Comments do not necessarily reflect the views of Little Green Footballs.
Obscene, abusive, silly, or annoying remarks may be deleted, but the fact that particular comments remain on the site in no way constitutes an endorsement of their views by Little Green Footballs.
Posts that contain phone numbers, street addresses, email addresses or other personal information will also be deleted, as will posts that consist only of a variation on the word, "First!"
Comments that advocate violence will be cause for immediate banning with no appeal.
Disagreement and debate are welcome, but insults and abuse are not, and may cause your account to be blocked.
REMEMBER: posting comments at LGF is a privilege, not a right. Abuse that privilege, and your account will be blocked.
Nothing to see here, just a handfull of kooks, move along...
Signed,
the MSM
ain't that the truth. but it is pretty amazing due to the smallish ammount of folks that showed up a week or so ago. Wonder what the "ZERO" will have to say about this?
It's wonderful to see average Americans who don't look like they just crawled out of a methadone clinic making themselves heard.
here's what I found on the site: One of the local TV stations–WCPO– did a hatchet job on the Tea Party. The nerd said he had to leave the rally because a few people insulted him and spit at him due to media bias. The spitting, if it occurred, is of course out of bounds, but not unheard of in the Bush years, when the lefties had the saliva going. The station did a 30 second scan of the Square and then did its own internal Fairness Doctrine by highlighting the few Obama supporter signs and doing an interview with the local Dem Party chief. WCPO is a part of the soon to be Ch11 Scripps newspaper/TV empire. The WCPO website highlights the forthcoming second stimulus package and what people can get from it. Thanks for the coverage.
my fingers are crossed in hopes these demos pick up in attendance...this could really make a difference...sooner or later the MSM will get in on it because it's big news...BO is shitting himself
I wonder how many of these people voted for BHO and now realise what they have done?
On this issue,
The same thing they did when it was a Republican administration and congress that demanded a bailout to save the economy. How much of that money went where it needed to go?
We need one of these in Atlanta; anyone know of one in the works?
(OT: The Sunday Atlanta Urinal & Constipation is getting thinner every week. I have mixed emotions about it going under, but it is 95% "ha-ha" and 5% "sorry to see you go, NOT!" I will miss the Frys' ads...)
One of the local TV stations–WCPO– did a hatchet job on the Tea Party. The nerd said he had to leave the rally because a few people insulted him and spit at him due to media bias. The spitting, if it occurred, is of course out of bounds, but not unheard of in the Bush years, when the lefties had the saliva going. The station did a 30 second scan of the Square and then did its own internal Fairness Doctrine by highlighting the few Obama supporter signs and doing an interview with the local Dem Party chief. WCPO is a part of the soon to be Ch11 Scripps newspaper/TV empire. The WCPO website highlights the forthcoming second stimulus package and what people can get from it. Thanks for the coverage.
Well, don’t thank me — thank all the folks who sent me pics and reports! Speaking of which, here’s a Cincinnati tea party photo gallery.
MICHAEL SILENCE NOTES A MEDIA REFERENCE TO A “HANDFUL” OF TEA PARTY PROTESTS AND SAYS “LET’S COUNT ‘EM:”
Cincinnati, Nebraska, Tampa, Lexington, Ridgefield, Conn., Raleigh, Orlando, D.C., Staten Island, Pasadena, Boston, Rochester, N.Y., Jacksonville, Minnesota, Cleveland, Columbus, Mo., Little Rock, Ark., Philadelphia, Kansas City, Harrisburg, Green Bay, Salt Lake City, Fullertown, Lafayette, Boise, Monterey, Maui, Yonkers, Utah, Tucson, Phoenix, Hoboken and Chicago, to name a few.
Also, I guess it’s just been a handful of blogs writing about it.
One of the local TV stations–WCPO– did a hatchet job on the Tea Party. The nerd said he had to leave the rally because a few people insulted him and spit at him due to media bias. The spitting, if it occurred, is of course out of bounds, but not unheard of in the Bush years, when the lefties had the saliva going. The station did a 30 second scan of the Square and then did its own internal Fairness Doctrine by highlighting the few Obama supporter signs and doing an interview with the local Dem Party chief. WCPO is a part of the soon to be Ch11 Scripps newspaper/TV empire. The WCPO website highlights the forthcoming second stimulus package and what people can get from it. Thanks for the coverage.
Man.. If true that's not good. Spitting on the bastards isn't going to get us to where we want to go.
I am not trying to be a wet blanket either, but really, gross missuse of public trust and public money is not something that the GOP can even hope to claim is a purely Democratic phenomena anymore. If the GOP had stuck to proper conservative economic principles - long before the SHTF during those eight years they had control, we might have averted this mess.
This warms my evil capitalist heart! However, I am kind of sad I missed one of those held locally in Missouri, within driving distance for me. Oh well. Hopefully, more will be held.
spitting is bad. The one thing that seperates us from the left and their goofy shenanigans is our decorum (sp?). That way the right can be taken seriously, unlike the code pinko crowd
At the risk of being the Official Party Wet Blanket, I'd say that "tea parties" and "Who is John Galt?" signs are a big fat f*cking waste of time and energy.
Wit is wasted on the witless. Take that to the (failed and in the process of being bailed out) bank.
I see pictures of demonstrators who are trying to reach people that have no idea what on Earth the "Boston Tea Party" was. Of course they don't; nobody's taught history in a public school for the last thirty years. I see demonstrators trying to reach people with "Who is John Galt?" signs that reference the work of Ayn Rand--and they are trying with this to reach people whose knowledge of the world begins and ends with "Lost" and "American Idol"; people who have never heard of Ayn Rand, let alone read a book of hers, in their lives.
And they wonder why they remain irrelevant.
Yes, it's a pretty demonstration. It's as relevant and as hard-hitting as any congress of papier-mache puppets.
Good thing Chas Freeman isn't in charge of the way the government handles this. Otherwise, he'd dump everyone into a giant teacup and pour boiling water over them.
And consider that to be an inadequate response.
/
spitting is bad. The one thing that separates us from the left and their goofy shenanigans is our decorum (sp?). That way the right can be taken seriously, unlike the code pinko crowd
I bet they touch on it some. Cincinnatia has a radio station (700 WLW) that is listen to in much of the state. They will talk about it, which is what makes me curious as to how the rest of Cincy's media covers it.
Good thing Chas Freeman isn't in charge of the way the government handles this. Otherwise, he'd dump everyone into a giant teacup and pour boiling water over them.
And consider that to be an inadequate response.
/
That is so true... I still can't get over how he thought that the Chinese gov't was soft on the people in Tieneman Square. Well the Chinese paid for a good shill. Then the Saudis paid for him...
At the risk of being the Official Party Wet Blanket, I'd say that "tea parties" and "Who is John Galt?" signs are a big fat f*cking waste of time and energy.
I don't think anyone there was under the impression that it was immediately going to change things, however, reminding the powers that be that there are people who oppose what is being done is not a waste of time.
I see pictures of demonstrators who are trying to reach people that have no idea what on Earth the "Boston Tea Party" was. Of course they don't; nobody's taught history in a public school for the last thirty years.
Well, because some people are un-reachable does that mean you shouldn't try to reach anyone else?
I see demonstrators trying to reach people with "Who is John Galt?" signs that reference the work of Ayn Rand--and they are trying with this to reach people whose knowledge of the world begins and ends with "Lost" and "American Idol"; people who have never heard of Ayn Rand, let alone read a book of hers, in their lives.
Maybe it will inspire some of them to google it up.
Yes, it's a pretty demonstration. It's as relevant and as hard-hitting as any congress of papier-mache puppets.
The "left" has eaten our lunch because they have organized, outworked and made more noise than the center or the right. A little noise back wont hurt, and it might lead to a little organization too.
I don't think people participating in these events think that these events alone will change anything. However, it is good to see that they take the time to try to get noticed, without crossing over into insanity and violence (as leftist demonstrators tend to do). This is a good way to convey a message, not more and not less. What will be DONE is a lot more subtle and behind the scenes. But before anything can be done it is good to throw a message out there, to call the kindred spirits, and to let them know that real America is not yet dead, and the return to liberty is not out of reach.
I'm not a fan of these protests but for slightly different reasons. After a quick scroll through the pics I see some Glenn Beck slogans, an anti-abortion crusader, a mention of the Fair Tax, and several plugs for RWNH.org (a Fair Tax site). All of this is nutty/unrealistic. There are also signs for "no more bailouts". Guess what? There are going to be more bailouts. If Republicans were in office we'd get them too. Without sound financial institutions the economy will not recover. This is a fact. They aren't proposing any real world alternatives and the have no detailed plan or agenda. Sure people are unhappy and this gives them a way to vent but it's pointless at best and stupid populism at worst. I have great respect for Glenn Reynolds and I really like Miss Malkin but I'm just not impressed by the whole tea party thing.
At the risk of being the Official Party Wet Blanket, I'd say that "tea parties" and "Who is John Galt?" signs are a big fat f*cking waste of time and energy.
Instapundit points to Edward Cline of Capitalism Magazine, who thinks the backlash against the looters and the elite may be real.
...one cannot help but be pleased with how startled the collectivists and altruists are now by the knowledge that they have not successfully pulled a fast one on Americans. These Americans have come knocking on the doors of elitists or leaning over the café railings or invading their legislated smoke-free bars and restaurants to ask: What in hell do you think you are doing?
The Americans who recently protested the spendthrift policies of the Obama administration and Congress with “tea parties,” and who plan to protest them on an even larger scale in the near future, one can wager are not regular readers of The New York Times. They cannot have much in common with its columnists and editors, nor with the news media.
So the collectivist and altruist elite become very touchy when the people for whom they are “doing good” for their own sake, even to the point of enacting coercive and felonious legislation, exhibit signs of intelligence, resistance and anger.
Cline may be on to something and it may be spreading beyond the hinterlands. The other day, while riding to work on the A train, I noticed a hip-looking type, in his late twenties perhaps, thoroughly engrossed reading Atlas Shrugged. This was in Manhattan, mind you. I've never seen a sight like that before.
We'll know for sure genuine "change" is in the offing when anguished and furious denunciations of it, decrying it as "neo-fascism" (or the like), begin appearing in the New York Times and left-wing blogs.
The "left" has eaten our lunch because they have organized, outworked and made more noise than the center or the right. A little noise back wont hurt, and it might lead to a little organization too.
I agree with you. However, the message needs to be more focused, and for proper reaching of people needs to make those people see their own personal stake in things.
How about pointing out much more strongly that it is not that government can't step in to keep thing working because we let the stituation get that messed up, rather it is the misuse of public funds - going to places that won't fix things at all that is the issue.
The people need to understand that rather than paying welfare monies to poor people, they are now paying vastly more welfare to the wealthy and the politically connected.
If you feel you have to have a demonstration--something which, I will observe, has been derided here (with reason) more than once--then I would say you need to have signs which specifically do not attempt to be witty; do not attempt to be allusive; do not assume knowledge that no sane person would assume exists in the population at large.
Instead, you have signs which state in multiple specific criticisms of the actions of the Obama regime--without any cutesy-poo references to the Boston Tea Party, Ayn Rand, or anything else that the demi-educated public will not understand at a glance.
That's if you're so moronic as to require a demonstration. If you want to be effective--because, face it, a demonstration is weeks if not months of planning for which you get maybe fifteen (dismissive) seconds on the evening news, after which you are forgotten history--then you forget about the stupid demonstration before you waste any time whatever on it, and bend that same energy towards pressuring a) your incumbent Congresscreature and incumbent Senator, regardless of party, so that they know that there is a large and organized constituency (i.e., bloc of votes) with a particular view, and b) pressuring your non-incumbent party (if you live in a Democrat-dominated area) so that they know there is a constituency worth appealing to.
Same energy, but directed for effectiveness rather than for a cheap thrill.
I see pictures of demonstrators who are trying to reach people that have no idea what on Earth the "Boston Tea Party" was. Of course they don't; nobody's taught history in a public school for the last thirty years. I see demonstrators trying to reach people with "Who is John Galt?" signs that reference the work of Ayn Rand--and they are trying with this to reach people whose knowledge of the world begins and ends with "Lost" and "American Idol"; people who have never heard of Ayn Rand, let alone read a book of hers, in their lives.
It's about time people with knowledge of America and American history stand up and do something. We can debate its effectiveness, but I find this refreshing and a good sign. It's not about reaching the "useful idiots" - it's about reaching "everyone else."
And if there isn't enough of "everyone else" to make this stuff effective, then we're doomed anyway. Might as well enjoy it, at the very least.
Any one else's papers carry the NYT story today on how the women of Iraq are worshipping the show thrower? Mine also had a story on how Bush is destroying the enviroment in Alaska (due to mining, not oil). MSM can't give it up.
As far as the women in Iraq hating President Bush, maybe we should leave and let the Bathests reopen the rape rooms.
If you feel you have to have a demonstration--something which, I will observe, has been derided here (with reason) more than once--then I would say you need to have signs which specifically do not attempt to be witty; do not attempt to be allusive; do not assume knowledge that no sane person would assume exists in the population at large.
So literary allusions are out.
Instead, you have signs which state in multiple specific criticisms of the actions of the Obama regime--without any cutesy-poo references to the Boston Tea Party, Ayn Rand, or anything else that the demi-educated public will not understand at a glance.
Because people are too stupid to get them. (Hey... I got it...)
...and bend that same energy towards pressuring a) your incumbent Congresscreature and incumbent Senator, regardless of party, so that they know that there is a large and organized constituency (i.e., bloc of votes) with a particular view, and b) pressuring your non-incumbent party (if you live in a Democrat-dominated area) so that they know there is a constituency worth appealing to.
Perhaps this will lead to a recognition of that... As it is I have rung the creeps phones off the hook, filled up their e-mail boxes and yelled at them whenever they were in ear shot and the SOB's continue on screwing up.
At the very least, this is like Chicken soup, it can't hurt. At most, it might get people involved.
The "left" has eaten our lunch because they have organized, outworked and made more noise than the center or the right. A little noise back wont hurt, and it might lead to a little organization too.
Right. The point of the witty signs is to catch the attention of urban middle class and upper-middle class types who voted Obama because it was a Historic Moment / Palin was scary / Obama was so articulate. This is telling them that Republicans aren't knuckle-dragging extras from Deliverance.
And the very act of protest collects these guys in one place where they can network.
albusteve #30 asked the wet blankets a pretty good question. Perhaps they might take time off their busy schedules of fixing everything that is broken in this country and explain how these protestors can be as effective as they are.
I see no reason a person cannot do both and why do you assume they aren't?...these demonstrations are not some intellectual exercise...it is a device for attention and I hope they get it if it raises the awareness of the leg work that you point out needs to be done...so be it
ABC had a nice piece on Iraq were they were showing HAPPY IRAQI'S who are looking forward to a better Iraq. they all but said the war was over and we WON.
I am not trying to be a wet blanket either, but really, gross missuse of public trust and public money is not something that the GOP can even hope to claim is a purely Democratic phenomena anymore. If the GOP had stuck to proper conservative economic principles - long before the SHTF during those eight years they had control, we might have averted this mess.
Well, yeah. But these protests aren't sanctioned by the Republican Party, which right now is too busy admitting that conservatives are a bunch of Nazis and apologising to Rush Limbaugh, depending on what day it is.
And the "Republicans are HYPOCRITES" argument is a tu quoque. Who cares about Republicans? They're not to blame for this mess to nearly the degree that the Democrats are.
At the risk of being the Official Party Wet Blanket, I'd say that "tea parties" and "Who is John Galt?" signs are a big fat f*cking waste of time and energy.
These demonstrations are for us, not for Washington. We need to feel we are not alone, that many Americans have the same concerns. Taking action is always good, even if it's the wrong action. I think Rebbe Schneerson said that.
I agree with you. However, the message needs to be more focused, and for proper reaching of people needs to make those people see their own personal stake in things.
Sure, but this really embryonic. On the off chance it leads to anything it still would be just the start. Lets face it, people don't like to get involved. Its a pain in the ass to have to insist on people doing what they should be doing anyway; employing a little common sense.
How about pointing out much more strongly that it is not that government can't step in to keep thing working because we let the stituation get that messed up, rather it is the misuse of public funds - going to places that won't fix things at all that is the issue.
Pit it on a sign! Ill make the huge Obama paper Mache puppet. buzzsawmonkey can bring the tea. ;-)
Right. The point of the witty signs is to catch the attention of urban middle class and upper-middle class types who voted Obama because it was a Historic Moment / Palin was scary / Obama was so articulate. This is telling them that Republicans aren't knuckle-dragging extras from Deliverance.
And the very act of protest collects these guys in one place where they can network.
albusteve #30 asked the wet blankets a pretty good question. Perhaps they might take time off their busy schedules of fixing everything that is broken in this country and explain how these protestors can be as effective as they are.
I hear you. At no point am I saying that people should not try to make a stand. I believe that buzzy and the other wet blankest (myself included) are simply pointing out that this in of itself would not be nearly as effective as a movement with a stronger and better set of talking points that will actually reach people.
The kids with the sgns about how in debt they are are a great touch. That says something that people can relate to.
However, the elephant in the room is that when the GOP goes out and talks about fiscal responsibilty these days - given the complete abandonment of it's own principles in the last eight years - it is a sad joke.
This does not mean the fiscal responsibility is a sad joke. It menas that the GOP is going to have a very, very hard time convincing anyone (including me) that they know a damn thing about fiscal responsibility.
In order for the protests to work, they need to not be politically based. They must be factually based. If you make factual statements about why this is bad, you achieve something. If you make this into a right-winger's rant, then the average American will look at this, not hear the economic arguments, and rightfully say "well what did those people know when they were in charge?"
frankly I like the idea of these demo's this is how things start. the bigger these things get the faster the 'zeros' numbers will go down. the obama koolaid drinkers will never change but we aren't going for them anyway this is for the middle who are still thinking.
Someone riled up from attending one of these is far more likely to put down the Cheetos and pick up the phone. Or send an email. Or have the guts to tell some moonbat to STFU and get a bath and a job.
Kinda like everyone is a boxer for 10 minutes after seeing a Rocky movie.
The people need to understand that rather than paying welfare monies to poor people, they are now paying vastly more welfare to the wealthy and the politically connected.
They're rolling back 1990s-era welfare reform too. But that's a quibble. I agree that they shouldn't protest against poor people; that's just terrible politics.
I also find myself in agreement with Killgore that citing Glenn Beck directly is a turn-off to Sane-American Community. Rush Limbaugh references, also, would hurt more than they help. However signs which support the right of Rush Limbaugh to speak, and protest the thuggery of the national Left, should be okay.
"I will observe that unlike most people here I have actually formed and run a national coalition; I have actually lobbied legislation through Congress; I have also lobbied--semi-successfully--on the state level."
Well, there is no place for lobbyists in the Obama administration (Heh) so best help me with the papermache Obama puppet. You are in charge of the ears.
But they are no substitute for direct pressure on incumbents and on the opposition party--rather, they are an auxiliary or augmentation to these efforts.
in NM we have a donk gov, two donk senators and three donk reps...each one has a website addy and they asked me to contact them with my thoughts and ideas...so I stormed the joint and mailed all of them three times now...Senator Jeff Bingaman replyed twice and both replies were the same thank you note for contacting him...so I stupid albusteve gets the impression my people are not listening to me...if there is some kind of demonstration against fed policy of any sort I will be there...they will look out their window in Santa Fe and see ME flip them the bird...that's what I'll do
Well, yeah. But these protests aren't sanctioned by the Republican Party, which right now is too busy admitting that conservatives are a bunch of Nazis and apologising to Rush Limbaugh, depending on what day it is.
And the "Republicans are HYPOCRITES" argument is a tu quoque. Who cares about Republicans? They're not to blame for this mess to nearly the degree that the Democrats are.
I am not arguing that the Dems are good at economics. I am arguing that the party that bills itself as the ones who are good at economics did everything the Dems do.
The fact is that the center right does not have a party that really represents it - and in the specific case of these protests, we are glommed in with the GOP - and everything that they messed up. Therefore we are going to be dissmissed as crackpots.
Couric wins the "Walter Cronkite Award".
I had already given it to her.
The headlines in my life are written by Ayn Rand, George Orwell, and Ogden Nash...you can't make this sort of stuff up.
the dipstick here in Burbank sends the same form letter for every contact. i have stacks. When i get enough of them saved up i will take them into his office.
the dipstick here in Burbank sends the same form letter for every contact. i have stacks. When i get enough of them saved up i will take them into his office.
At the risk of pulling rank, I will observe that unlike most people here I have actually formed and run a national coalition; I have actually lobbied legislation through Congress; I have also lobbied--semi-successfully--on the state level.
There is nothing wrong with demonstrations in and of themselves. But they are no substitute for direct pressure on incumbents and on the opposition party--rather, they are an auxiliary or augmentation to these efforts. A demonstration which is not done for the purpose of affirming a pre-existing and ongoing pressure campaign is worse than useless; it is a waste of time and energy, both of which are precious and scarce resources.
Yes, it is nice to see a mass of like-minded people out there expressing sentiments similar to yours. But unless each and every one of those people understands that the sole purpose of such an affirmation must be to inspire them to pressure their representatives directly, as constituents, they are wasting their time.
Thank you for injecting some sober thinking into my initial euphoria. I realize more than just demonstrating will be done. But I do think this is just a "Hey, we're out there!", a little signal to ones with like minds and no voices (as yet). It reminds me of the "samizdat" being passed around, back in Russia,
What scares your representative or senator is the prospect that you will not vote for him/her the next time.
What if your choice is between, say Al Frankin or Norm Coleman? Not so great or horrible?
Regardless; Not getting re-elected is what scares them, not that a few people might not vote for them. If they see a movement growing they are more likely to be persuaded than just an individual lobbying them.
No I am not saying anyone here is candy assed. God forbid.
I am saying that the very things that made the Left silly will make us silly too if we do not stay on point. Small protests attract the more radical elements.
If we want to effect change we do not want to be dismissed as Paulians and other more "interesting" fringies.
The organized Left is not Medea Benjamin and code pink. Honestly, in as much people like that exist, the easier it is to attack the organized Left.
A better approach is to make th emost reasonable arguments in the world and actually organizre it to make simple, sharp and consistent arguments. We do not need to preach to those who agree with us. We need to reach those who do not.
my congresscritter is in about as safe a seat as you can get even when her hubby was found guilty of tax evasion and bank fraud she still gets 70% of the vote.
every party needs a pooper must be your job buzz.
besides even the next cong. election isn't till 2010
It beats watching a bunch of country-club conservatives from the Beltway cocktail party circuit huffing and puffing about nothing.
The official mouthpieces/front people for the Republicans (and Conservatives in general) don't appear vibrant and strong enough to change a gawdamn flat tire. And we are supposed to trust them with changing the world?
I'll keep stuffing letters into envelopes too, but by God these pricks in Sacramento and Washington are gonna start hearing and seeing a lot more of us than they are used to.
It beats watching a bunch of country-club conservatives from the Beltway cocktail party circuit huffing and puffing about nothing.
The official mouthpieces/front people for the Republicans (and Conservatives in general) don't appear vibrant and strong enough to change a gawdamn flat tire. And we are supposed to trust them with changing the world?
I'll keep stuffing letters into envelopes too, but by God these pricks in Sacramento and Washington are gonna start hearing and seeing a lot more of us than they are used to.
i found about the one in chicago after the fact would loved to have known about before hand i could have been there as it was my day off.
this is how movements start not sitting by your computer being a kiljoy or party pooper.
You and Buzzy both have good points. What I would like to see is that we have one of these rallies with a booth that lists everyone's representative and contact details. If the protest encouraged people to do what Buzzy is saying it would have an amazing impact.
ON the other hand, protests do start small, but, the ones that get big get hold of the public imagination. Abstruse references to Ann Rand will not do it. Psycho Paulians running around will turn people away.
I am not opposed to people organizing. I am opposed to us not doing better.
Our country was born with a protest. We have a right to it. It doesn't have to be put through a sieve, and it doesn't have to be covered extensively in the media...though if it gets big enough, they'll have to cover it.
We don't do it to reach the local "progressives". We do it to let our government know what we think, and we do it to let them know we are willing to take to the streets. It's our right, as Americans - and I don't understand why anyone would discourage us from exercising it.
I understand alot of you don't think tea parties are ineffective; and I can agree with the poster who said letters to the congresscritters results in nothing but a "F*CK YOU" form letter in return.
But the APATHY of the voters is what keeps allowing congress to keep f*cking us. Sorry, but anyone who comes on here and bitches about our gov't and then does NOTHING but criticize those of us as ineffective who actually DO try to get out and do something, I have no respect for that.
If you don't want to do anything yourself then don't. But don't show contempt for those of us who are trying to get the media and the gov'ts attention. At least we're getting off our asses and doing something.
A bunch of Conservatives are actually taking to the streets in protest?
That in itself is reason to pay attention...
Alone, it may not accomplish much, but it is a great beginning. I attended the NYC Tea Party on February 28th and it turned into a way to mobilize the next step: unrelentingly contacting our representatives not only in Washington, but at every level, to express our opposition to Obamanomics and just about everything else the current administration is doing.
Many cities are planning their own protest for April 15th; eventually, the media and the government have to figure out what is going on...if enough people show up with signs reminding our reps that they work for us, we can vote them out and we can push for impeachment. (here's a hint: hold protests in front of city halls and newspaper offices...)
Yes, much of America is ignorant of history, civics (that's why we're in this mess) and literature, but if enough people see numerous signs asking, "Who is John Galt?" eventually some of those ignorati will be compelled to google the name and maybe even pick up and read a copy of Rand's writing.
The msm has spent decades hiding the truth. These protests are a way for the truth to reach critical mass and be exposed to the citizenry. Also, even while we are learning to organize, the current administration is still using it's community organizer tactics to maintain and grow support.
It's down to this: we're at war for our country. He who gets their message across- wins.
Yes, not getting re-elected is what scares them. That is why a few people in concert saying, "We are constituents; we do not support your current actions; we will not support you unless you change" has such incredible resonance with incumbents
Well, I believe that was the idea here. Whether or not it was as effective as it could have been or as something else would have been... Of course it wasn't. The thing is though; it was something.
Most people are sheep;
During the last election the GOP had circles run around it. Everywhere I went I had been beaten by a dozen Obama-bots. If this gets people energized and gives them a sense of belonging or identity then I am for it. If it enables them to become more organized and more focused in their objectives than we are on our way to your ideal. Again, it was something, which is more than most have been doing. If it gets built upon then good. If not, it was a walk on a sunny day which didn't do any harm.
buzz get two slices of bread add the baloney you been spreading then at least you will have lunch.
Okay, let's all step back from the precipice.
Buzz: I am sorry that I treated your initial comment with such disdain. I concede your point, and Killgore's, that these demonstrations are set to become an embarrassment.
But they are a great place to get people together so that organisers such as yourself can turn that energy into something that DOES work. There are hundreds of people involved here who would love to sign a petition to their Senator and do all the stuff you did. They just don't know how yet.
That's where you can help. You can set up a committee to hand out signs, and perhaps more importantly to censor signs from Nirthers, Ronulans, global-warming chickens and protest-warrior mobies. You can set up a petition booth. You can invite a state representative.
I wonder how many of these people voted for BHO and now realise what they have done?
To be honest, very few of them would be my guess.
What I see:
Similar exploitation of children as at anti-war protests. Can we stop handing kids signs and having them memorize talking points as if they really understand the issue? These kids are 8 or 10 years old, they don't understand shit except the ideas you indoctrinate them with. Let them figure it out on their own, just be a good parent, not a brainwasher.
People protesting but won't actually accomplish anything, just like the anti-war protests. It's a bunch of people who either think they are doing something, or just wanted to protest about anything, or wanted to maybe make it on TV.
Ugh. I was really hoping stupid protests were a leftist tradition. I guess I was wrong. The more I see both sides the more they look the same.
This is EXACTLY the sort of thing that needs to grow into multi-million people protests all over the country. WAY TO GO CINCINNATI!
Huge numbers of people protesting all the time, flooding the congressional switchboards and filling the mail room at the White House and Capitol is the only way that congress and the president will listen and act. It worked to bring down LBJ during the 60's and it can work again.
Obama is just as committed to taking all your money as LBJ was to sending troops to Vietnam. Hell, its only taken a couple of months for him to spend 2 TRILLION dollars. If enough of the people speak, the candy ass politicians who only want to stay in office will buckle eventually. We just have to be stronger than they are.
The biggest problem to overcome is the people who pay taxes and who do the work in America actually have jobs that take a lot of their time (I am at work right now on Sunday afternoon). These folks don't have as much time for activism like some unemployed, asshat code pink protester does to get out and make their voices heard. They are a little busy right now trying to hold it all together, and supporting their families.
The next biggest problem is the media. It will take millions of people to get the attention of the media, and even with those numbers the media will still not cover it with the same vigor some liberal protest will generate.
It is possible to turn it around, but it will take EVERYONE to get out there and make their voices heard. That is the American way……If you value your country, it is worth it.
IN my dist. it is just democrats leftist donks supported by the SEIU vs. DALEY DEMS.
CROOKS VS SOCIALISTS.
this kind of protest can light a fire under a movement and for me that is a GREAT THING frankly giveing support to some congresscrook is a total waste of time will not change my life at all.
People protesting but won't actually accomplish anything, just like the anti-war protests. It's a bunch of people who either think they are doing something, or just wanted to protest about anything, or wanted to maybe make it on TV.
Ugh. I was really hoping stupid protests were a leftist tradition. I guess I was wrong. The more I see both sides the more they look the same.
Protesting goes back to the birth of our nation. I'm truly surprised to see how many people here wish to discourage it.
Maybe you all will disagree, but I can almost guarantee you that Barack Obama is aware of this growing movement. Politicians know that regular working people have to be pretty agitated to participate in something like this. It hurts nothing for Democrats to see this opposition in the street.
I honestly don't know why it would be better to sit on our asses and type.
Similar exploitation of children as at anti-war protests. Can we stop handing kids signs and having them memorize talking points as if they really understand the issue? These kids are 8 or 10 years old, they don't understand shit except the ideas you indoctrinate them with. Let them figure it out on their own, just be a good parent, not a brainwasher.
I guess parents shouldn't take their kids to church or synagogue either... right?
At the risk of pulling rank, I will observe that unlike most people here I have actually formed and run a national coalition; I have actually lobbied legislation through Congress; I have also lobbied--semi-successfully--on the state level.
Buzzsawmonkey, if you've run "effective" national coalitions in the past, WHY haven't you fixed everything yet?
From what I've seen in the last few years, e-mails, faxes and lobbying haven't helped our cause in the slightest.
We all have our parts to play in winning back our country. We won't have people in bow ties and flashy suits telling us to sit down and shut up.
We may have to embarrass a few of the Thurston Howell III Republicans to get this job done.
What press do we get otherwise?
Is a camera crew going to cover us all paying our taxes?
going to work?
changing diapers?
donating to the Salvation Army?
yelling at the TV set?
nope.
But 10,000 conservatives (dressed to go to work)marching in a dignified, purposeful, and fed-up manner will definitely get some attention. Maybe enough to make the local news van check it out.
We can demonstrate without making a mockery of ourselves.
Nothing scares commies like large groups of people unafraid to walk and talk together.
And deep down, every smelly hippy that sees those crowds will be shitting their pants in fear. Because they know we can back our words up.
And they know which side of the culture war believes in the 2nd Amendment. A big reason they want us to sit down and shut up and keep working.
I believe that buzzy and the other wet blankest (myself included) are simply pointing out that this in of itself would not be nearly as effective as a movement with a stronger and better set of talking points that will actually reach people.
As far as this being about indoctrinating children -
My child is bombarded from every angle with liberal agenda (we live on the East Coast...) It's my duty as a parent to instill within her a moral compass. It's also my duty to teach my child everything that school doesn't (!)..things like: our Constitution, how and why our government was founded, how our government functions, what is a republican form of government, what is socialism/communism, etc. She interacts daily with children who are already 'indoctrinated' with liberalism; I'm teaching her how see beyond the falsehood of socialism/liberalism/multi-culturalism/moral-relativism/whaterisms that are diametrically opposed to liberty. I am also teaching her that pride, love if you will, for one's country is a positive attribute.
I came of age during the movement of, "let's demonize the US and treat oppressive regimes with respect because we really don't understand their culture," and I experience a lot of intelligent people in my generation who are 'brain-washed' against our nation (why they feel that way, yet won't move to the despotic regime of their choice ...I don't know...) and who dismiss the evils of socialism quite readily. Oh, yeah, I've noticed that there are a lot of conspiracy theorists among the leftists...why is that? In being conditioned to withhold judgment, could they have lost all ability to reason?
With all due respect for your past successes and sacrifices, and I do respect them, we have been floating in a big septic tank of reality for a while now.
You HAVE to have more advice than chatting with some elected idiot in his office about foreign affairs. Or writing letters.
frankly i would rather talk to my fellow 'rubes' than any pol inside the beltway. esp given that the congresscrook from my dist would give a shit anyway what i though in fact i have seen her lie when she said no one opposed a position she took when i personally did send a letter saying just that.
frankly it is a total waste of time talking to hard line leftist donks. frankly some times it is a waste of time sending letters to even republican pols. given some of the crooks we send to washington. better they fear us anyway.
With all due respect for your past successes and sacrifices, and I do respect them, we have been floating in a big septic tank of reality for a while now.
You HAVE to have more advice than chatting with some elected idiot in his office about foreign affairs. Or writing letters.
Buzz had nothing to say to me after I suggested that he, or someone like him, attend one of these rallies to impose discipline and sign people up for the tactics he himself would use. I have to conclude that Buzz has had his pride weakened and that he's digging in.
Lobbying is expensive and very time-consuming. The work I did back when I was foolish enough to do for the greater glory of mankind rather than for pay. In the last 20 years I've had lots of people who've wanted me to do the same thing over again, but have been too f*cking cheap to even consider paying what the work is worth.
Did your mother ever tell you that if you call a woman "Sweetie", when she's not your sweetie, it's considered condescending?
And, no, I can't pay your salary. I'm a single Mom with a teenage son. I work full-time, am trying to save for my son's college education, I'm working on getting another degree myself (my field is not as profitable as it once was)
...however, I have become involved in an organization to set up a state constitutional convention in 2010, I stay in contact with my local representatives, and my son has volunteered to assist in local elections, helping the disabled into/out of the voting precincts.
I want to be more effective! Tell me what to do, not what not to do. Maybe I'll listen...
Do you think that mass e-mail makes any impression on government?
I've signed e-petitions and added some of my own thoughts to many of the letters but I wonder if these are even counted by politicians. So, if demonstrations are a waste of time what does that say about all the e-mail going out?
wow, what a huge crowd in cincinnati.
i love it. it is nice to see so many citizens show up and express their displeasure at these out of control big spending dems who are taking the money out of our pockets. and our children's
i can't wait to go to one in n.y.c
i hope these tea parties spread like wild fire.
it will force the spot light on o.
and how many disapprove of him and his socialist b.s.
he needs to squirm even if he is the exalted lightworker.
ha.
At least Obama's getting people away from their computers & couches, and out "community organizing"--without labor bosses & ward heelers FORCING people to "protest".
God bless these rubes!
May they multiply & get out the vote to throw the bastards out in 2009.
A bunch of obvious left-wingers throw a protest and it's all "Ha, ha! What a bunch of loons. Look at those goofy costumes and idiotic slogans. What a waste of [air/skin/time/money/whatever], why don't they take a shower and/or get a job".
A bunch of possible right-wingers (chicken costumes and Paulbot signs aside) throw a protest and suddenly it's "Change we can believe in".
I am gonna take the unpopular position here and side with Buzz. Unless there is a coordinated and concerted effort that involves something more effective than crowding together and waving signs around, then it's all just sound and fury.
I have had the opportunity to sit in on a few proceedings at the state capitol while there were a significant number of right-leaning protesters on the lawn, and I can tell you that the legislators and the major media outlets take no notice. The protesters didn't even warrant the effort of derision from the ones they were protesting.
I'll bet you that more coverage was given to, and more people have heard of, the happenings of National Zombie Day than of anything the Tea Party has done so far.
Still, I cannot disparage the efforts of the Tea Party, there is nothing wrong with public protests. I just don't think it's practical to expect a groundswell of change from protests alone.
The word from the bandstand said that there was about 3,600 present.
All in all the crowd mostly behaved, I did not move around much, but there
were the usual malcontents shouting Obama slogans from time to time from one of the side streets. The speakers were all on point about taxation, but the message that we need to let our officials in Congress know what we think was kind of lost in the mix. The only obvious media presence that I noticed, a tv van from one of the local stations only stuck around for about five minutes and then took off. Typical of them.
Two items that I took away from the experience.
1) It made me feel better to see that I am not alone in my disgust with our government.
2) Don’t be quiet (I have not been) about your feelings about what is going on. Make your feelings known. Tell your local, state, and federal officials what you think about upcoming issues before they vote on them.
At the risk of being the Official Party Wet Blanket, I'd say that "tea parties" and "Who is John Galt?" signs are a big fat f*cking waste of time and energy.
Because it's so much more effective to just sit at home and sulk?
A bunch of obvious left-wingers throw a protest and it's all "Ha, ha! What a bunch of loons. Look at those goofy costumes and idiotic slogans. What a waste of [air/skin/time/money/whatever], why don't they take a shower and/or get a job".
A bunch of possible right-wingers (chicken costumes and Paulbot signs aside) throw a protest and suddenly it's "Change we can believe in".
I am gonna take the unpopular position here and side with Buzz.Unless there is a coordinated and concerted effort that involves something more effective than crowding together and waving signs around, then it's all just sound and fury.
I have had the opportunity to sit in on a few proceedings at the state capitol while there were a significant number of right-leaning protesters on the lawn, and I can tell you that the legislators and the major media outlets take no notice. The protesters didn't even warrant the effort of derision from the ones they were protesting.
I'll bet you that more coverage was given to, and more people have heard of, the happenings of National Zombie Day than of anything the Tea Party has done so far.
Still, I cannot disparage the efforts of the Tea Party, there is nothing wrong with public protests. I just don't think it's practical to expect a groundswell of change from protests alone.
S/B, I'm having trouble reconciling the bolded parts of your message with "Still, I cannot disparage the efforts of the Tea Party..."
If there was no coverage of the Tea Parties anywhere, how do we all know about them? When Santelli started this, it took off like wildfire. Maybe the media CAN ignore us, but we know for damned sure they can ignore us if we don't do anything. (And by the way, what is National Zombie Day?)
I personally saw protests work during Bush v. Gore. I saw Republicans very loudly demanding their right to observe votes being counted, and getting their way. I saw people that have never protested a thing in their lives (I organized protests, so I'm not talking out of my ass) take to the streets and get noticed.
The Democrats are counting on our apathy. I don't understand why some people want to do the same old thing we've always done. Quietly writing letters is fine, I suppose, but when decent people are moved to loud objection, there is a reason.
Well, Buzzsaw, for one, there is no rank I am aware of on the internet. "Pulling rank" is just being an elitist prick. So is the utter condescension and contempt you display for your fellow travelers in this mess we have found ourselves in. So screw your attitude.
BUT. You also happen to be a condescending prick who is right about a few things. I agree, the protests are worthless for actually accomplishing something legislative.
What they are worth it is for connections. For sharing ideas. Sharing a common anger and determination. And yes, blowing off steam even has a value. What makes you think that the tea parties are the only thing people involved in them are doing? How arrogant do you have to be to say they are wrong for doing this because it doesn't fulfill your standard of past legislative accomplishments? That attitude, elitism, and cynicism is part of the problem.
You seem to be forgetting that despite your experience (which I applaud and respect) and how it has made you cynical (which I don't), this tea party movement is exactly what this Republic was founded on.
Lots of folks here also seem to forget one other important thing: there IS a difference between the LLL protesters and us. They are wrong and we are right. It's that simple.
They are professional dropouts who pointlessly protest as a lifestyle against things like "war hurts puppies and kittens" and "end poverty". The rest of us only get angry enough to congregate when moved to by dire circumstances. And that only happens when there are REAL ideas and issues at stake. That alone is worth it. Because they have always protested and always will. We haven't. That is also worth something.
You are right that these tea parties alone will not accomplish anything substantive legislatively. But damnit if it isn't awesome to see thousands of regular hard working Americans actually getting mad enough to go out and raise some fuss. I know just seeing them on the blogs have made me write my Congresscritter long before you blessed us with your wisdom about this.
Both what you say has as much merit as what the tea party movement is doing. Both are necessary to stem the tide of an ever expanding government.
But I guess every Revolution needs a John Dickinson to poo poo the rowdy Sons of Liberty and direct us a little bit with the wisdom of experience. So you aren't completely worthless then, which is nice.
Protesting goes back to the birth of our nation. I'm truly surprised to see how many people here wish to discourage it.
Maybe you all will disagree, but I can almost guarantee you that Barack Obama is aware of this growing movement. Politicians know that regular working people have to be pretty agitated to participate in something like this. It hurts nothing for Democrats to see this opposition in the street.
I honestly don't know why it would be better to sit on our asses and type.
Going back to the birth of the nation doesn't make it automatically good. Many things can be found in tradition, many stupid stupid things. Appealing to tradition is the position of a losing stance. Find something more substantive.
Barack Obama is certainly aware of it, the question is how much will it affect him. Bush has shown that even record numbers of protesters don't change policy in any meaningful way. Indeed it was on the basis of politicians, including prominent Republicans, calling for a change in direction in Iraq including the surge, that produced the change there. But clearly, not at all the "pull out" that anti-war protesters wanted. So really, who created the change? Protesters are loud, obnoxious, and don't accomplish anything.
Going back to the birth of the nation doesn't make it automatically good. Many things can be found in tradition, many stupid stupid things. Appealing to tradition is the position of a losing stance. Find something more substantive.
Being condescending is not an argument, but in any case, I reject the concept that the rights our forefathers fought for are obsolete because a handful of internet jockeys are trying to tell me it doesn't work anymore.
Barack Obama is certainly aware of it, the question is how much will it affect him. Bush has shown that even record numbers of protesters don't change policy in any meaningful way. Indeed it was on the basis of politicians, including prominent Republicans, calling for a change in direction in Iraq including the surge, that produced the change there. But clearly, not at all the "pull out" that anti-war protesters wanted. So really, who created the change? Protesters are loud, obnoxious, and don't accomplish anything.
Try again.
What would be the point? Are you suggesting that because Bush didn't cave to the demands of the left, that no protest in American history ever worked?
I was there also. It was a pretty good event. It was my first protest ever.
I just watched our local Fox 19 coverage of the event and I'm pretty pissed off. They led the story with "Thousands protest Obama's bailout plan but it was not necessarily peaceful." They showed a clip of a woman holding a small placard shouting "Obama!" over and over, implying that the crowd turned on her. That is total bullshit. I was standing right there. All that happened was that there were 4 or 5 people following here around and every time she shouted "O-bam-a!", they shouted "sucks!". It was a blantantly misleading news report.
IMHO, the best speaker was talk show host Mike McConnell. His arguments against big government, bailouts and higher taxes are rooted in common sense and cannot be denied. I encourage you to check out his podcasts at [Link: www.700wlw.com...] . But I will never watch Fox19 news again because now I know firsthand that they simply do not report the truth.
I just watched the local news affiliates' 11:00 news and the tea party was the top story on them. They were pretty decent reports and were pretty clear about the goals of the tea party. They all also mentioned that the majority was peaceful but there was a small group that chased the reporters away. I saw none of that. I saw reporters interviewing people and then groups of people crowding behind the person being interviewed to show their signs. On CBS 12, after the story, they had a reporter live at the now empty and dark fountain square (why do they do that?). The anchor asked about reporters being harassed. The reporter said "a small group" made them "feel a little uncomfortable" and they were "verbally abused".
Oh yeah, I forgot. The purple shirt lady shouting "O-bam-a" was on all 4 local news shows. She was there about 15 minutes. I saw one other counter-protester who was causing a stir right in the middle of the crowd. He was jumping around and shouting, but I couldn't hear what he was saying. He got escorted to the fringe.
my fingers are crossed in hopes these demos pick up in attendance...this could really make a difference...sooner or later the MSM will get in on it because it's big news...BO is shitting himself
April 15th, coming to a city near you. Search Tea Party.
On the other hand, if that "getting together" doesn't translate into organized voting and organized action at the local party level, it doesn't mean sh*t.
Sure, but how do you know it isn't or won't translate into action at the local level. Seems to me that the tea parties are the very expression of action at the local level since many seem to involve telling people to do the very things you are telling us to do...at least from what I have read about them, there seems to be a lot of organization below the surface that involves internet networking about effective means of getting our political classes attention. The protests themselves, from what I have seen, are just the public expression of a deeper growing movement that is more organized that just a few people holding signs.
I hope more comes of it. I also intend to get more active myself because of these events. They inspire.
Politicians understand only a few things and they respond to a shorter list of things.
They respond to 'pain' ... pain is having difficulty raising money.
Money is the fuel of politics.
Don't believe me? Try running a campaign without any.
An imposable pain is their comfort with the voters.
When they have confidence in the voters or their perceived opinion or positions or wishes of 'their' voters the politician (and their staff) will maintain that 'comfort' level.
Pain is also imposed by forcing a politician to divulge their positions.
(The FMSM has failed miserably in this regard.)
Now, on to advice on how to influence a politician.
A friend who was dealing with a Senator some years back estimated that to have a face-to-face with him in his D.C. office would cost him $1K per minute via contribution(s).
A simpler method is to contact them via mail.
An email is convenient but not so effective ... a flood of emails on a similar subject BUT each being unique will get their attention. Form letters are quickly recognized for what they are.
A more effective method is to WRITE letters. If your penmanship is nice, take the time and go that route. If not (this includes me) then a typed SIGNED letter is the next best and perhaps the most effective method of contact. A well composed letter (single subject are the best) will usually get a response.
Want to do something interesting? Write TWO letters on some issue you are wishing to get action. Write one letter with a certain protagonistic slant and the other (signed by your wife/husband perhaps?) holding the opposite point of view. If you receive two different responses ( I did from John McCain re: firearms legislation) you'll have a hoot reading and comparing them.
In the end we must follow my Dad's advice: "Vote the bastards out."
I just hope we get a fresh invigorating population of Conservative candidate's in 2010.
Think of these "tea parties" as air support, but the only way you are going to win a war is on the ground. While it will be energizing to attend one of these tea-parties, get your boots on the ground and take real action to take your country back.
And hold your fire on buzzsawmonkey; what you are being given is good intel. You may not like the fact that buzz is being a "wet blanket", but tempering enthusiasm with cold, hard reality (and experience with what works and what doesn't) is not a bad thing. Buzz has been there, done that, collected the T-shirt and doesn't want to live thru the experience again, but take the sage advice and incorporate it into your battle plans.
"101st Fighting Keyboards, Lizard Battalion! PRE-pare Word and PRINT those letters! DO. NOT. EMAIL. Man the telecom and call YOUR representatives. Organize into groups, the larger the better and DEPLOY to their offices and man your positions until you have confronted them with your issues! Make it CRYSTAL-CLEAR that your support for them is dependent on their actions and you WILL be observing. Above all, remain clear-headed, do not let your emotions to get out of control and be forceful but BE RESPECTFUL! That is all.
Being condescending is not an argument, but in any case, I reject the concept that the rights our forefathers fought for are obsolete because a handful of internet jockeys are trying to tell me it doesn't work anymore.
What would be the point? Are you suggesting that because Bush didn't cave to the demands of the left, that no protest in American history ever worked?
Tell it to MLK.
Show me where protests alone have worked. The whole reason the anti-war left failed so miserably to get the changes they wanted was because all they really wanted to do was protest.
"Forefathers forefathers forefathers" Again, appealing to tradition, the last resort of a losing argument. The Forefathers did many things that are laudable, and many things that were absolutely reprehensible. And there were certainly enough Forefathers to have disagreed with each other on any given issue so that anyone could claim to have the Forefathers in mind. You think a particular issue they fought for is worthy of keeping? Argue it on the merits and not on this vague and useless idea of "tradition". We, thank God, do not march lock-step with the ideas of the Forefathers, because if we did, we'd barely be half the nation we are today. Almost literally.
I think if you believe MLK was only a protester you need to go back to school. Protesting by itself does nothing, yet he did so much more, and he was hardly an isolated movement. There were many undercurrents pushing along the Civil Rights movement. How do you think he would have fared if it had been only him and some people marching around?
I was agreeing with Buzzsawmonkey, and I agree with you.
At least the protests are allowing people to look at the signs and think, "I agree with that.", and maybe decide to do something.
I also agree with him that the people we are sending our disapproving mottos to probably don't understand what they mean.
The book "Atlas Shrugged" is a long drawn out affair, but I recall in college many of the students reduced it to "This woman sleeps around and makes money." They always sneered when they discussed the book, and they only read the book as an assignment. (This was in the early eighties.) They came to this conclusion because their professor espoused the same feelings.
You can tell what they think of our music by the places we are forced to play it in. This looks like a good spot for a livestock show. -- The Mothers of Invention were opening for Cream in April of 1968 in Chicago. The place was very large and did look like it had been used for displays of cattle and other such animals.
Frank says: