Author Topic: Any Tea Partygoers? (Read 12578 times)

MicroBalrog · « **Reply #51 on:** April 17, 2009, 01:38:57 PM »

You protest. Guy who is a member of the other party wins. You stop protesting because you are happy that he won, even if he doesn't really do the things you wanted done. Nothing actually happens. You're still not protesting because you're afraid of accidentally supporting the Democrats by doing so. Then a Democrat gets elected. Return to stage one.

Perd Hapley · « **Reply #52 on:** April 17, 2009, 01:43:52 PM »

So, your theory is that small-govt. protests would have kept Bush in line, or would have fended off Obama? I'd say No on the first, maybe on the second.

The problem remains that the anti-statist contingent is deeply divided, and lacks leadership.

But I attended a few political demonstrations during the Bush years, anyway.

MicroBalrog · « **Reply #53 on:** April 17, 2009, 02:03:24 PM »

My theory is very simple.

It is well-known that there were less small-government protests, less money for anti-statist charities and organisations, and less pressure in all its forms on the government under Bush than under Clinton. Even the amount of homeschooled children fell off. It's not just my view that complacency was at fault, it's a very common view of various analysts and policy experts.

Take the pressure off politicians and they revert to their natural behavior. Your alternatives are to elect guys whose natural behavior is to enhance freedom - and they tend to be few in modern politics - or to keep up pressure.

freakazoid · « **Reply #54 on:** April 17, 2009, 04:01:46 PM »

I really wish I could of gone. I believe ther was one here in Chicago but since it was during the weekday and I'm not phase 2 yet I couldn't go off base. :(

Headless Thompson Gunner · « **Reply #55 on:** April 17, 2009, 04:57:25 PM »

Am I the only one who thinks Obama made a big political mistake by pretending to not know about the tea parties? Doesn't that seem like the exact wrong political strategy for opposing something like this?

Monkeyleg · « **Reply #56 on:** April 17, 2009, 06:15:14 PM »

No, I think Obama is really missing the mark, as are those who ridicule or try to diminish these demonstrations.

Conservatives/libertarians generally don't have demonstrations for reasons already stated. When they do, there's something going on, and the socialists are being myopic if they ignore this.

Gowen · « **Reply #57 on:** April 17, 2009, 08:49:00 PM »

Quote from: Monkeyleg on April 17, 2009, 06:15:14 PM

No, I think Obama is really missing the mark, as are those who ridicule or try to diminish these demonstrations.

Conservatives/libertarians generally don't have demonstrations for reasons already stated. When they do, there's something going on, and the socialists are being myopic if they ignore this.

I remember the 2000 elections protests, Republicans chanting "GET OUT OF CHENEY'S HOUSE!" The dems had a freak fit, conservatives just don't do that sort of thing. I think that the protests were part of the reason algore capitulated.

Perd Hapley · « **Reply #58 on:** April 18, 2009, 01:09:32 AM »

Quote from: MicroBalrog on April 17, 2009, 02:03:24 PM

My theory is very simple.

It is well-known that there were less small-government protests, less money for anti-statist charities and organisations, and less pressure in all its forms on the government under Bush than under Clinton. Even the amount of homeschooled children fell off. It's not just my view that complacency was at fault, it's a very common view of various analysts and policy experts.

Take the pressure off politicians and they revert to their natural behavior. Your alternatives are to elect guys whose natural behavior is to enhance freedom - and they tend to be few in modern politics - or to keep up pressure.

That all sounds right. I guess I just don't think of protest as being much like "pressure." I went to the tea party to make myself feel better, not because I thought it would change Obama's mind.

Besides, weren't donations down for EVERYBODY, since 11 Sept?

Finally, just so you're ready for grad school stateside (fingers crossed), it should be "there were ~~less~~ fewer small-government protests, less money for anti-statist charities and organisations, and less pressure in all its forms on the government."

Sorry, pet peeve.

MicroBalrog · « **Reply #59 on:** April 18, 2009, 07:40:00 PM »

Well, arguably speaking, a protest is a way to appeal to the general public over the heads of the politicians, media organizations, etc.

Also, some nice pictures I dug up online:

Perd Hapley · « **Reply #60 on:** April 18, 2009, 09:29:02 PM »

Somebody in Saint Louis had a "Join or Die" flag. The ironic bit is, most spectators who see it will think it's a death threat against anyone who won't join the Tea Party. :rolleyes:

Really like that "w/o Consideration" sign.

roo_ster · « **Reply #61 on:** April 18, 2009, 09:44:53 PM »

Perd Hapley · « **Reply #62 on:** April 18, 2009, 10:36:22 PM »

Quote

They were a pretty non-threatening lot, unless you are threatened by little old ladies with American flag hats and doggies they dote on.

WHERE?

DON'T LET EM GET ME!

roo_ster · « **Reply #63 on:** April 20, 2009, 04:39:38 PM »

Made it to instapundit, typos & all:

http://pajamasmedia.com/instapundit/77011/

Now I know how the software engineer feels (who kludged together a GUI for some throwaway demo) when his GUI is picked up (or forwarded by a friend), used as part of a mission-critical system, and displayed as an example of his work for uncounted hordes of observers.*

Yeah, not "engrish" bad, but not what I would have chosen as an example.

* Had this happen to a co-worker. His GUI lived on in various incarnations for nearly a decade. "I never meant it to be used as anything other than a kludge to let some management weenie interact with a system that was designed to run constructively [IOW, without human intervention----jfruser]. Every time I see that turd displayed, I wish I cringe."

Perd Hapley · « **Reply #64 on:** April 20, 2009, 05:23:57 PM »

That's one of the best ones I saw here in Saint Louis.

http://pajamasmedia.com/instapundit/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/teapartyoceanside0419-600x450.jpg

And we had Blacks there, too, if CNN is reading this. :rolleyes:

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Author Topic: Any Tea Partygoers? (Read 12578 times)

Perd Hapley

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MicroBalrog

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Perd Hapley

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MicroBalrog

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freakazoid

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Headless Thompson Gunner

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Monkeyleg

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Gowen

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Perd Hapley

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MicroBalrog

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Perd Hapley

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roo_ster

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Perd Hapley

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roo_ster

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Perd Hapley

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