American Morning
Avlon: Militia arrests raise questions about political landscape
Editor’s note: John P. Avlon is a senior political columnist for The Daily Beast and author of the new book "Wingnuts: How the Lunatic Fringe is Hijacking America." Previously, he served as chief speechwriter for New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and was a columnist and associate editor for The New York Sun.
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/07/13/john.avlon.art.jpg caption="CNN Independent analyst John Avlon says the arrest of the Hutaree militia group raises new questions about the fear-fueled fringes of the political landscape."]
By John Avlon, Special to CNN
We’ve seen a ratcheting up of violent rhetoric and even violent plots in recent weeks. This edition of Wingnuts of the Week takes a look at a new Code Pink “citizen’s arrest” of Karl Rove and the real arrest of the Hutaree militia.
Militia movements exist well off the grid when it comes to conventional domestic politics. But the arrest of the Michigan-based Hutaree anti-government militia group raised new questions about the increasingly ugly and fear-fueled fringes of the political landscape.
The small, self-style Christian militia group (members say “Hutaree” means “Christian warrior”), led by father David Stone, was arrested by the FBI early this week on charges that they plotted to murder a local law enforcement officer and then bomb his funeral procession to up the body count in an attempt to spur a civil war in the United States.
This is the latest sign of the estimated 300% increase in militia groups – as detailed by the Southern Poverty Law Center – that we’ve seen in America during the first year of the Obama administration. Not all militia groups can be classified as violent extremists, but this rapid growth indicates an unwelcome return to the heated atmosphere of the mid-1990s, when militia movements proliferated in the wake of Bill Clinton’s election and incidents at Ruby Ridge and the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas. The era ended after Timothy McVeigh destroyed the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, killing more than 160 innocent men, women and children.
LIVE Blog: Chat with us during the show
Editor's Note: Welcome to American Morning's LIVE Blog where you can discuss the "most news in the morning" with us each and every day. Join the live chat during the program by adding your comments below. It's your chance to share your thoughts on the day's headlines. Keep in mind, you have a better chance of having your comment get past our moderators if you follow our rules: 1) Keep it brief 2) No writing in ALL CAPS 3) Use your real name (first name only is fine) 4) No links 5) Watch your language (that includes $#&*).
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/04/02/body.scanner.gi.art.jpg caption="Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano will announce new airport security measures on Friday."]
New airport security measures to be announced Friday
(CNN) – All flights entering the United States will be subjected to a new level of security screening, officials plan to announce Friday.
The new security measures, that will be announced by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, will use "real-time, threat-based intelligence," according to the official.
The new measures will supersede the measures put in place immediately after the attempted terror attack on Christmas Day 2009, the official said.
"These new, enhanced measures are part of a dynamic, threat-based aviation security system covering all passengers traveling by air to the United States," the official said. "To more effectively mitigate evolving terrorist threats, these measures utilize multiple, random layers of security, both seen and unseen and are tailored to intelligence about potential threats." FULL STORY
Church expands flock on Facebook
The church has never be an organization accused of keeping up with the trends, but now places of worship are using social networks like Twitter and Facebook to expand the flock.
Church 2.0 – where followers are believers. Carol Costello will have the story live for us from Washington.
Apple's iPad meets its critics
Just one day, now, until Apple's iPad is released, but the reviews are already in. The Wall Street Journal is calling it a "wicked fast" "lap-top killer."
The New York Times is not too happy with its touch-screen keyboard or lack of a camera, but still calling it "deeply satisfying" and "goof-proof."
It's being called one of the hottest new pieces of technology ever, but will it live up to the hype?
Arik Hesseldahl is the senior technology reporter from Businessweek.com and he'll join us with a preview.
Sound off: We want to hear from you this morning. Add your comments to the LIVE blog below and we'll read some of them on the show.
The Teaser
"The Teaser” is a preview of the guests we have lined up for the next day – so you know when to tune in (and when to set your alarm!). Guests and times are always subject to change.
6:20AM The UK scientist at the center of "Climategate" was cleared by parliament – but where does he stand in the scientific community? Stephen McIntyre, editor of ClimateAudit.com and Michael MacCracken, Chief Scientist for Climate Change Programs at the Climate Institute join us to discuss.
6:30AM Wingnuts of the Week: John Avlon: Columnist, TheDailyBeast.com and Author, "Wingnuts: How the Lunatic Fringe is Hijacking America" joins us with his picks.
7:20AM The iPad is coming! The iPad is coming! Arik Hesseldahl, Senior Technology Reporter at BusinessWeek.com joins us with his review of the latest Apple product.
7:30AM Tracking down runaways: Former NYPD detective Joe Mazzilli will talk about his new A&E show the "Runaway Squad", and will introduce us to a father-son pair that he reunited.
8:10AM We’ll go over the latest political headlines with the wonderful Candy Crowley, anchor of Sunday's "State of the Union" .
8:30AM The second the Labor Department's jobs report comes out, we’ll break it down with Lakshman Achuthan, Chrystia Freeland, and our own Christine Romans.
Got questions for any of our guests?
Tweet 'em at Twitter.com/amFIX or post them below and we'll try to use 'em!
We Listen – Your comments 4/1/2010
Editor's Note: As more parents and students spoke openly about bullying and its negative effects, Thursday’s American Morning audience shared potential solutions to the problem. One former teacher suggested that other states emulate Vermont, making schools legally requited to “deal with the problem.”
- Mary: If Massachusetts wants to get serious about bullying in schools, I suggest it look to its neighbor–Vermont. A Vermont bullying law was put into law after the suicide of 13-year old Ryan Patrick Halligan. If Massachusetts had such a law, prosecution might be much easier. But, most importantly, the level of awareness amongst students and teachers escalates. The Vermont law requires schools to deal with the problem. I recently retired from teaching and during my last ten years, I was part of a concentrated staff development effort & participated in developing bullying policies as both a teacher and a school board member. Not one school...not one principal...not one teacher in Vermont can stand by and allow bullying. All know that there is a legal price to pay. When the level of awareness increases, the amount of bullying decreases. Ryan's dad was the driving force for the law. Google Ryan's name and you can read his tragic story on-line. His dad travels to schools talking to students and teachers about the events that led to his son's suicide. I know for a fact, that he has been in schools in Massachusetts. It would behoove you to refer to Vermont's law in your reports.
- Tameka: bullies are a group of cowards .like a scary dog that barks real loud, but when u stomp at them they run behind master. i suggest standing up to them. best to catch that person alone, and talk to them. if anyone noticed that a bully mostly run in a pack, not alone.
- Joe: In your coverage of the teen who [hanged] herself over bullying, you hold the school administration responsible for what a group of teenagers did. Where and when do you hold the parents of these teens responsible? If a parent, who has only 2 or 3 children in their home, cannot prevent their child from bullying, how is a school teacher, with up to 100 students, or a principal, with up to 2000, supposed to keep track of what is going on? No wonder our students are not achieving well on tests if we expect schools to do it all. Parents should parent, schools should teach.
Who should be held accountable in bullying cases? What suggestions would you have to address this issue?
Female dog handler proves herself under fire
(CNN) – To the Marines in Afghanistan they can mean the difference between life and death. They're the "dogs of war." Today we introduce you to the only female dog handler in all of Afghanistan. Our Chris Lawrence has the story from Helmand Province.
Does any part of health reform take effect before 2014
(CNN) – Health care reform is a done deal, but you still have a lot of questions. It's a job for our chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, who joined us on Thursday's American Morning to answer the following questions:
Question 1: Will the CHIP program continue to receive adequate funding?
Question 2: What section or language in the bill limits the benefits of the bill to U.S. citizens and legal immigrants?
Question 3: If a young person is in school and off their parents' insurance can they be returned to it with this health care reform?
Question 4: Does any part of health reform take effect before 2014?
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