Paranoiapalooza

Two radio interviews and a review

I'll be discussing my book The United States of Paranoia on Newsmax Radio this afternoon at 3:30 Eastern time. You should be able listen to that here. I will also be discussing the book on Wisconsin Public Radio this evening at 6 Eastern time. You should be able to listen to that here. (*) I have a feeling the hosts will have different questions. (* Whoops, sorry, the public radio interview is next Wednesday, not today.)

In related news, Timothy Murphy has a brief review of the book in the current issue of Mother Jones. He also has another article online that lists six of his favorite conspiracy stories from the book.

Update: I'll also be on the Gil Gross Show tonight at about 9:35 Eastern.

Comments

[Jerry on the boat]

None dare call it conspiracy!

[Paul.]

Newsmax Radio this afternoon at 3:30 Eastern time. You should be able listen to that here. I will also be discussing the book on Wisconsin Public Radio this evening at 6 Eastern time

This is interesting to me. Newsmax, to the best of my understanding, is a right-wing, conservative news source. Wisconsin public radio is... well, we all know what it is. It's not Amy Goodman left, but it's left-of-center.

[Eduard van Haalen]

Combine the interviews. It could be a meet cute between the male Newsmax journalist and the female public-radio journalist:

MAN: So, Mr. Walker, does your book discuss the *truth* of FDR's involvement in Pearl Harbor?

WOMAN: Oh, please, don't waste time with that kooky stuff. I want to know if you found out anything new about the Karen Silkwood murder.

MAN: Don't be such a paranoid hippie - I want to know about the attack on the *Liberty* -

WOMAN: You're interested in that, too? Wow - that time back in 1967 -

MAN: - when the Israelis -

WOMAN: - attacked an American vessel -

MAN: And Lyndon Johnson and the military -

WOMAN - covered it up?

MAN: Wow, you sure are smart for a liberal.

WOMAN: And you're kind of cute for a fascist.

MAN: What's your number?

WOMAN: I'll write it on my copy of the author's book...

WALKER: Hey, guys, um, I'm still here!

[Paul.]

That was actually pretty good.

[Pro Libertate]

Most well-known conspiracy theories are varying degrees of garbage--the Moon landing was a hoax, 9/11 was the government, Kennedy was murdered by Joe DiMaggio and Mr. Coffee--but some of them are more right than wrong. After all, there are bad people out there, including in our government, with largely unchecked power that is also largely unseen.

[William of Purple]

the Freemasons.

[Almanian!]

yes?

Oh - I thought you were calling us to arms

[William of Purple]

the Knights Templar

[Almanian!]

are still dead

[Eduard van Haalen]

I know - my albino monks killed them!

[Episiarch]

Conspiracy theorists got themselves a huge boost after Snowden and Wikileaks.

[Paul.]

Definitely doesn't help (hurt?) when our government denies everything, then slowly, point by point, confirms everything but waves off each confirmation as not really mattering anyway.

[Episiarch]

Honestly, if the conspiracy theorists would just stop thinking that something like 9-11 could be orchestrated by the government without anyone finding out, and instead focus on the kind of stuff the government can orchestrate without people finding out (but probably not indefinitely), they'd have a much better track record.

[Paul.]

They could even focus on just the stuff we are finding out. Unfortunately, that's not very sexy.

[Almanian!]

Exactly this

[PapayaSF]

Yes indeed, to both of your comments.

[RBS]

Like the Stonecutters?

[William of Purple]

THE REPUBLICAN PARTY

[PS]

I can't believe ProL actually believes the US landed people on the Moon. What a patsy.

[Pro Libertate]

It's quite amazing that people believe that it was a hoax. There's all sorts of evidence that has to be ignored for that to be true.

[sarcasmic]

Pimp dat book! Booyah!

[Palin's Buttplug]

I am ordering the book now and will be disappointed if there is no chapter or section on Glenn Beck.

[Anonymous Coward]

You mean the part where he was right about the IRS targeting Tea Party and conservative groups for "extra" scrutiny?

Shriek, no matter how much you cry, Glenn Beck will never take you to the prom.

[Almanian!]

BUT HE CRIED ON HIS TV SHOW!

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO... BEEEEEEEEEEECK!

CHRISTFAG! Gesundheit!

[PapayaSF]

And don't forget his idiot goldbuggery. Why, he recommended people buy gold at $400-$800/oz, and now it's crashed all the way down to $1,400/oz. Fools!

[Fist of Etiquette]

I find it suspicious that you won't advertise your wares on any libertarian outlets.

[Paul.]

There are rules in this game...

[Stormy Dragon]

Isn't discussing conspiracy theories on NewsMax kinda redundant?

[Paul.]

It's definitely some weird, through-the-looking-glass shit.

[Irish]

I was just thinking that. NewsMax could be a major part of Walker's book.

[William of Purple]

THE ILLUMINATI!

[RBS]

The next reason book should be called: For a Magazine Called Reason...

With a forward by Virginia Postrel.

[William of Purple]

then it has to come with free booze

[William of Purple]

The Rosicrucians

[The Rt. Hon. Serious Man, Visc]

Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep
It starts when you're always afraid
You step out of line, the man come and take you away

[Almanian!]

Paranoia
Will destroy ya

[NeonCat]

STOP! What's that sound?

[Anonymous Coward]

COINTELPRO should have proved that the government doesn't need the Patriot Act or any other law to fuck your shit up. They just need the ability and an excuse.

[Almanian!]

Neil Armstrong, on a grassy knoll (within Area 51), with a fusion reactor

[The Rt. Hon. Serious Man, Visc]

Elvis Presley, in a UN black helicopter, with poisonous chem trails.

[Nazdrakke]

Jimmy Hoffa, in a non-descript sedan, with a .22 cal revolver.

[SugarFree]

Warty's penis, with Epi's penis in sarcasmic's anus.

[Zakalwe]

I don't think Warty's penis is much of a threat.

[Francisco d Anconia]

Jim Morrison, in the desert, with a syringe.

[Dr. Frankenstein]

Alex Jones, on a moon landing set, with a mind control ray

[William of Purple]

Shaka, when the walls fell

[BakedPenguin]

Jesse has written a few times about his book on paranoia, and yet hasn't linked to this song?

Obviously, someone has taken the real Jesse and the new one is a replica.

[PapayaSF]

Fun fact: According to Wikipedia, Harold Norse coined the term "Homintern" (a play on Comintern) in 1939, at least partly tongue in cheek, and the term was used seriously in the 1950s when some conservatives and others were worried about the "Homosexual International" conspiracy that Jesse writes about.

[Jesse Walker]

Norse is one of at least five people who have been credited with coining the term. I suspect it's a joke that occurred to several folks independently. (Later users, of course, did not mean it as a joke.)

[T]

Somehow, this seems relevant.

[PapayaSF]

I read that Norse says Auden stole it from him.