astroturf

“The Obama administration has labelled the current grassroot movements as "astroturf" ... i.e.- "fake grassroots".

Let's assume for a moment that the protesters are motivated by special interest groups to protest and to speak up for their rights/beliefs (I think that argument is waaaay overstated)... the fact of the matter is that 99% of the people in the movement are in there because they do have certain beliefs, regardless of where they came from. For the president to tell them that their beliefs are "phoney", well ... not a good move. The citizens BELIEVE (and I concur) that their grassroots movement is a genuine movement.

Very unwise move on the president's part, imo.”

“Why - Will these right wing whack jobs not vote for him in the next election?

When you have Dick Armey's lobbying group sending instructions to "protesters", its a little hard to call the "movement" grass roots.”

“Why - Will these right wing whack jobs not vote for him in the next election?

No, but as Obama ran on during the campaigns, he needs bipartisan support, even with the majority. Want proof that he needs it? Look at the healthcare bill which he is not going to have pushed through in his timeframe. The longer this takes, the less of a chance he has of getting what he wants. His own administration admits this.

When you have Dick Armey's lobbying group sending instructions to "protesters", its a little hard to call the "movement" grass roots.

I don't believe Dick Armey's lobbying group started the movement. They may be fueling it to some small extent, but the average protester will never see such instructions and will get their "words" from speaking with like-minded friends and from their own personal feelings on the matter.”

“It's finally their time to do the protest that the older of the Obama bunch did in the sixties. These working mid country americans have it made with government subsidized health care, mortgages, food, churches and have loaded guns, why would they want change?
last edited: 8/10/09 7:11:18 AM”

“Dick Armey's group is funded by the middlemen who drive up costs and stand to lose if waste is cut. They ARE the waste that needs to be cut.

Regarding the actual faked-up protests, just now a caller on Washington Journal was saying that her congressman's meeting (Keith Ellison, MN-5th) was disrupted by people who weren't from the district ---- They came from Michele Bachmann's district (MN-6th).

Big Freakin' Surprise There, eh?”

“According to the latest polls:

• 65 percent say President Obama is taking on too many issues

• His approval rating is at 50 percent (worse than Bush was after six months)

• He's fallen 7 points with independents (45 approve, 45 disapprove)

• 52 percent now oppose how he's handling health care — only 39 percent approve

• More than 3 out of 4 think Obama's plan will add to the deficit


looks like the communities are organizing.....how ironic”

“2Ist Century Pinkertons on OxyContin for Rush. Do they have the back of those buses reserved for the ones that aren't with them?”

“What do you think Dick Armey's money is doing that is actually getting people to drive in their cars a few miles to hold up signs they made with their own posterboard and markers? Is he buying lunch?”

“For all that rabble-rousing he had better be buying lunch.”

“So, what is a legitimate source of what issues are out there to, and not to, protest?

CBS? ABC? NYT? MoveOn.org? Sorros? AirAmerica? /sarc Huffington? MSNBC?

Ultimately, people decide for themselves what to get off the couch for and speak out against.
last edited: 8/10/09 8:08:45 AM”

“Look for the lobbyist that are handing out the most money, you won't miss with that one.”

“Pelosi called the noisy disruptions of town-meetings "un-American".

Seriously?

What is un-American is the government take-over of healthcare. What IS American is rising up against said government. Maybe she needs to brush up on American history?
last edited: 8/10/09 8:29:56 AM”

“And there's me thinking the US of A was a democracy?

You're always ready to offer information Sarge, how does this American 'democracy' work?

Where does 'rising up' fit into that?”

“US of A is a republic. Sorry, you were misinformed in grade school.

You should consider tracking down your elementary school teacher that taught you that and make sure they're still not misinforming little Americans.
last edited: 8/10/09 8:36:27 AM”

“Drug companies have flooded the Capitol with $40 million in just the last few months. Think how much it is when you count insurance interests, hospital corporations and all the rest.


Some Select AstroTurfers:

FreedomWorks c(4) Board of Directors
Dick Armey, Co-Chairman
James H. Burnley, Venable
Matt Kibbe, FreedomWorks
Thomas Knudsen, Thomas Publishing Company
Richard J Stephenson, Cancer Treatment Centers of America
Steve Forbes

FreedomWorks Emeritus Board
Bill Jaeger, Jaeger Vineyards

Former Board Members
C. Boyden Gray
David H. Padden, Padden & Company, Inc.

FreedomWorks Foundation c(3)
Dick Armey, Co-Chairman
Ted Abram, American Institute for Full Employment (anti-Minimum Wage)
Matt Kibbe
Frank M. Sands, Sr.

Former Board Members
C. Boyden Gray

”

“Again, I ask you, what is their money doing to make people get off their couches and go downtown to protest or to raise questions?

None of my questions are answered, just the same ole complaint restated.

Not much of an argument you have there if it doesn't actually mean anything.”

“Well it's running these commercials which lead the sheep over to the corral.

It plants stories on blogs all over the internet for the weak-minded to believe.

There's the organization of the tea-baggers, telling them where and when to go to the events.

There's the list of talking points they are given.

Want more Sarge - or you still pretending these people are spending this cash for nothing?”

““US of A is a republic. Sorry, you were misinformed in grade school.

You should consider tracking down your elementary school teacher that taught you that and make sure they're still not misinforming little Americans.
last edited: 8/10/09 8:36:27 AM”
HighPlainsDrifter
8:44:41 AM
8/10/09

So a Republic and a Democracy are mutually exclusive..... strange that.

Oh, and I didn't study it in 'grade school' dumbass. I never went to 'grade school'. I studied American politics later in my education.
last edited: 8/10/09 9:00:52 AM”

“y2,
Have you talked to any of these people to see where they are getting their information? And again, I ask you, regardless of where the information comes from, does it make it more or less legitimate? What are "acceptable" sources of information to decide if one will protest?

The republic/democracy debate was over 200 years ago. You missed it.”

“Density check needed, BeepbeDeepdeep!!”

“This latest round of Tea Baggers is attempting to shut down the Town Hall meetings to keep health care reform from being discussed.

How TF is that democratic?

The Astroturfers are thugs............ringers.”

“First off, who is "shutting down" any meetings? All I've seen is the "tea baggers" (as you call them) have been "shut out". There's a big difference.

Democratic? That was y2's word. Ask him.”

“Well Sarge, since you claim to know your way around that debate, is the USA in 2009 a republic or a democracy?

Which is it more characteristic of these days under Obama?
last edited: 8/10/09 10:36:21 AM”

“dumbO is so stupid.”

“"I am sick and tired of people who say that if you debate with this administration somehow you're not patriotic. We should stand up and say we have a right to debate and disagree with any administration."

- y2, t*lt, dumbO, vileboy, rosey, ect....circa 2003”

“You're either with the elected leaders or you are with the BB(big biz) control that really runs things.”

“When Obama and the Democraps used and perfected these same tactics they claimed anyone who criticized the demonstrators were being unAmerican. Now that the demonstrators are against them, it's unamerican to be the demonstrator.

V, tilty, marko, pelosi, hoyer... What a bunch of hypocrites.”

“"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."[

and its a Democratic Republic.....

United States: The Constitution directly states that the citizens ("We the people") are the foundation of government, and that the government is chosen though democratic elections. Thus, it is a democratic republic.

United Kingdom: is a democracy but not a republic; the government is chosen democratically, but ultimate authority comes from the monarch, not the people.

China: is a republic but not a democracy. Government authority is stated to be based on the will of the people, but there are no democratic elections.”

“Doesn't the electoral collage tip the scales on that democracy thang? The Senates disregard for population never gets the critique that the UN does.
last edited: 8/10/09 11:44:30 AM”

“ah --- the Tyranny of the Minority.”

“LOL @ Stovie!”

“Poor little t*lt.”

“Stovie , why are you trying to stop the people that want to stop the other people from demonstrating? Is there a layer of people piling on that are exempt from free speech freedom? I have to go stare at the national debt ticker for my daily hour.
last edited: 8/10/09 12:07:32 PM”

“salebored, whay are you trying to stop the people who are trying to stop the people that want to stop the other people from demonstrating? Is there a layer of people piling on that are exempt from free speech freedom? I have to go stare at the national debt ticker for my daily hour.”

“Congradulations for being the 'pile on layer' that has NO freedom of speech rights
You should watch where you step..
last edited: 8/10/09 12:17:55 PM”

“Dhank you for condribuding nodhing ad all.”

“Try to attack the message not the messenger. You do have the right to do what the dems did with Bush , but it'll be just as silly as it was then.”

“Come on Sarge, answer my question, snap snap.”

“I think the problems here revolve around the fact that while there are some genuine concerns over healthcare, a lot of what seems to be forming the center of the opposition is lies.

Then you've got the mob tactics being used. Organized groups turning up at meetings with a seeming intent to make things as 'hot' as possible for representatives.

IF you're going to use those tactics then there's going to be pushback.

From my point of view it's all to reminiscent of the election campaign around Palin. Lots of lies and falsehoods being told with an underlying threat of 'uprising'.”

“Which is it more characteristic of these days under Obama? (republic/democracy)


Is that your question you want me to answer? That is a senseless question. We live in a republic. What else do you want me to tell you about that? It is what it is.”

“What "lie(s)" are you referring to, specifically?”

“Some lies were made by y2's Messiah, and some were made by Nancy Pelosi.
Can you tell which is which?

�You can still keep your doctor; you can still keep your health plan�

�I will only use public financing of my presidential campaign.�

�National healthcare will save money.�

�This stimulus program will create new jobs and save existing jobs.�

�This will be the most transparent administration ever, and we will post new legislation for at least three days before enactment.�

�If you are old and need a hip replacement, just take a pain pill.�

Any white cop who arrests a black man on disorderly conduct is �stupid�.

Email the White House with the name of anyone who makes a �fishy� comment about government healthcare.

These people protesting government healthcare are carrying �swastikas and symbols like that�.

These people protesting government healthcare are wearing suits.

Private American insurance companies are �villains� and �immoral�.

Let�s spend whatever it takes to harass and vilify anyone who questions my account of my early life. We�ll lump them in and call them all �birthers�.

The CIA lied to me.”

“A little help here....if I want to be an un-American sheep, what side do I listen to again?



(I.......f'n.......LOVE......me some Trail Talk, lol......never (ever) disappoints.”

“all the non-Olberman watchers are liars”

“*snicker*”

“Thanks for the "honorable mention", ladies.”

“They've got nothing ---- They're shooting blanks. So they act like thugs.

Sound familiar? LOL”

“Have you ever seen herd of turkeys all gobbling at once?”

“I do love the one-two punch of Olbermann/Maddow being offered up by MSNBC. At some point I'm thinking the network will just start calling the lead-in show "Bad Things Done by Republicans and Conservatives Today" and the follow-up show called "Yeah!"”