The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

One Bong Hit Away From Murder: Warning Signs of Psycho-Libertarianism

Posted on | March 5, 2010 | 29 Comments

“[E]veryone knows that marijuana is a gateway drug to libertarianism.”
— Tom Maguire, e-mail to Professor Glenn Reynolds

The Psycho-Libertarian Dopehead Menace continues to stalk the blogosphere and everybody’s starting to catch a contact high. Meanwhile, a report from the Los Angeles Times raises the question: Which came first, the heavy marijuana use or the murderous insanity?

Bedell, 36, of Hollister, Calif., had mental health problems and had used marijuana, according to authorities, friends and court records.
San Benito County Supervisor Reb Monaco said he had been a close friend of the Bedell family for 35 years. . . .
Patrick, he said, had suffered from mental illness for at least 15 years.
“He probably was mentally ill for that period of time,” said Monaco, a retired schoolteacher. “He seemed rather paranoid. He was a heavy marijuana user and tended to self-medicate with marijuana. I don’t know if he used other drugs.” . . .
His parents reported him missing in January and asked local authorities to hold him, concerned about his mental health, said San Benito County Sheriff Curtis Hill.
Hill said the report stemmed from a call the family received from a Texas state trooper Jan. 3. The trooper said he had stopped their son for speeding on a freeway heading west outside Amarillo, Hill said.
“There’s an inference in [the report] that he was concerned about his mental health,” Hill said. Apparently finding no cause to hold Bedell, the trooper let him go, the sheriff said. . . .
According to the report, the Texas state trooper told Bedell’s mother that he was concerned for her son’s mental health because his car appeared to be in disarray. He said that Bedell had told him he was on his way to the East Coast.
The father told San Benito County deputies that he was concerned for his son’s safety. He said Bedell had a medical marijuana card, had been detained for mental evaluation before and had no friends or relatives on the East Coast. . . .
Bedell recently had attended San Jose State as a graduate student, studying electrical engineering, said Pat Harris, a university spokeswoman. . . .

Ah, yes, grad school — that’s a telltale warning sign, folks. If your kid ever says he’s “thinking about going to grad school,” obviously he must be on drugs.

Next thing you know he’ll be registering as a Democrat and going on a shooting rampage at the Pentagon, just like all those other extremist right-wing libertarian dopehead killers.

UPDATE: The ever-excitable Dave Niewert is frustrated that the MSM aren’t doing enough to portray drug-addled Democrats as “far-right” terrorists, and cites this NBC News video as evidence of the Conspiracy Of Silence:

As we saw in Austin, far-right extremist rhetoric plays no small role in inspiring these acts. And inevitably, it is ordinary Americans who pay the price.
— Dave Neiwert

You see how the Left arrogates to itself the authority to define terms, so that dope-addled mentally ill Truther anti-military Bush-hating Democrats — gosh, who does that remind me of? — are obviously under the influence of “far-right extremist rhetoric.”

Category: Crime, Terrorism

Comments

29 Responses to “One Bong Hit Away From Murder: Warning Signs of Psycho-Libertarianism”

  1. Jane Jamison
    March 5th, 2010 @ 11:56 pm

    Dope is for dopes. Michelle Malkin says he is a registered DEMOCRAT. Case closed.

  2. Jane Jamison
    March 5th, 2010 @ 6:56 pm

    Dope is for dopes. Michelle Malkin says he is a registered DEMOCRAT. Case closed.

  3. Andrew Sullivan
    March 5th, 2010 @ 11:59 pm

    It has never worked out badly for me. What can go wrong?

  4. Andrew Sullivan
    March 5th, 2010 @ 6:59 pm

    It has never worked out badly for me. What can go wrong?

  5. Reaganite Republican
    March 6th, 2010 @ 12:20 am

    Another far-right, bong-breathed loon… just like those Nazis Cheech-n-Chong

    I’ll bet they find lava-lamps and blacklight Hendrix posters at his apartment… typical reactionary kit

  6. Reaganite Republican
    March 5th, 2010 @ 7:20 pm

    Another far-right, bong-breathed loon… just like those Nazis Cheech-n-Chong

    I’ll bet they find lava-lamps and blacklight Hendrix posters at his apartment… typical reactionary kit

  7. Robert Stacy McCain
    March 6th, 2010 @ 12:24 am

    just like those Nazis Cheech-n-Chong

    Cheech Marin: Notorious Right-Wing Extremist!

    I’ll bet they find lava-lamps and blacklight Hendrix posters at his apartment

    No, no: blacklight Milton Friedman posters!

  8. Robert Stacy McCain
    March 5th, 2010 @ 7:24 pm

    just like those Nazis Cheech-n-Chong

    Cheech Marin: Notorious Right-Wing Extremist!

    I’ll bet they find lava-lamps and blacklight Hendrix posters at his apartment

    No, no: blacklight Milton Friedman posters!

  9. Jim Austin
    March 6th, 2010 @ 1:55 am

    Check out open secrets and you’ll find he gave money for years to Royce, the Republican candidate in the 40th Congressional district.

  10. Jim Austin
    March 5th, 2010 @ 8:55 pm

    Check out open secrets and you’ll find he gave money for years to Royce, the Republican candidate in the 40th Congressional district.

  11. victoria_29
    March 6th, 2010 @ 2:16 am

    I am waiting until the figure out a way to attach Amy Bishop to the teaparty. They already attempted to insinuate that being in such a rural, hickville town as Huntsville (home of NASA) helped push her over the edge.

  12. victoria_29
    March 5th, 2010 @ 9:16 pm

    I am waiting until the figure out a way to attach Amy Bishop to the teaparty. They already attempted to insinuate that being in such a rural, hickville town as Huntsville (home of NASA) helped push her over the edge.

  13. Aussie
    March 6th, 2010 @ 8:45 am

    On a sober note, not being jocular here: there is a link between heavy pot use and mental illness.

    My evidence is anecdotal, I have known several men and women who have been pot uses and ended up with mental illness. I have heard people trying to claim that this is because there was something already there, however, based upon the number of former pot addicts in the mental health organization GROW (similar to A.A.) I would suggest that the link is very strong.

    This does not account for this man taking a gun and shooting at people, and of course there is the fact he is a Democrat.

    There seems to be a strong link between mental illness, vegetarianism and Dr. Utopia type Democrats.

  14. Aussie
    March 6th, 2010 @ 3:45 am

    On a sober note, not being jocular here: there is a link between heavy pot use and mental illness.

    My evidence is anecdotal, I have known several men and women who have been pot uses and ended up with mental illness. I have heard people trying to claim that this is because there was something already there, however, based upon the number of former pot addicts in the mental health organization GROW (similar to A.A.) I would suggest that the link is very strong.

    This does not account for this man taking a gun and shooting at people, and of course there is the fact he is a Democrat.

    There seems to be a strong link between mental illness, vegetarianism and Dr. Utopia type Democrats.

  15. Aussie
    March 6th, 2010 @ 8:46 am

    @Victoria,

    I blame that Bishop thing on the new Coffee party :)…

  16. Aussie
    March 6th, 2010 @ 3:46 am

    @Victoria,

    I blame that Bishop thing on the new Coffee party :)…

  17. VIDEO: Conservative Blog Report 3/6/10 – Media Disinformation, Harry Reid’s Happy Unemployment News and Dennis Miller on O’Reilly « Mike LaChance
    March 6th, 2010 @ 4:30 am

    […] Robert Stacy McCain on Psycho Libertarianism. […]

  18. John Patrick Bedell: RIGHT Wing Extremist?!
    March 6th, 2010 @ 7:31 am

    […] Stacy McCain takes it all in stride in what one presumes is an ironic essay pinning the blame on Bedell’s use of marijuana and attendance at grad school. […]

  19. Philip Primeau
    March 6th, 2010 @ 1:49 pm

    “Ah, yes, grad school — that’s a telltale warning sign, folks. If your kid ever says he’s “thinking about going to grad school,” obviously he must be on drugs.”

    Yeah. Who needs doctors, anyway?

    “On a sober note, not being jocular here: there is a link between heavy pot use and mental illness.

    My evidence is anecdotal . . .”

    Well, I should have quit after reading “anecdotal,” but let me try this.

    Yes, there is a relationship between pot smoking and mental illness. There is a relationship between substance use and abuse in general and mental illness. It’s called self-medication, and it’s common especially among schizoid, manic, and depressive personalities.

    Thing is, it’s not typically a relationship of causation. The illness almost always precedes the illness, though often use and abuse can stimulate, advance, or worsen the preexisting condition.

    For most people, however, casual marijuana use is no more harmful than casual drinking. Not that that is saying a lot, seeing as how foolish people get after even a couple drinks.

    Bottom line: Mood-changing substances are not good for you. Caffeine included. The Mormons probably have it right. But we’re all born with one foot in the grave, anyway. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, all of that. And, anyway, “What gives the gummint the right?”

    Phil

  20. Philip Primeau
    March 6th, 2010 @ 8:49 am

    “Ah, yes, grad school — that’s a telltale warning sign, folks. If your kid ever says he’s “thinking about going to grad school,” obviously he must be on drugs.”

    Yeah. Who needs doctors, anyway?

    “On a sober note, not being jocular here: there is a link between heavy pot use and mental illness.

    My evidence is anecdotal . . .”

    Well, I should have quit after reading “anecdotal,” but let me try this.

    Yes, there is a relationship between pot smoking and mental illness. There is a relationship between substance use and abuse in general and mental illness. It’s called self-medication, and it’s common especially among schizoid, manic, and depressive personalities.

    Thing is, it’s not typically a relationship of causation. The illness almost always precedes the illness, though often use and abuse can stimulate, advance, or worsen the preexisting condition.

    For most people, however, casual marijuana use is no more harmful than casual drinking. Not that that is saying a lot, seeing as how foolish people get after even a couple drinks.

    Bottom line: Mood-changing substances are not good for you. Caffeine included. The Mormons probably have it right. But we’re all born with one foot in the grave, anyway. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, all of that. And, anyway, “What gives the gummint the right?”

    Phil

  21. Reaganite Republican
    March 6th, 2010 @ 2:24 pm

    LOL- got to get me one of those posters

    Linked today at the Reaganite Republican… enjoy your weekend, gents…

    http://reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com/2010/03/full-metal-jacket-wrap-around.html

  22. Reaganite Republican
    March 6th, 2010 @ 9:24 am

    LOL- got to get me one of those posters

    Linked today at the Reaganite Republican… enjoy your weekend, gents…

    http://reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com/2010/03/full-metal-jacket-wrap-around.html

  23. Live Free Or Die
    March 6th, 2010 @ 2:55 pm

    Robert Patrick Bedell: 3 names, Check.
    Psychotropic Drug Use, Check.
    Possible Undiagnosed Mental Ilness, Check.
    Registered Democrat, Check.

    No word yet on ‘Catcher In The Rye’ being found
    among his belongings, but it’s bound to turn up.

    No word yet on which came first; Registering Democrat, or Mental Illness, but at least the link has been established.True friends don’t let their friends register as a Democrat.

  24. Live Free Or Die
    March 6th, 2010 @ 9:55 am

    Robert Patrick Bedell: 3 names, Check.
    Psychotropic Drug Use, Check.
    Possible Undiagnosed Mental Ilness, Check.
    Registered Democrat, Check.

    No word yet on ‘Catcher In The Rye’ being found
    among his belongings, but it’s bound to turn up.

    No word yet on which came first; Registering Democrat, or Mental Illness, but at least the link has been established.True friends don’t let their friends register as a Democrat.

  25. Stogie
    March 6th, 2010 @ 5:17 pm

    It should be noted that John Patrick Bedell is also the name of Bedell’s father, age 63. Searches for info on Bedell should differentiate between the father and the son.

    For example, one commenter stated that Bedell had given money to a Republican for years. Which Bedell?

  26. Stogie
    March 6th, 2010 @ 12:17 pm

    It should be noted that John Patrick Bedell is also the name of Bedell’s father, age 63. Searches for info on Bedell should differentiate between the father and the son.

    For example, one commenter stated that Bedell had given money to a Republican for years. Which Bedell?

  27. serr8d
    March 6th, 2010 @ 5:32 pm

    An inexpensive solution to Blogger’s lack of trackbacks.

  28. serr8d
    March 6th, 2010 @ 12:32 pm

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  29. The Greenroom » Forum Archive » ‘Whatever Happened to Crazy?’ Pentagon Shooter J. Patrick Bedell, the Analysis of Failure and the Failure of Analysis
    March 6th, 2010 @ 10:52 pm

    […] One Bong Hit Away From Murder: Warning Signs of Psycho-Libertarianism […]