From Palin to Armageddon

By Michael J.W. Stickings

TPM (with our Headline of the Day):

Man Charged With Stockpiling Weapons Was Tea Partier, Palin Fan

No... really? Who'd a thunk it?

The Massachusetts man charged this week with stockpiling weapons after saying he feared an imminent "Armageddon" appears to have been active in the Tea Party movement, and saw Sarah Palin, who he said is on a "righteous 'Mission from God,'" as the only figure capable of averting the destruction of society.

As we reported yesterday, Gregory Girard, a Manchester technology consultant, was found with a stash of military grade weapons, explosive devices including tear gas and pepper ball canisters, camouflage clothing, knives, handcuffs, bulletproof vests and helmets, and night vision goggles, say police. They believe Girard, who pleaded not guilty at his arraignment, was "preparing for domestic and political turmoil," and feared martial law would soon be imposed.

And that's Massachusetts, remember, the state that elected Scott Brown, a Republican. (They're not all a bunch of health-care-lovin' lefties, obviously.)

Should we really be surprised by any of this? That the insane right-wing fringe -- the Tea Party "movement" and more and more of Palin's Republican Party -- is so deeply mired in violence and delusion?

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And then there are some who think that Palin is actually too establishment for the teabaggers, and that the Tea Party "movement" is "becoming nothing more than a wholly owned subsidiary of the Republican Party."

Oh, what fun out there on the fringe!

(For more on the fracturing of the teabaggers, see my post from last week.)