wrestle with difficult questions, do research, and think through complex questions and issues. So much easier for people to just show up and have a hollar at an anti-KKK ralley and feel self-righteous.

So, as I said, if you think anti-racism is some form of violence and vandalism, I don't want to have anything to do with you.

The world is too full of people who think violence is the method to deal with those they really dislike.

Also, I think there is no need for violence. Ultimately it is a conflict of ideas, and if you don't have a mind and just a fist, you are worthless in fighting racism.

Unfortunately, when I first got on the net, I just contacted various anti-racist groups without much understanding of who was who. So I have had contact with some groups, that I regret, but I have rejected them as I have come to understand what they were up to.

Will Hillary Clinton honor Jefferson Davis' birthday like Bill Clinton did?

Bill Clinton did send a wreath to the Confederate Memorial at Arlington Cemetery.

Bill Clinton did write three congratulatory letters to the United Daughters of the Confederacy.

Will Hillary Clinton write letters of congratulations to the United Daughters of the Confederacy or other neo-Confederate groups?

I have Bill Clinton's letters to the United Daughters of the Confederacy online at http://www.templeofdemocracy.com/presidentialcandidates2008.htm

Just go down to Hillary Clinton's entry.

I am unable to get this item out to the press. Perhaps the blogosphere can get the word out.

A Confederate organization that the Bush family belongs to.

The Alfalfa Club's sole purpose is to have an annual dinner on a Saturday following Robert E. Lee's birthday. The Washington Post has an article about it here.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/26/AR2008012602893.html

It seems the whole Bush family is fairly involved and enthusiastic supporters.

It seems that George W. Bush's support for the Museum of the Confederacy while governor of Texas is a part of a larger support for the Confederacy.

In the news, Ed Sebesta referenced as source in article on Huckabee and the Council of Conservative Citizens./ Who wrote Ron Paul's newsletters?

You can see the article about Huckabee and the Council of Conservative Citizens at:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/thenation/20080118/cm_thenation/45272545

or at this link

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/campaignmatters?pid=272545

The group which is running the ads about Huckabee and the Confederate flag is a PAC run by the Sons of Confederate Veterans.

Check this link:

http://preservingamericanculture.com/2007/july/the_charge.php?SessID=36598

and this link:

http://preservingamericanculture.com/2007/july/mobile_july_27.php?SessID=36598


The claim is being put out that Lew Rockwell of www.lewrockwell.com and the Ludwig von Mises Institute www.mises.org wrote much of them as claimed at this link:

No Black Confederate soldiers per the United Confederate Veterans

One of the enabling factors in fraudulent history is that historians write what happened and don't write about what didn't happened.

For example in reading a history about the Battle of Gettysburg we are unlikely to read the following sentence.

"There were no tornadoes during Pickett's charge or any other phase of the battle. Nor were there any meteor showers striking the ground or soldiers. Neither were there any geysers or volcanic eruptions or earthquakes. There were no battalions of the Thai royal army, Russian Imperial army, Chinese Imperial army, Prussian or contingents of Inuits, Tahitians, Burmese. The Dali Lama wasn't an observer, as well as 3,421 names which we have in an appendix at the end of the book. "

History is long enough with describing what happened and would be impossible if describing what didn't happen was also required.

However, once in a while you do get lucky and someone will go on at great length at what didn't happen when they want to make a point.

The following are extracts from the Minutes of the Sixteenth Annual Convention of the United Daughters of the Confederacy held in Houston, Texas, October 19-22, 1909, pages 6-8, speech by Colonel Phillip H. Fall, Commander of Dick Dowling Camp, United Confederate Veterans, to the United Daughters of the Confederacy. Hessians technically would be inhabitants of Hesse, a principality of the Holy Roman Empire before being consolidated into Germany. During the American Revolution, the British employed Hessian soldiers. So in this speech Colonel Fall is complaining about immigrants from Europe who enlisted in the American army during the Civil War.

"... Had you not thrown down the gauntlet and assumed the offensive for the old soldiers of the Confederacy, their names would have gone down in a partisan Northern history as rebels and traitors; who tried to disrupt what they call the greatest and best government on earth, when in fact, they in arbitrary, puritanical spirit, brought about the disruption, causing a war such as the world has never known, hiring nearly a million Hessians and nearly two hundred thousand Africans, to slaughter their brethren of the South. Nothing but a civil war could have ever satisfied the John Brown stripe of abolitionists, especially after their leader John Brown was hung. ..."

"... There were no hired Hessians or negroes in the Southern army. All fought for a principle they knew to be right and thousands upon thousands gave up their lives in defense of truth."

Besides the fact that Colonel Fall is bragging that there were no Africans in the Confederate army, there is another assertion, that immigrants and African Americans didn't fight for principle in the American army.

So it is a denial of the existence of Afro-Confederate soldiers and a racist assertion concerning African Americans. Did Colonel Fall miss seeing the Afro-Confederate soldiers that supposedly made up 10 to 30% of the Confederate army (Has a higher percentage been put out by the neo-Confederates?). I don't think so. However, the usefulness of the myth of the Afro-Confederate soldier is so great, I am sure some rationalization will be made to dispense with this part of the historical record.

Ron Paul's Racist Newsletters Make CNN political coverage

They have Ron Paul's racist and homophobic rants as the lead story at www.cnn.com .

The CNN direct link is at:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/01/10/paul.newsletters/?iref=mpstoryview

I have more information in the preceding post.

I notice that the Ludwig von Mises Institute involvement of Ron Paul is not getting much notice.

The Ron Paul supporters are coming up with many ingenious rationalizations. Really loopy rationalizations.

Ron Paul news coming up! A story I contributed to. Update.

Update: This is a link to the article. http://www.newrepublic.com/article/politics/angry-white-man. It originally was either behind a paywall or didn't have a link specifically to it.

I am updating this as I find items all day today. 1/8/08.

The article and the newsletters and the other documents are online now at www.tnr.com .

The video of Jamie Kirchick is at http://www.msnbc.com/ in the video section.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/22545697#22545697

It is also online at YouTube at:

http://youtube.com/profile?user=antironpaulcom

Radio interview with Jamie Kirchick http://youtube.com/watch?v=Whqtv9D9g-Y

I helped supply material for this story. In particular the secession convention information and a lot of the Ludwig von Mises Institute information. http://www.mises.org/

I have been holding back until Jamie Kirchick story went public.

The head of the Ludwig von Mises Institute is Lew Rockwell and he has a web site http://www.lewrockwell.com/ which you can see is a sort of Ron Paul Internet headquarters.

Jamie Kirchick's story is going online tomorrow afternoon at the http://www.tnr.com/ website.

I hope they have the secession convention mailing with Ron Paul's picture on it up on the web site.

Neo-Confederates support Ron Paul because he is one of their own.

Of course the Ron Paul supporters will have all sorts of rationalizations and excuses. Here is a link to a web site with the loopy rationalizations of Ron Paul supporters.
http://thirdpartywatch.com/2008/01/07/ron-paul-just-trashed-on-msnbc/

Evidently Ron Paul supporters are given to Brownshirt tactics as shown in this video. http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=1d4_1199722032&p=1 Not a lot of "love" or "evol" is it?

One reason they think that they can rationalize that Ron Paul is not a racist, is the stereotype that racists are only belligerent rude people lacking middle class decorum. I explain this in my essay on banal white nationalism. www.templeofdemocracy.com/breaking.htm

I am non-partisan and readers can read information on Bill Clinton at my website at this URL.

http://www.templeofdemocracy.com/presidentialcandidates2008.htm

Chip Pickering and the Council of Conservative Citizens

The May-June 2002, Vol. 33 No. 3, issue of Citizen Informer, official publication of the Council of Conservative Citizens, has a short report on one of their meetings in Mississippi on page 14.

They report that Congressmen Chip Pickering and Ronnie Snow sent representatives to the July 25th CofCC meeting at Bo-Don's seafood in Jackson to get their support.

Mike Huckabee and the Council of Conservative Citizens

This is an extract from the Citizens Informer, official publication of the Council of Conservative Citizens, Vol. 24 No. 3, 1993.

"Ark. Lt. Governor Mike Huckabee, unable to leave Arkansas by law because the Governor was absent from the state, sent a terrific videotape speech, which was viewed and extremely well received by the audience. The celebrities and candidates present were introduced, including Dan Ivy, esq., Republican primary candidate for Arkansas Governor."

Now the Council of Conservative Citizens www.cofcc.org has rejected Huckabee for his stances on the issues. Too bad Huckabee didn't reject the Council of Conservative Citizens then for their stance on the issues.

Someone should see if they can find Arkansas Council of Conservative Citizens publications to see if there was more involvement by Huckabee with the Council of Conservative Citizens.

Ron Paul whistles Dixie

Normally politicians with links to neo-Confederates keep it under the table. George Allen didn't bring it up his fraternization with the Council of Conservative Citizens in his last campaign, and Trent Lott initially denied active involvement with the Council of Conservative Citizens.

However, Ron Paul, on meet the press, was up front with his neo-Confederate beliefs. This is the link to the story and at that web page you can get the entire transcript.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22342301/

I am not surprised by this. If you want to learn about the libertarian wing of the neo-Confederate movement go to http://www.mises.org/ or http://www.lewrockwell.com/.

Not surprisingly, they are big supporters of Ron Paul.

In regards to the historical arguments that Ron Paul makes.

1. There was a proposal to sell the public lands and use the money to purchase the slaves and free them. The State of Georgia was livid over the proposal and fulminated against it, passing a resolution against it.

One reason the United States didn't use funds to free the slaves is that the slave states were against it.

2. Ron Paul comments about the abolition of slavery elsewhere misrepresents history. In Brazil the Imperial Army was called out to support slavery towards the end, and slavery began to end when the army announced that it would refuse to capture runaway slaves.

There was violence against abolitionists in Brazil. The whole process of abolition in Brazil wasn't as peaceful as neo-Confederate apologists like to make out.

However, the thing to consider is that abolition of slavery elsewhere falls under one or more of these five categories.

A. The slave holders in many Latin American countries were a small minority of the larger polity and didn't have the political strength or resources to fight abolitionism and certainly not the resources to carry out an insurrection.

B. Some slave holders were dependent on the larger polity to maintain slavery. Without the British Empire the British West Indies slave holders would not be able to maintain their systems of slavery. When the Empire decided to abolish slavery, they could hardly resist militarily, and being tiny white elites over large slave populations they could hardly risk disorder of any type or the lack of the law supplied by the British empire.

C. Slavery in many cases was abolished after the Civil War as the blockade of trans-Atlantic slave trade became more efficient and slavery couldn't support itself without the easy importation of slaves.

D. Unfortunately, in some cases the abolition of slavery was merely the founding of some other type of bondage, such as peonage.

E. After the American Civil War it was fairly obvious that slavery was on the way out and abolitionism meant modernism for nations.

The United States on the other hand had a body of slave holders that represented a large geographic region of major economic resources with a population to raise an army, they had the means to resist. At the time of the Civil War it wasn't obvious that slavery was the dead past. The trans-Atlantic slave trade was still going since the slave states would block effective American actions against it. The American slave owners were also of violent temperament as shown in the case of Preston Brooks.

The slave states also made it clear from the Constitutional Convention onward that any effort at abolition in their states would result in violent resistance. The proposals to avoid a Civil War during 1861 involved adding more amendments on the Constitution to fasten slavery on America forever. Reading the Crittenden Convention minutes makes you glad that the compromise didn't go through, because it would have eventually resulted in the discrediting and end of America.

It would of course been better that the United States didn't not have a Civil War, but the slave states were committed to violence.

Interesting article from Charleston "City Paper'

An interesting article from the Charleston "City Paper"

http://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A37621

It shows how selective and self-serving neo-Confederate heritage is.

I see that I have had quite a break in my blogging. Busy writing and writing and writing.

Got a copy from one of my co-editors of the final manuscript going to the publishers with the acknowledgements and table of contents etc. all put together. It will appear in the Fall 2008 catalog of a major university press.

Screening Trial venues for white supremacy

Defense attorneys, when they have a minority client do screen prospective jurors for membership in the KKK and other like groups. However, they don't screen for banal white nationalism. www.templeofdemocracy.com/breaking.htm

For example is the juror a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, League of the South, United Daughters of the Confederacy. It is a fairly obvious screening for a public defender to do, and one has to ask why isn't it being done. Is the public defender defending the client or defending his or her career?

Well, it seems that Wesley Snipes' lawyers are doing their job and screening a venue for banal white nationalism as reported in this article.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/orl-snipes0907nov09,0,7302864.story

http://www.wftv.com/news/14539134/detail.html?rss=orlc&psp=irresistible

Of course the local leaders are bawling about how it is not a fair characterization of their community.

Seems rather obvious, in an area where they celebrate the white nationalist Confederacy an African American won't get a fair trial because the jury pool is full of white nationalists.

I would also like to see public defenders question jurors on their attitudes towards the Confederacy.

Also, why aren't judges screened also? If they are members of neo-Confederate groups, why should anyone suffer to have them a judge in their trial, black or white?

This brings up the larger question of what is the relationship of the citizen to Confederate identified government. If the municipality is Confederate identified should they not be treated as an occupier and not something you belong to? You will pay your taxes as a practical necessity, but give no more than what is the law. However, for what you are able to withhold, you will.

I think that jurors should consider the trial carefully. Does the public defender screen for banal white nationalism in the jurors, or is the public defender just following the established methods and defending his or her career. Did the public defender check the background of the judge?

If not, then the juror ought to consider if it is fair trial and act accordingly. If our so-called public defenders can't do their job, they someone needs to.

Local Republican candidate in Virginia in trouble for SCV involvement

The story is here:

http://www.fcnp.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2033&Itemid=33

The Republican is Joe May, you may want to use the Find function to find the paragraph of interest.

It is good to see that the Democrats are finally picking up on the issue of Neo-Confederacy in their campaigns and not deferring to the Lost Cause. Also, good is to see that local papers are reporting Republican involvement with Neo-Confederacy.

On the other hand, the Dallas Morning News is giving a neo-Confederate a free pass in this story.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/DN-patterson_03tex.ART.North.Edition1.428a24a.html

Interesting You Tube item.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cm0e1y5l028

I don't know what TV program it is from.

National Secession convention, isn't that self-contradictory?

There has been a lot of reporting on a "national secession convention." Isn't that self-contradictory? By making it a "national" activity, aren't they admitting that they are just playing games within the "national" context. A North American secession convention might make sense, or an anti-national convention might make sense. However, secession is about leaving a nation and not being national at all.

What I see is some "Ruritanian" fantasy playing. "What if we had our own toy Republic," is the fantasy without considering that when the day is over, you are on your own.

They eat their own. Another SCV faction fight. James-Younger Camp, a real piece of work.

The Southern Poverty Law Center has this report on the latest factional fighting in the SCV between far-right and farther-right factions. The farther right it seems is called the "lunatics" in the Neo-Confederate movement, a very apt name.

http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?aid=813

Look at the lead photo. As you might imagine, the current Commander-in-Chief, Christopher Sullivan, editor of the Southern Partisan, a Neo-Confederate publication, doesn't want this group to be the public face of the Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV).

Especially since they were T-shirts promoting the Turner Diaries, a race war white supremacist novel as reported by the Southern Poverty Law Center. http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?aid=637

The Lunatic faction is actually calling Sullivan a "granny" which is a term of derision for those who are not seen as neo-Confederate enough.

This will be a destructive conflict of the entire Neo-Confederate movement. The first phase of the fighting will be in the SCV. One faction will be the Neo-Confederates who realize that if the James-Younger Camp is the face of the SCV, the organization is finished for credibility. If they win, the SCV will be pitted against the Southern Partisan and it will be a competition who is the most Neo-Confederate and true. This competition will involve attacks on the Southern Partisan as being politically correct etc. and pressuring it to take ever more extreme positions.

Even if the "lunatics" as the more Neo-Confederate faction is called, fails to take over the SCV, it will result in an ongoing conflict in the SCV and against the Southern Partisan for years. Every organization will be forced to attempt to navigating between these extremes. The League of the South http://dixienet.org/New%20Site/index.shtml (LOS) will have to choose which side to be on. The LOS was one of the groups that attacked the old "moderate" leadership and was a force in the SCV take over. It will be ironic to see the LOS attacked by the very extreme forces it unleashed.

As for Christopher M. Sullivan, I can't think of a more appropriate person to have to face attacks by the Lunatics.

Questions for the Presidential Candidates./ Is Ron Paul really a friend of the Confederacy.

I came up with 25 questions for the presidential candidates regarding Neo-Confederacy. What I am putting in this blog is just the draft versions. I will try to get them in the mail this month.

A lot of Neo-Confederates think Ron Paul is their friend. I wonder if Ron Paul will be willing to answer these questions and how would he answer. I think most of the candidates, Republican and Democrat would not want to answer these issues, but I would think that Ron Paul, who is supposed to be something other than a usual politician would be glad to answer these questions. Or maybe not.

QUESTIONNAIRE FOR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES ON NEO-CONFEDERACY

Though these questions are written for a yes, no answer, please feel free to elaborate on them or give an answer other than yes or no, either in the space provided beneath the question or with an attached sheet of paper. Please make sure if an attached sheet of paper is used, it is clear to which question you are responding.

1. Are you a member, honorary or otherwise, of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, Sons of Confederate Veterans, League of the South, Council of Conservative Citizens or other neo-Confederate organization?

2. Would you nominate for attorney general someone who is a member, honorary or otherwise, of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, Sons of Confederate Veterans, League of the South, Council of Conservative Citizens or other neo-Confederate organization?

3. Would you nominate for attorney general someone who has lent support to the Neo-Confederate movement or is otherwise active in it?

4. For other cabinet positions would you nominate someone who is a member, honorary or otherwise, of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, Sons of Confederate Veterans, League of the South, Council of Conservative Citizens or other neo-Confederate organization?

5. For other cabinet positions would you nominate someone who has lent support to the Neo-Confederate movement or is otherwise active in it?

6. Would you nominate for the Supreme Court or some other Federal judgeship someone who is a member, honorary or otherwise, of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, Sons of Confederate Veterans, League of the South, Council of Conservative Citizens or other neo-Confederate organization?

7. Would you nominate for the Supreme Court or some other Federal judgeship someone who has lent support to the Neo-Confederate movement or is otherwise active in it?

8. Would you nominate for the United States Commission on Civil Rights someone who is a member, honorary or otherwise, of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, Sons of Confederate Veterans, League of the South, Council of Conservative Citizens or other neo-Confederate organization?

9. Would you nominate for the United States Commission on Civil Rights someone who has lent support to the Neo-Confederate movement or is otherwise active in it?

10. Would you nominate to the National Endowment for the Humanities or other such Federal boards regarding arts, crafts, cultural activities, and the humanities someone who is a member, honorary or otherwise, of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, Sons of Confederate Veterans, League of the South, Council of Conservative Citizens or other neo-Confederate organization?

11. Would you nominate to the National Endowment for the Humanities or other such Federal boards regarding arts, crafts, cultural activities, and the humanities someone who has lent support to the Neo-Confederate movement or is otherwise active in it?

12. Would you nominate for an ambassadorship someone who was a member, honorary or otherwise, of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, Sons of Confederate Veterans, League of the South, Council of Conservative Citizens or other neo-Confederate organization?

13. Would you nominate for an ambassadorship someone who has lent support to the Neo-Confederate movement or is otherwise active in it?

14. As President would you allow the participation of the United States military in Neo-Confederate events?

15. As President would you place a wreath at the Arlington Confederate Memorial or other Confederate memorial?

16. As President would you accept awards from Neo-Confederate organizations?

17. As President would you attend events held by Neo-Confederate organizations?

18. As President would you send letters of commendation, congratulations or similar to Neo-Confederate organizations?

19. As President would you observe a Confederate holiday?

20. As President would you display Confederate symbols at the White House?

21. As President would you display or commemorate Confederate leaders in the White House?

22. As President would you allow a United States ship to be named after a Confederate leader?

23. As President would you allow a United States public building, park, or public facility to be named after a Confederate leader?

24. As President would you allow a stamp to be issued by the United States Postal Service commemorating a Confederate leader?

25. As President would you allow a coin to be issued by the United States Mint commemorating a Confederate leader?

Son of Confederate Veterans (SCV) goes Christian Reconstructionist

They now have a Chaplains Corp newsletter and have announced a religious political program of action which you can read in the following newsletter which is online.

http://www.scv.org/documents/ChaplainsChronicleSept07.pdf

The editorial, lead article of the newsletter, asks the members to work "to establish the rule of Christianity in America." The call for this is by the Chaplain-in-Chief of the SCV, originally made in the Confederate Veteran, the official publication of the SCV.

The general web page for this newsletter and evidently for the Chaplain Corps itself is at this web page.
http://www.scv.org/chaplainsChronicle.php

The idea of the Civil War as a holy war is in an article by Mark W. Evans.

My article on the Confederate Christians is online at this web page:

http://gis.depaul.edu/ehague/Articles/PUBLISHED%20CRAS%20ARTICLE.pdf

It was published by the Canadian Review for American Studies at the Univ. of Toronto.

Ron Paul's Speeches for Lew Rockwell.

Ron Paul is turning out to be the favorite of Neo-Confederates at such websites as:

www.lewrockwell.com , www.southerncaucus.org (Dixie Daily News) and others.

They have all his speeches which were posted on www.lewrockwell.com available on CD. http://www.lewrockwell.com/paul/paul-speeches.html

I am not sure how the Republican presidential candidates are faring. It seems that there isn't real enthusiasm among Republicans for most of them. I think Ron Paul represents a fair segment of grass roots Republican attitudes. It will be interesting if he can achieve some type of breakthrough where is he one of the front runners.

Interesting is that the Neo-Confederates report that Fox News hates him. I am afraid that some reflexive (reacting) liberals and leftists will think that Ron Paul is a good thing.

There is still considerable time left before the primaries and the situation is still fluid. I think it might become a situation where there is Romney representing the non-ideological faction. Whether the ideological candidate will be Ron Paul, I have no way of knowing.

Merril Lynch involved in fund raising effort to honor Ku Klux Klan Leader

You can read it here in a report of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, SCV.

http://www.scv.org/pdf/2007SCVBookOfReports.pdf

It is in the FORREST BOYHOOD HOME COMMITTEE report.

Gene Andrews reports:

"Our Forrest Homecoming and Southern Heritage Festival raised over $4,300.00 on the 23rd of June and we have over $5,000.00 in our Merrill Lynch Forrest Home Account."

The Neo-Confederates are able to advance due to the complicity of many institutions.

Catholic Church hosts Neo-Confederate ceremony

The SCV convention this year was in Mobile, Alabama. They had a service for a former crewman of the CSS Alabama at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Mobile, Alabama. http://www.mobilecathedral.org/index.php

They had pictures of the service available for sale online. http://www.myshotz.com/pics/cssal/ and I direct your attention to these photos, the first one listed in particular.

http://www.myshotz.com/pics/cssal/memsvc/source/memsvc-229.html

http://www.myshotz.com/pics/cssal/memsvc/source/memsvc-232.html

http://www.myshotz.com/pics/cssal/memsvc/source/memsvc-273.html

http://www.myshotz.com/pics/cssal/memsvc/source/memsvc-274.html

It brings into question how seriously the Catholic Church supports civil rights.

Is your church collaborating with the Confederacy? Don't be so sure that it isn't, or that a co-religionist isn't a Confederate enthusiast.

Jos. A. Banks and others, Corporations working with Neo-Confederacy

At this link you can see the companies working with the Sons of Confederate Veterans.

http://www.scv.org/benefits.php

Maybe Jos. A. Banks will offer Confederate uniforms. They are listed towards the bottom of the page.

I see that Enterprise car rental is involved also.

Corporations working with Neo-Confederacy

They may not take American Express at slave markets, but they might take Confederate Visa cards. check this web page out.


http://www.scv.org/creditCard.php

Neo-Confederates & a Financial Crash

Despite all the cheery talk and optimistic pronouncements of the last few months, it is fairly apparent that the financial markets are in real trouble. It seems that the theory was that if you created really complex financial instruments out of bad loans that they were then some how not bad loans. That you could spin gold out of straw by making financial instruments so complex few people understand them.

Also, that ever disastrous method of speculation, leverage, was used heavily and extensively.

Amusing as it is to watch the pretensions of various speakers of nonsense come tumbling down, it does have implications for American politics of a serious nature if the economy crashes. More specifically for crack pot and extremist political groups.

Extreme groups are fascinated by potential break downs of society. They see signs of it everywhere, and they are the prey of the sellers of gold. Though I am not really sure what I would do with gold coins in a meltdown of society or the economy. Would a grocer accept a gold coin, how could he know it was gold and how would he price it? If someone offered me a gold coin, how would I know how much it weighed, what percentage of gold it was (fineness, or carats) and whether I was being cheated by a coin with a base metal core? However, extremists are often gold bugs.

Extremists, or any outgroup with different ideas on how to run society and the economy, can find themselves locked out if society and the economy seems to be working fairly well. Outgroups, extreme and otherwise are not likely to get very far with their ideas as long as things work well. With a disaster, the mainstream ideas become discredited in the minds of many, and there is the opportunity for alternative ideas to get a hearing. Indeed, if there is a disaster, alternative ideas should be considered and will be. If it is obvious that the current way of running things doesn't work, then a better method does need to be found.

HOWEVER, the discrediting of one crazy idea doesn't justify another. So of the many alternatives that might be proposed, the challenge is to find the better alternative and shut out the ideas of crazies, extremists, and crack pots.

The Neo-Confederates are very adept at pointing out that some things that are said by people in positions of authority is rubbish. So do a lot of other people who aren't extremists or crazies. Of course the Neo-Confederates explain current problems in the frame work of their ideology. To them society and the economy have these problems because government, society, etc. has been set on the wrong path due to the results of the Civil War and the failure of the United States to follow the ides of their Neo-Confederate conceptualized South, that is a reactionary ideology with "orthodox" Christianity.

However, with there being a crash in the economy, alternative ideas, whether extreme or reasonable will tend to get a hearing. The representatives of mainstream ideas become discredited and unable to defend the status quo, indeed they may be tied up with just defending themselves.

History has abundant examples of this, where disaster overturns the old order and opens the opportunity for negative as well as postive change. Regarding negative change, it would be very unlikely that the communists would have taken over Russia without World War I and the disasterous handling of it by the Czar. The communists would not have likely taken over China without World War II. Other historical regime changes could be sited.

Positive developments are often only enabled through a crash of the old order. The Republicans had run the country for most of the time since the Civil War up to the Great Depression. It was a time of a cyclical economy with big crashes. However, in 1929, there was a really big crash. In 1932 the Democrats won 3/4ths of the seats in the House of Representatives.

I have always tended to think that claims of impending economic doom are the follies of right wing extremists. Ever since 1960s before I went to college and since, I have run across some prediction of economic doom frequently with the offer to sell gold coins. However, I do wonder what is going to happen this time. It isn't just the subprime market.

My conceptualization is that the economy has been kept afloat by cheap credit and dubious financial speculations and financial instruments. The credit is a way to recycle the trade deficit dollars. That is the money goes to East Asia and elsewhere and it is loaned back to the United States, so the economy can keep running. It seems the economy now days is mostly retail, financial things, and housing, and not much in actually producing things. I see the housing market as just one way of recycling the trade deficit. The money then would run through the economy to suppliers, workers, financial institutions, etc. and keep the economy afloat.

With the collapse of cheap credit, how does the money get recycled, besides China and Japan deciding to just give us the money to spend again?

I guess the Federal Reserve can just flood the economy with money to make it easier for banks ect. to meet their obligations and lower interest rates, but wouldn't it result in inflation? Also, wouldn't the dollar fall? Might it block the recycling of the trade deficit?

If there isn't a recycling of the trade deficit, wouldn't there be an unwinding of the whole economy.

I am not a trained economist, but what I do know is that the economic establishment, various financial news reporting organizations just crank out optimism like so much ground sausage. I don't trust the various economic authority figures. I think a lot of them are shills for the financial markets. I think CNN must have a Sunshine and Silver Linings group. It may be that the economy will have a few hiccups and go on. However, I tend not to think so.

The trade deficit of 600 to 700 billion dollars a year requires that many nations are willing to reinvest it all in the United States and keep it here. At some point this won't be sustainable. With the problems in the credit markets how do these countries recycle their money. How many U.S. Treasury bonds do they need? Why would they invest in things of declining value, valued in a declining currency.

I think we live in a sort of bubble economy beyond just the housing markets. However, like I said it might be that we have a just a period of economic turbulence like we have during the Savings & Loan crisis. Though during the Savings & Loan crisis the United States wasn't massively dependent on foreign credit, China was still Red China, and the cold war was on, where would investors put their money?

If instead, we have a real economic disaster, massive unemployment, I think we can expect that extremists will flourish, including Neo-Confederates. In fact, I think that the Neo-Confederates will do better than a lot of extremist groups, since the Neo-Confederates avoid presenting an image with the markings of extremism. It could be a world where American Conservative was the mainstream magazine of conservatism and National Review the descredited journal of conservatism.

There would be an impact on the left also. Socialists might make a comeback. Or what I think is more likely, some new ideology might arise to challenge capitolism.

All in all it would not be good. Probably the governments will find a way out of this mess and muddle through, lets hope so.

U.S. House Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC) attends John Randolph Club event

U.S. House Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC) attends John Randolph Club event which you can read about at this link:

http://rockfordinstitute.org/events/?p=8#more-8


John Randolph was a anti-democratic reactionary crank and pro-slavery advocate and racist. I have read one of his lengthy speeches in the Congressional Record. It is interesting since it is the essential Neo-Confederate philosophy.

The following is a link to the online Congressional Record from 1774 to 1874, a very good online resource. You can read a speech by John Randolph given in the Senate:

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/amlaw/lawhome.html

The speech is on March 1st and 2nd, 1826, 19th Congress, 1st session, Gales & Seaton's Register of Debates in Congress.

Unfortunately it doesn't give you links to pages. They really ought to make it available on CD and extend the Congressional Record to the present.

Campaigned against the Confederate flag in 1968, obituary in the "Washington Post."

Campaigned against the Confederate flag in 1968, obituary in the Washington Post.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/10/AR2007081002268.html