You might think this guy doesn’t merit a diary. But I think he provides a fascinating case-study in the life-cycle of the right-wing hate haberdasher.
www.mcall.com/… “Ex-Gilberton police chief guilty of lying on pistol-purchase application” April 5, 2018
I could forgive the casual reader for gathering from that headline that Marl Kessler, subject of the article, was once the leader of the police force in Gilberton, Pennsylvania. You’d be wrong in that assumption.
Gilberton, like many put-upon, economically distressed, Pennsylvania communities, has no full-time police force. Communities get along with a hodge-podge of officers who patch together a livelyhood working ‘part-time’ across multiple municipalities or leave local law enforcement to their State Police.
But Gilberton thought they saw an opportunity in 2010, they gave a low-ball 5-year contract to Kessler, a gun-loving and abrasive borough employee who was connected by marriage to a respected local family. It must have seemed like a sweet deal. Gilberton gets a police force (of one)...and their new “Chief” is a gung-ho sort who favors ‘tactical’ gear even when he’s not on duty..so it magnifies the illusion of a police presence. Meanwhile, the in-laws are assured that the Kessler household gets at least one steady income. a win-win right?
Well, soon enough an incident occurs in a local bar in which the “Chief” intervenes and ends up being shot by his own weapon. But that doesn’t discourage him. He still likes being called “Chief” and he pushes for Gilberton to expand their arsenal (for their police force of one), plus he uses his official status as a “Chief” to acquire certain items that he might otherwise not be able to purchase….oh, and he takes a spot on the local school board.
Then things kick into high gear when he discovers that he can MONETIZE his “Chief” persona with appearances on right-wing conspiracy radio and youtube where he can push his branded gear (ball caps and such). Of course, the beast must be fed...so over time his appearances, and videos become more and more outrageous until the Gilberton Mayor is force to use her limited resources to hold hearings about the Kessler problem.
Now, the whole right-wing circus shows up for the hearings. The parking lot is full of gun toting “youtube stars” trying to get in on Kessler’s action.
republicanherald.com/… At one of the hearings, a handgun weapon falls from Kessler’s concealed holster and skitters across the floor.
articles.mcall.com/… Eventually, Kessler is paid out the last year of his contract, assured by the mayor that his unemployment claim won’t be contested, and Kessler signs a NDA a is banned from contacting the Boro employees or attending public meetings in the Boro — Forevah!
Of course the right-wing hate haberdashery business is a zero sum game. Ther are only so many ball caps you can sell. And without his tin star, Kessler’s star faded quickly on the right. He went through the usual phases of youtube grief.
For example, the “I WAS A NARC THE WHOLE TIME!!” gambit.
www.poconorecord.com/...
Although that is a little harder to swallow when you (a) have half a brain, or (b) think of how enthusiastically he involved his own children in some of his exploits.
www.dailykos.com/…
www.patheos.com/…