Video: Constituent lectures Congressman on executive power
posted at 9:40 am on September 5, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Give Rep. Tom Perriello (D-VA) some credit for actually appearing before his constituents to answer their questions — and then promptly take a little away for a ridiculous attempt to pass off Barack Obama’s 31 czars as somehow less of an executive-branch overreach than warrantless surveillance of international communications. That is what provoked the response shown here at Perriello’s meeting last weekend, in which an angry constituent lectures the Congressman on Obama’s 31 czars (and counting). The proliferation of unaccountable czars in the White House are a direct attack on the power of the legislative branch to check the executive, but Perriello seems oblivious to this:
Note the standing ovation given to the lecture. Perriello and other Democrats had better start learning something from these reactions, because mistrust is beginning to rapidly increase for this administration. The explosion of czars in Obama’s White House has people worried about “shadow governments,” technically an incorrect term but descriptive of the problem (“shadow government” describes opposition-party positions in a parliamentary system or one that wields total power through the use of puppet elected officials). A handful look like an affront to Congress, but dozens begin to look dictatorial.
If nothing else, this demonstrates the end of George Bush as a talking point for Democrats. People weren’t really worried that the NSA was listening to their conversations with Aunt Millie. The czars and the government takeovers of health care and energy production, on the other hand, will impact every American in fundamental ways. Bush as a vague and ambiguous bogeyman has been eclipsed by the very real encroachment on liberty that Barack Obama and his czars promise.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Comment pages: 1 2 Next »
I thought a shadow government was a group of officials waiting to take power when certain conditions were met.
MadisonConservative on September 5, 2009 at 9:43 AM
If this keeps look for Pelosi to demand the arrest of anyone who says they agree with the Democrat-party line.
perroviejo on September 5, 2009 at 9:43 AM
The brain dead Democrat politicians had better grab their butts with both hands because they are about to lose them.
rplat on September 5, 2009 at 9:44 AM
Pick up any book on Communism; There you have it in detail!
Cybergeezer on September 5, 2009 at 9:49 AM
Good point, but it’s likely Obama’s true believers will always blame someone else (as in the Clinton years) and the gullible will buy the notion that Bush can still be blamed.
perroviejo on September 5, 2009 at 9:50 AM
Nothing like a little knowledge on the part of constituents to shut up a congress-person (unless you are barnacle fife, who never lets a little knowledge get in theyway of his own made-up facts *said with a spray*….)
lovingmyUSA on September 5, 2009 at 9:52 AM
Well it’s for damn certain that we now have a shadowy government.
Patrick S on September 5, 2009 at 9:52 AM
Bravo, bravo. I give the commentor a standing ovation right now.
I would want to know and see what the comebacker from the Congressman.
Sir Napsalot on September 5, 2009 at 9:52 AM
Maybe, but they can’t help themselves. I think their base will never let go of Bush and we’ll still be hearing his name in 2010 and 2012.
TXUS on September 5, 2009 at 9:54 AM
These Democratic Congress Critters better realize that their seats are in serious jeopardy. If they don’t start pushing back against the administration and their own party leadership, they’re done.
flipflop on September 5, 2009 at 9:55 AM
Anybody else bothered by the fact that these Dems don’t seem really concerned by all this, but rather just angry even though there are elections coming up soon?
Dr. ZhivBlago on September 5, 2009 at 9:55 AM
mimi1220 on September 5, 2009 at 9:55 AM
I like the dopey young people who sat in the front holding pre made “Thank you” signs. They are laughing at this guy and have absolutely no idea what he just said..
THERE ARE NO CZARS IN AMERICA! I just got the wording for my sign for my Tea Party on Monday.
ctmom on September 5, 2009 at 9:56 AM
Slightly O/T but what’s the deal with the White House planning to fly a Communist China flag at the South Lawn? Has this ever been done before?
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=108907
It seems to me that Obama wants to project one thing (real government) while doing OTHER things (shadow government) that are subversive to the real government. In other words, he puts one face on for the public, but behind the mask, he is working like crazy to undermine everything.
Cloward-Piven. Why am I not surprised? Interestingly, however, if people are informed, they fight back. Can we fight back hard enough to stop it? That’s the question now.
UnderstandingisPower on September 5, 2009 at 9:56 AM
True enough, but I think the pool of true believers is starting to shrink.
flipflop on September 5, 2009 at 9:56 AM
This is no longer Republican vs. Democrat. It’s Capitalism vs. Communism…
Term limits would prevent much of the corruption. As far as federal power, enforce the 10th amendment which both parties seem to have a real problem with..Thomas Jefferson is spinning in his grave…………
adamsmith on September 5, 2009 at 9:56 AM
I am saying this before I watch the link but the very fact that someone like Mr. Jones has the responsibility of distributing 30 billion dollars within his designated area without congressional vetting is just plain crazy.
Cindy Munford on September 5, 2009 at 9:57 AM
Yes! Not a conspiracy theorist but makes one wonder if the know something we don’t. Oh, I don’t know, maybe the end of free elections?
HoustonRight on September 5, 2009 at 9:57 AM
And another thing, we have move way beyond the narrow healthcare reform debate now.
It has been the Obama with his admin and the Reid-Pelosi congress that are at people’s crosshair now.
Sir Napsalot on September 5, 2009 at 9:58 AM
I don’t understand why Congress is just sitting back and letting their power be stripped away.
ctmom on September 5, 2009 at 9:58 AM
I think they thought this was going to be a cakewalk and all this would be through before the “stupid” American people figured it out. I don’t think they expected us to fight back… NEVER underestimate the will of the American people to be free and to stand up for that freedom against ANY enemy foreign or domestic.
UnderstandingisPower on September 5, 2009 at 9:58 AM
Interesting that the two people who have been labeled “nuts” or “stupid” by the Dems and the MSM are the two who have had the biggest impact on O’s policies – Palin and Beck. Palin for her one comment on “death panels” changed the discussion of HR3200 and Beck with his nightly espose of the czars has brought this issue into the daylight. Now we can see why the left fears these two.
mph on September 5, 2009 at 10:00 AM
Agreed….and just the other day some Rep stated that what with education and other areas the feds have their hands in, the cat’s already out of the bag, 10th Amendment-wise. I say we Americans are very good at righting wrongs and we should be glad to fix what he speaks of.
Patrick S on September 5, 2009 at 10:01 AM
It’s still a pretty good gig. Ask Charlie Rangel.
Mr. D on September 5, 2009 at 10:03 AM
I am so glad that the term “shadow government” is starting to take hold with regard to the Obama administration. There is no speech in the world this man can give that will make Americans comfortable with his “shadow government.” These czars need to be challenged and it needs to head up to the Supreme Court. But once again, where in the HELL are the GOP members of Congress? They should be shrieking about this every single day. They are, again, derelict in their duties.
Rational Thought on September 5, 2009 at 10:03 AM
Interesting to watch the pro-Obama folks on the first row sitting on their hands. I did notice that one person with a preprinted “Thank You” sign waved is around a bit during the applause. Someone needs a refresher class.
Cindy Munford on September 5, 2009 at 10:03 AM
I agree, but how strange that we would even consider such a thought! Imagine that, a congress critter actually appearing in front of his constituents and not the usual pay for play lobbyist!
Zorro on September 5, 2009 at 10:04 AM
I am happy that people are starting to see the power grab by the Obama White House by his cabal of viziers.
H Clinton and Biden have been sidelined.
RAH on September 5, 2009 at 10:07 AM
I find it more and more curious that average citizens have a far better grasp of how our government should work than those who are actually in government. We smell something rotten in the way Obama is grabbing power and we don’t like it. We keep waiting for someone to stand up and say “No, Mr. President, our Constitution forbids your actions”, but no one does.
The office of President isn’t a plaything, Mr. Obama. You can’t do anything you want. And it appears that what you want to do is in direct opposition to American ideals. If you and your administration continue to defy the will of the people, expect to meet more and more resistance until election time when your minions will be voted out of office.
BackwardsBoy on September 5, 2009 at 10:08 AM
OK, ENOUGH politics. Time to get REAL. It’s FOOTBALL SEASON, and the big news is the upcoming first game of the brand new and long-awaited LINGERIE FOOTBALL LEAGUE (Google it, it’s real). The Chicago Bliss will be playing the Miami Caliente. How good can it get? WOW. I need to order a t-shirt today!
LOL
bradley11 on September 5, 2009 at 10:08 AM
Soros, Podesta, Axelrod, and the ballerina have said, “No.”
TXUS on September 5, 2009 at 10:09 AM
Because it’s not. The true power of congress is it’s power to tax- and that power hasn’t be undercut, it’s been enhanced.
Browncoatone on September 5, 2009 at 10:14 AM
It’s almost as if they don’t think they will have to face re-election!
Could that be what is behind nationalizing banks, investment firms, car companies, attempted take over of insurance companies via Nationalized HealthScare, then control of energy producers through cap and tax?
When this formerly great country decends into chaos after the vast insurance moneys are confiscated or destroyed and millions more jobs lost would Pinnochio and his czars declare Marshall law and take over?
The Dims ACCUSED Bush of wanting to cut SSI and Medicare, The Dims are doing it.
The Dims ACCUSED Bush of maybe wanting to institute Marshall Law the Pinnochio…..?
dhunter on September 5, 2009 at 10:14 AM
H Clinton, Biden and to a lessor extent Gates have been neutered. These appointments were made to give the illusion of moderation. The real policies are being orchestrated by these radicals that Obama has surrounded himself with.
The boss even says in her book that Barry doesn’t make a move without consulting Valerie Jarrett. She needs to be the next in Becks crosshairs as I beleive she had the most input into the selection of the radicals that the President surrounds himself with.
It is no wonder that parents do not want the organizer in chief having direct access to their children.
HoustonRight on September 5, 2009 at 10:15 AM
I will happily talk football and I am pretty sure that we can count on Ed to have a thread but LINGERIE FOOTBALL LEAGUE? There’s no lace in football.
Cindy Munford on September 5, 2009 at 10:17 AM
Great Clip. This guy is brilliant. I wouldn’t detract one whit from his message. More power to him for speaking truth so coherently, and respectfully.
Unless I confronted my own legislators in like fashion, face to face in public forum, I wouldn’t presume to lecture this guy.
You may have defined for us your understanding of “shadow government” as it applies to a parliamentary system.
But since ours is not a parliamentary system, the parliamentary definition does not necessarily apply.
There’s no saying that “shadow government” is technically an incorrect term as it does apply to how Obama’s puppet-masters are usurping our Constitutional Government via executive privilege while stacking the deck of a Supreme Court, with no opposition AT ALL raised from the Legislative Branch, YET.
As if an opposition party is prerequisite to a shadow government in America. The schizophrenic DNC has yet to officially declare itself the People’s Socialist Party, and they did not campaign pledge to bankrupt America, rather to cut taxes. They provide plenty of opposition in office to their own campaign rhetoric, filling in themselves as their own hidden “opposition” party.
Couch.
maverick muse on September 5, 2009 at 10:18 AM
I noticed that most of the cheering was coming from older people while the young people were sitting down and not reacting. Kiss America good-bye.
Jarhead68 on September 5, 2009 at 10:18 AM
You can bet they know something-we won’t have another free election as we know it-if they get their way. What’s the plan for standing up to acorn, black panthers, unions in the next election? Or……..What’s the plan if a “Crisis” happens before the elections, say an attack-similar to what Biden predicted. This would give them power to call martial law, etc.?
They’re arrogant because they think they know they will not lose power–How so?
texanpride on September 5, 2009 at 10:19 AM
Cindy: there IS lace in football now. Google “Lingerie Football League” and see for yourself. Mike Ditka is a part owner of the Chicago franchise. Good seats are going fast. LOL
bradley11 on September 5, 2009 at 10:19 AM
maverick muse on September 5, 2009 at 10:20 AM
one that wields total power through the use of puppet elected officials)
That pretty well sums up the Obama administration. George Soros pulling the strings.
flytier on September 5, 2009 at 10:22 AM
I see regular citizens going after these people. I see a few TV/Radio/Literature pundits, Rush, MM, GB, Levin, Han., etc. going after them.
Then there’s the GOP: (crickets chirping)
Time for a new party.
Jeff from WI on September 5, 2009 at 10:23 AM
Very true.
Wanderlust on September 5, 2009 at 10:23 AM
31 Czars — unelected and unaccountable to anyone, with undefined and unrestrained powers, also with murky backgrounds and outragous ideologies that 99% of Americans would reject in an election — that sounds like as good a definition of a “shadow government” as anything else I have heard.
bitsy on September 5, 2009 at 10:25 AM
I took your advise and I checked it out. I’m too old for that..After 20 minutes I was tired of the site.
LOL
Jeff from WI on September 5, 2009 at 10:25 AM
She certainly needs a good Becking, but that may prove somewhat difficult since she has operated more behind the scenes.
TXUS on September 5, 2009 at 10:25 AM
I am bothered by the fact that the dem congress critters haven’t expressed outrage and called for hearings on the czar’s.
farright on September 5, 2009 at 10:25 AM
UVA Hat Guy/Joe The Plumber 2012!
Ed, come on… 36 new czars? Do you even know what a czar is? It’s nothing. It’s a descriptive terms used by the media and others that is not an officials designation. Most of the “czars” are normal government positions that are either confirmed by congress or established positions found in past administrations.
Example (these are people cited by Beck in this “32 czars):
Afghanistan Czar – Richard Holbrooke: He’s a special envoy to Afghanistan. Zalmay Khalilzad was George W’s special envoy to Afghanistan. SAME EXACT POSITION. Now, if Obama had a “czar” name Khalilzad, Beck’s head might explode.
Border Czar – Alan Bersin: He’s the Assistant Secretary for International Affairs and Special Representative for Border Affairs, a position confirmed by the Senate.
E Drug Czar – Gil Kerlikowske: Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. A position that has existed at least back to George H.W. Bush.
Just more proof that your party is broke when it comes to intellect and honesty. You guys just MAKE STUFF UP.
Of course, this is the height of hypocrisy. Cheney and Addington did more to expand the power of the executive than perhaps any two people in at least the past 100 years, if not longer, and you guys defend their policies.
But now that a democrat is in power, you INVENT executive branch power expansion out of thin air so you can attack Obama over it.
It’s shameful. Ed, you’re too smart for this. Use you head and please start being honest.
Tom_Shipley on September 5, 2009 at 10:25 AM
Ronald Reagan would have been proud of this man.
” No arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is as formidable as the the will and moral courage of free men and women.”
Ronald Reagan (the man himself, may he rest in peace)
surrounded on September 5, 2009 at 10:27 AM
But once again, where in the HELL are the GOP members of Congress? They should be shrieking about this every single day. They are, again, derelict in their duties.
Rational Thought on September 5, 2009 at 10:03 AM
You are assuming that the GOP actually has people in congress that care about this country? Apparently you haven’t been listening to people like McCain and Hatch, who think their good friend Teddy Kennedy was just wonderful.
flytier on September 5, 2009 at 10:29 AM
Tom_Shipley on September 5, 2009 at 10:25 AM
Back for another beatdown huh?
flytier on September 5, 2009 at 10:30 AM
I am so proud of and grateful to these great Americans who are showing up, standing up and making themselves heard. They are the lifeblood of our Republic.
muggedbyreality on September 5, 2009 at 10:34 AM
So true. Just one small matter. Very few people under the age of 40 are aware of these Constitutional matters. I’ve had many conversations with the 20-something to under 40 crowd at work, and most are as dumb as posts when it comes to this stuff.
Most have been indoctrinated, granted, the indoctrination hasn’t full taken with most of them, but they are still dumb, and very befuddled. We are are deep crap long term.
mrpeabody on September 5, 2009 at 10:34 AM
The Obama admin has created these dozens of ‘Czars’, just oh-so-cleverly, to exercise executive power unchecked by Congressional oversight. Well, they’re not Czars. They exercise the same sort of power which in Soviet times trumped the regular orginazations of government, and the blokes who exercised that behind-the-scenes power were properly called Commissars.
.
I vote that we correct our terminology, and rename Obama’s unaccountable puppets as “Commissars”.
Insufficiently Sensitive on September 5, 2009 at 10:34 AM
this is my congressman. the “czar” question was put to him in little old Kenbridge VA (pop 1200) earlier in August. he didn’t seem to much like all the czars (because we framed the question for him as a congressman: don’t you worry that all your power is being stripped by these czars?
though i do appreciate little tommy perriello coming out to the townhalls (the most of any congressman), i will work hard to defeat him.
he voted FOR cap ‘n tax because he said it was patriotic.
kelley in virginia on September 5, 2009 at 10:35 AM
The stupidity of our congressional clunkers shines brightly.
And where are the Republicans? Even sheets Byrd says these czars are an unconstitutional power grab by the exectuve branch.
tarpon on September 5, 2009 at 10:35 AM
Boy, this internet thingy, conservative talk radio, and Fox News sure do get in the way of controlling information to the masses. These are the only places this guy could have gotten the info to have his “poo” together as he did. Where’s Walter Cronkite when you need him?
ncborn on September 5, 2009 at 10:36 AM
Why did you leave out Van Jones, the Green Czar, communist extraordinaire?
fogw on September 5, 2009 at 10:36 AM
Not only are your expamles intellectually dishonest your number one example is flat out wrong. Bush’s envoy was under the Sec of State’s authority. Your third example was created back in Reagan administration. No one is outraged over any senate confirmed seat. It is the circumventing of that process. Now go have some Captain Crunch and come back another day.
HoustonRight on September 5, 2009 at 10:37 AM
i mentioned on HA last night that i am finding that more people are beginning to read the Constitution. its a marvelous little document & surprisingly easy to understand.
its the morass of judicial opinion that screws it up.
but i’m glad more people are becoming familiar with it.
kelley in virginia on September 5, 2009 at 10:37 AM
I’m so tired of hearingwhat Bush did. Many people see both parties as being traitors to this country. I see what Bush did, now I’m seeing what Obama’s doing, and that’s what we need to address. If rehashing Bush’s admin. is your response to addressing this administration’s problems, you’re not into solutions or truth. We could go back to Clinton, but you people never seem to do that, it’s just all about Bush, pathetic. I don’t want to lose this country. Throw all the bums out.
texanpride on September 5, 2009 at 10:38 AM
So, is Obama a communist, or a leftist?
read & roar
maverick muse on September 5, 2009 at 10:41 AM
If we go back, how about FDR and the packing of the Supreme Court?
RAH on September 5, 2009 at 10:41 AM
We should start a new movement “watch your congress critter” and then blog what you see.
The Bush meme is dead.
tarpon on September 5, 2009 at 10:45 AM
So what did the congressman say? “OK, next question” like that guy in Minnesota did?
Marcus on September 5, 2009 at 10:46 AM
One of the silver linings in the appointment of all these czars, who, by the way, aren’t really doing squat besides doling out taxpayer bucks to Obama cronies and making PR noise, while leaving all the appointed positions vacant, is that it exposes the fact that all these freakin’ appointed positions are pretty much unnecessary and mostly nothing more than featherbedding.
Republicans ought to take a serious look at the need for these positions and their respective fiefdoms come January 2011 and start their downsizing there.
Dusty on September 5, 2009 at 10:46 AM
So, is Obama a communist, or a leftist?
So, is there that much difference? It’s a matter of degrees!
flytier on September 5, 2009 at 10:47 AM
It goes much deeper…imho
jerrytbg on September 5, 2009 at 10:47 AM
You say “most” and then cite 3. Where I come from, in a group of 32, “most” would be at least 17. Where are your other 14 examples?
venividivici on September 5, 2009 at 10:48 AM
This is real simple.
Unless Congress authorizes it in advance, the Constitution does not grant the President with the authority to create high Executive Branch offices.
VinceP1974 on September 5, 2009 at 10:49 AM
Why don’t these congresscritters seemed concerned? It is because while we spit and yell about HR3200 and czars they have ACORN continuing training to count the census and count the votes. Once the Holder gets the census data he has promised the DOJ will ride shotgun over the redistricting process. The Democraps learned well from Al Gore that vote counters are more important than voters.
Limerick on September 5, 2009 at 10:50 AM
Oh come on Tom,
This is a naked attempt to subvert the power of the legislature…
Even you see that yet you still try to defend it…
If Bush had done this…to this level…all hell would’ve broke loose…
jerrytbg on September 5, 2009 at 10:52 AM
Exactly, RAH. Here’s an idea. Let’s go forward and take the country back. Let’s come up with a plan for possible future scenarios, such as election fraud, trumped up “emergencies.”………….
texanpride on September 5, 2009 at 10:54 AM
Notice when the explosion of “czars” began?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._executive_branch_czars
Bush actually is responsible for the creation of all these “czar” positions, and there are actually less of them now under Obama than there were under George W.
It just show how much you guys are sheep. You can’t look into things yourself. You hear what the angry patriot says (as long as it’s Anti-Obama) and you run with it.
Tom_Shipley on September 5, 2009 at 10:56 AM
I agree with some of the earlier posts about the term Czar, it’s wrongly applied. Obama can have anybody he wants as an advisor but cabinet members must be approved by Congress. I think what American patriots are unhappy about is the fact that he’s surrounding himself with communists, Marxists, racists, racialists, and socialists. Close to 100,000 Americans died fighting communism and now we have commies in the cabinet. It’s a disgrace.
Chant with me now THREE MORE YEARS, THREE MORE YEARS, three more years…
Mojave Mark on September 5, 2009 at 10:56 AM
Love Coach Dika but I don’t think I will be interested i the Lingerie Bow, not my team.
Cindy Munford on September 5, 2009 at 10:56 AM
Nice link. It reminds me of an author who said the reason the Left fights so much amongst itself is that each faction believes the other is secretly planning a tyranny, regardless of their rhetoric. It’s also so true that the first thing the Left does when it collectively wakes up in the morning is move the goal posts on its own history. Aside from the standard-issue useful idiots, who are clueless and have no real substance of which to speak, the whole lot of them are as phony as a $3 bill.
venividivici on September 5, 2009 at 10:58 AM
Here’s honesty for you Mr. Shipley. Communism, in all it’s forms, is un-American. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Rights of the individual over the collective. Private property rights. You have a right to health care as long as you pay for it, but you do not have a right to make me pay for it. Under that same premise, you have a “right” to food, clothing, shelter, a new car, Tootsie Rolls, even to make billions of dollars. You do not have a right to make me pay for any of those. Communism has proven over and over again to be a failure.
CC
CapedConservative on September 5, 2009 at 10:58 AM
My thoughts exactly texan. The pushback coming from the American people could be the ideal ‘crisis’ the ballerina has dreamed about.
MalindaH on September 5, 2009 at 11:04 AM
President’s name In office Number of
“czar” jobs Number of
appointees
George W. Bush 2001-2009 36 46
Barack Obama 2009 32 34
The formatting isn’t quite perfect, but according to your link Bush had 36 “czars” in 8 years, while Obama has 32 in 1 year.
As an aside, I guess you guys have officially given up on the “we’re the anti-Bush” line of propaganda, right? You can’t have it both ways, where if Bush did something, it’s OK if Obama does it, too, and claim that Obama is qualitatively different than Bush. I mean, YOU can, because you’re not beholden to normal logic like a rational human being, but the rest of the world just looks at those claims and asks “WTF?”
venividivici on September 5, 2009 at 11:04 AM
I never thought I say this but nice link…(wikapedia)
Did you even look at it…numerous appointments by Bush were CONFERMED by the Senate…
jerrytbg on September 5, 2009 at 11:05 AM
That is the major takeaway and this is a great articulation here by Ed.
It’s the “mistrust” that’s already sinking in that was the major cause of the uproar from Americans concerning the Obama speech to schoolchildren. I don’t think MOST Americans have a serious problem with the President talking to school kids – but they don’t TRUST this President to do so without attempting to turn their kids into a bunch of “Van Jones Truthers”.
The amazing thing here – is the way that Americans have turned from this administration and from it’s lapdogs in the news media. The news media are really irrelevant now.
Americans are riding a great train right now – and the Democrats and the news media completely missed it at the station.
HondaV65 on September 5, 2009 at 11:07 AM
CzarTrek, the Blue Generation
Limerick on September 5, 2009 at 11:07 AM
That’s exactly what needs to happen. Expose them one by one, and Jarret is a key piece of the puzzle.
It’ll take some time because anyone like Beck, Sarah, or Michelle M. who’s actually effective at getting at and exposing the truth has to overcome the inevitable alinsky treatment from the opposition. But they, and others, are finding ways to fight back and use the radical’s techniques against them.
With the easily accessible audio visual and printed trail that follows everyone around these days, the tables can be very devastatingly turned on the radicals, as Beck is so effectively demonstrating.
The internet didn’t exist in alinsky’s time. Just the big 3 media and newspapers. Well those sources are totally discredited and in their death spirals now. The media priest ‘elite’ is weak now.
It’s interesting to see the wheels come off this farce of an administration. The reason that the dem politicians don’t appear to be worried is because they’re totally buying into the msm’s spin that this massive wave of genuine outrage is only a tiny percentage of the ‘real’ people out there and is mostly ‘manufactured’. They don’t believe it’s real. They’re in for quite a shock.
America is fed up with this crap and is waking up and engaging.
techno_barbarian on September 5, 2009 at 11:12 AM
Tom’s Wikipedia link has much in common with Tom’s posts.
notropis on September 5, 2009 at 11:13 AM
Ed, this representative along with others deserve no credit for showing up at townhall meetings.
When your constituents call for you to appear at a townhall meeting, you appear because you work for them. You are not your own boss.
moonsbreath on September 5, 2009 at 11:13 AM
Someday people will look back and realize George Soros was the one that created the crisis last September with the financial markets. Soros controls Billions and Billions of dollars through his own companies, as well as shady governments around the world.
Follow the money folks.. Soros was the one that got Prompterbama elected by creating a crisis so real that no one listened to McCain once the 1st Stimulus was winding its’ way through Congress. The media played right into Baracks hands and Obama’s iron fists will not let the media go. Obama controls NBC through his relationship with GE CEO Jeff Immelt, come one stockholders of GE time to fire this guy as well as all the puppets at NBC/MSNBC News. the propaganda is so obvious and embarrassing for a once great news organization. Russert is rolling over in his grave, GoD rest his soul.
Atlanta Media Guy on September 5, 2009 at 11:19 AM
China’s Flag at the White House?
Prompted by what officials say are inaccurate reports from China, the White House is denying claims it will mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic by flying the Chinese flag on the South Lawn. China Daily, citing other media reports, says the President of the Fujian Association of the United States has been granted permission to hoist the flag “in a ceremony in front of the President’s residence.” Actually, the ceremony will take place on the Ellipse, not on the White House grounds, on the other side of E Street from the Presidential residence.
China Daily claimed the flag decision was a testament to strong US-Chinese relations and recognition of China’s success in hosting the 2008 Summer Olympics. The report set off howls of protest on the internet and among conservative talk show hosts, who failed to get confirmation from the White House before airing their complaints.
Demonstrations by foreign groups on the Ellipse or in Lafayette Park, in front of the White House, are not uncommon, but foreign flags are only flown on the White House grounds or on Pennsylvania Avenue to mark State or Official visits of the country’s leaders. The Chinese flag actually has flown on White House grounds before, in April of 2006, when President Hu Jintao visited then President George W. Bush.
In fact the current controversy is reminiscent of that visit. The Chinese insisted it was a ‘State visit,’ despite US assurances it was only an ‘official’ one. The ‘State visit’ label implied a bigger honor to Hu and to China, but Mr. Bush only had a handful of ‘State visits’ and Hu’s wasn’t one of them. Still, Chinese media continued to report it was a State visit, even after it was over, and they continue to report the Fujian Association rally will take place on the White House lawn, though US officials insist it will not.
heroyalwhyness on September 5, 2009 at 11:21 AM
And we have to remember how all the money is being distributed. How much has van jones been given? Who has he given it to? The next election is going to be hard because of all the money obama will print and distribute to acorn to swamp tv etc., with adds.
How much are they (czars/commissars) being paid? How much money do they control?
Does anyone know of a cartoon that shows SOROS PULLING THE STRINGS OF HIS PUPPET OBAMA? If you know of one I would surely like to put that on my sign.
Anyone an artist/cartoonist and can draw one?
Bambi on September 5, 2009 at 11:25 AM
All of these useless tools in DC better wake up to the fact that the Won is in the process of usurping their power. No power, no campaign donations, no face time on tv, no book deals, on and on.
Kissmygrits on September 5, 2009 at 11:27 AM
maverick muse on September 5, 2009 at 10:41 AM
From your link: “The goal posts shift around so much in Leftland that ultimately all definitions are rendered meaningless. So when I asked Dr Diamond to clarify what he meant by the “authoritarian left,” he prefaced his reply by observing:
[....] these people are not, in my view, leftists at all but they pose as leftists. Instead they have a view of society which says that the only way to respond to inequality and other social problems is to impose, from above, radical restructuring that allows them to take the reins of social and political power.
Okay; they’re not really leftists. Then what are they?”
This is the excuse that the voters are using–he isn’t REALLY a “leftist”–the sheeple don’t see the wolf dressed as a sheep–but we do!
lovingmyUSA on September 5, 2009 at 11:28 AM
Well, thank God! But damn, that would have been such a good campaign picture to use against Obama…
lovingmyUSA on September 5, 2009 at 11:30 AM
Bwhahahaa!
Its four year mission to dismantle and subjugate. To seek out new ways to tax and spend. To boldly go where only failure has ever resulted.
techno_barbarian on September 5, 2009 at 11:33 AM
jerrytbg on September 5, 2009 at 11:05 AM
Yeah, and numerous Obama “czars” have been confirmed by the senate. Some haven’t. Just as some of Bush’s weren’t.
Yeah, but if you look at the list, Bush created more new “czar” positions and chose to fill many more previously created positions than his predecessor. The real comparison would be to see how many czars Bush had in his first year in office. But the undeniable fact is that Bush decided to appoint many more czars than previous administrations. Obama seems to be following that lead (and no, it doesn’t mean he’ll appoint 32 more next year, followed by 32 more the following year, etc…). What’s also clear is that there weren’t angry left wingers accusing Bush of creating a “shadow government” with “czar” appointments. Democrats were more concerned about illegal program hidden from virtually every other aspect of government, even the department of Justice (which nearly led to a mass resignation of nearly every one in that office is 2006).
I don’t recall any democrats having a problem with the number of Bush “czars.” And many democrats weren’t anti-Bush, but they weren’t anti-everything he ever did.
Tom_Shipley on September 5, 2009 at 11:36 AM
If you will dig a bit deeper I think you will find that F.D.R. was a huge proponent of “czars” but originally labeled the “dictators” until that particular term lost it’s luster.
Cindy Munford on September 5, 2009 at 11:37 AM
Fixed.
Tom_Shipley on September 5, 2009 at 11:41 AM
“Shadow Government” is not a good term…Perhaps “second government” or “Secret Government” would be better, as in Obama has created a Secret Government bypassing the one in the Constitution.
JIMV on September 5, 2009 at 11:43 AM
Comment pages: 1 2 Next »