Astroturf Jerks (Steven Crowder Examines Political Activism)

We're new to this guy, and we're not enamored of defining problems in terms of liberal vs. conservative.  It's generally divisive and overly simplistic.  But this clip satisfies a desire to express an opinion I've held since the town hall protests began: with a few exceptions, these are legitimate expressions of anger and frustration not affiliated by party.  The natives are restless and angry.  And the outrage over the bailout of failed Wall Street banks, Fannie, Freddie, and AIG is an insidious river of percolating hate.  Career politicians beware the wrath of 2010.

Pundits like us to think that we all must fit neatly within one camp or the other.  It's all part of the grand masquerade while the private bash rages on. The corporate and special interest lobby are the only game in town, and taxpayers keep getting our asses kicked every time we show up to play.

Crowder goes inside a liberal California PAC for a job interview and brings along a hidden camera.  The hypocrisy becomes evident quickly.  The interviewer considers the activism organized, fake and astroturf unless of course she happens to agree with the cause.  In that case, it's distinctly a grassroots movement.  This is the kind of shite that really pisses me off.

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[DailyBail]

Japan's election
Banzai!

Aug 31st 2009 | TOKYO
From Economist.com
A landslide victory for the DPJ in Japan

http://ow.ly/15N6Wc

[DailyBail]

Rep. Ron Paul said he has a commitment from the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, Barney Frank, to advance the Texas Republican's legislation opening the Federal Reserve to broader federal audits.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125167261849670795.html

[Sell Short]

Market Update--

Dow down 100 points right now. I guess the September sell off has started. i think we will have a very tough September coming ahead. Fasten Your seat belts!!

Sell em Short!

[James H]

I just saw this on Lew Rockwell today. It's a Daily Beast article talking about the legacy of the Ron Paul movement and how the health care debates have provided an opportunity for Ron Paul supporters and regular Republicans to make common cause. The author of the piece clearly thinks Paul is nuts, she does some guilt-by-association crap that is annoying, but overall she sort of gets what's going on with the health care protests and the anger people are showing at the government. It would be fantastic if the MSM could pick up this meme -- that Ron Paul supporters have radicalized and joined forces with mainstream conservatives. Once the cat is out of the bag, it's hard to put her back in without gettiing yourself all clawed up. At any rate, this marks a vast improvement over the "Astroturf" meme. (What do you folks think?)

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-08-30/revenge-of-the-paultards/

[RobertM]

Here's the problem I have with the teabaggers: Most of the ones that make it on TV are logically-retarded hypocrites. Did you catch the old lady screaming "keep your government hands off my Medicare"? or the gun-toting little-dicks that are merely "exercising their rights" when they are really making thinly-veiled threats? Is that democracy, where they wave their guns around trying to force their opinion on everyone else? Are any of these people willing to give up the socialist programs we already have? I've already mentioned Medicare- how about fire, police, clean water, the 40 hour work week, minimum wage, education,defense? How many could even tell you the difference between fascism and socialism? How about the post office? Last time I checked the 'free market' price of sending a letter by a capitalist, private enterprise company like Fedex or UPS was over seven dollars.

[DailyBail]

@Robert.

The problem you describe is one that we all face when evaluating the protests...i agree that a decent number of these folks are either nutjobs or just mis-informed...however, there is a substantial majority I believe that is well-informed on the issues and is just plain angry...about the bailouts, or the exploding deficits or healthcare, you name it..

James.

Getting the MSM to cover anything regarding Ron Paul is bound to be a challenge...they avoid the guy like the plague...the article is a great find...

[Gobias Bluth]

Robert writes...Are any of these people willing to give up the socialist programs we already have? I've already mentioned Medicare- how about fire, police, clean water, the 40 hour work week, minimum wage, education,defense?

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, YES and no on military defense. I am a big fan of gunboat diplomacy.

Robert writes…Is that democracy, where they wave their guns around trying to force their opinion on everyone else?
‘‘Germans who wish to use firearms should join the SS or the SA - ordinary citizens don't need guns, as their having guns doesn't serve the State.’’ — Heinrich Himmler

‘‘The most foolish mistake we could possibly make would be to allow the subjected people to carry arms. History shows that all conquerors who have allowed their subjected peoples to carry arms have prepared their own downfall by so doing. Indeed, I would go so far as to say that the underdog is a sine qua non ["something essential" lit. "without which not"] for the overthrow of any sovereignty. So let's not have any native militia or police.’’ -- Adolph Hitler, Edict of March 18, 1938

Robert, please meet Heinrich, Adolph and Barry.

[Something Polish]

That Crowder video was an embarrassingly horrific piece of wingnut propaganda. You're above that, Daily Bail.

[DailyBail]

I know what you're saying, and it's the first thing I've posted from PJTV...but as you know part of what pisses me off is hypocrisy from either side...

I don't like it when conservatives dismiss grassroots movements by liberals, and vice versa. I tend to feel that most demonstrations are expressions of real emotion and anger. So it bothered me enough to see the CalPac organizer act so hypocritically, that I posted it.

We're been pretty consistent here of late at bashing the partisanship where ever we see it. Our record is pretty decent in terms of equal mis-treatment and ridicule of both sides.

Good to have you back around. UVa and IU play in Charlottesville in October...Scott Stadium...could mean a trip.

A burned image: Kris Herdt and David W. carrying the goal post down stadium road...

[Gobias Bluth]

Daily says...I don't like it when conservatives dismiss grassroots movements by liberals, and vice versa. I tend to feel that most demonstrations are expressions of real emotion and anger.

The problem you describe is one that we all face when evaluating the protests...i agree that a decent number of these folks are either nutjobs or just mis-informed...however, there is a substantial majority I believe that is well-informed on the issues and is just plain angry...about the bailouts, or the exploding deficits or healthcare, you name it.

Wow, hmmm, interesting.