The "Truthers" of the 1990s

The LA Times covers the collapse of the right-wing militia groups, who filled the anti-government role for the news media in the 1990s. Many of their leaders turn out to be "Truthers" today:

Norman "Dave" Somerville, tied to a militia in northern Michigan, armed himself at a small compound with machine guns and ammunition after the attacks. The former Special Forces veteran kept photos of President Bush and then-Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld with rifle-scope cross hairs on their faces.

In fall 2003, authorities arrested him on weapons charges. He is serving an 80-month sentence at a federal prison medical center in Kentucky and will be 55 by the time he gets out. His job is washing dishes. "Prison sucks," he lamented.

In an interview, he insisted his only crime was not registering his firearms, and he alleged that the government had used Sept. 11 to create public distrust of Americans who challenged authority. It is a common complaint among anti-government conspiracy theorists.

And see if this part strikes a chord:

Asked why the movement lost steam, she offered this: "I wonder if they just are mere wannabes. A lot of them are just young and trying to figure out life, you know."

Update: Along the same lines Troy discovers that a "screening" in Hackettstown NJ has been cancelled:



Hat Tip: Walter Ego for the video, NJSlim for the LA Times article, both at the JREF Forums.