Quick Thoughts on J. Eric Fuller's Violent Threats Against an AZ Tea Party Leader

Sadly, this is exactly what Sarah Palin predicted would happen in reaction to efforts to link the Tea Party or Republican officials for the actions of the AZ shooter. I'm hoping this become a vivid example of why leftism is such a dangerous ideology. The best book on the topic is Thomas Sowell's "Conflict of Visions." Mr. Fuller's behavior is a reminder that the greatest political violence in the last century came from the left - Lenin, Stalin, Mao and Pol Pot.

John C. Drew, Ph.D. is an award-winning political scientist.

Slouching Toward Tucson: New Details Emerge on Political Views of AZ Shooter

As a political scientist, I never felt comfortable with the suggestion that the AZ shooter, Jared Lee Loughner, was influenced by rightwing rhetoric. The tip off, for me, is that he shot multiple victims and cited, as one of his favorite books, The Communist Manifesto. I don't see how anyone influenced by free market, constitutional principles would ever admire the work of Karl Marx.

Now, however, we have new evidence of the thinking of Mr. Loughner through posts he made - under the name erad3 - at a UFO/conspiracy website called Above Top Secret (ATS).

There is a treasure trove of information at this site and I have no doubt that publication of this material will have a profound influence on how Loughner's behavior is interpreted by the MSM and Blogosphere.

One of the most touching moments, ironically, is when a fellow member of ATS correctly identifies Loughner's paranoid schizophrenia and urges him to get help:

I have maybe made a mistake is my assessment of your avatar, because for that to be the case, you'd have to be at least somewhat rational, but I think youre frankly schizophrenic, and no that's not an amateur opinion and not intended as an uninformed or insulting remark, you clearly make no sense and are unable to communicate. I really do care. Seek help before you hurt yourself or others or start taking your medications again, please. Maybe, it'd be better for some there be an infinite source of haldol or cogentin then fiat currency.

As far as I can tell, the other members at the ATS site are pretty quick at catching up with Loughner's games and adept at mirroring back to him his nonsensical syllogisms. Loughner's philosophy is apparent in comments where he writes: "Wouldn't be hilarious to make fun of your boss?" He also writes briefly in a manner that hints at the alienation caused by the capitalist system:

The majority of our world is dedicated to a workplace.
The workplace could have a effect on the belief system.
This not possible for the majority of the world to preach that fact.

Loughner also launches some standard material that looks typical for an anti-Bush, anti-war, the U.S. is committing war crimes under the Geneva Convention perspective. Loughner writes:

Look into what a war crime is from the Geneva Convention.
This could shed some light on the current situations of the world.
Could this be effecting the experience and circumstances of life?

In another post, Lougher writes:

There was help with cleaning the uranium from the Iran and Iraq war in the 1980's?
Article 33 of the Geneva Convention is the prohibit of pillage.
All military invasions with armed forces into a foreign country are war crimes in the Geneva Convention articles of 1949.
The Iraq and Afghanistan war of 2010 is a military invasion with armed forces into a foreign country.
Therefore, Iraq and Afghanistan war of 2010 is a war crime from the Geneva Convention articles of 1949.
Ouch! For the thoughts of war.

Loughner also expresses disbelief and hostility to the Christian faith in a manner that more closely matches the views of the left than the views of either Glenn Beck or Gov. Sarah Palin. Here's a sample of one of Loughner's rants:

philosophy is non-fiction writing then there's a author for the literature
There's no author for the literature.
Therefore, Christianity philosophy is not non-fiction writing.
Crap on anyone who is believing Christianity without evidence of a writer!

He also displays a cynicism toward the market system and basic materialistic ends. It is another surprise to read Loughner's comments when they seem more aligned with those of the left than the right as follows:

If the children and teenagers that attend schools are able to buy products at their breaks then they're able to purchase the items out of school.
The children and teenagers that attend schools are able to buy products at their breaks.
Therefore, they're able to purchase the items out of school.
The majority of the population will buy main brands.
If you don't buy from a main brand then be considered a cheap low class citizen.

Unfortunately, I think Loughner's actions make more sense - from his perspective - if you see Rep. Giffords as part of an evil government plot, tied to her Space Shuttle Commander husband, to rip off people who don't understand that space travel is a myth created by the government.

The best article I've seen, based on this new information, comes from Jim Lindgren at The Volokh Conspiracy website. Lindgren focuses on illustrating Loughner's anti-war views.

As I understand it, from Wikipedia, Lindgren is a professor of law at Northwestern University. He graduated from Yale College (1974, cum laude) and the University of Chicago Law School (1977), where he was an editor of the University of Chicago Law Review. He received his Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Chicago in 2009. He's done a great job of sorting through Loughner's posts. I have no doubt that this new information will gain substantial media coverage over the coming days.

John C. Drew, Ph.D. is an award-winning political scientist.

Quick Thoughts on Keith Olbermann and the Ideology of AZ Shooter

I was at a meeting of Republican activists this morning when I saw the news regarding the mass shooting in AZ. It is sad that liberals like Keith Olbermann so quickly sought to use this violent event as a tool to silence independent and conservative voices.

For the record, I just checked out Jared Lee Loughner's YouTube site.

It's a mixed bag of foolishness. He favorited a YouTube video that features a flag burning. One of his videos concludes with the phrase, "I'm able to control every belief and religion by being the mind controller!" He says one of his favorite books is The Communist Manifesto. As far as I can tell, he looks like a pot-smoking atheist addicted to nonsensical syllogisms. Folks should review Keith Olbermann's comments attacking Hillary Clinton in 2008 before they start blaming the innocent for the actions of a "mind controller."

In the meantime, our thoughts and prayers are with the victims in AZ tonight.

John C. Drew, Ph.D. is an award-winning political scientist.

Dr. Drew's Website Tips: Just Discovered Blue Sky Scrubs - Beautiful Scrubs for Medical Professionals

As a political scientist, I have been among the first to assert that dressing well was one of the undying secrets of charismatic leadership. I'm intrigued that this concept has now reached the field of scrubs. Accordingly, I'm intrigued by a new website called Blue Sky Scrubs which brings this principle into the active medical field.

Blue Sky Scrubs started in 2005 as a manufacturer of scrub caps. They added medical nursing scrubs, medical scrubs, and hospital uniforms to their line in December 2005.

As you might imagine, their luxury scrub hats quickly became a "must-have" item for doctors, nurses, surgeons, dentists, veterinarians. In the process, they have also become something of a role-model for companies that sell clothing over the internet. Their nursing scrubs and designer surgical scrub hats are only available online at blueskyscrubs.com. They also offer scrub sets.

In the future, the company hopes to retail stores in the UK, Canada and the USA. As I like to say, you only get one chance to make a good first impression. I cannot imagine fewer places where that matters more than in the field of health care. At any rate, thank you to our friends at blueskyscrubs.com for supporting our blog.

John C. Drew, Ph.D. is an award-winning political scientist.

Be Seeing You at the Polls: A New Get Out the Vote Video - Inspired by The Prisoner

I've done another get out the vote video...this one using old footage from the famous cult classic television show, The Prisoner. For better or worse, I think Number Six's outspoken honesty, courage, and eventual success gave me a lot of hope as a child as a teenager and later as a young man.



One of the things that always thrilled me about the show's final episode is that Number Six is finally recognized as a role model and manages to pull off a tidy escape with his other "doubter" friends. I'm indebted to Patrick McGoohan, in part, for my outspokenness, my coolness, my villainous enunciation, and my fun with music.

John C. Drew, Ph.D. is an award-winning political scientist.