First a quick note. I had this diary almost ready to post, when this caught my eye. Having conceded OAS was a Major FAIL, this patriot is planning another march on DC for Sep 20. This one is called Operation Obama's Fall. I do not see Riley's name attached (yet). Sounds like the mission centers around forcing the media to cover their protest, unlike the crickets OAS heard. I'm not seeing mention of Obama's removal, but it appears to be a brand new page. They are planning for more realistic numbers, around 5K. First they want to make sure the lazy, ignorant masses find out what's really, really going on in Obama's administration. THEN, they'll see some action. Whether this effort fizzles out over the summer remains to be seen.
UPDATE: Tue. morning: I may have jumped the gun including OOF in this diary. He's been pushing it on the OAS sites but not getting any response. Granted it's only been up a day or so but perhaps OAS participants (is that an oxymoron?) are put off by the seemingly disrespectful way he refers to OAS and, by extension, their hero Col. Riley.
Ok, back to OAS. The weekend was actually quite slow, as far as OAS is concerned, The Rolling Thunder run was a huge success and there was no obvious attempt by OAS to co-opt it Sunday. A fellow described by many as "head of OAS security" posted Friday there were only 50 patriots in attendance Most took him at his word but there were a few who accused him of blah, blah, troll, blah, blah. Apparently those people weren't in DC. I could find no reliable estimates of OAS crowds for Sat. and Sun. After the goating, many FB pages went private and I was forced to head to OAS web sites for quick scans, then a shower. The crazy is beyond anything I'd imagined, but no estimates of crowds. I think the ones who hadn't taken to their beds in despair were too busy planning a more forceful phase II. Lots of photos of unintentionally funny armed posses. I chose not to link because I wasn't sure if they were submitted by the Rambos themselves or trolls were messing with them. Very few posts about the current status of OAS in DC but no lack of crazy conspiracy theories.
By Sunday, they knew the gig was up. They began planning for smaller groups to meet up at state capitols. The few OAS pages left unhacked or public were vewy, vewy quiet. (Why do I picture Col. Riley as Elmer Fudd?) There was mention that Col. Riley rode on the back of a bike for the RT run, but I've yet to find a photo of it. If one surfaces, I will update. Riley did make a statement Sunday night and it was actually very nice. He mentions the RT ride, and that OAS supports their mission with no claim of reciprocity. He doesn't mention if he participated or not. He says there will be no planned activities on the 26th, other than the morning prayer meeting, so all patriots can honor the veterans on Memorial Day. If future statements are of any interest, I'll post as a comment, or possibly a short update.
On Friday, the OAS III FB page was hacked by Goatz, well not actually hacked. Some idiot gave away admin rights and viola, goats. Why goats? Well, an OAS poster explained it this way. The hackers are satan worshipers. The goat is a symbol of satan. In addition, there was a comment on the goated page saying it was "All about the Pentiums" Not being familiar with the Weird Al, hacker-themed music video of the same name, someone confused Pentiums with pentagrams aaannnnddd Satanism.
By Sunday, they had the OAS III% FB page up and it was even crazier than the original. Very little actually related to OAS, however. There's a very poorly edited video of Obama speaking in which he appears to say "I wasn't born in Hawaii, I'm from Kenya." It's the same video Politifact rates as a Pants On Fire e-mail, although the original hosting website clearly labeled it as satire, something not mentioned in the OAS III% post.
The goating frightened the other OAS FB pages into lock-down. The semi-sane moderates on OAS Broadcast keep telling people talk of violence is not allowed, not that it stopped them. Their admins spent more time breaking up fights between members than posting news If someone dared ask what exact mechanism was going to remove Obama, since a coup is unconstitutional, they were banned as trolls. Constitutional scholars that they are, they explained it this way. Obama has already shredded the constitution and broken the law – repeatedly. They are authorized by the second amendment to overthrow a tyrannical government, ergo, they can use force if the usurper refuses to leave voluntarily. They believe the military backs them, and the police, and 95% of the country. One women even insisted the Secret Service had verified they would back OAS, if push came to shove. Remember the guy whose FB page asserted the constitution would protect anyone who assassinated Obama? He's back and bragged it was his page. He's still pushing that meme. Another fun rumor was that a frightened Obama has lawyered up. That's why he left DC ... to visit the troops in Afghanistan ... on Memorial Day weekend. OAS B&N finally got tired of the thought-provoking questions (or as they call it, trolling) and went into private mode.
Trey Gowdy is their new savior. In spite of his refusal to meet with them, they expect Gowdy's witch-hunt to find the evidence needed to impeach Obama. They're a little fuzzy on what happens then. Sen. Cruz is also avoiding them but they believe his recent accusation, that democrats want to "repeal the first amendment", is literal. Yes, I use the word "literal" as defined in the dictionary; not figurative, as Cruz meant it. I even watched a video of Cruz's statement to verify the wording. Cruz indeed says "repeal the first amendment." A couple of people attempted to clarify the issue relates to campaign finance but, say it with me, they were banned as trolls. They are still wondering why Cruz, Gowdy, Allen, et al, have refused to meet with them.
They finally realized that "meeting at the Smithsonian" was a bit ambiguous so they set up Camp Liberty in front of the Air and Space Museum. Why the A&S museum? Apparently easily accessible public restrooms just inside the front door. Some photos show no more than 10 people at Camp Liberty and apparently on Saturday, nobody was manning the table. Patriots (at home) were incensed! How dare those people who actually made the trip wander down to see all the bikers instead of sitting around their deserted base
Scam artists have gotten busy, requesting donations in OAS' name. They say funds are needed for camping supplies, food and permits. OAS has denied they are soliciting funds and to be wary. It even appears their beloved Pastor Bland, who has been leading the daily prayer meetings, has finally exposed his true mission, donations to his church.
Well, that pretty much wraps it up. Col. Riley says activities will resume Tuesday but all that consisted of was a morning prayer meeting, sometimes a march to the WH then hanging around A&S museum to pass out literature and use the restrooms. I don't expect anything newsworthy from this point on. Hope you all enjoyed your Memorial Day. Now that OAS has failed, we'll be marched off to FEMA camps any day now. (They do exist. One lady posted that she lives next to one.) I now have an indelible face-palm impression on my forehead.