WEAK TEA
“Mr. Santelli, here is a dime. Go, call your mother. Tell her that there is a serious doubt as to whether you will become a media star and darling of the right.”
Start the revolution without me.
Ever since Rick Santelli went off on CNBC and proposed holding a tea party to protest Obama’s policies, the idea caught on all over the country and excited conservatives with the thought that finally, there could be a little “direct action” against Obama’s bailouts.
There was talk of a “second American revolution” and a taxpayer revolt. The tea parties were seen as a way to gauge opposition to the Obama spending plans. Dozens of tea parties were planned across the nation today.
How did that work out?
I’ve got tons of photos and e-mails pouring in from Tea Party people across the country. I joked to a Christian Science Monitor reporter covering the events that fiscal responsibility is the new counterculture. More coverage/photos/livestreaming at TCOT Report.
There is, as the old ’60s song goes, something happening here. And what it is, is very clear: A grass-roots revolt against the culture of entitlement. The spendzillas in Washington do not speak for us.
Is this really a revolt?
About 200 people showed up at the Chicago tea party. One might spin the reason that thousands didn’t come out and rage against Obama is that it was cold (25 degrees) and that Chicagoans aren’t used to winter weather or perhaps they mislaid their winter coats. Never mind that 60,000 wacky Windy City weirdos turned out to watch a Bears game when it was 7 below zero. There apparently aren’t very many enraged Illinoisans - unless they are holding it in reserve for the next crooked pol that makes headlines.
Nashville did a little better. There, an estimated 600 Tenneseeans turned out. One might spin the reason that 6,000 or 60,000 angry, enraged denizens of the Volunteer State didn’t come forth and join the revolt is that no country star has come up with a song about it yet. Perhaps Toby Keith could come up with something about tea, beer, horses, and a lost love before the next revolution starts.
In North Carolina, they had about 300 people show up. One might spin the reason that 30,000 or 300,000 North Carolinians didn’t appear enraged and ready to overthrow the Obama regime is because both Duke and North Carolina are playing tonight and the citizens are saving themselves for the ballgame.
Glenn Reynolds:
Bill Rickords emails from Wichita, Kansas: “About 3-400 folks showed up in 25 degree weather. Don’t know what these things would be in Spring weather. But we had a pig show up anyway.” I thought they were all in D.C.!
And Bradley Ems emails from St. Louis: “I don’t know if you’ve gotten any pictures from St. Louis (I’m too swamped at work to have attended), but KMOX just reported that the tea party here was expected to draw a small group of 50…over 1,000 showed up. There is something brewing in the
heartland.”And Joe Fairbanks emails from Oklahoma City: “I’ll be sending you pictures from the ‘Tea Party’ in Oklahoma City soon. I wanted to let you know that we had an amazing turnout of 400 people. This is amazing for multiple reasons, but mostly because this rally was organized in less than 48 hours and it took place at 11 am and the temperature was below freezing with the wind blowing quite strongly. Simply put: people are mad as hell. Obama and Congress won’t be able to ignore this anger much longer if they hope to survive 2010 or 2012. I can also tell you the crowd did take a lot of pride in the fact that our Senators, Tom Coburn and Jim Inhofe, are two of the leaders against all this irresponsible spending. I’ll get those pictures to you as soon as I get them back.”
And what of Washington, D.C. where 9,000 conservative “activists” showed up for CPAC?
Barely 300 committed conservatives showed up across from the White House to protest Obama’s policies. No doubt WH staffers were having a good time standing at the windows ridiculing the “revolution” that was going to transform America.
It is incredible considering the fact that the tea parties were a very big topic of conversation at the conference that only 300 or so diehards could be “activated” enough to drag themselves on a 60 degree day to a rally that conservatives have been saying is the beginning of the end of Obama.
Asking my fellow bloggers why such a poor turnout, many were spinning furiously that it was too cold, or there wasn’t enough time to advertise, or it was only advertised on twitter and facebook, or any number of excuses why all these “enraged” Americans we are confidently told are lurking out there ready to fire the first metaphorical shot at the Obama Administration and bring them down failed to show up when called upon to register their disgust in a concrete way.
I will say this as gently as my curmudgeonly soul will allow; not a chance. It is delusional to believe that these tea parties are the beginning of anything except a round of raucous Bronx cheers from the left, calling conservatives out for their inexplicable, over the top reaction and unrealistic expectations for these 40 or so tea parties that went off today.
If this really was the beginnings of something profound that was tapping into the rage of the American people, there would have been not 300 but 30,000 people screaming their opposition to spendthrift Obama. People would have taken off from their jobs, bundled up against the cold, walked, rode, took the bus, or crawled their way to a protest if they were truly fed up and ready to throw the Democratic rascals out.
Instead, we get 40 events that remind me of the old Mickey Rooney Andy Hardy movies where he and Judy Garland would put on a show to save someone’s business or house. “Hey kids! Let’s put on a show!” was Rooney’s battle cry in those movies and it is an apropos slogan for the effort that went into promoting these tea parties.
When you get some money, organization, professionalism, and a little more realism, come back and see me.
Rick,
It’s true that many American’s are enraged and disgusted at what they see everyday. It’s just that these citizens are not angry or disgusted with Obama or his Administration. The anger and contempt people feel is not aimed at one political party. It is aimed against the entire political class. We are distrustful of leaders in both government and business. We have been lied to by politicians both Democrat and Republican.
Many of us see through the “slight of hand” that is being attempted by the Tea Party backers. We refuse to accept that the total collapse of America can be blamed on one political party or one political philosophy. There is plenty of blame to go around. Everybody had a hand in it.
When a group of “activists” come up with an honest explanation of our problems, that makes sense, and a solution that has the potential to fix these real problems, then we will have a real “revolution”. Until then we will stay on the sidelines.
Americans are too smart to buy what Santelli and his ilk are selling in between their dinner engagements.
Comment by bsjones — 2/27/2009 @ 4:36 pm
Rick
Why would anybody want to “come back and see” you? For a smirkfest?
You appear giddy, because a group of committed conservatives tried something new, and you believe that you can say that it failed. Oh, Glorious day!
So Rick, are you making new friends at CPAC? Saw your photo at Atlas. I didn’t see you surrounded by any large crowds, in fact you were kind of all by yourself.
Surprise.
Comment by sara in va — 2/27/2009 @ 4:57 pm
I grow tired of you.
Comment by Lily — 2/27/2009 @ 5:09 pm
Conservative people I know are busy trying to figure out how to save the money they have, their homes and their jobs. Because of the failures of President Bush and the Republican Congress, they’ve lost faith in political solutions, particularly those involving the Republican party. They’re retracting, conserving and buying guns and ammo - not demonstrating in the street.
Comment by John Simmons — 2/27/2009 @ 5:50 pm
Agree with bsjones, there are a large number of Americans angry with the entire political scene. The system seems to be rigged and no matter who gets elected they appear to quickly become corrupted and all we see is constant bickering and BS. So having a tea party without a hope of changing the system or even an idea of what we can really do about it is just layering on more frustration.
Comment by Lars — 2/27/2009 @ 6:09 pm
What’s amazing to me is even seeing two people professing anything resembling conservatism out demonstrating. The usual count is a lot fewer than that. 300 is gathering anywhere is simply beyond belief.
Anyway, it looks like 24 has bit the dust when such a staunch fan as you don’t even mention the last episode. This will be 24’s next to last year unless Jack gets a bailout from the Pres.
Comment by cedarhill — 2/27/2009 @ 6:42 pm
There’s no rage. What rage there is is saved for bankers and Republicans. What there is is fear.
People support Obama. They want him to succeed. They aren’t sure he’s right, but they know he was handed a giant sh– sandwich on November 20th and they will give him time to fix things as best he can.
Add the fact that the GOP has spokespeople ranging from boors to buffoons to go up against this world class communicator and you see just how screwed the Republican party is.
Comment by michael reynolds — 2/27/2009 @ 6:43 pm
I am not sure what point the author is trying to make here.
Is that that we Conservatives should roll over and take it up the bum like we always have?
Hell no! I went to a tea party today and am now firmly committed to defeating the liberal-socialists. I will fly to Washington and march alongside millions of other real Americans who want to live freely under the Constitution.
The author here underestimates the value of symbolic events. And, that’s a shame.
Comment by RogerCfromSD — 2/27/2009 @ 6:43 pm
john has it exactly right. conservatives are conserving money and going to work every day. and why should they show up to an event which won’t be covered at all by the media? if this had been some anti-war rally with a couple of hundred people, why it’d have been all over the national news, and that’s not even remotely an exaggeration. sure, people are pissed off now, but they don’t have the energy to make the new administration into the great satan that they think the last one was. everyone’s going to be much more pissed off with double-digit inflation and a broad-based economic depression that lasts for a couple of years.
Comment by matt foley — 2/27/2009 @ 6:43 pm
There is a reason weekday protests from leftists draw hundreds of thousands of people and weekday protests from conservatives number in hundreds to thousands. WE ARE WORKING. We can’t just lay out of work and show up at a protest rally because we’re too freaking busy busting our asses and paying taxes so leftist losers can sit around and whine all the time. I own a business. Do you really think I can close up shop for a day to hold a sign on a Friday morning? I can’t… but that slacker who voted for Obama not only can, he will.
Comment by Dale Evans — 2/27/2009 @ 6:57 pm
Hey Rick,
If you actually studied history you would know how many appeared at the original Boston Tea Party of 1773. It only took 50 to spark a revolution, Thee Revolution. The sparks you mock today will tinder the flames of the 2nd Revolution that will recapture the Republic.
It is a mortal sin that Liberals/Cowards would allow Marxist/Socilaist/Fascists to take their country without strong disagreement.
Perhaps they have not studied history seriously enough to comprehend what is occurring.
Comment by William Balsiger — 2/27/2009 @ 6:59 pm
Smarter than everyone else just where you when the organizing was going on? Sitting on your a** blasting those who tried. Are you studing to be a clone of O’Dumbo who has a stick up his a** and someone behind the curtain is pulling his strings. The only people more stupid than O’Dumbo (general knowledge of the country and the world) are those who elected the street corner drug addicted con man. Show me something to prove he’s smart, not something which proves the one pulling the string is smart. He might start with his real records in life. Right now he has a battery of lawyers involved in the cut and cover of anything he’s ever done. Why is that? Is he wanted for child rape and murder someplace? I wouldn’t trust O’Dumbo in an outhouse with a muzzle on.
Comment by Scrapiron — 2/27/2009 @ 7:00 pm
When we get our act together, you’ll grace us with your presence? I don’t think so.
I was at the Houston Tea Party today. I drove 4 hours each way to attend. It was truly encouraging to see the 500 people that showed up. There was no big named speaker–there was no big budget–there wasn’t even a band, but there was plenty of enthusiasm for this truly grassroots movement and the opportunity to express our displeasure with the current administration and congressional leaders. We talked, exchanged business cards and plotted out future events. For you to poo-poo the hard work of the three extraordinary people (Felicia, Chealsea & Josh) that busted their backside to pull this gathering off in 6 days is repulsive.
Your elitism and snobbish attitude is not welcome at our party, sir. Let me assure you that when we do have money and are better organized, we will have no need for the likes of you.
Comment by Wendy Herman — 2/27/2009 @ 7:02 pm
You sound like one of the disgruntled “rinos”…… trying in vain to suck the last drops of hope and inspiration out of the Republican party. Trust me, I’m pretty sure 500 people have never showed up for anything you had to offer.
Comment by Ad rem — 2/27/2009 @ 7:11 pm
DLTDHYWTGLSY. What a big boy you are.
Comment by Cooper — 2/27/2009 @ 7:22 pm
[...] the Tea Party movement. I can’t say it better than commenter Wendy Herman of Texas said it here (comment number 11): When we get our act together, you’ll grace us with your presence? I don’t [...]
Pingback by Michelle Malkin » Open thread: C-SPAN, CPAC, Jindal Derangement Syndrome & more — 2/27/2009 @ 7:29 pm
I really like everything you write. But, I don’t understand why you are being so snarky. Who are these people hurting? I admire their spunk - I would love to participate in one of these - the signs are great, they showcase conservatives’ great sense of humor and everyone looks like they are having fun. What is so bothersome?
Comment by Jane — 2/27/2009 @ 7:30 pm
Rick,
It’s a start. It might not go anywhere but you have to take the first step.
I wanted to make the St. Louis event but, alas, I had to work. As was mentioned before, most conservatives don’t answer the “activist” want ads like lefty activists do.
St. Louis was figuring 50 people. St. Louis got 1500.
Comment by bizjetmech — 2/27/2009 @ 8:17 pm
I think the most hysterical thing about this comment thread is that people are calling Rick Moran a “RINO.”
Comment by Doug Mataconis — 2/27/2009 @ 8:26 pm
It is not our Nature to be out and about doing demonstrations, sooo the turn out for tea parties was small but we are learning to get our message out just like the left did. “We will make noise” We will defend America.
MAKE OUR POSITIONS KNOWN. NO LONGER TO BE QUIET.
The other problem is that many of us did not know what and where in our states.
Conservative Leaders will get the word out in the future. We are energized and will defend the constitution, liberty and justice. We will defend responsible government without government intrusion on our rights and our property.
Comment by Millie — 2/27/2009 @ 8:27 pm
The same conservatives that post here remained silent while Bush and Cheney shredded the Constitution. But now they are “outraged” that Obama and his mandate are doing everything he said he was going to do. Corporate America and the uber wealthy had their day in the sun, now its time for the common man to get a decent shake. Obama has a 67% approval, he’s doing what people want. The other 33% are the fringe right. You had your 8 years of Bush, he ran this country into the ground. Now Obama is trying to get us upright and you cry like babies. He’s smart, popular and tireless. Go have your little pouting tea parties, the world doesn’t care. You had your chance and ruined the country….get off the stage.
Comment by Joe — 2/27/2009 @ 8:44 pm
“The same conservatives that post here remained silent while Bush and Cheney shredded the Constitution”
You know, Joe, that’s simply not true. I opposed a lot of the Bush policies and even called and wrote my representatives to register my opposition.
I am tired of people claiming that conservatives welcomed all the Bush admin. policies. We did not.
And this was the reason many struggled with McCain. We felt he was more of the same.
Comment by Lily — 2/27/2009 @ 8:49 pm
“Dale Evans Said:
6:57 pm
There is a reason weekday protests from leftists draw hundreds of thousands of people and weekday protests from conservatives number in hundreds to thousands. WE ARE WORKING. We can’t just lay out of work and show up at a protest rally because we’re too freaking busy busting our asses and paying taxes so leftist losers can sit around and whine all the time.I own a business.”
I assume your business is designing and manufacturing straw men? Most of us liberals work and pay taxes as well. I paid them so conservatives could start pointless wars, dream up elaborate “investments” that crashed the financial system, deregulated everything that moved, and institutionalized greed and the quick buck while pretending to be holier than thou?
Conservatism has had a long run since Reagan and the resultant train wreck is obvious to everyone but the few million that are the Limbaugh and the little Rushettes radio listening audience. Politics is not religion and there is no one set of ideas that are the undisputable truth. Get over yourself.
Comment by still liberal — 2/27/2009 @ 8:51 pm
And now we know where some people were. People like you, who are all armchair quarterbacks, and are always full of just tons of wisdom that you deign to share with us periodically, all sat at home on your butts thinking you’d see what everyone else was made of. And now, having put forth no effort whatsoever, you sit at home and pound out some holier-than-thou pronouncements condemning those of us across the country who managed to make one of these rallies.
If this country is dead - if this country is doomed to die and be reborn as some socialist disaster - then YOU are the one that killed it. You and all your ilk who would stay home and preach rather than get out and work. What a mooch.
Congratulations, you are off my favorites. We don’t need your sort.
Comment by Scott — 2/27/2009 @ 9:05 pm
Sir,
Sorry the photos from the DC Tea Party didn’t pass muster.
But, hey: it’s your blog, and I respect your editorial opinion.
OK, I think it’s curmudgeonly, but that role is crucial for avoiding monoculture.
Best wishes,
Chris
Comment by Chris Smith — 2/27/2009 @ 9:11 pm
Have the tea party when I am not working to pay for Obama’s socialists agenda and I can guarantee 3/4 of my office would be there. Everyone is already sick of him, including the people who voted for him.
Comment by Rick — 2/27/2009 @ 9:16 pm
If these Tea Parties were being thrown by the left, the MSM would’ve told us there were tens or hundreds of thousands protesting. The left has the benefit of fuzzy math.
Comment by Meredith — 2/27/2009 @ 9:26 pm
LOL. Rick’s line about liberals giving a Bronx cheer is spot on. These impotent little tea parties aren’t scaring anyone. Anyway, Obama and his administration are smart enough to look at the polls and see that the protesters represent a distinct minority.
Comment by skylights — 2/27/2009 @ 9:27 pm
I met Rick at CPAC today. He’s a nice guy. His view of the tea parties is dimmer than mine, but I want his voice, his vote and his passion on our side.
Rick, its a little early to expect outrage against Obama. But its not to early to try to foment it. We just gotta keep pounding it. Failures dont tell us to stop, they tell us to try again, harder.
Thanks for the tip about “Burr.”
Comment by James Scott — 2/27/2009 @ 9:52 pm
Lily:
I must have missed those tea parties.
Comment by michael reynolds — 2/27/2009 @ 10:06 pm
The tea parties are all well and good, but who is protesting the bailing out of so many criminal bankers and traders? When are they going to be prosecuted? Obviously both Republican and Democrat “leaders” are in the pockets of big business, lacking the moral qualifications for their offices.
Comment by NJ mom — 2/27/2009 @ 10:07 pm
I paraphrase a German saying: “enemy, archenemy, fellow conservative” (it actually goes ‘partyfriend’). Whether or not any of us is right or wrong won’t be known until much later. History is always the history of the winner. Sure, people will remember the Tea Party because ‘they’ won. You don’t know about all the riots, revolts, hungerstrikes because they didn’t lead anywhere. However, there seems to be a hardcore of ‘conservatives’ appointed by who knows who to judge who a conservative is, what he or she has to say and support and who is to be purged from the ranks.
Comment by funny man — 2/27/2009 @ 10:07 pm
I have been posting portions of the Bill of Rights on my refrigerator for my children to read. I tell them to always keep an eye on what their elected representatives are up to. The current administration is in the process of chipping away at our rights even more aggressively than the criminals who just left the White House.
Comment by NJ mom — 2/27/2009 @ 10:10 pm
I did not go to CPAC, but I have seen a clip that left me scratching my head.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylI02kvViZA&eurl
1) The applause John Bolton received when laying out a hypothetical scenario where Chicago gets devastated by a nuclear bomb. I believe an Iranian nuclear bomb hitting Chicago would be more devastating than a 9/11 recurring every Tuesday for the next 12 months. What’s the point of cheering that line?
I know, it’s a joke. Right? But still.
Comment by bsjones — 2/27/2009 @ 10:22 pm
I like Riehl’s point he made about this post tonight over on his blog.
The view is easy from the cheap seats, man.
Comment by Jana — 2/27/2009 @ 11:03 pm
So, what is it you want, Rick? ANSWER to give those of us on the conservative side tips on how to protest? It is a start. Do you realize that it took Howard Jarvis four times before Prop 13 passed in California, saving millions of people from being taxed out of their homes? This is but a start. It is true, most conservatives are busy doing real life. I had to work. I could not take time off to go to Santa Monica to the Tea Party held here in the Los Angeles area. Now, maybe if it was held on a Saturday or a Sunday, turnout would have been larger. But, I take this as a start. I like a lot of what you write, especially the 24 updates. But, this post is not only snarky but whinny. Do you remember how the Democrat congress came undone? A little scandal called the House bank. No one seemed to think much of it at the time. Maybe not many will notice this now, but a lot of people will have heard about it and that could be a way to begin cohesive oppostition to what Preisdent Obama is trying to do TO America.
Comment by Mark J. Goluskin — 2/27/2009 @ 11:34 pm
I wonder how many reporters CNN, NBC, CBS, ABC, MSNBC sent out to cover the Tea Parties. I can promise you, it was a hellofa lot less than when the Bitch In A Ditch was drawing flies in Texas.
It is a start. Conservatives usually are not the protest type. But not to miss an opportunity to post his daily rant against conservatives who do not like what they see happening to our nation, Rick, in true “nothing conservatives do is right” fashion, once again takes the chance to mock those who are at least trying to have their voices heard over the thumping, cheast beating Democrats.
Comment by retire05 — 2/27/2009 @ 11:38 pm
An historical note about the original Boston Tea Party; the resentment and frustration that precipitated the event in 1773 had been brewing (no pun intended) since at least 1765 with the Stamp Act. That 8 year period of “Taxation without Representation” gave our founding fathers a chance to really figure out what they wanted for the 13 Colonies. Patrick Henry and Thomas Paine could never have come up with their manifestos without lots of heavy thinking and years of consultation with their peers.
By contrast, it’s been less than 8 weeks of the Obama Presidency; have Conservatives really thought long and hard about what they want to replace our current system with? (For God’s sake, even MoveOn back in 2003 had a better idea of what they wanted when they held all those rallies and protests!) At the very least, Conservatives need to figure out what they are really about before they can start to rock the boat. Otherwise, it’s just a waste of everybody’s time.
Comment by Surabaya Stew — 2/27/2009 @ 11:40 pm
the boston tea party was ‘performed’ by only 200 people…
Comment by mark l. — 2/28/2009 @ 12:00 am
Hey gang, Do you think the left throws a party and fifty thousand show up? I live in SF, CA. home of the protest. I live a couple of blocks from Dolores Park and about five blocks from the Socialist Party headquarters. When we invaded Iraq, the Socialists were out on the street handing out fliers, saying we are having a protest on Saturday. They got about twenty people. The local main stream media showed up, and kept the camera close up. They made it look and sound like the people of SF had missed out on something important. The next week they got about a hundred people. The TV stations, the newspapers/editorials etc. made it seem like thousands had shown up. It did grow, a little at a time, but it took a bazillion dollars of free press and a long time to get anything that looked like a respectable crowd. Marty
Comment by Marty — 2/28/2009 @ 12:03 am
Two posts about CPAC, an event planned for over a year, yet you can’t even be bothered to pimp the Chicago or DC Tea Party, a pure grassroots dealio that started about a week ago. What? Nobody could cover your costs?
You know, thanks for all the help, big guy. We’ll do this on our own, and you and your 9000 CPAC buddies can sit around comparing Blackberries and the sizes of your enormous brains. So sorry to have traipsed mud into the drawring room, guv.
Comment by Scott — 2/28/2009 @ 12:05 am
I forgot to mention the lefties make it sound like a party and fun, when they do their protests. They do them in Dolores Park where people who don’t even know about the protest can be propagandized. Anybody in the park with opposing views are made to look as if they are also willing participants. They also have them on Saturday or Sunday. You would be amazed at how many people who would like to come to a protest can’t on a workday. Marty
Comment by Marty — 2/28/2009 @ 12:09 am
I am genuinely curious and looking for answers from tea party attendees.
Did any speaker at any of the tea parties have an analysis of the banking crisis? What were their proposed solutions?
I ask because in my midnight ramblings I came across this:
http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2009/02/more-on-simply-dreadful-performance-of.html
The title is, “More on the simply dreadful performance of CDOs”
It describes how the economic models used by the masters of the universe are working out in the real world.
Of note was this statement: “I would hazard a guess that this is easily the worst outcome for any assets that have ever carried a “triple A” stamp. No wonder so many investors are now utterly cynical about anything that bankers or rating agencies might say these days”.
At least it ends on a cheerful note: “if an open auction ends up pricing mortgage-linked CDOs near zero, at least the capital hit to the banks and insurance companies will be clear; and if it is higher than zero, it might even cheer investors up.”
Comment by bsjones — 2/28/2009 @ 12:26 am
Some of the comments here are hysterical. I got a good chuckle out of those who are perplexed as to why the MSM didn’t cover these Tea Parties. Here’s an example why: the Houston metro area boasts a population of 5.6 million. On a gorgeous, 80+ degree Friday afternoon, a grand total of 500 people showed up to the Houston Tea Party. Contrast that number to last Saturday, when 8 times the number of people (almost 4,000) showed up to watch the University of Houston play East Carolina University in a matchup of college basketball “powerhouses.” One shouldn’t expect the MSM to cover an event when no one bothers to show up to attend it.
Comment by Tom — 2/28/2009 @ 1:33 am
Oh, I also love that tired excuse about how conservatives couldn’t attend the Tea Parties today because they were at work. Apparently conservatives don’t eat lunch, because it’s not as if these Tea Parties were being held between such hours as 9-10 a.m. or 2-3 p.m. Nope, the Tea Parties were held over the lunch hour. Yet still nobody attended.
Comment by Tom — 2/28/2009 @ 1:54 am
I have been reading this site for around 2 years now, originally off a link from instapundit. I always liked your insight and writing, but this site has grown stale. No matter what, everything conservatives do is wrong and the sky is always falling. Look back 7 years ago, and your blog is an exact copy of every hysterical liberal blog.
Comment by Josh — 2/28/2009 @ 2:45 am
You are missing the point Rick. 200, 300 or 500 groups of people here and there scattered throughout out the country protesting on the same day adds up to at least as many people that show up to a typical anti-war protest in DC. Its seems to me that the foundation has been laid for the participants of these individual protests to join and plan a massive protest in DC. Would this meet your approval?, not that it matters, I doubt very much that you will be asked to participate.
Comment by Dee — 2/28/2009 @ 7:27 am
Complacent, snarky, elitist people really tend to piss me off. I was at the Daley Center in Chicago yesterday. Mock it all you want, dear sir.
You’re just another idiot who would sooner let others do the work and keep up the fight. Stay where you are, we don’t need you to stand for what we believe in. These protests are not about politics, but about principles, in case you missed that.
Your politics is your religion, and it stands to reason that those who are not in complete agreement with you end up under the bus. Let me know how that’s working for you in two years when Uncle will have his hand in your pocket and you finally realize that it’s not fair.
I can’t wait for the next tea party…I get to stand up for my principles while idiots like you continue to fall.
Comment by defendUSA — 2/28/2009 @ 8:40 am
Well. That certainly simplifies things. Another poseur right wing site that I no longer have to visit.
Comment by Paul A'Barge — 2/28/2009 @ 9:06 am
I was one of those people in Houston that could not attend the Tea Party due to work. It was planned in 5 DAYS!! It’s hard to get the word out when you have no money and you depend on FACEBOOK! I WILL BE AT THE NEXT ONE AND SO WILL MY CO-WORKERS. We have already made plans to attend. It will be much larger and my check is in the mail. Because of Nobama’s over reaching, I have re-read my constitution and know it by heart. I’m waiting for several states who do not want the porkulus coming to their states, site the 10th Ammendement, which entitles states to their own soverignity when dealing with the Federal Government. I am not a republican or a democrat. I am an independet woman voter who saw Chriss Dodd, Barney Frank, Maxine Waters, and Barack Obama refuse to allow any regulation on the community investment act that was started by Carter and ramped up by Clinton. Bush should have screamed to the high heavens to get this crappy program deleted from our system. Instead he allowed the trickle down racketeering and embezzlement happen across our country. Anyone that was forced by the regulations and ACORN to make loans to frickin’ people who didn’t have a pot to piss in should have screamed to high heaven and refused out of principle. Anyone who took those bad loans packaged them together and sold them as Class A investments, should be in jail for screwing not only american investors, but international ones. This problem was not caused by Republicans, but was allowed to happen by both Repubs and Dems. Fannie and Freddie should not exist, as no GSE should exist. BUT OUR CORRUPT POLITICIANS WILL NEVER SEE JAIL TIME AND THEY SHOULD BE TREATED NO DIFFERENTLY THAN ENRON EXECS. With having said the above: I AM PISSED. MY 401k IS AT HALF VALUE. I DON’T OWN A HOUSE, AND NOW I HAVE TO PAY FOR 8% OF THE IDIOTS WHO BOUGHT A SECOND HOUSE TO FLIP, A VACATION HOUSE, OR WERE JUST TOO FRIGGIN POOR TO EVEN OWN A HOUSE. DAMN STRAIGHT THIS INDEPENDENT IS PISSED. MY COUNTRY IS GOING DOWN THE DRAIN AND ALL WASHINGTON WANTS TO DO IS SPEND MORE MONEY AND LIE TO US AND SAY THE DEFICIT WILL BE CUT IN HALF IF 4 YEARS. WAKE UP PEOPLE. START DOING YOUR RESEARCH BECAUSE THE MSM, EVEN BELTWAY CONSERVATIVES, ARE DISHONEST. IT’S FUNNY, THE OTHER NITE BOBBY JINDAL HAD A POOR DELIVERY, BUT WHAT HE SAID HAD SUBSTANCE AND REALITY. OBAMA HAD A GREAT DELIVERY, AND HE LIED TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SEVERAL TIMES. WITH OBAMA IT IS NOT WHAT HE SAYS BUT HOW HE SAYS IT. WITH THE TEA PARTY MOVEMENT, WE WILL NOT ONLY MEAN WHAT WE SAY, BUT BACK IT UP WITH ACTION.
Comment by Nay Nay — 2/28/2009 @ 9:26 am
Oh, one more thing - and don’t get excited, I’m still done with you and your pathetic site - I wanted to give you an update on our little tea party in Greenville, SC. At its start at 6 PM there were around 800 people - at its height 2000. Add up the numbers countrywide, Mr. Armchair Patriot. Some of us actually got off our backsides and did something.
Comment by Scott — 2/28/2009 @ 9:31 am
bah humbug!!! a fire starts with a spark, a journey with merely a footstep. given the numbers you report, i would say that is pretty darned good, can’t remember the last thing (besides abortion rallies) that many self proclaimed conservatives have showed up to en masse. as this recession is turned into a depression by the obamighty, i reckon you will see conservatives consolidate, redirect, and hopefully find their voice once again.
Comment by jambrowski — 2/28/2009 @ 10:02 am
This is just the begining. As more people wind up unemployed those same people will join in the future protests.
I would have protested in ChiTcago if I didn’t have to work. Maybe I’ll be there for the next protest against the socialist Obamanomics.
Comment by DannoJyd — 2/28/2009 @ 11:08 am
Check Gallup his approval went to 67%. Astoundingly..at least to me…42% of Republicans support him which is 11 points higher than the Republicans supporting GWB when he left office. Leaving aside all the loopy Gallup is in the pay of David Axelrod nonsense, the reality is that basically a comfortable two thirds of the country supports this guy and approves by and large of what he’s doing. They are scared as we lose 600,000 jobs a month; want a universal healthcare system; believe global warming is a problem and want to do something about it; are sure a cabal of massively overpaid banking executives whose taxes have fallen steadily has screwed the country; and is totally convinced the economic policies of the last eight years have been a huge failure. It really is that simple. Meanwhile we apparently want to hold tea parties, talk about marsh mice and criticise govt programs for monitoring volcanoes. It’s so asinine words almost fail me. And what makes it worse is that this is going on when the Dems are led by the most charismatic politician since Kennedy and probably the most effective since FDR. It’s like the Polish cavalry taking on the panzers. Rick is absolutely right but as you can see from most of these postings no one is very interested…they’d rather focus on delusions like tea parties or marsh mice. It’s all a symptom of a party and movement that is retreating into immaturity….and irrelevance unless we snap out of it.
Comment by John — 2/28/2009 @ 11:18 am
Are you really blasting a group of rally’s that were organized in a few short days, and managed to get a few hundred people at each one without any mention from a single member of the Main Stream Media? Imagine if the organizing efforts had been covered by Fox News? (You know, the media group you liberals blast as being ultra conservative despite it constantly being awarded the most balanced news network on TV.) Imagine if these “Tea Parties” had been promoted by each local station. And here’s one that will blow your mind… Imagine if they had done all of that, and scheduled it for a Saturday when people had free time to attend.
How long will the MSM continue to ignore this? Probably as long as they can. Or until we start to realize that if the Media will not come to us, we will go to them. I’m sure Fox, ABC, NBC, CBS, etc would love to try to ignore a group of 50 standing behind their morning anchor waving signs during their telecast. Every station in NY has a window to the street behind the anchors for the morning show.
Perhaps we should have started with a “Tea Party” at 1 rockefeller plaza in NYC and let Ann Curry and Al Roker do their newscast while trying to ignore us…..
Comment by Bill — 2/28/2009 @ 11:23 am
“Perhaps we should have started with a “Tea Party” at 1 rockefeller plaza in NYC and let Ann Curry and Al Roker do their newscast while trying to ignore us…..”
Yes, we should have. Next tea party in New York needs to be right there. Force the 4th estate to cover us.
Comment by The Watcher — 2/28/2009 @ 11:32 am
“Perhaps we should have started with a “Tea Party” at 1 rockefeller plaza in NYC and let Ann Curry and Al Roker do their newscast while trying to ignore us…..”
I don’t think that Ann Curry and Al Roker would have much trouble ignoring a couple dozen people.
Comment by Tom — 2/28/2009 @ 11:41 am
Maybe it’s just that most AMERICANS, believe we should give the man a chance to take his jacket off before they start criticizing his work. It’s time Mr. Santelli began to realize the viewpoint of the Right is no longer in vogue, the country is done with the failed policies of the GOP and wants to move in another direction.
However, I do not believe “policy” is the real reason for this failed “demonstration”. The true motivation behind this “movement” is; A - Obama won the election. B - Obama is not a Republican. C - Obama is Black (Not necessarily in that order)
Comment by Jerry Verlinger — 2/28/2009 @ 11:49 am
If anyone needs to be reminded of why the Republicans are looked upon with such disgust right now, one only has to look at Michael Steele saying at the latest whack job convention, “We Republicans lost our way… MY BAD!!!” and the audience erupting into laughter.
The Democrats should play that bit of nauseating mea culpa over and over for the next eight years.
Comment by Dolmance — 2/28/2009 @ 12:16 pm
Meaningless gestures of irrational outrage are all so-called “conservatives” have less, having abandoned ideas and reality!
Comment by Mandy — 2/28/2009 @ 12:35 pm
I went to my local tea party. I only found out about it at 7 p.m. the night before and scrambled to find out when, where, and what I should do. Had to make special arrangements for transportation because one car is in the shop and because I felt 20 degrees F was colder than I wanted to bring my kids along for.
The next tea parties *will* be bigger and better organized. I think that this round was only decided on about 48 hours before–not much time when most of us had July 4 in our minds, not 27 February.
Brrr!
Comment by Kris — 2/28/2009 @ 1:16 pm
Kris,
If I am turning your post into a straw man, forgive me. I agree the tea parties were poorly prepared, but I really want to understand what the actual point of the tea parties are.
As I understand it, the tea party is protesting how Obama has stolen America from regular people and destroyed it with his socialist Obamanomics. We are going to take America back through protest and return it to conservative principles, thus ensuring it will return to a stable footing.
I do not want to say that protest is bad, wrong, or un-American in any way. However, I do think this protest does not align with current reality at all.
First, McCain explicitly ran against the Obama “spread the wealth” philosophy and lost the election. Resoundingly.
Second, the collapse of the American and global economies were already in full swing before the 2008 presidential election took place. Bush was president at that time.
Third, Republicans only pay lip service to conservative principles. Bush expanded medicare, grew the deficit, bailed out the banks and the auto industry and cut taxes while America was at war on two fronts simultaneously.
I feel Obama won the election because of MASSIVE Republican failure. I think the point of these tea parties is to distract conservatives from this sad and disturbing fact. I think we will not win the next presidential election by hoping Obama is a failure.
The Republican party has had real failures. The Republican party has real problems. I am afraid these tea parties are a distraction from the hard work we need to do.
Please, talk me off the ledge. Explain to me why I a wrong.
Comment by bsjones — 2/28/2009 @ 3:00 pm
Hmm, how many people turned out to protest the American invasion of Iraq on the eve of that colossal and enormously costly mistake? Quite a few more than turned out for these “tea parties,” as I recall. Bush of course shrugged it off as nothing of any significance.
Comment by T-Rex — 2/28/2009 @ 4:06 pm
My goodness Rick, good luck considering your partisan fellow-travelers. Honestly, a boatload of you people are nuts - what is going on right now is popular, if at least for the reason people are willing to give it a chance.
Yes, the leftists started a protest villainization of Bush. But their issue was a war - if the war goes on and people keep dying, and hearing all the attendant stories of war, well, that can bring the politicians down. But the issue now is the economy. If what Obama does works, then the protests have no hope. If everything with Obama falls apart, fine, people will be upset - but to be upset now? You have no idea that the economy works in accordance with the principles you feel Obama is violating - especially considering that if you are conservative, it was your ideas which, so en vogue for the last several decades, have got us into the ditch. What astounds me is how you could see anger now on this issue appropriate - when the new Obama alternative has not even been put into effect. That is politically silly - the electorate just voted for him to put his plan into effect, and is currently approving of its implementation.
Comment by g50 — 2/28/2009 @ 5:22 pm
Maybe conservative rallies get fewer people than left wing ones because we, um, work?
Comment by Brother Bob — 2/28/2009 @ 6:40 pm
I went to the Tea Party Friday morning in Austin.
It was started at 11:00 AM, so I DID have to take time from work to go. Thing is, right now, people are doing what they can to KEEP their jobs, which includes being at work when they are supposed to be. Not everyone can rearrange their schedule at the drop of a pin. I, myself, did not hear about the gathering in Austin until about 9:30 Thursday night. The groups across Texas are speaking of a march on the capitol July 4th of this year.
THAT will be a statement for Independence Day! With more time to organize, and get the word out, hang onto your hat!
Comment by Melissa In Texas — 2/28/2009 @ 7:19 pm
Melissa,
I am glad you were motivated enough to alter your daily schedule to register your disgust with the Washington corruption that is bankrupting America and forcing it into a septic tank. You are blessed to have a job that allows you to perform personal business such as this at such short notice.
This is the third time I have asked tea party attendees to explain what the end game is. I believe we have a need, a right and even an obligation to register our disgust with our political elites. That is a great start. To what end?
Do we want to run McCain again?
How about a Palin/Plumber ticket?
My concern is that the Republicans talk a good game, but their hands are red with the same blood as the Democrats. Electing Republicans in 2010 or 2012 solves nothing.
If you do not believe me ask Bernie Madoff, he’s home a lot lately. If he’s out, go visit Jack Abromoff he’s at a four year minimum security prison camp. He checked himself in for a four year stay for fraud, tax evasion,and bribery of public officials.
I know I’m a bit snarky, but if we only scalp Democrats at these tea parties we are allowing ourselves to be misled. Please explain to me how I am wrong. Seriously.
Comment by bsjones — 2/28/2009 @ 8:34 pm
My oh My
Someone stirred up a small froth here, I do believe.
I see multiple excuses, such as lack of time to make proper arrangements and having to work. Both are worth addressing.
In so far as those of you claiming there was just no time to get it organized…. Seems to me that were you carrying the mainstream opinion you are claiming, not only would there have been no problem organizing this outing, it would still be going on.
While I do not doubt the fervency of your feelings about the situation, I am forced to doubt the amount of attention you have been paying to anything that has been going on for the last decade. 39 days into a new presidency and you want to start a revolution because the elected candidate is attempting to do those things that he promised to do? Wow, I would say I am impressed by the expediency of your efforts, if only you had been involved at all for the last two terms.
Now all of you who smugly excuse yourselves and cronies with the “we had to work” line, I credit you only with coming up with one of the weakest excuses I have ever heard. I can only interpret that to mean that making a day or even a partial days wages was more important to you than this “cause” you now want to stomp your feet and yell about
Reality is that some appear to confusing privilege with right. I am all for you and your ambitions up until the point where it is detrimental to the common good. Unfortunately, the last eight years have somehow given a small minority the idea that greed is their right, and unfortunately for most of the wanna-bees who were having their tea parties they are now thinking that being on top of the heap means they are no longer in the heap. Sorry, top or bottom, it is the same sh-pile and it still smells. There are people who are away from the heap, but they were not out there protesting an attempt at solving this countries problems, they were quietly laughing at the whole episode in their warm clubhouses and boardrooms.
Comment by dan d — 2/28/2009 @ 9:47 pm
If 30,000 conservative protestors had turned up at 40 locations around the country in the first semi-coordinated week of protests, not only would I have been floored I think the whole world would be floored.
I’m already rather staggered by the scale of the reaction. There was no budget. There was no organizing committees. There was no stage. No speakers. There was virtually no notice. All the sudden, we’ve got a widespread outbreak of protests and we are hitting the national news.
You think this was small??? You’ve got no idea. At this rate, by this July, you’ll be having your 30,000 protests in 40 different cities. Everyone that has talked about this as a ‘GOP’ movement has no idea. The Republican party wasn’t even involved in this. They probably aren’t even sure what to make of it. Most of them wouldn’t even be particularly welcome if they showed up.
I leave you with this: http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/daily_presidential_tracking_poll
Comment by Celebrim — 2/28/2009 @ 10:12 pm
Keep in mind that for every large scale protest held by the Left, there are probably 200 small and inconspicuous ones.
The largest are planned and orchestrated more than a year in advance by organizations that do this sort of thing professionally. There are networks of activists that make their living producing these events. There are foundations that fund them. And the union members and student groups that attend are subsidized.
Did you really believe that Captain Anarchy and the Emo Kid just happened to have a few dozen port-a-pots and a concert sound system laying around?
If you want a really big crowd, get a few music acts, concessions, and some celebrities - treat it like an entertainment event.
Spontaneous Mass Protests are largely a myth.
Comment by Marko — 2/28/2009 @ 10:19 pm
The people at the tea parties actually work for a living and don’t have a lot of experience protesting. I know that the food stamp, welfare, anti-war, anti-americans have better protests because they have much more time on their hands. Please give the tea party organizers a break!!! OK!!!
Comment by Tammy — 2/28/2009 @ 10:22 pm
“When you get some money, organization, professionalism, and a little more realism, come back and see me.”
When the movement gets to that point, I don’t know that we need you.
How, exactly, do you think these things get started?
Comment by buzz — 2/28/2009 @ 10:26 pm
I would have loved to have gone to the DC Tea party. Problem was, you know, I have a job and had to work. Doesn’t mean I don’t support it or feel the same way and those who did go. I have a sneaking suspicion there were thousands of others who were in the same category.
Comment by Bill Paisley — 2/28/2009 @ 10:30 pm
Hey, Rick, you elitist poseur, why don’t you take your lips off your cognac snifter and KISS MY ASS???
Next time we’ll demonstrate in front of YOUR house.
Comment by Anna Keppa — 2/28/2009 @ 10:31 pm
“When you get some money, organization, professionalism, and a little more realism, come back and see me.”
No, Rick, you come see us. Because we’ll have no need of you. What a condescending turd you have become. Guess that happens when you start getting on the morning slots in talk radio.
BTW: How, exactly, did you think ACORN came about? And now _they_ have the Presidency. Every movement needs a starting place.
Comment by Quilly Mammoth — 2/28/2009 @ 10:40 pm
[...] defends those protesting Davids: RICK MORAN THINKS THE “TEA PARTY” PROTESTS are amateurish and disorganized. At Playboy, on the other hand, they think they’re suspiciously well-coordinated. Both are [...]
Pingback by Tea for you | Likelihood of Success — 2/28/2009 @ 10:46 pm
Celebrim,
It is a real possibility that 30,000 people will show up at tea parties in July. That would be a truly astounding feat, especially for CPAC members.
QUESTIONS:
1. What is the purpose of such an assembly? (I suspect it is simply a tactic used to confuse citizens into thinking ONLY DEMOCRATS SCREW UP, thus, allowing our broken political system to carry on unhindered by any real, systemic, democratic change.)
2. Will riot police intimidate and jail many of the 30,000 peaceful protesters exercising their right to assemble and petition their government for a redress of grievances as it usually does when ordinary citizens attempt to exercise their Constitutionally guaranteed rights?
I have asked tea party attendees similar questions about four times now. I would really love to hear a thoughtful response to my queries.
Comment by bsjones — 2/28/2009 @ 10:55 pm
God bless ya, Rick, I can always count on you to call a spade a spade. You’re right, of course. Compare these photo-ops with the ‘real’ tea party protests, performed during a time when men truly risked their livelihoods and lives for what they believed. It’s like comparing a real concentration camp with Hogan’s Heroes.
It’s not “money, organization, professionalism, and a little more realism” that’s lacking. (Well, maybe the realism part.) What’s missing is a sense that this is something more than a momentary diversion for the participants. Call ME when people are quitting their jobs (if they have them) or laying aside spouse, career, etc., for this.
Comment by Mister Snitch — 2/28/2009 @ 11:08 pm
I was a student organizer at UC Berkeley in the 60’s. As the song goes, “we changed the world.” And as one comedian admitted a couple years back, “yep, we really f—-d it up.” But I will tell you in no uncertain terms, this is how genuine grassroots movements get started. They are real and they are spontaneous, and they grow. We didn’t have bullhorns or professionally-prepared pickets signs at first, and if we were lucky, we got twenty or thirty people together at a time. I’m hoping that this new movement ends up successful and grows into a national movement with the crowds of thousands we finally gathered together. Maybe they can un-do the harm we started.
Comment by LawhawkSF — 2/28/2009 @ 11:14 pm
Of course, these rallies are amateur in nature,Mr. High and Mighty Moran. Unlike Obama and his ACORN pals on the left our Congressmen have NOT been appropriating billions of taxpayer money over the past decades to fund left-wing activist groups.
It would seem unsavory to steal the money of taxpayers to hire professional protestors or promote a political agenda.
Or were you not aware that Planned Parenthood, ACORN and the Unions get huge amounts of pork from every Liberal for just that purpose.
A reckoning is swelling within the silent majority and the Left are going to be shocked when the wave crashes.
I say to my leftist “intellectuals” that there is a very old saying which you should have heeded. “Let a sleeping dog lie”
Comment by LogicalUS — 2/28/2009 @ 11:17 pm
Santelli’s rant really struck a chord with me when I saw it, as it did with many others. I immediately went to the web to see if a July protest was, in fact, being publicized for Chicago. Within 24 hours I started to see websites spring up. My initial reaction to these disparate and uncoordinated efforts was fear that the effect of a single, well organized protest would be diluted. I guess it has to some extent, but on the other hand, these many efforts just may be the seed of something big. It has, after all, only been five weeks (five very busy weeks) since the Obama regime came to full power, and full realization of the “change” about to sweep America has yet to occur among the many who will be adversely affected. I still have hope that the July protests will be big and send a loud message. They are planned for the 4th, when most of us don’t have to work and have an extended weekend. I live in California but still hope it will be worth my while to go to Chicago for the granddaddy of all of these protests.
Naysaying is premature, and may you rot in hell for it.
Comment by George Andersen — 2/28/2009 @ 11:23 pm
What a crock!
1. Many conservatives have jobs that keep them working, even on weekends, compared to “progressives”
2. Iraq War protests were much the same size to start out with, but still eventually had a larger impact than their attendance.
3. As stated, this was on very short notice especially in light of #1.
Comment by James N. Williams — 2/28/2009 @ 11:32 pm
I organized the Dallas Tea Party with two others. We had 4 days and no budget. I have never attended a protest before yesterday and had to take a vacation day to attend. I asked from the mike and it was the first protest for over 90% of the 300 present. We have had hundreds of emails asking when is the next one.
This article was really unneeded as conservatives are doing what we can to halt the move to bigger government in this country. If you don’t want to participate…don’t. But don’t criticize us who are fighting mad and prepared to let others hear what we have to say!
Angry White Dude
Comment by Angry White Dude — 2/28/2009 @ 11:32 pm
If you look at the this blog you will find that he has been sniffing Obama’s jock for quite a long time. He certainly has a love of “steely pecs” and asinine speeches as a form of leadership.
Rick, you upset you haven’t gotten your invite to fly with Barry to one of his staged rallies where the ACORN and Union participants get paid with your money to scream for more goodies from this spend-a-holic disaster?
Comment by LogicalUS — 2/28/2009 @ 11:51 pm
I love the comments from people saying the tea parties are not mature and gosh Gallup says Barack Obama has a 66% approval rating. Barry and the Democrat congress just pissed away $2 trillion dollars in just two weeks and the enlightened ones here say we should give him a chance? Why? Because he gives such nice speeches? Why not really give him a chance? Let spend $5 trillion dollars! After all, Gallup says…
Comment by mishu — 3/1/2009 @ 12:26 am
Rick has a point but mainly because typical working Americans with families (as opposed to students, self-styled anti-globalization anarchists, etc.) mostly don’t DO demos.
Big crowds require large-scale organization and time and money. The 1963 civil rights March on Washington, for example, took many months to organize with scores of full-time staffers either paid directly or loaned by one of the six major national civil rights groups and massive aid from the UAW, other unions and Jewish organizations, etc. For all that, it’s 250,000 people was dwarfed in later years by anti-war and other protests.
On the other hand, Al Sharpton’s more recent use of “direct action” has been a far more seat of the pants affair driven by Rev. Al’s keen PR sense. Most of his demos feature the same 100 or so Black nationalist cranks and aging Trotskyites — but (curiously) no one notices the missing “masses” because Al always manages something colorful and newsworthy.
So conservatives — or just plain folks who can see the taxes looming ahead — can make an impact without huge crowds. It will take a bit of creativity though.
Comment by John Burke — 3/1/2009 @ 12:32 am
I’ve never really been able to put my finger on the weird bias Rick Moran seems to have.
Until now. I think its “Me-itis”. Ie look at me, look at my blog, look at the controversial things I’m saying.
I stopped skimming his columns at PJmedia and this will be my last visit here. I know I won’t be missed but Moran, methinks you’re losing your core audience. Will you be Andrew Sullivan by 2010, just without the gay ? Methinks yes.
Comment by Matt — 3/1/2009 @ 12:51 am
Don’t bother waiting for an apology on the lack of money, organization, and professionalism, Rick. Unlike leftist activists, the people that have participated in these protests have actual professions and do not receive government funding.
Comment by Joel — 3/1/2009 @ 1:13 am
Wow…you’d think that maybe all the negative comments might have an effect on your opinion (since you claim to be somewhat conservative). Somehow, I doubt it! Why you may ask… because you are a part of the media (too many relatives involved) and you hear too many opinions that differ so they must be right…heh.
People like you (fake conservatives) will never understand the people you pretend to write for nor the movements that occur under your nose.
Comment by Deagle — 3/1/2009 @ 2:53 am
Interesting on how many of your readers demand your blessing, you, one man with a blog. Are you seen as a messiah for the cause? And if the blessing is not forthcoming, and if a gnashing of teeth is indeed heard, are you then against the cause?
why do they make you so important? If not for Rick Moran’s support, we coulda been somebody, we coulda been contenders. But no, it was you Ricky!
Comment by bobwire — 3/1/2009 @ 3:28 am
With all due respect, I find it more than a little telling that you feel the need to compare the protest to popular sporting or concert events rather than other protests.
Comment by Bill Dalasio — 3/1/2009 @ 3:35 am
Duh….It’s because most of the working people fed up with this Marxist BS were…..at work!
Comment by sudmuf — 3/1/2009 @ 4:25 am
Just because someone wizzed in your cornflakes you feel it necessary to follow suit on those who are actually attempting to do something constructive?
Oh, that’s right, you blog.
Comment by ThomasD — 3/1/2009 @ 5:53 am
[...] MORAN THINKS THE “TEA PARTY” PROTESTS are amateurish and disorganized. At Playboy, on the other hand, they think they’re suspiciously well-coordinated. Both are [...]
Pingback by Instapundit » Blog Archive » RICK MORAN THINKS THE “TEA PARTY” PROTESTS are amateurish and disorganized. At Playboy, on the oth… — 3/1/2009 @ 6:47 am
First off, I voted for Obama and I still believe in the issues that formed the platform of his campaign. With that said, I applaud any citizen for taking efforts to get his/her voice heard. What I find disturbingly lacking, even amidst the Jindal response to Obama’s address, is any cogent plans to do things differently. Our country is in uncharted waters economically. No one, and I repeat no one, has a monopoply on the prescription for getting us out of it. What we do know is that the country has voiced the belief that doing the same things and placing a blind faith in the “invisible hand” will jolt this economy out of its downward spiral.
So, keep up the protest, but avoid stale talking points like: socialism, liberalism, spreading the wealth, welfarism, class warfare, from each according to his ability-to each according to his need….
These trite soundpoints just make you look ridiculous. Focus on what should be done differently.
Not just generalities, philosophies, or ideologies, but specifics.
Comment by Robert — 3/1/2009 @ 6:50 am
[...] says last night: RICK MORAN THINKS THE “TEA PARTY” PROTESTS are amateurish and disorganized. At Playboy, on the other hand, they think they’re suspiciously well-coordinated. Both are [...]
Pingback by How avalanches start | BitsBlog — 3/1/2009 @ 6:53 am
1.)George Soros pays people to attend these demonstrations.Moveon.org just sends out e-mails to their cavalry.
2.)Cool university students don`t work and can cut class. Besides it`s something for them to do. The rest of us have plenty to do, LIKE GO TO WORK!
3.)Demonstrations were held on Friday. A WORK DAY, DUH!
4.)More people were at these “tea party” demonstrations then the 50 that attended the university demonstration in NYC last week. Yet, the lame stream media refused to cover the “tea parties” but EVERY SINGLE DAY GAVE COVERAGE TO THE TEMPER TANTRUM TEENAGERS IN NYC. The Chicago demonstration was right outside of the Chicago Tribune.
Comment by JRD — 3/1/2009 @ 7:56 am
BSJones–Let me see if I can enlighten you and answer your questions about the goals of the tea parties.
The goal was just to show up and see if anyone else would show up with us. I live in a rural area of Texas and sometimes feel like I’m the only one ranting in the dark. Twitter, Smart Girl Politics and other social media sites have allowed me to meet other like minded, disgruntled conservatives. Let’s not forget that 46% of Americans did not vote for Obama. Yet we are being told to embrace his presidency and plans for our future. Very few of us were McCain lovers. Most of us were Palin lovers. Most of us were very disgusted with the last couple of years of Bush’s presidency. The point of the tea party was to get together and see who would show up with us.
This was not a Republican assembly. There were Republicans there, for sure. But there were many libertarians, constitutionalists and just plain conservatives at the Houston gathering. We have not found the ideal presidential candidate to rally behind. We have, however, put our elected representatives on notice that we are paying attention to what they are doing and we are angry with them for voting for TARP, Stimulus and bailout packages for irresponsible businesses and people. The sleeping giant has awakened, and it is pissed.
Regarding your question about the police. They were there at the Houston Tea Party. Several came and told us privately that they supported what we were doing. There was no riot gear, and no angry counter-protests. It was a very positive experience and I’m glad my daughter was with me that day.
Hope that clears a few things up for you.
Comment by Wendy Herman — 3/1/2009 @ 7:57 am
Conservatives aren’t usually activist types. Only victims are activist and conservatives don’t have that mentality.
Comment by beck — 3/1/2009 @ 8:00 am
Beck is quite right in that most conservatives aren’t activists and have little experience
protesting anything. The very fact that this many came out to do this is a sign that things are becoming much more serious with them.
What you call inexperience will soon disappear
and their rough around the edges appearance will be gone.
When those who are usually busy working and raising their families decide that protesting something is important you better watch out. They take seriously their time away from work and family which means they are serious…dead serious.
See you in the funny papers….
Comment by Michael Dugas — 3/1/2009 @ 8:30 am
Good morning,
I was at the Chicago Tea Party, I and the Lady I came with were sure we might be 1 of 10, as we all work. The numbers surprised me. We are not professional agitators that was also commented upon and joked about. I had 3 days notice, I went on my lunch hour. It has to start somewhere. A Father walking ahead of us corrected his whining son that if we waited til Summer when it is warmer, we may not have the right to protest. I beleive it is the’Fierce sense of urgency’ that is waking us up.
my 2 cent
Comment by debi912 — 3/1/2009 @ 8:49 am
Rick,
I had a rally set up in my hometown in about 8 hours. I’ve never done anything like this in my life. So it was at a local resturant. Since I work for a living, I had “protest” posters on 8 1/2 X 11 paper. about 10 people showed up. We made a plan to have another larger “real protest” that we all hope will get your coveted stamp of approval…
Comment by Freedomlost — 3/1/2009 @ 9:18 am
Rick: I have to admit, you are probably right — we may be “disorganized”. But I have to say — Obama is sure one DAMN FINE community Organizer! He is managed, in less than 100 days as POTUS, to organize average Americans, business owners, and other freedom-minded citizens in ways I would have never dreamed imaginable.
http://amfreenet.com/2009/02/obama-is-a-damn-fine-community-organizer/
I have lived through Democrat Presidents, with whom I disagreed, and it never, ever occurred to me to brew rebellion!
We are the economically responsible producers in the USA: protesting isn’t our normal “day job”. That between 200-1500 individuals in 45 different cities — Republican, Democrat, Independent, Libertarian, etc. — came out in numbers that dwarfed the usual anti-Bush rallies of the typical anarchists is a HUGE story.
That you are so quick to dismiss our efforts means exactly one thing to me — we stuck a nerve.
Comment by Mutnodjmet — 3/1/2009 @ 9:37 am
Rick - the Jazz Shaw approach to marketing doesn’t suit you. The 40 or so tea parties that sprung up around the nation are a good start for a conservative (and libertarian) base that have always felt the best thing we can do for our country is to work hard and raise our kids to do the same - who’s got time to stand on a corner or chain oneself to the doors of a ACORN office? But the fury over the direction this country is taking is so deep that it’s driven us from our homes. You shouldn’t be backhanding a nascent movement because it doesn’t compare to the Million Man March or the Code Pink camp across from Bush’s ranch. What is inspiring is that the silent majority is beginning to take notice, and while naysayers are as ubiquitous as liberal ingrates, those on the right who give a damn ought to lending a hand.
That’s where you come in Rick. I’d hate to see a voice like yours grumbling on the sidelines.
Comment by Shane from PV — 3/1/2009 @ 10:11 am
You should be smart enough to understand that any/everything in existance had to “start somewhere” and the start is not as polished as the finished product. Bring your head out of wherever you have it hidden and take a little more educated “look around”
Thanks
ken
Comment by ken — 3/1/2009 @ 10:45 am
Thanks Wendy Herman,
It makes more sense now.
Upon reflection, I’ve decided real conservative change will be most likely by focusing our energy on and, possibly replacing, Republican members of Congress that do not meet our expectations, rather than complaining about Democrats that are representing their 54% of the citizenry.
Thanks again Wendy
Comment by bsjones — 3/1/2009 @ 1:22 pm
[...] on the significance of the Tea Parties from Rick Moran (libertine and free-lance writer): “Weak Tea“, at his site Rightwing Nuthouse, 27 February 2009 (hat tip to [...]
Pingback by Are the new “tea party” protests a grass roots rebellion or agitprop? « Fabius Maximus — 3/1/2009 @ 2:31 pm
Um, some of us have to honor our work obligations on the day of protest. Soon as I’m laid off I’ll be at the front of the mob!
Comment by Joe — 3/1/2009 @ 2:56 pm
Gauging by the number and tone of the comments here, I would agree that this is a non-story.
/sarcasm
Comment by dualdiagnosis — 3/1/2009 @ 5:38 pm
Funny,
According to your sidebar, you’ve been blogging for 5 years, and despite being a political junkie, I’ve never heard of you before now. (I stumbled upon your blog today for the first time through a link @ The Other McCain.)
Apparently your attitude towards building a movement is the same as your attitude towards blogging. Let others do all the hard work, establish the movement, then sweep in once all the work is done and try (fail) to make a name for yourself.
Forgive me, but, call me “When you get some money, organization, professionalism, and a little more realism”.
Comment by Reality Check — 3/2/2009 @ 5:02 am
[...] Moran has similar feelings, apparently. It’s not professional enough. We mustn’t do anything that is, quite frankly, even more futile than blogging into the [...]
Pingback by Let’s Recap [Dan Collins; UPDATED] — 3/2/2009 @ 9:25 am
“When you get some money, organization, professionalism, and a little more realism, come back and see me.”
My favorite line, and quite telling of the authors mindset.
Make sure it’s slick, polished, confirmed via polling, and has celeb backing for a public face before you act or the people won’t go for it!
Maybe it’s more telling of the US citizen…
Comment by Mike from PA — 3/2/2009 @ 11:12 am
Hi! I’m an Australian observer and I just wanted to know a couple of things about your politics. Hope I don’t offend.
Why is there so much divisiveness, and outright hatred for Democrats? How can people here call Democrats Marxists, Socialists AND Fascists all at the same time?
I must be missing something seriously wrong that the Democrats have done. Wasn’t it the Republican government that said there were weapons of mass destruction in order to start a war that killed thousands of your soldiers, and a 100,000 Iraqi citizens? Bush ignored the Geneva convention on the treatment of prisoners of war, sanctioned torture, illegally wire tapped US citizens, and collapsed the economy.
That was your last President. Yet people fear the new Democratic President? Why?
Obama seems to want to fix education, health, and the environment. You should be estatic for such a leader! 95% of Americans will be better off with tax cuts… only people earning more than $250,000 will return to 1990s tax rates. Basically, the overwhelming majority of Americans will be better off under Obama.
The 5% of rich white men, the Rupert Murdochs of the world are exerting their anger through their media companies. That’s another thing. Why swallow all that ‘liberal bias’ nonsense about the media? It’s clearly a canard. The media is all massive corporations all owned by a tiny minority of rich, white men who are obviously Republicans. And any impartial observer can see that it’s in no way liberally biased. For 8 years the media went along with every disasterous thing George W Bush did, never questioning a thing. I don’t see how that is liberal bias.
So, help out an international observer. All this talk of violent uprisings because your party lost an election. Why are the Democrats so hated?
To contrast, things are reasonably civil in Aust politics, as traditionally, no one cared enough about it. I use to think our political apathy was bad and admired Americans for their interest in politics… but now I must admit I’m thankful for our system.
I think it’s because we don’t have Hate Radio. Again, just an observer and don’t mean offence. But people, regardless of their political affiliations, should denounce those talk back radio hosts as vile.
Best of luck with the economic recovery.
Cheers,
Brad, Melbourne Australia
Comment by Brad — 3/3/2009 @ 11:55 am
If Illinois Republicans would stop acting as though they were so smart and superior, and actually improve the Party and the quality of candidates, and what the few who are actually elected do while in office, then maybe it would stop losing electing after election.
Feed your ego by sitting back and criticizing what others are trying to do, if that makes you feel better. The Party leadership has made itself largely irrelevant in Illinois, or even an embarrassment. At least some people are trying to do something about it. It has to start somewhere before all the nuts at ACORN have even more resources to swing elections.
Comment by SurgeUSAorg — 3/3/2009 @ 12:02 pm
“When you get some money, organization, professionalism, and a little more realism, come back and see me.”
I think you may be missing the point. The idea is to NOT be centrally organized, slick, well-funded by the usual sponsors, tied to PACs or lobbyists, etc.
That gives the Democrats no easy target to demonize. It is ordinary individuals - not a top-down movement tied to Washington interests or elected officials or Republican Party leaders. It’s coming from out of the blue, and they’re not sure what to do about it, other than to ignore or belittle it and hope it just fades away. Next event: April 15. Then July 4.
Comment by SurgeUSAorg — 3/3/2009 @ 12:08 pm
How many people outraged that the elected President is spending money on infrastructure protested the 6 trillion spent on the war in Iraq? It just seems weird people are taking to streets only now at the horror of economic mismanagement when it started in 2003.
Even if you ignore the hundreds of thousands dead the war caused in Iraq (incidentally, you shouldn’t; you should be outraged… and it’s painful to have to remind people of that) why weren’t “fiscally responsible” people organising tea parties at the obscene money Bush spent on war?
The PR/media people/Fox News seem very good in America with giving people a single line and get them all to repeat it, loudly, and angrily, although I’m still at a loss why people are so angry.
I like what Joe (#21) said. An election was held, the candidate announced his intentions, he won on that platform. And is now implementing his policies.
Seems like you have a working democracy. And if “socialised medicine” is the worst of your problems (we have it in Australia, and uhh… it’s very very good) it’s better that than economic slavery under corporate robber barons. People want to reduce the power of their government, which is essentially THEM, instead to hand it over to corporations who cannot be voted out, and no term limits. Privatising the army… Blackwater/Xe? That’s just insane. Large scale military power in private hands…
You people need to re-evaluate the topics that make you angry.
Comment by Brad — 3/3/2009 @ 2:16 pm
Also, how much was spent on the Iraq war?
The human cost is an attrocity, and it was a needless war. But how many people positively OUTRAGED here for money spent on American infrastructure thought of protesting the far larger money spent on bombing the sh*t out of Iraq?
I think you people should re-evaluate what makes you angry. As an impartial international observer it just seems like Republican-think tank strategies are dropped via Rupert Murdoch’s “not-so-liberal” media and people go crazy.
Chillout. Relax. Drop the talk of overthrowing the government. I liked Joe’s points (comment #21). Your elected President campaigned on these issues, he won, and now he’s doing what the majority of people wanted. It’s a healthy democracy. And if people are terrified of the evils of “socialised medicine” (we have it here… it’s very good actually) again, maybe you should consider re-evaluating what makes you angry.
It’s better than living in economic slavery under corporate robber barons. You even privatised your military… Blackwater/Xe? Largescale military in private hands?
Again. Time to stop listening to Rupert Murdoch and his media puppets and start re-evaluating for yourselves what you should be angry about. The environment for one. My state in Australia just went through the worst bushfire season ever with absolutely horrendous conditions. And because we don’t have religious fundamentalism over here, it seems like the Rapture won’t save us.
Please please please stop screwing around. Medicine, Education and Environment is good. War, Fox News and Corporate Looting is bad. I hope this helps.
Cheers.
Comment by Brad — 3/3/2009 @ 2:37 pm
–gah.
sorry for double post. I didn’t think it went up, and had to rewrite it all.
Comment by Brad — 3/3/2009 @ 2:40 pm
I really don’t give a toot about what a looney lib from Canada has to say. They gave us Michael Moore, didn’t they?
It would have been nice if the first conservative protest had been a little larger in number. The truth is that most conservatives have to work for a living, paying taxes to support the lazy libs who don’t work but collect a government check and get extra money from ACORN and other loon organizations to be part of a rent-a-mob. The left has had 50 years of practice and plenty of time on their hands to organize demonstrations. Mr. Obama just gave ACORN another $3 Billion of our tax dollars so they can rig the next election and organize a protest should they happen to lose.
Comment by Steve — 3/5/2009 @ 10:44 pm
[...] covering the events. While Rick Moran of The Right Wing Nuthouse, has caught some heat over his contentious remarks about the size and effectiveness of the [...]
Pingback by Charging Elephants .com » Breitbart: Fullerton, CA. Tea Party reaches 8,000 — 3/9/2009 @ 3:08 am