Some of us were practicing our civil disobedience in rallies elsewhere.

Oh, there you are, Perry. -Phineas -SLB-

Fuck him in the ear.

"...psychopaths have little difficulty infiltrating the domains of...politics, law enforcement, (and) government." Dr. Robert Hare

That idiot is probably fighting the war against terror  on the keyboard as well. Shouldn't he get on his ass and take the first plane to Iraq ? Afghanistan is also a choice.    

Just got back to my place from DC about 10 minutes ago.

On the car ride home, the Detroit radio station was talking about the march, so I called in, and they put me on the air pretty much right away, and live!  They weren't buying the '10s of thousands' crap either, and I confirmed that there were definitely well over 100 thousand, and that it was huge.

i always enjoy protest marches and demionstrations i can be a part of, but i am not as sold on them as i once was.
we go, we hear speeches, we feel good about ourselves...

the GOP and the WH  and the MSM just smirk and ignore us.

the only way to get their attention is to stop buying things...if a couple million people refused to play the consumer game for 3 or 4 days, if there was a work stoppage, if people refused to shop for a week....

it might get their attention.

The sleep of reason begets tyrants. -Goya

Good morning,
I got home about 11 last night and promptly passed out. And it's safe to snore here...I think :o) I think ej should get the patience with the old guy who snores and smokes award of the year for rooming with me :o)

Meeting him and Manny, Janet T, AP and partner, and getting reaquainted with those of you I met last time was nice.

Sorry for being so quiet, but I like I told Manny, I'm an observer and a listener :o) That's why I was so quiet while you explained why 3rd parties can only hurt democrats in a 2 party system. I was on an intelligence gathering mission for the Greens ! LOL

I have lots of pics to upload tonight. Can't wait to see those of you and Ray McGovern plotting the overthrow of Bush ;o)

Peace

Green Grass and High Tides Forever

So, this Brownback fellow you speak of...

From his website: We need to support the foundational institution of marriage as the union of a man and a woman for life.

Yet, he doesn't expand about maintaining civil liberties for same gender couples in any way.

(Kind of an interesting site, when you accidentally type sambrownback.com....)

miino biimaadizi

  I get the feeling Mr. Moran is envious of the percentage of literate people on the left. Writing for a right wing blog must be frustrating. Patience Mr. Moran if Bush continues on his present course you'll get your million people in the streets.
 

"We have always known that heedless self-interest was bad morals; now we know that it is bad economics;" - Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Take heart BooMan.

There was not much national coverage of the many demonstrators - assembled in cities and small towns - in support of protestors at the Washington Mall.

Like this local coverage in The Boston Globe for those who did not make it south to DC for whatever reason. It was colorful as you can see.

Well, "You can't vote for war and disown the results"

I have a daughter who is very much commited to the kind of direct action that seems to be pooh-poohed by many progressives these days.  While I'm not convinced by her specific arguments, I do think that marches and demonstrations have their time and place.  I don't think, however, that the march on Washington, D.C., was the place to do it.  It tends to both narrow media focus and dilute the actual impact on those we're trying to influence.  For instance, which would have more impact on someone like Norm Coleman (assuming he can be impacted)--20,000 Minnesotans marching down Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis or 200,000 Americans who aren't identified as his constituents marching in D.C.?  I think that local media focusing on local voters expressing their opposition to Iraq policy would have a much greater impact on elected representatives than would a national media focusing on a national gathering.  The national media is always going to focus on the Jane Fonda angle.  Local media will focus on local officials who do or don't lend support and on the marchers themselves.

If MoveOn and the others could connect with more local activist groups and coordinate among those groups next time for local action rather than Washington there might be more bang for the buck.  With less time and money involved than in getting to Washington, more people might be willing to participate.  Face it, 200,000 is a hell of crowd for a football game but I doubt that it impessed too many legislators.  It certainly didn't impress the media.

BTW, for those of us living in Northern climes, please make it in the Spring.  It was damned cold standing on the street corner yesterday.

Hey Moran,
Speaking for myself, I've marched, protested, sent emails to legislators, called legislators, stood outside their offices, volunteered to get out the vote and help anyone opposed to Bush win office, sent money, signed petitions, raised money, written letters to the editor[s], and everything else I can think of to stop Bush. So stuff it!
Leslie

P.S. Why are we supporting Brownback? Is this a joke I missed?

Leslie

with the last bit you boxed in.  I would like to add to that for the antiwar movement that the United States soldier in general is not the enemy that if done away with will create a world of peace and love for all.  He/She is very very far from wielding that sort of global power or global responsibility and attacking them accomplishes nothing commendable or credible for the antiwar movement.

PMS Purchase More Shoes

I am lazy. Practically sloth personified. If Moran says I'm a coward, well, that's not really too hurtful. But when BooMan does... well... I'll feel all guilty and maybe go away and cry a bit.

I admit it- I'm not as driven as most others here and elsewhere are. You guys rock. I'm just deficient that way I guess.

Sorry.

mbr + dv + woyg

They got tremendous attention (not at first, and not in all places) because they were in many locations, and many people.

I think Brad is on to something. It is extremely easy for the media to ignore demonstrations. Every time a celebrity turns out to speak, that's what the media will focus on. (And some of those celebs have publicists making sure that the media know they are there, too.)  Anytime Jane Fonda shows up, I think the essential invitation to many opposed to Bush's policy just goes down the tubes. Old wounds are re-opened, and Bush et ilk can just say "move along, nothing to see here".

Unless and until a demonstration in DC can exceed all previous demonstrations in DC, the media aren't going to give it front page, top of the fold, right hand side column inches. I'm not sure that's possible. Clearly, the progressive blogosphere doesn't endorse these marches, except in some quarters - like this one. If  there isn't some way to hang together in a public way  that gets Congress's attention, then I don't think we will get the message out beyond the ennui and disinterest of the national media.  

I await Bowers' reponse (directly or indirectly) to you.

because I protested before and after the war, wrote my congress people with every nomination conferred by the senate, wrote to all major media, etc.  We were shut out. Period.  Since then, I've been blogging and handing out cash to various aspects of "the cause," candidates, bloggers, etc.  Politically, i have never run so "balls to the wall."  He can go fuck a large duck.  

That said, you are correct, but not him.  He can go fuck a duck.

be dictated by the rightwing. Nor do I feel the need to respond to their provocations. Yes, I should be doing more. But I'll figure out what that is & how to do it.

This past weekend, I couldn't be in DC. Instead I read up on some of the actions over at MyDD to solidify the economic base of the progressive blogs and activists. I made a small monthly pledge. If we can't keep the independent, internet-driven, progressive community growing and thriving, we lose our best hope for change.

I don't think DC protests will end the war. Political pressure on the Congress is our best bet and that has to be directed and targeted. I doubt this war will end until we get our act together and take control of the White House. Until then, we are at Bush's mercy as Commander-in-Chief. Impeachment would work, as well. Either of these acts will come from carefully applied pressure, not DC marches. DC marches somewhat raise the issue in public view. DC marches fire up the war opposition, which is good, but let's not turn this into a "where were you?" thing. The anti-war effort has many fronts.