As You Sow, So Shall You Reap.

The conservative blogs are abuzz with the latest report from the Department of Homeland Security, which in essence put out a warning to local-level police forces to keep an eye open for “right wing extremist activity.” You know — the next Tim McVeigh. Someone so fed up and angry at the government that he’d be willing to… I don’t know… blow up a building, terrorist-style.

For years, conservative America has championed the surrender of basic civil liberties as a necessity in our War on Terror. Nothing was off limits — unwarranted wire-taps on domestic communications, the suspension of habeas corpus, presidential authority to detain and torture anyone identified as an “enemy combatant,” etc. The list goes on and on.

Defenders of these practices echoed the same justifications over and over again:

“I’ve got nothing to hide.”

“Hey, whatever it takes to get the bad guys.”

“Freedom ain’t free.”

And over the past year or so, especially during election season, the right was busy on another trusty ol’ meme — liberals, particularly Barack Obama, are A) palling around with terrorists, B) socialists, and C) out to take away your money, your guns, and your God. McCain/Palin rallies were whipped into frenzies. People would yell out, “Terrorist!” at the mention of Obama’s name. People were afraid for their well-being of their country. McCain eventually tried to back off the rhetoric, but by the time the election returns rolled in, the damage was done — America had just elected a terrorist-loving Socialist as President.

Most of America celebrated. Others licked their wounds. Some began to lay the groundwork to develop a strategy to defeat the Democrats in 2010, and ultimately, take back the White House in 2012.

But a small segment 0f the population got angry — perhaps violently angry.

We’re fucked!

There’s a terrorist in the White House!

I’m so fucking pissed, I don’t know what I’m going to do with myself.

And now here we are, barely three months into President Obama’s term, and the Department of Homeland Security is warning cops to watch out for “right wing extremists.”

Makes sense to me — there are some angry people out there. Remember, Nichols and McVeigh bombed that federal building in Oklahoma City because they were mad at the federal government’s handling of Ruby Ridge and Waco, Texas.

But now, for some insane reason, there are people on the right (to be fair, mostly bloggers and pundits, but what’s good for the duck is good for the ducklings) who think the DHS report is about them. And they’re convinced that President Obama is out to get them. And they’re up in arms because the government is intruding on their personal space. They’re pissed because they feel their civil liberties are being violated. They’re upset because they’ve done nothing wrong — after all, it’s an inalienable American right to be able to speak out against their government.

And somehow, they can’t see the irony of their protestations.

Don’t get me wrong — this report disturbs me. I think it’s far too broad with its generalizations of potential trouble-makers; casting a net over those affected by the economy (everyone), returning veterans from abroad (indefensible), and other law-abiding citizens who happen to be displeased with the direction our country’s headed.

But guess what, those of you who insisted that the government had every right to keep tabs on its citizens and were willing to forfeit any expectation of privacy?

This is the system you helped create. You insisted that this was what was best for the country you love. You stood behind Bush and Cheney when they decided to use their power to redefine the Constitution to quell your paranoia.

You’re going to have to live with consequences.