Time: Haley Barbours' Republican Governors Pay Homeage to Guy Fawkes in 'Remember November' video

[flpoljunkie]

Republican Governors Pay Homage To Guy Fawkes

Posted by MICHAEL SCHERER
Friday, April 23, 2010 at 5:54 pm

A few years back, two left-leaning writers, Andy and Lana Wachowski, adapted the story of Guy Fawkes, a Catholic radical who is remembered primarily for his failed attempt, on November 5, 1605, to blow up the Houses of Parliament and kill King James I. The Wachowski brothers movie, V for Vendetta, made Fawkes the hero and presented the British crown as an oppressive dictatorship that was meant to echo, at least in technique, certain aspects of the administration of George W. Bush, down to the hooded prisoners, the orange jump suits and the unapologetic embrace of harsh interrogation techniques.

The meaning of Fawkes is, of course, not fixed. The Wachowski brothers' retelling of the Fawkes' story was later embraced by libertarian supporters of Ron Paul. During the 2008 campaign, "Remember, Remember The Fifth of November" became a rallying cry for Paul boosters, who shared at least some of the revolutionary fire of both Fawkes and the Wachowskis. On November 5, 2007, Guy Fawkes Day, Paul supporters raised more than $4 million online.

Now, the Fawkes mythology has come full circle. The Republican Governors Association has embraced the symbolism of Fawkes, launching a rather striking website, RememberNovember.com, with a video that showcases far more Hollywood savvy than one can usually expect from Republicans. Again, the Fawkes tale has been twisted a bit. This time, President Obama plays the roll of King James, the Democratic leadership is Parliament, and the Republican Party represents the aggrieved Catholic mass.

The politics and substance aside, this strikes me as a remarkable bit of political messaging, not just for its cinematic quality. The RGA, under the control of Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, is clearly stepping out of the stodgy, safe territory it normally inhabits. It is aiming to tap into the vast well of anti-government fury now coursing through the nation. Who would have guessed that Barbour would embrace the symbolic value of the same would-be mass murderer as the Wachowski brothers?

One other note, RGA message wizards have intentionally not circulated this video on YouTube or made an embed version of it publicly available. (Swampland asked for, and was granted, special dispensation.) They want people to view it on their site, RememberNovember.com, in the hopes of building a grassroots army.

To watch video: http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2010/04/23/republican-governors-pay-homage-to-guy-fawkes/

[nsd]

1. Guy Fawkes is famous for plotting a terrorist attack.

So now the Republicans celebrate terrorism?

[flpoljunkie]

2. Evidently.

[AllentownJake]

3. Yawn

The V for vendetta is an avatar available on DU and is used by a few people.

During the Bush years, liberals were jacking off to the movie, during the Obama years crazy republicans are jacking off to the movie.

[flpoljunkie]

4. Their website, remembernovember.com is up with the video with 13,901 pledges so far to 'remember.'

http://remembernovember.com/

[AllentownJake]

5. Yawn

They are organizing for an election, Jefferson's folks said worse things about Adams.

Our side had similar things going on about Bush.

This still is a democracy right? I mean we can disagree with the other side and organize for elections still without everyone getting upset right?

[AllentownJake]

6. Guy Fawkes is nowhere in that video

You can debate the substance of the propaganda, it is bad propaganda but nowhere do I see Guy Fawkes.

November happens to be when we have elections.

That really was a hack piece of journalism.

[flpoljunkie]

7. Of course he's not, but the implication and tone of this RGA video are unmistakable and real.

The meaning of Fawkes is, of course, not fixed. The Wachowski brothers' retelling of the Fawkes' story was later embraced by libertarian supporters of Ron Paul. During the 2008 campaign, "Remember, Remember The Fifth of November" became a rallying cry for Paul boosters, who shared at least some of the revolutionary fire of both Fawkes and the Wachowskis. On November 5, 2007, Guy Fawkes Day, Paul supporters raised more than $4 million online.

[AllentownJake]

8. Soooo

Have Ron Paul supporters blown up the capital in the past year and a half?

They raise $4million dollars, 1/4 the amount the President got from a particular bank under SEC civil suit right now.

I think Bush is a fucking asshole and we need to get rid of the Republicans raised a few hundred million for us in 2008...I know I responded to that message.

Sorry, Guy Fawkes is not in the video, you have no organizer from this group promoting Guy Fawkes methods, you have a reporter making shit up in reaction to a bad piece of propaganda.

How about the fact in Britain the saying is that Guy Fawkes is the only person who went into Parliament with honest intentions. Are the British terrorist sympathizers.

[flpoljunkie]

9. Folks in Britain, however, are not showing up to rallies armed to the teeth.

It is apparent Haley Barbour is trying to incite the 'Teabagger' wing of the conservative movement with this 'Guy Fawkes' ripoff.

[AllentownJake]

11. It isn't a Guy Fawkes ripoff

If you don't include Guy Fawkes.

Hey if Haley wants to raise money on November 5th good for him.

The election is on November 2nd.

The "Teabaggers" generally aren't the same group as the Paul group, in fact over things like the war and drug legalization, the "teabaggers" don't really like Ron Paul all that much.

[flpoljunkie]

12. That 'November 5' quote was from those who supported Ron Paul in 2007. TPM also finds this shocking.

THIS IS THEIR MESSAGING?

I find this completely bewildering. The Republican Governors Association is embracing the mantle of a 17th century radical who tried but failed to pull off a mass casualty terrorist attack to kill the King of England and all of Parliament. Only now Obama plays the role of James I. Guy Fawkes is their new hero?

Nothing shocks me anymore. But this shocks me.

--Josh Marshall

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/04/this_is_their_messaging.php?ref=fpblg

[AllentownJake]

13. Uh, Remember November is what the Royalist said

Not the Fawkes supporters.

Our elections happen in November. Kennedy was shot in November, could be an allusion to that as well...

[flpoljunkie]

14. Regardless, 'Remember November' campaign from Haley Barbour is meant to stir up the Republican base.

[AllentownJake]

15. I would expect the Republicans to try to stir up their base in an election year

I'm waiting for the democrats to make an effort.

[blm]

10. Typical Orwellian maneuver. Smells like Keith Schuette and Ed Rogers working their propaganda

skills.