Hi, all- I'm Eric Blumrich- the guy who ran BushFlash.com.
I like thai food, comic books, and vidya games (Fallout 3- w00t!)
In the months since I shut down Bushflash, I've enjoyed many moments of peace- and what's more, security.
Some are rightfully concerned about the extremist course being taken by the remnants of the republican party, but personally, and for now, I'm enjoying the whirlwind of hysteria and teabags that currently constitutes the face of the republican party. I have yet to see any remnant of that party heed the late William Buckley's admonition that it was time for the conservative movement to retreat to the wilderness, and heal.
The right-wing echo chamber has become a parody of itself- Beck, Limbaugh, and the rest of the usual suspects are so busy digging their own rhetorical graves, they need no help from me.
With enemies like these, I fear not for 2010.
However, recent events within the confines of my many e-mail accounts have raised within me a glimmer of alarm.
At this point I feel the need to apologize in advance if the mentioning of the conspiracy theorist community violates any decorum, or rules of Kos- forgive me- I'm new here.
I further apologize if this topic has been addressed- but I maintain that I gotta get this offa my chest.
Since shutting down Bushflash, my e-mail inboxes have been blissfully devoid of substantial content, beyond the occasional entreaty that I blow 20 pounds out of my colon, or details on incredible deals for "Blue Pills."
However, in recent weeks, a few of Bushflash's regulars have been e-mailing me, saying that their "eyes have been opened" after seeing "The Obama Deception."
Yep- I can hear the groans already- if you're anything like me, you felt your brain trying to escape your head, thirty seconds into it (that is, if you had been so unfortunate as to click on the link.)
Said film is by professional conspiracy theorist and fulltime huckster Alex Jones- a self-styled prophet of truth so far out in the deep end that he makes David Icke (a man who maintains that the world is being controlled by a race of interdimensional shapeshifting lizards)look downright sane and rational.
Usually, I'd just ignore this latest eruption of Alex Jones craziness, had it not reached out to me, and made itself visible. Not only have I recieved dozens of e-mails asking me to watch this isiocy, but on recent visits to google video, This odious film has been on the front page- and now versions dubbed in other languages are cropping up.
For those who are not aware, Alex Jones makes his living by selling a baffling mix of cynicism, victim complex, elitism, populism, and paranoia rolled up into a huge wad of bullhockey. Formerly a conservative talk-show host that was far to the right of O'Reilly, he has in recent years become an evangelist for a bizarrely extensive and bafflingly incoherent claim that our lives are being controlled by a masonic/illuminatist cabal.
But what is far worse, his worldview is perhaps the bleakest that darkens our political discourse:
Promote education? Forget it- it's a corporatist scheme that uses stalinist brainwashing tactics to force our children to be homosexuals.
Protect the environment? No way! The environmental movement is part of the New World Order's scheme to kill 80% of humanity.
Healthcare reform? Not on his watch- it's all a plan to force people into mental hospitals and be euthanized before they hit 40.
Seen any good movies, lately? I'm boycotting hollywood, because the hollywood illuminatists refuse to let Rob Schneider excercise his full range of talents (He would have KILLED as the lead in Slumdog.)
What's truly worthy of your time and efforts? Well- you can make a donation to Infowars- you can buy a t-shirt, or a baseball cap. You can go and see Alex in person- but there's a suggested donation at the door (rest assured the cash will be used for good causes, and NOT Alex's three-pack-a-day habit.) What's really best is to stand outside of the MSNBC broadcasting bus at a given political event and bleat "9/11 was an inside job- Infowars!" into a megaphone, until your mother calls you on your cell, tells you to stop interrupting Chris Matthews, and wonders aloud when you'll get a real job, and find a nice girl to settle down with.
Now, our country has always had these types- the Father Coughlins, the John Birches- the LaRouchies- they have been far too numerous and lamentable to discuss adequately here. However the presence of such voices is a consequence of something we all love and appreciate- the right of free speech.
Alex is free to spout his inanities, and while I celebrate his right to free speech, I find myself wondering why his disinformation, cynicism, and snake oil has not been questioned, or addressed in any substantiative manner.
I know the standard response: "Ignore him- he's not worthy of mention- don't dignify his existence with your attention."
Such would be true, had not his latest film on Obama garnered hundreds of thousands of views, via the web.
Such would be true, had not so many people who are otherwise well-intentioned pestered me with this cinematic assault on common sense.
I figure- there's gotta be someone out there refuting this hail of nonsense, but a quick cursory googling using the search criteria "Alex Jones Insane Crazy Scaremonger Unemployed Chainsmoker" failed to bring up any substantial refutation or comment.
Again- some might wonder why any intelligent person would be so all worked up over the rantings of such an inconsequential person.
I'm concerned, because I remember Alex Jones defending Timothy McVeigh. I'm concerned, because I can remember those lunatics firing shots at the whitehouse, in the Clinton days. I'm concerned, because a lot of people who might otherwise have the best of intentions are being suckered into a cynical cult of personality and profit, simply because they feel powerless and confused.
Again- the republican party is still intent on destroying itself. The right-wing echo chamber has become so deafening, that fewer and fewer are listening.
But Alex's army of cyncism is growing.
What is to be done?