Bastrop, Texas: 10 Days From A Government Takeover?

Bastrop, Texas, is getting ready for one of the largest military training exercises in history on July 15, and many residents believe there is nothing “training” about it.

They’ve been expecting the Obama administration to launch a military operation on their community and the surrounding area for quite some time. Many feel he wants to usher in a state of martial law, so he can call off the 2016 elections and extend his time in office.

One of those individuals is Bastrop County Republican Party Chairman Albert Ellison, who in comments to the Washington Post, explained why conservatives are nervous.

Ellison said that Obama was, “in the minds of some… raised by communists and mentored by terrorists.”

“These are not nuts and wackos. They are concerned citizens, and they are patriots…. Obama has really painted a portrait in the minds of many conservatives that he is capable of this sort of thing.”

The operation, called “Jade Helm 15,” has been forecast for quite some time. At a meeting in the spring of this year, Lt. Col. Mark Lastoria explained to a crowd of around 150 conspiracy theorists that the operation was “intended to simulate U.S. Special Forces helping resistance fighters restore democracy in an imaginary country,” the Post reports.

Lastoria said that only 60 of the 1,200 troops used for the operation will be located in Bastrop, and that most would be “confined to military bases.”

Terry Orr, former mayor of Bastrop, explains what is driving some of the fear.

“The truth is, this stems a fair amount from the fact that we have a black president,” Orr said — a mindset he disagrees with, noting that many in the opposition feel Obama is too concerned with the rights of black people and “illegal immigrants.”

“People think the government is just not on the side of the white guy,” he added.

Robert Reich called out the Bastrop community on his Facebook page, sharing much of the Washington Post story and turning the situation over to commenters, most of whom believe the Bastrop conspiracy theorists are out of their minds.

“They need to educate themselves and not rely on Rush Limbaugh, Fox and others,” said one commenter. “I think that when nothing happens to these folks after the military exercises they’re gonna walk around and crow, ‘See? We beat back the Federal Government!’ Translation: ‘We put that black guy in his place,'” said another.

But what do you think, readers? If you lived in Bastrop, would you be worried? Sound off in the comments section.

[Image via Riverfront Times]