Interview with Mike Vanderboegh of Sipsey Street Irregulars

In an interview style which I hope will become a regular feature of this blog, I tracked down Mike Vanderboegh of Sipsey Street Irregulars and he consented to do an email interview. Many of you undoubtedly know who he is, but for those who don't, he is a large force behind the Three Percenter movement. This self-described "fat man with a cane" has kept the creeping tyrannical government rocked back on its heels for years now and along with David Codrea has been instrumental in keeping the heat on the still-growing Gunwalker scandal that now threatens to engulf  the president. History may still surprise us on that one and if so, Mike Vanderboegh will be written into the books as one of the Davids who beat the Goliath.

Mike also has a book coming out by Christmas called "Absolved". I'm eagerly looking forward to it.

Seeing as how he's been denounced by every enemy-of-freedom from Bill Clinton to MSNBC, I'm thrilled to be able to link my work with his own.

Without further babbling from me, here's the interview:

Ernie: Where do you think the Gunwalker scandal is going? Impeachment hearings? Censure?

Mike: For Obama, the scandal will cripple him politically and make him a one term president, but the GOP lacks the collective spine to impeach him.  The sad thing is that the threat of urban violence were that to happen is very real.  Actually, the only political types who are now wishing that Obama be impeached (as long as there are GOP fingerprints on it) are Democrats, particularly partisans of Hillary.  Can the GOP be that stupid to act as their foil?  Well, it ain't impossible.  You don't get rich by betting against the stupidity of the GOP.

Ernie: Has there been any personal blowback from your coverage of the Gunwalker scandal in your own life? Retaliation by government thugs? ATF attempts to scare you?

Mike: This is old hat for me, having been through it in the 90s.  The ATF is so risk averse at the moment that, although they have leaned on my friends, they wouldn't even answer the gate when I stop by the ATF "Fort Apache" in downtown Birmingham to drop off autographed copies of stories from the headlines.  Honestly, they stood at the windows and watched while I pressed the button on the intercom and said, "Helllloooo, is anybody there?"  I finally waved and gave them a thumbs up and a victory sign as I wedged the paperwork in the cracks of the steel gate.  I don't get threatening phone calls from them anymore, which were always entertaining in the 90s.  There are other folks, more serious folks, out there besides ATF.  They make their presence known every now and then, but the trick is in not minding. 

Ernie: Many patriots are effectively silenced because of their fear of getting on a government "list". As someone who is undoubtedly at the top of these lists, how do you feel about these silenced patriots and what guidance would you give to them?

Mike: The leviathan is able to get away with this continual assault on our liberties precisely because of that fear.  What people should understand is that we are ALL on a list.  The only question is how high up are we and how long it will take a tyrannical government to work its way down.  Once you accept that, once you understand that the only way out of this for ourselves and our children is to WIN, you'll stop worrying and start fighting, every day in every way.

Ernie: Can you define for me what is a "Three Percenter" and how they differ from the Oathkeepers organization?

Mike: Oath keepers is an organization.  The Three Percent movement is just that, a movement designed to emulate the three percenters of the American Revolution -- that minority who took the field against the King's forces.  Oath keepers, to my understanding, declare that they will not put up with tyranny on their watch, and to that end seek to expand the numbers of soldiers and cops who will maintain their oaths to the Constitution.  The Three Percenters declare openly that we will not tolerate any further encroachments on our liberties.  Period.

Ernie: How did you feel about being publicly named as a right-wing extremist by Bill Clinton when he denounced the Three Percenter movement?

Mike: Proud.

Ernie: You made headlines when you urged people to throw some bricks at the windows of Democratic offices in response to Obamacare. What sort of legislation do you think is coming down the pipe that might
urge you to pick up a brick yourself?

Mike: I'm an old fat man with congestive heart failure and a cane, but if I decide that I can best serve by throwing bricks, I will, no matter what the cause.

Ernie: Do you feel that there are any movements out there that are successful in stemming the tide of government tyranny?

Mike: "Successful"?  No, not yet.  I'd like to think that the efforts put into the Gunwalker Scandal may have slowed the bastards down a bit and illustrated for the rest of the thinking population how illegitimate the current regime, of both parties, is.  Time will tell.

Ernie: Can the current process of creeping tyranny be reversed? If so, how?

Mike: Yes.  When I figure it out, I'll let you know.  There is no one magic bullet.  I will say this: if we could get all those people who say they are with us politically but are holding back because they "don't want to get their name on a list," then we would have already won.

Ernie: Do you see a time at which the government clamps down on free speech and blogs such as yours are banned? If so, what alternate means of communication would you recommend?

Mike: It is certainly possible, but it would also be a casus belli.  The civil war would begin almost immediately.  Communication after that would be of the tactical sort within your own area of operations.  No comforting "words from on high" or instructions from the great leader, whoever he or she is perceived to be, would be necessary.  I refer you to the words of Bob Wright, when back in the 90s he was asked by the FBI SAC from Albuquerque whether he would actually activate his unit and go to the scene of another potential Waco in another state.  Bob looked him dead in eye and asked: "Why would I want to do that?  There's plenty of you federal sonsabitches around here."  This was an angle that the Fibbie had not previously considered.  We are all strongest on our home turf.  The fight, when it comes to each of us, will be fought and won or lost there.

Ernie: Is there anything you would like to say as a "call to action" to my readers?

Mike: Get off your asses and get involved.  Take not counsel of your fears.  Quit worrying about what the Federal leviathan might do to you and start figuring out what you are going to them if they cross the line.  No Fort Sumters and no Oklahoma City's, but no more free Wacos or free Katrinas either.  Are you worried about your liberties?  Well, get up off the couch and accept the responsibilities that come along with the liberties.  If you wish to have peace, then you'd better prepare for war.  Only credible deterrence will keep the wolves away from your door.