Karma's a... well, you know: Westboro Baptist Church engulfed in flames (Wizbang)

Couldn't have happened to more deserving people:

The Topeka Fire Department is investigating a small fire today outside of a church whose members protest at soldier's funerals.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports on its Web site that a fence and garage at Westboro Baptist Church became engulfed in flames early today.

Topeka Fire Marshal Greg Bailey said the cause of the fire has not been determined.

However, a spokeswoman for the church, Shirley Phelps-Roper, believes it was deliberately set.

Members of the church frequently picket military funerals, arguing that the deaths of U.S. troops overseas are part of God's punishment for the nation's tolerance of homosexuality.

Bailey said damage is estimated at $10,000.

Now, I don't wish this kind of thing on anybody. But now that it's happened, what can I say? What goes around comes around.

The WBC idiots think the fire was deliberately set (surprise, surprise). My thoughts are, maybe God got a little pissed off at the Phelps wackos for doing such vile things in his name and decided to take some action. Who knows?

Hat Tip: Rachel Lucas

Comments (32)

So....Someone was ... (Below threshold)

1. Posted by cirby | August 5, 2008 9:59 AM | Score: 7 (7 votes cast)

cirby:

So....

Someone was really, really mad at WBC, enough so that they, er, tried to burn down a fence and garage?

Or someone at WBC wanted more press, of the "we're persecuted" sort, so they set a small fire in something they don't need all that much?

Posted on August 5, 2008 09:59

I'm putting money on the 'P... (Below threshold)

2. Posted by Jon | August 5, 2008 10:03 AM | Score: 7 (7 votes cast)

Jon:

I'm putting money on the 'Phelps had a hand in it' line.

Posted on August 5, 2008 10:03

So far we're unanimous on t... (Below threshold)

3. Posted by glenn | August 5, 2008 10:19 AM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)

glenn:

So far we're unanimous on this one. The WBC folks did it themselves.

Posted on August 5, 2008 10:19

Wonder what the weather was... (Below threshold)

4. Posted by JLawson | August 5, 2008 10:29 AM | Score: 6 (6 votes cast)

JLawson:

Wonder what the weather was like? Any lightning in the area around that time? (grin)

Seriously, I'd look at the Westboro people too. That they're hollering about it being deliberate, I can understand... the fire investigators will probably find kerosene or gasoline used as an accellerant. But as to who set it? I'd put money on the WBC folks also. They've not gotten much press lately, what better way to prove how persecuted they are than by a fire burning their property?

Posted on August 5, 2008 10:29

Too bad Fred and his whole ... (Below threshold)

5. Posted by Bob | August 5, 2008 10:44 AM | Score: -3 (9 votes cast)

Bob:

Too bad Fred and his whole gang weren't in the church at the time and got rid of all of them sick people

Posted on August 5, 2008 10:44

Ditto..set up. Burn someth... (Below threshold)

6. Posted by GarandFan | August 5, 2008 11:39 AM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)

GarandFan:

Ditto..set up. Burn something of little consequence and get some press coverage.

Posted on August 5, 2008 11:39

Considering the number and ... (Below threshold)

7. Posted by Linoge | August 5, 2008 11:55 AM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)

Linoge

Considering the number and type of enemies the WBC has created over the years, something tells me that if one of them actually wanted to cause damage to the WBC, they would have.

I guess self-flagellation is just a part of their religious sickness as well.

Posted on August 5, 2008 11:55

I guess for this church, yo... (Below threshold)

8. Posted by Jim in Cleveland | August 5, 2008 12:09 PM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)

Jim in Cleveland:

I guess for this church, you can't exclaim, "Holy Smoke."

Posted on August 5, 2008 12:09

They haven't been in the ne... (Below threshold)

9. Posted by Rick13 | August 5, 2008 1:40 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)

Rick13:

They haven't been in the news very much lately. I'm guessing an inside job in order to get publicity.

The Patriot Guard rules! They've taken the headlines from the WBC.

Posted on August 5, 2008 13:40

Maybe WBC needed a little i... (Below threshold)

10. Posted by Matt | August 5, 2008 1:44 PM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)

Matt:

Maybe WBC needed a little insurance money?

I am sure if it was Divine Intervention, the whole place would of gone up.

Posted on August 5, 2008 13:44

I'm surprised the media isn... (Below threshold)

11. Posted by rodney dill | August 5, 2008 2:10 PM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)

rodney dill:

I'm surprised the media isn't touting it as one of the most holy sites for Baptists.

Posted on August 5, 2008 14:10

Dome of the Crock?... (Below threshold)

12. Posted by HughS | August 5, 2008 2:56 PM | Score: 6 (6 votes cast)

HughS:

Dome of the Crock?

Posted on August 5, 2008 14:56

Westboro Baptist Church is ... (Below threshold)

13. Posted by Paul Hooson | August 5, 2008 3:25 PM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)

Paul Hooson:

Westboro Baptist Church is a weird personality cult organized around it's pastor with the church members lacking so much spiritual discernment and the influence of the Holy Spirit that they cannot see that they belong to a terrible church.

When you have so little spiritual discernment or not enough of the Holy Spirit in your life, that should be a first dangerous clue that something is deeply spiritually wrong with your life. But so far the members of this cult can't see that.

Posted on August 5, 2008 15:25

Satan just stopped by to ta... (Below threshold)

14. Posted by Roy | August 5, 2008 3:49 PM | Score: 6 (6 votes cast)

Roy:

Satan just stopped by to take a leak on the building - to mark his territory like dogs are wont to do. He's there to be sure the express line to hell is cleared for those hypocrites.

Posted on August 5, 2008 15:49

Paul, quit talking about Ob... (Below threshold)

15. Posted by Les Nessman | August 5, 2008 4:17 PM | Score: 6 (6 votes cast)

Les Nessman:

Paul, quit talking about Obama's church like that. He...Oh, wait..Westboro. I thought you meant Trinity.
My bad.

Posted on August 5, 2008 16:17

Westboro Baptist C... (Below threshold)

16. Posted by OregonMuse | August 5, 2008 4:41 PM | Score: 0 (4 votes cast)

OregonMuse:

Westboro Baptist Church is a weird personality cult organized around it's pastor

Thank you, Captain Obvious. Gee, when I think about where this blog would be without this kind of hard-hitting, incisive analysis, I dance a little jig of despair.

Posted on August 5, 2008 16:41

OregonMuse<blockquot... (Below threshold)

17. Posted by maggie | August 5, 2008 4:55 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)

maggie:

OregonMuse

Thank you, Captain Obvious. Gee,
when I think about where this blog would
be without this kind of hard-hitting, incisive analysis, I dance a little jig of despair

LOL!

Posted on August 5, 2008 16:55

Cassy,I hate to be... (Below threshold)

18. Posted by Conservachef | August 5, 2008 4:57 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)

Conservachef:

Cassy,

I hate to be picky, but you really mess up the message when you take this quote:

..that a fence and garage at Westboro Baptist Church became engulfed in flames..

and turn it into this:

Westboro Baptist Church engulfed in flames.

In one case, you have the entire building/compound/facility going up in smoke, and the other... not so much.

And I'm going to agree with the others- this is probably a setup. Either that or some really inept vandals.

Posted on August 5, 2008 16:57

Meh, inside job or the main... (Below threshold)

19. Posted by Gmac | August 5, 2008 5:44 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)

Gmac:

Meh, inside job or the main building would have been torched. Seriously, who would want to burn a fence and a garage to get at a crew of religious whacko's.

Posted on August 5, 2008 17:44

When I saw $10,000, I assum... (Below threshold)

20. Posted by hyperbolist | August 5, 2008 6:16 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)

hyperbolist:

When I saw $10,000, I assumed it was the entire church that went up in smoke, as I assume it's built out of aluminum siding and plywood, and perhaps spare tires for insulation.

I'm pissed off that I even know who these inbred assholes are.

Posted on August 5, 2008 18:16

Hyper, I think this is a le... (Below threshold)

21. Posted by WildWillie | August 5, 2008 7:09 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)

WildWillie:

Hyper, I think this is a leftist off-shoot of the Baptist church. All democrats I believe. I mean, they hate the troops, etc. ww

Posted on August 5, 2008 19:09

You're right, Willie, old m... (Below threshold)

22. Posted by OregonMuse | August 5, 2008 7:42 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)

You're right, Willie, old man Phelps is a registered Democrat and, back during the 2000 election, a Gore supporter.

Cracks me up every time I hear it.

Posted on August 5, 2008 19:42

No, Willie, all leftists ar... (Below threshold)

23. Posted by hyperbolist | August 5, 2008 8:06 PM | Score: -3 (3 votes cast)

No, Willie, all leftists are godless, remember? Get your stereotypes straightened out, else you might have to start considering cases on a particular basis!

OregonMuse--probably lots of d-bags registered in both parties. Y'know, so long as we're making correlations like that, Hitler was a vegetarian, and so is Prince Fielder. So, is Big Prince a Nazi, or was Hitler a Milwaukee Brewer?

Posted on August 5, 2008 20:06

As sick as these folks are,... (Below threshold)

24. Posted by Richard Romano | August 5, 2008 9:01 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)

Richard Romano:

As sick as these folks are, and as disgraceful their antics, I hope they learn something from this.

I know, I'm being overly optimistic...

Posted on August 5, 2008 21:01

You what they probably t... (Below threshold)

25. Posted by hyperbolist | August 5, 2008 9:42 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)

You what they probably think they learned?: They ain't hating the fags and troops hard enough so God torched their mule corral and shooting car.

Posted on August 5, 2008 21:42

OregonMuse--probab... (Below threshold)

26. Posted by OregonMuse | August 5, 2008 10:02 PM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)

OregonMuse--probably lots of d-bags registered in both parties.

Oh, please. You're such a water-carrier for the left, if Phelps had been a Republican, you would have been crowing about it pretty much continually, with much pious verbiage about how what a typical conservative Phelps is, etc., and there wouldn't have been any of this "lots of d-bags in both parties" excuses.

Me, I don't give a rat's ass who Phelps registered with. But it's always fun to point it out and watch you knee-jerk "progressives" sputter and fume.

Posted on August 5, 2008 22:02

No, I wouldn't. I actually ... (Below threshold)

27. Posted by hyperbolist | August 5, 2008 10:38 PM | Score: -4 (4 votes cast)

No, I wouldn't. I actually never do that. I call people stupid, demand that people here apply the same level of scorn and vitriol to reprobates on their side of the aisle, but I don't take any one lunatic (or small group thereof) to be indicative of the character of any far larger group.

If I'm a "water-carrier for the left" then you're one for the right.

Posted on August 5, 2008 22:38

I call people stup... (Below threshold)

28. Posted by OregonMuse | August 5, 2008 11:05 PM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)

I call people stupid, demand that people here apply the same level of scorn and vitriol to reprobates on their side of the aisle,

This is such complete horseshit. You do nothing of the sort, unless it benefits your side. You're one of the most partisan hacks on this blog. You're about as even-handed as Michael Moore.

Posted on August 5, 2008 23:05

PLEASE do not associate thi... (Below threshold)

29. Posted by Denise | August 5, 2008 11:15 PM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)

Denise:

PLEASE do not associate this bunch of maniacs with the Baptist churches. I really wish they would change their name. Frankly, I think the fire was just Satan getting a little anxious to get his hooves on them.

Posted on August 5, 2008 23:15

Hyper, your last comment wa... (Below threshold)

30. Posted by WildWillie | August 6, 2008 7:19 AM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)

Hyper, your last comment was so not true. You continously paint with a broad brush about Wizbangers quite often. Stop trying to act like a reasoned fellow. NO one is buying it. ww

Posted on August 6, 2008 07:19

Once again, the Evil Atheis... (Below threshold)

31. Posted by Looseleaf | August 6, 2008 11:48 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Looseleaf:

Once again, the Evil Atheist Liberal Progressive Knee-jerk Bleeding Heart Conspiracy successfully manipulates the God-fearing Truly Christian Holy Baptized-in-the-Word minions into an intramural battle. Dance to our tune, witless ones! Mwuahaha!

Posted on August 6, 2008 11:48

Hey, those fucks are coming... (Below threshold)

32. Posted by hyperbolist | August 7, 2008 10:00 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Hey, those fucks are coming to Toronto to protest outside a friend's play!:

http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=702577

Unfortunately their ringleader isn't coming with them, else he might get set upon by a pack of angry bears and dykes. I'd pay a lot of money to see him get tortured until he admits that God is dead and we're alone in the universe.

Posted on August 7, 2008 10:00