Astroturf Now!

I was supposed to astroturf a townhall meeting this evening because I am associated with 'Hopkins', but I chose to study. Opps.

 

And this is supposed to make you proud? The town hall protesters are at least genuine grassroots people -- not Pelosi astroturfers.

 

People being whipped into a frenzy by Faux "News" at the behest of the insurance industry does not represent "grassroots people" either.

 

Anybody let me know of some town hall meetings I would like to go to block the insurance company/ Fox News astroturfers. Also explain to a lot of these beknighted souls things like Medicare is a government program

 

What you are really angry about is that those grassroots town hall protesters have copied and adopted leftist street tactics and are using them effectively.

I wish we could all put down our placards, get rational and work out an effective health care reform. However, as long as both sides want to play "I win, you lose" gamesmanship, nobody will have gained anything except greater animousity. Win a little, lose a little ... it's called compromise.

 

And that is exactly what republicans want. The statue quo.

For all the harping they do about wanting reform, you should be honest with yourself and realize you would be happy with no change at all.

 

Do town hall meetings matter at all, even when they are orderly?

 

thumbs, do you ever feel like a puppet?

 

Really, I am not angry about anything...

Please point out instances in the recent past where "leftist" protestors stood up in a political meeting and simply shouted down the opposition.

I have never seen that, but even if I simply give you that point, "they did it, so I am doing it too" is a bit childish, don't you think?

That would be great except that at no point in recent history has the GOP done anything approaching compromise on anything. When they were the majority in Congress and the White House, they were even talking about doing away with the filibuster so that Democrats would have even less voice. They ramrodded through garbage bills at every turn and now that they are in the minority, do nothing but obstruct. Despite 150 GOP sponsored amendments, it is likely that not a single Republican will vote for the health care bill.

I have seen Obama and the current Congress bending over backwards to allow the GOP to compromise with them, but it isn't happening. I like YOUR thinking, but your leaders are sadly out of touch with that sentiment.

 

If thumbs is being honest, he's totally out of touch with his own party. To the point of pity. Everything he desires is not being addressed by the GOP, but is (attempted anyhow) being addressed by the dems.

 

It boils down to this, thumbs and GR both have half of the bottom line correct. These protestors on the right are just adopting the most obnoxious plays of the left's protesting playbook.

The methods are stupid when the left does them and stupid when the right does them (probably more stupid in the latter case because the right had 8 years to see just how dumb they are and chose to do them anyway).

 

1) Shall I drag out the Pelosi and Hillary youtubes from when Bush was in power? Didn't they dramatically proclaim that it was the right, nay, the duty, of people to protest loudly and proudly and to drown out the opposition wherever possible?

2) I think so, but many see it as fighting fire with fire.

3) Obama has not bent over backward. I believe he is the principal problem. Obama wants bipartisan support because he fears, as many of the representatives and senators do, that they could be swept out of office if the health care program proves to be a boondoggle -- which is the likely outcome whenever government bureaucrats take charge of a program.

Personally, I'm willing to take the chance despite my own fear of losing that which I need the most, but Democrats fear to do it alone because they would have no one to blame.

 

No, you should drag out the YouTube of anyone from the left ACTUALLY DOING IT.

Our healthcare system is on fire. If the flames from the right get any higher, we may burn down the whole system.

It is truly sad that our entire political system has degenerated into an "I'm rubber, you're glue" fight.

You have been pretty reasonable in this thread up to now, but you are so off on this point that it isn't even believeable. There are 150 GOP amendments in the healthcare bill. Obama has gone around soliciting ideas from GOP leaders, trying to get their support. That is the very definition of attempting to get bipartisan support and the lengths to which Obama has gone would certainly qualify as bending over backwards.

IMO, there is far more danger that they will get "swept out of office" if they don't get a healthcare reform bill passed. There are a LOT of Democratic representatives and senators that would be in danger of losing primaries to more liberal folks if they don't get it done.

 

when has the left, in the last twenty five years, blocked honest discussion on a topic.

first iraq war?
welfare reform?
tax cuts?
afghanistan?
second war in iraq?


anything please. you always go to the "the left does it too, therefore they're hypocrites" , well you need to start providing examples on major issues, or place that card back in the deck.

 

No they didn't. I challenge you to post any video of Pelosi or Hillary encouraging supporters to to drown out the opposition wherever possible?. In fact, I'm so sure you are full of sh_t that I'm willing to place a bet on it. If you can find video of Pelosi or Hillary calling for Democrats to "drown out the opposition" I'll donate $50 to the tip jar. If you can't produce the video by next Tuesday, you donate $50 buck to the tip jar.

 

Yes sir, your highness.

 

Because I consider myself a moderate conservative, why does everybody automatically place me in the GOP? For months now I have been doing my best to formulate a new party to replace the GOP. I failed. So what!

Old-time Republican principles hold more attraction for me so actually I understand the grouping. However, because it depends on who is running, I work in almost as many Democratic campaigns as Republican.

 

pgabriel: This was more recent but same type of behavior. This is one example that I'm posting so I can get my posting privileges back.

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/aaTkGgE-hXA&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/aaTkGgE-hXA&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

I never said that the left only did it on major issues. There are numerous times where people have done whatever they can to prevent someone from speaking. Over the last few years it's been the left because they've been the party out of power. Now it's the idiots on the right who are taking the torch.

Going to college over the past few years may have skewed my viewpoint but this type of stuff happens all the time. It's just not as organized as it is with all this town hall crap.

 

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