Right-Wing Harassment Strategy Against Dems Detailed In Memo: ‘Yell,’ ‘Stand Up And Shout Out,’ ‘Rattle Him’
Right-Wing Harassment Strategy Against Dems Detailed In Memo: ‘Yell,’ ‘Stand Up And Shout Out,’ ‘Rattle Him’
This morning, Politico reported that Democratic members of Congress are increasingly being harassed by “angry, sign-carrying mobs and disruptive behavior” at local town halls. For example, in one incident, right-wing protesters surrounded Rep. Tim Bishop (D-NY) and forced police officers to have to escort him to his car for safety.
This growing phenomenon is often marked by violence and absurdity. Recently, right-wing demonstrators hung Rep. Frank Kratovil (D-MD) in effigy outside of his office. Missing from the reporting of these stories is the fact that much of these protests are coordinated by public relations firms and lobbyists who have a stake in opposing President Obama’s reforms.
The lobbyist-run groups Americans for Prosperity and FreedomWorks, which orchestrated the anti-Obama tea parties earlier this year, are now pursuing an aggressive strategy to create an image of mass public opposition to health care and clean energy reform. A leaked memo from Bob MacGuffie, a volunteer with the FreedomWorks website Tea Party Patriots, details how members should be infiltrating town halls and harassing Democratic members of Congress:
– Artificially Inflate Your Numbers: “Spread out in the hall and try to be in the front half. The objective is to put the Rep on the defensive with your questions and follow-up. The Rep should be made to feel that a majority, and if not, a significant portion of at least the audience, opposes the socialist agenda of Washington.”
– Be Disruptive Early And Often: “You need to rock-the-boat early in the Rep’s presentation, Watch for an opportunity to yell out and challenge the Rep’s statements early.”
– Try To “Rattle Him,” Not Have An Intelligent Debate: “The goal is to rattle him, get him off his prepared script and agenda. If he says something outrageous, stand up and shout out and sit right back down. Look for these opportunities before he even takes questions.”
The memo above also resembles the talking points being distributed by FreedomWorks for pushing an anti-health reform assault all summer. Patients United, a front group maintained by Americans for Prosperity, is currently busing people all over the country for more protests against Democratic members. Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX), chairman of the NRCC, has endorsed the strategy, telling the Politico the days of civil town halls are now “over.”
Meanwhile, AHIP, the trade group and lobbying juggernaut representing the health insurance industry is sending staffers to monitor town halls and other right-wing front groups are stepping up their ad campaign to smear reform efforts. The strategy for defeating reform — recently outlined by an influential lobbyist to the Hill newspaper as “delay” then “kill” — is becoming apparent. By delaying a vote until after the August recess, lobbyists are now seizing upon recess town halls as opportunities to ambush lawmakers and fool them into believing there is wide opposition to reform.
"Several blogs have picked up your post: http://thinkprogress.org/2009/07/31/recess-harassment-memo/ which mentions Americans for Prosperity's efforts next to your mention of Bob MacGuffie's memo about town hall meetings. Mr. MacGuffie's memo was his own work. I would appreciate your help in correcting the erroneous rumor people have passed around that this memo came from AFP. We have encouraged our members to attend town halls, ask questions and register their opinions about issues including health care -- as all citizens should do. We always promote civil dialogue and do not condone disruptive behavior."As noted in the post, MacGuffie is a volunteer who actively posts and volunteers with the website Tea Party Patriots. A review of the sponsoring organizations reveals that both FreedomWorks and Americans for Prosperity are sponsors of the website as "Freedom Coalition" partners. A few months before joining Americans for Prosperity, Menefee herself worked for the medical device/pharmaceutical industry-funded "think-tank" called the Galen Institute.
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Now, exactly who are the brown shirt, bully national socialists?
July 31st, 2009 at 2:29 pmSOUNDS LIKE THE SAME THING THAT GATES WAS ARRESTED FOR.
July 31st, 2009 at 2:33 pmSo when will the MSM cover the truth? My guess never.
July 31st, 2009 at 2:37 pmThis tactic will only result in more police presence at these town halls. People will be ejected and arrested if they interfere with ingress and egress. Of course, the charge will be “disorderly conduct.” That will put a damper on such similar tactics when a few people are arrested. That will also end up in bad publicity for the people orchestrating these demonstrations.
July 31st, 2009 at 2:37 pmThese are truly un-American people, afraid of change, afraid of improvements, and completely against helping ordinary people. It’s all about how much these Repubs can line their greedy pockets. This intimidation of duly elected persons, attempting to do their jobs & actually communicate with voters is truly disturbing & frightening.
I hope all Dems & in particular, the White House, has received this information.
And how is it that Gates is arrested, yet hanging a politician in effigy is simply ignored?
July 31st, 2009 at 2:38 pmThis is truly disgusting. Coordinating attacks so the people who come to actually hear what their Congressional member has to say cannot do so because it’s far more important to disrupt and shout down anyone or anything that doesn’t represent the talking points of the monied.
Police should be present to haul away anyone who disrupts for the sake of disrupting, followed by an arrest for disorderly conduct. Where is DHS in all this? It’s only a matter of time before they come armed…
PEACE
July 31st, 2009 at 2:39 pmTwo can play that game.
Attend your local congresscritter’s town hall meetings.
I can’t because Collin Peterson thinks we’re all 9/11 truthers out here, & won’t hold any meetings.)
After a Rabid Rightie or Blue Dog spouts off, do the same.
They won’t expect it. They won’t be prepared for it, & you’ll have the advantage.
Just be careful in the parking lot…
July 31st, 2009 at 2:39 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
The people these arseholes are busing around the country to demonstrate against Dems are exactly the people who would benefit from health care reform.
Imbeciles.
July 31st, 2009 at 2:39 pmWhat, no directive to throw shoes?
July 31st, 2009 at 2:41 pmAt this point, the idea of town hall meetings has been co-opted by special interest groups, and the whole concept is irrevocably damaged – if I were a democratic congressperson, I’d state outright that I’m no longer going to participate in these lobbyist-heavy functions, and I’d use that leaked memo for corroboration. If a constituent complained, I’d reference the letter, and say, sorry, but the republican lobbyists have so degraded this form of constituent redress, that it’s become a dog-and-pony show, so if they have a complaint, I’ll address their problems personally, or through a staffer.
July 31st, 2009 at 2:43 pmshould set it up so went the protester start they crap, every one else should just turn to them and protest back at them.
July 31st, 2009 at 2:43 pmtelling them this is our congressperson and you need to stfu or!!!!!!!
These protesters are the same crowd as the ‘Birthers’ The Repugs have been doing this for years. The saying goes, “The squeaky wheel gets the grease”. When you think about it, this is desperation on the Republicans part. And of course, the MSM will report that these are ‘Average’ Americans. Just like when MSM would report there were hecklers at the Capitol, when we knew they were honest War protesters, and don’t forget, MSM always under-reported the numbers of the Iraq War protests, just like they inflated the people at the “Tea-bag Parties”. Big Business has a lot to lose now. If we get a Public Option, the Insurance Indusrty will be crying in their beers.
July 31st, 2009 at 2:46 pmThese people have to be confronted. If you attend you must be prepared for the worst. I would not go near one of these town halls with out a camera and my attorney.
July 31st, 2009 at 2:47 pmSo this is what the minority party does when they have been voted out of power? Encourage tantrum-throwing? They don’t want “intelligent debate” — they want “rattling” and disruption?
Imagine if, during a track meet, the athletes who have been eliminated in earlier heats decide to sit down on the track and not budge in an effort to prevent any further racing. In a “if we can’t win, nobody’s gonna win” way.
My gut feeling would be to run right over them and kick them in the ribs while doing so.
July 31st, 2009 at 2:49 pm“Right-Wing Harassment Strategy Against Dems Detailed In Memo: ‘Yell,’ ‘Stand Up And Shout Out,’ ‘Rattle Him’”
Sounds like the wingnuts have a definite case of Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. If this is their strategy for now on against the Dems, then look for a huge lost of GOP lawmakers’ seats to Congress and Senate next year.
July 31st, 2009 at 2:49 pmTry To “Rattle Him,” Not Have An Intelligent Debate – that statement, in short, sums up the entire GOP strategy of the past 20 years.
July 31st, 2009 at 2:52 pmblueline bob says:
I think I heard of this when conservatives speak at colleges. Looks like the TEA party people are catching on to what the dems have been doing for a long time.
[Citation needed]
July 31st, 2009 at 2:53 pmI am speechless. These people are beyond contempt. Y’know the really sad thing is, imagine if they put this much effort in trying to work with the Dems to actually improve this country.But they only live to tear down and destroy. So sad.
July 31st, 2009 at 2:53 pmRight-Wing Harassment Strategy Against Dems Detailed In Memo: ‘Yell,’ ‘Stand Up And Shout Out,’ ‘Rattle Him’
– - Ironically, the Wingnuts are acting like crazed monkeys.
July 31st, 2009 at 2:54 pmget out and shout down the people that hope to control your health care costs…
July 31st, 2009 at 2:55 pmyour corporate giants and fat cat pols need you on the front lines; since you don’t have jobs, what else do you have to do?
there might be a free lunch if your not arrested first.
He doesn’t have one. For him just any lie will do as well as any reasoned argument.
July 31st, 2009 at 2:56 pmThey are trying to do this at Obama town halls. Someone did it at the last one but it was unsuccessful and got zero attention from the media.
I’m sure the Obama admin is taking steps to prevent this abuse but they can’t completely stop it.
July 31st, 2009 at 2:56 pmZooey’s right.
I’m sure most of these people have been bussed in.
They should require proof of district residency at the town hall meeting.
July 31st, 2009 at 2:57 pmMay be that’s why Republicans call themselves ‘The Party With New Ideas’.
Now everybody can see these new ideas……!!
July 31st, 2009 at 2:59 pmBadmoodman says:
- – Ironically, the Wingnuts are acting like crazed monkeys.
We’d all enjoy the show a lot more if the Crazed Nuts (R) were acting more like winged monkeys.
July 31st, 2009 at 2:59 pmWhy do Repignicans hate America?
July 31st, 2009 at 2:59 pmThe template for this was the lawyers for hire who disrupted the vote re-counting in Florida in 2000. Blue suits were the new brown shirts. These people don’t believe in the results of elections. There’s nothing they don’t like that isn’t subject to challenge. This is a real threat to democracy.
July 31st, 2009 at 3:00 pmI think these teabaggers should be allowed to stand up and say whatever they want at these meetings — and then the Dem holding the meeting can respond with the fact that these disruptions are organized by rightwing lunatic fringe groups.
Do it enough times, and the MSM will take notice. They luvs them some freak shows.
July 31st, 2009 at 3:00 pmmisscoleopteramolly says:
So this is what the minority party does when they have been voted out of power? Encourage tantrum-throwing? They don’t want “intelligent debate” — they want “rattling” and disruption?
Deja vu all over again.
Remember the “Brooks Brother’s riot” during the Florida recount in 2000?
Another “spontaneous” angry, aggressive, borderline-violent protest.
They are ‘gaming’ the system, that system being American democracy.
These lowlifes will use these tactics as long as the public let’s them get away with it.
July 31st, 2009 at 3:00 pmIt’s probably time to stop letting them get away with this kind of bs.
Bush only allowed those with invitations.
If you had ‘No Blood for Oil’ bumper stickers, you were arrested.
Bush’s people established black lists of known opposition with their advance people, so they could block them at the door.
Rabid Righties were just fine with that protocol.
Now they want to use disruption, because it’s ‘a fundamental right’.
You can’t have it both ways, teabaggers…we’ll check your birth certificates at the door.
July 31st, 2009 at 3:01 pmFine, make them show proof of residency in the Congressman’s district or no entry.
July 31st, 2009 at 3:04 pmParaphrasing Dick Cheney….
“I think they’re in the last throes, if you will, of significance.”
July 31st, 2009 at 3:05 pmhenryde, flavorino:
Exactly. Every time the Rethuglicans have tried this tactic, it has worked. Why would they abandon it now? Too bad it only caters to the Dixiecrats, which is why the Rethuglicans are going to be a regional, minority party for some time. Let them alienate anyone young, non-white or tolerant of an alternate lifestyle. See how that works out in national elections.
July 31st, 2009 at 3:09 pmIsn’t this uncivilized behavior only further destroying the GNOP?
Even some of those people will find this offensive.
July 31st, 2009 at 3:10 pmSo, what’s the deal?
The protesters on the Politico video looked like an angy mob.
If you’re wearing khakis, a Polo shirt and waving an American flag, you don’t get arrested for disorderly conduct?
Wish I’d known that in the 70’s.
July 31st, 2009 at 3:10 pmI’m sorry to report that this was the chief tactic of Nazi thugs who wouldn’t let others speak, even shouting down professors in classrooms. And it was the tactic of the Italian fascists — remember Noisism? — where drowning out everyone else was the ploy. This is something that goes AGAINST free speech, and should not be protected. Perhaps RICO can be used here? After all, this is all done in the interests of the mafia-ization of all American goods and services.
July 31st, 2009 at 3:11 pmI have just emailed my congresswoman and offered to be present(along with some other psycho lefties I know) at her town halls when she returns home.
This is intolerable, and if it takes violence to drag these gutless little weenies out of a town hall, fine with me.
July 31st, 2009 at 3:13 pmSlappyBastinado says:
what do you know. An actual point from you. And a decent one congratulations. This has been true to an extent. There is however NO excuse for deliberatly, for political reasons, to co-opt and subvert the very INTENT of these events. The GOP should be ashamed however the rightwing doesnt know the meaning of shame. I think wingnuts have their shame gene surgically removed at birth
July 31st, 2009 at 3:14 pmTea Baggers, Birthers, and now Rattlers…
this GOP party’s core is getting to TOO easy to make fun of.
July 31st, 2009 at 3:15 pmThese Rep’s should do what Bush did when he was on the campaign trail, invite only Bushies. Have the Secret Service scan the parking lot and look at bumper stickers amd take down tag numbers and put them in the system. In my area in 2004, a young woman was thrown out because she had a Kerry/Edwards sticker on her car. OMG! Look what’s happening to me! I’m turning into something I hate. This is what our political system is doing to us. The level of discourse and rivalry is depressing.
July 31st, 2009 at 3:15 pmHe who yells the loudest must be right.
Double entendre intended.
July 31st, 2009 at 3:18 pmThis reminds me somewhat of the young woman in Pennsylvania that was a McCain worker that used a mirror to scratch a backwards “B” on he face they attempt to blame it on a 6′4″ black man that also tried to rob her. No, the Republicans are not directly responsible but how they act and what they say is the oxygen that gives these people life. In that sense they are like the get-away driver for the actual bank robbers. They don’t shoot the people inside but they are the clear enablers for what has happened.
July 31st, 2009 at 3:21 pmCan some of you who are able please send this to CNN, CBS, ABC for their review. I am far from being porificient at this otherwise I would.
We need to start fighting back…please
July 31st, 2009 at 3:22 pmThis information needs to be distributed to Dems and the general public.
If they know what’s coming and why, it will lose its effect.
Forewarned is forearmed.
July 31st, 2009 at 3:24 pmThis tactic will only result in more police presence at these town halls. People will be ejected and arrested if they interfere with ingress and egress. Of course, the charge will be “disorderly conduct.” That will put a damper on such similar tactics when a few people are arrested. That will also end up in bad publicity for the people orchestrating these demonstrations.
July 31st, 2009 at 3:30 pmI think I hate Republicans more than ever. I was really hoping things would change.
July 31st, 2009 at 3:32 pmWhen I read this I thought of off the “spontaneous” protests during the 2000 election too.
July 31st, 2009 at 3:32 pm#48 I see your point but I’m scrared that the reverse will happen…
July 31st, 2009 at 3:34 pmTypically the news will show the “trouble maker” and somehow turn that into some type of populist movement…like: “Democratic Congressman shouted down at town hall”
Last time I checked, “libruls” using these tactics are met by nightsticks and tasers.
July 31st, 2009 at 3:38 pmI accidentally recommended one of slappy’s posts. Damned head injury!
These people should be laughed at and ridiculed. Point your finger at them and laugh out loud. Responding in kind will only escalate the violence. They are spoiling for a fight so they can play the victim.
July 31st, 2009 at 3:39 pm“Silent no more”?
Silent when the 2000 election was stolen.
Silent when the president lied about wmd’s.
Silent about an unconstitional war.
Silent about billions of dollars disappearing in Iraq.
Silent about torture.
Silent when tens of thousands of American soldiers are killed or maimed in an illegal war for oil.
Silent when the City of New Orleans was left to drown.
But Cap and Trade, environmental regulation over greedy, corporate polluters, sent them over the edge?
July 31st, 2009 at 3:39 pmThis is all they have left and it wont work either. Obama is a wise man who knew what the idiots were about. While the Republicans were hiring prostitutes, attacking children, looking for sex in the men’s room and so much more, Obama was planning out the recovery for all Americans. Now we see Americans really don’t care but would rather have Bush/Cheney back in charge. Now as we see 26 States recover with the Obama Plan the others who followed the Party of NO are quietly accepting the money. Now Gov. Jindal is saying it’s his plan and Gov. Perry has lost his memory about refusing the money. Senator Hutchinson says Perry refuse the money for the citizens while forgetting she Voted NO for the plan. But I guess the GOP thinks Americans are still stupid enough to believe their lies as it worked for 8 years.
July 31st, 2009 at 3:40 pmThe funny and sad part is that on the local blogs in my red state the right is claiming that they are legitimate dissenters trying to save America and promise a bloody rebellion.
The high pitched scream leading up to violence is just around the corner.
July 31st, 2009 at 3:44 pmwiley says
July 31st, 2009 at 3:39 pm
These people should be laughed at and ridiculed. Point your finger at them and laugh out loud.
__________________________________________________________
But I thought that was how we’re supposed to respond to flashers and exhibitionists? Oh, wait…
July 31st, 2009 at 3:45 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
#56 Fred
I fear you are very close to being correct. They are emboldened by their ability to get coverage and are crazy enough to ramp it up.
July 31st, 2009 at 3:48 pmWhere, when, how. They don’t allow dissenting voices at their meetings, haven’t you heard?
July 31st, 2009 at 3:57 pmPrediction: This will lead to journalists decrying “partisanship on both sides.”
Democrats will be blamed for doing this, as well. Maybe we should anyway?
July 31st, 2009 at 3:58 pmFred,
That “high pitched scream” has been heard already when Glen Beck went nuts with a caller. Well, more nuts than usual. Either way, the message is loud and clear; “Obama must be stopped”. Personally, I don’t see why these screechers aren’t hauled in and questioned every time they pull this crap. It seems abundantly clear, to me, that the worst of the bunch are deliberately trying to incite violence. I don’t even see a semblance of reason.
July 31st, 2009 at 4:00 pmThere is no more civility in our body politic.
July 31st, 2009 at 4:02 pmTime to take the gloves off and recognize your extended hand is being thrust into the woodchipper.
If it’s violence these assclowns want to incite, they’d best be careful who they call out.
This is the same GOP-thug tactic that staged a fascist coup against our Democracy in December, 2000. Remember the Republican thugs rioting at the Miami-Dade County vote counting office who were banging on the doors and yelling “stop counting the votes” or somesuch.
In 2009, Dem Senators and Dem Representatives merely have to remember the Obama Presidential Campaign of 2008 to know that the American people want a transition to health care for all.
July 31st, 2009 at 4:06 pmHow so? You can’t just drop a turd like that and not be expected to explain what you mean. I probaly will not agree but would give you the chance to explain what you mean.
July 31st, 2009 at 4:06 pmSo wingnut hate radio is going on tour.
I’m sure Rush is happy, after all, he’s motivational you know.
July 31st, 2009 at 4:16 pmIntentionally rude and uninterested in intelligent discussion – what lofty ideals these people aspire to.
July 31st, 2009 at 4:19 pmDid everyone catch Goldberg’s asinine assertion that the “Chicago Mafia in the White House” is refusing to “release a birth certificate” in order to make the Reichwhiners look crazy?
Seriously. He actually accepts that fact that they sound crazy but it’s not their fault for saying crazy things. It’s all a plot by the “libruls”.
http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/goldberg-oreilly-birther-theory-its
July 31st, 2009 at 4:21 pmYou’re right, Fred and texasrick. (#56 & #59)
The infusion of fake outrage and injustice from the wingnut talking heads is bringing 20th century prejudice back up to a boil.
July 31st, 2009 at 4:21 pmmaasanova says:
We didnt forget to mention it. It is a fantasy you pulled directly from your lower torso. Show us the concerted organized effort from the left to do this like TP has shown from the right. You cant because it isnt happening. Simply put, you are a liar. As for what Americans are waking up to. YOU havent been keeping up with current events. Like ELECTIONS. What Americans are waking up to is that the GOP is a party of DISASTER when allowed to run things. They pander to too many morons like YOU that only know what the rightwing screechmonkeys TELL you to know. You are an idiot. Dismissed.
July 31st, 2009 at 4:26 pmrepublicans are like terrorists, they abuse the opportunities offered them by a liberal system in order to get their way exactly the same way terrorists abuse the openness of an open society in order to shut down the openness.
July 31st, 2009 at 4:26 pmMathazar says
LOVE this nick. Galaxy Quest is a great movie
July 31st, 2009 at 4:27 pmWhen will the ‘wackos’ [Scanlon terminology] figure out they are being used by lobbyists [get them out to vote against something] to slide dubious legislation under the their [the publics] nose?
July 31st, 2009 at 4:28 pmIt is not the job of politicians, or lobbyists, to form public opinion its the job of politicians to take public opinion into consideration and implement them into our government. The majority of the people are for helping out other people with their tax dollars and if they want it spent on helping others, you know, compassion, then the politicians should work toward that end.
July 31st, 2009 at 4:36 pmWould Jesus be for healthcare for profit?
I hear that this is a Christian nation, would Jesus deny another medical care because they lacked fiat?
July 31st, 2009 at 4:40 pmwatchdog
no one believes you no matter what you say.
Doesn’t change the fact that the right has abandoned reason and civility in favor of violence and disruption.
July 31st, 2009 at 4:41 pmIt’s really sad that the stupid troll thinks that’s a defense when his post clearly confirms the Reichwing’s tactic is to obstruct, delay, and sabotage any attempt at rational governance.
And, speaking of those scary numbers the Reichwhiners are so fond of, have you noticed how they simply make up bigger scary numbers as they go along? I caught a few minutes of local ReichRadio and they were claiming that the health plan will cost $30 trillion for a half hour. Then they offered a three second “correction” claiming that the “real” number was $3 trillion. Then they went on to talk about uppity gay people.
Is it any wonder that those who form their opinions based on ReichRadio are so goofy? The poor slobs have probably never heard the truth in their lives.
July 31st, 2009 at 4:43 pmlokidog says:
I have just emailed my congresswoman and offered to be present(along with some other psycho lefties I know) at her town halls when she returns home.
This is intolerable, and if it takes violence to drag these gutless little weenies out of a town hall, fine with me.
July 31st, 2009 at 3:13 pm
I was glad to see this post, lokidog. You and/ or your friends may be psycho, but you’re not psycho for wanting affordable health care. That would be these wingers using their First Amendment right in a most offensive manner, motivated by hatred of liberals in general and president Obama specifically, to demonstrate against their best interest because they have lost everything and have nothing else left to lose. Their party is in shambles, their belief system has been destroyed by the bush-cheeeny crime wave, their denial strong and the stakes never higher in domestic , bare-knuckle politics. The insurance industry is very powerful.
I posted here a few days ago that the only way we would get a public option was to demonstrate, that it couldn’t be accomplished from the keyboard. The president is willing but has said we have to make him do it. The status quo, power elite, whether it be bought and paid for conservatives disguised as blue-dog dems, CNN, ABC or any other Big Media wants this thing snuffed and this is how they all play. Dirty. If I have a chance to go to a town hall to oppose these jokers then that is just fine and I’ll do it gladly. I’ve waited a long time for a health care system that doesn’t bankrupt my family and myself. I may never have another chance.
July 31st, 2009 at 4:44 pmyou know they are desperate and losing
July 31st, 2009 at 4:58 pmwe should organize to go to DC to promote health care reform….how can go about doing it??? Any ideas?
July 31st, 2009 at 4:59 pmYea, bus in about 500 liberal cornfed college athletes and send the “intimidators” home with their picket signs shoved up their asses.
July 31st, 2009 at 5:19 pmDare I think of Fahrenheit 9/11 when the picture was of protestors in Florida – and Michael Moore identified them as fairly high ranking repubs from outside the state ?
July 31st, 2009 at 5:21 pmTactics of the hopeless.
Republicanzi don’t deserve a seat as the opposition any more. They just aren’t qualified to handle things any more.
Their tactics are radical, bombastic, extreme, terrific, shocking, all those things America rejects. They do fall short of violent, because they can call upon their followers for that.
July 31st, 2009 at 5:33 pmTactics of the shamelessly terrorising. terrorist is as terrorist does. Even Gump knew that much.
July 31st, 2009 at 5:36 pmThe Democratic Party needs to set some new rules.
Require attendees to register in advance.
Show photo ID before entry and require that only residents in that district are allowed attend.
Something needs to be done before one of the wingnuts shows up armed and dangerous. Simply shouting back at these crazies may cause things to become physical and violent. There’s just no reasoning with the insane.
July 31st, 2009 at 5:38 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
ci·vil·i·ty (s?-v?l’?-t?)
n. pl. ci·vil·i·ties
1.Courteous behavior; politeness.
2.A courteous act or utterance
A town Hall Meeting is NOT the SAME thing as a political Rally.
At a Rally, it’s OK to Shout and Cheer and Boo. The Purpose is to generate ENTHUSIASM.
At a town Hall meeting , Civil Discourse is Required , The purpose is ELUCIDATION.
A clear articulation of the Conservative Position should be welcomed by Democrats….if for no other reason than to formulate a counterargument.
Yelling, Interupting, Acting Up, etc. is Just RUDE….and should be roundly condemmed by those that attend TOWN Hall Meetings to LEARN Something.
July 31st, 2009 at 5:44 pmI agree that speaking out of turn is quite impolite, but let’s not act like these people have cornered the market on obnoxious discourse.
July 31st, 2009 at 5:48 pm54thursday says:
Ape-Man says:
Tactics of the shamelessly terrorising. terrorist is as terrorist does. Even Gump knew that much.
Would you call the tactics of ELF or the weather underground terroristic?
OK who’s the pu**y that voted this down but could not muster the intelligence to put up some sort of argument? All I did was ask a question. Grow some nuggets for God’s sake.
July 31st, 2009 at 5:54 pmFrom the article
July 31st, 2009 at 5:58 pm
This comment has been voted down. Click to read.
I don’t think any of these groups can be accused of ever having an intelligent conversation…no need to really include that in the talking points.
July 31st, 2009 at 6:07 pmAnyone who equivalates the Republicanzi to any other party is either a poser, or they haven’t been paying attention.
July 31st, 2009 at 6:21 pmIf you stopped coming here then how are we reading your posts?
July 31st, 2009 at 6:22 pmI don’t think any of these groups can be accused of ever having an intelligent conversation…no need to really include that in the talking points
or so you’d think.
the reality is that no party compares to the Republicanzi. pay attention.
July 31st, 2009 at 6:23 pmSo you’re saying the republican party is equivalent to a terrorist organization?
:|
Cool.
July 31st, 2009 at 6:26 pmI see why I stopped coming here.
Well, greetings, and we all hope you stop coming here again very soon!
July 31st, 2009 at 6:28 pm54thursday says:
You’re complaining that someone voted you down without responding to you? Seriously?
Voting you down IS their argument. Some of us in the TV generation respond to opinions we disagree with by turning the TV off.
Take your anonymous Internet criticism like a man.
July 31st, 2009 at 6:31 pm… If he says something outrageous, stand up and shout out…
hey, thanks for that!
these are ideas i can use when i attend the townhall that shitkus is sure
to have next month…
.
also, is there a one-stop-shop to find voting info, simplified,
July 31st, 2009 at 7:02 pmon congress people…? … i should come prepared if i plan to shout!
BRAINWASHING — This technique is based on studies in brainwashing:
The Rep should be made to feel that a majority, and if not, a significant portion of at least the audience, opposes the socialist agenda of Washington.”
Studies in brainwashing found that an individuals mind can be changed only if you can convince them that their group has changed.
Fox news and the endless false news crap builds the message that everyone believes so-and-so and in doing so works to make the member of that group change. Bill Oreily leads with: As EVERYONE knows, we never tell you what to think, we just report… then he tells you exactly what to think.
These BASTARDS are using scientific brainwashing techniques
July 31st, 2009 at 7:33 pmTEN! BWA HA HA HA HA!
congress.org
July 31st, 2009 at 7:48 pmAnd this, from the library of congress, which you can probably get by typing congress.gov in your address bar.
Also, you can get on your senators’ and representatives’ mailing lists to get regular updates.
July 31st, 2009 at 7:50 pmBecause it worked for the Florida thugs in 2000, they think it will work forever. To think I must be a member of the same species as these bullies…
July 31st, 2009 at 8:25 pmIt sounds to me a lot like Iranian tactics of Ahmadinejad and the Basij!
It’s too bad that Republicans don’t really believe in Democracy. Otherwise, they would put forth their best efforts and then let the public decide.
Obviously, they are afraid of the common citizen having his/her voice heard.
July 31st, 2009 at 8:33 pmRemember when you were in school trying to learn how to solve those tricky math problems, or trying to review for the big test, and there was always one or two idiots who continually disrupted the learning by shooting spit wads at other kids…
The health insurance industry, with the full support of the GOP, has decided that the best way to prevent the public from learning what actually is and is not in the various reform proposals is to send groups of people to the town hall meetings and have them act like the “spit wad patrol”.
Remember the 4 D’s of the Republican strategy during the Obama years: Delay, Distract, Distort, Deceive.
July 31st, 2009 at 8:37 pm:|
We were supposed to review before the big test?
July 31st, 2009 at 8:46 pmAnd before the Republican Convention in St. Paul, people were arrested in the parking lot, even Amy Goodwin of Democracy Now! for trying to report on the activities. There were even reports of police going to people’s homes to make sure they didn’t turn up at the convention.
I guess this explains why the first thing that is silenced in a political take-over is the media, followed by anyone attending public rallies.
July 31st, 2009 at 9:10 pmDid they somehow think the people who are abjectly stupid enough to believe the GOP were even capable of intelligent debate?
July 31st, 2009 at 9:40 pmWhy don’t they just check people before they enter the town hall??
July 31st, 2009 at 9:55 pmSee… this is the reason we need to break this country into separate countries. There’s no reasoning with these people. They GO OUT OF THEIR WAY to NOT reason with people.
I was especially rattled by the phrase: “Not Have An Intelligent Debate.”
Wow, that tells me two things right there…
1. You have no interest whatsoever in thinking things through rationally, and
2. You’d resort to physical violence given the chance.
We can’t tollerate these people anymore. It’s time to take some serious action, people.
July 31st, 2009 at 11:13 pm>90. hormiga brava chavez says:
>The Democratic Party needs to set some new rules.
>Require attendees to register in advance.
>Show photo ID before entry
This same policy applied at a polling place would have you all screaming Voter Suppression.
July 31st, 2009 at 11:30 pmThese are tactics taken right out of the Nazi playbook, used by the SA and Hitlers other henchmen to destroy the opposition. These tactics need to be exposed for what they are, tools of fascism.
July 31st, 2009 at 11:39 pmThe term ‘brown shirts’ comes to mind. The fascist movement is alive and well in America. This is outrageous and unpatriotic. The Republican leadership should be held accountable. I hope it backfires. Democracy is supposed to be about the free exchange of ideas these right wing fascists are trampling the American flag and dishonoring those who have died to defend American democracy.
August 1st, 2009 at 12:48 amSouthern Man 2 says:
You people have very short memories. I guess most of you are to young to remember what the Dems did in 1994 when they lost the House and the Seate.Pretty much everything you mentioned above. And then some. I see why I stopped coming here. There are no inteligent debates and awful memories with rabid denial syndrome party politics.
I don’t recall the Dems astroturfing, organizing fake demonstrations and other dirty tricks. And I am old enough to remember 1994 and even further back to 1964. The Republicans have been doing dirty tricks since Nixon in the 1950’s. And let us not forget Watergate, Iran-Contra-gate, Helen Gahaghan Douglas, the whispering campaign against Kennedy because he was a Catholic, etc. I could go further back to Al Smith and the immigrant quotas because of the Italians, the Roosevelt was a Jew whispering campaign.
August 1st, 2009 at 12:55 amHow is this NOT conspiracy / racketeering ?
August 1st, 2009 at 1:09 amKinda sounds like code pink. Where did that get us.
August 1st, 2009 at 1:20 amI have a sign on my car’s back window that reads “Republicans Are A Disease”
Get yours at http://www.Republicansareadisease.com
August 1st, 2009 at 3:17 amHey, aren’t these Saul Alinsky tactics? The ones that the wackos accuse us of using?
August 1st, 2009 at 4:25 amThe racist “birthers” and the rest of the screaming dross known as repiggies cannot shout down phone calls to your congressional representative nor e-mails to representatives.
Use e-mail and phone calls often and well.
By the way, Lou Dobbs is a moron.
August 1st, 2009 at 1:32 pmHere’s a database tracking “astroturf” patient groups… http://www.PharmaFiles.net
August 1st, 2009 at 2:28 pmUnfortunately re: the MSM…They will support the idiots ranting. The MSM is run by the major media corps who wouldn’t give ant intelligent progressive person a break if it was the last statement of man
August 1st, 2009 at 3:30 pmSeems to me that the ACORN organizer tried to do exactly the same thing at a Katrina Deportee meeting here, in Houston, last year. They did not want us to allow the FEMA people to be heard. The good Democrats in New Orleans don’t want the poor to come back.
August 1st, 2009 at 3:34 pmTime to have people show IDs in order to enter the Meeting with YOUR Representative.
Let these whackos stay in their own state.
August 1st, 2009 at 7:37 pmWell its about time they started fighting just as dirty and disgusting as the democrats. Works for them, should work for the republicans. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
August 1st, 2009 at 9:38 pmKaty @104 -
Go to http://www.ontheissues.org. It gives a nice summary of views of officeholders and major candidates.
August 1st, 2009 at 9:40 pmWhat? You think that only leftists read Alinsky, or have any right to use his tactics? I intend to make my congressman’s life hell as soon as he shows his face back in my district. Dissent is the highest form of patriotism, remember?
August 1st, 2009 at 10:00 pmYea, bus in about 500 liberal cornfed college athletes and send the “intimidators” home with their picket signs shoved up their asses.
Oh please, please do this. C’mon, you know you want to. Go ahead. Initiate violence, and see what happens next.
August 1st, 2009 at 10:03 pmThis is intolerable, and if it takes violence to drag these gutless little weenies out of a town hall, fine with me.
Do it! I double-dog dare you. Do it and see what happens next.
August 1st, 2009 at 10:07 pmGosh I’m so glad the Blue Dogs got to DELAY any vote on healthcare reform until fall for the express purpose of having these town hall meetings. I mean I’d feel sorry for them but really, they asked for it. And just another point: these astroturf/propaganda tactis wouldn’t even be necessary if the media in this country were DOING THEIR JOBS: educating the public.
August 1st, 2009 at 10:54 pmThe only way to fight this is GET MAD and FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE! Actually, you are fighting SMOKE with FIRE! This outrageous rude behavior was on display in Cherokee County, Oklahoma at a Health Care Reform forum. A bunch of Republican goons showed up to shout hysterically, and interrupt others trying to ask legitimate questions. I almost went to the mat with one of them. He was a fellow DISABLED VETERAN, but Rush Limbaugh / FOX News listening idiot! He started parroting talking points trashing the VA HEALTH CARE system, and I couldn’t take it. I challenged him by saying I had experience with both private and VA Health Care and wouldn’t trade my VA Health Care for the world. The crazy fool then had to PUBLICALLY admit he NEVER had a problem with the VA. They are a bunch of brown shirt cowards who are carrying water for rich people for no good reason other than they aren’t able to think for themselves. SHOUT THEM BACK DOWN AND DON’T LET THEM GET AWAY WITH THEIR CRAP! They are ALL a bunch of weasils and cowards anyway as evidenced by their ring leader Rush Limbaugh!
Democratic Progressives have got to learn to get tough and FIGHT BACK! Remember we have TRUTH and JUSTICE on our side.
August 2nd, 2009 at 12:12 amThis is intolerable, and if it takes violence to drag these gutless little weenies out of a town hall, fine with me.
Do it! I double-dog dare you. Do it and see what happens next.
=====================
August 2nd, 2009 at 12:15 amYou are a cowardly weasil just like the Republican SCREAMERS at our Health Care town hall in Cherokee County Oklahoma. You Armed with nothing but FOX NEWS propaganda B.S.
We didn’t have to DRAG the Republican idiots out of our town hall. Once they were faced with TOO MUCH TRUTH they went running and screaming out the door with their tails between their legs.
August 2nd, 2009 at 12:16 amFour legs good, two legs BETTER! Four legs good, two legs BETTER!
August 2nd, 2009 at 12:48 amSouthernRacistMoron
You are a liar. You quit coming here because you got your A$$ handed to you everytime you posted. You are stupid. You are too stupid to even RECOGNIZE ingelligence and for you to question our is hilarious. You are stupider than asphalt. Please keep coming back. I love to laugh at morons as stupid as you.
August 2nd, 2009 at 6:19 amAmericanhalfbreed says:
You are a liar and a fool. A racist moron. Good luck with that.
August 2nd, 2009 at 6:22 amstewarjt and others:
PLEASE stop using “Socialism” as dirty word–as the right wing would like–until you understand what it is and what it TRULY stands for.
http://www.dsausa.org/pdf/widemsoc.pdf
August 2nd, 2009 at 1:21 pmAccording to reports from Central TX, Congressman Lloyd Dogget’s weekend meetings were disrupted by angry crowds- he was called a liar and some reported leaving because the situation was getting out of hand. Someone is going to get hurt before this is all over, I fear. The blog entry from those bragging about their “success” in disrupting his efforts not only in Austin but in and around at various venues can be found at http://travismonitor.blogspot.com/2009/08/300-angry-patriots-jeer-rep-doggett-in.html
It seems that tactics learned in Florida in the 2000 election recount are back in play. So sad that we cannot have civil discourse anymore without the crazies especially on an issue that is so important and which needs clarification after all the misinformation that is being distributed.
August 3rd, 2009 at 2:39 amWE THE PEOPLE are showing up at the Town Halls to express our dissatisfaction with the runaway spending and takeover/hijacking of America. We call our congressmen, but we are only a tally count on a piece of paper…we Write our Congressman, and we all receive the very same obligatory Staff Generated form Letter. We are not being represented AND WE ARE MAD. We could care less if Americans For Prosperity show up or any other group, as you say. We are there because we can see plainly what is happening to America. BEWARE of the Billions that are being funneled to AMERICORP to ratchet up SERVICE EMPLOYMENT for Blacks and Disadvantaged Youth (The NEW Black Panthers are coming to your neighborhood soon)
August 3rd, 2009 at 5:00 amSo the GOP strategy to regain control is to have their ever shrinking supporters act like petulant 3 year olds and spoon feed them lies and tantrums until the rest of the country sees the wisdom of this?
Sounds like a winner.
August 3rd, 2009 at 9:53 am‘Barack Obama Original Kenyan Birth Certificate Leaked! View it here:’
BREAKING NEWS:
GOP AND THEIR SUPPORTERS ARE STILL IDIOTS!
August 3rd, 2009 at 9:54 amFirst, this article makes the assumption that any American opposed to Nationalized Health Care is a Republican. Second, it also implies that we do not have the right to peaceful assembly to address Congress with our grievances. Third, every other liberal group that wants to march to the progressive, socialist NWO agenda receives nothing but positive media.
August 3rd, 2009 at 10:31 amI am and always have been an Independent voter and person. I do not and will not follow the masses. Study world history and see where the nationalist agenda of any political party ends. The Republicans are the same as the Democrats, the media keeps the slight differences alive.
My father fought in three wars to assure you and I the right to free assembly and free speech. Rights that are disappearing with alarming rapidity. When you complain about the Republicans voicing their opinions you forget that what George W. Bush started, Obama is continuing, both of them aided and abetted by Congress. Remember, the Democrats had control of the house under GW.
I will march and I will ask questions of any one that threatens to remove my right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I will refuse to spend money, I might even refuse to pay taxes sometime in the future, but I will not allow any man to think he is better than me or run my life as they see fit.
I am no slave and I would advise any one that values freedom to think long and hard on the issues they support. Some of the current bills in Congress will take away YOUR RIGHTS to post on the internet.
Peace
After having read the true memo, I can’t understand why any one would object to answering a question if they have nothing to hide.
August 3rd, 2009 at 11:06 amI really can’t understand all the hateful comments.
The name of the website is thinkprogress, but all I see is a propagation of lies and hate.
Think for yourselves.
I am an Independent and will always be one. I do not follow the masses, I read and I digest what is best for a truly Free country.
What is advocated by the Federal Government and has been since Roosevelt is a nanny, warfare/welfare system designed to punish those with ability and reward those with none.
Maybe if people would spend a little more time reading the bills, being proactive in what will happen to their Freedoms as a result of giving up your life to Government, there would be a little less advocating of violence and spewing hatred.
Some of these bills reduce every one except the ELITE in Washington DC to slavery.
History repeats itself. Wake up.
Yell back if you wish, but trying to drag anyone out of the hall or responding with physical intimidation will only get you the opposite of what you wish. You’ll be dragged from the hall and Dems will be called disruptive. Is THAT what you want? I understand your anger, but turning a town meeting into a brawl won’t solve anything! Demand that people be able to speak even if you have to demand it in a LOUD voice! Let the police deal w/ disruptive behavior. Get the police. That’s YOUR job! Keep your hands, fists and bodies to yourselves!
August 3rd, 2009 at 12:58 pmAnother tactic would be to stand up and ask other Democrats to stand with you! Show the congressman/woman that the whole audience is NOT protestors! “If you’re a Democrat, stand with me! let’s show Senator XXX/Representative XXX that we support Barack Obama!”
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:07 pmAwwww. poor little socialists! Appalled when someone dares to use their own tactics against them!
August 3rd, 2009 at 4:42 pmSounds like freedom of speech to me and a lot like the sixties. What is the town hall for if it is not for people to state their opinions whether you like them or not or whether they are pre-organized or spontaneous.
August 3rd, 2009 at 8:01 pmLet me start off By Saying Read into this heathcare reform More. I thought I lived in the USA. As I have issues with being told I have to Buy health insurance or else. Gee I thought this was a Country where We Got a choice Not Dictated too. I Heck Maybe I should Buy stock in Health care as What is better then Being told you have to Buy a Product whether you want it or Not. But then Again I am Not a sheeple Who Does Not Read into things and Just Take what I am told For Fact. All this is So called Health Care is doing is Forceing People to Buy it Or else and Makeing The Insurance Companys Even Richer as Now you no longer have a say in it and Can not “just say NO”, and We all know they well Just Jack thier rates up even more as If this passes you can not tell them No anymore .
August 3rd, 2009 at 9:32 pmIt’s saddening to see so many comments degrading the people who just want to make their opinions heard. What about when the shoe’s on the other foot? Let’s not set a precedent for dragging folks out of town hall meetings.
August 3rd, 2009 at 9:41 pmI’ve been trying to recall where I saw these “spontaneous” demonstrations before. And now I remember:
“Gore, get out of Cheney’s house!” was the cry outside the vice-president’s residence during the 37-day Florida recount in Nov. and Dec. 2000.
What were purported to be spontaneous grassroots protests were actually non-stop shouting events promoted by GOP thugs hoping to persuade Americans that Gore was illegitimate and should just hand over the government to Bush and Cheney.
The strategy is not new. And, as I recall, it works.
August 3rd, 2009 at 11:00 pmThis tactics is called “Ochlocracy”, in other terms “Mobocracy”. It is exactly how ancient Greek democracy was defeated. This is how Adolf Hitler rose to power. We must realize exactly how the past democracy were defeated. We have almost ideal democracy working in this country, rather rare occasion in the history of mankind. The only way to destroy was history proven Mobocracy. Thugs intimidating the democratic process. We really need to learn from the past and beware of this danger! Probably only way to be against is to be informed about the danger.
Sadly, Republican, my party, has gone down to this low since last President.
August 3rd, 2009 at 11:49 pmThe question was: “Now, exactly who are the brown shirt, bully national socialists?”
The answer: The radical right brown shirts are the bully radical right “birthers” sometime called republicans. I think a good case could be made under the Patriot Act to label the organizes of these protest against the town hall meetings of congress members as “domestic terrorists!” This new, important definition added to jurisprudence by our most recent President George W. Bush insistence. But in the mean time until the Department of Justice gets busy against them, I will just call them RRB, i.e., radical right brown shirts after the German model of the 1920-1930 period.
August 4th, 2009 at 4:17 amI couldn’t seem to find anything in the memo about “Not have an Intelligent Debate”. Is that supposed to be from the memo, or was it just fabricated?
August 4th, 2009 at 10:19 amHum….what you have reported above as GOP tactics sound pretty familar….Oh that’s right…..It is exactly the same strategy employed by Left wing Liberals when someone does not agree with their ideas and put forth merrit filled arguements. On a side note, most liberal arguments are pretty merritless! Obamacare = No-care
August 4th, 2009 at 10:51 amI remember the 60s and 70s and all the libs back then were incessantly chanting phrases like “power to the people”, and there were always demonstrations and parades and left wingers talking about revolution. It’s so funny to see them frustrated when the opposition uses their same tactics. They cry “foul” and try to spin it and typically resort to character assassination, e.g. “those greedy people”, “those dangerous people”, etc., because they can’t present a logical, cogent rebuttal I’ve even heard libs saying these events are un-american. LOL!! When was the last time you heard a left winger act like he was on the side of America, a la Bobo’s wife Michelle’s comments about being ashamed of America? It’s just too fun right now watching all these demonstrations, because of lefties’ reactions. CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS can’t even avoid reporting this, because it’s so big to ignore. They see their power and influence slipping away – they don’t like it one bit. As usual, the left wing tactical response is more hate mongering and race baiting. The malcontent machine continues….
August 4th, 2009 at 11:29 amOk I got the answer to the teabagging idiots who get bussed in to block discussion of the health care bills. These guys are outside agitators. They are judas goats sent on a denial bus excursion by the medical insurance industry.
Photographs and thumb tacks
What we real Americans need to do is to take theior pictures and post them on the net. Let all America see the frothing, ingorant, a-holes as they act out the scripts of their masters. And then there are thumb tacks.
When the do their whack a mole impression while trying to block any true exchange of ideas throw a tack on their chairs.
Lots of laughs and a reminder to them to stay in their seats. LOL
August 4th, 2009 at 1:31 pmWell, let’s talk about AFP and FreedomWorks, shall we? Just who are these organizations and from where doth thy money flow?
Let’s follow the oil slick and the greenbacks to the source
Wikipedia “Americans for Prosperity is led by Tim Phillips, who was a former partner with Ralph Reed’s Century Strategies. That organization became well-known when it was revealed in a Senate investigation that convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff was laundering money through Century Strategies and Americans for Tax Reform to oppose legislation that his Indian tribe clients wanted to defeat.[4] [5]” linking to both SourceWatch and a Talkingpoints memo through The Muckracker
[By the way, verizon users, you may want to check into the company to whom you pay for service, not only were they one of the first on the bandwagon for wiretapping Bush style (before it was legal), they were clients of Century Strategies doing work with Jack Abramoff, et al,...curiouser and curiouser]
SourceWatch has more interesting info about the astroturfing gamesters at AFP Board
Now, where DO they get all that money? They won’t say but what is published are a few grants by
* $1,000 in 2006 from the Roe Foundation;
* $50,000 in 2005 from the Ruth and Lovett Peters Foundation;
* $5,000 in 2005 from the Armstrong Foundation;
* $125,000 from three grants over 2004 and 2005 from the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation; and
* $1,000,000 from the Claude R. Lambe Charitable Foundation. (aka KOCH Foundations)
AFP is also funded and pretty much run by Koch Industries and has one David Koch as Chairman of the Board of AFP Now david and brother Charles, own KOCH and are 2 of the top billionaires in the country…listed in the top 50 by Fortune; The first president of Americans for Prosperity was Nancy Pfotenhauer…
SourceWatch: “The first president of Americans for Prosperity was Nancy Pfotenhauer who, prior to the groups foundation in 2003, had been an executive with the Citizens for a Sound Economy Foundation.[22]Pfotenhauer later left AFP and in 2007 joined the John McCain campaign. Pfotenhauer was simultaneously the president of the Independent Women’s Forum. From 1996 to 2001, Pfotenhauer was the director of the Washington office of Koch Industries”
Now who are Koch Industries?
THE largest privately owned company in the United States with 70,000 employees and annual sales of $100 billion in the fiscal year ending December of 2008.
Operations in:
Oil refining
chemicals
process and pollution control equipment
technologies
fibers polymers
commodity and financial trading and consumer products
operates crude gathering systems and pipelines across North America – One subsidiary processes 800,000 barrels of crude oil daily in its three refineries.
also owns ranches with a total of 15,000 head of cattle in Kansas, Montana and Texas.
Oil, cattle, chemicals…good ol ‘fashioned pollution spewing (During the 1990s, the firm’s faulty pipelines were responsible for more than 300 oil spills in five states, prompting a penalty of $35 million. In 1996, a flawed pipeline caused an explosion outside of Dallas in which two teenagers were killed. In a lawsuit related to the deaths, a trial court returned a judgment of $376.69 million against the company.), meat hormoning, blood sucking down home corporatists (They kept Bob Dole in office and almost made him president…Libby just might be thanking them too we know Rep. Todd Tiahrt is but then he paid them back by voting down ANYTHING that could adversely affect them)
4111 E. 37th St. North
Wichita, KS 67220-3203
Phone: 316-828-5500
Fax: 316-828-5739
Web: http://www.kochind.com
“The foundations are financed via the oil and gas fortunes of Fred G. Koch, a founding member of the John Birch Society. David is a libertarian who “provides a significant amount of funding for the Cato Institute’s $4 million annual budget.”
August 4th, 2009 at 1:59 pmThis gets interesting…self ascribed Libertarians lavishing money on Republicans (and some Democrats of the Blue Cross or Blue Dog persuasion) and the Cato Institute (Charles Koch is a co-founder of Cato in 1977 ) and helped set up Citizens for a Sound Economy (David helped to launch CSE in 1986) which split into FreedomWatch and …….. (drum roll please) Americans For Prosperity.
http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2009/07/30/oil-funding-everyone/
And they have been working hard to get the pennies, nickels and dimes out for those “hand made” picket signs…those all -American volunteer speakers and those bus trips all over the states, setting up their little teabagging sessions (they also were the backers for that anti-climate change scam called the Hot Air Tour, claiming that there is no real acid rain is a “so-called threat [that] is largely nonexistent,” and global warming is “a verdict in search of evidence.“)
So boys and girls…teabaggers one and all…how does it feel to be shills for one of the biggest oil companies, biggest corporatist bastion in the country?
The fact is, these tactics were invented by Progressives about fifty years ago.
The question now is, how should we progress in this environment?
The Congressmen will call meetings.
The people will come, at least some of them. Some of “the people” are miscreants.
What to do?
Bullies? See the so-called “Freedom Riders.”
R
August 4th, 2009 at 3:32 pmBob MacGuffie is just a normal hardworking citizen, not a paid lobbyist. Bob and others who are going to the Town Hall meetings have a deep respect for the freedoms that they enjoy. Freedoms enjoyed by every reader on this site. They feel compelled to speak out now, often for the first time in their lives, to protect those freedoms.
August 4th, 2009 at 4:03 pmThis is not bullying, it is simply Freedom of Speech.
Take the time to read MacGuffie’s actual memo. He does NOT say “Artificially Inflate your numbers” or “Not have an intelligent debate”. Then find the youtubes of the CT Himes town halls. No one is silenced or mistreated. What you will see is Freedom of Speech in action. I urge you to get the facts.
August 4th, 2009 at 4:56 pm“Town Hall” meetings (A town hall meeting is an informal public meeting derived from the traditional town meetings of New England. Similarly to those meetings, everybody in a community is invited to attend, voice their opinions, and hear the responses from public figures and elected officials, although attendees rarely vote on an issue.) with people bused in from other locales seems a bit out of character for the origin of the words. Namely, these are meant to be local events for the citizenry of a locale not bused in front groups for lobbying firms waging war on Health Care Reform and the need for a Public Option. Should local venues not be attended by locals and in the spirit of that localness could the organizers not limit attendance to those people. This would allow a true reading of the regional viewpoints and allow for communication that both evaluates and educates. So, check IDs at door not for party affiliation but residence.
August 4th, 2009 at 9:18 pmDASM says:
I am not sure how you can think this. Your opposition fears neither change or improvement, and they are not against helping anyone.
Socialistic programs and control of basic needs, goods, and services that are better left to a free market (corrupt or otherwise) helps no one, and hurts everyone. The current health care bill is riddled with unfairness to all. It will fund abortion (the result of irresponsible, and criminal sex – BTW what if YOUR mother had believed in abortion, er, uh “Reproductive Rights” so-called). It will mandate the killing of “undesirables” (how long before YOU are classified as one), it will encourage those who don’t quite fit the category to undergo counseling to encourage suicide until they DO fit the category, It will raise your taxes to astronomical levels, and it will reduce health care.
I fail to see how this is “improvement.” I fail to see how any of this “helps” anyone.
I don’t think you realize this but Socialism does not work. It has failed in every nation, and every time that it has been attempted. It is in effect forced slavery. I am shocked that intelligent people don’t “get” that.
It is not un-American to fear change or improvements, or be against helping people. In fact it is Un-American to force those who do not wish to help others to do so. It is un-American to force any legislation on anyone who does not want it, especially something as divisive as the health care issue.
The issue is not in itself health care. It is the draconian and un-American items in the current bill.
Instead of ranting and name-calling, understand the issue and propose a better solution. Several others have been offered, but since they are not intrusive enough they have been ignored.
As to lining pockets, there is plenty of that going on in both major parties. The Dems are certainly very very guilty of this, so you need to get off that blame game line of reasoning. It just ain’t supported by fact. It is time this nation condemned and abandoned both our major parties, and supported new parties and individuals that uphold our Constitution, and the rule of law.
What is truly disturbing and frightening is that those who think like you do are blindly turning a free nation into a slave nation and cannot see it.
August 5th, 2009 at 9:43 amgruvdog says
Socialistic programs and control of basic needs, goods, and services that are better left to a free market (corrupt or otherwise) helps no one, and hurts everyone. The current health care bill is riddled with unfairness to all. It will fund abortion (the result of irresponsible, and criminal sex – BTW what if YOUR mother had believed in abortion, er, uh “Reproductive Rights” so-called). It will mandate the killing of “undesirables” (how long before YOU are classified as one), it will encourage those who don’t quite fit the category to undergo counseling to encourage suicide until they DO fit the category, It will raise your taxes to astronomical levels, and it will reduce health care.
AMEN AMEN AMEN AMEN AMEN AMEN AMEN
August 5th, 2009 at 12:48 pmDissent used to be “patriotic.” But that was then, this is now, and dissent is now back to what it should be, something only thugs and mobs engage in. If we’re lucky, Obama will pull a Hugo Chavez (don’t you just love him?!) and dissent will be shut down, in a very patriotic way, of course.
Obama in ‘16! Don’t dream it, make it happen!
August 6th, 2009 at 12:44 amstructurequity says:
You’re obviously unaware of the fact that Democratic organizations have bussed sympathetic union members to cheer for Democratic policies and candidates, sometimes from hundreds of miles away, and they’ve been doing this for decades. They usually don’t have to give up a day’s pay for the jaunt.
I realize that Republicans are thugs, so it’s definitely not okay when they do the same things Democrats do. Just though the history might interest you.
August 6th, 2009 at 12:49 amSounds like the typical lib response of calling names, mention bush, and ridicule just to build themselves up. It’s a wonderful day in this country when people voice their opinions. I am proud to call myself a conservative and would attend the town hall meeetings if they were near my town. I would do it completely on my own. I have an opinion and would love to share it. I think it’s funny listening to the left media and all the libs here that know deep down that something real is happening in America, and people are genuinely opposing the healthcare ideas of this president. Not because of the color of his skin, which is another way the libs dig at conservatives, but because it is just wrong. Some improvements would be nice like lowering costs of premiums some to make it more affordable, but not a complete reformation. This is not my country, it’s our country. What do you want to be able to tell your grandchilren when they ask what you did to help preserve our way of life in this country. That you gave it all away, or that you rolled up your sleaves and you worked hard to earn everything you had. This is just my opinion. As for me and my family, we will contribute when we can, but we are no ones slave. Let us give what we can, don’t take it from us.
August 6th, 2009 at 2:16 amI am also proud to have attended a peaceful tea party. I am not racist, neither was anyone else that partipated. Again, that’s how the media and the left painted it to try and downplay the reality of the rally. We weren’t paid or organized by any group to attend. I read an atricle from a former serviceman (potential radical by medias terms) inviting people to come down and have a peaceful rally. It was an honor to attend. The only negative thing that happened there was the Liberal Democrat that started yelling at all of us for being there. Everyone was respecful to his oinion.
People, all people, need to take a step back, look at what’s going on in Washington, and ask, what is happening here, is this the direction I want my country headig? Are those in power taking us in the right direction. I doubt that, from the looks of the posts on this site that a mature dialogue is possible here, so have a terrific evening.
Remember, stop bringing up the race issue, it’s a cop out, this is about people having an honest concern about their countrys future. As for people being inappropriate at the TH’s that’s too bad, but their opinions are valuable too. “Astroturf” describing these Town Hall meetings, all of them, like that, is another liberal media spin or cop out, and a denial of the realities facing out country.
Lee,
Three points:
1) Your previous post about Freedom works providing “all the logistical and public relations work necessary for planning coast-to-coast protests” was a real piece of junk that only made sense to readers who never followed your links. The real story of Freedom Works involvement with the Tea Parties is here.
2) Bob Maguffie is a low level Republican activist from Connecticut who knows no one at Freedom Works and has no connection to them beyond an old blog post on a site related to tea parties which Freedom Works neither owns nor maintains. Saying the connection was tenuous would be kind.
3) This memo was originally sent to less than a dozen or so people. Meanwhile, HCAN — a massive conglomeration of leftist groups and unions — has a strategy memo out (discussed here) in which they tell their activists to “take away right-wingers opportunities to talk to reporters by making sure that your staff or leaders are in constant contact with the media who attend” and to “approach the reporters and be assertive in shaping the narrative that they write.” In other words, MacGuffie’s memo was both tame and insignificant compared to what’s being pushed on your side of the aisle.
But, hey, other than that you’re doing a great job.
August 6th, 2009 at 2:19 amCongratulations! You blew the lid off the vast right-wing conspiracy. You found him. Mr. Big of the right wing extremists.
This dude has a vast network of 23 followers on Twitter and 18 friend to whom he emailed this letter.
Fantastic investigative reporting!
August 6th, 2009 at 1:33 pmhey Watchdog post74 you just dont get it do you? Your post makes the very point Think Progress is trying to make but you don’t see that do you? ..
You point out the phrase “dont make a scene” was left out in Think Progress’ memo summary making it seem these are just decent folks not wanting to create trouble unfairly maligned.
But you yourself have correctly posted that the memo says “You need to rock-the-boat early in the Rep’s presentation, ..watch for an opportunity to yell out …” and quoted the memo as advocating not discussion but “short intermittent shout outs” The memo can say “dont make a scene’ but it clearly advocates harassment, does it not?
Then you say accuse Think Progress of leaving this out…”If he says something outrageous stand up and call him on it. “ Again encouraging jumping up and shouting at what they perceive as outrageous which, of course, is anything that attempts to reform health care which you brand as socialistic.
You seem to be reasonable when pointing out the memo says questions should “contain facts”. Well that is fine and no one would have a problem if everyone did exactly that but the fact that this bit of information was left out does not detract from the central theme that the goal of this memo was not dialog and discussion but to encourage yelling, shouting, jumping up and down and trying to disrupt the town hall meetings of those who you arrogantly assume are pursuing and anti American agenda.
Thanks for helping make that point.
Republicans are nasty folks that dont hesitate to steal elections, shout down questioners, attack peoples patriotism, ( ever notice how they always bill themselves as “patriotic”?) start wars for fake reasons, smear vets that disagree and spread hate and lies. They have called Obama a racist, a communist, a hater of whites, a Marxist, a socialist. a terrorist sympathizer and a foreigner. And now they are doing what they can to block dialog and spread false information with the intent of destroying a black, Democratic, honestly elected President. They feel justified in doing this because they feel they are in a war and all is fair in war..even if it means destroying the system itself.
August 6th, 2009 at 1:50 pmWith these thug-like and aggressive and organized opposition to the Democrats and the Obama’s plan, what are their responce. Nothing and be harrassed like a spineless non-reactionary politicians that they are. This is the same reason that the support for Obama and the Dems are falling… If they keep this strategy, I will not be surprised to see the GOP back in power again… SAD!
August 7th, 2009 at 7:45 amHey, I have an idea. Since Progressives want socialism so bad, Why don’t they all just move to France?
August 7th, 2009 at 12:04 pm