Armed Polite Society
Main Forums => Politics => Topic started by: MrRezister on April 13, 2009, 09:54:02 PM
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It seems like there are quite a few places where people will be gathering on Tax Day to protest outrageous government spending. I know of at least 3 large parties happening here in Arkansas, and I've decided to take half a day off and go check out the crowd and show my support. I hadn't seen anything about it on here yet, so I was wondering if any of you had plans to attend one of these? I mean, I know that only wookie-suit-wearing weirdos believe in reducing the size of the government, but this seems like a potentially effective way to let local officials see just how many people are actually paying attention to where their tax dollars are going. So, what do you think? Have we got an actual movement on our hands, or just a temper tantrum by a bunch of malcontent anarchist wannabes? :lol:
Local Tea Party Page:
http://arkansasteaparty.com/default.html
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Going.
I know I won't like it that much, just because I grow more misanthropic by the day. But I guess I just want to be somewhere where it seems like people are actually standing up and saying "NOOOOOOOOOO!" to the idiocy that seems to have taken hold. =(
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I was going to go to the local one, but I have to work that day so I guess Ill just have to check the local news to find out.
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The one here doesn't start until 6.30 pm. Which makes sense, if you're going to hold it on a Wed.
Cue Microbalrog to lecture us about how we should be willing to take off work to save the republic. =)
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Video of a "Liberal Tea Party" featuring epic fail.
http://www.youtube.com/user/FrankStrategies
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I really want to go (it's in Madison, about 1.5 hours away), but I'm behind on work as it is.
If turnout is good nationwide, the media will give it some coverage, tepid though it may be. If turnout is poor, though, it will be an even bigger story. There's the danger.
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Wasn't going to go, but then I found out it starts at six, which means I'll be off work. So yeah, I'm going.
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Planning to attend two of them. One in Salem from 11-2, and another in Corvallis from 4:30-?
Thought for a while I was going to have to miss it due to work. But, I had a little something come up that is cause enough to require some time off, and so I'll make a day of it.
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Pittsburg, KS 5:00 PM.
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The one in Des Moines Iowa is in the middle of the day. I have class at noon on Wednesday so I am out. I wish they would do it in the evening.
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Nearest one is Appleton, but I will (unfortunately) be busy elsewhere... :(
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I had planned to go, but a last-minute business trip has put the kibosh on it.
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We've got one downtown at 6:00pm. I'm going to go. Our police department has a nasty history of excessive use of pepper-spray and batons so it might get interesting. My wife can't understand why I want to go and the only reason I can give is emblazoned across her refrigerator: "Freedon isn't Free!" Let's hope I make it back without a side trip to the local jail or hospital.
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So is anyone else going to be wearing a bandanna on their face, and throwing rocks/looting/burning stuff? :lol:
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Our police department has a nasty history of excessive use of pepper-spray... so it might get interesting.
So you'll leave with clear sinuses? :laugh:
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State Capitol, Raleigh, NC, 6:30. Be there or be square.
Not sure what to expect. I figure it can't hurt to add my body to the crowd.
If nothing else, I want to see it with my own eyes, and then compare what I saw with what gets reported in the media.
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>I figure it can't hurt to add my body to the crowd.<
Can we put that to a vote? :laugh:
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Shaddup, you.
:P
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:neener:
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Well, let's see: I'll be at the Capitol Hill Club for a training seminar tomorrow anyway. I wonder if they'd miss me around lunchtime?
TC
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http://www.indianapolisteaparty.com/
We'll be there. With great big signs.
I'm going to mail a bunch of tea as well.
Sadly I doubt they pay one bit of attention other than to assess the threat we "right wing extremists" present.
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Do we have to dress like Indians?
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We have to dress like colonials dressed like Indians.
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Depending on how hard I work tonight, I might show up for the Dallas tea party.
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We have to dress like colonials dressed like Indians.
Gotcha.
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I went to one at 12 today. About 70 or 80 people showed up, pretty good for a small town.
Forgot my pitchfork, though.
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Had about 50 people walking around my courthouse, carryinig signs, singing "God Bless America", and marching behind a man carrying a "Don't Treatd On Me" flag. Good Stuff!
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ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As activists across the country hold national tea parties, Campaign for Liberty president John Tate issued the following statement:
“The concept of the modern day Tea Party began on December 16, 2007 when supporters of Ron Paul’s presidential campaign came together and raised over $6 million online in one day. The tremendous success of that event lead activists in the freedom movement and members of the Campaign for Liberty to begin planning today’s Tax Day Tea Parties.
“Success always brings company, and it is very positive that so many conservatives, libertarians, Republicans, constitutionalists and even progressives have come together and joined our efforts. All Americans who are sincere about cutting out of control government spending are welcome to stand with Dr. Paul and the Campaign for Liberty as we fight to take our country back.”
Congressman Ron Paul is the honorary chairman of Campaign for Liberty. For more information, visit www.campaignforliberty.com.
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Yawn.
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Yawn.
Hater alert! Hater alert! :police:
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leavin right now for the local one
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Notice how the White House is treating these parties?
"Those people."
"Whatever they're demonstrating about."
Indeed. Stand by WH; you'll have to notice and acknowledge us sooner or later.
TC
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Notice how the White House is treating these parties?
"Those people."
"Whatever they're demonstrating about."
Indeed. Stand by WH; you'll have to notice and acknowledge us sooner or later.
TC
"Those people" threw tea bags onto the WH lawn..... :laugh:
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"Those people" threw tea bags onto the WH lawn..... :laugh:
(https://armedpolitesociety.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs636.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fuu88%2Favenger29%2Fth_64174001gIW7Nt7sheadbang.gif&hash=078c7cf20cc209861b2fe325872c412348701ef3)
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Went. Amusing. Lots of fun signs. I really liked the t-shirt that said something like, "Imagine a perfect world, where all the kids go to private schools and we can build bombers with all that money we would have wasted on education." And "Don't tax me, bro!"
I also liked how it ran just like you would expect a conservative protest to run. Started on time, lasted about an hour, then the last speaker informed us it was over. Everyone filed out in an orderly fashion. A bunch of us went and stood calmly in line at Hardees, to eat red meat and other fried foods.
I do feel somewhat chagrined that I used public transportation to get there. So enviro-weenie of me. =) It was down-town, though, so cut me some slack.
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"The White House says the president is unaware of the tea parties and will hold his own event today," ABC's Dan Harris said on "Good Morning America" on April 15.
Above quote from Newsbusters. Kinda gives the President the appearance of being not all that bright.
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Anybody catch the female CNN reporter and her rude treatment of one *derogatory term deleted*? (Gawd, I get giggles just saying that word, now...)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6G3fvNhdoc0
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Just got home from the one here in Portland OR, or as one local radio host likes to refer it, Moscow on the Willamette.
Was amazing. Probably 5000-6000 people filled in the center of downtown. We had one counter-protester arrested who was getting darn close to assaulting people, otherwise you really didn't even notice that the police were there. A few whack jobs in the mix for fun, this being Portland and all, but overall a great event. I was actually invited to speak due to my involvement with the Appleseed Project, kinda un-nerving, but it was a great opportunity, and hearing people cheering at the words of our Forefathers was amazing.
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Anybody catch the female CNN reporter and her rude treatment of one *derogatory term deleted*? (Gawd, I get giggles just saying that word, now...)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6G3fvNhdoc0
And they really think this is going to work? That people will actually watch this and go "Oh, this woman is awesome, I SO agree with her point!"
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Micro, you miss the sad reality: some WILL...
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Micro, you miss the sad reality: some WILL...
I understand a lot of people buy into media manipulaton. Almost all of us do, to some extent. In fact, to some extent, even I probably do, much as I like to imagine myself as an awesomely independently-minded person.
But that's not manipulation, that's just her being mindblowingly rude on live TV.
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Wow. It boggles the mind that someone actually labeled that YouTube clip, "CNN Reporter Harassed...."
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That's Reporting/Journalism ??
Fair and Unbiased ??
"Do you know that the State of Lincoln is getting $50 billion from the stimulus package ?"
Ummm, Ms. Reporterette, your socialism is showing....
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State of Lincoln huh? when did we add a 51st?
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We had a good time, my guess was around 5000 showed up on the lawn of the national WWI memorial.
We even got our picture taken for the fallingstar http://www.kansascity.com/934/gallery/1144824.html (http://www.kansascity.com/934/gallery/1144824.html)
(https://armedpolitesociety.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.kansascity.com%2Fsmedia%2F2009%2F04%2F15%2F20%2F539-TeaProtest_al_METRO_041509_341f.standalone.prod_affiliate.81.jpg&hash=9fd7084b75fc683d0308176a6b3e584037a99db8)
My Wife's Lipstick sign
(https://armedpolitesociety.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.kansascity.com%2Fsmedia%2F2009%2F04%2F15%2F20%2F786-TeaProtest_al_METRO_041509_240f.standalone.prod_affiliate.81.jpg&hash=90d3ac7424f9c294151fded485d97bb2cd77deb0)
The crowd as a whole
(https://armedpolitesociety.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.kansascity.com%2Fsmedia%2F2009%2F04%2F15%2F20%2F89-TeaProtest_al_METRO_041509_580f.standalone.prod_affiliate.81.jpg&hash=4637d65c2a6e40c347c6342ff6d2353f7d9d8507)
The other interesting thing I noticed besides all the very polite and intelligent people I met and talked with.
I didn't see ONE peace officer, and when it was all said and done, not one piece of trash had to be picked up.
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I went to the one In Columbus Ohio at the Capital Building. Was a good turnout even being cold and damp. About 7,000 people. Wish the PA was a little louder as I had some trouble hearing all that was being said.
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The Raleigh tea party was pretty cool. Lots of good folks, normal people, with lots of flags and funny signs. There were probably 2,000 or 3,000 of us there.
I wonder what the total tea party turnout was nationwide? Seems every city had a party with at least a few thousand folks.
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The one in Indianapolis was pretty crowded. A couple thousand at least I'd guess.
Just like the rest of you have said, the cops looked board, people were very nice and didn't get out of hand, and most of the people were normal folk.
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News reports are either way under reporting the numbers, or just ridiculing the participants.
We had around 400 at the Pittsburg, Kansas Tea Party, it was report as a couple hundred. Joplin, Mo had over 1,000 and it was reported as a few hundred. They are constantly referring to the people as tea baggers and making snide sexual remarks.
Granted that every political group will bring out a few nuts. The fringe, or maybe they were plants, are the ones getting the majority of the air time.
It doesn't really matter anymore, too many people are PISSED off.
First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.
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then you let the movement go off track. Then you lose again.
At the St. Louis Tea Party, I got a brochure with a schedule of eight or ten more tea parties planned for the next year-and-a-half. Fourth of July, next 15 April, and so on, until Nov 2010.
Anybody else thinking about going to other tea parties? Will it last?
I'm thinking the media will ignore any future parties. I'd still go, of course.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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. :(
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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. :police:
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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:
(https://armedpolitesociety.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.snowflakesinhell.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2009%2F04%2Fcontinental-army-soldier.jpg&hash=fd93058ed419866f775dcb8477dc189e6ae4b4ba)
(https://armedpolitesociety.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.citizen.co.za%2Findex%2FAFPData%2Fenglish%2Fshared%2Ftop%2Fphoto_1239809165076-4-0.jpg&hash=cac74cf7f98b8d06f02b68ce521e3cdfaa8d1fe9)
(https://armedpolitesociety.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fhjnews.townnews.com%2Fcontent%2Farticles%2F2009%2F04%2F16%2Fnews%2Fnews01-04-16-19.jpg&hash=a017a415b217664e2aac2bb01f32136c5da6020a)
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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. :laugh:
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Howdy:
I was out of town 15APR, so I was bummed I couldn't go to the Dallas tea party at City Hall.
Well, waddaya know? There was a tea party not 5 miles from my hotel up in Oceanside, at Oceanside's City Hall.
Met lots of friendly folks, many of which had home made signs of note.
They were a pretty non-threatening lot, unless you are threatened by little old ladies with American flag hats and doggies they dote on. Even had complete families out.
I only met one goofball who was handing out infowars CDs. "They are very professionally made, Sir..." Uh-huh.
A couple of motorcycle cops (riding BMW cycles) I polled said the crowd looked to be "Two thousand-ish."
Here are some links to photos for your enjoyment.
Misc Photos
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3613/3452917167_de55da2f42_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3365/3453723986_2ee2917e7e_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3597/3452909997_286e0f4680_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3657/3452908929_406b30d731_o.jpg
Freedom Hounds
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3393/3453728420_8aa4381d4b_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3340/3453727528_0840d54d8a_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3318/3453727272_c8173bf2a8_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3546/3452912963_6f96036cef_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3370/3452912671_f12a27f889_o.jpg
Signs & Protesters
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3659/3452909241_d74a07fe9f_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3654/3452909081_40e6b79690_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3357/3453731392_0c86315b8c_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3570/3453730768_a36b346e94_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3327/3452916233_70b26c2157_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3375/3453730228_13e48686a9_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3394/3452915877_62124b432b_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3581/3452915753_17fe6889cf_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3407/3453728826_a301318a53_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3635/3453729038_535d13b26f_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3315/3453729154_8957c3142d_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3303/3453728572_e7d255ce53_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3378/3453728284_e772b08885_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3407/3453728038_213f56976d_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3659/3452913695_9e11b70ec9_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3658/3453727172_476bb69f66_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3581/3453726406_af61707667_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3598/3453726316_edb6569f11_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3592/3452912057_b59fc73634_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3642/3452911933_cdb3ba98ec_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3537/3453725960_bb1ca0e557_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3611/3453725524_139343b0d6_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3611/3453725230_2b12cee0b2_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3550/3453724614_23d11a586a_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3352/3453724272_2284656a38_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3313/3453723894_40cafd6ab5_o.jpg
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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!
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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."
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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: