Honestly, these people are so clueless. If they want the "Reptilians" outta D.C., well, they should be spending their organizing capital on phone-banking and other GOTV activities. But it feels so much better to vent, over and over. 
One big theme at the "World Can't Wait" Impeach Bush protests yesterday was controlled demolitions. Bush-ites apparently blew up the levees in New Orleans.
And the Twin Towers, as we learn in this pic (right) from Woodinville photoblogger Byron Dazey's great post on the Olympia and Seattle protests.
In San Francisco, protesters were planning to jail a 40-foot-high statue of Bush, for war crimes. The Chron reports:
(World Can't Wait) national coordinator Debra Sweet said, "The Bush regime is leading us in such a dangerous direction that the only thing you can do is literally pull people out on the streets to express the sentiments that aren't being expressed in any other way."
The problem, Debra, is that those sentiments were expressed in '04, and didn't work. Neither more anti-Bush bile, nor grasping at things like the Foley scandal, is how Dems win the House and Senate in '06, or any other year.
Strategically, renegade conservative author Ryan Sager is right: these folks ought to continue moving to the Inland West en masse if they want to put Congress and the White House in Democratic hands.
In his seminal book, "The Elephant In The Room" (full 1st chapter excerpt here) Sager postulates the real Achilles Heel of the GOP, over coming years, will be its Big Gummint pandering to social conservatives. Smart Dems will take note, with the key, libertarian-minded Inland West electorate - already beginning to embrace their party - at top of mind.
Posted by Matt Rosenberg at October 06, 2006 10:18 AM | Email ThisApparently, the world can wait. Posted by: jimg on October 6, 2006 10:22 AM
Monica's alleged Cohiba was an inside job too. Posted by: jimmie-howya-doin on October 6, 2006 10:27 AM
the current crop of republicans display the worst excesses of the dems who preceded them: a penchant for retaining power at all costs, even if it means sacrificing the principles on which you ran.
dems should take at least 1 of 2 congressional houses; not b/c of some powerful agenda, but rather the lack of republican discipline.
divided govt will better ensure the successful workings of the system of checks and balances.
Posted by: dinesh on October 6, 2006 10:37 AMThose old 60's communist burn-outs hoping for "days of mass resistance" must have been disappointed at the anemic turnout. I think this shows how much the far left has marginalized themselves.
If the country is as anti-Bush and anti-Republican as the media and Dems say it is there would have been millions marching. I think what we saw yesterday was encouraging evidence that the country is moving in the right direction, (pun intended). Posted by: Bill Cruchon on October 6, 2006 10:40 AM
The left has largely resigned itself to lunacy. The shrill calls for the end of "Bush Regime" as if such a thing was even possible in the US. Angry protests and a complete disregard for the usual means of achieving power within this country.
All of the activities of the left, even to the top of Dem political leadership is behavior indicative of a frustrated and marginalized group with a dying ideology.
It's hard for the Extremists to admit to themselves that Americans have left them behind. Especially when there are blue enclaves like Seattle where extremists can isolate and insulate themselves to the extent that they cannot believe there is a conservative majority, even when facts repeatedly show this to be true.
Calls for the embracing of conspiracy theory, of gay Republican witch hunts, angry protests, terror appeasement, cultural relativism, and profanity laden and hedonistic displays of hate are not the path to success in this country.
But don't tell the left, they seem to be doing a great job of defeating themselves.
Posted by: Jeff B. on October 6, 2006 10:41 AMThere's no way the left are going to abandon all of the little collectivist crutches and hedonistic niceties they've built for themselves in Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, etc. What of a culture that thrives off of it's own self importance with meaningless parties and gatherings designed for group-think and circle jerking their fragile egos? Imagine the mass transit loving Seattle moonbat without their useless trains? They might have to drive a .. gasp ... automobile! A symbol of the Hated Bush Oil Establishment!!
It's certainly not like they can up and transplant all of their baggage along with significant numbers to the Inland West, and if they do, what would fill the vacuum in the coastal cities they fled?
Posted by: Jeff B. on October 6, 2006 11:11 AMYou can't even discuss issues with them, deconstructing the fallacies they have built is impossible. Any proof or logic you provide is deemed to be "produced" by the great conspiracy.
Case in point a co-worker labeled the Cold War "propaganda," never mind the witnesses, the volumes of documentation. The Cold War was "propaganda" writ 1984.
You just can't communicate with someone in a completely alternative reality.
Eventually a few will get smacked right between the eyes with the 4x4 of real life and have an epiphany, other than that they are truly prisoners on an island of their own making with no desire to escape.
Posted by: JCM on October 6, 2006 11:33 AMI agree that what is needed is a return to statesmanship in congress, and sincere dedication to the ideal of limited government.
I was impressed by Mr. Ishmael's presentation at the candidate forum in Shoreline last night, (Steve Beren was entertaining as well) he was the most civil of all the candidates that appeared. Posted by: mark on October 6, 2006 11:41 AM
Certainly it is true that the cost of living influences many to move out. This interesting article covered that theme:
http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=commuters17&date=20060916&query=california+commuter
But many people (and businesses) move out because they are fed up with the high taxes. I had an extended temporary assignment in the LA area two years ago, and found that the sales tax is almost as high as Washington's, and the property taxes are as bad (or worse, considering the prices, which are much higher than even the Seattle metro area).
Then there is the workers' comp payroll tax, which I believe is now about $800/yr, and is levied as a percentage of wages, so that even if you only work in California for part of the year (as I did), you still end up paying the whole amount.
And California has a state income tax with a top bracket of 9.3% (which hits even middle-class earners). All-in-all, an exceptionally heavy tax burden, and much higher than even here.
For this reason, I doubt that the CA ex-pats are the explanation for the Dems who got elected. It seems more likely to me that many vote Republican, and that overall it's a wash.
Sager's observation that the small populations of the inland Western states renders them vulnerable to an influx of voters from out-of-state is credible, but it may well be a different influx than the one from CA.
Posted by: ewaggin on October 6, 2006 12:54 PMI guess that's why millions of emigrants from this country pour into Cuba each year for all the "neat" stuff Cuba has to offer! (Oh, they don't? Well....) Posted by: Michele on October 6, 2006 01:21 PM
http://wcbstv.com/topstories/local_story_278135950.html
"Mr. Rosen and Mr. Aulenbach agreed to make restitution of $38,575 and $32,363, respectively, and to pay a $5,000 fine each, according to the state attorney general's office . . . "
They stole $290,000 for their personal use alone, the result of their crime is that they turned a tidy profit of about $209,000, for which they received no jail time. This is a travesty of justice. This is not funny, this is a scandal and a disgrace that eclipses the original crime. These two sick b*stards should pay back every dime they stole plus interest and be sent to prison for a decade.
She is going to cancel the Bush-era tax cuts.
Well let me tell ya Pelosi, that would get a BIG HELL NO Veto by Bush, so it is a major not going to happen NON Event.
And oh, by the way, those tax cuts have brought in the highest two days of tax revenue's in this nations history, and cut the defecit even with the wars, in half.
She is going to cut the student loans in half, thus causing less revenue to the government.
All the days after that: "Pay as you go"
We couldn't afford to pay as you go Pelosi!
Not a single word about "Addressing the Terrorist threat that faces us all"
NOT A SINGLE WORD ON TERRORISM
Fear that woman, I do!
Posted by: Gs on October 6, 2006 04:42 PMStefan, how dare you post a picture of David KLOWNstein's girlfriend!
She/he/it has absolutely nothing to do with your battles.
Obviously KLOWNstein is often distracted when he cranks out those non-sensical threads with this babe sittin' on his lap! Posted by: Mr. Cynical on October 6, 2006 04:44 PM
Inside the vivid imagination that dominates this foolish womans cranium. Posted by: dude on October 6, 2006 04:47 PM
need i say more really? Posted by: christmasghost on October 6, 2006 07:17 PM
check that site out!!!
Posted by: One mans opinion on October 9, 2006 09:10 PMI received a great response from passer-bys, the conspiracy theorist finally left after 2 1/2 hours of honks, waves, handshakes and thumbs up in my favor from the community.
http://home.comcast.net/~wcormier78/smaller_5.jpg
Posted by: One mans opinion on October 10, 2006 10:32 PM