Just how 'meek' was this?
And it seems that walking out is the most polite way to protest. They should sit there like democratic sheep? We've been well trained havent we!
Posted by gail at July 20, 2008 06:37 AMWaiting for Obama to understand the divisions in the Democratic Party, much less heal them, is Waiting for Godot.
Carolyn Kay
MakeThemAccountable.com
Well Paradox, you answered my question I left a couple of comment section ago.
"So Mary or Paradox, are hecklers removed, or cited for trespassing or arrested? At right-wing functions dissent usually ends up with someone being removed, arrested, or both."
So, we are like the GOP. The GOP does not allow dissenters, and evidently we have adopted the same tactics. Be nice or we are going to show you the door. I'm glad I wasn't there, as my ass would have been thrown out the moment Pelosi walked on stage.
Moral from the new Democratic Party: Don't stand for anything, keep your mouth shut, and take the money when offered. Putzs, all putzs.
Posted by Judith at July 20, 2008 07:24 AM"Deflection worked this time, but that tactic can only be used once. The tipping point has been reached with the base, and if Pelosi shows up next year with the same record of failure nothing will stop the netroots from brawling it out with her."
If you didn't do this year, then it will not be done next year. Your opportunity is gone. To believe that it will be dealt with next year is delusional.
Posted by Judith at July 20, 2008 07:32 AMJudith,
I agree. "Netroots Nation" is a farce - with just as little backbone to get real change as the DLC that they revile so much. I fail to see the difference between the two when I look at real world resuls.
Posted by Reality at July 20, 2008 07:36 AMI listened to an interview with Pelosi by Kurtz at TPM Media, and find that TPM's Kurtz is no different than MSM in interviewing Pelosi.
When asked the money question, Kurtz let her dissemble and and say we needed a new law because the old one was going to expire, and he meekly let her off without a real follow up on an obvious lie. And I thought Josh wanted hard hitting stuff?
I do not see why we keep letting the Democratic leadership off the hook if we want to save our country. Shame on you TPM.
And from Greenwald, we hear Harold Ford wants us to go along with the village and let all of the Republican perpetrators off the hook. It worked out so well with Iran Contra and ray guns, and letting Cap off the hook, since we still have Ollie North and his gang around making bucks off the media. How is that working out for America?
This is not an opposition party. It is a branch of the Money Party, and it seems that we of the blogosphere let our so called Democratic leadership off the hook by timid interviewing.
And Obama does not even want to solve this. Do not even kid yourself. If it is to get solved, it will take a much more partisan approach to politics than we are playing at the moment.
Posted by kcbill13 at July 20, 2008 07:36 AMWhere in the hell is the outrage? By God, Pelosi and everyone needs to know that we are angry. Frankly, I think Pelosi had nerve to even show up. So glad you guys were nice to her Highness. That should go a long way.
Posted by Judith at July 20, 2008 07:43 AMAl Gore is a colossal asshole.
Posted by Philly Buster at July 20, 2008 07:48 AM"Al Gore is a colossal asshole."
Would you like to explain why he is a "asshole," or do you just like shooting your mouth off?
Posted by Judith at July 20, 2008 07:50 AMSo Netroots Nation has become that which they once despised: Dems without Hats, er Backbones? How embarrassing. I'm glad I wasn't there with my tiedyed peace sign Tshirt on. Pelosi "impeachment's off the table" as respected speaker: I doubt I coulda kept my mouth shut either.
Posted by Sharon at July 20, 2008 07:54 AMJudith and Sharon,
You're both spot on....appears the NN leadership and A-lister bloggers are keeping their powder dry and waiting for just the right moment to rail against the leadership. Heh! But it's a two-fer. Not only are they just like the Bush enabling Democratic leadership and apparently keeping their powder dry for just the right moment in holding people accountable, they're just like the msm pundit kewl kids, you know wanting to keep their cocktail weenie party access and kewl kid newbie status intact. Gawd the worst of both worlds.
Yes, it must have been painful to watch Pelosi be protested (sounds like the protesters were anything but allowed to )....but it's been more painful to watch thousands die and get wounded by her and the Dem leadership letting those amoral greedy war criminals get a pass and enabling most of it for the past 8 years! They're complicit in this stuff and she and they need to be held accountable too! The time is long past to do it!
Reading this report from you was painful paradox....sigh....but I know you're just the messenger here and I appreciate it.
Posted by emal at July 20, 2008 08:25 AMNo dirty fucking pot smoking pinko hippies allowed Sharon. Now shut-up and go to your room until you can play nice.
Posted by Judith at July 20, 2008 08:30 AM
I'm glad I wasn't there, as my ass...
We would have chained ourselves together and made em drag us out. Sounds like the only real force for change was "Code Pink, tolerated until they rudely left."
Netroots = bleating sheeple
...attendees were threatened with having their convention badges revoked...
Angered rabid turtles threatening attack if you don't pull your head in your shell. And you go along with it. How droll. Please, tell the organizers and the bulk of attendees that they ARE the problem, not the solution.
Posted by phidipides at July 20, 2008 08:39 AM"You're both spot on....appears the NN leadership and A-lister bloggers are keeping their powder dry and waiting for just the right moment to rail against the leadership."
Yeah Emal, they took their cue from the Democratic Congress.
Good to see you posting again. I missed your rants.
Posted by Judith at July 20, 2008 08:45 AMYeah, by God those "rabid" dissenters should have been forced to listen to Pelosi's rhetoric. How dare they walk out on her Highness. I wonder if the positive changes in the 60s would have happened had dissenters played nice nice to those in authority. Evidently, change today only comes by ass kissing those we elect.
Posted by Judith at July 20, 2008 08:54 AM"Deflection worked this time, but that tactic can only be used once. The tipping point has been reached with the base, and if Pelosi shows up next year with the same record of failure nothing will stop the netroots from brawling it out with her."
Bullshit! You (collectively) didn't have the courage this year to do more than mutter amongst yourselves while smiling politely and applauding, and you will NEVER have the courage to do more than that, not next year, not the year after that or the year after that. You don't have the guts to stand up to power and you never will. You didn't have to heckle or be disruptive. How about just turning your backs on her, or quietly walking out? Your silence - your show of respect - is tantamount to an endorsement. Shame on you all.
"The whole morning was infused with an angry conflict of wanting to honor protest yet still be respectful to Speaker Pelosi..."
Care to tell us what she has done to earn respect?
"I found it painful to watch a Democratic Speaker of the House be protested by Code Pink at our very own convention."
Why? She deserved it, and Code Pink were the only honest people there.
Posted by Shirin at July 20, 2008 08:59 AMPhidipides, in the old days we would have chained ourselves together, been vocal and forced the police to arrest us to bring attention to the cause. Now the once great Democratic Party has become the Party of Appeasers (POA). That worked well for Germany in the 30's and 40s, didn't it?
Posted by Judith at July 20, 2008 09:00 AMShirin, you are so right on. The only honest people stood up and walked out. They took a stand. They had enough courage, integrity and belief in their position to show their disapproval. The rest gave their approval.
Posted by Judith at July 20, 2008 09:05 AM"Al Gore has a great mission and immense integrity, but he can’t raise the spirits of our people, only Pelosi and the rest of the Party leadership can do that."
The only way Pelosi could raise my spirits is by being impreached or resigning.
That worked well for Germany in the 30's and 40s, didn't it?
Their "Netroots" volkssheeple did them proud back then.
Good to see media and thought control extends all the way to Austin. jesus, what a pack of rubes with puters. Those damned unrespectful "code pinkers". It would be ironic if it was so sad.
Posted by phidipides at July 20, 2008 09:12 AMJudith, I used to know a guy - and Israeli artist/illustrator (his name is Avi Katz, you can google his name and find his website), who despised Ariel Sharon. One day Ariel Sharon attended the opening of an exhibit of Avi's work. When Sharon walked up to Avi, gave his congratulations, and extended his hand, Avi simply turned his back on Sharon and walked away. He would not shake his hand.
The gutless wonders at the Netroots convention not only shook Pelosi's hand, they got down on their knees and kissed her ass.
Posted by Shirin at July 20, 2008 09:13 AMYes Shirin, that is what people do when they stand on principle and are not hypocritcal.
Why am I reminded of this:
"Talk is cheap, actions speak louder than words."
'nuff said.
Posted by Judith at July 20, 2008 09:34 AMWhile you Democrats and "progressives" are raising Al Gore onto an ever-higher pedestal, and lamenting the perfection that might have been under a Gore presidency, you seem to be forgetting what a hawk he was as Vice President. You are also apparently unaware that your precious Democratic party is every bit as driven by a lust for empire and world domination as are the hated Republicans. So, your absolute confidence that "none of this would have happened" with a Gore administration in place is a convenient delusion.
People need to stop looking to politicians to lead you out of the darkness. That is something you need to do for yourselves. And quietly idolizing Gore (or Obama or anyone else) while showing your "respect" for Pelosi will only get you more of the same.
Posted by Shirin at July 20, 2008 09:43 AMBy God, who let these subversive people in to distrupt and show disrespect to her Royal Highness Pelosi?
What is our mission?
"CODEPINK is a women-initiated grassroots peace and social justice movement working to end the war in Iraq, stop new wars, and redirect our resources into healthcare, education and other life-affirming activities. CODEPINK rejects the Bush administration's fear-based politics that justify violence, and instead calls for policies based on compassion, kindness and a commitment to international law. With an emphasis on joy and humor, CODEPINK women and men seek to activate, amplify and inspire a community of peacemakers through creative campaigns and a commitment to non-violence."
And to think that people actually threw paper wads at them. Netroots Nation is certainly not an organization I would want to belong to. Furthermore, I would think twice before sending any donations their way.
CSPAN aired the event.
There were plenty of people who voiced their discontent and it was heard over the Speaker. I missed Pelosi speaking and heard only about half of Gore - and Gore was fabulous.
Gore did not implore anyone to be a silent follower; Gore asked people to continue to rise up and to voice discontent and to make the changes that we need. Gore encouraged protest.
During the Q&A people did not ask only "softball" questions.
Yesterday, the keynote speaker went right after Pelosi. He said something to the effect of "with alldue respect to Speaker Pelosi, even though you and the congress have not earned the respect" then his entire keynote was based on the 9% [dis]approval rating of the Congress and how we do not trust them.
He took her to task as she sat in the auditorium and took it.
I do not think that we can pass judgment when we were not there.
Netroots Nation is streaming a lot of the events and speakers and I did not see people being subservient, submissive followers. I have seen a whole hell of a lot of leaders and people who work very hard, every fucking day, to try to change the status quo.
I think that contempt prior to investigation is one of the most ignorant producing [in]actions that we can take.
I understand people's frustrations and anger. I get it.
But blogging about how pissed we are does not change a fucking thing.
The people who attended NN are armed with a lot of information and a lot of tasks of things to do to actually change things.
Methinks that posting on blogs leads to a lot of posturing and makes it very easy to bitch and moan and behave in ways that we probably would not in person.
It is easy to guess what we would have done if we were there...but we weren't.
There are still a ton of protests and marches and all kinds of crap that goes on all of the time. Unfortunately the corporate media does not cover the protests so we think that only complicity occurs. I have been amazed, in watching docus, at just how many protests that there were pre-Iraq war, that the media did not cover. So, the DFHs are still at it and we still have the opportunity to actually join in and start our own.
I am just not sure what good it does to blanket smear the attendees at NN - I think that it is fabulous that they attended and are being armed with a lot of information and real tools to affect change.
My guess is that a whole lot of people gave Pelosi a piece of their minds at NN; much more than the cold reception that she recieved while speaking.
Posted by Anjha at July 20, 2008 10:02 AMI agree that the warning from the podium was a bit much, but I thought the Pelosi Q & A was okay. I booed when I didn't like her responses, and I didn't get kicked out. The fact is, she had the courage to show up and she didn't have to do it.
The organizers and moderators did a great job. Gina and Jeffrey asked some excellent follow ups, but Pelosi is a pro and knows how to deflect and/or filibuster when she wants.
Posted by Susan S at July 20, 2008 10:24 AM"Netroots Nation came to a boil yesterday morning when attendees were threatened with having their convention badges revoked if they disrupted Speaker Pelosi."
Did this or did this not happen?
Posted by Judith at July 20, 2008 10:34 AMWhere is the outrage??
Did anyone at the "progressive" netroots get together address the size of the carbon footprint of this little "I want to party with people that think like me" convention? Anyone go to the airport and take pictures of Al and Nancy getting off their private jets?
If they were truly progressive and truly netroots, why didn't they hold the whole thing on the internet?
Got to save the planet from global warming, unless it gets in the way of a great party.
All hat, no cattle.
Posted by manapp99 at July 20, 2008 11:43 AMmanapp, your concern about the carbon foot print is well taken. However, there is an important place for real, in-person contact. Once a year is not too much to ask for that.
Posted by Shirin at July 20, 2008 12:00 PMgreat report. gore was the only possible candidate about whom i would have been genuinely excited. pelosi doesn't deserve her job. but neither does hoyer deserve his. it's systemic.
Posted by Turkana at July 20, 2008 12:06 PM"However, there is an important place for real, in-person contact. Once a year is not too much to ask for that."
Really, Al Gore has warned us that we have 10 years at most to get rid of all fossil fuel burning. You really think that ANY gathering can be justified? How about his appearance on Meet the Depressed today? Is that "in person" meeting really that important. Could he not have appeared from a remote location? It is clear that even he does not believe that the global warming problem is really what he would have us believe it is. If so he would condemm such useless meetings, TV appearances and conventions where they move the main speech to an energy pig like a football stadium. He could not advocate travel when we could do the same thing with electronic media.
This is why many call him and his followers hypocrites.
If your going to talk the talk, shouldn't you walk the walk?
I almost called Code Pink yesterday when my dominatrix "overdid" my Saturday spanking.
Posted by TIKI AL at July 20, 2008 12:53 PM"If your going to talk the talk, shouldn't you walk the walk?"
You sure have your nerve typing that with Bush in the WH.
"If your going to talk the talk, shouldn't you walk the walk?"
"You sure have your nerve typing that with Bush in the WH."
So your saying that since someone you don't support is screwing up, in your opinion, then it is o.k. for someone you do support to screw up.
Yeah, that's a real grown up argument. How about addressing the issue of Al Gore, Nancy Pelosi and the netroot nation being hypocritical about global warming and oil dependency?
Mommy: "Now little Al, why did you screw up the environment with all your private jet travel, useless meetings and oversized mansions? Hmmmmmm?"
Little Al: "Because Little George was doing it too."
Mommy: "Now little Al, how many times do I have to tell you to think for yourself. If little George went and started a war in Iraq would you want to do that too?"
Little Al: "I guess not Mommy, is it too late for the planet because I was just a dumb bunny"
Mommy laughs and says: "No little Al, thankfully that whole global warming thing was just something you made up when you were so despondent about Little George beating you in the run for class president. Now go on out there and play with the Hummer Mommy bought you for making us all so much money with your book and movie"
Little Al: "Yeah Mommy, your the best. I'm going to make you my agent when I grow up and lose again to Big George in the real Presidential elections"
Everybody should have left and let Pelosi talk to empty chairs.
Posted by prabhata at July 20, 2008 02:54 PMmanapp99, you are a pathetic troll, and please spare us from blaming Gore or Pelosi over global warming with the White House under Big Oil's control for 8 years. Anyone who still spews crap about climate change being something made up has no credibility.
Be gone.
Posted by Steve Soto at July 20, 2008 03:11 PMSteve,
Why yesuh masser, you done put this poor troll right in his place. Your name calling has made very clear the argument for your side.
Thankee masser
Please don hit me agin suh.
I be gwine now suh.
Manapp, what kind of world and society are you suggesting? One where people never see each other face to face, perhaps?
Yesterday I burned way too much fossil fuel to spend the day with my family, who live one hour from me. I did the same thing the week before that, and the week before that. If there were a decent way to get there via public transportation I would have used that mode of travel instead. Earlier this year I flew half way around the world to spend a month visiting with friends and family I had not seen in years. Are you suggesting that I should be satisfied to have the only contact with my family be over the phone, via e-mail, and maybe on a webcam? Is this what it comes down to with you? No human contact that requires the burning of fossil fuels?
Today I used more fossil fuel running necessary errands - you know, buying food and so on. The distances here are just too great to use other means, so I do my best to pick the most efficient route. How else would you suggest I go about obtaining those little necessities of life like food, toilet paper, etc.?
Once-a year in-person gatherings, such as national conventions, where people can meet face to face, share ideas, and attend meetings, are a very important part of organizing. It is not unreasonable for people to get together in this way. And in any case, the planes most of them rode on to get there and back were going to fly anyway, with or without them.
Having said that, I agree with you that Al Gore should keep his use of fossil fuel down to a necessary minimum, and where a personal appearance requires travel, and appearing remotely is a choice, he should choose the latter. If he flew there in a private jet, shame on him. He could have flown first class on a public plane that was going to fly anyway with or without him.
Posted by Shirin at July 20, 2008 03:38 PMMany of you are too young to remember a major reason that we lost the 1968 election to the first president to resign in disgrace. It was the riots outside the convention in Chicago. What did they accomplish besides a lot of demonstrators being beaten by cops and arrested? Whether the protestors were right or wrong, the net result was a shattered Democratic party and the worst administration in history; until an even worse administration stole the 2000 election!
Posted by Captain Dan at July 20, 2008 05:35 PMAl Gore's academic background is interesting.
Posted by Kittie Fence at July 20, 2008 05:46 PMI will say this: when it came right down to it I followed the will of my people.
I could not in any sense predict that causing real trouble--which would have been very easy to do--would produce positive effects. Not hardly.
Heed the comment of Captain Dan very closely. Those fucking journalists were crawling all over the place, and they control the media narrative, something could have happened and it could have so easily spiraled out of control, with no bearing to what in fact happened.
Taking that risk would have been such an act of disrespect to Gina Cooper and all the people who sweated blood to make NN work I never would have been able to look at myself again.
I rebel, I do not take shit, but there is a time and a place for everything, and if you don't know what to do you fucking do as you're told.
There's a lot else to say, but that's basically it.
Posted by paradox at July 20, 2008 06:25 PMWell, Paradox, I DO know what to do, and I would have done it no matter what I was told to do. No one has the right to tell me what to do in that regard. I would have stood silently with my back to her. I might also at some point have left the room - it would depend on how offensive her bullshit became. She does not deserve my respect, I will never give it to her, and I can refuse to give her my respect without showing disrespect to the hosts of the event.
Posted by Shirin at July 20, 2008 08:09 PM...and if you don't know what to do you fucking do as you're told.
I got the feeling that you needed Judith and me there. This was not a situation where you shouldn't have had an idea what to do. That is for rabbits caught in the headlights. It was a moment to act.
Wanna do the next Netroots Nation, Judith? We can bring iac. I've got an in to some airline employee comp tickets (wink, wink, nudge, nudge) and we can find some stoned blogger to give us creds. Crap...I feel another TLC Convention coming on?!?!? I wonder if Austin has enough poolboys? If iac is doing her interpretive dance of of Nero burning Rome in the guise of republi-cons I'm wearing Nomex and carrying a fire extinguisher. I CAN learn from experience. And who the hell would think a person could bang Oozo like a cross-country trucker filling a fuel tank and still dance? I hope she does her Pelosi imitation where she tries to drink water through her Botox numbed lips. Messy, but funny!
Posted by phidipides at July 20, 2008 09:10 PMIf it weren't for Judith, I'd never blog here again! Where's the fire and the balls we had years ago, remember 2006? 2004?
All of us LC'rs should turn to other forms of amusement because politics, or rather, show business, ain't our forte'.
Bush and Cheney up on a scaffold like old Il Duce! Hang 'em by their feet so we can spit on 'em!
God, do I love box wine!
Posted by Philly Buster at July 20, 2008 09:10 PMGod, do I love box wine!
Hah! Box wine, indeed! I remember when it was called Riunite on Ice and it cleaned chrome as well as it worked in a bong. Screw top. Non of that ozone depleting cork.
Posted by phidipides at July 20, 2008 09:14 PMThis is comical. I enjoyed my popcorn tonight folks. What theater there is here.
Meanwhile The Dark Knight did $159M this weekend.
The best time to inform Speaker Princess Sparkle of your displeasure was this year. Should Obama become president and Congress expand their Democratic membership, they won't have any need to listen to you fine folks next year. You have the ballot box threat this year, not next. They won't care a snap about any of you anger next year. Convenient for Obama to skip this event, take the easy way out and go overseas for the first time in what 900 days!
Lay down like sheep to the slaughter just don't take my badge! Oh, and Remember 1968..."The Whole World IS Watching!" Paradox you seem bitter again!
"and if you don't know what to do you fucking do as you're told." Didn't the Jews as well as most good Germans do this in the 30's and 40's?
Posted by peter at July 20, 2008 09:52 PMHello, y'all:
First, Doxes, I had a much less dour view of the week, but that pout thing you had goin' on really had it's charm. Nearly irresistable.
Now, on the Pelosi bit, y'all, can ya' freakin' give NN some credit for getting the mountain to come to Mohammad, (if you'll excused the mixed and totally inappropriate metaphor...) NN got a serious number of Washington heavy-hitters to interactivate with the roots. You GOTTA give 'em credit for that.
I gua-ran-tee the Speaker felt a chill wind blowing long before she got to the stage and the pink ladies and their capes traipsed through. She came anyway - I call that guts. I'm sure Pelosi's staff was catching the mood by tracking the quesions as they evolved on askthespeaker.org. Kudos to Gina for creating a forum with democratic elements for creating some of the questions for this forum - I didn't love her answers, but I didn't think the questions were softball.
Now, I'm all for guerilla theater and stuff (my parents became Quakers when I was a toddler during the Vietnam War - we admired and did tht kinda stuff), but in my humble opinion, the better shots were actually articulated in words rather than sequins.
The question in particular that I think got her to take note was about the troops begging for care packages from friends and families to be stocked with undies and power bars and work gloves and tampons (for bullet wounds) - the look on the Speaker's face was taking stock of THAT. And am I wrong, or are we paying out the butt for Halliburton to be supplying all the basic basics? I think I read an article about them embroidering the undies - naw it was towels the had embroidered since they got cost-plus contracts, makes sense to them to quadruple the price of basic necessities plus it makes our boys and girls in sand-colored cammo feel like they're staying in the Ritz. Or something.
I think the pink ladies edged up the session just a bit and made the questions that much more poignant. They paraded north/south in the center aisle (stage was east)- NO ONE missed their statement. I agree that had they gone further THAT would have been the NN story that made it to the media, and THAT would have been entirely counter-productive... Y'all caught that the Right Online conference across town in ATX proclaimed it was 'battling' NN, presumably salivating and ready to spin it if any issues arose. At all. Best of my knowledge, they didn't get a story and they got ignored by NN. Nice.
When the videos are up, be sure to catch the commedienne that night before Donna Edwards - she had some hoots about how she felt 'as a woman' seeing the Speaker - damn funny (can't find her name online - sorry I didn't catch it when she came on).
Doxes, Honey, there is certainly a time and place for everything, but I'm enough of a liberal to grimmace at the 'doing what one is told' thing outside of the bedroom.
[smiles]
I hated to write that line, actually, but, well, I'm a little paradoxical.
Rebellion and freedom are critical, but so is discipline and unity. I need to rebel, yet I need to help my people. Sometimes I get it right, sometimes I don't.
I don't care how rebellious one is, be put with a group of friends and heroes and try to go against the grain. That's incredibly hard.
You're the best, Netroots Nation.
Posted by paradox at July 21, 2008 04:57 AMWanna do the next Netroots Nation, Judith? We can bring iac.
As long as it's in the PACNW, I'm there. We just have to make sure we got the right Judith. I think we have two running around here, and one of them's not a friendly. JudithPrime, can you confirm?
Posted by iamcoyote at July 21, 2008 05:37 AMRE Captain Dan's comments, AMEN. Thank you, thank you.
I was there. I wanted to hear what Nancy had to say, I didn't want an uproar. It took guts to come to NN, and guts to take those kinds of questions. I wanted to hear her answers. I was embarrased with Code Pink, but could have tolerated it if they had stood in the back and remained quiet.
BTW, I found Nancy's answers to be pretty acceptable, all in all.
Posted by JWC at July 21, 2008 07:24 AMYes, I will write-in Hillary no matter what the ballot will look like on the Election day. Please go on, Hillary!
Posted by Write at July 21, 2008 07:30 AMAs long as it's in the PACNW...
Weren't we banned from Seattle? Who would think anyone would have a problem with a mass mooning from the Space Needle? Of course, when you and Judith did the nude rappelling from the top with "Bite My Ass, Bushco" written on your butts it didn't help. As I remember it the last straw was either Judith at Pike's Place yelling at the fish guy "Toss me, you beautiful bastard!" or you paying off the Bainbridge Island ferry pilot to let you park the boat.
I don't care how rebellious one is, be put with a group of friends and heroes and try to go against the grain. That's incredibly hard.
No harm, no foul. And it's pretty telling about Pelosi that the organizers had to threaten folks. I haven't seen any extended discussion of that on the blogs, and it should be discussed.
Anyone in the area keeping up with Sheehan?
Posted by phidipides at July 21, 2008 08:47 AMWhat I meant, yesterday...
shorter Anjha: It is one thing to show up at a Pelosi event and protest it, it is entirely different to invite her to an event and protest.
Posted by Anjha at July 21, 2008 09:52 AMShirin: "...You are also apparently unaware that your precious Democratic party is every bit as driven by a lust for empire and world domination as are the hated Republicans.
yep, read www.chris-floyd.com
Posted by Gay Veteran at July 21, 2008 10:21 AMJust one reminder....for all of those who sit here and think that this taxpayer paid representative and (highly placed leader) of the people displayed huge guts for meeting with her constituents and those she represents well...all I can say is wow.....sorry no dice....it didn't take guts, that's what she is paid to do ....Do you all forget just who the hell she works for...that's right.... us....all of us ....not just the corporate lobbyist ruling class elite.
How low can we keep setting the bar for our leaders. ..wow she had to answer tough questions...omg....please.
PS...and before I get railed against for advocating violent hugely disruptive protest...I'm not...as Shirin has stated there are many many ways to protest our leadership in peaceful ways....that's what this country was founded on.
Yes, I will write-in Hillary no matter what the ballot will look like on the Election day. Please go on, Hillary!
As a Hillary supporter now backing BO, I'll say this: KKKarl Rove thanks you.
Posted by bartcopfan at July 21, 2008 10:42 AMI'm a little tired of the stupid little attacks on Gore for his so-called excessive energy usage.
He's increcibly well informed, fighting what is the most important long-term issue we face. Yet people think that he is supposed to be able to do that outside of the current structures of our society?
Sorry, I doubt that he would be nearly as effective living in the forest, in a yurt with a bunch of hi-tech toys.
give it a break already.
Posted by Simp at July 21, 2008 05:19 PMWell Simp, we sorta like to see people lead by example. Not "the do as I say, not as I do" crap. Tired or not, he doesn't walk the walk very well. How many more "ten year windows" are we going to get. With each preaching, the message gets diluted more.
Ed Begley Jr. walks the walk. Bill Nye the Science Guy walks the walk. Albert Gore doesn't, John Edwards doesn't, Barry Obama doesn't.
Posted by peter at July 21, 2008 07:48 PMAhhh - I love Bill Nye Science Guy! And Ed's a good guy - I remember hearing him on the radio once talking about what he drove. They are really good examples of folks who are doing a good job at walking and talking.
Last I checked, however, they had an ever-so-slightly smaller audience than a guy who used to be vice president of the free world and who won an Oscar and a Nobel Prize (although, of course, IMDB does say that Ed keeps his father's Oscar at his home, so that really is the next best thing).
Fact of the matter is, however (on the footprint question and the suggestion of hypocrisy about travel and convention center energy usage by people who claim to care about global warming), that writing online is great, but being in physical proximity actually creates opportunities to bump into *real* people who share priorities and goals in a say that is still more 3D sometimes... never know who ya gonna meet and be inspired by.
For my part, I spent a good handful of hours yesterday dis-assembling the extra NN registration bags from the conference to ensure that the contents got used elsewhere or recycled (local Demo party got the lion's share of it, including a good stack of lil blue bound Constitutions - the bags were on their way to a homeless shelter, as I understood).
Posted by Hmmm at July 21, 2008 10:44 PMOh, wow, I was still feeling poorly last night, mind still numb from the week's exertion.
Take II:
MY POINT BEING that the Gore man entends up traveling to connect with and energize the base of supporters to whom he's speaking. It's one thing to see him on a tube, it's a palpably different experience to be in a room with a couple thousand like-minded folks who want to act on the vision thing he's imparting.
Posted by Hmmm at July 22, 2008 06:06 AM