09.12.09 March on Washington

Any counter demostrations planned?

This is designed to stop health care reform in its tracks. There is some really big money behind this, and you can bet Fox News and the corporate media will give slavish coverage.

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by: Teddy Goodson @ Fri Aug 14, 2009 at 17:07:16 PM CDT

How would you counter demonstrate?

3. Who can attend the March on Washington?

Anyone that believes in limited government, and wants to see lower taxes, less government and more freedom.

We want more intrusive government, higher taxes, a bigger government, and less freedom?  As broadly as they have defined the march, even a Progressive could go -- see matt h's answer as to whether 100% pro-choice is a Progressive value.  

But I do think that 100% choice is a progressive value, in fact the more freedom all people have over their own bodies, minds and lives, the better it is for everyone.

I agree, the Tea Parties have health care backing -- but I don't think that is why a lot of people are coming out.  The Tea Parties started prior to the health care debate -- I think the initial angst was caused by all of the bank and insurance bailouts, for example, AIG (now that was a long heated conversation with my father...).  There is also a lot of angst from the Midwest regarding the irresponsible lending and borrowing practices -- the
"Where's my Bailout" argument.  

I think there is just a lot of angry and frustrated people that don't understand why they can't find jobs, why their retirement has taken a 40% hit, why distant Washington is trying to impose new regulations, how Congress is corrupt, etc.   And then Palin, Rush, FOX, and company use (often irresponsible) soundbites to egg them on.

If anything, it is a States' Rights demonstration, which the Healthcare Lobby and the Republicans can choose to quietly support.  They then sit back, let the anger build, and then say "listen to them, they don't want us to act now.  We should filibuster this health care legislation, and the rest of Obamer's [stuff]."

Then wait until the polls in 2010, where the GOP will take back the House in an off-election year.  [Go ahead and laugh]  I see this tactic as both deeply disturbing and brilliant at the same time.  Win the election battle, but for what?  A country even more bitterly divided?  

Progressives are not taking Palin and her populist movement seriously enough.  "Average Americans" seem to love her for her foibles.  They share her same (feigned?) frustration with corruption and the "evil" media.  She can relate to the average American, because she is the average American.  An average American who is a mere 70 million votes away from having to make those 3 AM decisions that Hillary warned about...

Maybe we need to diffuse the mob mentality by taking away issues that inflame them.  Like in the health care bill, where the end-of-life consultations were taken out.  

Similarly, I question the Democrats' 100% pro-choice stance, the overtolerance of late term abortions, and the seeming elevation of Dr. Tiller to sainthood status.  These are simply "bad facts" for the Progressive cause.  In the legal field, if your "bad facts" get emphasized to the jury, you will lose the case.  And if the "bad facts" get emphasized to the voters, the Democrats will lose the House.  

Pro-life is simply Palin's best asset in influencing the masses.  It allows her to paint pro-choice Democrats as "evil" people who would have her child killed by a Nazi-like "Death Panel" because of the "slippery slope" which leads from abortion and "Socialized" health care.  See cvllelaw's perfect rant (as opposed to this imperfect one).  Statements from Democrats that protesters are un-American, backwards, outrageous, or "Evil-mongers" (from Reid) fall on deaf ears and just intensify the situation.

I wish I had some ideas on how to counter demonstrate, but I just don't.  What would be the message to an angry mob -- "Don't be so Angry?"

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by: RichardWard @ Fri Aug 14, 2009 at 18:33:44 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Let the "facts" bleat for themselves.

The 9/12 protesters will be their own counter-protesters.  This is going to look like a pathetic virtually exclusively white Million Man March. [Maybe I'll spend the time between now and then trying to come up with something more pithy than The Great White Waddle.  Somehow, I don't think the mass media will adopt An Army of Dicks.]  The only question I have is how far short of the actual attendance of The Million Man March will we see on 9/12.  The big moneyed corporate interests will not want to be associated with this sorry spectacle.  I'll settle for a lack of violence, but I hope for someone like Michael Moore or Max Blumenthal to document this.  It would provide a hilarious counterpart to the beautiful Spike Lee film of The Million Man March.

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by: jsrutstein @ Sat Aug 15, 2009 at 09:17:16 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

If they get 100K, I would be surprised

Great White Waddle is pretty good, although my father would not object greatly to your other name (well, I am named after him...).  I think my parents can handle the arduous march from near the White House to Congress, maybe.  

What surprised me is that my parents, who in their 60s are not exactly internet savvy, told me about this thing, and are planning on coming.  Maybe they missed the protests in the 60s & 70s, and are just trying a new life experience?

I did not see any heavy hitters on the speakers list -- Dick Armey seems to lead the bunch -- so maybe they will accept your alternate name.

This thing is on a Saturday, so again, who is going to care?  The MMM was on a weekday, and they almost closed up downtown for the day.  That got some attention.  

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by: RichardWard @ Sat Aug 15, 2009 at 09:57:31 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

By 12 September, who knows

what new angst will arise of which we must be, if not shriven, then encouraged to be enraged about? I believe there will indeed be a counter-message that should be delivered, and it ought not to be a direct point-by-point answer to whatever is being promoted by Fox, Newsmax.com, the front called Freedom Works, et al ("for taxes"? no, not that; "for unlimited big government"? no, not that).....

I do confess to liking your suggestion of The Army of Dicks (led by Dick Armey).  Maybe we should have a tongue-in-cheek contest for the most "appropriate" name.  I can see the first prize as a T-shirt saying "I didn't Attend The Great White Waddle of 9/12/09"  

In any case, we should actually treat these marachers with respect, their gripes are understandable, it's just that they are being used and their anger is being misdirected against the President, who is trying to fix what they don't like, as he promised to do last November. We are in this together, and that should be made evident in order to blunt the attack and cheat Fox, Limbaugh, etc. of leadership.   Democrats are and ought to be the real populist party, not the corporotist Republicans. We aim to Fix But not Destroy.  

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by: Teddy Goodson @ Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 07:40:27 AM CDT