I was at the DC tea party yesterday...

Page 5 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

GTaudiophile

Lifer
Oct 24, 2000
29,767
33
81
Originally posted by: DealMonkey
Did you carry a sign with a swastika over Obama's face and text accusing him of being a communist muslim terrorist sympathizer?

:roll:

Are you proud to be on the fringe of American politics, GT?

I personally carried no signs (nor wore any kind of special t-shirt or clothing).

My father simply carried an American flag along with a bumper sticker: "O Bummer".

The best "costumes" for me were the guys dressed up as Jedi with Light Sabers, carrying signs that read, "Obama is a Sith Lord". Made me laugh.

 

TruePaige

Diamond Member
Oct 22, 2006
9,874
2
0
Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Originally posted by: DealMonkey
Did you carry a sign with a swastika over Obama's face and text accusing him of being a communist muslim terrorist sympathizer?

:roll:

Are you proud to be on the fringe of American politics, GT?

I personally carried no signs (nor wore any kind of special t-shirt or clothing).

My father simply carried an American flag along with a bumper sticker: "O Bummer".

The best "costumes" for me were the guys dressed up as Jedi with Light Sabers, carrying signs that read, "Obama is a Sith Lord". Made me laugh.

Do you guys have a membership database?

I ask because I'm trying to build a database of the Americans with the lowest IQ's, and think that a massive overlap may exist.

You could save me a lot of time.
 

KMFJD

Lifer
Aug 11, 2005
33,700
54,143
136
Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Originally posted by: PJABBER
Doesn't look like too many people on this forum were actually at the march and are getting most of their (mis)information from the media talking heads and reiterating Democrat talking points.

I live and work in the DC area and I HATE protests as they tie up traffic. I hate crowds as well as they have a tendency to take on an unpleasant life of their own.

Of course, a friend invited me to see a film retrospective of Alain Resnais playing at the National Gallery of Art right around the time the march was wrapping up. I couldn't pass up the chance to see the collection of Resnais shorts and "Muriel, ou Le temps d'un retour" so I drove down there and wound up intermingling with the huge crowds.

And let me assure you, this was no small gathering. It was one of the largest and most geographically diverse crowds I have seen in DC in the past 20 years. These were not locals, they were people who traveled very long distances at significant personal cost and time to make a statement. No matter what they were advocating, they were committed to their causes and their positions. In my opinion, this fervor will not fizzle away any time soon.

Most of the time we see the same motley collection of the Mid-Atlantic East coast unwashed in DC. It is so easy for them to get to town and get loud. The group yesterday was mostly white and middle aged, lots and lots of families with teenagers and young kids, lots of senior citizens, everyone was carrying signs and everyone that I saw was unfailingly polite. Almost sheepish in finding themselves there as part of a movement. Definitely not used to being demonstrators.

This was definitely not a Republican rally but it was definitely anti Democrat leadership (Obama/Reid/Pelosi), if anything the overriding theme was anti big government and anti deficit spending.

Lots of causes being advocated but the most common flag being carried was the Gadsden flag - a historical American flag with a yellow field depicting a rattlesnake coiled and ready to strike. Positioned below the snake is the legend "Don't Tread on Me".

Obama and Biden both left town, they should have stayed to understand the diversity and the intensity of opposition they are now facing.

Thank you.

I saw one person carrying a "combo" flag featuring a combination of the "Don't Tread on Me" and Confederate (Stars and Bars) flag. I kindly walked up to the person and told him that he was doing a disservice to the cause by waving that flag, that he was only aiding the Left in their cause to depict us all as racists. He told me that he understood my point but continued marching with it anyway. I was disappointed by that.

By and large, this was a protest made up of Christians who were overly kind and polite to each other throughout the day.

A yes the hypocrits come out in force...christians, lol
 

Dari

Lifer
Oct 25, 2002
17,133
38
91
I will admit that Alchemize is one of the few here that does care about the deficit. However, I am amused by the fact that he takes these tea-baggers for what they say they are. If I was him I would be suspicious of their true motives.
 

GTaudiophile

Lifer
Oct 24, 2000
29,767
33
81
Originally posted by: TruePaige
Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Originally posted by: DealMonkey
Did you carry a sign with a swastika over Obama's face and text accusing him of being a communist muslim terrorist sympathizer?

:roll:

Are you proud to be on the fringe of American politics, GT?

I personally carried no signs (nor wore any kind of special t-shirt or clothing).

My father simply carried an American flag along with a bumper sticker: "O Bummer".

The best "costumes" for me were the guys dressed up as Jedi with Light Sabers, carrying signs that read, "Obama is a Sith Lord". Made me laugh.

Do you guys have a membership database?

I ask because I'm trying to build a database of the Americans with the lowest IQ's, and think that a massive overlap may exist.

You could save me a lot of time.


I am sorry, but I think you would find quite the opposite.

Why don't you come out next time and speak with these people face to face before you judge a book by its cover?

 

shadow9d9

Diamond Member
Jul 6, 2004
8,132
2
0
$3 trillion for endless occupations of foreign countries = good.

Tax cuts for the rich instead of paying for the wars = good.

Deregulation of banks after the savings and loans crisis = good.

$1 trillion so all Americans could get health care without pre-existing condition clauses or drops in coverage = bad.

I understand the tea-baggers.
 

Phokus

Lifer
Nov 20, 1999
22,994
779
126
Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Originally posted by: TruePaige
Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Originally posted by: DealMonkey
Did you carry a sign with a swastika over Obama's face and text accusing him of being a communist muslim terrorist sympathizer?

:roll:

Are you proud to be on the fringe of American politics, GT?

I personally carried no signs (nor wore any kind of special t-shirt or clothing).

My father simply carried an American flag along with a bumper sticker: "O Bummer".

The best "costumes" for me were the guys dressed up as Jedi with Light Sabers, carrying signs that read, "Obama is a Sith Lord". Made me laugh.

Do you guys have a membership database?

I ask because I'm trying to build a database of the Americans with the lowest IQ's, and think that a massive overlap may exist.

You could save me a lot of time.


I am sorry, but I think you would find quite the opposite.

Why don't you come out next time and speak with these people face to face before you judge a book by its cover?

The fact that so many of them worship glenn beck tells us a lot about the movement
 

TruePaige

Diamond Member
Oct 22, 2006
9,874
2
0
Originally posted by: Phokus
Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Originally posted by: TruePaige
Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Originally posted by: DealMonkey
Did you carry a sign with a swastika over Obama's face and text accusing him of being a communist muslim terrorist sympathizer?

:roll:

Are you proud to be on the fringe of American politics, GT?

I personally carried no signs (nor wore any kind of special t-shirt or clothing).

My father simply carried an American flag along with a bumper sticker: "O Bummer".

The best "costumes" for me were the guys dressed up as Jedi with Light Sabers, carrying signs that read, "Obama is a Sith Lord". Made me laugh.

Do you guys have a membership database?

I ask because I'm trying to build a database of the Americans with the lowest IQ's, and think that a massive overlap may exist.

You could save me a lot of time.


I am sorry, but I think you would find quite the opposite.

Why don't you come out next time and speak with these people face to face before you judge a book by its cover?

The fact that so many of them worship glenn beck tells us a lot about the movement

Aye, these people wear their beliefs on their sleeves, why would I need to talk to a bunch of puppets spouting the same thing?
 

shadow9d9

Diamond Member
Jul 6, 2004
8,132
2
0
Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
The more I read here, the more I KNOW that most of you know jack shit about anything.

$3 trillion for endless occupations of foreign countries = good. Republicans have complete control.

Tax cuts for the rich instead of paying for the wars = good. Republicans have complete control.

Deregulation of banks after the savings and loans crisis = good. Republicans control both houses of Congress. -"Millions of American workers lost an average of 27 percent of their 401(k) retirement savings in 2008, according to a study released this morning by Fidelity Investments. "


$1 trillion so all Americans could get health care without pre-existing condition clauses or drops in coverage = bad.

People carry signs showing Obama as Hitler.

Educate us. What are we missing?
 

GTaudiophile

Lifer
Oct 24, 2000
29,767
33
81
Originally posted by: shadow9d9
Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
The more I read here, the more I KNOW that most of you know jack shit about anything.

$3 trillion for endless occupations of foreign countries = good. Republicans have complete control.

Tax cuts for the rich instead of paying for the wars = good. Republicans have complete control.

Deregulation of banks after the savings and loans crisis = good. Republicans control both houses of Congress.


$1 trillion so all Americans could get health care without pre-existing condition clauses or drops in coverage = bad.


Educate us. What are we missing?

Yes, you think you know everything about GWB and the Republicans. And you are probably right about what you know about them. But you really don't know anything about the people who were in Washington yesterday.

Also, some us voted for Ron Paul who would have ended both wars upon election...and I still would advocate that...and doing anything else to end our deficits and being paying off our national debt.
 

shadow9d9

Diamond Member
Jul 6, 2004
8,132
2
0
Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Originally posted by: shadow9d9
Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
The more I read here, the more I KNOW that most of you know jack shit about anything.

$3 trillion for endless occupations of foreign countries = good. Republicans have complete control.

Tax cuts for the rich instead of paying for the wars = good. Republicans have complete control.

Deregulation of banks after the savings and loans crisis = good. Republicans control both houses of Congress.


$1 trillion so all Americans could get health care without pre-existing condition clauses or drops in coverage = bad.


Educate us. What are we missing?

Yes, you think you know everything about GWB and the Republicans. And you are probably right about what you know about them. But you really don't know anything about the people who were in Washington yesterday.

Also, some us voted for Ron Paul who would have ended both wars upon election...and I still would advocate that...and doing anything else to end our deficits and being paying off our national debt.

Feel like actually addressing my points?
 

seemingly random

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 2007
5,277
0
0
Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
...
Yes, you think you know everything about GWB and the Republicans. And you are probably right about what you know about them. But you really don't know anything about the people who were in Washington yesterday.
...
The following speaks volumes.

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
...
The only "hero" politicians of the day were Sarah Palin and Joe Wilson. There was no apparent "Bush worship" that I saw.
Morons leading morons.

Must feel like warm milk and cookies.
 

Engineer

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
39,230
701
126
Originally posted by: seemingly random
Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
...
Yes, you think you know everything about GWB and the Republicans. And you are probably right about what you know about them. But you really don't know anything about the people who were in Washington yesterday.
...
The following speaks volumes.

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
...
The only "hero" politicians of the day were Sarah Palin and Joe Wilson. There was no apparent "Bush worship" that I saw.
Morons leading morons.

Must feel like warm milk and cookies.

:laugh:

That's damn funny!!! :laugh: (again).
 

OrByte

Diamond Member
Jul 21, 2000
9,303
144
106
Tea bag events here in my city were overwhelming anglo, christian, and older in generation.

Then of course you had the family of 6 kids intermingled with the old white men and women.

Their causes were varied...everything from abortion to gun control to border patrol.

They still waved signs about Obama being a secret Muslim....or Obama isn't an American Citizen...you KNOW there were alot of those signs in DC right GT?

One thing is for certain...they don't recognize their government....nor their POTUS.

And I can't help but shake the feeling it is because their POTUS is a black man.

Finally, this is no ground swelling movement. Nothing that has happened since Obama took office is any sort of "game changer"

Everyone knew the deficit would soar...partly because of TARP..partly because of BHOs stimulus...partly because the government decided to flat out toss TONs of money in our economy in hopes of keeping the boat afloat.

Sorry but the Ds are in office and in power...the spending is going to happen...just not on Wars or tax cuts for the wealthy or oil or any of the bullshit GOP desires.

Its the Dems turn to spend.

how do you like them apples teabaggers?
 

TruePaige

Diamond Member
Oct 22, 2006
9,874
2
0
Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
The more I read here, the more I KNOW that most of you know jack shit about anything.

If you think everyone but you is wrong, you just might be the one who is wrong.
 

PJABBER

Diamond Member
Feb 8, 2001
4,822
0
0
All of the ad hominem attacks being posted come from the usual contingent of rabbit ear liberals here that prefer to experience life from afar and through the filter of familiar media outlets. Strict adherence to a distorted cult of personality/race/gender is most often their defining character. I actually believe they are deathly afraid of engaging in a conversation with anyone who does not hold to their liberal dogma, lest they find themselves contaminated by logic and reason.

Many, many of the event participants demonstrated a wicked sense of wit and humor with their home made signs and paraphernalia. Humor is one absolute way you can tell a conservative crowd from a welfare liberal one - the conservative crowd laughs and enjoys itself, the leftish crowds always exhibit a mindless rage toward all around them.

Again, only three or four of the posters in this thread were actually in DC yesterday at the event. Each of these posters, including myself, an inadvertent observer and not a direct participant, saw a very, very large, family friendly, animated crowd that was almost universally against the encroachment of big government and huge government spending.

The crowd did include both self identified Democrats and Republicans, but it was not advocating either party. Everyone I spoke to said they were there because they believe they are not being represented by the current gaggle of politicians.

I am now coming to believe that the "tea party" participants, here and throughout the country, are mostly independents, in thought if not in party registration. Hence, no specific adulation of any politician, but as mentioned, an unsurprising appreciation of the positions staked out by Sarah Palin and an appreciation of Joe Wilson's expressed rage against the machine.

The frontier wisdom and folksiness of Palin may grate on a metrosexual's ears, but it resonates powerfully in the heartland and may yet demonstrate itself in the future. With or without Palin herself, that future will have its roots in the crowds that turn out for these rallies.
 

DealMonkey

Lifer
Nov 25, 2001
13,136
1
0
Originally posted by: alchemize
So you're OK with the next 3.5 years of insane deficit spending that dwarfs any previous spending (GOP or DEM), cause there wasn't any teabagging during the bush admin. Got it.

I think we know who the hypocrites are here. Hint: it's not me.
 

DealMonkey

Lifer
Nov 25, 2001
13,136
1
0
Originally posted by: alchemize
I guess also if you sucked a unicorn schlong and captured the sperm in the holy grail, we could just wish away the debt.

OK, that was a good one. :laugh:
 

TruePaige

Diamond Member
Oct 22, 2006
9,874
2
0
Originally posted by: PJABBER
an appreciation of Joe Wilson's expressed rage against the machine.

I guess people like you shouldn't be expected to make a sensible argument when your idols are assholes who just want to shout down anything that they disagree with.
 

GTaudiophile

Lifer
Oct 24, 2000
29,767
33
81
Originally posted by: OrByte


And I can't help but shake the feeling it is because their POTUS is a black man.

I am getting really really really really fucking sick of comments like this.

For the 1,000,000,000,000,000th time, it has NOTHING to do with his (or anyone's) skin color.

Please allow me to quote MLK JR:

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."

I am very confident that 99.999% of the people who marched on Washington yesterday are judging Obama by the latter (character) and NOT the former (skin color).

 

Engineer

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
39,230
701
126
Originally posted by: TruePaige
Originally posted by: PJABBER
an appreciation of Joe Wilson's expressed rage against the machine.

I guess people like you shouldn't be expected to make a sensible argument when your idols are assholes who just want to shout down anything that they disagree with.

That's pretty funny when you consider what he typed...

Originally posted by: PJABBER
the conservative crowd laughs and enjoys itself, the leftish crowds always exhibit a mindless rage toward all around them.

nevermind those shouting at the town hall meetings were conservatives against UHC (or any real health care reform other than HSA's for that matter).
 

OrByte

Diamond Member
Jul 21, 2000
9,303
144
106
Originally posted by: PJABBER
All of the ad hominem attacks being posted come from the usual contingent of rabbit ear liberals here that prefer to experience life from afar and through the filter of familiar media outlets. Strict adherence to a distorted cult of personality is most often their defining character. I actually believe they are deathly afraid of engaging in a conversation with anyone who does not hold to their liberal dogma, lest they find themselves contaminated by logic and reason.

Many, many of the event participants demonstrated a wicked sense of wit and humor with their home made signs and paraphernalia. Humor is one absolute way you can tell a conservative crowd from a welfare liberal one - the conservative crowd laughs and enjoys itself, the leftish crowds always exhibit a mindless rage toward all around them.

Again, only three or four of the posters in this thread were actually in DC yesterday at the event. Each of these posters, including myself, an inadvertent observer and not a direct participant, saw a very, very large, family friendly, animated crowd that was almost universally against the encroachment of big government and huge government spending.

The crowd did include both self identified Democrats and Republicans, but it was not advocating either party. Everyone I spoke to said they were there because they believe they are not being represented by the current gaggle of politicians.

I am now coming to believe that the "tea party" participants, here and throughout the country, are mostly independents, in thought if not in party registration. Hence, no specific adulation of any politician, but as mentioned, an unsurprising appreciation of the positions staked out by both Sarah Palin and Ron Paul.

The frontier wisdom and folksiness of Palin may grate on a metrosexual's ears, but it resonates powerfully in the heartland and may yet demonstrate itself in the future. With or without Palin herself, that future will have its roots in the crowds that turn out for these rallies.

you talk about viewing life through filters. One symptom of such a disease is speaking in generalities...which you managed to accomplish quite well in your second paragraph.

The crowds are in fact humorous, and lively. I felt nary a threat walking through the crowd a few months ago here in Sacramento...as a matter of fact...I think people in the crowd felt more threatened by me! But I'm used to that (I'm a large mexican with a goatee...I tend to make the old white people nervous)

I don't see how you come to the conclusion that the crowds were mainly of the "independant" sort...that seems like a bit of wishful thinking on your part. These people are GOP thru and thru. The events are sponsored by GOP groups. The speakers were all GOP politicians and "heroes"...there were no pro-choice contingents...no gun control groups. Nothing remotely attractive to the more "moderate" of the political spectrum...save perhaps those opposed to "government spending"....and amongst the anti-abortionists, birthers, Secret Muslim believers, and the hicks with the "Stars and Bars" there were a few anti-government spending people in the crowd :p

Nice "metrosexual" jab too btw. Yes the "heartland" loves Palin. But that is because she is simple like them...I know that sounds condescending...but you should be used to that by now. :)

unfortunately....the GOP has already tapped into the "simple" demographic. There is no growth there. If Palin and her "simple" ilk were so attractive to the "Independent" and the Indy voter, we would be calling McCain Mr. President.

 

DealMonkey

Lifer
Nov 25, 2001
13,136
1
0
Originally posted by: PJABBER
The frontier wisdom and folksiness of Palin may grate on a metrosexual's ears, but it resonates powerfully in the heartland and may yet demonstrate itself in the future. With or without Palin herself, that future will have its roots in the crowds that turn out for these rallies.
I've come to the conclusion that PJABBER is so indoctrinated and brainwashed by Glenn Beck and the lunatic fringe political morons that he associates with, that he's completely incapable of expressing an objective opinion on anything of relevance.

PJABBER should now go fuck a cow while wearing a cowboy hat and never have anything to do with politics ever again.