..Clearly I am not alone in my concerns for this latest trend in anti- govt. rhetoric...

..http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/10/over-the-line-in-south-carolina/..

 

Charlie, are you saying we are on our way back to the 50's/60's?  I'm sad to say that I can see this happening if we, as a whole, don't become more open-minded and willing to work together to repair all the damage that exists now.  I just wish I knew enough about politics to discuss this more intelligently.  Sorry
 

You're not alone, Janice.  I, too, lack knowledge in politics.  The only thing I know for sure is that right now, we're all facing a massive amount of turmoil in our country.
 

Thank you for your response, Andrew.  I'm glad I'm not the only one that does not understand much of the political debate.  From what I'm reading, I don't think we are the only ones that don't know all that much. 
 

Your not alone at all...I 2 am not that smart when it comes 2 politics but Charlie puts it in a way that I can understand what he's triing 2 say. 4 me it's kinda hard 2 understand because I was born in 1978 so when Regan was president I had no clue about anything let alone politics...My point is that Ii agree with every word Charlie is saying and I wish he could run 4 president...GO CHARLIE U TELL EM I WILL ALWAYS BACK U NO MATTER WHAT:)

        Your Friend,
            Shana Tweed
 

....i see where u are gonna with beacuse back in the day was not like this but should not had to say he was sorry for call him a lie we had the right to say what on are mines an seem like when someone try to tell the true about it come out an say they are sorry that is soo miss up men ....
 

Very important that more people understand what they are bearing witness to; and very important to have people speak out about the truth of the lustful grandstanding and opposition-at-all-cost, in this three-ring-rep circus. Voices like yours, Charlie. I didn't have more than a minute left, after spending time on your important blog, to write much more than thank you SOOO much! Began to say "Right on" but I can't seem to stomach the phrase anymore, for some reason?!
 

Charles, you are spot on. However until we get the 65% of this country who have sane thoughts marching in favor of our President, we are screwed. Do you see were I am gong with this ! We must shine brite and take action. Thoughtfully, Cheyenne
 

May I ask(and I don't mean this disrespectfully, it's a serious question)...where do you get the idea that 65% of the American people support Pres. Obama and what he's doing? 65% didn't even VOTE for him, and his approval rating is dropping. Can you clarify, please? Thanks!

 

Today will be a very interesting day to say the least, and I emphasize the word least, and I hope that it does not turn into blood shed.  In my opinion, these whining, tooth-pulling, stuck in 1912, so ugly they can't get a decent woman SOB'S need to just give it up.  They lost, fair and square.   Their desperate crys for "change" are getting no where...America does not want to hear it!   What really disgusts me is that in this nation, we inhabit some of the most uneducated, closed-minded people, and we accept that!  Maybe it is a choice of not having any options, but let me tell you this.  Without minorities, difference of opinion, civil rights, and basic openmindedness, it would get real boring watching a tv screen with no color.
 

So, I have to think and act like you to not be a "whining, tooth-pulling, stuck in 1912, so ugly they can't get a decent woman"   And by the way, hate isn't just black and white. Altho, living here in the south for the last couple of months has made it clear that they honestly think they are the only ones in the world.  But I have run across racism just about everywhere I have been.  California, Texas, Montana, Washington, and Hawaii.  I was appalled that there is this town in Texas that if you aren't florescent white, you are run out of town, make an issue of it and they will still string you up.  Hate and degradation should never be tollerated.  And for you to degrade a group of people while preaching tollerance is highly ironic, and totally undermines the worth of your own argument. 
 

You know NOTHING about the people who are in Washington DC right now except for what you've heard on some left-wing website or show, or perhaps some extremist you may know personally. America IS listening....more every day. I'm sorry if you all don't like that. Most people are AT WORK when Glenn Beck is on(I can't even watch his histrionics...but he often presents some good facts), but we have computers, conservative communities online and Google. Most of us research what we hear and discuss it with others online before believing it. I'm not sure any of this is getting through the hatred for conservatives...but it's the truth. We have instant access now to everything that is happening in the world, so we can respond and react faster than ever before in history. We also have the most radical agenda EVER in this administration, and people are concerned...especially those of us who were already concerned about the radical connections, the lack of leadership experience and the "missing years". We watched in disbelief as a man who apparently has no friends from high school/college/law school(except now we've met the angry racist professor), must have worked alone at the Harvard Law Review, had no contacts when he was a community organizer or a young lawyer either. The friends we HAVE met have been radical left instigators, and he sat for 20 years in a church where he 'heard nothing'...yet quoted the sermons he didn't hear in his books and even used one sermon as a book title. We have a man living in the White House who traveled to Pakistan when Americans were not allowed to do so...so just what passport did he have? It's that kind of stuff that really has citizens concerned, and now we see the same type of radicals being put in czar positions...making policy and advising the president on things that affect us. Unelected, unvetted, unconfirmed czars....36 of them. Meanwhile, there are open Cabinet positions because they can't find people who don't have serious baggage. More and more people are saying "we can't just sit back and accept this...we need to at least try and stop this radical takeover of our country".
  Now, I'll go put on my flame-proof suit because I know I'm not going to make people happy today. What I've just said is WHY the people are in Washington today...to try and help you all understand what's really going on. You don't have to agree with the principles, but at least try to understand the thoughts. Yelling "racist" when someone is trying to list  legitimate grievances isn't going to help..it makes you guys look like you have no answers so you pull out the race card. Obama won the election...based on those who voted. I'd bet 25% of those who didn't vote, did so because they refused to vote for the lesser of 2 evils..and were already prepared to fight no matter who won. Many McCain voters(c'est moi) voted for him, intending to watch every move he made and hold his feet to the fire...and protest if he didn't keep his promises. THAT'S what's going on here...not a vendetta against Obama or a bunch of sore losers who want to storm the Bastille.
  Oh, and btw...I'm a MENSA member with 2 bachelor's degrees, speak 2 languages, and have my own teeth.

 

Very well said ZMT!!!  I am just now learning about these so-called "czar" positions, and have just started investigating it.  So far what I have found is redundancy and waste.   ..http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/09/07/obama.czars/index.html?iref=mpstoryview.., ..http://nymag.com/news/features/58193/.., and the last one for you conspiracy theorists ..http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/chrysler.asp..

Even with all that said, this administration, like the ones before it are adding conflict to chaos.  There really is no need for this administration to have so many czars when there are Cabinate postitions open for the same purpose.  But then again, redundancy in politics is expected from all sides of the fence. 
 

he should had the right to say what on ur mine this is a free county but i guess not huh do not have the right to say what on ur mine anymore this is soo miss up men if i was men i would never said i was sorry for what i said i bet he was upset for call him a lier an if he did not say he was sorry lost his job and that word tell u how cold he is an got everbody bran shows that they do anything that he tell them to do or else but when u get a change plz  reply back to this comment an thanks u  for post this an left ur fans know what happen in this world too day
 

9/11 is a fake
 

..No, honestly, it is a true date.  Do I believe that Bush and his CIA cronies orchistrated the events that happened that day? No! Do I believe all Muslims need to be held accountable for that day? NO!! Should it be forgotten? NO!!!!!! ..
 

Charlie, thank you for providing such informative links. I can understand your fears and concerns, despite the fact that I think you are reading more into this than is really involved. That's fine....but please stop generalizing. Many of those who are going to DC this weekend(I am not, but I know many who are) are going to protest what they see as an erosion of the intent of the founders...50 individual states with some federal oversight. Others can explain it much better than I can. We are NOT a democracy, we are a representative republic...and our representatives no longer represent us and the states have lost their individual rights.
  What I'm reading in your post also, is a racial undertone that the Democrats seem to be using a lot. Van Jones has to resign because he's a communist radical...nah, it's just because he's black. ACORN gets caught helping undercover film-makers set up a tax-evading child prostitution business...again, racial smears. Now you're taking the racial aspects of the civil rights movement and extrapolating it into some kind of attack against Obama because he is black. This constant use of the race card is CAUSING racial division where there was none. That said...I do understand your fears and what you are trying to say here.
   My main point with this is not the protest(which I think is good, as long as it stays civil)...but with the "theme" that Obama won and therefore we should just deal with it. He "won" 52% of the votes when only 62% of those eligible actually voted. 46% voted for McCain, 2% voted 3rd Party, and the other 38% stayed home...many in protest over the stimulus bill(refusing to cast their vote for McCain after all) or in disgust over the corruption in all of the candidates. We can probably safely assume that there weren't many Obama voters who stayed home...they ran a brilliant campaign to get out the vote and register new voters. Not all of those who are unhappy and protesting are disgruntled McCain voters who are sore losers with sour grapes. There are even Obama voters with buyer's remorse in the mix. I'm seeing all over the internet, people who were never politically involved before(even if they voted regularly)...become VERY concerned and involved.
   I know the liberals believe that you "had a mandate" "won in a landslide" but it's not true. I sense a feeling of shock among them...that they aren't able to just walk in and do whatever they want without question. The American people are ANGRY...angry at the back room deals with lobbyists, tax-evaders being in charge of our treasury/IRS, Fannie and Freddie and the deals that went with that, and now radical "czars" being put in charge while we still have open cabinet positions. There's a LOT of straw on that camel's back, and many of us saw this coming. And yes...most of those people are angry at Bush and angry at themselves for being asleep at the wheel. That doesn't mean we stay asleep or stay silent again. Too many bad things happened when we weren't paying attention.

 

I was living in Somerset when FL 93 came down a mile from my home. Glenn Beck and his band of proverbial misfit toys will never understand the horror I saw, tasted, smelled, and felt that day. You have posted a bold assessment of where this country is going if lucid people don't speak up and stand up to those who have spiritually immature arrogance and misplaced fear. It is their fear that people like Beck prey on-we need to collectively replace that fear with the argument of consequence and reason... and love.
 

Charlie, thanks for the heads up.  People who do not learn from history, can be doomed to repeat it. 

There are many people who may not have heard of the 9/12 March on Washington.  Many people do not listen to Glenn Beck, or think that his ideas are crazy rants.  We need to remember that, given a platform, people like Beck can gain a following. 

The last administations policies of running up huge national debts for the war in Iraq seem to be lost on some people.  The fact that much of that money did not reach the front lines for much needed equipment is being forgotten.

The fact that many jobs were shipped out of the counrty during the Bush years, causing the huge unemployment problems we now face, is not something that can be changed in a few months. We are in difficult times, and people want instantanious answers to problems that have been years in the making.  You can not solve the county's problems overnight, but those expectations are causing people to question the current adminaitrations policies.  Some people are easily swayed by fear during these tough times, that is when men like Beck can become most dangerous.

We need to remember that even people who do not agree with the President, should respect the office.  That tearing down the govenment, which has served our country quite well for the past two centuries, is not an answer.  Instead of being disruptive, we should be telling our Representatives, what it is we, as a people, want and push forward with health reform, the creation of new jobs, and stabilizing the economy.

My greatest concern is that when the next presidential election occurs, Rep. Wilson will use his disrespectful behavior to run for the office he so openly disrespected.  What would the country be like under such a man?  I shudder to think.
 

I share your feelings, Amy-I knew nothing about the DC march--there was no mention of it in our local paper, and trust me, Lancaster, PA is a truly conservative, R--epublican area  what was in our paper was the fact that 9/11 was being honored by a "Service to Others Day--where Conservatives, Liberals, and just plain people went about doing chores and tasks for people who needed things done--to me , that seems a much better way of remembering 9/11. Maybe the whole country should take a hint and actually get our act TOGETHER--for the good of all of us--
 

..Did you forget about the jobs that were shipped out of country during the Clinton administration with the final approval of NAFTA?   ......
 

Es gibt immer Menschen die es nicht verkraften können zu verlieren. In Deutschland  gibt es auch noch welche die immer noch an den Endsieg glauben. Leider gibt es wie in Amerika auch in Deutschland Unverbesserliche  Fanatiker . Ich wünsche Euch  mit Präsident Obama viel Erfolg und das er auch vieles verändern kann. Wir im Osten Deutschlands hatten ja auch 1989 Glück mit Kanzler Helmut Kohl und sind nun seit  fast 20 Jahren eine Demokratie und keine Diktatur mehr. Gott sei Dank

 

Excellent blog.

The problem with the racial issue is that neither side can prove their case.  The Right will always say they're not racist but really believe in anti-government.  The Left will always say there's an undertone of racism there.  I will say that terms like "states rights" and "secession" clearly evoke memories of our history lessons about the Civil War...which inevitably brings up the issue of slavery and racism, et cetera.

If the Right don't want to be generalized into crazy racist lunatics, they really need to work to get Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck off of the air.  The outrageous radio hosts, the people bringing guns to town hall meetings, the politicians like Rep. Wison...all just add to the perception of craziness. 

I'd love to see a pro-government rally with people marching who support the Health Care Reform and support what Obama is doing.
 

And if you Democrats don't want to be thought of as loons who see everything as a "racial smear/you just don't like him because he's black" , you might want to place a call to Keith Olbermann and Janene Garofalo. I don't think of you all that way, so please stop assuming that Rush and Beck are the dear leaders of the Right. They both have truth in what they're sayingRush and Beck, not Garofalo)...and the more flamboyant they are in their delivery, the more their ratings rise. I was driving home from work on Friday(9/11) and Rush was on(I normally am not in the car when his show is scheduled)...and I was so disappointed in him. Ranting and raving about how Obama gave a speech on 9/11 and didn't mention the military. There was no reason to dishonor the day by picking one little thing out of a speech  about America coming together and blowing it out of proportion(which is MHO, of course...your mileage may vary).
 Again...all of you,please stop generalizing.

 

As usual, you are right on target, Charles.  If the Right lost the election, power and trust of the American people (like me) it is their OWN DAMNED FAULT!  I was a lifelong Republican UNTIL LAST YEAR when I finally voted Democratic for the first time in my life.  Listening to McCain making statements like "we could be in Iraq another 100 years" made my blood run cold and that same blood boiled every time that Palin woman opened her mouth! Barack Obama is certainly the most intelligent president we have had for a long time and is trying to clean up the mess the Republicans left for him. And yes, if President Obama hadn't have done the things he did since taking office, we would already be in the midst of another DEPRESSION--not recession!  He is a GREAT PRESIDENT and deserves the respect of everyone, not just people like me, who love and honor him!

PS -- After I close this comment, I am going to delete Glenn Beck from my MySpace friends because I definitely do NOT share his views any more!

 

Hi Charlie, you know, when Obama was elected President, I was afraid something like this would happen.  I hope President Obama and his family stays safe through all of this. 
 

Hi Charlie, you know, when Obama was elected President, I was so afraid that something like this was going to happen.  It only takes one person to start a argument, and this moron has started a big one.  I hope President Obama and his family stays safe through all of this.  Hopefully, someone with common sense will step in and stop all this nonsense before it really gets out of hand.  
 

Lest we forget history, it was the Democrats who were the party of the Old South. The Republicans were the party of Lincoln. Of course, we all know things change.

Were it not for the obviously heinous moral issue of slavery, I believe that the South should have had the right to secede. Matter of fact, I think a good case could be made that we would be better off as a nation without them.

There was a great humor piece written by William Falk in The Week in which he stated it was time to divide the nation into two countries. I quote... "In a new nation fashioned out of the current red states - call it, for the sake of argument, Limbaughland - the federal tax rate could be cut to 10 percent, Medicaid and Medicare and Social Serucity would be abolished, abortion would be illegal, gays would be closeted again, and Christianity would be the official state religion. Anyone could buy any kind of gun, no questions asked. In the current blue states, which we will call here ObamaNation, the federal tax rate would top out at 90 percent; all employers would institute quotas for minorities, women and less-abled persons; and you'd get your health care from a single-payer system like Canada's. Fast food and guns would be banned, while gay marriage and marijuana would be legal..."

The way the country is now, nobody is going to get anything they're happy with.

Absolutely, the Republicans glommed on to the remaining sympathizers to the Old South. Because without them, they couldn't win any elections. Because there just aren't enough rich investor types to win an election. So they had to broaden the base somewhere. And they, wisely or otherwise, picked the (for lack of a better term) trailer trash of the Old South. People whose main possessions are numerous guns, a bible, a flag, and the knowledge that at least they aren't black.

The Democrats used to have these people. They didn't want 'em, for obvious reasons. George Wallace picked 'em up back in the day. And then Ronald Reagan and company signed 'em up as Republicans in droves.

But it's a mistake to think that all Republicans fall into this category. They don't. There are some very intelligent, sophisticated well meaning people who have something actually worth conserving. Their wealth. And they don't want anybody taking it, no way no how. And they've done an amazing job of convincing people who live in places that nobody in their right mind would want to live, in conditions that are relatively bland if not deplorable, surrounded by people who are a bit dull if not downright stupid, eating food that is only marginally digestible, that somehow the Republican party represents what is best for them.

To understand it, you have to look at the history of who these people are. America, especially the South, was kind of a dumping ground for the dregs of humanity that Europe didn't want. I say this actually with some fondness, because my paternal grandmother's family was from the deep South, and yet if you try to trace them, they just drop off the radar. There's no record of when they showed up, or how. There's very little record of where they lived, except in family lore. Because these people had an extreme distrust of government. They didn't fill out census forms. They didn't even have birth certificates. Because most likely they were sprung from some prison and dumped over here where they scurried into the woods and  shot at anybody who came up the trail who wasn't related to 'em.

That's obviously a caricature. These were, and are, complex human beings, some very intelligent, some not, etc. But there are tens of millions of Americans whose family tree has a branch, or a trunk, like that. The Republicans have figured out how to appeal to their most basic fears... big government, gun laws and black people in positions of power.

They're a part of the fabric of America. And they're not all the drooling, fanatic idiots that some make them out to be. If you want to be treated with civility and decency and downright friendliness, you're much more likely to find those qualities in a red state.

I know people who are life long Republicans who are appalled at the tone the Republican Party has taken. I understand your concern. They scare me too. Because they're scary. They get into a lynch mob mentality. These folks are armed to the teeth and can get rabid and irrational when the right buttons are pushed. And the Republicans know where those buttons are, and are not at all shy about pushing them.

Those of us in who live in California will never see the world the same way as those who live in Alabama. Individual states are far more governable than the entire nation.    

 

 

BRAVO! Standing ovation and thunderous applause, from a Republican who isn't sure she's going to stay in the party(don't worry though...I'll be an Independent, not a Democrat LOL).

 

..I checked out the sites Charles and indeed those things are disturbing!  I have not been a fan of Glen Beck...I do try to glean whatever truth I can from what people are saying and shake off the hate from it.

In the early 70's I was working at Uniontown Hospital's Central Service Department in PA.  A group of employees wanted me to join a civil rights type of movement to get better health insurance, etc.  I signed a card saying I was interested and then these people went on strike (it was in national news).  I chose not to leave sick people - me and two of my co-worker friends.

The next thing we know there is a group of people outside singing "We Shall Overcome" - now we're on the bottom floor at night - just us 3 girls with them out there marching - I must say that it was a little scarey - not the picketing or the singing...

Some of these people had threatened us personally.  The killed the dog of one of my girlfriends, the called my grandmother up and threatened her.  The other girl was followed on her thermometer route through the hospital - this man got passed even the Pinkertons!  He came to our door in the basement - I had the door open and pushed a cart in front of it - luckily the other girl is 6'5" and we were able to discourage him from coming in.

I was chased on my way to catch a bus for work.  My sister was followed.  I was told by one of them "you know some people that don't join have had bombs put in their cars".

The head of the hospital nursing department received threats that her daughter would be murdered.  She broke down in tears.

My grandfather was the head of Civil Defense at the time and I was not bothered by the picket line, although my other 2 friends had difficulty with them.

But...when going to the 3rd floor to change my clothes for the night shift (a floor that was completely empty at that time), while I was changing someone took my time card and ripped it in half.  The time clock was also on that floor - they were hiding and knew I would be there at that time.  During the time it took for me to take the torn card downstairs to show my supervisor and then go back up with her to the time clock, they had ripped everyone else's time card in half that worked in the department.

What I'm saying is that perhaps there were some good points - but they got drowned out by the attitude and the hatred. It's not confined to one party is it?  And I don't think that all of the picketers were that way.

As far as race issues...see if you can get the National Geographics documentary recently called "The Human Tree".  They got DNA from 300,000 people in NY and the results were astounding.

I found it particulary interesting because I had already gotten my paternal and maternal DNAs.  My mother's line is the "M" haplogroup, one of the oldest and they can trace the migration in history (I don't go along with the number of years calculations - but the DNA is undeniable) from South Africa going two routes, one through southern Asia to Austrailia and to India; the other going from Africa straight through Asia to India.  60% of the "M" group is found in India.  Recently they discovered that the "M" group was found in remains of some American Indians - which makes sense to me, my great grandmother was part Indian and her pictures show it.

Everyone should get their DNA - they might change their tune a little bit :)..
 

Mr Shaughnessy
**omg--I do here where your going--and indeed  these people are dangerous..Talk about your sore losers. What a mess or should I say vicious circle ~~ I agree with Janice--if we, as a whole, don't become more open-minded and willing to work together to repair all the damage that exists now--this nonsense of two side--completely split apart --having to choose--when we should be one whole--State--the word is UNITED --in Unites States of America--United We Stand-&-Divide We Fall~~
The question being--How do we get back to that? Where do we start--because it has to be some-where and some--where soon!!!!
~~~April

 

..You're in fine blog voice this month sir!!.... ....I think Wilson may have been smarter then you think. The day after Obama's speech people were more interested in the outburst then the topic at hand. As ugly as it was, it was a fairly successful diversion of peoples focus.

Only one thing stopping me from giving you kudos this time Charlie....You're concern for the memories of the murdered Americans is touching, but it wasn't just Americans that died that day, and as wonderful as your blogs are it makes me sad that you seem to suffer from the narrow vision that America as a whole suffers from. I realise these blogs are very focussed on American issues and opinions but over 80 countries make up the figure of the those who lost there life on that dark day, and to ignore that to prove a point? I'm dissapointed in you...
 

On behalf of all Americans Eileen, who constantly forget,  I would personally like to apologize for the fact that ..many americans are always forgetting that we are not the only ones in the world and the world does not revolve around us and we aren't very much of a super power anymore. we are a mess.  ........
............i have a lot of friends in other countries and it is so fascinating to hear what their countries think of US!!  it has become disproportionately about America as most of the internet is geared toward American things, we do have a lot of impact and a hell of a lot of problems, but we are a baby country comparatively and certainly not the only one.  ............
............When you live here, especially in LA, you are very much aware of all the other people from all the other countries in the world.  that's why i like this blog. everyone can chime in. it's not like we get together and say, so tell me what it's like where you grew up. tell me about your country. and when you do,  most say, i want to forget that. i came here to pursue the American dream.  ......
 

..Oh aj you shouldn't bear the burdon of an apology, and one really isn't needed. I'm too quick sometimes to jump in on the attack. I'm a guest to this blog. It's an American thread and I get that there's a lot of pain, anger and opinion about this day, which I can probably never truely appreciate.
I just wish we could all see ourselves as part of a global community, but I picked the wrong thread to stand on my soap box, so I apologize...
 

Well, thanks for the extra information. That way we can make an informed decision.

 

Just to add controversy to chaos the following email was sent to me by my friend in Montana.  It is a very interesting read.  Let me know what you think.

Hello All,
By now you have probably heard that President Obama came to Montana  last Friday. However, there are many things that the major news has not covered. I feel that since Bill and I live here and we were at the airport on Friday I should share some facts with you. Whatever you decide to do with the information is up to you. If you chose to share this email with others I do ask that you DELETE my email address before you forward this on.
     On Wednesday, August 5th it was announced locally that the President would be coming here. There are many groups here that are against his healthcare and huge spending so those groups began talking and deciding
 on what they were going to do. The White House would not release ANY details other than the date.
    On about Tuesday Bill found out that they would be holding the "Town Hall" at the airport. (This is only because Bill knows EVERYONE at the airport) Our airport is actually located outside of Belgrade (tiny town) in a very remote location. Nothing is around there. They chose to use a hangar that is the most remotely located hangar. You could not pick a more remote location, and you can not get to it easily. It is totally secluded from the public.
 FYI: We have many areas in Belgrade and Bozeman which could have held a large amount of folks with sufficient parking. (gymnasiums/auditoriums). All of which have chairs and tables, and would not have to be SHIPPED IN!! $$$$$  During the week, cargo by the TONS was being shipped in constantly.  Airport employees could not believe how it just kept coming.   Though it was our President coming several expressed how excessive it was. especially during a recession. $$$$$
    Late Tuesday/early Wednesday the 12th, they said that tickets would be handed out on Thursday 9am at two locations and the president would be arriving around 12:30 Friday.
    Thursday morning about 600 tickets were passed out. However, 1500 were printed at a Local printing shop per White House request. Hmmmm......900 tickets just DISAPPEARED. This same morning someone called into the radio from the local UPS branch and said that THOUSANDS of Dollars of Lobster were shipped in for Obama. Montana has some of the best beef in the nation!!! And it would have been really wonderful to help out the local economy.  Anyone heard of the Recession?? Just think...with all of the traveling the White House is doing. $$$$$ One can only imagine what else we are paying for.
    On Friday Bill and I got out to the airport about 10:45am. The groups that wanted to protest Obama's spending and healthcare had gotten a permit to protest and that area was roped off. But that was not to be.  A large bus carrying SEIU (Service Employees International Union)  members drove up onto the area (illegal)and unloaded right there. It
 was quite a commotion and there were specifically 2 SEIU men trying to make trouble and start a fight. Police did get involved and arrested the one man but they said they did not have the manpower to remove the SEIU crowd.
   The SEIU crowd was very organized and young. About 99% were under the age of 30 and they were not locals! They had bullhorns and PROFESSIONALLY made signs. Some even wore preprinted T-shirts. Oh, and Planned Parenthood folks were with them.....professing abortion rights with their T-shirts and preprinted signs. (BTW, all these folks did have a permit to protest in ANOTHER area)
    Those against healthcare/spending moved away from the SEIU crowd to avoid confrontation. They were orderly and respectful. Even thoughSEIU kept coming over and walking through, continuing to be very intimidating and aggressive at the direction of the one SEIU man.
    So we had Montana folks from ALL OVER the state with their homemade signs and their DOGS with homemade signs. We had cowboys, nurses, doctors you name it. There was even a guy from Texas who had been driving through. He found out about the occasion, went to the store, made a sign, and came to protest.
    If you are wondering about the press.....Well, all of the major networks were over by that remote hangar I mentioned. They were conveniently parked on the other side of the buildings FAR away. None of these crowds were even visible to them. I have my doubts that they knew anything about the crowds.  We did have some local news media around us from this state and Idaho.  Speaking of the local media...they were invited. However, all questions
 were to be turned into the White House in advance of the event. Wouldn't want anyone to have to think off the top of their head.
    It was very obvious that it was meant to be totally controlled by the White House. Everything was orchestrated down to the last detail to make it appear that Montana is just crazy for Obama and government healthcare. Even those people that talked about their insurance woes........the White House called our local HRDC (Human Resource and
 Development Committee) and asked for names. Then the White House asked those folks to come. Smoke and mirrors...EVERYTHING was staged!!!!!!!!!!!
    I am very dismayed about what I learned about our current White House. The amount of control and manipulation was unbelievable. I felt I was not living in the United States of America, more like the USSR!! I was physically nauseous. Bill and I have been around when Presidents or Heads of State visit It has NEVER been like this. I am truly very frightened for our country. America needs your prayers and your voices. If you care about our country please get involved. Know the issues. And let Congress hear your voices again and again!! If they are willing to put forth so much effort to BULLY a small town one can only imagine what is going on in Washington DC. Scary!!
Kathy
   Bozeman, Montana



So let's just sit with our hands in our lap and trust everything that the President does, just because he is the President.  I didn't do it with Bush, I didn't do it with Clinton, so why should I do it with Obama?
 

Lisa, on a conservative online community I'm in, the Montanans told similar stories. Those who have tried to attend other town halls have had similar experiences...they arrived at the site long before the doors opened in order to get a seat. When it was time, and the doors were opened, the venue was already half-full of people who had been sitting inside the whole time. The number of tickets available was far below the # of seats the locals KNEW were in there. ACORN buses pulling up...not even local people who were actually represented by that congressperson. Then of course, there was the fake 'general practice physician' who wanted single-payer health care, the little kid who talked about the mean people outside(whose Mommy worked for Obama), and the classic clip of Sheila Jackson-Lee. A constituent stood up and asked her a question about the bill...and she answered her cell phone and proceeded to talk to the caller while her own 'employer' was trying to ask her something.  Is it any wonder these meetings get testy?

 

My friend and I were just having a conversation along these lines. When George W. Bush was president, even when liberals disliked him, or perhaps thought that he wasn't very intelligent, he was always thought of as the President. Many Conservatives today don't even afford Obama that respect. They view themselves as without a President - in exile - waiting this out until the next election, when they can resume breathing again. In (they hope) a more conservative setting. I wonder which is the greater threat - his race, or his liberal beliefs? Either way, there's an anger present in many Conservatives that is unnerving. It's a relief to me to find thinking Republicans who can still be objective. Many cannot.

 

And there's the race card again. It must be getting pretty tattered by now...may be time to print a new one. Sigh.
"NotCatherine", you need to go back and read some of Charlie's earliest blogs. Many comments about how people will NEVER call George Bush "President"(even some of the media used to call him "Mr. Bush"!!!), how he is "not my President", and he was called names like "Shrubbie"(LOL..I assume that means "even smaller than a Bush"?).
  I admit, I have a very hard time typing "President Obama", so I just call him Obama or BHO(cuz BO just sounds too gross!!), but I won't use the other nicknames I see on the internet here on the blog. That would be too disrespectful to my friends who support him and would also disrespect the "office" of POTUS.
 

 

I agree with everything you are saying. I also watched his speech and was offended by the outburst. How incompetent our last president was, it should make them watch what they say, they are treading on thin ice.
 

Very well said. I am intrigued with your passion on politics, is this something you see for your future? If so, you have some ideas and issues that could be helpful in guiding our governent back in the right directions. I don't agree with some of the people leaving comments on here, but I have never been one to get upset over opinions, views and what matters to them. I'm living in the middle of a scandalous situation with our governor (sure you can guess it's South Carolina). More would get accomplished if they would remember that it's ok to agree to disagree and fix the problems. I'm not very well with understanding politics completely nor will I in the future. I know enough to know you would be great.
 

..Pretty scary stuff on these links!  I have been noticing alot of anti-government talking going on around here since the election.  Amongest my family and friends.  Calling the President a Socialist and stuff.  And I have only been able to discuss my liberal opinions and my liking of President Obama, with one of my aunt's, who moved here from Ohio.  Due to tiring of being ragged on and arguing with everyone I know here.  I thought that it was because I live in a rural southern town.  And that they can be a little ignornant sometimes.  Because we are mostly rednecks here.  Alot of us poor with little education.  I am still proud to be a Southerner.   But, even prouder to be an American.  I also love these people dearly.  But, I don't agree with any radical anti-government ideas.  We live 50 miles south of the Florida-Georgia line.  Where only 11% of the town voted for President Obama.  Also, a racist area.  Which is how i was raised.  My father and some of his friends are very racist.  There are two towns 30 and 50 miles south of here,  that have no black residents in the towns.  Due to there dark racist history, we believe.  But, alot of us here are not though.  Some of my friends from church have told me what I felt,  are radical ideas.  Like protesting because they feel that the government is drifting away from God and moralilty.  And that they woud rather die than conform to socialism or if they are to be forced to do things they don't agree with.  Which is scary!  I was hoping they were just shooting off at the mouth, so to speak.  I am now thinking that this may not be the case.  Unfortunatly!  Fantical people can be dangerous. Thanks for the eye opener guys!  And sorry that I have been so ignorant in the politcal feild not to have noticed this on my own.  Weird, never though that I would be typing a statement like this in this day and age.  Maybe the civil war is still haunting us somehow.  Lord I hope not!  ..
 

Do you think we should grant amnesty to illegal immigrants?
 

No I don't.  Several years ago this question came up with lots of discussions.  When it was suggested that they be denied access to many of the government funded programs they actually stood up and screamed that it was illegal to do that.  Even the Mexican government joined them.  If we take care of their people then they don't have to.  How can someone who is here illegally have the nerve to tell us it is illegal to deny them our programs?  If they are so interested in "legal" then they, themselves, should be legal. . . .I live in a large Mexican community and, believe me, these people have worked wonderful things with this neighborhood.  Unfortunitly, the illegals hide within this community.  Many also work within this community.  Many don't work at all and yet they have better living condition, vehicles and probably food as well.  What is right about any of this?
 

I'm not clear on exactly how you're going to force us to join your system if we don't want to join.
 

..Mr. Shaughnessy, I am aware of who Calhoun is. I have a U.S History class now, and I am learning about succession, Abraham Lincoln (would he be considered a Radical Replublican or a Conservative Republican), and etc? I am leaning to the former. The truth and facts I believe are an essential part of understanding history. Truth must also come from valid sources, and quite often these right wing individuals rely on invalid sources. You really have a brilliant way of communicating; valid (gifted)writers often do.
Melissa..
 

So, in all fairness to extremism, that would make you a screaming, bleeding-heart, elitist, liberal that thinks the government is supposed to take care of us from the womb to the tomb because we are too incompetent to do it ourselves?  Is that who represents you?  The KKK does not represent Christianity, Al Queda does not represent Muslims, the Black Panthers do not represent African Americans, I think I have made my point. Extremists are and will only be legends in their own minds.  They may get a few people to to listen to them, but in reality they are nothing but smoke and mirrors.  They are often used by the opposition to distract the masses from the real issues.  

Now entertainers like Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck do not represent me, any more than Keith Olbermann and Janene Garofalo represent you.  These are just the more vocal ones that come to mind at the moment.  Believe it or not, I have never listened to Rush, never heard of Beck, Olbermann or Garofalo.  I rarely watch the news and steer clear of extremists.  But I have and will continue to defend their rights to be able to voice their inividual opinions and personal rants just as I have and will continue to defend your right to change the station.

I am neither left wing or right wing, conservative or liberal.  What I believe has to pass the common sense test.  Believe it or not, that is the mentality of the majority of the world.  Leave me alone, let me have my job, my house, my 2.5 kids (never did undersand where that came from), my church, and my entertainment.  As long as you don't hurt me or mine, you have the right to live next door to me, it doesn't matter where you live, what color skin, what gender, what religion, what political belief, all I ask is that you are a decent human being.  You preach openmindedness, yet belittle people that don't think the way you do, double standards. 

Now, you spit out "States Rights" like it was a cuss word, that leads me to believe that you are not in support of individual states rights.  So my question to you is; Should we abolish each states individual constitution?  And yet you rant about anti-government rhetoric, interesting. 

In conclusion, I challenge everybody to use common sense, think about the whole picture before chosing to spout somebody's ideology to belittle and degrade. The ability to grow, learn, discuss, reason, disagree and still stand united is what makes America great. 
 

Thanks for this, Charlie. I've been concerned about this growing tone for a while. The hysteria, hatred, hyperbole, and misinformation is poisoning what would otherwise be an important debate.

I'm a big believer in a two- (and all the better, three-) party system. It provides balance and opposing perspectives. It makes us slow down and think. It makes us New Yorkers remember how our ideas don't always work in Idaho and Mississippi.

But when I disagree with people, say in this forum, I try to remember that that person is often a parent like I am, and they worry about their family's health and safety, and they have immediate concerns about paying bills to balance with longer-term dreams from renovating the kitchen to publishing a book, and so on. I know most of us try our best to love our neighbors, and don't get pleasure in seeing them fall through the cracks to poverty. When I start to feel angry at someone who has a different opinion than mine, I try to remember these things. When I choose my news sources, I try to listen more to facts than to commentary. I try to stay away from people who demonize the other side, even when I agree with many of their points. We can debate big vs. small government, we can debate how to pay for programs, and many other important differences. But we can do this without hating each other, without drawing Hitler mustaches on everyone we disagree with, and without assuming the others' motives are evil.

Civility begins with each of us, and I really appreciate what you've created here, Charlie, because it's certainly easier to only hang out with people you agree with. But you've created a space where people feel safe to disagree and to learn from each others' views. Pretty remarkable!

 

 
Charlie, I was there at the 912 rally. And I can tell you that if it was Glen Beck's party, as far as I could tell, he wasn't there. His name was not on any of the speakers list that I saw.
I say that because I want to try and clarify what is going on here. The whole Tea Party movement is made up of mostly the 30 to 60, 70, and even 80  year old's crowd. Concerned with the direction our country has taken. It's not just from obama's rein so far, but Bush's, Clinton's, Reagan's, Carter's  rein and we could go back even further. All the things that have been put in place for years, that have brought us to this point. People are scared and angry at what they see happening to their beloved country. Its not a Republican right wing party anymore. Its Independents and some sorry Democrats that joined together with Republicans in saying we ware mad as hell, and we're not going to take it anymore. It has absolutely NOTHING to do with him being black. There isn't a person, or blog, or report, or anything anywhere that would indicate that the revolt is because he is black. We could care less. And I mean that!  You have to watch what you read and hear on the MSMBC, with Keith Oberman, and others. There is NO basis in fact where that is concerned. None at all.
The fact that obama has raised the debt more than any president in America's history, times  3 or 4  over is raising fear and concern. Realizing that our children, and our children's children are going to be paying for this, and they still will never be able to pay this debt off, is very scary.
This whole health care nightmare. We want healthcare reform. But what we don't want is the government having any kind of say about the healthcare we receive. The gov. telling doctors to advise their patients that they could end their lives because they are a burden to socitity and their loved ones is totally unacceptable. Or advising our Vets to do the same. Its insane and inhuman.
Saying that a younger person can get that cancer treatment, and the older person with the same problem, can not get it, is outrages. Or a new knee, or hip.. My mother in law is 85 and just received 2 new knees. She is in rehab now, and doing very well. Who is to say that she is to old to get the health care she needed to live without terrible pain, and enjoy her golden years.
Would you want that for your mother, Charlie? To be told that she's to old, and no use to anyone, so we don't want to spend the money on her.
The health care that the gov. is putting forth is great if your young and all your body parts work as they are suppose to. And you almost never need to see a doctor.
But we grow older, and stuff happens, and that's when having a good insurance plan becomes important. You can be younger and get a disease, or maybe a car accident, and that's when you find out if the insurance you have is a good one. Been there, done that.
I had an HMO, at the time of my car accident. I was working at HMO at the time, so that had to be my primary insurance. I had great insurance through my husband's work. But I was forced to use mine. It was horrendous.
That's when I got educated in what happens when you have insurance and its making you do things you don't want to do, because it limits your freedoms. And quality of care.
Not to mention the small fact that we are broke. Social Security is broke, Medicare is broke, Medicade is broke. Do you want a cash for clunkers healthcare? That's what it would be if the government takes it over. There isn't that much that they do right. Do you want it in control of your healthcare? I dont!

Back to the tea party.. 
Issues of the  Czars that obama has put in place. These people are absolutely crazy. And they don't have to answer to anyone. No vetting, No terms, No nothing. It wouldn't be so bad if their were normal people, with normal thinking processes. But their guys are not..
Also, its up to 44 Czars. How many Czars does one country need. Come on!
He acts like he's the King, and this is Russia. That's outrages.
Someone tell him please that this is the United States of America. We don't have Czars here. Or not  that many, anyway. Tell him that we a free people. I see our freedoms flying out the window so fast that we're not even realized  it all yet.

Another point is the corruption in Chicago  came with him, ten fold to Washington.
The mafia type rule in Chicago, is now the mafia type rule in Washington.
These and many other things that the   Tea Parties are all about.
His outrages behavior, along with the congress, and senate.
These are things that "we the people" are protesting. And I'm sure that there's more too.
I'm thinking that  we all want the same things. But big government and government ruling our lives is not what we want. I would think you wouldn't want it either.
Correct me if I'm wrong.
You all have to stop generalizing, and try and hear what we are saying. We are not mindless fools following their master, Beck or Rush, or anyone else. All they may do is bring the issues to light.
I'm not  a person that listens to talk radio so I'm really not up on Rush and the things he says. As for Beck, I watch him from time to time. I have made up my own mind, from just hearing the nightly news. On your regular channels. That news is outrages enough.
The comments from peloise and reid, and rahm, and all the rest of the acting pres. men, and women are enough to make me want to get up at 5 AM and get myself dressed and out of the house to captain a bus to Wash. DC, with 55 other people to protest and send the message that we've had it! No more lies, and greed and fraud... We are sick to death with all this stuff.
And we want our country back. If we wanted communism, we'd move to China..

 

"Correct me if I'm wrong."  Oh, Sunshine...I just don't know where to start. The debt was raised from a surplus under Clinton to a record debt under Bush,( where do you think the $$$ are coming from to finance two wasteful wars: trillions of $$$ and 1000,000's of lives!!)  It is THAT debt that Obama inherited. It has been jacked up since, because while you were out, our economy almost fell off a cliff.