Think Progress

Freedom’s Watch ‘paralyzed’ by ‘gridlock’ and ‘infighting.’

Last summer, the right-wing group Freedom’s Watch spent $15 million “in a nationwide advertising blitz supporting President Bush’s troop escalation in Iraq.” In September, The New York Times heralded it as “a conservative answer to the nine-year-old liberal MoveOn.org.” But a new article in the Times today admits that Freedom’s Watch “has been mostly quiet, beset by internal problems that have paralyzed it”:

Backers of Freedom’s Watch once talked about spending some $200 million, a figure that officials now say was exaggerated. Lending to the aura of ambition, the organization moved into a state-of-the-art 10,000-square-foot office in Washington and hired a staff of about 20, with talk of bringing in scores more for a vigorous campaign to promote conservative issues.

Behind the scenes, however, Freedom’s Watch has been plagued by gridlock and infighting, leaving it struggling for direction
, according to several Republican operatives familiar with the organization who were granted anonymity so they could be candid about the group’s problems.



26 Responses to “Freedom’s Watch ‘paralyzed’ by ‘gridlock’ and ‘infighting.’”

  1. Nevar says:

    Freedom’s Watch…
    They’re bickering over who gets the Rolex’s, and how many for each of them….


  2. Badmoodman says:

    Backers of Freedom’s Watch once talked about spending some $200 million, a figure that officials now say was exaggerated. Lending to the aura of ambition, the organization moved into a state-of-the-art 10,000-square-foot office in Washington and hired a staff of about 20

    – - Whadda ya bet these conspicuous consumption, do-everything-to-excess, Escalade owners, are some of the same guys who were sucked down by the Tech boom-and-swoon of the late 90’s?


  3. Gregor Samsa says:

    [Freedom's Watch] moved into a state-of-the-art 10,000-square-foot office in Washington

    Isn’t it great to be able to generously spend other people’s money?

    That’s what these so-called conservatives do, even as they talk about “personal responsibility”. Ask Trent Lott. He knows.


  4. Nevar says:

    Upon receiving their long awaited shipment of Freedom Watchs, the staff eagerly opened the shipping container, only to find that the $14 million dollar order of 19 watches per staffer was short by 15 watches each.
    Upon closer examination, the supposed Rolexs turned out to be Chinese knockoffs. The peeling paint of the red, white and blue flags on the watch face had high levels of lead, and the glow in the dark numerals we’re made of depleted uranium, traced back to US weapons manufacturers.


  5. WaltTheMan says:

    Freedom’s Watch is not a group, it is a gang.


  6. rastaman says:

    GOOD JOB MILITANT PROGRESSIVES!

    KEEP THE TRUTH OUT THERE…..IT’S THE ONLY WAY TO END THE PROPAGANDIST TERROR CELLS THAT HAVE BEEN FUNDED BY THE REPUGLICANS.


  7. barfly says:

    the organization moved into a state-of-the-art 10,000-square-foot office in Washington and hired a staff of about 20, with talk of bringing in scores more for a vigorous campaign to promote conservative issues.

    The image presented, of a bunch of second- and third-string think-tank bottlebabies, bouncing around ideas about how to sell the latest already-discredited conservative talking point – while loading up on stolen office supplies, restroom handsoap, and toilet paper, in case the new gig doesn’t pan out – seems perfect for an SNL skit.


  8. tombaker says:

    woo hoo to the backbiting righty cannibal crowd!!!


  9. barfly says:

    Backers of Freedom’s Watch once talked about spending some $200 million, a figure that officials now say was exaggerated.

    Ari Fleisher: “So we go a little over-the-top, what harm could it do?


  10. Witch1 says:

    Like all reich winged, named program’s and bill’s it reak’s of oposit thinking…..Freedom watch is another type of lock up and lock down america.~Blessings~


  11. celtic cynic says:

    Don’t you hate it when bullies try to out-bully each other?


  12. Bobwurst says:

    to quote tweety : “HA!”


  13. Chocolate Jesus says:

    too bad there are other legions of money worshipping fascists out there to spread the hate… money and those motivated by money will always have an enormous amount of power…it will take some definitely guerilla-style politics to overcome that..


  14. gkam says:

    What do you expect from the cabal who gave is Katrina, Iraq, $4.00 gasoline, the housing mess, the loss of wages, the falling dollar, the ten-trilllion dollar debt, the hatred of Americans worldwide, the loss of our future, mortgaged to the millionaires.

    It’s little recompense, but the entire world hates this group of neo-Nazis for what they have done to the former Beacon of Freedom in the world, and the rest of the world in general.


  15. Marie says:

  16. The Republic of Stupidity says:

    And the cherry on this sundae will be when they find out the treasurer has looted the coffers…


  17. pete says:

    You mean that bloodthirsty idiots find it difficult to run an organization? I’m amazed.


  18. rogerD says:

    It’s the democracy thing that they don’t get. Everyone gets a vote. Sometimes causes gridlock. Not always a bad thing.


  19. Robt says:

    This in fighting can only be one of two things of divide for neo cons.

    1- There is no public tax dollars to pilfer. Bush hasn’t funded them through the “Freddom Watch of America Act”, as yet.

    2-Hillary is not the candidate and neo cons put all their nuts in attacking Hillary’s basket for the last 15 yrs. Leaving no time or money to convince voters Obama (to them) is truely the Godless liberal Democratic anti christ that works for Al Qaida and the evil KAOS.


  20. Buckie Boy says:

    could be candid about the group’s problems….

    Maybe making up lies to cover for Bush is getting harder now a days, you think?


  21. Helen Hussein Rainier says:

    Makes sense that greedy, corrupt talking heads would end up in “head-to-head” conflict with each other.

    Call it poetic justice or instant karma.


  22. christopher wiwi says:

    Sounds like the current administration,they can


  23. christopher wiwi says:

    Sounds like the current administration, they can`t run a simple watch dog group much less a cointry!!!!!!


  24. Bilbo Hussein Baggins says:

    I’m also betting that they don’t have a lot of donors. Move-on.org does have a lot of donors. I donate each month to moveon and to Obama.


  25. Bilbo Hussein Baggins says:

    [Freedom’s Watch] moved into a state-of-the-art 10,000-square-foot office in Washington

    Isn’t it great to be able to generously spend other people’s money?

    I’m willing to bet that Moveon isn’t in a 10,000 sq ft “state of the art” building. Perhaps they are doing better because they spend the money donated to them to help the progressive movement, not on fancy offices and salaries for the people running the show.


  26. gardibolt says:

    Upon receiving their long awaited shipment of Freedom Watchs, the staff eagerly opened the shipping container, only to find that the $14 million dollar order of 19 watches per staffer was short by 15 watches each.
    Upon closer examination, the supposed Rolexs turned out to be Chinese knockoffs. The peeling paint of the red, white and blue flags on the watch face had high levels of lead, and the glow in the dark numerals we’re made of depleted uranium, traced back to US weapons manufacturers.

    The Free Market! Deregulation!! Enjoy the fruits of your misguided labors, FW.



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