If today's Republicans had been running things

[cilla4progress]

during the time of the American Revolution, it would have never happened.

[RC]

1. We'd be like Canada or even be part of Canada.

Just think of all the wars that would not have been fought. Single Payer, Universal Health Care.

[rustydog]

2. It is a catch phrase but true: Liberals wrote the declaration of Independence

Conservatives sided with King George.

[MFrohike]

3. Haha

They'd have made excuses why the colonies didn't need representation in Parliament.

[cilla4progress]

4. Right. They'd be Tories

and they'd want to shut down the protests - the revolutionaries.

Crazy how modern-day Tories / Repubs. don't see their hypocrisy...they think they're patriots, but in practice they're against the 1st amendment!

[hughee99]

5. If today's Democrats had been running things, it wouldn't have either.

Where are you going with this?

[cilla4progress]

6. 1) I disagree @ the Dems

Many,from Pelosi to Obama (via Carney & others) stand in strong contrast to Cain, Cantor in other in their support of the OWSers.

2) Where am I going? Guess I missed the memo...I have to "go" somewhere?

What about stimulating interesting conversation with diverse viewpoints...illuminating comments and perspectives that might edify me, and others?

[hughee99]

7. Supporting another group's protests is one thing

but a party who didn't stand up strong on many big legislative issues (especially when they controlled both houses and the white house) wouldn't have gotten the declaration of independence through the continental congress.

I wasn't really looking for you to "go" somewhere, just wondering with respect to which issue you were making this point. Were you referring to the repression of the protesters by the various cities involved and blaming repukes for that? Were you referring the repukes as being like those loyal to the crown during the revolution? Were you comparing the protesters to those declaring independence for England? I was just looking for a more specific reference so I could comment on this for the issue you were specifically thinking of.

[cilla4progress]

8. Oh, thanks for the clarification...

My larger point is rather simple: the Republican meme is and has been been for at least the last decade - perhaps since the Vietnam War - that they are more "patriotic" than the left and Democrats.

In particular, on the issue of civil rights, with its history and tradition dating back to the American revolution, when the true patriots were assembling, freely speaking, espousing the right of freedom of religion - all those rights enumerated under the Bill of Rights - it was the progressive forces, our modern-day left, who were the patriots who fought for our independence from England.

So the shoe is on the other foot, so to speak, embodied most tangibly by Cantor and I find it stunning that Republicans can't see this.

As to "activism" of the modern Democratic party, I believe that Obama has been beseeching us to take to the streets in just the way OWS is. I think he is encouraged by the movement (to the degree that it remains non-violent, at least here in the U.S.), and sees it as his base. It sounds like you dispute this, but if you listen to his speeches, over and over he has put the onus on those who still want hope and change to do something about. This is foundational community organizing technique, even though Jon Stewart mocks it, and others don't recognize it.

[hughee99]

9. I'm sorry to say this,

but I think Obama sees supporting OWS as a way to get the progressives and activists, that he's spent the last 4 years angering, back on board for '12.

[cilla4progress]

10. I give the guy more credit than that.

I think he's genuine, sincere, while not overly politically naive.