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Sean Hannity hosted not one but two whole segments last night devoted promoting the new book by Jerome Corsi -- godfather of the Swift-Boating of John Kerry -- titled America For Sale, which is basically an extended black-helicopter-style conspiracy tome straight out of the Patriot movement of the 1990s, updated for the new century.

This is a classic case of conservatives mainstreaming extremist ideas. I haven't read all of Corsi's book yet, but it differs very little in ideas and content and overall thesis from the kinds of books you could buy at militia-meeting tables in the '90s.

I haven't yet found whether Corsi decided to include his recent reportage for WorldNetDaily detailing the nefarious Obama conspiracy to round up conservatives and imprison them in concentration camps. Hannity managed to not bring up that point last night.

But yes, that's what Corsi wrote:

Text:

The proposed bill, which has received little mainstream media attention, appears designed to create the type of detention center that those concerned about use of the military in domestic affairs fear could be used as concentration camps for political dissidents, such as occurred in Nazi Germany.

Funny, I still have a Militia of Montana book that outlines this very same nefarious plot being concocted by Bill Clinton.

As Steven Thomma explained for McClatchy:

In truth, Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Fla., has proposed a bill that would order the Homeland Security Department to prepare national emergency centers — to provide temporary housing and medical facilities in national emergencies such as hurricanes. The bill also would allow the centers to be used to train first responders, and for "other appropriate needs, as determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security."

Of course, Corsi and Hannity aren't the only ostensibly mainstream conservatives peddling this paranoiac fearmongering: So is Michelle Bachmann, among others:

"There is a very strong chance that we will see that young people will be put into mandatory service," Bachmann told a Minnesota radio station.

"And the real concern is that there are provisions for what I would call re-education camps for young people, where young people have to go and get trained in a philosophy that the government puts forward and then they have to go to work in some of these politically correct forums."

It's also cropping up quite a bit at Tea Party gatherings. That's where you find outfits like the "Oath Keepers," whose organization is built around resisting citizen roundups.

Why, exactly, does Sean Hannity so avidly promote Jerome Corsi and his conspiracy theories anyway? Look at his record:

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From The Cafferty File:

Tens of thousands of protesters marched on Washington Saturday — in the largest demonstration against Pres. Obama since he took office. The march leading to the Capitol was loud and animated and stretched on for blocks.

It seemed like the culmination of what started out as Tea Parties in the spring against the president’s economic stimulus package — and turned into health care protests over the summer.

These protesters have managed to give a voice to an opposition — something that Republicans have been trying mostly unsuccessfully to do.

The crowd was protesting a whole range of things — there were opponents of Mr. Obama’s tax, spending and health care plans, as well as those who are concerned about the government’s possible encroachment on their right to bear arms.

There were accusations of socialism and shouts of “liar.” Protests like this also attract the lunatic fringe — who questioned the president’s citizenship, compared his administration to Nazi Germany and even those who likened the president himself to an African witch doctor.

The White House says the protesters are “wrong” about health care and that the president does not think the protests and the growing conservative movement against him are motivated by racism.

Whatever the cause it’s worth noting that tens of thousands of people gave up their Saturday to march on Washington, D.C. against a man who has only been in office eight months.

Here’s my question to you: What message do tens of thousands of protesters marching on Washington send to Pres. Obama?

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(Sinking of the SS Athenia - just couldn't wait for the shooting to start)

With Britain's declaration of war less than 24 hours old, Germany already set the stage for upcoming events with the sinking of a British passenger ship, the SS Athenia.

BBC Newsreader: “It is not yet known how many lives were lost when the British liner Athenia was torpedoed today without warning in the Atlantic. The Athenia was bound for Montreal from Glasgow with one thousand four hundred passengers. All, except those killed by the explosion, took to the boats and were picked up by various ships. Four hundred and thirty survivors are reported to be on their way to Galway in the Norwegian steamer Knute Nielsen. They are due to arrive tomorrow. It is officially stated in London that this attack, without warning, was in deliberate disregard of the declaration made voluntarily by Germany when she signed the London Navel Treaty in 1930. Germany then renounced, of her own free will, the right to make use of unrestricted submarine warfare in any future campaign. The rules which Germany then undertook to observe, were clearly laid down that no merchant ship may be sunk without warning, or until the safety of all passengers and crew have been assured. Ships boats are not to be considered in a place of safety, unless they are within half an hours rowing to land under favorable conditions. The Athenia was torpedoed two hundred miles from land.”

Things were abundantly clear this was not going to be a conventional war. Not by a long shot.

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(Neville Chamberlain - Peace In Our Time an ironic, faded echo)

(Apologies for not posting this yesterday. Living in Southern California during the Heat and Fire season makes for optional breathing and migraines - both which came in ample supply yesterday)

With Berlin's rejection of Britain's "White Paper", calling for an end to Germany's invasion of Poland and a restoration of Versailles Treaty provisions at the end of World War 1, it was clear Prime Minister Chamberlain had no alternative other than to declare War on Germany - setting the stage for a conflict few thought would be avoided, yet none wanted to face. It was a crushing defeat for the Chamberlain Government and raised an alarming thought that Britain may not be able to survive.

Prime Minister Chamberlain: “This morning, the British Ambassador in Berlin handed the German government a final note stating that, unless we heard from them by eleven o’clock, that they were prepared at once to withdraw their troops from Poland, a state of war would exist between us. I have to tell you now that no such undertaking has been received. And that consequently, this country is at War with Germany.”

This clip starts with Berlin Radio reacting to the Chamberlain note, followed by Chamberlain declaring War and then ending with a recap from Berlin Radio.

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(September 2nd - The Poles weren't going to take it lying down)

The invasion of Poland was already a day old. Despite continued efforts to bring the conflict to a close, it was already too late. Great Britain handed Germany the infamous "white paper" and time was about to run out for an answer.

The radio was going into overtime reporting the conflict. BBC ran regular news, while Radio Berlin continued to deny they were acting in anything other than defense.

The series of recordings in this entry begin with the BBC and then followed by French Radio and Radio Warsaw. The French and Polish broadcasts are dim and hard to hear, but have been included because of their historic interest. The last segment is Radio Berlin.

Radio Warsaw Newsreader: “The general atmosphere is that of calm resolve to go through this experience (-----) no matter how long it will take. The general opinion of those everywhere is that odds are against Germany in this war.”

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(And so it all starts)

In the dawn hours of September 1, 1939, the German army and air force launched a full-scale invasion of Poland. Radio Warsaw was quick to tell the world what was happening. And Radio Berlin was quick to deny it and claim it was all Poland's fault.

Radio Warsaw newsreader: “On the first of September 1939 at dawn the Germans crossed into our territory. German air force and regular army unexpectedly invaded Polish territory without a declaration of hostilities. In the early morning the German air crews attacked a number of towns all over Poland . . . .casualties have been reported among the civilian population.”

Berlin Radio newsreader: “These reports assert that German air planes have dropped gas and incendiary bombs in the vicinity of Poznan. For the sake of history however, the fact must be nailed down that the numerous border incidents in Silesia and East Prussia, and especially the Polish bombardment of Voyten created a situation which made it incompatible with the . . . power to let that series of military transgressions go by unpunished. Germany’s action is an act of defense.”

Soon after the BBC went on the air, reporting at length what was going on.

The war, nonetheless, had started.

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(Berlin - chafing at the bit for the catastrophe to start)

The last diplomatic gestures exhausted, and Germany issuing a sixteen point list of demands for Poland, the evacuation from major cities of children and invalids began, with an estimated 3 million slated to evacuate London alone.

BBC Newsreader: “The German wireless tonight issued a sixteen point program, which it described as Germany’s reply to the latest British note. At what stage this sixteen point plan was advanced is not at present clear, because as of a short time ago it was known that the German government had sent to London no official reply to the note which was received in Berlin last night. Nor had Poland sent any reply to a British note informing her of the previous communication from Herr Hitler. Germany demanded One: that the free city of Danzig, on account of its purely German character and the unanimous will of its population, should return to the Reich unconditionally and forthwith. Two: that the corridor shall decide itself whether it shall belong to Germany or to Poland, and for this purpose a plebiscite shall be held. Three: That all Germans and Poles who have been resident in the corridor since the first of January 1918, or have been born there shall be entitled to vote in the plebiscite, and that all Germans who have been expelled from the corridor, or were forced to leave, shall return there in order to cast their votes.”

A list of impossible demands, making it clear that Germany was determined to go to war and invade Poland as quickly as possible. August 31st would be the last good day in Europe for a while.