Overstock.com CEO Patrick Byrne is palling around with terrorists

Ernest Hancock and Freedom’s Phoenix “watering the tree of liberty” with guns at an Obama appearance.

I’ve written several times about Overstock.com CEO Patrick Byrne, focusing on his love for intimidating and slandering financial journalists, his constant misleading of investors, and other subjects.

Byrne – who has led Overstock to yearly loss after loss and has been key in driving OSTK stock to it’s current $5.01 per share – is also an extreme right-winger. Not a Sean Hannity-type extreme right-winger, mind you, but closer to one of those faux-Libertarian, overthrow-the-government types of extremists.

Such does Byrne support the right-wing libertarian militia movement, that he was recently a guest of Earnest Hancock on Freedom’s Phoenix radio show. Who is Hancock, you ask? Well, just someone who has been accused by Arizona State Senator Russell Pearce  – a far-right conservative himself – of being a terrorist.

Ernest Hancock, the online radio host who staged  an interview with an assault rifle-wielding associate at the Obama event in Arizona yesterday — and was himself armed with a 9 millimeter pistol — was a vocal supporter and friend of right-wing anti-government militia members who were convicted of conspiracy and weapons charges in the 90s.

And in an interview today with TPMmuckraker, Hancock said he still believes the Viper Militia case was “manufactured” by the same government that manufactured Waco  and lied to its people about 9/11.

The federal government initially accused the Arizona Viper Militia of plotting to blow up federal buildings, which the twelve-member group cased on videotape.

In July 1996, after a grand jury indicted the suspects, federal agents “seized about 90 high-powered rifles and hundreds of pounds of a bomb-making compound from the shabby bungalow of a man whom officials identified as the ordnance specialist of a local paramilitary group,” the New York Times reported at the time.

Hancock, who in recent years designed the famous “Ron Paul rEVOLution” graphic, was an oft-quoted defender of the militia members. The tapes of the government buildings, he said at the time, were purely “educational.”

More on Hancock and the Viper Militia here, via TPM and here at The Huffington Post.

Byrne – who notably railed against Utah voters for rejecting his push to “reform” the Utah school system by making it a voucher program and runs the libel factory known as Deep Capture – shared some of his radical, paranoid views with Hancock, including his claims that “Naked Short Sellers” have destroyed the stock prices of his mismanaged company.

Hancock is not currently under arrest, and it was by no means a crime for Byrne to appear on his radio show. But it shows he is a supporter of those with radical and dangerous ideologies. If you don’t think right-wing terrorism is a problem in the U.S., read some of David Neiwert’s work on the subject.

People like Hancock like to talk how they just want to be “left alone” by the federal government, but what they really want to be left alone to be racists who dream of an overthrow of the U.S. government. These are violent, ignorant, paranoid people who fantasize that Ron Paul will someday be President and allow them to unleash chaos in the name of of something they like to call Libertarianism.

And Overstock.com CEO Patrick Byrne supports them.

–WKW

Wolfrum’s Morning: Cory Booker is the Batman

Today’s Reading

NJ.com: It’s time to accept that Cory Booker is the Batman.

New Yorker: The war on commas will leave thousands of casualties. But it must be fought.

Lance Mannion: Quite the character.

CNet: SOPA is dead. Long live CISPA.

Blue Gal: Check out the latest Professional Left podcast here. After 122 episodes, Fran & Driftglass have it down to a science.

Deep Analysis of Hilary Rosen Comments on Ann Romney

Pure fauxtrage.

Finally

Be a happy baby this weekend.

–WKW

Breaking: Mitt Romney makes a Black friend

MASSACHUSETTS — After essentially sewing up the GOP nomination this week, Mitt Romney has begun the long process of connecting with the American public. Earlier this week, Romney strengthened his appeal with women by having wife Ann tell the world that her life is just like theirs and that she doesn’t even feel wealthy despite a family fortune of a quarter-billion dollars.

With the women vote taken care of, Romney has now moved on to another potential electoral weakness – African-Americans. After a recent story came out that showed Romney has no African-Americans on his staff, the former governor came out today announcing that he had recently made a Black friend.

“I met a guy named Herman earlier this year, and let me tell you, he’s just a delight,” said Romney. “He’s really one of the good ones.”

Romney’s new friend “Herman” is a businessman and amateur economist. Romney said that he will use his new friend to keep him updated on the needs of African-Americans.

“More than once, Herman and I have sat down for a traditional African-American meal of pizza,” said Romney. “I really will depend on him to let me know about the needs of the African-American community.”

Reached for comment, “Herman” said that Romney will be a better friend to African-Americans than President Barack Obama, and that Romney’s economic plans will create opportunities for Blacks.

“I believe these words came from the Pokémon movie,” said Herman. “Life can be a challenge, life can seem impossible, it’s never easy when there is so much on the line. But you and I can make a difference.”

With the women and African-American issues out of the way, Romney said he will now focus the rest of his campaign on real Americans, noting that he already has close experience with Mexican-Americans, having employed hundreds of them over the years to mow his lawn and clean his pool.

–WKW

Wolfrum’s Morning: The good Zim

Let us remember that Eugene Zimmerman never hurt anything but the feelings of politicians.

Today’s Reading

Political Wire: As his trial begins, John Edwards remains clueless.

Mother Jones: Obamacare being struck down will affect millions. Here are a few of their stories.

Dr. Cleveland: A reality check in the George Zimmerman case.

Eclectablog: Santorum’s concession speech is the closest he’ll ever get to an “It Gets Better” video.

Deadspin: Fired Arkansas football coach Bobby Petrino screwed up. Just listen.

This Just In

Via the lovely & talented Blue Gal.

Finally

Not all Georges are alike.

–WKW

A Very Wolfrum Fundraiser

Folks, I just checked, and it’s official – my money is funny and my change is strange.

I have long loathed the idea of having a fund-raiser at my blog, for numerous reasons. Mainly, I was getting by as a freelancer. But as the years have gone by, my contacts have dried up and my earning levels are about nil. And bills are piling up. Thus, the time to humbly ask for donations has arrived.

I have had this site for a decade now and have been blogging for eight years. My first couple years of blogging was at a golf Web site, where I was either the world’s greatest, or worst golf writer, depending on your opinion. Since then, I have written 3,000 blog posts here. While some of my work has been forgettable, I have had some accomplishments over the past eight years. Such as:

– Made international news by unraveling the Martin Eisenstadt hoax months before the media was duped by him.

– Gotten more people to enroll in the National Bone Marrow Registry.

– Detailed my trip to Carnival in Rio.

– Kept pressure on Overstock.com CEO Patrick Byrne

– Written several blog posts that have gone viral.

– Become somewhat of a star on Twitter.

– Been mentioned or interviewed by the New York Times, Washington Post, Time Magazine and many other major publications.

– Shared my stories as a recovering alcoholic.

– Live-blogged all of Fox News’ coverage of the 2008 Presidential election.

And much, much more.

Basically, I’ve enjoyed my work as a blogger more than I’ve enjoyed any other occupation in my life. But financial concerns are forcing me to blog less and hustle more in an effort to keep my home finances in order. I have been offered ads to put on my site before, but I have never felt comfortable with what they were selling.So we have this fundraiser.

I have developed a well-earned reputation as someone who tends not to finish what he starts. I started this blog a decade ago and in that time have gained more success and notoriety than most bloggers. I have made people laugh and think. I have placed myself in good position for the future as a writer and blogger and am proud of my reputation. And now I could use some help if you’re in a position to donate. Because this is a job I truly want to finish, and the job is far, far from done.

With thanks,

Bill

Wolfrum’s Morning: Breathe easy, world

Today’s Reading

NYT: The long good-bye of Rick Santorum.

Gawker: Seems Fox News has a mole infestation.

Daily Beast: Mitt Romney doesn’t even have a Black  friend.

This Just In

Worried about an attack of space aliens? don’t worry, NASA has a plan for that.

Wolfrum’s Word

That Rick Santorum got as much support for President as he did should scare the living hell out of the rest of the planet. Face it, Santorum was one Mitt Romney scandal to winning the Republican nomination.

Aside from his faux fiscal conservative history, what should scare the world is just how Santorum embraced theocracy – and was still getting votes. Making it worse is that Santorum is one of those people that picked up Catholic fundamentalism as an adult. Children who are bombarded by religion have an advantage – their teenage years. A time when they can become their own person with their own beliefs. For someone like Santorum, he’s made his choice – he’s a fundamentalist who believes the Bible has more sway over government than any Founding Father ever believed.

Rick Santorum would have devastated the United States in nearly every way possible. As the U.S. claws back from the George W. Bush years and slowly builds back its economy and national psyche, a complete radical in the White House would take unemployment, wealth inequality and war mongering to historic highs in the U.S. Of this I have no doubt.

Santorum’s out, though and we can put our fears to rest for now. But the fact is this: He came too damned close.

Finally

Will Mitt Romney be the first U.S. President to have once strapped a terrified dog to the roof of his car?

–WKW

Wolfrumisms: Santorum out, Romney gaffe in 3 … 2 … 1 …

Today, Rick Santorum dropped out of the GOP race for the Presidency. History has taught us that tomorrow will bring us an incredibly stupid gaffe on the part of Mitt Romney and/or his team of advisors.

–WKW

Wolfrumisms: All your steroids are belong to Overeem

Breaking: Research shows that steroid use is down in all major sports, as UFC heavyweight Alistair Overeem is now taking all of them himself.

–WKW

Wolfrumisms: An Elephant on Mars!!

NASA has found an elephant on Mars. This explains a lot about today’s GOP.

–WKW

Wolfrum’s Morning: A Buffet sounds nice

Does America really need a Buffet Rule?

Today’s Reading

George Zimmerman: The man who shot Trayvon Martin pleads his case at his web site.

CBS News: President Obama pushes hard for the Buffet rule.

AFB: Syria to get a strongly worded letter!

Religion Dispatches: When religion is a refuge for scoundrels: ‘Ryan Budget’ Edition.

Maniraptora: The ‘perfect chaos’ of π.

Finally

A shirtless Mitt Romney plays with his kids in 2002. A decade later, you just know those pants are coming off.

–WKW

Wolfrumisms: Buy me Facebook. Buy me hard.

I would sell this site to Facebook for $175 or so, but they’ve never asked.

–WKW

Wolfrumisms: Fair play, yet stupid

I always appreciate the true love of the game when a fan gives memorabilia back to a player or event, as Wayne Mitchell did at the Masters. I also always think the fan in question is a moron. Maybe a nice moron, but a moron none the less.

–WKW

Wolfrumisms: Smiling Joe

Joe Biden arrives on Twitter? Check. The Mayan Prophesy continues unabated.

–WKW

Wolfrum’s Morning: Sing a song!

Don’t understand the foreclosure crisis? Learn about it in song.

Today’s reading

Raw Story: Tennessee wants a do-over on the Scopes Monkey Trial.

Dave Weigel: John Derbyshire’s advice for white people.

Mother Jones: Just because Mississippi is the poorest state in the nation doesn’t mean it needs an abortion clinic.

CS Monitor: There goes North Korea, up to no good again.

ESPN: At least Lamar Odom still has his TV career to fall back on.

This Just In

Stephen Fry AND a baby rhino. Go ahead, try and top that.

Finally

RIP Mike Wallace.

–WKW

Wolfrum Theory: Can’t we all just get along and stay away from large groups of Black people?

Can’t we, as a united nation, all come together as one and avoid large congregations of Black people? Come on, people, we did it before.

–WKW

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