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G.O.P. Lawmaker Had Visions of a Christian Alternative Government
New York Times ^ | December 23, 2019 | Mike Baker

Posted on 12/24/2019 5:27:49 AM PST by karpov

SPOKANE, Wash. — Matt Shea was 34 years old when he ran for the State Legislature in eastern Washington, but he had already established credentials that made him a promising Republican candidate.

A lawyer trained at Gonzaga University who had served a tour in Iraq with Washington’s Army National Guard, Mr. Shea pitched voters in 2008 on a platform of limiting taxes and punishing criminals, opposing same-sex marriage and supporting gun rights. He went on to win with nearly 60 percent of the vote, then moved up the ranks in the Legislature, reaching the powerful position of chair of his party’s caucus in 2017.

But back in his home district, Mr. Shea also began attracting the attention of law enforcement for his growing embrace of fringe ideologies and conspiracy theories. He networked with local militia groups, talked about plans to create a 51st state called Liberty and distributed to his closest followers a “Biblical Basis for War” document that calls for the “surrender” of those who favor abortion rights, same-sex marriage, “idolatry” and communism. “If they do not yield — kill all males,” it said.

Last week, a report commissioned by the State Legislature asserted that Mr. Shea had engaged in domestic terrorism in his support of the armed takeover of Oregon’s Malheur National Wildlife Refuge by militant ranchers and their supporters in 2016 — part of a protest over federal ownership of public lands in the West.

The scrubby pines and sparsely settled hills of the inland Northwest have long been seen as a potential homeland by fringe white supremacists and armed loners who are militantly suspicious of government power. But for the sheriff here in Spokane County, Ozzie Knezovich, Mr. Shea’s activities are part of a troubling trend: Far-right organizers have begun plying their message of civil conflict

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: US: Washington
KEYWORDS: gonzaga; iraq; mattshea; spokane
Shea scares me less than Warren and Sanders do.
1 posted on 12/24/2019 5:27:49 AM PST by karpov
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To: karpov

If the Old Grey Stalinist Whore hates somebody, they’re probably great.


2 posted on 12/24/2019 5:31:23 AM PST by fieldmarshaldj (Dear Mr. Kotter, #Epsteindidntkillhimself - Signed, Epstein's Mother)
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To: karpov

I don’t ever recall reading a headline “Dem Lawmaker Had Visions of a Atheist Alternative Government.”


3 posted on 12/24/2019 5:32:26 AM PST by ProtectOurFreedom
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To: karpov

“Shea scares me less than Warren and Sanders do.”

I agree, even if he’s as bad as they say, all I have to do is stay out of his area.

Democrats simply WILL NOT permit such an easy option for us, as they crave power to CONTROL US and RULE OVER US, more than any other reason.


4 posted on 12/24/2019 5:38:00 AM PST by BobL (I drive a pickup truck to work because it makes me feel like a man.)
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To: karpov

How about the alternate, leftist government envisioned by thousands upon thousands of public school teachers and Federal agency employees? Many of you folks have NO idea how radical that bunch is. They make this guy look like a kindergartner in comparison.


5 posted on 12/24/2019 5:39:20 AM PST by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin (Freedom is the freedom to discipline yourself so others don't have to do it for you.)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

I don’t ever recall reading a headline “Dem Lawmaker Had Visions of a Atheist Alternative Government.”


Or one based on Sharia Law. If so, the NYT would write a puff piece on them.


6 posted on 12/24/2019 5:42:10 AM PST by rbg81 (Truth is stranger than fiction)
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To: karpov

Matt Shea, wear this article as a badge of honor.


7 posted on 12/24/2019 6:04:49 AM PST by Midwesterner53
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To: karpov

This was written to “squirrel” away any articles on the Black Hebrew Israelites and the fem-lefty-jihadisquadis.


8 posted on 12/24/2019 6:32:39 AM PST by fishtank (The denial of original sin is the root of liberalism.)
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To: karpov

“Biblical Basis for War” document that calls for the “surrender” of those who favor abortion rights, same-sex marriage, “idolatry” and communism. “If they do not yield — kill all males,” it said.”

If it is true he endorsed such a view then he went too far.


9 posted on 12/24/2019 7:16:36 AM PST by lastchance (Credo.)
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To: karpov

Christian values bad. Communism,New Age “values” good. Got it.


10 posted on 12/24/2019 7:31:00 AM PST by HighSierra5
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To: fieldmarshaldj

Exactly! The guy is probably a George Washington.


11 posted on 12/24/2019 7:31:15 AM PST by Jan_Sobieski (Sanctification)
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To: karpov

Yep - at least he doesn’t want satanists and disciples of Baal to run the place.


12 posted on 12/24/2019 7:38:26 AM PST by trebb (Don't howl about illegal leeches, or Trump in general, while not donating to FR - it's hypocritical.)
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bfl


13 posted on 12/24/2019 7:39:09 AM PST by DoodleDawg
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To: karpov
He's a good guy. Very articulate about liberty and the Founding. Of course, the NYT wants to smear anyone who actually believes in Jesus Christ, because they oppose Christ, being Marxists. This is just a hit piece.

How can we live in the same country as people who love the NYT? And it will get worse. A split is coming, peaceful or not.

14 posted on 12/24/2019 7:40:01 AM PST by backwoods-engineer (Politics is the continuation of war by other means. --Clausewitz)
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To: karpov

The problem with the point of the slimes article is than in this democracy it has become irrationally said to be “wrong” for someone like Shea to have ideas about an alternative “Christian” government, while the left has had a continuous steady and open agenda of their alternatives to our present government. Some of them have even gotten into office while the publicly admitted they neither like nor agree with our Constitution (Obama). So it is OK with the slimes to offer Marxist/Progressive alternatives to government, just not Christian ones.


15 posted on 12/24/2019 7:43:22 AM PST by Wuli
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