I was as angry after the 2000 election as I've ever been in my life

I did not, however, show my anger by standing outside town hall meetings with guns strapped on, by tearing posters of Rosa Parks out of peoples' hands, and by shouting down public servants with astroturfed talking points.

I think this behavior will fizzle out, but it's really shocking.

:thumbsup:

I went to ORGANIZED protest marches. Problem was, the news would barely cover them. Even the more reputable news outlets downplyaed the number of people who took to the streets. Yet these maniacs get all the airtime they want.

...and neither Gore nor Kerry should have thrown in the towel so soon.

As it was, we were simply labeled SoreLoserman's, discredited, then disregarded. Once the focal point of our rage removed themselves from the fray, ours was but a pointless display of impotent rage.

I'm a news junkie and didn't read a paper for over two years.

We protested. We organized. We marched. But, because we weren't bullies, because we weren't outrageously pathetically shouty and ignorant, we were ignored. It really shows what side the media in this country is on. And I don't mean that they are just on the side of Republicans -- they are on the side of making money by making "good television" and keeping their corporate-controlled status quo in place.

...along with the Dem establishment, we would have gotten plenty of coverage.

If Republican leaders called bullshit on this stuff, it would end pretty quick too ~ but they won't.

new media strategies. Of course the corporate media don't want to hand over power to the people.

The people have to take it.

We can't expect to get a fair shake. We need to look at the reasons why the progressive viewpoint can be so easily swept aside so often in our society. One of the big reasons, IMHO, is that our positions are reasoned and logical, but that doesn't naturally translate into the quick sound bites that our national discourse unfortunately has come to rely on. Also, people really are woefully uninformed and lacking in critical thinking skills. It's so much easier for their side to just stir up anger and hatred and fear. That's always been easier. We need to get smart about getting the message out.

....."nice guys finish last"?

I believe we are continually out-organized and out-strategized. I'm not sure there's a Dem in Washington with a dime's worth of strategic brainpower.

Well, when I'm feeling generous, I think that the Dems in Washington perhaps just think that because their positions are logical and are more for the benefit of "the people" that "the people" will naturally go for it. They are still barely aware of the "What's the matter with Kansas" phenomenon, IMHO. I don't think they realize, for whatever reason, that they need to fight back -- they seem continually startled when things like the Teabaggers or the Birthers or these Town Hall protesters show up and are slow to respond. I'm not sure why they haven't caught on as this is hardly something new, but they seem to continually be surprised by these things. I think there are a lot of us out here who are not "in" with the Dem party who could enlighten them.

Also, I'm not putting all the blame on the Democratic leadership. Yes, there is some leadership behind the town hall protestors, but where are our people? Why aren't we there to back up our point of view? I'm not saying no one is, but sometimes I fear that we get complacent faster than they do. For many reasons, conservatives live in a state of wanting and needing to feel oppressed. It's part of their world view and sense of self, I think. So, these things come up and they are easily whipped into a frenzy, because they are waiting for it -- they are expecting it. How can our side get that sort of passion? We should have it -- we are working TOWARDS something, something good, and that should inspire us. But, fear is a great motivator ...

consistently. He's been a breath of fresh air in that regard.

And part of the 2000 selection was the astroturf riot that stopped vote counting.

:P

Bush inspired me to attend my first protest in 25+ years. He inspired me to get back in the game from a political perspective, not just fighting over "my issues."

At the first demonstration in front of our city hall steps, there were eight of us.

I participated in at least three anti-Bush protests in Cincinnati. There were only a few of us the first time, but as the years rolled by and the abuses mounted, so did our numbers. It had been at least 30 years since I'd taken to the streets.

I think this will get ugly, and I think it's as Matthews said -- race-based.

The protest that shut down the ballot counting in Florida was for show. A bunch of imported, paid staffers terrorized the officials. They might as well have said, "We're not an angry mob, but we play one on TV." They were only dangerous to the electoral process, not to anyone's physical safety.

But the foaming-at-the-mouth wingnut zombie lynch-mobs of today are out for blood, and they are terrifying.

the flames are being stoked by web sites and hate media and local groups that have been forming. The people behind this "movement" are counting on this.

my larger point is that it would never occur to me to act the way some of these people are behaving. They are truly unhinged, and it's even more frightening that there are loud voices like Beck and Palin egging them on. I fear these people. No one needed to fear that I would do any more than yell at them.

no gun....

Pretty obvious that there is a double standard here.

Talk about whiners!!!