But someone once said something mean about Sarah Palin, which makes violence against members of Congress acceptable. Also.

But here is how thr game in Upisdownia, the Right will now charge the MSM with sympathizing with its Leftist brethren in the Democrat party to manufacture claims of violence. And, gfsm forbid, there is real violence it will be either a Leftist plant or a lone whack job, and "that" will then be the GOP's gripe: the mSm is focusing on one nut rather than a large organic movement. The MSM so fears being called liberal that it will bend over backwards to marginalize the culprit -- just as they did withe the killer dr teller. Eric

We still have a Secret Service, don't we? and an FBI? Just checking. Maybe they could draw someone one off the House Republican detail, because God knows none of THEM are being threatened, and see what level of threat there actually is--Army of God or guy living with mom.

From the Miami Herald: A raucous group of about 100 protesters attended an event of Ron Klein's (D) staffers.

From Texas to Pennsylvania, protesters have disrupted town halls. In North Florida, an effigy of a congressman, Allen Boyd, was tarred and feathered; in New York, a congressman had to be escorted to his car by police
...
Even as some protesters insulted Klein's district director, Felicia Goldstein, she listened patiently and took notes. ``Shame on you!'' one woman shouted. ``Pay attention,'' someone else yelled when Goldstein momentarily stepped back from the crowd. Kristen Bradley, a 47-year-old Lighthouse Point resident, stepped outside in disgust. ``I thought they acted like kindergartners the way they interrupted each other,'' she said.

I don't have cable, and don't watch the network news programs, but I get the sense the story is starting to rebound on the Republicans as a sponsor of violent, crazy, unAmerican activity like this. And the month still is young.

I thought TP had a piece in this that it was a freshman - as in Democratic college freshman who was attacked. I was confused reading the piece, though. I hope more info to comes to light.

Rocky , bullwinkle , Natasha and Boris
Upseedayseum

David Lynch
Backwards day

Starboard side fetishists
R limbaugh anal philosophy 101
A coultr the illusion of facts 101
B krristol Logoc 01 If I am always wrong , you know I am right

For a full roster of events , courses , and seminars , close your eyes and a vision of the future, imagine a boot stomping on a human face -forever." (George Orwell)

Steve Paradis: although you bring up a good point (Army of God vs. guy in mom's basement), the latest attack from the extreme right has been guys living by themselves. The murder of Dr. Tiller and the Holocaust Museum shooter, both were men out of their mothers' houses, and both were fed fear by O'Reilly and ins-Hannity. It's also the loners that have to be watched.

These teabaggers also disrupted a townhall meeting in Napa Valley. When the Napa Valley Register, which endorsed McCain, wrote an editorial condemning the actions of the baggers, the commenters overwhelming attacked the editorial with the same sh!t-@ssed talking points sent out in the RNC lobbyists' emails. Ignorance knows no bounds. These folks don't understand what they are opposing and have been incited to the boiling point by the BSing republicans. Rep. Mike Thompson has decided to meet individually with those wishing to have a real discussion about healthcare reform because of the unruly teabaggers.

I don't want to see anyone hurt, but I have a hunch that is where we are headed. I think the first time one of these clowns is violent, Dick Army should also be arrested as an accessory. Throw his sorry ass in Gitmo. After all he is a proponent of domestic terrorism.

--overwhelmingly--

As long as the Right doesn't promote an actual opposition plan, these tactics will fail.

The best interpretation of their "dissent" is that they like the current system, and the worst is that they're government hating anarchists.

Perhaps the media is starting to realize this...

Upton Sinclair's point was that they cannot make a living if they realise this . Upton had a strong point , simple , dead on center . Not the least bit dated .

Hanging a congressman in effigy is unacceptable.

Left-wing protestors did that to Bush all the time.

Carrying a sign with Nazi "SS" lettering is disgusting.

So were the leftist catcalls of BushHitler and all the other Nazi slurs.

Please, present the evidence - not hearsay - hard evidence, that these protests have turned violent.

Until then, stick to the facts. These are peaceful protests. Nothing like the leftist mobs that descend on the G8 and other economic summits.

Where's the Washington Monthly Outrage when leftists mobs get violent, as they often do?

[crickets]

I read the paper quite frequently , almost every day . I don't recall any effigies of bushie being burnt or being hanged .
Are Americans now responsible for every outrage beyond our own national borders now ?
The buzz you are apparently experiencing is most likely due to your incoherence , rather than some innocent insect . Your incoherence is not helped by your unpleasant inferences which are a bit tightly wound . Demanding one thing while failing to provide the same , curious .

Please, present the evidence - not hearsay - hard evidence, that these protests have turned violent.

As soon as you present hard evidence that leftists hung Bush in effigy. We'll wait.

These are peaceful protests. Nothing like the leftist mobs that descend on the G8 and other economic summits.

You mean the G8 summit protests ... in Genoa, Italy? Do you really think those had even 1% of Americans in the crowd? Are you really that stupid?

Remind me, did Republicans apologize for shipping Republican staff members down to Florida for the Brooks Brothers riot in the 2000 recount? No? Then kindly shut the fuck up, moron.

yeah that lefty over their in iraq, the shoe guy... dirty commie, college professor liberal hippie...

yeah those millions and millions of people worldwide who marched peacefully to try to stop the iraq invasion... mob violence, no doubt.

but i'll grant you that a young anarchist throwing a trash can through a starbucks window is a horrible mob violent act, and no excuse even though it was done in protest of the "globalization" that is now the global depression -- depression that is except for the fat cat corporation owners and their managers and banksters... that bunch is too pricy to call a "mob." and their deeds are quite non-violent -- yeah right.

but i'll grant you that a young anarchist throwing a trash can through a starbucks window is a horrible mob violent act

Yes, and one that thousands of us rushed to praise and emulate, creating a national torches-and-pitchforks movement that took over news coverage.

Oh, wait.

http://www.firedupmissouri.com/content/todd-akin-jokes-about-activists-lynching-his-democratic-colleagues

Missouri Rep Todd Akin (R) jokes about lynchings at Democratic town halls....and the audience laughs...

The delay on moving the legislation was always planned around an angry mob August. It appears that the GOP has been planning this a long time and was aided by an ineffectual Senate Majority leader and co-opted committee chairs. Really the whole idea that congressmen could go home and educate constituents was always farcical. The frightened elderly paid protesters were always going to make up the bulk of this "audience." The GOP has gone 1860 on the nation. People forget that the SOuth was always a distinct minority enabled by appeasers in the Democratic party. How did that work out? A unhinged minority makes any nation ungovernable. Something has to give or we have entered a GOP-induced anarchy.

Robert Hunter
Jerry Garcia
Please don't dominate the rap, Jack
If you got nothing new to say
If you please, don't back up the track
This train's got to run today

I spent a little time in the mountain
Spent a little time on the hill
I heard some say "better run away"
Others say "better stand still"

Now I don't know but I've been told
It's hard to run with the weight of gold
Other hand I heard it said
It's just as hard with the weight of lead

Who can deny? Who can deny?
It's not just a change in style
One step done and another begun
In I wonder how many miles?

I spent a little time on the mountain
Spent a little time on the hill
Things went down we don't understand
But I think in time we will

Now I don't know but I was told
In the heat of the sun a man died of cold
Do we keep on coming or stand and wait
With the sun so dark and the hour so late?

You can't overlook the lack Jack
Of any other highway to ride
It's got no signs or dividing lines
And very few rules to guide

I spent a little time on the mountain
Spent a little time on the hill
I saw things getting out of hand
I guess they always will

Now, I don't know but I've been told
If the horse don't pull, you got to carry the load
I don't know whose back's that strong
Maybe find out before too long

One way or another
One way or another
One way or another
This darkness got to give

Do you see what's happening here. Bernie makes an arguably failed argument based on loose facts and faulty logic ... and gets shouted down and called on his BS.

That's activism. That's what's needed at public forums. The public needs to see this on the network and cable news shows. Right wing mobs getting shouted down by reasonable people who want facts, not corporate talking points.

Isn't violent mob, um, terrorism at it's base?

Irony has never died.

Denver will be hosting Polosi. She is scheduled to visit a clinic for the homeless. We are lucky to have local right wing radio 24/7, alerting the troops so to speak. Ut will be interesting to see what happens, today, 2 PM MDT.

"I don't have cable, and don't watch the network news programs, but I get the sense the story is starting to rebound on the Republicans as a sponsor of violent, crazy, unAmerican activity like this. And the month still is young."

I think that will be the ultimate outcome of this. It's common knowledge who is organizing these "protests" and what their motives are.

Also, for a movement to flourish it has to grow. It starts out with a group of people and then expands as more people of different backgrounds, etc. join in making it more widespread. This?! Look at the "crowds." The same people. Its not expanding or reaching new groups. Its stagnant. I think most ppeople these people as racially motivated, and its leaving a bad taste in the collective mouth. Contrast this with the good will following the election and inauguration and the feeling abroad. These people are a cringe-inducing national embarassment.

In the end I see this backfiring on the GOP.

Whistles! Congresscritters need to use whistles to restore order and silence howling mobs at these events. It really worked for the coach in Phys Ed class in high school.

I'm really disappointed that some congressmen have thrown in the towel on public town meetings.

There is a way to deal with this:

1. Prominently post ground rules regarding etiquette and conduct prior to and at the meeting. Clearly state that NO disruptive conduct will be tolerated.

2. Hire plenty of security to enforce the rules.

3. When disruptive conduct occurs, IMMEDIATELY have the persons removed from the premises. If they resist, have them arrested for disorderly conduct.

4. Allow everyone who follows the rules to speak, regardless of whether they support or oppose healthcare.

By not holding public forums, you allow these idiots to control the debate. If you throw them out while allowing everyone to participate according to the rules, they have no standing to complain.

Free speech doesn't include infringing on the rights of others.

What bdop4 said.

Another possibility: Someone posted here yesterday that his/her congresscritter handled it by requiring attendees to present ID confirming that they live in the district. While I'm not a big fan of congresspeople who won't accept comments from out-of-district people, it is their prerogative, and a reasonably common practice. According to the person who reported here yesterday, a couple of full busloads left after being unable to meet the in-district standard.

Bernie, you really should have more of a Terry Kiser moment on some weekend on Long Island.

The protests at the WTO in Seattle were orderly. The protesters were very disciplined. However, it was a small group of Anarchists from Oregon, who disrupted the protests, thus, tarnishing the peaceful protesters. The media ran with the hooliganism and painted all with a broad brush. These anarchists are anti any government. They are not liberals. These are the same types, who defaced incoming artist establishments in Portland. They broke windows, spray painted grafitti, including swastikas on Alberta Street stores, because they didn't want to see any upgrading of the property. They love to live in squallor and filth. Don't call them liberals or members of the Democratic Party. It was the anarchists of whom Dave Reichert staged his TV moment of chasing. It was not any liberal.

"Left-wing protestors did that to Bush all the time."

Provide evidence, Bernie. Put up or shut up.

"Please, present the evidence - not hearsay - hard evidence, that these protests have turned violent."

Oh wait, you mean we have to provide evidence, but you don't? Nice double-standard.

Of course, you don't accept the effigy-hanging, screams and shouts, and death threats that have already been documented to be evidence, do you? Typical right-winger.

Michelle Malkin is even now on local talk radio in Denver, promoting her book, attacking Michelle Obama and promoting the "tea party movement." Michelle has taken up residence in Colorado Springs, the most conservative district in Colorado.

The tactics used by the so-called "anti-health care reformers" were perfected on right wing talk radio. Only those agreeing with the republican agenda are allowed time to talk. Calls are screened. If an independent voice somehow gets through, the caller is interrupted, ridiculed and cut off. It is imperative that opposite opinions not be heard.

I seem to recall some left-wingers hanging an effigy of Sarah Palin from their home in the "spirit" of Halloween. Also, liberal talk show host Mike Malloy is saying he hopes Glenn Beck puts a gun to his head and pulls the trigger on live television. David Sirota tweets about how centrists Democrats are "f**kheads, dumbs**ts and awful human beings" on healthcare reform. There are Kosheads who talk about pulling AK47s on Senators who don't agree with liberal ideas of healthcare reform.
Is this the "discourse" you're referring to?

Great comments - the beast awakens. I hope cogresscritter staff are reading these posts and comments - my question is how did they not see this coming, and accordingly have in place the sensible precautions stated above? Lessons learned. Now, it's time for everyone who supports the public option (cuz that's what this is really all about) to get out and go to these meetings. Be seen and heard. Join OFA/rapid response and push back against the douche baggery. How about: "Let him/her speak!" chanted over and over until...well, as long as necessary. "Health care for all!" See y'all there.

We first heard from the birthers, with their fake “birth certificate” in hand and with their fake outrage. These are the same under tones that you saw from Republicans during the confirmation hearings for Sonia Sotomayor, "you are not like us" or "you are too different", “you are not main stream”. And then they act surprised when people do not vote with them, they are lost, no core beliefs, too bad.

In my opinion the Republican Party has been taken over the most extreme religious right (people who love to push their beliefs on others while at the same time trying to take away their rights) and that’s who they need to focus on if they real want to win. Good Luck, because as they said in WACO, “We Ain’t Coming Out”.

It’s funny we hear Republicans say that they do not want “faceless bureaucrats” making medical decisions but they have no problem with “private sector” “faceless bureaucrats” daily declining medical coverage and financially ruining good hard working people. And who says that the “private sector” is always right, do we forget failures like Long-Term Capital, WorldCom, Global Crossing, Enron, Tyco, AIG and Lehman Brothers. Of course the federal government will destroy heathcare by getting involved, Oh but wait our military men and women and the Senate and Congress get the best heathcare in the world, and oh, that’s right, its run by our federal government. I can understand why some may think that the federal government will fail, if you look at the past eight years as a current history, with failures like Katrina and the Walter Reed Scandal, but the facts is they can and if we support them they will succeed.

We first heard from the birthers, with their fake “birth certificate” in hand and with their fake outrage. These are the same under tones that you saw from Republicans during the confirmation hearings for Sonia Sotomayor, "you are not like us" or "you are too different", “you are not main stream”. And then they act surprised when people do not vote with them, they are lost, no core beliefs, too bad.

In my opinion the Republican Party has been taken over the most extreme religious right (people who love to push their beliefs on others while at the same time trying to take away their rights) and that’s who they need to focus on if they real want to win. Good Luck, because as they said in WACO, “We Ain’t Coming Out”.

It’s funny we hear Republicans say that they do not want “faceless bureaucrats” making medical decisions but they have no problem with “private sector” “faceless bureaucrats” daily declining medical coverage and financially ruining good hard working people. And who says that the “private sector” is always right, do we forget failures like Long-Term Capital, WorldCom, Global Crossing, Enron, Tyco, AIG and Lehman Brothers. Of course the federal government will destroy heathcare by getting involved, Oh but wait our military men and women and the Senate and Congress get the best heathcare in the world, and oh, that’s right, its run by our federal government. I can understand why some may think that the federal government will fail, if you look at the past eight years as a current history, with failures like Katrina and the Walter Reed Scandal, but the facts is they can and if we support them they will succeed.

Samuel: Is this the "discourse" you're referring to?

Yes, that's exactly what we're referring to: unsourced claims that lefties are just as bad as righties, in an effort to create a false equivalence between the two.

This is hysterical. If I thought Republicans were smart enough, I would think this was a rope-a-dope strategy working. Nancy Pelosi talks about "swastikas" at rallies and 1,000 middle aged women who have never attended a rally of any kind decide to go to the next one they can find.

Keep up the good work.

1,000 middle aged women who have never attended a rally of any kind decide to go to the next one they can find.

How spontaneous of them! How very off the cuff!

No, shortstop, you and your gurus are doing the work. I just think it is so damned amusing to see a former community organizer go apes**t when his opponents decide to *organize*.

Life is sure funny sometimes. A sense of irony helps a lot. Personally, I don't think the Republicans are smart enough to be this organized.

The tea baggers are the most misinformed angry group I've ever come across. They are willfully ignorant and when the truth is presented they stick their fingers in their ears or claim the left is making up the truth.

Ever meet a person you just can't talk to because they refuse to listen to anything but their own opinion...tea baggers.

These opinions have been cultivated by lying millionaires pretending to care who only represent the corporate interests but always say "you can be rich too if you just...". Just pathetic people...there is no discussion, only over powering these goobers.

I just think it is so damned amusing to see a former community organizer go apes**t when his opponents decide to *organize*.

But you keep saying these crowds aren't organized -- those have been your exact words over and over, Mike, as you insist on the totally spontaneous nature of your friends' movement. Have you decided, for the umpteenth time, to ignore having said something that was immediately proven wrong?

shortstop. I have tried to debate you folks on issues but you won't engage and then misrepresent things I said in the past here. For example, I felt the Republicans were going to do poorly in 2006 and said so as early as the summer before the election.

You don't mention instances when I was exactly right, like when Kevin Drum was convinced Bush would cut and run from Iraq in 2004 before the election.

Now, all I'm doing is enjoying the hysteria on your side. I'm not that happy with Republicans, either, as I've said here before but you folks are reacting to tapes running in your heads that don't allow any deviation. The whole reaction on the lefty bogs this week reminds me of a school of fish that will instantly change direction when the leader changes.

Have you noticed the absence of the "uninsured" in the left's rhetoric this month ?

For the policy wonks and admin. staff folks who read our drivel - here is an idea. To rebut the R's "its too big, we need more time, we can't think about htis now oh boo hoo hoo" crap .... I watched a bit of the Waxman com. hearings. Gosh. What did I see ? Amendment after amendment - being discussed. R's, like the big intellect Joe Barton, being given time to discuss the amendment; D's rebuttals; and GASP VOTES ! with margins like 31-28. Imagine. TELL THE DAMN SCREAMERS AND THE R"S - THE COMMITTEES ARE DOING THEIR JOBS. They are grinding tough the process - and they better be reading the bill - THAT is their JOB !

I HAVE NO patience for these stall tactics. IT is pure bunk.

It is very American to want to help our fellow countryman. I believe in my government especially our men and women in our military, firefighters and police. You, not so much. Lets face it the previous administration did nothing (except start two wars of choice that are bankrupting our country with all the �war profiteering� contracts to Halliburton) well you and I will just have to agree to not agree. I did not believe any of the Republican rhetoric before the last election and I do not believe them now. I do not believe that your sentiments are in line with the majority, but I did real enjoy your comments, good stuff.

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