December 15, 2009

Republican+culture+of+fear+and+death_64961.png

(With no place to go but implode)

I ran a C.W. Burpo broadcast the other night featuring one of his rants masquerading as a sermon. I also stumbled across an interview he conducted in 1969 with Congressman John H. Buchanan (R-Alabama), which is always a good reminder that there has never been a historic shortage of hysteria, fear, death, hate and mythical accusations coming from the unhinged sector of our society.

Even in 1969:

Burpo: “Isn’t it comforting to have Secretary Laird in the Defense Department office instead of Robert “Strange”, emphasis on Strange, McNamara? (laughter)

Buchanan: “Yes sir, I cannot tell you how much better I sleep at night since this is the case. I felt a little like . .. I may have said this before, but . .when they were discussing the war over in the Middle East, said that we ought to swap the Israelis four hundred F-111 aircraft for one one-eyed General (Moishe Dayan), and another got up and said ‘ yes, he’d agree to that and he’d also throw in Mister McNamara” (laughter)

Burpo: “That’s good . . “

What's interesting about this particular interview is how Burpo goads and manipulates a rather reluctant (at times) Buchanan into buying all his views, not that he probably didn't anyway. But judging by his record, John Buchanan hid out quite a bit, preferring not to make many waves. His 17 years in the House produced a scant few paragraphs on Wikipedia and not too much else. Burpo, on the other hand, had enough bluster for several people - but even that didn't prevent his almost total obscurity shortly after his death.

Such is the life expectancy of the shrill and devious.

[gordon-donate]

Can you help us out?

For nearly 20 years we have been exposing Washington lies and untangling media deceit, but now Facebook is drowning us in an ocean of right wing lies. Please give a one-time or recurring donation, or buy a year's subscription for an ad-free experience. Thank you.

Discussion

We welcome relevant, respectful comments. Any comments that are sexist or in any other way deemed hateful by our staff will be deleted and constitute grounds for a ban from posting on the site. Please refer to our Terms of Service for information on our posting policy.
Mastodon