Who Marched to Washington, District of Columbia? Why?

[amicus]

MSNBC’s Chris Matthews said only four people were in the crowd, the rest were cardboard cutouts…(sorry, he didn’t say that, just seemed like a ‘hook’ for the opening sentence)

The estimates of the crowd size vary from, “a few thousand”, to “Tens of Thousands”, to over a million.

Who were they?

“Racists!” Protesting a black man in the White House. I heard that on CNN & MSNBC.

“No blacks or Hispanics in the crowd!”, heard on the same venues.

Who are they really and why were they there?

Is this the end of the movement…or the beginning?

Czar Van Johnson is gone, ACORN defunded, ObamaCare, stalled in Congress.

Is this movement responsible or is it only Fox News?

What’s next? Will ObamaCare pass? Will Cap & Trade pass? Can Congress pass anything with Bi-Partisan support?

A peaceful revolution? No one was arrested in D.C. during the demonstration.

What happens in the Elections of 2010?

Has a 'sleeping giant' been awakened. Is there really a moral Majority?

Interesting times, eh?

Amicus

 

[Dragonlipz]

The only thing missing from the 'Fox March' was the KKK robes to make it official......

 

[JackLuis]

I expect that most of them were the "Little People", those of us who are tired of carrying the ball while the Cheerleaders get all the beer.

I also have no doubt that they also bought into the propaganda upon which this Astro-Turf is founded and funded by the Health Care industry and big Pharma.

How many were KKK, Who knows? That they were white and politicized there can be no doubt.

Tens of Thousands is a respectable number and Mr. Obama should answer their concerns, but in a respectable forum, not in the Fox Selected Sound Bites (FSSB).

 

[TE999]

MSNBC’s Chris Matthews said only four people were in the crowd, the rest were cardboard cutouts…(sorry, he didn’t say that, just seemed like a ‘hook’ for the opening sentence)

The estimates of the crowd size vary from, “a few thousand”, to “Tens of Thousands”, to over a million.

Who were they?

“Racists!” Protesting a black man in the White House. I heard that on CNN & MSNBC.

“No blacks or Hispanics in the crowd!”, heard on the same venues.

Who are they really and why were they there?

Is this the end of the movement…or the beginning?

Czar Van Johnson is gone, ACORN defunded, ObamaCare, stalled in Congress.

Is this movement responsible or is it only Fox News?

What’s next? Will ObamaCare pass? Will Cap & Trade pass? Can Congress pass anything with Bi-Partisan support?

A peaceful revolution? No one was arrested in D.C. during the demonstration.

What happens in the Elections of 2010?

Has a 'sleeping giant' been awakened. Is there really a moral Majority?

Interesting times, eh?

Amicus

Mainstream Media coverage of an event is inversely proportional to what they agree with. If it's an ACORN rally, let's say, they're all over it saying how noble it is the people are so outraged. If it's a Taxpayers Tea Party rally, it's denigrated and dismissed forthwith as a bunch of extremists. They also play the race card if it's convenient saying the only people who disagree with the Big O are obviously racist because he's (sorta) black.

Now that people have begun to realize their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren are being burdened with a crushing federal debt for untold years, it gets their attention and you're seeing the result. Depending on which media outlet you patronize of course.

 

[amicus]

Beck on Fox has been showing a board with the number of times the various stories are covered on Network television news, cable news and some of the major newspapers such as the NY Times, Washington Post, WSJ...the disparity is amazing as none covered the Czar Van Johnson until after the fact of his resignation.

Where are NBC, ABC, CBS? There is minimal coverage on the ACORN scandle and Beck promises another video taped episode on tomorrows program, one that is said to be even more outrageous than the previous ones...

I really wonder there this is all going....

Amicus

 

[Pure]

interesting sideline

the photo of the massive crowds in DC, posted at several right wing blogs, was of an event several years back!

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-m...arty-photo-shows-large-crowd-different-event/

Malkin has retracted her 1-2 million estimate.

http://michellemalkin.com/2009/09/12/celebrating-the-912-rallies/

 

[Huckleman2000]

The Million Moron March.

 

[amicus]

Well, gee, this is exciting. Best estimates were about 70,000 in attendance, which ain't peanuts, I would like to have just half of them carrying advertising signs for my books, mighta sold a few.

I have the feeling there will be another chapter written to this ongoing grass root/astroturf movement....

we shall see...

Amicus

 

[Liar]

Who were they?

“Racists!” Protesting a black man in the White House. I heard that on CNN & MSNBC.

“No blacks or Hispanics in the crowd!”, heard on the same venues.

Who are they really and why were they there?

Straight questions. I'll try my hand at some straight ansewrs.

(IN MY OPINION-caveat apply to all, or course.)


If I were to guess, they were mostly people who are angry and scared about the dire economic situation they themselves and the country is in, and who have bought into a very simplisitc fabricated answer as to where to direct their anxiety. It's no more rational to channel it all into Hail-Mary Obamaphobia than is it to blame the entire crisis on "Wall Street cronies" like some on the left do. Nither side can deal with that it's a terribly complex issue, and cling to devils they can understand.

Is this the end of the movement…or the beginning?

Niether. It will contínue, in roughtly the same size (the Tax Day tea parties were bigger in total than this). The size of the confused protests will match the economy. If it gets better, the protest fill fade away. If it stays bad, they protest will continue.

What happens in the Elections of 2010?

Reps will win back a handful of seats, in which the pull from Obamas headwind in the presidental election tipped the scale in favor of the Democrat. (ETA, or similar disctrict in terms od demographics. The ones that had an election in 08 is not up for grabs now, are they?) The hooplah that goes on right now will have marginal impact. More important is what the economy looks like come election day.

Has a 'sleeping giant' been awakened. Is there really a moral Majority?

Yep there is a moral majority. They won in the last election. But the minority is louder, more frightened of...uh...something, and more passionate. Which does account for something. But part from accountinng for good TV, I'm not so sure what.

 

[Liar]

Well, gee, this is exciting. Best estimates were about 70,000 in attendance, which ain't peanuts.

I'd say that's accurate. Glenn Beck, the man if any that would gain on inflating the number, won't mention a number higher than that.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

LIAR

So far the discontented have no voice such as Thomas Paine was for the Revolution. The Left has no voice, either. Glenn Beck imagines he's the conservative voice, but he's not the ONE. But if THE ONE comes along, its all over for Obama and the Democrats. I'm speaking of someone like FDR, who mangled Republicans whenever they opposed him.

 

[JamesSD]

FiveThrityEight (if you're not reading it you should be) had a nice article today hypothesizing that a lot of the 9/12 folks were probably Ron Paul supporters. As a group they don't seem to echo the sentiments of the mainstream Republican Party, and I imagine a lot of them would have checked "dissaprove" for President George W. Bush as quickly as for BHO. FOX News is pandering masterfully to these angry groups. They're a ratings gold-mine.

There's a lot of anger in this country right now, and there aren't a lot of easy targets for blame. If someone loses their job to the natural business cycle or as a result of larger economic shifts created by new technology, they don't sit at home blaming the business cycle or computers. They blame illegal immigrants, or the elected officials. I do find it sadly ironic that a lot of those same people would actually benefit from the Health Care Reform Act.

When the natural business cycle turns around far enough that unemployment starts to fall, a lot of this hub-bub will die down. History shows that the unemployment rate correlates pretty closely with levels of social unrest, and also that economies cycle no matter what. However, there may be a lasting unrest among some groups as white men continue to gradually lose power due to shifting demographics. BHO won without carrying a majority of either whites or men (although Dems rarely win Men). The Republican Party leadership sees the shifting demographics and has reached out to church-going Latinos and Asians fairly effectively. However, there's a chunk of the base that doesn't want them in the tent. Truly these are fascinating political times; We could easily see the republicans retake the presidency and congress in 2012, or we could see the Paultards splinter from the social conservatives and the Republican party collapse.

 

[JamesSD]

Reps will win back a handful of seats, in which the pull from Obamas headwind in the presidental election tipped the scale in favor of the Democrat. (ETA, or similar disctrict in terms od demographics. The ones that had an election in 08 is not up for grabs now, are they?) The hooplah that goes on right now will have marginal impact. More important is what the economy looks like come election day.

I generally agree with this as far as the House goes. There were definitely some Obama coat-tails ridden in '08, and midterm elections generally go poorly for the President's party. Gaining control of the House will be tough, but not outside the realm of possibility.

However, the Senate map isn't great for Republicans in '10. If all goes well for them, they could take Colorado from the Dems, successfully defend their open seat in Florida, along with defending the always entertaining David Vitter in LA and their seats in AK, SD and KY. The Dems are going to keep Ted Kennedy's seat, so my best case Senate scenario for the Republicans is 59-41. A "landslide" scenario could maybe tip them as far as 56-44, although making a list of 4 seats they could win is challenging.

If the Republicans do take the house it will lead to a repeat of the later Clinton years, which was good for the economy. Gridlock is frustrating for wonks, but tends to make the average person happy; it encourages the status quo and they don't have to worry about politics and hear those angry people shouting at each other on TV. The stock market also likes divided governments because it's more predictable and there is less perceived risk.

 

[TE999]

I generally agree with this as far as the House goes. There were definitely some Obama coat-tails ridden in '08, and midterm elections generally go poorly for the President's party. Gaining control of the House will be tough, but not outside the realm of possibility.

However, the Senate map isn't great for Republicans in '10. If all goes well for them, they could take Colorado from the Dems, successfully defend their open seat in Florida, along with defending the always entertaining David Vitter in LA and their seats in AK, SD and KY. The Dems are going to keep Ted Kennedy's seat, so my best case Senate scenario for the Republicans is 59-41. A "landslide" scenario could maybe tip them as far as 56-44, although making a list of 4 seats they could win is challenging.

If the Republicans do take the house it will lead to a repeat of the later Clinton years, which was good for the economy. Gridlock is frustrating for wonks, but tends to make the average person happy; it encourages the status quo and they don't have to worry about politics and hear those angry people shouting at each other on TV. The stock market also likes divided governments because it's more predictable and there is less perceived risk.

AFIK the Republicans don't need to surge back in '10. They need to spend more time in the wilderness as penance for 8 years of continuously fucking up and being so parochial about their base. When they're more inclusive and a lot less tight-assed in re social issues, then they will become a true opposition party.

They also need to decide exactly what they're in opposition to.

Out of control spending...they did that already when they ran the show.

Supporting the Fundie agenda...bad move, those people live in the 19th Century and have a lousy fashion sense.

Sidelining minorities...blame the silk stocking elitist wing of the party for that one, they don't want to share the dais with their servants. They gotta go.

National defense, Homeland Security, et al...Not much of a problem in terms of support...but much of the party wavers or keeps quiet when accused of warmongering and jingoisim...grow a pair, people.

IMO there's a wing of the party that's comfortable being on the outside looking in. Just as long as they can be Senator Blowhard and Congressman Obfuscate with all the perks and bennies that come with the office, they're content. They also avoid any heavy lifting when it comes to national issues. "Well, we tried, but..."

This is a two party governing system, but some times you never know it.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

It's time to let the Fascists run things. We'll decimate Washington and Wall Street and Hollywood so well you'll think youre think youre at a dry cleaners full of hanging empty suits.

 

[Belegon]

I'd say that's accurate. Glenn Beck, the man if any that would gain on inflating the number, won't mention a number higher than that.

I think Liars tongue is firmly in cheek, here... but just in case...

Here is video of Glenn Beck claiming there was a crowd of 1.7 million. Yeah, Glenn. And my release on Aug 31st was actually number 1 on the NYT list and they just didn't want an erotic novella getting that kind of recognition.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1YBqpk69s0

Seriously, these people are dangerously delusional. They don't even bother to try and justify their lies anymore, they just count on their target audience dismissing any dissenting opinion or voice.

 

[Liar]

I think Liars tongue is firmly in cheek, here... but just in case...

Here is video of Glenn Beck claiming there was a crowd of 1.7 million. Yeah, Glenn. And my release on Aug 31st was actually number 1 on the NYT list and they just didn't want an erotic novella getting that kind of recognition.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1YBqpk69s0

Seriously, these people are dangerously delusional. They don't even bother to try and justify their lies anymore, they just count on their target audience dismissing any dissenting opinion or voice.

Ah eh. Didn't see that one. I don't know the time stamp on this, though. He supposedly did at least at one point agree with the 70k.

I wonder, was that Beck blooper prior to this:

http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2009/09/size-matters-so-do-lies.html

And this?

http://michellemalkin.com/2009/09/12/celebrating-the-912-rallies/

Yes, I'm linking to Michelle Malkin. Ami will be so proud.

 

[Pure]

i loved this

tea part fellow with a cute slogan

[obama's] "an indonesian muslim turned welfare thug.'

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/15/tea-party-leader-melts-do_n_286933.html

Repugs are fanning hate by all means possible. Hoping for further acts of violence which our ami will applaud. (Rand held one shouldn't initiate the use of force; ami adds... 'unless they are really slimy and are destroying the Republic.')

can a wave of hatred reverse GOP fortunes?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/15/angry-populism-could-save_n_287166.html

====

personally i like the two fellows interviewed on TV from the Washington demonstration: they said, "we're from utah and montana, and *this time* we did not bring our guns.'

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

The Democrats are smelling more and more like a tavern restroom the next morning.

 

[DesertPirate]

MSNBC’s Chris Matthews said only four people were in the crowd, the rest were cardboard cutouts…(sorry, he didn’t say that, just seemed like a ‘hook’ for the opening sentence)

The estimates of the crowd size vary from, “a few thousand”, to “Tens of Thousands”, to over a million.

Who were they?

A friend of mine (retired Col., Army) was there with 200 Vets.

Best crowd Guesstimate was 75,000 - 85,000.