The American Spectator

Angel| 4.16.09 @ 4:15PM

One of our own, RSM--you've made us proud!

Truth Hurts| 4.16.09 @ 4:25PM

Corporate media news giant Fox News sponsored these absurd "demonstrations."

Folks, admit it.

Liberals can't do talk radio, and conservatives don't know how to do grass roots protests.

People whose political sympathies lie with bankers, generals, and factory owners in third world countries just aren't going to know how to do a demonstration.

I mean, just look at these things. I saw one presided over by Ted Nuggent, for crying out loud.

Austin Scott| 4.16.09 @ 5:43PM

I saw a very convincing demonstration in Chicago. Absurd only if one finds the prospect the middle and lower-middle classes in crowds inherently amusing.

Of course, there was no looting, burning stuff, or hitting policemen. So, by left-wing standards, I don't suppose it counted as the real thing.

As to sympathies with "bankers, generals, and factory owners in third world countries," the crowd was united against Wall Street, certainly supportive of the military, and largely felt large corporations had betrayed the public trust.

Fox News was not conspicuous.

My work colleagues, all liberals or leftists, were slightly stunned by the vigor and size of the event.

Julia| 4.16.09 @ 5:53PM

Ted NUGENT, troll.

Bob| 4.16.09 @ 7:54PM

I was at the Birmingham Party.
RSM you did a fine job enjoyed everything you had to say.
Dear Hurts;
I would agree there were significant differences, in that the crowd wasn't paid to be there or bussed in... as in say the recent “spontaneous” demonstrations at the homes of AIG execs or the SEIU members who and their handily printed signs and scripts were attacking buildings and damaging property...
I noticed another deeper difference, no one there hated America. As a matter of fact it was obvious that those in attendance were there because they have a great love of this country and are extremely concerned that the political class is ignoring the constitution.
I have seen rallies presided over by the likes of Jane Fonda, Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins and that paragon of wisdom and intelligence Sean Penn, what is your point only leftist entertainers can legitimately express their views?
No one there was destroying property, or wearing a mask to hide their identify, while the people in attendance were sincerely angered at what the political class in general has done to this great country and Obama in particular with his trillion dollar here and trillion dollar there approach to expanding government they were not profane or vulgar.
Your guy has spent several trillion dollars on expanding government and he hasn’t been in office 100 days yet and you are not at all concerned.
I am sorry if we seem unpracticed in the venerable art of protest, we have spent the majority of our time and lives working hard paying taxes, taking care of our families and being responsible, something your team would do well to embrace.
But don’t worry about us too much you will find us to be quick studies and I suspect that you will have cause downstream to be impressed at how effective we become as that too is in our nature..

Jim| 4.16.09 @ 10:09PM

Truth hurts,
Obviously you feel very little pain.

RM| 4.16.09 @ 11:24PM

No, Truth Hurts - I went to the first Tea Party in my city (I saw it announced on a web site, like four hours before it was scheduled to begin) and it was sponsored by small conservative group in my town. I put my name on an e-mail list at that party and I got an e-mail to come to a restaurant (which donated the room) to talk about yesterday's Tea Party. I then heard about FreedomWorks, and signed up with them, too.

We are not very good at grass roots, it is true. But then we all work, volunteer at church and school and are kind of busy just keeping our lives going.

Plus, George Soros isn't paying any of us. And we did not get any money from the stimulus. . .

Fox publicized the parties to get ratings. The radio talk-show hosts are jumping on our wagon; GOP leaders are trying to do the same.

In at least a couple cities, the organizers told the GOP they did not want them speaking. The GOP leadership seems genuinely bewildered - "what are we supposed to do? Uh, we voted "no" before we voted "yes", or, um, we had to vote "yes" on the stimulus to get the money for that new library. So can we come speak at your rally?"

Ooooh, boy.

We have been betrayed by the GOP and the radio hosts and Fox are just being opportunistic.

That's why the DHS is trying to warn the National Guard and local law enforcement against us.

They know we are speaking the truth about the out-of-control federal government and they need to discredit, smear, criminalize and ultimately shut us up any way they can.

They will probably succeed. But that does not mean we should stop speaking what we believe is the truth - this is a nation of laws, not of men, and if the government cannot or will not abide by the law of the land (the Constitution), the people should call them out on it, and campaign for those who will obey that law.

Ran| 4.17.09 @ 12:37AM

" That's why the DHS is trying to warn the National Guard and local law enforcement against us. Well, yeah - fair number of 'em were at the rally. In civies. Carrying signs.

Truth Hurts understands pain... he's grabbin' the ankles, and man, the Truth Hurts.

Julia| 4.17.09 @ 12:56AM

It's foolish to knock Fox--how else will we get our message out? MSNBC? And Rush doesn't need Tea Parties to get great ratings. What's your problem, RM?

RM| 4.17.09 @ 1:08AM

Julia - sorry - was not trashing Fox. My point was that they did not "sponsor" the parties. They run a business, they thought that covering them would be good for ratings, they were right.

I am sick of being told by the left that I am "astroturf" - bought and sold by big money interests. George Soros does not pay me. Fox does not "sponsor" our tea parties. Sean Hannity and Glen Beck do not dictate my agenda.

I know what our constitution says, I know the federal government is operating way outside the bounds of that constitution, and I am not alone.

We don't need to be paid, prodded, "rent-a-mobbed" by any corporation. Am I grateful we got coverage? Yes - but I am not going to let go unchallenged that I am a tool of Fox, or Beck, or Hannity in the same way that the nuts in ACORN were the tools of Soros and his totalitarian thuggish ilk.

I say "were" because now our tax dollars are funding those rent-a-mobs.

RM| 4.17.09 @ 1:36AM

Ran - I did not say law enforcement is necessarily buying what DHS is selling.

But DHS is pushing it hard at the Guard and local law enforcement.

This is not going to stop. They will keep trying to ridicule, threaten, demonize, isolate, smear, slander and criminalize what, until two days ago, I thought was healthy, patriotic dissent. (As in "dissent is patriotic." H.R. Clinton)

The more we "speak truth to power", the angrier and more aggressive they will get. When ridicule and veiled threats don't work, what do you think they will try next?

I hope nothing, but history and reason tell me that that is probably a vain hope.

Julia| 4.17.09 @ 2:29AM

RM, who leaked the report? It wasn't meant for the public. Do you know why Obama is pushing this attack? They couldn't even cite examples--what's their point? It's shockingly fascist. Also, I agree Fox is a business--we need their publicity, right? I understand you're upset with liberal lies--but they know Fox isn't behind the Tea Parties; and their criticism won't make me critical of Rush or Fox. That's all.

Julia| 4.17.09 @ 2:31AM

Just remember; we told the truth about ACORN--they're lying about Fox. Make 'em prove their accusations.

William| 4.17.09 @ 3:52AM

I love the Left Hivemind's sputtering anger. Chris Matthews' jowls are probably still quivering.

"Spread My Work Ethic" - the ultimate refutation to the entire agenda of these parasitic primitives.

RM| 4.17.09 @ 11:11AM

Julia -

I haven't said anything about Rush at all. I don't have any opinion about him.

My point was that talk radio does not set my agenda (nor lots of other peoples') vis-a-vis oppressive government, any more than the mainstream GOP does. My knowledge of history and our Constitution drives my distrust of the big spending, thought-controlling monster in DC.

"Conservative" (anyone right of Mao these days is being painted as a "conservative", it seems) media are the strawmen that the left is trying to destroy.

And, as for "make 'em prove it" - they don't have to prove it. All they have to do is say it. Over and over and over.

An example is this "gun control treaty" that Obama is pushing on his Mexican trip. The meme, refuted by FACTS on Fox, is that 90% of Mexico's guns are from the US, and is being used to justify "tighter controls on licensing and tracking of US guns." So, a lie, told over and over, and unrefuted except by Fox, is going to be used as justification to sign a treaty which requires the US to "track" law-abiding American citizens' guns. They don't need to prove a damn thing.

My only hope is that there are enough Senators willing to do the right thing, but that is a pretty faint hope at this point.

William - Love it. You are right - the ultimate refutation. Also the ultimate threat to statist ambitions, however.

Julia| 4.17.09 @ 3:17PM

RM, you mentioned, 'radio hosts', right? That's why I brought up Rush. The liberals DO have to prove their accusations--or we've already lost. We can't let them set the premise--we've always made that mistake. We have truth on our side, and I won't cede that much power to them--I demand that they prove their lies.