nasty bastards indeed (spitting on the forkers)

hey lisa

Hey Suzanne! How the heck do these nutters fund their cross country jaunts?

i applaud a d phi. that was animal house to a T

excellent Q lisa. i wonder too

The rick roller is great too!

At San Diego Pride Parade, the police quarantine WBC behind a line of police horses who drop road apples regularly throughout the day.

Maybe they should protest an Organized Crime member’s funeral — I’m sure the counter-protest would be of a more permanent nature.

These people call themselves Christians! I think they should loose their tax exempt status for being UnAmerican and desecrating public places… Oh and they Pillage and Steal their way across the country… Watch out for them..

The only good thing to be said of them is they are indeed evidence the First Amendment lives.

That matters a lot more than they do. Bigoted, profane, attention seeking scum.

Yes, I’d like to know where their money is coming from as well.

Oops. Something happened. That post was supposed to start with mention that their only value is as evidence the First Amendment lives..

i wonder if anyone has attempted to follow the money before?

Why aren’t these people removed. It’s one thing to protest but trying to scare children is over the line. IIRC when shrub was in office protesters were never allowed within several BLOCKS of whatever they were protesting.

maybe karl rove funds them using his dirty tricks slush fund

Yikes. Now it’s back…. scratching head..

There’s another positive: WBC brings people together. You don’t like ‘em, I don’t like ‘em, most of the teabaggers don’t like ‘em either. Phelps has made his little hate carnival into a national pariah and disgrace, and everyone (else) knows it.

I thought they lost a lawsuit a couple years back that should have bankrupted the church and ended this nonsense. I wonder what went wrong.

The WBC FAQ says

Can I donate money to you? Can I buy one of your awesome shirts?

No, you cannot donate money to us. We don’t accept donations. We don’t want your money. We don’t make merchandise of the Gospel. “Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.” (John 2:16). “Because that for his name’s sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.” (3 John 1:7). Likewise, we don’t sell shirts. If you want one, go to a local shirt-maker near you and custom-make your own.

sometimes that happens… usually refreshing the page shows what is missing.. i’ve had it happen when i’ve used html in the comment — refresh and all is fixed.. some weird glitch on the list of fixes for the tech crew

I’m surprised the friends or families of fallen soldiers haven’t come unhinged and physically attacked them before now. Not saying they should but you could hardly blame them.

The law suit (form wikipedia)
On March 10, 2006 WBC picketed the funeral of Lance Cpl. Matthew A. Snyder. On June 5, 2006 the Snyder family sued Fred Phelps, WBC, and unnamed others for defamation, invasion of privacy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. On October 31, 2007, WBC, Fred Phelps and his two daughters were found liable for invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional distress. A federal jury awarded Mr. Snyder $2.9 million in compensatory damages, then later added a decision to award $6 million in punitive damages for invasion of privacy and an additional $2 million for causing emotional distress (A total of $10,900,000). The organization said it would not change its message because of the verdict…

On February 4, 2008 U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett upheld the ruling but reduced the punitive damages from $8 million to $2.1 million. The total judgment now stands at $5 million.

An appeal by WBC is still pending.Liens have been ordered on church buildings and Phelps’ law office in an attempt to ensure that the damages are paid.

Organized counter protesters: The Patriot Guard Riders are a motorcyclist group comprised mostly of veterans who attend the funerals of members of the U.S. Armed Forces at the invitation of the deceased’s family. The group was initially formed to shelter and protect the funerals from protesters from the WBC, but has since expanded its activities beyond those funerals covered by the WBC

Thanks. Too bad it was reduced. I hope the family eventually collects something.

I have wondered the same thing. What kind of people have the intestinal fortitude to do this. These are the same people who were asking us why we hated the troops. They have so many faces they probably no longer regonize themselves.

Indeed. Off to the googles….

I used ot be pretty mellow about IRS exemptions for churches, but WBC and another “church” whose name I dare not mention because Tom Cruise might sue me have made me really have a change of heart about religious tax exemptions. And it should be all or none. If one “church” I cna;t mention because Tom Cruise might sue me can get the IRS to allow their members to deduct “religious services and training” then ALL religious groups should be allowed to be deduct these things!

And as Eli pointed out in his post earlier tonight on the front page of FDL, Pat Robertson is a MORAN

racist mofo too

That’s my thought on why they might not have shown up at Ft Hood today. As bigoted as Texans can be, I don’t think they’d take kindly to the WBC taking a dump in the middle of things.

FunnyWheelieDiva

have they protested funerals in texas before?

Thanks Suz, pretty weird. Continues to come or go with each refresh. Also Reply is affected.

If I’m using HTML, it’s totally accidental;-)

Hypocrite–I am stunned that he thinks it’s fine for fundie evangelicals to infiltrate the US govt, but gets really upset that other religious groups might. Oh and BTW, the “church” I can’t mention because Tom Cruise might sue me DID infiltrate various govt orgs in the 1970s (operation snow white).

We can’t escape our philosophies and belief systems and we take them unconsciously and consciously wiht us to work, to the supermarket–BUT we sholdnt shove them down everyone else’s throats or try to make our govt run on specific religious ideology! We have separation f church and state. That means ALL faiths are equal and NONE run the govt!

is why it has been hard to figure out… must be a ghost in the code or something…

I was looking for any reports on Ft Hood protest, and I have to agree, that maybe that would have been a bad idea for them. Also, maybe they had trouble getting flights out from DC. Like oh the flights were all booked, maybe they got held up by TSA….

the reply glitch is when the page has not finished loading all the way (look at the botto left of the screen on a pc and it will tell ya the stuff that is still loading) — will say “Done” when the page is completely loaded.

Remember when the state of Texas (perhaps Fla) tried to revoke the tax free status of a Unitarian Universalist church – pretty early in the shrub admin.

When all hell broke loose, they claimed to not know it was a generally recognized denomination.

Basic separation of church and state.

they gotta be on some flight risk list — or at least should be. they are domestic psychological terrorists who have not resorted to violence. yet.

This is about Authoritarian Politics.

Last year during the Dem Convention, I was ALL over it. There are Phelps Wannabes all over the place. Digby linked to my post last year here.

They’re not going away. In fact they’re coming back under the insidious guise of STUPAK! And more is yet to come I’m sure.

Like Jane kept saying last year, Pivot And Attack! The right is rump, and must be treated so.

I’m on opera. Switching to firefox, that may do it.

I wonder if they have received money from people who die and leave money/property/etc. to them, or to an appointed entity.
Just wonder what the entity would be named that would then divert the money to WBC..

I couldn’t recall if Robertson had joined Falwell in publicly blaming 9/11 on TEH Gay. Eli posted this link.

FALWELL: I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People For the American Way–all of them who have tried to secularize America–I point the finger in their face and say “you helped this happen.”

ROBERTSON: Well, I totally concur-

Wow, this is interesting–from Wikipedia

All the principals of the Phelps Chartered law firm, a firm founded by WBC founder Fred Phelps, are members of WBC. Phelps Chartered handles most of WBC’s legal work.

On two occasions, the church accepted offers for radio air time in exchange for canceling an announced protest.

So Phelps takes bribes. Screw him sideways.

No idea. Just thinkin’ that I personally wouldn’t be anything but solemn and respectful around Ft Hood just now. Even if I were inclined to be otherwise, which I am NOT. Just can’t imagine that anyone around that base is feeling particularly tolerant of any protest just now. Let alone those with a “they deserved it” sort of message.

FWDiva

There may be certain groups who funnel $ to WBC, secretly supporting them, though WBC says they dont accept donations. I wonder what their IRS filings look like….

BUT they do have llike day jobs and maybe this is thie rhobby, instead of riding dirt bikes or putitng thei rkids in beauty pageants.

Right you are.

Maybe in Phelp’s copy of the New Testament the Protagonist accepted radio spots as payment for healing the sick…

well… O’Reilly said something on his show tonight about a thought experiment of his to “kill all Muslims” on earth. I’m not sure that he, nor anyone else in that festering corner of humanity, may be considered any better than Monsieur Phelps.

Supply Side Jesus rides again.

O’Reilly is scum.

Does that mean O’Reilly will be taking credit for bumping off John Allen Muhammad tonight? One down, about a billion to go.

I really should order a copy of that. First I have to learn to read.

O’Reilly wouldn’t have the grapes to actually take responsibility for anything…even if he had done it.

Ugh. See my @38

These people (including O’Reilley) are insidious, as well as invasive. You see 12 or whatever Phelps, but there are many more who are ideological twins. It’s about authoritarianism and control with that crowd, and they’re not gonna be happy until they are in total control.

IMO, the Supply Side Jesus comic was the best part of the book. Also the least dated, probably…and since you can read it online, well…

…they’re not gonna be happy until they are in total control.

Too…fucking…bad.

Okay, my spleen is vented and it’s time for bed. Peace out, y’all!

Bill should be careful, there could be a couple dozen mujahideen hiding in his chins.

g’nite edp and any other leaving sleepyheads

G’nite.

Guess I’ll go too. Nighty-night snooky ookums to all.

More on the lawsuit judgment being reduced.

Judge Bennett said that Monday’s ruling was based in part on the financial resources of the church. Financial records submitted to the court indicate that Fred Phelps, the founder of the Westboro Baptist Church, and his daughters Shirley Phelps-Roper and Rebekah Phelps-Davis have a combined net worth of under $1 million. They are seeking to delay payment of the judgment.

Wonder if these financial records are public.

executing patently mentally Ill people – just the thing this brand of rethug would embrace.

nite, enjoy pillows and pajamas!

So they’re blackmailing people, eh? How exactly is this legal?

Good Evening, Lisa and other Firepups
You know, I try to be a good person, but Fred Phelps and his followers really really test my tolerance.
That video, the signs, the things people were shouting just challenges me.

The Phelps family probably has some trained grifters in the bloodline. Too much money unexplained.

Well, you know Paris Hilton gets paid to show up at parties? This is the reverse. I have have heard before that WBC is sometimes paid to go away, but I dont recall where I read it, so sadly I cant cite a source.

Garrrr!

Imagine the consequences if we publicly spoke of “thought experiments” to kill all _____________s (fill in the blank) on earth.

Are transcripts of his show published? That’s genocide.

I was thinking the other day that there is a certain profound irony in the fact that the neocon pre-cursor arch demon Samuel Huntington, the man who arguably started our country and indeed the whole planet down a long road to perdition, with the argument that humanity faced and our country (as the leader of the “west”) must prepare for a grand clash civilizations, mostly between our own “enlightened” white civilization and the dual threat of alien foreign fundamentalism and communism. Well.. he got his clash of civilizations alright, except that it’s really a budding civil war – between our own teabagging domestic fifth column of fascists, tribal thugs, authoritarians, racists, mysogenists and fundamentalists and the more “enlightened” members of our own country.

I can’t tell you how frikking sick I am of fighting dolts like Westboro.

It’s like a real life version of some damn video game where there are umpty-ump levels, and it never stops.

I just can’t tell you what it is like after having witnessed so many gay friends die of AIDS, to see one of their signs. I get physically ill.

The clash of cultures is the US is very depressing, because at the heart of each side is a desire for self-determinism and freedom.

he disclaimed it by saying that it was a thought experiment and that he was playing the devil’s advocate. But it was perfectly clear what he meant nonetheless. I’m sure you can watch it in it’s full recapped glory somewhere on the Faux site – but you may have to shower in acid afterwards.

Subverting them seems to be the goal of some groups. Along with the frat protest of University of Chicago, WBC were met by more than 100 students waving signs bearing mocking slogans such as “God hates the new Facebook” and “God hates dial-up.”

Lsst nght one of the Faux news dudes was going on about how it was the Democrats fault and political correctness that allowed Hassan to stay in the military. Yet two yrs ago (when the GOP was in power), the FBI and CIA had their eye on Hassan, reaidng hs emails….so uh nice try Faux

Hang on there Mme. Figa –

Yes it is depressing, but isn’t it that it’s depressing because a lot of the clashing is about being determinant?

I mean one group being on top of the other. And who is seeking to dominate? Not progressives. We want a level field, and then go plant what you want.

These authoritarian others are thundering “Be thou beneath our will!”
I don’t describe that attitude as self-determinism, I describe it as “other-determinism”, better said as authoritarianism, and it’s certainly not freedom IMO.

God DOES hate dial-up. Hah!

they just make up stuff, as it suits their myriad insecurities. The nutjob guest on the “kill all Muslims” segment was some retired Lt. Colonel calling for permanent holy war on Islam, who actually asked, rhetorically, “where are the Baptist terrorists?”

umm…

I think the clashing is about people trying to for their detirminism on others. “Live and let live” seems to have taken a back seat to MY GOD SAYS YOU WILL LIVE THIS WAY. (and god can sometimes be a version of supply side economics!)

ther “freedom” seems to be to take ours away… makes complete sense in some peverse kinda way.

I think we just said the same thing – you said it in Derrick, I said it in Canfield. :)

Let’s have sweet dreams of a world without Westboro!

You just expressed it, and it drives me simply MAD!

Because I can only go to “why?”

It’s so toddler-esque; Must YOU be the boss of me?

Your video game analogy is apt. Sometimes it seems change for one subset of victims comes only when bigots find easier targets.

*click click* that i’ll drink to

thanks for a great post lisa — always a pleasure spending tuesday evenings with you

Frankly, I’m weary.

It’s just been a long time that I, my friends and loved ones, have been a target of crap like this.

O well! I have weary days and then again I have fabulous days. So there it is.

All of Phelps’ adult offspring are either lawyers or married to lawyers. They essentially goad people into reacting to them and then they sue. They are hyper litigious and they get people to settle out of court. They are shakedown artists of the highest order. They are as offensive as they can be to intentionally get people to react with physical violence. Then they sue.

Bravo to the lads of Alpha Delta Phi for their excellent rebuff of Phelps’ shithead posse. It definitely makes the list of top 10 best responses to his brand of imbecilic bigotry.

I can proudly say that Phelps and his inbred pack of moron bastards picketed my church a couple of years ago. We totally ignored them. It was but a couple of the very least committed of his tribe and they didn’t stay long. I guess they got bored.

I’ve been somewhat curious about Phelps. At least one of his signs has included stick figures depicting what appears to be two men engaged in a rousing bout of anal sex. Someone had to spend quite a bit of time working out the logistics of the act and the logistics of graphically depicting the act. The amount of time needed to contemplate all of that seemed way too long for someone who ostensibly is opposed to homosexuality.

Methinks maybe Fred doth protest too much? Trying to hide a case of self loathing?

It sure looks to me like those WBC kids are being forced to march. Every one of the kids faces is covered and the last one looks like he’s being led by the arm.

I wonder if a case could be brought for child endangerment.

Tax all churches.

Tis religion that is a disgrace. All of it is made up, and just because fred phelps is an asshole with an imagination, doesn’t excuse the others that make up nonsense and indoctrinate the young. The Friends lean toward the ideal and do not cause problems. They are in the .01% range.
How can a world gain a civilization with religion? They contradict one another so completely.

He learned that tactic from Rev. Jesse Jackson, a member of the Religious Left.

For years Fred was just a local embarassment, now he has gone noationwide, next he’ll be global. He’s like botulism, a poison. We think he’s a product of inline breeding, where your family tree is a knife, no forks allowed. Oneof the many reasons we like to refer to Kansas as ‘Sasnak’ honoring our backwards heritage…..