Hero cops cleared in taser incident

The heroic cops who used a taser weapon on student Andrew Meyer, a noted attention-seeker and fervent believer in conspiracy theories, have been cleared of any wrongdoing. They used the weapon only after giving Meyer (a healthy young man) a clear warning, and only after he had violently resisted six policemen for a lengthy period of time.

In recent weeks, we have seen two major incidents in which fanatics, fueled by their belief in conspiracy theories, have caused major disruptions at events featuring famous liberals. Many progressives have foolishly supported the conspiracists. Convinced that they are right and that everyone else is wrong, the zealots believe that the ends justify the means.

Let me repeat: The conspiracists focused on liberals John Kerry and Bill Maher. I predict that further incidents will occur, and that the targets will always be liberals. I have been familiar with the "conspiracy buff" mentality for decades, and I know that those who dwell within that subculture never have and never will direct this sort of action against anyone on the right.

The most foolish voices within the progressive blogosphere have likened the reaction of the University of Florida police to the behavior of the Nazis. In fact, the comparison goes the other way. As the Nazis rose to power, they often disrupted liberal public speakers.

Both Andy Meyer and the 9/11 CD-ers who attacked Bill Maher are convinced that a "higher truth" gives them right to ignore the rules of civilized behavior. When zealots fired by conspiracy theories go on the rampage against liberals, we are seeing a replay of Munich, 1925.

(Incidentally, this is hardly the first time Nazi-like fanatics have fooled the naive by waving a "progressive" false flag. You probably don't know who Gottfried Feder and Gregor Strasser were, and you may not know what the term "third position" means in Europe. Look 'em up.)

To repeat something I said in an exchange with Brad Friedman (in the comments section of a post below): Yes, the fanatics who attacked Maher and Kerry are different from brownshirted bullyboys who broke chairs at socialist meetings in the 1920s. But the difference is a matter of degree, not of kind.

Soon, I predict, you'll see the gap narrow. As it does, you'll see that I was right to warn of the danger.

And before you say it: Yes, I know about Code Pink's disruption of Condi Rice's testimony on Capitol Hill. Code Pink is an anti-war group, not an organization of conspiracy buffs. That distinction explains why they targeted a right-winger, not a left-winger. At least they understand who the enemy is; to that extent, I can applaud them. But I do not applaud their tactics, which were otiose and foolish; they've simply given the radio rightists a propaganda point.