National Mobilization to End the Occupation in Iraq
Bush and Cheney are in the process of handing off to Congress their current Iraq war occupation and their future war with Iran .
Always a GOP affair, it is now in the hands of DINO's. Vote by vote, the so-called Democratic Congress betrays the wishes of the people by refusing to shrug off this unneeded, illegal, and infamous burden. It is time - past time - to take it to the streets.
What good do demonstrations do? I don't know. But I am not in the mood to do good. These are not the times to make nice.
But it was a nice and mellow interlude in Santa Barbara. No tear gas, but a little burning hemp, drums, guitars, signs, smiles and short speeches served up in a light drizzle.
This was a National Mobilization
Always a GOP affair, it is now in the hands of DINO's. Vote by vote, the so-called Democratic Congress betrays the wishes of the people by refusing to shrug off this unneeded, illegal, and infamous burden. It is time - past time - to take it to the streets.What good do demonstrations do? I don't know. But I am not in the mood to do good. These are not the times to make nice.
But it was a nice and mellow interlude in Santa Barbara. No tear gas, but a little burning hemp, drums, guitars, signs, smiles and short speeches served up in a light drizzle.This was a National Mobilization
With a focused message.
posted by Vigilante at 10/27/2007 08:00:00 AM
9 Moderated Comments:
"Take it to the streets." Cool. I'd pay money to see it.
Let's assume estimation of numbers of participants are inexact. So I'll just say that:
* Up to 30,000 were in San Francisco.
* Up to 5,000 were in Chicago.
* Up to 10,000 were in Seattle.
* Up to 2,500 were in Orlando
* Up to 150 Oklahoma City
* Up to 45,000 in NYC
* Up to 7,500 in Boston
* Up to 400 in Jonesboro
Results are still filtering in. Big and small demonstrations across the nation put boots, sneakers and sandals on the ground. Folks gave up half of a weekend day to make their point. Many turned out for the first time in their lives.
Media recognized that fact. Passers-by responded with positive honks and up-raised thumbs. Congress will have to take notice - if not this time - after the next mobilizations.
Good Sunday Morning Vigilante.... I have some thoughts that keep nagging at me in light of the relatively small turnout at yesterday's rallies compared with the outrage in many of the "Progressive" blogs (at least those to the left of todays Democrat Party (DINO's as you and others have referred to us)).
What is bothering me is not that you are you are somehow wrong and we are right (indeed I believe you may very well be correct as the war drum beats increase over Iran), but that many Progressives so lightly dimiss those who dare to disagree with them.
A little name calling here and condescending comments there in place of an honest assessment of the views of others.
I appreciate the fact that you allow and even encourage open dialog here in your comments section. I think many who read and write here are willing to reassess their positions and are open to alternative ideas.
I am greatly concerned that many in our country are not.
Clearly today (right or wrong) the country is no longer in the mood for a quick end to the Iraq occupation. They're just not ready to depart from that stage for a variety of reasons.
This doesn't mean that conservatives have won anything. It simply means this is a complex, multi-faceted issue and the FACT that BUSH waged a stupid, poorly planned, sloppily executed, illegal and immoral invasion doesn't mean we must make an equally stupid, poorly planned and sloppily executed exit.
I know you don't agree (heck I'd be disappointed if you did) but please consider that other smart people who share your morals and values do see the need for a different exit strategy.
A thoughtful comment, Wizard. You catch me in a remorseful mood. I have not been content with my strident (some call it 'shrill') tones. Labels are always subjectively applied and their overuse is destructive to intellectually honest discussion which both of us treasure. I continuously re-examine the labels I employ.
I specifically think I should rescind a carelessly-flung label here and there. "Reich-wing", for one thing, is probably over the top. However, 'Weimar-Republican' is an apt term that describes continuing lock-step GOP compliance in its unquestioning de facto support of the Bush-Cheney drive toward imperial executive & global empire. As far as 'DINO' is concerned, I don't know. One alternative would be for me to re-register as an Independent, then I could call all you guys appeasing the Bush-Cheney program, 'Democrats'. Would that make you happier? The only trouble with that option is that I don't expect my state counts Independent votes in Democratic primaries.
As far as open discussion of a wide-range of ideas reaching across the spectrum is concerned, just a couple of points.
In these pages, I make a real effort to address issues that I feel merit consideration by all loyal and patriotic Americans. That means I try to avoid gotcha tactics of individual and aberrant schisms one can find on Faux News, favored by many bloggers. (I am refraining my impulse to point out examples from your pages.) I feel extremely rewarded by readers' thoughtful responses and participation. For their efforts, I am a better and more informed person. (I am refraining an impulse to detail examples from your own comments, Wizard.)
Secondly, I regularly make a real effort to visit conservative web blogs, looking for common ground, pursuing agreement, or merely to register a symbolic disagreement. These efforts tax my limited time greatly and are rarely rewarded by even a short exchange or longer dialogue.
The problems presented to our American Republic by the Bush-Cheney apostasy are many and multi-faceted. All of us in the blogosphere continuously contend over them. Which is good.
Finally, I agree with you: I think our common adversary is our fellow countrymen who seek ignore these issues, hoping merely that things will be somehow resolved, one way or another.
I've just posted a longer (my god, is that possible?), but hopefully more fair and evenhanded essay on this matter on my blog site.
And yes, vigialnte, you are correct. I've often been guilty of the very sins I write about today. I need to take a lesson from my own pages.
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I'm thinking the left should just shut up for a while and let the right flail around on the talk shows and radio programs and op-ed pages all by their lonesomes.
Stop responding.
Do not answer invitations to participate in shouting matches.
When they start saying sensible things, engage them again.
Otherwise, no.
Silence is golden.
Time for a break.
Clearly today (right or wrong) the country is no longer in the mood for a quick end to the Iraq occupation. They're just not ready to depart from that stage for a variety of reasons.
Only got a chance to quickly scan everything but I think Wizard is correct, a great deal of people I talk with know the situation is FUBARed but actualy feel somewhat responible and just don't want to walk out. I'm not agreeing with that its just somewhat hopeful to see a sign that some Americans are taking some responbility. Whether this feeling grows or dies with us taking up more of Bush's adventures I have no idea.
Final count:
Boston 7,500
New York City 45,000
Chicago 30,000
Seattle 7,000
Los Angeles 20,000
San Francisco 30,000
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