Warning To American Governors - Resign Or Be Removed

[Sionnach Glic]

WASHINGTON -- The FBI is warning police across the country that an anti-government group's call to remove governors from office could provoke violence. The group called the Guardians of the free Republics wants to "restore America" by peacefully dismantling parts of the government, according to its Web site. It sent letters to governors demanding they leave office or be removed.

Investigators do not see threats of violence in the group's message, but fear the broad call for removal of top state officials could lead others to act out violently. At least two states beefed up security in response.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty said he received one of the letters but wasn't overly alarmed.

"We get all kinds of, shall we say, 'interesting' mail, so it's not out of the norm," Pawlenty said Friday. "It got more attention because it went to so many governors."

As of Wednesday, more than 30 governors had received letters saying if they don't leave office within three days they will be removed, according to an internal intelligence note by the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security. The note was obtained by The Associated Press.

The FBI expects all 50 governors will eventually receive such letters.

Governors whose offices reported getting the letters included Jennifer Granholm of Michigan, Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, Chet Culver of Iowa, Dave Heineman of Nebraska, Jim Gibbons of Nevada, Brad Henry of Oklahoma, Mike Rounds of South Dakota, Bob McDonnell of Virginia, and Gary Herbert of Utah, where officials stepped up security in response to the letter.

In Nevada, screening machines for visitors and packages were added to the main entrance to the state Capitol as a precaution.

"We're not really overly concerned, but at the same time we don't want to sit back and do nothing and regret it," Deputy Chief of Staff Lynn Hettrick said.

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Granholm spokeswoman Liz Boyd said federal authorities had alerted the governor that such a letter might be coming, and it arrived Monday. Boyd, who described the letter as "non-threatening," said it was opened by a staffer and immediately turned over to the Michigan State Police.

Jindal's office confirmed that the governor had received one of the letters and directed questions to the Louisiana State Police.

"They called us as they do for any letter that's out of the norm," said Lt. Doug Cain, a state police spokesman. He declined to provide specifics about the letter, but said, "not knowing the group and the information contained in the letter warranted state police to review it."

The FBI warning comes at a time of heightened attention to far-right extremist groups after the arrest of nine Christian militia members last weekend accused of plotting violence.

In explaining the letters sent to the governors, the intelligence note says officials have no specific knowledge of plans to use violence, but they caution police to be aware in case other individuals interpret the letters "as a justification for violence or other criminal actions."

The FBI associated the letter with "sovereign citizens," most of whom believe they are free from all duties of a U.S. citizen, like paying taxes or needing a government license to drive. A small number of these people are armed and resort to violence, according to the intelligence report.

Last weekend, the FBI conducted raids on suspected members of a Christian militia in the Midwest that was allegedly planning to kill police officers. In the past year, federal agents have seen an increase in "chatter" from an array of domestic extremist groups, which can include radical self-styled militias, white separatists or extreme civil libertarians and sovereign citizens.

The extremists certainly seem to be all coming out of the woodwork lately.

[Graham Kennedy]

To an outsider, it seems that the right are becoming more and more extreme. From the teabaggers, who seem to have the message "No taxation even with representation" through to people showing up at Obama events with guns to this... it just seems to go on and on. The right seems to think that their policies are inherently American and anything else is not only politically wrong but outright treason.

I honestly wonder if this is going to come to a head somehow. Nothing as grand as a civil war, but... militia types blowing up more government buildings, assassination attempts, that kind of thing?

[Sionnach Glic]

To be perfectly honest, I think it's just a matter of time before some loon with their head filled full of far-right propaganda tries to gun down a high ranking government official or blow up a government building somewhere. It looks like there's just too much anger building up to dissipate calmly.

For our American members, exactly what is it about Obama that's causing all of this far-right lunacy? I certainly don't remember it under either the Bush or Clinton presidencies, so what is it? Or has it always been this way and we're only just starting to hear of it in the media?

[Monroe]

He's a secret muslim with an angry evil Christian minister pushing his communist / nazi /maoist agenda on the good old fashion Americans. He's doing this so his baby killing and death camps can be established by FEMA using the Census.

[Monroe]

He's a secret muslim with an angry evil Christian minister pushing his communist / nazi /maoist agenda on the good old fashion Americans. He's doing this so his baby killing and death camps can be established by FEMA using the Census.

Oh and he's black.

[Nickswitz]

He's a secret muslim with an angry evil Christian minister pushing his communist / nazi /maoist agenda on the good old fashion Americans. He's doing this so his baby killing and death camps can be established by FEMA using the Census.

Oh and he's black.

Yeah, I think that since the last one is the only nearly correct one I assume that it's due to that.

[Sionnach Glic]

Well, from what I've heard Obama is according to some groups too black, and according to others not black enough.

He's a secret muslim with an angry evil Christian minister pushing his communist / nazi /maoist agenda on the good old fashion Americans. He's doing this so his baby killing and death camps can be established by FEMA using the Census.

But what's the origin of all this? Why do people believe it to be so?

[Lighthawk]

Well, from what I've heard Obama is according to some groups too black, and according to others not black enough.

He's a secret muslim with an angry evil Christian minister pushing his communist / nazi /maoist agenda on the good old fashion Americans. He's doing this so his baby killing and death camps can be established by FEMA using the Census.

But what's the origin of all this? Why do people believe it to be so?

Oh and he's black.

[Captain Seafort]

So are Colin Powell and whatsherface - I didn't hear incoherent shrieking while either of them were Sec State.

[Lighthawk]

So are Colin Powell and whatsherface - I didn't hear incoherent shrieking while either of them were Sec State.

You're expecting irrational idiots to be consistent?

I suppose it's a matter of scale. President > Sec State. As long as a white man is in the big chair, things will be okay. Once the blacks got to the top of the ladder though, then it was all over.

[Nickswitz]

So are Colin Powell and whatsherface - I didn't hear incoherent shrieking while either of them were Sec State.

It's because they don't "run" the country. Obama is the face of the country and people don't like that he's black.

[Captain Seafort]

You're expecting irrational idiots to be consistent?

I'm expecting racists to be consistently racist - on that point at least they generally be relied upon.

I suppose it's a matter of scale. President > Sec State. As long as a white man is in the big chair, things will be okay. Once the blacks got to the top of the ladder though, then it was all over.

Still, while this may be due to what does and doesn't make its way across the pond, I would have expect at least some griping.

[Lighthawk]

I'm expecting racists to be consistently racist - on that point at least they generally be relied upon.

Being consistently racist doesn't mean being consistently vocal about it. It might just be this was a big enough issue, from a racist view point, to be worth getting up and yelling about for a greater number of people.

Still, while this may be due to what does and doesn't make its way across the pond, I would have expect at least some griping.

I'm sure there was, and it may just be a matter of how far said griping did or did not go. I don't get too heavy into politics though, mainly just listen to the big stuff, so I really don't know.

[Deepcrush]

I think I speak for most racists when I say "I thought he was half white?"

But really, its not the racists who are the problem.

[Aaron]

So are Colin Powell and whatsherface - I didn't hear incoherent shrieking while either of them were Sec State.

Colin Powell was a soldier (a very decorated one at that), so he's automatically a hero.

For our American members, exactly what is it about Obama that's causing all of this far-right lunacy? I certainly don't remember it under either the Bush or Clinton presidencies, so what is it? Or has it always been this way and we're only just starting to hear of it in the media?

Oh it was there (I assume you mean Bush I), the Internet has just made this shit far more prevalent (you don't have to organize via easily intercepted methods such as mail and phone), as well as making it easier to report on.