Here at Homeland Stupidity, no government cow is sacred. Waste, fraud, abuse, plain incompetence, and bad policy are all fair game. As a result, government officials in the higher pay grades tend to be displeased with what they read here. As a general rule, the higher the pay grade, the more displeased.
Therefore, I was not at all surprised to hear that high-ranking officials in the U.S. Marshals Service were upset with Sunday’s published story regarding their Office of Protective Intelligence. I was, however, surprised to spot two surveillance teams while going about my business Tuesday night.
Before I get into that, though, I want to make a clarification regarding the Department of Justice inspector general’s report (PDF) on the OPI which was published last Wednesday. The report does state that “USMS’s efforts to improve its capabilities to assess reported threats and identify potential threats languished” between 2004 and early 2007, with a significant backlog of reported threats to be assessed in 2006. In fairness to the rank and file, the report also states that they cleared the backlogs and that OPI is revising its threat assessment process to be faster and more efficient. Those changes are set to take place this month.
However, the report also notes that there is no formal process in place “to develop protective intelligence that identifies potential threats against the judiciary. . . . USMS was slow to staff the protective intelligence function and has not developed a strategy to effectively collect, analyze, and share information.” This means that USMS’s ability to identify previously unknown threats is limited. Since, as the report acknowledges, less than 10 percent of individuals who “attacked or approached to attack a prominent public figure” communicated a threat beforehand, developing this capability is critical to providing effective protection.
As you’ll recall, an OPI inspector is here in New Hampshire attempting to assess Manchester resident Rob Jacobs. That is, of course, after he assessed several completely unrelated people who just happen to be Free State Project members. Jacobs and the inspector have yet to meet in person, as they have been unable to agree on a meeting place. After marshals failed to meet with him on Saturday, Jacobs attempted to set up a second meeting for Tuesday evening, which the inspector declined to attend. He apparently objected to the venue, Murphy’s Taproom, a local restaurant where Free State Project members regularly meet.
Tuesday evening at Murphy’s Taproom, instead of the inspector, several of us spoke to a local reporter, who wrote a more neutral story than this one.
Jacobs said he supports the Browns’ cause and has visited their home many times in the past year. He said he has never seen Ed Brown’s supposed hit list and said he does not know anyone who might be planning to harm government officials. . . .
Keith Murphy, owner of Murphy’s Tap Room and a member of the Free State Project, said many Free Staters who already have come to New Hampshire supported the Browns’ crusade against the federal income tax. They were turned off, however, as Ed Brown’s rhetoric became increasingly violent and after he told reporters all of the world’s problems are the fault of Freemasons and Jews.
“We are ‘small L’ Libertarians,” Murphy said of the Free Staters. “We believe violence is inherently wrong. It’s not in our nature.” — Manchester Union Leader
We certainly need to do away with the whole sorry system of income taxation. Just throw Title 26 out. (And a few billion useless pork-barrel government programs along with it.) But doing violence to government officials won’t get rid of the income tax, and it will result in crackdowns the likes of which we haven’t seen in this country in recent memory, or perhaps ever.
Interestingly, those same high-ranking government officials are upset at the level of publicity this story has been getting in general, and especially with the publication of videos documenting the experiences of the people here who feel they were harassed and threatened by the marshals and “Treasury agents.” It’s been my experience that, for the most part, it’s the bad apples in government who object to having their actions publicized.
And perhaps the surveillance teams at Murphy’s got wind of some of this. Among the people they got to see while the Republican debate played on the TV screens were a state representative, an off-duty police officer planning a run for state representative next year, two local candidates for alderman in two different wards in the city, several individuals starting a newspaper, local Republican and Democratic party officials, and a couple dozen quite ordinary people who are sick and tired of big government spending their children into debt and invading their private lives at every turn.
Ideas, they say, are bulletproof. And the idea of freedom, to be left alone when you’ve harmed nobody and to have no more government than is necessary to protect your right to be left alone when you’ve harmed nobody, has persisted throughout human history. The income tax flies in the face of everything we understand about what it means to be free. It is indeed a form of slavery, involuntary servitude of the worst kind: the fruits of your labor are not only taken by force, they are taken by a group of strangers you have no effective way to reason or plead with. It will eventually be swept into the dustbin of history along with many other methods of tyranny which have preceded it.
But the battle is for the hearts and minds of those enslaved by it, many of whom don’t even know they are enslaved, and whom along with us would be freed. It is a battle of ideas. Bullets have no place here. It is the state which uses bullets and other means of violence to enforce its tyranny over the people. This is why freedom will ultimately prevail: the state’s bad ideas and their bad actions cannot stand in the harsh light of day.
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Jeff Hoyt
Oct 10, 2007
…and that, my friends, is why I come to this site on a regular basis.
Bravo, Michael!
This is the kind of thing that makes New Hampshire sound better every day.
Bill St. Clair
Oct 10, 2007
And when they come to load you into a cattle car and transport you to the ovens, I’m sure your words will stop them.
Not!
There are proper times for defensive violence, when nothing else will do. If they come to kidnap me or try to enslave my kid (conscription), that’ll be my time.
Ogre
Oct 10, 2007
Not much I can add to that, my friend! Well said. Indeed, freedom IS desired by man at his most basic level. Some just yearn for it more than others.
Bob
Oct 10, 2007
Freedom is a natural state.
Freedom exists in nature only because every creature out there is ready to bare it’s fangs and rip you a new hole if you hassle it. Some will rip holes because it’s what they have to do to eat. Peace is what you have when your belly is full and you have a nice spot downwind of your enemies to take a rest. That’s when you chew your cud, lick your fur and take a nap. Violence, freedom and peace go hand in hand and you can’t have one without the others. We’ve been chewing our cuds and napping for 50 years and now we’re surrounded by wolves. If violence isn’t an option, we’re going to get eaten alive, BUT there is no point in rushing the confrontation.
Keep writing Mr. Hampton and thanks for making this forum available to everyone. We’ve got to get the ideas out there. I had a chuckle when you mentioned the battle for hearts and minds. I don’t remember which general said it but the quote was, “when you got ‘em by the balls, their hearts and minds will follow”. No offense to your female readers.
Perplexed
Oct 10, 2007
The people of this country have awoken to a gaint totalitarian fascist regime bent on jailing anyone courageous enough to stand and say enough is enough.
It is a amazing that a Presidential Candidate with the courage and audacity to tell the truth like Ron Paul will be smeared and destroyed by this fascist government that will continue to tax our futures and children’s legacies to the point of complete submission.
The 2000 Presidential election was decided by Supreme Court Judges. The two party system is completely debunked as fraud. 2008 is our last best hope to peacefully overthrow Bush, Clinton, Bush and what another Clinton regime? Wake up the next door knock may be yours.
Bob
Oct 10, 2007
I can’t come to a decision on Ron Paul. I don’t know if he has the grit it will take to really change things. To do what he says he wants to do will cause some real ugliness and I can’t tell if he is the man for the job. They knew that Ross Perot was a better bet and they got rid of him in a hurry. The one who fixes this mess will be hated by every man, woman and child in the country by the time his or her job is done. So many unknowns and we’re running out of time. United we stand but we’re all sitting at computers, blaming the Jews and blacks and Democrats and socialists and facists and rednecks. Did I forget anybody? Oh yeah, the Moslems. I pick on them alot.
mdh
Oct 10, 2007
I can only assume that the people who preach violence against government agents are feds themselves trying to get ordinary folks to make such claims so that those folks might then be collared.
1> Anyone in this community sees a bunch of idiots talking about violence against agents of the government.
1.a> Those people are never arrested
1.b> Those people never actually act on their statements
2> Those people almost always try to get you to say incriminating things.
Tarl
Oct 10, 2007
@ Bob
You used an explanation very similar to what I have told many people so far. I listen to them go on and on and on about being in a free country, about how our armies have always ‘fought for our freedom,’ that we can just take it to court, that we should reason with them.
And then I wonder. When will these people reason with themselves. Face the truth full on, no fear, no reservation.
It does the lamb no good to sue for peace, when the wolves are of a different mind.
A thought for MDH.
I am 22 years old. I have 2 children, and 1 more on the way. I do not fear for my future. Indeed, I believe I already know what it will be. I fear only for what future, if any, my children will have, if I do nothing.
There is one idea that the US Marines have gotten correct: “The best defense is a good offense.” They treat combat with a simple rule, and bend their tactics around it.
PUSH THROUGH!
In battle, when you are cornered, your only reasonable option is to attack. If you sit, afraid and alone, in your corner, you only invite your enemies to tear you apart at their leisure, as THEY will.
This is indeed a battle. Some say it is a battle of ideas. But I do not see my enemies slinging ideas at me; I see only steel and fire; cages and chains.
Ideas are important, do not underestimate the power of the idea of freedom. But you must have the WILL to secure that freedom. This is a startlingly simple concept. For some, frighteningly simple.
If I need to assure you; yes MDH, I HAVE acted on my statements, and WILL continue to do so. There is no need for threats, for I am not sure I need to make others fear me. I hold my honor close. But for my freedom; the freedom of my family.. I secure it with a PROMISE. That is the capacity for incredible, instantaneous violence should we be threatened.
I cannot protect that which I love most with half-hearted efforts. I made that mistake once. I WILL not make it again.
Bob
Oct 11, 2007
Tarl. Hey, there still are some Americans out there. Keep your head down and try to wait it out. You’ll only have one good punch before they’re on you like a pack of dogs. Don’t waste it on something stupid like a parking ticket. Take care of your family and try not to make them share your misery when the world squeezes your cahones.
There was a scene in Dr Zhivago when they are in a railcar. With them is a beaten up man in chains and chained to a bunk. He basically gives everybody a tongue lashing for being a bunch of sheep. He shakes his chains at them and says “I’m the only free man in here!” Not many people really understand that line.
There have been some good discussions on this blog, check them out if you have the time. My favorites were the “Coming Economic Collapse” and the “Arizona Driver’s licence” titles.
Good luck.
William Patriot
Oct 11, 2007
For a peaceful solution, Assure your county Sheriff knows his duty of his oath of office.
They are the only lawfull elected protector of the population of the county.
All this person must do is to deputize all reliable persons in his county,thus he has his own standing army of officials to enforce the Bill Of Rights. Who have the authority to arrest any and all government agencies who enter his county and try to arrest anyone.
Only the Sheriff has any authority in his county, He is the highest authority !
If every Sheriff in every county in USA would do this one thing, the government influence would collapse within hours.
All government law enforcement,State, & city would crumble, and we would once again have freedom & prosperity.
We only need brave people in the Sheriff Dept. to safeguard our freedom, and eliminate the ticket extortionests along with their crooked judges who are experts at extracting money from your pocket to theirs.
Check out Aid & Abet, the sheriff and military newsletter by Sheriff Richard Mack, who is trying to educate all Sheriff Dept. of their sworn duties and just how powerful their office is, the only elected official to protect and preserve the Constitution & Bill Of Rights.
Anonymous
Oct 11, 2007
you publish an article about them wasting time doing things outside the scope of their duties, and they decide to make it worse by following you around. BRILLIANT!
Rumpus
Oct 12, 2007
For William Patroit
It’s tough to find a Sheriff that hasn’t accepted Federal Grant Monies for their Depts. This creates a “Debt” to the Feds, where they can then dictate policies to the Sheriff’s Office. If one looks further, they’ll see more & more “incentives” demanded of the Dept. to qualify for the Grants. These Grants are nothing more than “Bait” to set the “Hook” into local Law Enforcement (MY Opinion).
Keep it up...
Oct 13, 2007
Please keep all of us posted. This sight gets more popular everyday. People need to know the truth to protect themselves. Thanks Micheal. This true exposure is better than the X-files because, it is more realistic and it’s true. You could do a tv series or movie on this with enough support but, will the pigs let you?? The world may never know..
Rubygroovy1
Oct 13, 2007
I love this.
Bozer
Oct 17, 2007
Well done, sir.
The only thing we need to aim and shoot with is our cameras and our pens. Keep up the good work.
Bozer
Oct 17, 2007
Well done, sir.
The only thing we need to aim and shoot with is our cameras and our pens. But I agree with Bill St. Clair – when they show up at your door during the next Night of Broken Glass, meet them at the door with anything you can lay hands to. Keep up the good work.
Jason
Oct 17, 2007
The Chinese said it best…
“When there are alternatives to violence, and you choose violence, violence it wrong.
But when there are no alternative to violence, and you choose violence, violence is sruvival.”
J
NH
Oct 17, 2007
Bob you must be kidding? Ross Perot was a clown.
Bob
Oct 17, 2007
Oh yeah, Ross was different. Ross Perot was crazier than an outhouse rat and probably would have made some changes with a “damn the torpedoes attitude”. That’s what we needed. There probably wouldn’t have been any stained dresses during that term either.
Michael B
Oct 18, 2007
Nice, Nice to see so many well informed and awake people on one web site. Are many of you in here the one’s I see on Skype and Pal Talk, putting up with the sheep…that are so terrified of the facts, they are in MDM, (major denial mode.)
I sure hope Ron Paul makes-it. He may not be the perfect person for President…however he’s the most rational one of the Dems and Rep. In-addition his voting record shows he’s one with the awake voters!
Fleeb
Nov 02, 2007
Michael, I wonder if you recall the Battle of Athens?
This provides at least one good example where it became necessary to take arms to protect the vote. I think one should try to expose wrongdoing, and create an atmosphere where people are encouraged not to work against the people, but some people need a harsher form of encouragement.
This said, the battle was not bloody… it just involved weapons.
Michaels!
Dec 03, 2007
hahahhaahhahahahaha
No income tax…. how do you expect to protect our nation if there’s no income tax? What about homeland security? What about border security? Hell, what about the FDA or EPA? Do you NOT like knowing what you’re ingesting is (most of the time) safe?
You people must be nuts. Do you realize that taking away most of the funding for the entire government would cause it to essentially collapse, and most major functions would cease almost immediately? The fallout will be HUGE. It’ll eventually reach you, no matter WHERE you live. Don’t you realize that no matter how secure, far away, and hidden your Bug Out/Bug In Location is, and no matter how many rifles and mags and how much ammo, food, and water, and fuel you store, you will not be able to stem the tide of either A) really pissed off, cold, and hungry people, or B) roving bands of raiders, former army units, etc. Good luck defending your house and/or compound in that case.
You depend on services that the government provides for you. That tax money helps to pay for that. Are you going to provide your own power? How about protect you from radical Islam? How about protect any of our 16 critical infrastructures that you depend on? How about provide your own food? Our transportation infrastructure is falling apart, so I guess you guys are just going to grow your own food and make your own stuff when the goods can’t travel across the country to get to your doorstep. Is that it? Sure, we could do without the ATF, but most governmental agencies are somewhat useful, believe it or not. Even if the transportation infrastructure didn’t fall apart due to lack of funds, do you really want agencies like the FDA, EPA, DHS, NRC, etc to be gone?
Also, do you want to condemn millions of people who depend on government programs (such as workfare, welfare medicare, medicaid, programs for the homeless, poor, struggling, etc) to either sickness, starvation, or death? If your immediate reaction to what I just said is “RRAAAAARRGGHHH ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS RRAAAAAARGGGHHHHH” or “GET RID OF DEM DAMN PRUGRIMS, THOSE FOLKS SHULD JUST WORK HARDAH, HYUCK” then I hope you die in a fire.
I like government out of my life as much as the next guy; I love this country; I believe in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights (especially the first two). But what you people are proposing is not only NOT in the best interest of the United States and the vast majority of its people, but its also NOT in the best interest of YOURSELVES. How you people don’t see that is beyond me.
Oh well. Also, before you call me an ignorant retard or a stupid big government meanie, but I’ll have you know that I’m not what you may think – I am one of the Jewish Lizardmen from outer space (the planet Tssskyk) who secretly run the UN and is trying to create a world-wide government, the New World Order! Strap on your tin foil hats, or my mind-reading powers will suck out your brain cells (don’t worry, apparently enough damage has been done, considering your posts).
All Hail the Zionist Lizardmen Chinese African American Overlords!
Michaels!
Dec 03, 2007
I bet the above comment doesn’t get approved. I bet you a million dollars!
Hurry, the offer’s getting worse by the minute! The dropping dollar is making that million less and less!
- Michaels, the Jewish Lizardman from Zionist Tssskyk, Overseer of the Northwestern Americas, U.N. NWO Americas HQ, West Virginia, Maryland.
Michael Hampton
Dec 03, 2007
Actually, I was going to say, your impassioned defense of socialism was quite sickening. I’m having a hard time holding down my lunch. And you owe me a million dollars.
Michaels!
Dec 03, 2007
Would you like that in “pure strain” gold or perhaps in pre-65 coinage?
Michaels!
Dec 03, 2007
Would you like that in “pure strain” gold or perhaps in pre-65 coinage? I know how you guys don’t like doll- er, I mean “Federal Reserve Notes.”
Michaels!
Dec 03, 2007
Also, holy shit, there’s a lot of us Michaels here. I’ll have to ask my Lizardmen superiors if there’s a conspiracy about this.
Bob
Dec 03, 2007
What a strange person. Is there um, anyone else up there we could talk to?
Bob
Dec 03, 2007
Michael Hampton. Just read all of his comments out loud with a John Cleese French accent and it’s pretty funny. I will go away now before he taunts me a second time.
Michaels!
Dec 04, 2007
In all seriousness though you guys are fucking insane if you think your economics and tax policies would work out well.
Michaels!
Dec 04, 2007
So guys where should I stash my cache of spam and bottled water? What brand of dessicant should I put in, and should I use PVC pipe or #10 cans?
Also, what should I use to preserve my autographed and signed copies of Unintended Consequences and Patriots: Surviving the Coming Economic Collapse, because those are the two greatest books ever. Also, what’s the best way to get the jizz stains out of the pages, because that violent anti-government masturbatory fiction is just so riveting I couldn’t help myself! I’m sure you all had the same problem so I was wondering if you could help a fellow out!
Bob
Dec 04, 2007
If this whole mess does turn violent when the country runs out of free money, I hope that bugger goes down with the first shot. He’s a loudmouthed shnook.
Aerosoles
Feb 09, 2008
I just saw Prison Break, and I think if that is actually what feds are really doing. lol