OK, enough with the rallies already
John Hawkins from Right Wing News send along a couple of links from this weekend. The first is about the First Annual BlogCon sponsored by Freedom Works – I see some of our friends like Mary Katherine Hamm and Skye attended.
But there was also a march in DC also sponsored by Freedom Works which Jahn also covered and posted upon entitled The 9/12 Taxpayer March on Washington.
I’m going to spend a few minutes ruminating on why these are useless demonstrations, so if you’re going to disagree, you might want to stop reading.
The BlogCon is good – bloggers from the Right need to network…everything that helps them in that endeavor is excellent. If Freedom Works wants to fill that huge gap, I’m down with it. Freedom Works has come along way since I first started working with them more than two years ago when they would infiltrate MoveOn protests (posts here and here).
But the rallies have to go. If Freedom Works wants to rally around a candidate, or a group of candidates, a rally makes sense. But a rally for the sake of having a rally is so much mental masturbation. The rally that was held last year made the point that there is HUGE support for a presidential candidate who wants to oppose President Obama – but where is that candidate? But they’ve become social events for people with clever things to write on a poster board.
The rallies are a rudderless gathering of people waving signs. And the only result of holding these things is embarrassment for the movement – the movement which has no leader to give a singular voice to their cause and their vote. We end up looking like the hippies – and thinking we’ve done enough when all we’ve done is show up and wave a sign.
Unless the Republicans can turn up a candidate worth a shit, these pointless rallies should stop. They can only pale in comparison with last year’s rally and give the Left more ammunition. Of course Republicans can point a gun in any direction and the bullet will hit their foot every time.
Disagree with me all you want.
Category: Politics
Jonn,
As much as I am active, I am inclined to agree that stuff like this can be a waste. The only thing is, this is what is keeping many people energized and involved enough to even try and make a difference. It shows those who used to remain silent that there are more people thinking like they are and the more this is done the more people band together. Just sayin’.
I whole heartedly concur. Here! Here!
I suggest we hold a rally to protest all of the redundant rallies.
Right on Jonn.
Protests/Rallies when done too often or without a VERY clear purpose (i.e. getting someone elected) quite simply become a waste of resources. These events cost money to promote and organize-money that could be used for other things.
The whole point of the Tea Party Patirots is that there is no candidate. WE, each individual, is the Tea Party. That is one reason why it works. There is no one person who the left wing media can, try as they might, smear with any real effectiveness.
Tea Party Patriots also holds classes on how to be more effective on an individual grass roots level. The rallies are but one part of the larger picture.
You have to admit, IMHO, that in order for us conservatives to rally and march (looking like the hippies) means a whole lot of people are as pissed off as can be. It takes A LOT for conservatives to actually demonstrate.
There is that element at the rallies, ie: “social events for people with clever things to write on a poster board” … but, each one I attend there are many new-comers.
I’m just hoping the Republicans sit up and take notice. We shall see.
“Unless the Republicans can turn up a candidate worth a shit”
And there’s the money quote right there. Less Dole and McCain, more Reagan.
Of course I completely agree.
Support your favorite candidates. Volunteer your time to a cause. Go out and vote in November!…But please leave the marches and sign waving to the moonbats.
I gotta agree with AFbrat here. I’ve been to rallies in my state and in DC. People go home from them energized and ready to work to get their conservative candidates elected. Yes, I hope we can turn up a Republican candidate for president that’s worth something, but that isn’t the only election. Conservative candidates are making headway this year. I think it will show in November. And then on to 2012.
Jonn, I agree with you on more issues than I comment, but on this one I don’t. As Nov 2008 approached, Congress was pushing for TARP. Despite widespread opposition, it passed. Then came the Stimulus and mandatory Health Care Insurance, and Government Motors, and Chrysler, and a host of other spending that the public said “NO” to. With all of these, letter writing, phone calls, town halls, emails and faxes did nothing to get the attention of Washington. When the Tea Parties started, they were discounted as “astroturf,” but the fact that they are still demonstrating great numbers means that politicians can no longer ignore their voice. They are NOT like the hippies. The Tea Parties have demonstrated the responsibility to clean up after themselves. The average participant is a normal American Citizen that wears normal clothes, has a normal hairstyle, and more often than not, a job. The average participant is well spoken and knows why they are there. Yes, the Republican Party would like to capitalize on it, but they are as apt (as per primaries) to be the victim as to benefit from this Citizen Outrage. Americans are tired of politics as usual. And there are but few Republicans that have found that they can tap into the Tea Party power. A leader? The Tea Party is led by the foundations of the US Constitution. It is about the principals this Nation was founded on. A leader would not strengthen the message. A leader could echo the message, but the message has strength because it is millions of individuals with common cause. As a parallel, look at the MilBlogs. There is no true “leader” though some would like to take that role. The message is the same, said different ways, 90% of the time. And that 10%? It demonstrates that the MilBloggers are for the most part independent thinkers (in the traditional, not the new definition as per progressives). That 10% is not the same disagreement on each issue by the same individuals, but a rotation. There were some that arrived earlier than others, but there is… Read more »
WTF Jonn I strongly DISAGREE with you. I may also be taking this way to seriously/sensitivily but I find your comparison of Teapartiers to HIPPIES REPUGNANT AS HELL. I maybe a broken down old Soldier and Scooter Bum but I’m no CHICKEN SHIT HIPPIE. Extremely disappointed with your column. This time. I usually enjoy your columns, but right now I’M FUCKING PISSED.
Jonn
I partially agree and partially disagree.
I agree that any large rally called for DC after last year’s tremendous success can only fall short. Particularly when folks’ resources have already been drained by going to another event just two weeks earlier. You can’t keep asking people to go to Washington without a clear purpose.
I do, however, think that local rallies are important in building grass roots support. It would have been better to make this 9/12 a local rally event like we have done for the Tax Day Tea Parties. Then recruiting operations could have helped build our numbers.
Unless the Republicans can turn up a candidate worth a shit”
This much I agree with.
Another point, is like it or don’t- people are sheep. and to get “your guy” voted in, you need the numbers. When there are demonstrations and the sheep-ish people see more people think like them than old Barack, they feel empowered. Not everyone is a retired vet with a history degree waiting for the rest of the country to see he was right all along. Most are self consious of their “old-fashioned” ideals.
My two cents.
Now– I don’t really like most protest/marcher types– but they serve their purpose.