Tea Party Rallies for Romney in San Francisco
Now, I have no illusions that Romney has much of a chance in California: in 2008, Obama beat McCain 61%-37%, and California is considered one of the Democrats’ safest states. But nationwide the race is still close, and if Californian libertarians and conservatives are already rallying behind Romney, then I’m quite sure the same thing will happen in swing states, despite the spinmeisters’ and the media’s best attempts to foment dissatisfaction and discord in the Republican ranks.
They say all trends start in California, so let the trend of Romney Realism sweep the nation!
The irrepressible Sally Zelikovsky, head honcho of the San Francisco Tea Party (a.k.a. Bay Area Patriots) brought together a coalition of local Tea Party groups for the event, and energized the crowd between speakers.
What were my favorite signs of the day? Here are a few:
“(The) Politics of envy lead to SOCIALISM.” This is the key meta-message that we must not be afraid to shout at every opportunity.
A classic from the early days of the Tea Party, but it rings true eternally.
Why pussyfoot around? Sometimes bluntness drives home the point in a way that nuance can never do.
The new “Three Stooges” film had just opened nationwide, so this spoof rendition was particularly au courant. Note the clever detail: Instead of saying “American Voters present The Three Stooges,” the sign actually says “American People resent The Three Stooges.” Zing!
Sally introduced “The Deficettes,” a crowd-pleasing Rockettes parody troupe who highlight the jaw-dropping size of our national deficit with a humorous dance routine.
Unlike the Occupy Wall Street movement, the crowd neither burned nor stepped on the flag, but instead waved it enthusiastically. This was a little disorienting for someone like me, who generally only witnesses flag abuse at political events.
Speaking of Occupy: Where were they on Saturday? Why did they let the Tea Party “occupy” San Francisco unopposed?
Strangely, there was no organized counter-protest. Despite the fact OccupySF was holding their all-hands-on-deck “General Assembly” just two blocks away at the exact same time as the Tea Party event, and despite the fact that local left-leaning media tried its best to goad Occupy into a counter-protest, practically no Occupiers showed up at all, and the few who did were not coordinated. Why is this?
I have several possible theories. One is that Occupy likes to control the narrative of any event they attend, and don’t want to be present in any situation where they don’t have Total Narrative Domination. Alternately, they don’t even want to acknowledge the Tea Party’s existence, because to do so would only grant more publicity to their ideological rivals. And the third theory is more intriguing, and gibes with my earlier SF Tea Party/Occupy report “Tea Party and OWS Protest Side-By-Side Against Obama in San Francisco“: that the Occupy crowd around here has a secret affinity for the Tea Party that they may not even want to admit to themselves. Both groups oppose president Obama (one from the left, and one from the right, but with some overlap, such as opposition to growing police state tactics); and one half of Occupy’s schizoid socialist/anarchist split personality agrees with the Tea Party’s opposition to government intrusion into our private lives. In truth, the anarchists are a better ideological fit with the Tea Party than they are with the socialists, whether they consciously realize it or not; but this may help explain why there would be little enthusiasm among the Occupiers for counter-protesting a group whose positions they don’t entirely disagree with.
Anyway, there were a few wildcat counter-protesters, which we’ll look at here.
Near the beginning of the rally, a lone leftie jumped up and started shouting something vituperative in front of the stage, but the small contingent of SF cops assigned to monitor the rally swiftly moved in and explained to the guy that the Tea Party had a legal permit for the rally, and as a result he had no right to disrupt it, since he lacked a permit. He was quickly escorted away and the disruption ended. As you can see in the photo above, the Tea Party “Infiltrator Identification Squad,” which was so effective at outing hoaxsters during 2010 rallies, was back in action; but aside from this one incident, they didn’t have much use for their trademark pink signs.
Next up was this Occupier with a sign advertising their upcoming planned invasion of the Wells Fargo shareholders’ meeting, but after exchanging too many heated words with attendees, he too was told to tone it down. And so he went over and joined up with…
…some newly arrived potheads, who perhaps showed up looking for some Libertarian love at the rally; but they didn’t seem to have any takers (or tokers, for that matter).
Blogger “John” of “The City Square” published his own report about Saturday’s Tea Party event, and included these photos of the front and back of a sign held by a camera-shy and angry Occupy infiltrator who wanted his own agenda represented at the rally. Taken out of an “Occupy Wall Street” context, his messages (which feel perfectly normal within an Occupy political milieu) are suddenly revealed to be completely absurd and incomprehensible out in the open air.
The most brazen Occupier walked around handing out what I generally dub “kook manifestos”; but most of the Tea Partiers he approached, like the guy in the hat, wouldn’t even give him the time of day. (For which the kook gave them a stern lecture.)
Every now and then someone made the mistake of accepting one of his flyers — but that only led to more confusion, as they vainly tried to decipher his worldview.
The people are much better dressed than the Occupy crowd.
And happier, too!
And with better personal hygiene, too!
Bonus: no Occupy rapes or STDs.
Not just that. The Tea Partiers clean up their own trash. The OWS low-lifes leave evrything behind, including their faeces. And the all-suffering tax payer has to clean up after them.
Being better dressed must mean they are rich and out of touch with real Americans.
Uh, real Americans that I know take pride in their appearance. You know, they work and there are some standards to holding a job. Appearance is one of those. Unless you work a some institute of higher learning where you’re tenured.
They clean up after themselves. If that makes them rich and out of touch, so be it.
Now I know why there were lightning strikes on the Bay Bridge! Even the elements know that things are changing!
Great report!
as to the theories why the occupy leaders dont want to intermingle with the tea party could it be so simple as the scores of sheep of occupy might just get “converted” as the two sides present their cases
Romney equals Bush2! Both progressive regressive’s! You people can keep him. Moderate Mitt will be toast in my state of Tx! We will be voting soon since the establishment broke rank when we were to vote on Super Tuesday, and it got moved. When you fear a scehlacking move the date. I guess they thought we did not realize the game they are playing. Wrong!
Are you saying that some other candidate aside from Romney is going to win the Republican nomination?
Highly doubtful.
Are you saying that Obama will win TX in the general election?
Also highly doubtful.
If Romney is Bush2 (wait, I that W was Bush2 already), then Obama must be Mao2.
There’s fantasyland, and then there’s reality: Romney’s gonna be the nominee, whether we like it or not (and I made the case plenty of times that I hoped for a brokered convention to get someone else in there); and Obama’s gonna be his opponent.
The argument is not how pure Romney is but which of the two candidates is the most socialistic. And on that score, there is no question: Obama.
Whether you’re serious or whether you’re a moby, doesn’t matter: When crunch time comes in November, every single person dissatisfied or unhappy with Obama is gonna pull that lever for Romney.
It’s the Syphilitic Camel RuleTM. Even Zeeba the syphilitic camel would be a great improvement over 0bama, and therefore also Romney — so now that he’s effectively the last man/camel standing, the Tea Party is gathering behind him.
http://pjmedia.com/instapundit/133776/
Zombie,
What bothers me is your description of Romney as a “moderate Republican”. He’s a member of the Republican Party, no doubt. He’s not a moderate anything.
I agree with Washington76, Romney is a Progressive Socialist, only not in the vein of Bush/McCain/etc. Romney is much closer to Obama. It’s been shocking to me to see the number of people (on Twitter for instance) who think Romney will be anti-Obamacare.
Really? The man who proto-typed Obamacare is going to help dismantle it? Sure…
Hey, how about that NDAA, huh? Obama was disappointed he got what he wanted, and promised never to use the power to indefinitely detain Americans picked up on American soil with no warrant, grand jury, etc. Oh, but Romney’s totally different. He agrees with Obama that it’s a really important power for the President to have, but he promised never to use it. Thank goodness. I was worried for a moment. *whew*
I bet you know that spending has increased under every single president for the last 100 years. Did you also know that it increases at a much lower rate when the president and congress are diametrically opposed? I’d say the best we could hope for this time around is a second Obama term with a fully Republican congress.
As a Tea Partier, I will not hold my nose and pull a lever again. Never.
Short of the R and D, I can’t really tell the difference between Romney and Obama. Rombama? Obamney? Looks like the same mess to me, especially with this “Anybody but Obama” nonsense.
I wonder if people said things like “Anybody but Hindenburg”? You think?
Sorry, but your comment doesn’t seem to pass the smell test. No real Tea Partier would ever write the words ” I’d say the best we could hope for this time around is a second Obama term…”. Opposition to Obama is almost a defining characteristic of the Tea Party.
Your final comment essentially compares Romney to Hitler — or at least someone as extreme as Hitler. Say what?
The worst that could be said about Romney is that he’s wishy-washy and stands for nothing. He’s about as far from being an “extremist,” left or right, as one can be in American politics.
Why don’t you try the “click-through” test, Zombie? I always add my personal website to my reply. Click on my name and visit: http//www.sternresolve.jaycenrigger.com and tell me how much I don’t look like a Tea Partier.
I’m more than a little surprised. I thought you were more astute than your comment suggests. Do you really think Tea Partiers are simply “anti-Obama”? That suggests to me that you buy into some of the racism garbage…or at least you think we’re a bunch of mindless followers.
Maybe you, like the Republican Party, fail to understand that most Tea Partiers are the rugged individualists who typically vote Constitution Party, or Libertarian when we have the option. I only vote R when the only other choice is a D. Heck, I’d vote D if I could find one who wasn’t essentially a Marxist (or so awash in marxist beliefs he can’t help but think that way).
Maybe I didn’t communicate my belief very well, but I don’t think Romney is Hitler, but the political situation in the country is SO close to the situation in Germany at that time. It’s so close.
We might not end up with a anti-Semetical megalomaniac bent on world domination, but a Socialist/Fascist defacto take-over of all private business and property is just over our horizon. If you don’t think Romney wouldn’t support that “as a quick, temporary fix” you don’t know who the guy is.
Sorry. Scehlacking? Is that a word? Your post reads like it came straight from Occupy Whatever.
You are so right – they can keep Romney. Texas should either be for Ron Paul or Newt Gingrich. Either will be better than Romney. My pick is GINGRICH. What makes me so angry is how everyone is deciding for us! EXCUSE ME – are there not THREE people running on the Repub ticket??!!!! YES THERE IS – and the media, and unfortunately, now the TeaParty (who I am one of)is trying to cram Romney down our throats! That’s disgusting and dispicable! Newt is the only candidate who can/will change the corruption on both sides of the isle!
They managed to get 600 people in San Francisco to protest against Obama? Now I KNOW Obama is going to lose. If the Democrats lose San Francisco, they’ve lost California. And if this is just an uncommon event, think of this: How many pro-Obama demonstrations have you seen anywhere in California recently? If I were team Obama, I’d be spending more time in this state and not taking it for granted that they’ll win. Never underestimate angry voters, even in California. Hopefully, Romney stands a chance there. Hopefully.
this is an important observation
i have said that it is strategically important to get the dems to fight hard in a state they count as automatic and if california were to fall out of the dems control they might not win a national election for 50 years
california has many voters who dont pay much attention and, as a result, are easily ushered into the dem column but i will believe to the end of my days that most of these people are truly libertarian
this article gives some true hope and we must not let up
If California is actually in play, yes, Obama has already lost. Better for him to assume he can still win (which necessarily means California is not in play) and do what he can to improve the scenario in battleground states.
Welcome to the Swing State of California.
Be careful of your assumptions. If Obama wins Cali by one point- instead of by ten or twelve- he still wins Cali.
Even today, the Democrats would be tossed out on their collectivist ears in California if the elections were honest. Not a clean sweep the first time through, but down to minority status for sure.
Faster if the bottom feeders over at the Republican Party hindquarters ever show some spine. (Pause for laughter.)
“Even today, the Democrats would be tossed out on their collectivist ears in California if the elections were honest.”
Don’t bet on it. When it comes to stupidity, California seems to have a limitless supply of it.
Agreed. It’s in the air here. It’s assumed.
Not really. Seriously – observe even the madness that is San Francisco. Every single time, when having to choose, the voters of the most insanely liberal major city (Berkeley and Santa Cruz do not count!) on the West Coast invariably plump for the marginally saner candidate.
Don’t believe me? Look at the match-ups.
It’s not impossible that the rest of the citizens of the state will finally awake from their trance and jump for sanity. Likely? Not even I will claim that. But it’s possible.
Romney DOES NOT stand a chance because he is Obama-lite. Why do you think Soros and Obama’s people are working diligently to get Romney elected as the Repub candidate? I don’t understand how so many people can still be braindead! Its simply amazing to me! OPEN your eyes and ears people – if the opposing side is for Romney that in and of itself should be the biggest redflag known to mankind! Consider why noone wants GINGRICH? It is not because noone really likes him, or all the other nonsense they’re putting out there, its because the insiders do not want anyone who will ROCK the BOAT and GINGRICH will rock the boat! Again people, think about things, don’t just take someone’s word for something, or push off things you disagree with, without THINKING for yourself. Newt Gingrich KNOWs the inside, knows the players and they all know this and are working to make sure he doesn’t get the nomination – because they’re all going to pay the price of losing their ability to get rich on our taxpayer dollars!!!
I’m surprised. The last tea party event I saw, I believe it was in Santa Cruz (but I also saw one on the peninsula someplace, was all a bunch of Ron Paul supporters.
I’m even more surprised: 90% of the Ron Paul supporters I’ve ever met or seen have been lefties. Just yesterday I saw a car with these stickers on it: Kucinich, Dean, Obama, Ron Paul (in approximate chronological order). Ron Paul tables and marchers have been at every leftist/liberal event in the Bay Area since 2008. The lefties around here love him because of his anti-war and anti-Israel stance. Not so much on the other side of the political aisle.
A Paul supporter is an Obama supporter who doesn’t understand why pot is still illegal.
Ron Paul is the most constitutional guy in the race and in the entire Congress. He’s the ONLY candidate against the Patriot Act and NDAA. He’s the ONLY candidate with a serious plan to stop wasteful spending and to balance the budget in three years. He’s the most pro-gun candidate by far. He has never voted for a tax increase.
What a joke the Taxed Enough Already party has become. Ron Paul wants to eliminate the entire income tax and IRS. Ron Paul wants to cut a Trillion Dollars of wasteful spending his first year as President. Ron Paul epitomizes what the Tea Party was and should be about, but unfortunately it got hijacked by big-government fake conservative neocons.
600 people? Check out the Ron Paul Massive Rallies 2012 vid to see thousands and thousands of people at Ron Paul rallies that the media refuses to show you on television.
Too bad Ron Paul isn’t going to be the nominee.
If his support was that massive, the vote totals would reflect it. But he’s trailing so far in the delegate count that he has essentially zero chance.
However much you like Ron Paul, in November your choice will be Obama or Romney — or not voting.
Time to come to grips with that reality.
Thank you! My goodness, Ron Paul seems left of Obama on many issues once you get passed his website talking points. By the by, any Constitutional Conservative who supports Paul can never tell you about Paul’s stances without falling back to the website talking points. Dangerously stupid…which makes them doubly dangerous.
Ron Paul isn’t anti-Israel. In fact, he’s probably the most pro-Israel candidate there is. Ron Paul is one of the ONLY people in the entire Congress and U.N. who defended Israel when they bombed Iraq for what they felt was national security. Ron Paul wants to end 12 billion dollars of foreign aid to Israel’s enemies. Ron Paul constantly talks about treating Israel as a sovereign nation.
Recently, Ron Paul said straight-out if Israel wants Jerusalem as its capital then that’s how it should be. Obama won’t say that. Romney won’t say that.
Time to join the right tea party…join Bay Area Patriots.
That’s because Ron Paul supporters started the Tea Party. (The proof is easy to see right on Youtube.) Too bad the tea party then got hijacked by big-government neocons and Bible thumpers.
You’d think the Taxed Enough Already party would support the candidate with a 20+ year history of voting against big government and never voting for a tax increase and who wants to eliminate the entire income tax and IRS, but guess not. Fakes and hypocrites.
OK, you’ve convinced me: You’re a moby. I tried to give you the benefit of the doubt, but your hard work changed my mind.
Sorry, Ron Paul nor his supporters started the Tea Party movement. Several Tea Party movements sprouted up almost simultaneously across the country as reported by Michelle Malkin here:
http://michellemalkin.com/2009/02/21/tea-party-usa-the-movement-grows/
What actually cemented and got national exposure for the movement was Rick Santelli’s outburst on live television during a CNBC broadcast:
http://www.cnbc.com/id/29283701/Rick_Santelli_s_Shout_Heard_Round_the_World
Ron Paul was nowhere near any of this. Sorry. Another Paulbot lie exposed.
Your links are from 2009! Ron Paul supporters started the Tea Party in 2007. Put Tea Party 2007 into Youtube or Google search. Here, I’ll even help you… http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=l3ujJdYSbpM this vid has clips from 2007 and has CNN and FOX etc talking about Ron Paul Tea Parties. Juan Williams I think just last year said straight-out on Fox News that Ron Paul supporters created the Tea Party.
There are plenty of other videos and articles of such things if you bother to look and stop listening to big-government neocon liars trying to hijack history like they hijacked the Tea Party.
The Tea Party began after Obama came into the Whitehouse, not before. I wish it had started during Bush’s presidency, or Clinton, or even Bush, Sr.
But, sadly, America was the frog in the pot of water that gets hot incrementally. Then, Obama walked into the kitchen and cranked the burner up to maximum heat, and now the frog is trying to jump out to save it’s life.
Ron Paul is at least as frightening as Obama, possibly worse. Ron Paul is a 9/11 truther. He surrounds himself with anti-Semites. Please stop wasting your time trying to convert us to the religion, because we aren’t drinking the Kool-Aid.
In all the rhetoric and accusations and political posturing, many people still don’t know that Romney has always spend less than he had or was going to have.
One doesn’t amass a person nest egg of $200M by spending more than you have.
One doesn’t launch successful companies by planning to spend more than comes in.
This is, or should be, obvious about Romney.
OPM, my friend. Other People’s Money. Corzine, Obama, Clinton and Pelosi all have eight-figure net worths, Garanholm and Bloomberg are wealthy, and none of them have been backwards about spending anyone else’s money but their own.
Quayle, I hope you’re right, But this time, as Reagan said, we’ll trust but verify. No more of this shit of sending people to Washington for thirty years without holding them to account every election cycle, This debacle of the past four years is really the peoples’ fault. Yeah, I know. We didn’t vote for those spending bills but we never would hit anybody with a 2×4 across the forehead to get their attention. And by the way, I have NO party loyalty. If a striped baboon can carry out the instructions of the populace better than a Republican, guess who’s got my vote. We start weeding enough A-holes out of there and they’ll start getting the message. Otherwise, it won’t be a pretty sight but at least they will be OUR baboons. Like a lot of other people, I am so tired of the “privileged” establishment class. At the end of the day all we get for our troubles is a Megan McCain telling us we don’t know shit. Sorry for the language.
Seriously? By your logic, any rich person is trustworty to be president.
George Soros for president. He’s a multi-BILLIONAIRE. Look how good he is with money. What could possibly go wrong?
Great recap Zombie. I am grateful that our local Tea Party has moved on to overtaking the rest of the legislature where we did not prevail in 2010, but dang, I wanted somewhere to go to wear my Breitbart Is Here t-shirt.
Thanks for the news and great pictures Zombie.
As Romney said to Obama “start packing.” The more American’s get to know Romney, the more they will like him.
Great wrap up, Zombie! These pics are much easier to look at than your coverage of some other SF rallies. Yikes!
Keep up the good work!
Really nice there are sane folks in the City, not just fat old degenerates scaring the horses by disrobing in public.
Agreed. This was easy on the eyes and soul and good for the heart. Not all your work has to take place in the deep, dark dank bowels of a sewage tank, does it?
“We are not a nation that locks up people without charging them.” Obama
I agree. How much should we charge?
And the SF Chronicle did not cover the rally at all. Not surprising. If it had been another ANSWER Coalition rally for Obama or illegal aliens they would have had it on page one.
The mainstream media have never been more of a openly left-wing propaganda campaign than they are right now.
I’d vote for Romney if I have to, but he’s a liberal. He’s a supporter of the progressive income tax, and that’s right out of the communist manifesto. Today, he talked about shutting down some agencies, which is good, but he also said he wanted to end the mortgage interest deduction for some? That’s class warfare. Rich people don’t need the mortgage interest deduction, they pay cash for their houses. It’s the middle class that would get hit again with this. People in the middle class might buy a second home for an investment or to leave to their kids. That would stop if he does this.
He also made the comment that the people who watch FOX News are the true believers? What is he talking about? I don’t ever watch FOX anymore. He won’t even go on the Mark Levin Show, but he’ll appear on CNN and with that communist David Gregory. He’s never embraced the Tea Party. He said he needs to get the independent vote and the women vote? Why is he breaking people up into groups? That’s a liberal thing. He assumes independents are that way because they are squishy in the middle types. Many are Republicans who left the party because they are too liberal. I was going to be one of them, but I couldn’t vote in the primary if I did in my state.
I’m sick of voting for people like him. He’s another McCain. He’s a liberal from MA.
Well, I’m in total sympathy, but I’m afraid we’re both going to have to suck it up and deal.
I’ll hold your virtual hand if you’ll hold mine.
As another resident of TX, I’m saddened by the just suck it up attitude. Is Texas, a massive, Republican leaning state, to once again be left out of the primary decision?
This is still the primary. In the general election we’ll vote Romney if we have to.
Romney needed Santorum to drop out for him to have a hope of getting enough electors. Newt is still out there and say what you will, he’s much more conservative than Romney. Most things people say against him are from over a decade ago. Romney care is currently destroying Massachusetts. Which do you prefer? A guy who will say he screwed up or was confused on an issue or one that still won’t admit it?
I’m voting Newt in the primary _six weeks_ from now. I will hold my breath for a brokered convention. If that all fails, I will vote Romney because at least he’ll have some restraint if he’s hoping for a second term. Obama has already admitted he’s just waiting for the reins to go slack.
See, now Trey’s comment has the correct attitude, which I respect:
Vote for the person of your choice in the primary; and if that doesn’t work out, then hold your nose, get realistic, and vote for the lesser of two evils in the general election.
How hard is this for some people to grasp?
As for the ordering of the states in the primary process, and why places like Texas and California get shunted to the back of the line and end up being almost irrelevant; I have no idea how these decisions are made. I think dark red and dark blue states are purposely made to be inconsequential, because the powers that be want wishy-washy states like New Hampshire and Iowa to choose a “moderate” candidate of either party. To challenge this system, you’ll have to get involved in insider party politics, unfortunately.
“Vote for the person of your choice in the primary; and if that doesn’t work out, then hold your nose, get realistic, and vote for the lesser of two evils in the general election.
How hard is this for some people to grasp?”
Ok, I’ll bite… “how hard is that for you to grasp?” I don’t recall seeing anyone say to write-in Ron Paul if Romney is the nominee, yet post after post you call me and other people names, call us shills for Media Matters, etc,… and for what? Apparently because we think people should vote for someone besides Obama-lite Romney in the primary.
Oh, and you apparently think the nomination process is already done, even though it’s only half done, and even though a whole lot of the “already decided” delegates actually aren’t already decided. Plus there’s now that whole no-Santorum thing going on now. Who will his supporters support now? Romney? Or conservative, pro-life Ron Paul?
You may think it’s over. You may even want it to be over. But it ain’t over till it’s over.
YES!! A man of high intellect!! Finally, after reading all these posts I finally found someone (of course from TX) that knows GINGRICH is the best candidate, is MORE CONSERVATIVE than Romney and would actually be a better president. I, too, do not understand why people are saying, “if I have, I guess I’ll vote for Romney…” HELLO PEOPLE!!! YOU DON’T HAVE TO! NEWT GINGRICH is still running and should get your vote and should be elected! Stop whinning (although thinking you have to vote for Romney is a good reason to whine) but, start fighting for and supporting NEWT! HE NEEDS TO WIN. WE NEED NEWT!
I respectfully disagree. He’s worse than McCain. Much worse, because Obama has primed the country for him.
Romney will take power to millions of cheering useful idiots. Truely idiots? No, just regular folks without enough political, historical, or economic knowledge to understand just how dangerous our situation is right now.
Very encouraging. No, Romney is not everybody’s choice, but I think most Americans recognize him as someone they can work with. Obama has demonstrated over and over that no one can work with him, or even get through to him.
The Tea Party!!! rallies for Romney!!! in San Francisco!!!
The MSM narrative lies in smoking ruin.
Inflatable scrotum man was unavailable for comment.
Hey, for all we know he founded “Scrotums for Santorum,” and now that Santorum has dropped out, our hero has a new Web site: Inflatable Scromney.
Never jump to conclusions! (It can hurt — especially when they bounce. Ouch!)
Seriously, Zombie, thanks for this and all you continue to do; this is particularly encouraging.
Side note: I’ll bet the place was pretty clean at the end, right?
It was cleaner than when we started. You could eat off the floor.
Looking forward to a Romney cabinet filled with conservatives, instead of the current crop of socialists and communists.
Thank you my fellow San Franciscians, from Live free or die NH. I left 7 years ago after saying enough.
Whether my vote is relevant or not, whether it makes any difference in California or not, I would still crawl bare-legged over broken glass to vote for Romney.
Yes, I pleaded with my fellows not to make me have to do it. But, well, if ’twere done, ’twere best done quickly. And with enthusiasm.
Good point ! If you know you’re going to have to do it anyway, what’s the point in immersing yourself in negativity about it ? Just git ‘er done.
Zombie, just wanted to say I love your posts and this one is just excellent. Keep doing what you’re doing.
I am 100% convinced that Media Matters and/or some other organization connected to the Obama campaign is and has been in recent weeks sending out dozens of professional mobys to try to change the tenor of the conversation in the comments sections of conservative blogs. I don’t know how many people they’re fooling, but I’m surprised I haven’t seen bloggers talking about it yet.
Zombie, look at townhall.com ~ political cartoons. Look for name: Scott Kim. Case closed. Probably gets .50 cents per smarta$$ post.
Thanks so much for your coverage and wit.
Yep, Media Matters is sending out an army of people who talk about the Constitution and cutting spending and ending the entire income tax and IRS. Because Media Matters is all about those things, right?
People are just waking up to all the fake conservatives out there is all. Heck, look at that great “fiscally conservative” Paul Ryan budget so many of them like. Add trillions to the debt and not balance the budget for 30 years. 30 years! That’s three decades without a balanced budget. No surprise that the “new and improved” Taxed Enough Already party love fake conservatives like “TARP, Patriot Act, NDAA, 30 years to balance a budget” Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney.
A detail for those who weren’t there: If you look closely in the first photo, all the speakers stood on a piece of green Astroturf. Great job, Sally!
My name is Leifur Thor (to verify any information I give)I was working the other Ron Paul table just across the street at the Ferry Building. We were having a ball. I love how the article here makes it sound like Dr. Paul is out of the race, but you wouldn’t know it at our table haha! Mostly we had people wanting our photo with them with us arm in arm.
Something to mention regarding Dr. Paul. Many of those wanting our photo were from Dr. Paul support groups in Europe. Go on YouTube search “ron paul berkeley rally turned on” last week, and tell your readers he’s out of the race haha. I love the media, and if you believe them, I got a bridge to sell ya.
We gave out balloons and flyers, got a lot of support, and people signing up as Republicans to vote specifically for Ron Paul. One homeless woman left with one tied to her wheelchair, and a young girl on crutches left with one smiling as well. I walking around handing out balloons and flyers discovered the tea party rally by accident. They all looked at me funny, and now I see why, they were promoting Romney. So let’s see there were about 150-200 people I saw at the tea party rally, while there were thousands last week to see Ron Paul on Berkeley Campus.
Anyway, always good to hear the truth of things going on out there. So truth is Ron Paul is still running for President (and doing pretty good shh), and his support is GLOBAL, growing, and educated. Curious, how many Romney support groups are there outside the US??? R O N P A U L 2 0 1 2 W O O T !
Luckily, Europeans don’t vote in American elections.
Also, you point out something that has long been my impression as well: 90% of the Ron Paul supporters I have encountered since 2008 have been on the far left of the political spectrum, which is why you are finding support in Berkeley and Europe. I keep hearing rumors about Republican Ron Paul voters, but in my experience they are few and far between.
But all of this is moot, because all that matters is the delegate count. Hmmm, let’s see where Ron Paul stands right about now (http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/republican_delegate_count.html):
Romney: 656
Paul: 67
So, in the end it doesn’t matter how much support Dr. Paul has in Europe or Berkeley or SF; the bald facts are that he is already almost mathematically eliminated from the race. He’s only staying in to please his base; no one expects him to actually win, since to do so he’d have to basically sweep 100% of the delegates in all of the remaining races, in most of which he’s currently dead last in the polls.
This rally was about realpolitik: Like it or not, Romney will be the nominee. It is what it is. Obama is a disaster, and Romney is the only other option. Period. Once Romney becomes the official nominee, I encourage you to stop your Paul crusade and work tables to get Obama booted out. Or will you transition from Ron Paul to Occupy Wall Street instead?
Zombie, you’re trying to reason with an idiot… It won’t happen.
Ah, so funny, people making fun of the guy who says Ron Paul is still in the race, and then they gather around “facts” like the media made-up delegate counts even though a whole lot of delegates aren’t even nominated yet nor do they have to vote for who won a non-binding straw poll.
Even the GOP committee in Missouri says Ron Paul has a good chance of getting ALL the delegates from that state. That’s just one example. You won’t hear that kind of stuff in the mainstream news though, nor apparently on here.
Perhaps PJ Media should look into the true delegate standings and publish an article on it. As well as publish an article on Ron Paul’s massive crowds the past months that the media refuses to report on. Romney gets a crowd of 500? Front page news. Ron Paul gets a crowd of 8,500… shhhh.
And how about an article on the blatant GOP caucus corruption in places like Athens, GA and St. Charles, MO? It’s all on video. Look it up. Ben Swann did good coverage of it. St. Charles was so corrupted they had to run the caucus again, and on the redo of course Ron Paul won all the delegates. shhh… it’s apparently a secret.
A vote for Romney is a vote for NDAA. I know, I know, all the big-government fake conservatives either don’t care or are actually for NDAA. sad.
Oath Keepers: “To be blunt, we consider the NDAA of 2012 to be a declaration of war on the American people, and an act of treason.”
Btw, it’s to PJ Media’s benefit to publish Ron Paul articles since Ron Paul equals ratings. Publish some articles on the true delegate counts, on his massive rallies no one else reports on, on how he’s the most constitutional and truly small-government candidate in the race, how he has the only real plan to cut real spending and balance the budget in three years… and when word gets out, PJ Media will get a ton of traffic from it. Plus, it simply feels good to publish the truth, right?
Dear LeifThor:
Sorry, but Dr. Paul is out of the race.
Love,
Reality.
So glad to see the “Tea Party” embracing Romney after all those wonderful things that Romney did in support of the movement, like the time he appeared at…well, I can’t remember when he appeared at a Tea Party rally, but I’m sure there were scores of them where he was present, and my memory just fails me at this time.
And who can forget the countless times he stuck up for the Tea Party on national media outlets, like, for instance, that time on CNN…well, OK, I don’t ever remember him ever even saying the words “tea party” anywhere, at anytime, let alone on national television, but I’m sure he had warm and good intentions towards those who were protesting. Of course he did.
So why shouldn’t the “Tea Party” embrace Romney? I mean, look at all he’s done for the movement…well, OK, he’ hasn’t’ done a darn thing for the movement, but I’m sure, deep in his heart, he wanted to.
Maybe it’s just that whole Mormon anti-caffeine thing that kept him away, tea has caffeine in it after all, and wouldn’t want someone throwing out there religious principles just to join a popular up-rising. Yeah, that’s the ticket. Especially a religious principle with such theological significance as the avoidance of caffeine. I mean, who can forget that wonderful account in the bible where Moses came down from the mountain with the Ten Commandments, and found that the Jews had sinned by setting up a Starbucks in camp, and then the earth opened up and swallowed them whole? Let that be a warning for the rest of us.
See what I mean? They’re doing everything they can to stop the Romney momentum before it starts. Drive a test wedge, toss in an attempt to stir up some anti-Mormon bigotry (because we all know how bigoted those Tea Partiers are), and see who salutes.
Apparently, Alexander, Zombie forgets that Zombie once described the Tea Party as a decentralized movement. Now Zombie wants to treat the Tea Party as if it’s a monolithic voting bloc of the Republican Party.
You Vill Not Deviate From Zee Party Line! Papers!
Alexander, how dare you be critical of a sub-group of the Tea Party who has wrongly, yet freely, chosen to support a Progressive Socialist out of desperation? How dare you. Your free thinking makes me sick to my stomach.
Beyond that, I will now disparage your apparent claim of affiliation to the Tea Party movement so I can then dismiss the rest of your logical argument. See? Logical fallacies can be used by so-called Conservative bloggers, too!
I’m so sorry Jaycen, I should have known better than be a conservative with a conscious. How foolish of me. After all, it’s all about beating Obama, right? Doesn’t’ matter if Satan were the Republican nominee, at least he’s “NOT OBAMA!”
For my penance, I will report for duty to the nearest “Get out the Vote for Romney” phone bank, for a full and complete indoctrination.
Don’t forget that John McAmnesty called the Tea Party “hobbits.” And now he endorses Romney.
If Ron Paul had the Ring of Power, he’d throw it into Mount Doom.
This is what I’m talking about. Wes speaks of Ron Paul like he’s a messianic figure. Didn’t you learn anything from Obama’s ’08 campaign?
Is there anything Ron Paul CAN’T do? Everything is better with Ron Paul, just sprinkle some in!
Ron Paul is surely the magic wand we’ve all been waiting for to cure all of America’s woes. And all his anti-semetic friends…well, ignore them. Pay no attention to the men surrounding my “guy”.
Jaycen, I know what you mean. I have libertarian friends (from real life) and on facebook that constantly talk about Ron Paul as if he were=with Jesus. I mean it really turns me off.
Seriously, I cannot support Ron Paul because he is
1)Anti-Israel
2)Socially liberal on certain issues
AND RON PAUL ISN’T THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD! Really, I’d like these nuts to just quit with the rhetoric. JS
1) Anti-Israel. Yah right. In a previous post I pointed out how Ron Paul was one of the ONLY people in all of Congress and the U.N. that defended Israel’s bombing of Iraq that they thought was in the interest of their national security.
And Ron Paul consistently says Israel should be treated as a sovereign nation.
And Ron Paul has recently said Jerusalem should be the capital of Israel if that’s what Israel wants. Obama won’t say that. Romney won’t say that.
A lot of people claim Paul is anti-Israel because he wants to end ALL foreign aid to ALL countries. Of course, such a thing would actually help Israel since Israel gets 2-3 billion a year while its enemies get 12 billion a year, but who cares about things like facts, right?
2) Socially liberal on certain issues. …like what? I know, “drugs,” right? More than anything, he’s simply a constitutionalist on that. You’ve heard of The Constitution, right? That’s that thing that government amended TWICE for alcohol prohibition (which didn’t work anyway), yet for drugs they skipped that whole amending thing and just bastardize the Commerce Clause so the feds can have control instead of the states. Conservatives are supposed to be about states rights, aren’t they?
“I’d like these nuts to just quit with the rhetoric.”
You know what I’d like? I’d like the people who say they are conservatives and say they are in the Taxed Enough Already party support the most conservative candidate and the candidate most against spending and taxes and who has never voted for a tax increase. And that candidate is Ron Paul. But they don’t do that because they are fake conservatives and hypocrites.
I’d like people who don’t trust government to oversee their health care also be consistent and not trust government to wiretap, indefinitely detain, and even outright kill U.S. citizens without transparency or due process.
I’d like people who claim they are for less spending support the candidate who is actually for less spending and not just cuts in the rate of increases. I’d like those people to not support ridiculous Paul Ryan budget plans that add trillions to the debt and that don’t balance the budget for 30 years.
I’d like people to stop pretending the nomination race is over when it’s only half over. I’d like people to stop lapping up and repeating false delegate totals since those totals include non-binding straw polls that don’t mean anything. Ron Paul may get ALL the delegates from Missouri. He currently has 10 out of 12 delegates from Minnesota. He is now getting quite a bit of Santorum voter support, etc.
I’d like people including article authors to not accuse people of being Media Matters shills or the like for speaking the truth that the race isn’t over and that Romney isn’t much of a conservative. Santorum said Romney is the absolute worst Republican on the planet to put up against Obama.
I’d like people to give credit to the candidate who predicted the housing bubble five years before it happened.
I’d like politicians to take their oath to defend the Constitution seriously. I’d like voters to hold them accountable when they don’t.
I’d like Fox News to not run an article titled “Where in the World is Ron Paul” on the exact same day he holds a rally that has 5000+ people at it. Just one of many huge rallies he’s had recently that the news refuses to report on, with thousands of people at it the media refuses to acknowledge exist.
“Is there anything Ron Paul CAN’T do?”
Well, I’d say Ron Paul can’t fly, but he was in the Air Force, so he’s probably flown too. hahaha.
I will freaking weep with joy if Romney beats the bum we have in the WH now.
Zombie, I come to this site and read the the columns here because it’s a clear, unapologetic voice for conservative principles, not because it constantly shills for Romney. If I wanted that sort of thing, I would go read National Review or Ann Coulter.
Standing in my garage does not make me a car. A liberal politician suddenly embracing conservative principles does not make him a conservative, especially when there’s a long and stubborn record of his actual liberal accomplishments while in public office. Not too mention his own father’s fierce “moderate” Republican leanings. Not exactly a Barry Goldwater supporter, to be sure.
You’all go ahead and have fun drumming up momentum for Romney, and ignoring petty little “anti-Mormon” bigots like me, because he’s going to need all the help he can get. Despite four years of an unmitigated disaster that Obama’s presidency has been, it’s not going to be all that easy getting him out of office. Having Romney as the republican candidate is not going to make that job any easier. At least 50% of the idiots in this country are “true believers” in the hope and change that the Big O represents, and are going to vote for him no matter what.
Just to be perfectly clear, I certainly am anti-Mormon, but in a theological sense only. But if you would like to help understand the theological superiority of the Mormon religion, even though it’s claims of being “Christian” have been completely rejected to by every single major religious denomination, along with most of the minor ones, then please, feel free to educate me and anyone else who’s reading this.
As for Romney, his Mormonism wouldn’t even be an issue for me, if I saw a track record of solid conservatism in his public record, but there’s no bones to chew on on the score.
In the end, there needs to be a little bit more to rally around than the tired refrain of “he’s not Obama!” He might be even worse.
Very well put ATG, but Romney’s supporters are operating out of fear, & what you say will continue to fall on deaf ears. The Stupid Party could run Fidel Castro against Barack Obama & they would not only vote for him, but rally for him like “The Tea Party” did in San Francisco & disavow the conservative principles they claim to hold dear because they fear one man more than they fear The God who created them. Barack Obama is only a man, but these people have elevated him to someone more powerful than God Himself. When people do things out of fear they will not consider the consequences of their actions in the long run. Romney will continue expanding the Federal government, & his minions know this, but hey ABO right? No thanks. Like the founders, conservatives( Republican does not = conservative) should continue to put God & family first before country. This insane notion that “the nation will cease to exist if Obama wins & Romney is the only one “electable” enough who will beat him” is utter nonsense. This nation is going nowhere until God says otherwise & the “only Romney is “electable” nonsense came from the media & the idiots running The Stupid Party. If the conditions in the country continue to deteriorate it will be the fault of those who vote out of fear. God, then family, then country in that order or it won’t work. Romney is a liberal just like BHO without the outspoken arrogance. Romney’s liberal record speaks for itself.
OK, list for me all the other people, aside from Romney and Obama, who will actually be running in the general election and will have any chance to win.
…
Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, you have three choices facing you in November:
1. Vote for Obama, whose incredibly bad economic record already exists, and who makes no bones about continuing down the path to socialism.
2. Vote for Romney, who in a worst-case scenario might be somewhat like Obama on some issues, but not on all issues, and besides it’s all speculation at this point.
3. Vote for no one, which essentially functions as a vote for Obama.
Note how there is no fourth or fifth or sixth option, such as “Vote for a fantasy candidate who doesn’t exist” or “God will intervene somehow” or “I have a really clever plan to let Obama destroy the country for four more years so that when the nation is truly bankrupt in 2016, maybe everyone will nominate a candidate I like.”
Over the past months I wrote several posts expressing my dissatisfaction with Romney (and the other surviving GOP candidates). I’m no Romneybot. And nor are the people at the rally. But reality is reality is reality is reality. There’s only two people left on the field of battle: Obama and Romney. One you know to be bad. The other you fear might be bad. Do you walk away and let the bad guy win? Or do you root for the only remaining hope, that the “maybe-bad” guy wins, and then turns out to be not so bad after all?
Kenneth,
Really well put.
Then there’s “false choice fallacy” – either you vote for Obama and the world ends, or you vote for Romney and he’ll save us from Progressive Socialism.
There are so many problems with both points, I won’t even bother. How about another possibility? The Tea Party puts Constitutional Conservatives into the Senate and House, even more than in 2010.
The hard-right wave drags the needle back away from the hard-left swing the Progressives have enjoyed for the last 60 years. (please don’t waste my time telling me how politically Right Gingrich was) Congress then stands in the way of the Obama “regulatory fiat” machine.
Look, Woodrow Wilson didn’t destroy the world in 8 years. FDR didn’t destroy the world in 8 years. Both of those guys tried hard, too. Congress can keep Obama from doing it, too, so long as the citizenry stands behind Congress.
Four years of political gridlock is the best thing that could happen to the country. Four years for the Tea Party to further solidify their position and sweep more of the dregs from the Republican Party could allow for a Coolidge-revival and another roaring ’20s….100 years later.
I have to admit, last weekend was a “growing up” point for me. I refused to join the Republican Party for years, because of my disgust. Then I realized I’m just whining, and nothing is going to change if I just show up at Tea Party rallies. SOMEONE has to actually get into the party and do something. The Republican Party already has the mechanics in place to put people into positions of political power from top-to-bottom. It’s up to the Tea Party to use those mechanics to flex their political will.
Putting someone like Romney into the presidency is dangerous, because so many Americans would just go back to sleep…thinking “the job is done”…but if he’s only a less-radical-version of Obama, what have we gained? Nothing. We’ll have gone backwards.
That’s not just “another” possibiiity, that’s being done in addition to booting Obama out.
In fact, look at the first photo and this photo from the report. See the official slogan for the rally?:
“House the House! Seize the Senate! NObama 2012!”
The Tea Partiers there weren’t accepting the inevitability of a Romney nomination at the expense of also pushing for conservative congressional candidates. In fact, both strategies were being highlighted.
And here’s the key point: Conservatives are more likely to rack up a lot of votes for Senatorial candidates if the voters at least show up at the polls; if enough people listen to folks like you and refuse to vote for Romney on principle, then many of those people won’t even show up to vote at all; and the congressional candidates lower down on the ticket will suffer as a result.
But maybe that’s what you want.
Your constant insinuation that I’m a “liberal” plant notwithstanding, a Constituational Conservative sweep of the House and Senate would be fantastic….IF those same conservatives kept a laser-focused watch on Romney’s behavior, AND that of the Progressive Republicans who’re still entrenched in the party.
It worries me – how easy would it be to have “a great Republican victory” where most people are lulled into a false sense of complacency? Zombie, you might be walking proof that a large number of people would see the (R) after so many names and simply assume “all done!” We can all just shift our brains back into Neutral and coast, now that “Republicans are back in power”. Thank goodness for THAT form of groupthink, because it’s only bad when Marxist Democrats do it.
“A liberal politician suddenly embracing conservative principles does not make him a conservative…” Oh poor Ronald Reagan, I guess he is now not a Conservative. And of course Romney’s balancing of Massachusett’s budget was just the working of a “Liberal”? I am glad you have stated that you are anti-Mormon because at least it shows you have some awareness of your own bias, unfortunately it does not seem to be enough for you to take an actual clear look at Romney, Conservatives, and various issues.
Will Romney be the “real Conservative deal”? It depends slightly on Romney himself, but more on those who elect him, those who are elected into Congress, and if the electorate stands firm on the needed Conservative values that we need right now (Fiscal Conservativism) and not get distracted by less important issues (anti-Mormonism/religious bigotry, false “Conservative” bravado, or unpopular Social Conservative issues).
“In the end, there needs to be a little bit more to rally around than the tired refrain of ‘he’s not Obama!’ He might be even worse.”
God bless you, sir.
Jaycen:
Why are you here attacking the author of this article? Do you really think your insults are going to make a difference?
Your slam attacks on Zombie are uncalled for and a waste of time.
And how about Zombie’s slams on other people? Apparently I’m a Media Matters shill because I talk about how we need politicians who are for smaller government and less spending and who take their oath of office seriously instead of politicians who support things like NDAA and gun grabbing and things.
Hi, Debbie.
Let me just say, “Rah, rah, rah, sis-boom-bah!” Gooooooooo TEAM!
When you attack someone, Debbie, you need to at least try to provide some supporting points. Your comment amounts to “you suck, so go away”.
Thanks a lot for your support, and especially your desire to try to change my mind with your persuasive argument. Oh, blatantly sucking up to Zombie probably got you on to the “invite” list.
Good on ya.
I’m not shilling for Romney; I’m reporting on an event that occurred. I did not organize the Tea Party rally, I did not work the Romney table, I didn’t give one of the “Anybody but Obama” speeches, and I didn’t force four hundred people one by one to individually choose to wear Romney stickers, in most cases because they were simply being pragmatic.
I have no control over all that. It happened. Sorry if it upsets you.
Nor did I claim that Romney is a conservative. Nor did I say that I liked Romney.
But do I think that Romney, for all his flaws, is almost certainly better than Obama? Yes. Even if Romney is a flat-out liberal, that’s better than the flat-out socialist currently in the White House.
As for Romney being or not being a Christian: Frankly, I don’t give a damn. Obama’s not a Christian either (he’s obviously anti-religous, with not-so-secret cultural/personal sympathy for Islam), so it will be a race between two non-Christians. A wash.
If you truly think that Romney “might be worse” than Obama, then by all means vote for Obama. Your choice.
There’s a third choice, vote for neither.
And a fourth choice: begin a write-in campaign for Robert L. Simon.
I would vote for Hindu if he had a track record of conservative principles demonstrated while in office.
Zombie, Instead of just these cute little rhetorical flourishes of yours, why not list all the conservative bonafides of Romney, in terms of things he’s actually donewhile a public servant, not just said he’ll do. Nothing can quite win an argument like a well strung together list of facts with historical basis. Of course, you’ll have a pretty hard time with that request, won’t you?
Romney’s big problem with people like myself, and others posting here, is that this guy is really good at campaigning, but so what? So was Obama. Look how many people were taken in by his shtick, even though those of us who were following Obama for a while knew he was an out-an-out Marxist. And how did we know that? Because his whole history was filled with every sort of communist association that one could have in the USA, as was constantly being revealed in the “underground” conservative press. The “mainstream” conservative press, like NRO, wouldn’t touch the topic with a ten-foot pole.
That same underground movement has shown, without any shadow of doubt, that while Romney may not be an ideological Marxist, he’s certainly no conservative, and much closer to Obama on many key issues than conservative. He’s also a very doctrinaire Mormon, actively and intensely involved in the leadership of that “church” — which is a big negative in my book. But, to your point, he’s done a wonderful job in the past fews months doing his imitation of Ronald Reagan.
To quote The Who: I won’t be fooled again.
“As for Romney, his Mormonism wouldn’t even be an issue for me, if I saw a track record of solid conservatism in his public record, but there’s no bones to chew on on the score.”
This makes no sense. You’re saying that you’re not really bigoted against him because of his religion, you’re just making bigoted comments about his religion because he isn’t conservative enough???
I think Zombie is right about this comment.
Sounds like a clever imitation of a teapartier written by someone who doesn’t quite understand us. “Big O” (never seen that from a conservative) “go ahead and have fun drumming up momentum for Romney” … “he’s going to need all the help he can get.” “In the end, there needs to be a little bit more to rally around than the tired refrain of “he’s not Obama!” He might be even worse.”
Nice try, moby, but your linguistic skills are not what you think they are.
Apparently, Zombie, now identifies openly with the Tea Party. That’s great. I’ve been following Zombie since before PJ Media.
Sarah, I’ll take your word that you’re also Tea Party. That doesn’t mean both you and Zombie are infallible – or that I’m infallible, for that matter.
What’s frustrating for me, is that both of you assume that since we (Alexander and me) disagree with you on a crucial point, we can’t possibly be Tea Partiers. That sounds more like the thinking of a Progressive Socialist elitist.
Before either one of you so flippantly disregard the beliefs of your neighbors, and then use that disregard to disparage our self-proclaimed affiliation, you might want to check your thought process.
Alexander and I are critical of the Bay Area patriots, becuase of what we see as a rush to support someone who isn’t just ideologically impure, but seemingly antithetical to our common beliefs and principles. You and Zombie see this and use it to suggest that we’re ideologically impure, and then dismiss the rest of what we say without even considering it.
I mark thee, “Hypocrite”.
Dear Zombie,
I just wanted to express my thanks for your photo journalism. For the past nine years I’ve lived in China, and your posts have been invaluable in keeping me in the loop with what’s going on in the US. I always check out your photo collections whenever they get posted. I just want you to know how important your work has been to me.
Thanks again, and keep up the good work.
An American Expat
Glad to be of service! You’re probably the best-informed person in China.
(Actually, I’m surprised zombietime wasn’t banned in China after my “Olympic Torch” report.)
Just an aside, take a look at the background of the KSFO booth photo and tell me that’s not an occupier behind the Reagan cut-out urinating on the leg of his comrade. Maybe he couldn’t make it to the nearest police car.
Regardless, it’s gratifying to see some red, white and blue waving in the formerly golden state, especially SF. Unfortunately, CA will not go to the GOP anytime soon. Aside from the ubiquitous moon-bats, there actually was a majority of sensible people in the state as recently as the mid-90s. But between the influx of illegals from the south and the emmigration of militant, environmentalist vegetarians from Oregon, there is now a permanent voting majority of left-wing rebels without a clue. I also think the radical gays are multiplying but for the life of me, I can’t figure out how.
Finding a decent GOP candidate in California these days is about as easy as finding Obama’s long-form birth certificate. I think it became apparent when Bob Dornan lost his seat to Loretta Sanchez in ’96 by less than 300 votes. Dornan claimed voter fraud and even though over 4700 votes were deemed “questionable”, the investigation was dropped and Sanchez was given the election. When “B-1 Bob” went down, I saw the handwriting on the wall and moved to Nevada.
Look at all the fake conservatives at that rally supporting a guy who supports TARP, the Patriot Act, NDAA, and who doesn’t have a serious plan to cut spending and balance the budget. Oh yeah, and he’s a gun grabber too.
You’d think the Taxed Enough Already party would support Ron Paul, the guy who has never voted for a tax increase, wants to cut a Trillion Dollars year one, and wants to eliminate the entire income tax and IRS. But nope. Fakes.
One really wonders why Media Matters thinks this strategy will work. They really seem out of touch.
Please explain why Media Matters would want to encourage people to support true small-government, constitutional principles, real cuts in spending, eliminating five federal departments, supporting the most pro-gun candidate, the candidate who has never voted for a tax increase, the candidate who is actually different from Obama, unlike Romney who is for the same TARP, the same Patriot Act, the same NDAA, and is the father of Romneycare?
Is that Media Matters’ devious plan? To promote The Constitution and small government and candidates who embody those principles?
another thing
there has been no mention/support for the horrendous foreign policy of ron paul which would easily get the support from the left in congress as his libertarian domestic policy never sees the light of day
pj media has already been through the ron paul brouhaha a couple months ago; this cat seems a day late and a doobie short
What part of Paul’s foreign policy don’t you like? The part where Paul Wolfowitz in 2003 said similar things about U.S. troops occupying the middle east and being “a huge recruiting device for al Qaeda”?
Or maybe you’re referring to blowback that both the CIA and 9/11 commission talk about.
Or maybe you’re referring to recently when warhawk Newt Gingrich and other Republicans now say we need to rethink our entire foreign policy and that being in countries like Afghanistan is probably counterproductive. Ron Paul says thinks like that for decades, “he’s crazy.” Newt says things like that all of a sudden and “hmm, that’s an interesting point we should consider.”
Or maybe you’re referring to how Ronald Reagan talked about non-interventionism especially after the Marines were killed in Beirut.
Agreed, but Ron Paul won’t win the Republican nomination. Take a look at Gary Johnson, the past two- term Governor of New Mexico. He’s endorsed Ron Paul in that past and should be on the ballot in all 50 states after he wins the Libertarian Party’s nomination: http://www.garyjohnson2012.com
Question: if “small-government conservatives” don’t trust government to oversee their health care, how come they do trust government to wiretap, indefinitely detain, and even kill U.S. citizens without transparency or due process?
That’d be a great question, if it wasn’t inherently false. Why don’t you list the small-government conservatives who support all of that? Seems like I just spent several comments arguing with Zombie over this very issue (NDAA and the alliance of Romney and Obama).
I’m certainly not okay with it. I know several others who aren’t. List the names of some Constitutional Conservatives who’ve openly supported these things, and we can debate the point.
Sorry, I didn’t catch the fact that you’re a Ron Paul supporter. Now you’re intellectually dishonest question makes perfect sense.
Sadly, we are in lock-step in terms of your assesment of Mitt Romney. I say that, because when we talk about the alternative, it’s sure as heck NOT going to be Ron Paul.
Feel free to scroll upwards to see my (and others’) statements regarding Ron Paul. He’s left of Obama on many policies.
Wes, can you tell us a single Ron Paul belief that doesn’t come from his website? I haven’t met a Constitutional Conservative yet who can. They get suckered in by his rhetoric (usually the stuff that lines up with Austrian economics), but they can’t articulate a single thought that didn’t first originate inside Paul’s mind.
Best of luck.
Ron Paul has lots of stuff on his website. Unlike people like Newt Gingrich whose budget plan apparently consists of 1) “growing the economy,” and 2) taking opinions from people on what they think his budget plan should be.
And then there’s Romney’s plan of probably eliminating HUD, and “a lot of” the Department of Education. Or maybe not, since he’s not sure, but maybe he’ll think about it and Etch-a-Sketch it some more.
Meanwhile, Ron Paul’s website has a plan to balance the budget in three years, his saying protecting the borders is of utmost importance, etc. People can actually know what Ron Paul is about by reading his website. The country would be a lot better off they read his site instead of just thinking the media is properly covering his views.
Did not having 15+ trillion-dollars in debt originate inside Paul’s mind? Did not having trillion-dollar yearly deficits originate inside Paul’s mind? Did not fighting never-ending Vietnam Wars originate inside Paul’s mind? Did not ever increasing taxes originate in Paul’s mind?
Your question reminds me of when people say Ron Paul is a libertarian or he’s this or he’s that. What he really is (besides a paleoconservative) is a constitutionalist. Did the Constitution originate inside Paul’s mind? Pretty sure it didn’t. And I’m pretty sure politicians take an oath to defend that Constitution. A promise they have not been keeping.
I’ve never met a former Ron Paul supporter. Once they open their eyes they don’t close them again. I have to laugh when you say people get sucked in by Paul’s rhetoric. I guess it’s true… “Freedom is popular.”
If you want to debate something, let’s hear it.
Notice the quotes around “small-government conservative.” True small-government conservatives don’t support things like NDAA. But the big-government fake conservatives do. Like Paul Ryan, for instance. Like Lindsey Graham, for instance. Like John McCain, for instance. Like so many people who support Mitt Romney over Ron Paul, for instance.
Thank-you Zombie. It is good to have actual pictures to compare and contrast groups such as OWS to the Tea Party.
I recently heard Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) lamenting on a public radio station recently that the Tea Party is evil and obstructionist. Did it ever occur to him that perhaps the reason the Tea Party is putting a stop to everything is because we don’t have the money? We have borrowed all we can afford, and then some. Where is the ROI? At least when we spend it on infrastructure and basic research, we have something to show for our efforts. How does a massive government run health care plan make us more productive?
So, compare and contrast: on the Left we have OWS and on the Right we have Tea Party. Which is more civil, caring, clear, and concise? I’m not even sure what OWS is about.
I’m not a Romney supporter myself; I voted for Newt and still support him. That said, it looks as though he bought the GOP nomination fair and square, and I’ll go ahead and vote the straight GOP ticket, as is my wont.
Yes, the Tea Party is still around, and if anything, we’ll be bigger and ever. The Presidential race is important, but IMO, it is even MORE important to get a GOP majority in both the House and the Senate, along with GOP governors, State legislators, and local officeholders. Fellow Tea Partiers, keep that in mind when you talk to others about the election!
There was always an element of people who were either fools, or establishment sellouts in the “Tea Party”, I guess you can’t blame Sanfrancisco for being the epicenter of these folks!~
As usual, the folks in these protests have a lot more sense of humor, a clear and sane message, and are much more polite and clean (in both senses of the word) than the “occupy” crowd. There is occassional “Obama evil dictator” folks (if he’s a dictator, what’s all this election thingy?) but they are 5% of the signs, not the 95% of signs the “Bush evil dictator” protests used to get.
I think large corporations have too much power. But like G. K. Chesterton, I realize the “solution” of the “good” government fighting the “evil” corporations really means the government being just another large corporation — and a far more expensive, inefficient, and anti-freedom one, at that. And, what’s more, when I look at the “OWS” movement, I realize that as much as I don’t like crony capitalism — CEOs of large corporations telling the government what to do — I prefer that 1000% to the OWS’s “revolution” — smelly hippies who couldn’t run a lemondate stand telling the government what to do.
I’m not saying CEOs of large corporations REALLY run the government, I am just saying that if I had to choose between them and the OWS folks running it, it’s a no-brainer. I am sure large corporations have a lot more influence than they should, but, like Pat Condell said about the “Jews control America” meme: if the CEOs of large corporations — or the Jews — were really controlling America, would the country be $15,000,000,000,000 in debt?!
The Repubicans could run Richard Simmons or Geoff Peterson against Obama and have a realistic shot at the White House.
Richard Simmons or Geoff Peterson would both be better than Romney!
I’d vote for Richard Simmons before I’d vote for Mitt Romney. I’d vote for Tim Gunn before I’d vote for Mitt Romney, and Tim Gunn is a raging freak.
Nope. Seems to me this is the perfect opportunity to vote “outside the box”.
I’ve been hearing my entire voting life about how bad it might be if “they”- the other side- wins. I might have even used that line myself a few times when I was younger. But the bad stuff still happens regardless of who won the White House.
Time to put an end to the charade that there’s only two choices. I’m voting for past two- term Governor of New Mexico, Gary Johnson, who will most likely be the Libertarian Party’s nominee for President. He’s both fiscally conservative and socially tolerant, unlike Obama/Romney. http://www.garyjohnson2012.com
I just do not understand the Romney thingy. He was a liberal Massachussetts governor close friend of Ted Kennedy and now he is a right wing conservative. This is a very confusing election cycle filled with very strange candidates. Is the tail about to wag the dog again? Just thinking….
In 2008 Paul’s supporters were saying the same thing about their man: his rallies were not covered, he was going to win the primary–“look at the Internet polls!”–they screamed. Well, he lost. And badly. Just like he is going to lose again. But it won’t stop these clowns from saying the same thing again in four years if Paul chooses to run.
Logic simply does not sway these people. They are ideologues. Anyone who would claim Mitt Romey (remember, he was the conservative choice in 2008) is a liberal–not a moderate or centrist Republican but a *liberal*–is simply not worth discussing political matters with. Let them stew amongst themselves on the margins of political discourse.
Adults know we are going to end up with a (D) or (R) for president. Kids can play in the political sandbox. Nuff said.
All the neo-commies and FAKE “anti-war” cultists who don’t like Obama anymore should vote for MORON Paul.
It will be President Romney in November.
Thank us.
Romney has no more chance against the incumbant than Kerry did in ’04. Plus, he’s not giving Obama anything to oppose.
I can see it now:
Obama: Perpetual warfare, compounding debt & indefinate detention of American citizens is good for gay people. Girls and minorities have a right to be fondled by the TSA!
Romney: Perpetual warfare, compounding debt & indefinate detention of American citizens is the way Reagan would like it. God bless the TSA!
Paul or Johnson: I can’t believe you people are selling your souls for this crap.