Liberals to stage Tea Party-like revolts against GOP spending cuts

[cal04]

Source: The Hill

Democratic strategists believe their Tea Party moment has arrived.

Working with labor unions and liberal groups, they are using the Presidents Day congressional recess to organize a public backlash against billions of dollars in cuts to federal programs.

(snip)
“We are targeting various House Republicans in town hall meetings during the recess to let them know these budget cuts are beyond the pale,” said the labor source, who added that it has been difficult to mobilize supporters to public question-and-answer sessions with lawmakers because “they’ve been pretty circumspect in giving out information about the meetings.”

(snip)
The groups, including MoveOn.org, Democracy for America, USAction, the Service Employees International Union and People for the American Way, plan to hold “Save the American Dream” rallies in 50 state capitals on Saturday.


Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/house/145793-liberals-look-to-stage-tea-party-like-revolts-against-budget-cuts

[xchrom]

1. recommend

[inademv]

2. I hope they don't exactly mirror the 'baggers

The pointless yelling and disruption is unacceptable no matter who is doing it.

[quaker bill]

6. I just hope the signs are spelled correctly.

A bit of civil and mostly peaceful disruption would not be a bad thing. Ms. Manners does not get much attention, that is the whole point of being mannerly, to avoid drawing attention to oneself. The anger is real and should be expressed, hopefully in a peaceful, but perhaps loud and unmistakeable way.

Folks on the right could and probably would confuse good manners with a lack of passion for the cause. There is no need to be tepid about this.

[tavalon]

25. We know how to spell

I'm not sure why they don't, but there it is.

[RedCloud]

58. Maybe they write with the eraser side?

[CLANG]

72. Stupid, poor education, or both...

That's why they can be so easily used by the right-wingers. The moat guarding the castle door dried up long ago.

[AlbertCat]

14. I hope they don't exactly mirror the 'baggers

I was gonna say.... God I hope we don't have any Teabagger moments! They're just embarrassing!

I hope we have logic, compassion, community, reality, and correct spelling on our side. The Teabaggers don't.

[Enthusiast]

19. Don't worry, the cops

won't allow OUR side to act like Teabaggers.

[Initech]

95. Our signs are spelled correctly, and we aren't racist.

[NoSheep]

98. oh this is just the kind of thing that makes me crazy

the attempt to make the oppressed and disenfranchised who stand up to their oppressors seem equivalent to those who pout when they can't rape us more.

[cognoscere]

99. No need to. All they need are the facts. To republicans, truth

is like water to the wicked witch of the west.

[rpannier]

100. But it gets the attention of the media and politicians

As has been pointed out on many occassions by smarter people than me
"Most progressive legislation that has been passed over the last 100 years was aided by the fear of the wealthy over the alternative."

[breadandwine]

104. Yeah, because as we all know, yelling and hollering and speaking out NEVER works.

THAT'S why the GOP didn't take over Congress in 2010.......


We need to be good little boys and girls and sit in the corner.........

[Judi Lynn]

3. Great idea. Democrats would actually ask intelligent questions at town hall meetings,

instead of getting wild, red-faced, loud, violent, and half-crazed. No misspelled signs, no death threats, no stepping on people's heads after knocking them down.

It will be the dawn of a new day! What a concept: asking real questions of right-wing politicians, instead of the bowing and scraping, groveling, slobbering they're used to getting from their own crowds.

[quaker bill]

7. Some will ask intelligent questions

and some won't. Each will serve a purpose.

[AlbertCat]

15. Some will ask intelligent questions and some won't....

... as they are dragged from the meeting by police.

[paparush]

41. THIS is what we'll see.

We'll witness Teaper heads exploding as libs ask thoughtful, meaningful, painful questions. Then the goons will be ordered in to clear the "disturbance".

[Doctor_J]

30. The reason that the teabaggers were effective was the shouting, gun-waving,

and disruption. Being polite at these things will accomplish nothing.

[pscot]

38. An intelligent question and a gun

will get you farther than an intelligent question alone.

[SacoMaine61]

61. Except getting tased...

:scared:

[RKP5637]

4. Recommend!!! n/t

[amyrose2712]

5. +++

[Shadowflash]

8. Awesome!!

K&R

[old mark]

9. K&R- Has the GOP got stupid enough to unite the left? I hope we can get together over this

and at least temporarily stop our infighting to concentrate on the REAL emeny of America-the right wings' power grab of OUR country.

Mark
retired AFSCME Steward

[CBHagman]

10. Remember too that cuts threaten recovery.

I'm searching for the link right now to an article from yesterday's New York Times on how drastic cuts can actually derail recovery.

Here it is.

"Why Budget Cuts Don't Bring Prosperity."

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/23/business/economy/23leonhardt.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=david%20leonhardt&st=cse

[cyclezealot]

11. Pick your targets well..

Some gobbers are even worse than others.. Pick on the likes of Bachman.. She might explode. that would be fun..
In terms of of who might do the most damage.. I'd pick three..
Paul Ryan, Hal Rogers( Appropriations)
................ and especially, Daryl Issa..
.It might be fun to challenge Florida's crazy Rep. Allen West. But, you might have fears for your security.

[krabigirl]

49. Would be nice if Dems protested the wars again, or the patriot act extension.

Especially since so many "Democrats" continue to vote for extending both.

[bobbolink]

55. Oh definitely. Let's IMMEDIATELY derail any attempt to protest cuts against poor people.

Why, that would be completely undemocratic!

:grr:

[cyclezealot]

81. Far less so than last year this time.. Check out the vote.

. Being that 60 blue dogs are gone.. Making the new Democratic caucus like 66% no.. I was pleased.. Add in a few of the freaky , GOP libertarian crowd and the implementation of the recent extension was held up for a week or so.. The Repukes provided the majority needed to pass the vote. Something like 225 for. 30 Gopers against..

[fasttense]

12. How condescending can this article be?

Really, the only comparison the writer can make is to Tea-baggers? Not a single source he quoted made mention of Tea-baggers. He inserts one liners about Tea-baggers into his article as if the sources he quoted made the comparison when they did NOT compare it to Tea-bagger idiocy.

The content of the article is good but the constant refrain as if we are all Tea-baggers now is condescending and ignorant.

Like there is no other way to behave except like crazy Tea-baggers.

[AlbertCat]

18. as if we are all Tea-baggers now

YIKES! Stop scaring me!

I know.... the false equivalency thing....

Like we're gonna come with weapons strapped to our thighs.

[gratuitous]

26. The Tea Baggers invented confrontational protest

Didn't you know that? Nobody ever took to the streets or confronted unrepresentative representatives before the Tea Baggers did it. I've checked all over Teh Google (may Glenn Beck forgive me) and can't find even one instance in any of the popular media where liberals or progressives or even dirty fucking hippies took to the streets in protest. You'd think they might have done it at either of the Bush inaugurals, or in opposition to the launching of the Iraq war, but no. It was the Tea Baggers who first did this. Ever. They're patriots and pioneers!

[fasttense]

13. Deleted, double post.

[No Elephants]

16. Hello? When did Democrats organizing protests become Democrats

imitating the Tea Party?

The real, original Tea Party? Not conservatives. Conservatives of that era were Loyalists and Tories.

Civil Rights protests? Not conservatives.

Union protests? Not conservatives.

Anti-war protests? Not conservatives.

Anti-nuke protests? Not conservatives.

G 20 protests? Not conservatives.



To quote George Hamilton's Dracula in Love at First Bite, "Do not teach your grandmother how to suck eggs..."




The Teabaggers have been trying to put on liberal and radical style protests, but they stink at it, especially when Armey-Koch-Fox are not giving the little dears heaps of help and/or money. That ain't no grass roots, up from the people protest.




Fuck The Lying Hill and all lying media.

[Enthusiast]

20. Excellent post!!! nt

[tpsbmam]

22. Bingo! Exactly what I thought the second I saw the headline. nt

[Doctor_J]

31. rec this reply

:thumbsup:

[KurtNYC]

59. 90% of headlines are slanted BS

this is one of them.

[bjobotts]

102. Exactly

[Enthusiast]

17. If people at town hall meetings

rant and yell against Republican proposals cops will drag them off and throw them in jail. If our people act just like the Tea Party did during the health care debate WE will end up in jail. Certain speech simply is not allowed. There is no longer any rule of law in this nation.

[deacon]

21. Can't let the opportunity pass. We need to unite against the unstable. n/t

[creon]

23. excellent idea

And, keep it going.

[Paka]

24. The whole idea is to stand up like a tea bagger...

but walk like an Egyptian. Be peaceful, be intelligent, be strong. And do spell correctly, please.

:applause:

[rgbecker]

27. Shall I bring my Guns? n/t

[Doctor_J]

29. Only if you want to be shot

Hate radio, Big Media, and the loony right think waving guns at Dems, including the president, is a 2nd Amendment right. If you bring a gun and brandish it at a Boner rally you will be shot dead on the spot. Rights are only for Cons.

[Mosaic]

33. They love that wimpy

attitude. That's why they respect us so much. :eyes:

[Sherman A1]

28. It is good to see this happen

the article may be screwed up and I am sure that they will not act like the Teabaggers, but this is superb!

[AsahinaKimi]

32. I am sure our signs will be correct in both spelling and grammar

right? :D

[tinrobot]

34. Where and when do we show up?

[cal04]

36. MoveOn's link

http://pol.moveon.org/callforaction/

http://front.moveon.org/

[cal04]

35. 50-State Mobilization to Save the American Dream

http://front.moveon.org/
50-State Mobilization to Save the American Dream

Rally to Save the American Dream
http://www.seiu.org/index.php

[drm604]

37. A few thoughts.

I think it's possible to get attention and be persistent without being as obnoxious as the tea partiers were. We can ask tough questions without coming off as crazy mouth breathers simply because we'll be asking intelligent questions about real issues.

Some in this thread have suggested that we'll be treated unfairly by the police. I don't think this is a given as much as it used to be. Look at the police in Wisconsin!

If police are present and you feel uncomfortable, then start with questions about the treatment of public unions and in particular those that risk their lives ensuring public safety. These are good legitimate progressive questions plus they will win over the police to your side.

[TygrBright]

39. Impossible.

Most liberals can spell.

dismissively,
Bright

[Greybnk48]

40. It's way past ABOUT TIME!!

I plan to be in Madison on Saturday ( if I don't have to watch my grandson ; ) )

[KansDem]

42. Hey, Repubs! Go get the $285 billion ripped off from us by defense contractors!

Before you put the bite on us again! :grr:

[socialist_n_TN]

43. Ugh! I hope not....

I'm as big of a believer in direct action as anybody, but this isn't an astroturf thing.

The PTB are trying to co-opt the Wisconsin uprising and make it into a Dem/Rep thing. It's NOT. It's a have/have not dynamic.

[crazyjoe]

44. lets start a "prank call " movement to show how stupid and selfish

the repubs are!!!

[alp227]

70. what if the secretaries ask for caller ID? n/t

[L0oniX]

45. YAwn ...let me know when ya want to revolt against the military spending and wars.

[ejbr]

46. The two don't necessarily have to be mutually exclusive,

however, I share your focus.

[bobbolink]

56. Absolutely. It is so fucking BORING to actually even consider protesting cuts against poor people.

Its not like we DESERVE that support, is it?

:nuke:

[muntrv]

47. As the old saying goes, what's good for the goose is good for the gander.

[Uncle Joe]

48. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, cal.

[Drale]

50. So pretty much the polar opposite of the tea party?

Good verses Evil, Jedi verses Sith, Intellectual verses Really Really Stupid.

[LynneSin]

54. Depends on which Tea Party

Since today's 'Tea Party' really has very little in common with the Revolutionary War Tea Party.

[Drale]

66. Of course I meant the current "tea party"

seeing as they are the problem in todays world.

[efhmc]

51. But if they are calm and articulate, will it make an impact?

Mean and stupid seem to be what gets attention. The tea party has a monopoly on those qualities.

[CBHagman]

68. "Mean and stupid seem to be what gets attention."

Boy, is that ever the truth. The media has lavished attention on the tea party despite (or perhaps because of) its corporate and lobbyist backing, and despite its minority status.

[socialist_n_TN]

87. I don't necessarily think that you have to be "mean and

stupid" to get attention, but PASSION will always get attention over calm and reasoned. Now that doesn't mean the questions and remarks can't be calm and reasoned, but they should be posed and articulated with PASSION!

The PASSION of the Teabaggers is what caught the public's attention, in SPITE of their lack of reason. Reason AND passion should be even MORE effective.

[CBHagman]

97. I've got to tell you I didn't think of passion when...

...people started bellowing during town hall meetings, etc. I thought of road rage. Not the same thing as passion.

[socialist_n_TN]

107. To most people, loud IS passion...........

Don't be afraid to get loud. Don't lie or make shit up. But tell the TRUTH loudly and proudly!

[Crowman1979]

52. I prefer the "coffee party" myself.

[LynneSin]

53. Personally I think we can do better than those idiot Tea Party members

Instead of showing up with lawn chairs, firearms and misspelled protest signs while listening to idiots like Glenn Beck and his ilk, why not do real protests instead.

Let's confront those who mean to stop us, boycott corporations that are trying to destroy the middle class and use other means of civil disobedience to show that we mean business. Oh and let's show we can spell too!

[bobbolink]

57. Oh, I see... its back to only being about the muddleclass again.

And here I thought MAYBE there were afew Dems who decided we poor people are connected to them, afterall.

How refreshing to know I was sadly mistaken.... again.

[CLANG]

77. Do you get up on the wrong side of the bed EVERY DAY?

:eyes:

[ItNerd4life]

60. So now being like the Tea Party is good? I'm so confused! nt

[klook]

62. Let me straighten you out

Emulating the tea party's philosophy = bad
Being vocal and assertive like the tea party = good

Got it?

[savalez]

85. Nice work laying it out.

[madmax]

63. Oh screw that "Tea Party like" moniker

We're the Coffee Party! Robust! Plain or with cream.

[Crowman1979]

64. +1000

:yourock: :woohoo:

[madmax]

78. Likewise

:hug: :bounce:

The people taking a stand have invigorated me. I feel hope, I feel good.

The Union activists and supporters are so different than the assholes that disrupted the summer of health care reform town hall meetings. They were uniformed, loud, and mean spirited.

Unions have a bad rap - some caused by themselves but, by and large Unions are sorely needed. These recent events may, may - help them regain their stature and membership.

I've always been willing to pay more for a product Union made in the USA. It stays within our own economy and boosts all of us.

UNION, YES!!

[mod mom]

65. We are attending one on Ohio!

:hi:

[gatorboy]

67. Big difference. Dems let everyone speak their minds at these town hall meetings.

More than likely the Repugs will keep them shut out if possible.

[upi402]

69. Good news

And long overdue.

Kick

[craigmatic]

71. It's about time. Actually we're about 2 years late to the party.

[Charleston Chew]

73. ridiculous

'Tea Party moment'?


It's called 'activism', it's not a new idea.

[Jennicut]

74. I am laughing so hard at some of the comments at The Hill. "union thugs"?

Who is sending out troopers to "search" for Dem state Senators? Who considered using thug provocateurs? Not the unions.

[ProfessionalLeftist]

75. Gee. Now why isn't the lame$tream media reporting on this?

:evilgrin:

Might it be that "librul media" problem again?

[Tumbulu]

76. finally! (nt)

[JohnWxy]

79. please check out post at link, re support:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x589940

[NAGAUEL]

80. The Patriot Party

Is this the new name for the Democrats (tea party)?

[truthisfreedom]

88. That would really confuse the thugs. How about the We Party?

[lib_wit_it]

103. Like that name.

[steve2470]

82. k&r nt

[savalez]

83. I am all for this!!!!

Tell me where and when. Let's get it on.

[Corruption Winz]

84. I hope that this rally/movement is heavy on the pitch...

but light on the racism, hypocrisy, extremist behavior and backwards principles.

I believe the noise that the TeaBastards make is the only thing decent to take from their (bowel) movement. Otherwise, avoid it like the plague. Still, good to see some people not taking it without a political fight.

[NewJeffCT]

86. Democrats/liberals could get 5x the number of RW teabaggers

but, the media won't cover it nearly as extensively.

[pam4water]

89. I am not today nor will I every be anything like the ignorance and shills in the to Tea Party.

[DeadEyeDyck]

90. KnR

[fittosurvive]

91. Tea Party-like...?

[Kingofalldems]

92. K and R all Pro Union/Democratic Party threads

[derby378]

93. IT'S ABOUT FREAKIN' TIME!

What, we couldn't muster this much collective anger during Herr Decider's administration? If we don't show some spine now, we're finished.

[Capitalocracy]

94. While I'm against the ridiculous idea of comparing our movement to the Tea Party

in any way, whatever it takes to get media coverage is OK by me. Maybe this way someone with a camera will actually show up.

[defendandprotect]

96. We need to be staging some "Egyptian, Libyan, Tunisian" style revolts ...

the T-Baggers are faked -- bought and manipulated by the right wing/elites --

We need some clearer thinking than that!!

[bjobotts]

101. Why compare it to misinformed tea party activists, Liberals don't do that.Truth and facts.

The 2 things missing from the tea party agenda

[Shallah Kali]

105. US Uncut

http://www.usuncut.org/actions

[Shallah Kali]

106. kicking

:kick: