A year ago, Alex Jones was hardly a common-place name. But to some fringe elements who had become radicalized with idea that the country is on the brink of a take-over by "Deep State" military forces, and/or already had moved to a compound in Idaho to live off dry-packed foods stashed in a cabin, he was indeed. They were a large. virtually clandestine audience in the dark recesses of the Internet and conspiracy sites.
Then it all changed. Jones took up Trump's candidacy and Trump appeared on Jones' Internet/radio show. Jones then became a shill for Trump. Trump's endorsement of Alex Jones followed Jones' track record of a long series of questionable, if not insane positions.
Doubt me? Check out this litany of insanity:
1995. Jones accused the U.S. government of being involved behind the scenes in the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City.
2011. He posited that the U.S. government staged the 911 attacks as part of some scheme to justify attacking Islamic states in the Middle East.
2012. Jones questioned whether the Sandy Hook elementary school shooting really happened, stating at one point that the event was staged using actors from Quebec in order to create a false atmosphere for gun control. He later backed off this, but has stated that "the real truth about Sandy Hook has yet to come out," with the usual assertion that some nefarious "deep state" plot had taken place.
2013. Appearing on the Piers Morgan show, Jones began "a one person shout-fest" riffing about guns and oppressive government. He insulted Morgan personally.
2013. As a guest on the BBC Sunday Politics program, Jones began to shout, interrupting the hosts who ended the interview abruptly, describing Jones as "an idiot" and "the worst person (I've) ever interviewed."
2017. He supported the "Pizzagate" fake news that Hillary Clinton was behind a child sex ring in a back room of a pizza parlor in Washington, D.C. Later, under threat of a major libel suit, he retracted this.
2017. Jones and guests argue that the moon landings have been faked in order to hide some secret technology that NASA has.
2017. Jones and a recent guest on his program agree that President Obama is basically an absentee father who has abandoned his children, who aren't even his kids. Obama was said to be hiding out on an island that has no extradition treaty with the U.S. because President Trump intends to lock him up right next to crooked Hillary. Oh, by the way, Jones needs to see the girls' birth certificates because they are not Barack's and Michelle's since Michelle is a proven transsexual.
2017. The Las Vegas shootings at the country music festival, although unspeakably tragic, were some sort of planned event by dark forces. Jones argues that something like this was "in the works" as part of an Islamic-Communist plot to create a civil/race war and take over the U.S. government in time to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia. This was set in motion by the "kneeling controversy" in the NFL. These are precursors to the assassination of all the conservative Supreme Court judges along with Roy Moore in order to depose President Trump, enslave the people of the country, and (of course) to silence Alex Jones. If you're not convinced already, Jones throws in the additional proof that O.J. Simpson's release from prison was timed to allow his return to Las Vegas help ensure all media was in place for better coverage for the mass killings.
Got all that now?
The overall theme seems to be that nothing is real and that some behind-the-scenes super group, variously ascribed to a Liberal cartel, world Jewry, a "Deep State" group, and the like who are maneuvering the world on a string to create the "New Order." If this sounds outlandish, unbelievable, or insane to you, you are not one of the people who subscribe (with money) to Jones' outlets, which are broadcast on the Genesis Communications Network, 150 radio stations, as well as the powerful shortwave station WWCR worldwide. Jones' "InfoWars.com" has been labeled a fake news website by many, but not by President Trump.
His YouTube channel has more than two million subscribers, and his media presence is ubiquitous, with three to four hours a day, six to seven days a week, in front of the InfoWars camera on live webcast. He exudes a genuine dire urgency of a man who insists that he understands unseen machinations of those who who would be slave masters of the sheep of the world. He claims to be the rock who can be counted on to oppose these "Deep State" forces. In short, he takes the position that people have hijacked our country, that we are an occupied nation. Foreign banks own us now, control us, and are getting rid of the Constitution. They are admitting it! It this sounds far fetched to you, you clearly are not getting his message. But millions apparently do. Jones gets over seven million unique views a month globally. He is getting fabulously wealthy along the way.
Jones was born in Dallas, TX in 1974. He grew up near Dallas as well in Austin, where he went to high school. His father was a dentist, and his mother a homemaker. He has long been influenced by conspiracy theories. He attended junior college in Austin before starting his career with a public television access program featuring a live, call-in format.
Even the worst enemy of Alex Jones would agree that he is not boring. His over-the-top ranting, with a very raspy voice (Cigarette damage? Too much screaming?) is "fantastically entertaining" to many. His reach now is said to generate a multi-million dollar annual income since most of the distribution is virtually free on the Internet, along with niche sponsors who include provisions for people to live after the end of present civilization as we know it. Jones recently was involved in a major custody case with his former wife, losing the judgement (it is being appealed) such that she now has the primary custody with him getting certain rights as well. Prior to this, he had virtual full-time custody and was accused of "parental alienation"of the couple's children against his ex-wife, to whom he reportedly pays $43,000 a month in support.
If you're still with me, you might, as I do, wonder just where this country is heading. The people I deal with on a daily basis, friends and neighbors, all seem normal and trying to deal with the vicissitudes of daily life: groceries, taxes, children, jobs, health, retirement, etc. It's easy to dismiss the ilk of Alex Jones as a total kook, but some trends in our society including the very high rate of mass killings and divisiveness indeed are unsettling. The country has been through much, much worse with a tragic Civil War and two horrible World Wars as well as Korea and Viet Nam. Yet the unending war in Afghanistan and the current national split on politics is difficult. Personally, I've never seen a President act like Mr. Trump.
I cling to the belief that the Constitution and assignment of responsibilities between the Executive, Congress, and the Judiciary are strong and resilient. We shall see.
J.K. (Jim) George
www.authorjkgeorge.com
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Please feel free to post a comment here on the blog, or email me directly at <n3bb@mindspring.com> with any remarks. Also, I'll very much appreciate your recommendation of "Contact Sport" and/or "Reunion" to friends and book clubs. In addition, I'd be pleased to appear at book clubs and/or radio clubs within a two-hour drive of Austin to discuss either book.
