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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2009

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NEXT STOP, REALITY TV (MAYBE)

Va. Socialites Crashed
Obama's State Dinner

And, yes, Tareq and Michaele Salahi want reality-TV turn

Nov 25, 09 9:29 PM CST
Racist Image of Michelle Obama Taken Down

Blog site removes it, not Google, then issues apology

Nov 25, 09 2:07 PM CST
PROFILE

Biden the
Second Most
Powerful
Vice Prez

He's scaling back from Cheney, but a major player in his own right

Nov 26, 09 12:47 PM CST
FACEBOOK DOESN'T LIE, RIGHT?

Party-Crashers Got Close
to Obamas Before

Photos show them in inaugural box; Secret Service admits mistake

Nov 26, 09 7:28 PM CST
Worst Modern VP Picks

Don't be so quick to judge Palin

Nov 26, 09 11:52 AM CST
Blair Knew Iraq Had No WMD
10 Days Before War Began

Intelligence ignored, British panel told

Nov 25, 09 8:16 PM CST
White House Backs Senate On 'Cadillac' Health Tax

Advisers outline cost control measures for health plan

Nov 26, 09 8:48 AM CST
Clintons Strive to Avoid Conflict of Interest Claims

Pair lead separate lives focusing on same issues

Nov 26, 09 9:20 AM CST
Google Issues Disclaimer
Over Racist Michelle Image

But company won't
pull doctored photo

Nov 24, 09 12:28 PM CST
analysis

Kid Lit Goes Political

Children's books get hyper-partisan

Nov 26, 09 4:33 AM CST
Lobbyists See Advisory Roles Clipped by New Obama Rule

Feds aim to cut special-interest access; K Streeters demur

Nov 26, 09 11:06 PM CST
MALKIN GETS FESTIVE

This Year's Top Liberal Turkeys

Stimulus, President O-bow-ma get top billing

Nov 25, 09 8:01 PM CST
OPINION

How Obama Screwed Up

Lack of bipartisanship undercuts campaign promises

3 hours, 4 minutes ago

|NEXT STORY »

ANALYSIS

Fueled by Fringe, GOP in a Tight Spot

Protesters energize party, but make it look crazy

By Matt Cantor| Posted Sep 1, 09 9:17 AM CDT|

(Newser) – Raucous town-hall protesters are energizing a Republican party damaged in the 2006 and 2008 elections—but they’re also opening the party to accusations that it’s being run by the fringe, Reuters reports. While some demonstrators oppose any sort of reform, many Americans actually want some form of change. If Democrats can label the GOP “obstructionist,” Republicans may again face a tough time at the polls.

Carrying signs like “Impeach the Fascist Dictator,” protesters like those on the “Tea Party Express” bus tour “have made the health care bills radioactive for Republicans,” says a political scientist. “They are the ones with the passion and the energy in the Republican Party. The party is riding a tiger and the question will be whether they can control these people or not.”

Evelyn Medlock cheers along with several hundred "Tea Party Express" protesters Monday, Aug. 31, 2009, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio meets with reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, July 30, 2009, during his weekly news conference. (AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke)

Susan Thomas of Reno, Nev., lower left, raises her arm during a "Tea Party Express" rally Monday, Aug. 31, 2009, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

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44 comments

VIEWING:

OWLWOMANXXXX
Sep 1, 09 9:25 AM CDT

sounds like the Repubs had better revamp...clean up and find another name Reply

IN RESPONSE:

odowd80
Sep 1, 09 11:04 AM CDT

@godawgs: Why do you hate America and the Troops? All Republicans do these days is bash the President and America.

IN RESPONSE:

godawgs
Sep 1, 09 12:22 PM CDT

@odo i don't know, it could be that coming to these boards and blogs have turned my once proud and patriotic view of our country and troops into a view more common with what I read on these boards. it's sad really but I guess a couple of trips to some conservative sites will get that patriotism back. i will keep you updated because I know that you are worried.

-6

| 0 minutes ago

godawgs
Sep 1, 09 9:30 AM CDT

Well it worked with the left was carrying Nazi signs and calling bush a fascist. Amazingly they were being not told they were being run by the fringe, and that they had to get those people under control, very odd. I am sure that it was just an oversight by the media. Also the sign of Obama with a Hilter stache is from a left wing group, which also get's neglected in most stories, since that picture is usually used under the headline or premise of right-wing nutjobs. Now granted some of the folks on the fringe are the most vocal, but that is true of both parties. Reply

-13

IN RESPONSE:

BlahBlahBlah
Sep 1, 09 10:02 AM CDT

Obama with a hitler stache. http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-08-24/behind-the-obama-hitler-slur/full/ If you are going to say things get the info first. It is not from either party it is from a cult leader named Lyndon LaRouche.

IN RESPONSE:

shonangreg
Sep 1, 09 10:09 AM CDT

I wish this could be quantified. It seems to me that Bush deserved a lot more pressure because he was taking us into an unnecessary war, but the pro-Bush supporters weren't shouted down. The two sides just shouted at each other. The town hall crashers from the Republicans/health insurers was something new and entirely condemnable from both sides. Calling Bush a fascist? He was presiding over the dismantling of the state and turning over more and more functions to the private sector. That is what fascists do. You can argue it was an exaggeration to call Bush a fascist, but there was a kernel of truth to the charges. Calling Obama a Nazi and a fascist is just ridiculous. It seems to mean there is nothing accurate, nothing with even a kernel of truth that can be said against him. No?

+11

IN RESPONSE:

godawgs
Sep 1, 09 10:32 AM CDT

@blah and they are a leftwing group founded by left wing person http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyndon_LaRouche

-7

IN RESPONSE:

godawgs
Sep 1, 09 10:38 AM CDT

@shon don't act like the left was just playing nicey-nice with bush and were holding all peaceful respectful protests. also wouldn't fascism be the opposite of taking control away from the private sector, kinda like owing the auto industry or banking industry, not giving power back to the private industry.

-6

IN RESPONSE:

logothete
Sep 1, 09 11:13 AM CDT

Nice try, godawgs, trying to show LaRouche as a "leftist" - but you've really got to read the WHOLE wiki: "...From 1973, LaRouche began to abandon Marxism and, with little warning, adopted far-right, even neo-Nazi, ideas, a process that began with a campaign of violence against his opponents on the left. The violence was accompanied by the development of conspiracy theories and paranoia about his personal safety, often involving alleged attempts to assassinate him." He and his cult followers - and it is a very sick cult of personality - are now among the most bizarre and dangerous members of the anarchic right and have, in fact, been a major presence at TeaParties and Town hall disruptions. You're not ignorant enough not to jnow this - I begin to think you're consciously lying.

IN RESPONSE:

Nwambe
Sep 1, 09 11:55 AM CDT

dawgs, you just got sharply pwnt. But, you're just using Republican tactics of selectively showing the facts. "Healthcare will kill grandma!"... "Not as fast as private insurance will."

IN RESPONSE:

godawgs
Sep 1, 09 12:04 PM CDT

@logo LaRouche-affiliated political parties have nominated many hundreds of candidates for national and regional offices in the U.S., Canada, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Australia and France, for almost thirty years. In countries outside the U.S., the LaRouche movement maintains its own minor parties, and they have had no significant electoral success to date. In the U.S., however, they are active in the Democratic Party, and individuals associated with the movement have successfully sought party office in some elections, particularly Democratic County Central Committee posts. In 2006, LaRouche Youth Movement activist and Los Angeles County Democratic Central Committee member Cody Jones was honored as "Democrat of the Year" for the 43rd Assembly District of California, by the Los Angeles County Democratic Party.[5]

-2

IN RESPONSE:

odowd80
Sep 1, 09 12:48 PM CDT

More selective facts from godawgs.

IN RESPONSE:

godawgs
Sep 1, 09 1:04 PM CDT

@odo what fact's did i leave out? the group is left wing.

-3

IN RESPONSE:

shonangreg
Sep 1, 09 4:17 PM CDT

Ron Paul and the Libertarians are nominally right wing, but we don't generally paint the Republican party as such. He does not command much power within the Republican Party. It is only in terms of the Republicans moving toward his positions that that they are criticized as such. Larouche ditto for the Dems, except Larouche is even more of a fringe element than Paul is.

IN RESPONSE:

godawgs
Sep 1, 09 4:31 PM CDT

@shon my point was that a left leaning group, which the larouche movement is, is responsible for the Obama with a Hilter stache picture. The media tends to use that picture with right wing articles or not giving credit to where it came from.

IN RESPONSE:

shonangreg
Sep 1, 09 5:24 PM CDT

OK, godawgs. I see your point. It is strange, though, how the conservatives here have been aping LaRouche (and Limbaugh!) in calling Obama a Nazi and Hitler . . . Are they all that brainless and unrespectable in your eyes? Birthers, Deathers, "Nazi-ers, Palin fans, Bachman supporters, Dittoheads, and Gingrichers all in one boat?

IN RESPONSE:

godawgs
Sep 1, 09 6:09 PM CDT

@shon I think that the people on both sides who come up with these goofy and stupid comparisons are worthless. the birhters theory is dumb, and not even that plausible, the comparisons to hitler and nazi;s are are a stretch, as were the ones with bush, but the loudest and most obnoxious of the parties tend to be the ones that we see on tv.

| 0 minutes ago

DanB
Sep 1, 09 9:31 AM CDT

I want the liars and crooks to go down in flames!! Reply

| 0 minutes ago

BlahBlahBlah
Sep 1, 09 9:55 AM CDT

Both sides have done there fair share of mudslinging and tasteless imagery. It is simply sad that people can’t have a logical debate in this country with out someone from either party saying or displaying something stupid, perverse, or just down right racist. Yes I said BOTH parties. No one is better than the other. Reply

-3

IN RESPONSE:

odowd80
Sep 1, 09 11:03 AM CDT

The right IS worse than the left because they're all HYPOCRITES. They slammed the left for "undermining the President during a time of war" and calling war objectors unpatriotic and accusing them of not supporting the troops. Now that Obama is in the White House, they're criticizing the President in more egregious ways than the left ever did.

IN RESPONSE:

emptycalm
Sep 1, 09 11:09 AM CDT

Logical debate only goes so far though. Eventually something needs to happen. It's too bad the only ones doing anything are the crazy, and usually very religious, rightwingers.

IN RESPONSE:

godawgs
Sep 1, 09 11:10 AM CDT

and the left said that criticizing the President was patriotic and well as speaking out was your American duty. Now that President Obama in in office it is unpatriotic (just like the right said) and unamerican. come one the left is just as hypocritical as the right.

-3

IN RESPONSE:

odowd80
Sep 1, 09 11:16 AM CDT

Who on the left is calling tea-baggers unpatriotic for protesting? Specific examples please.

IN RESPONSE:

logothete
Sep 1, 09 11:17 AM CDT

godawgs - if you can see no difference between the Bush-Cheney-Rumsfeld-Haliburton-KBR axis of evil and the Obama administration, you've had your eyes willfully shut for more than eight years. Don't bother opening them now, you're a lost cause.

IN RESPONSE:

godawgs
Sep 1, 09 12:18 PM CDT

@odo check out any show by racheal maddow, keith oblerman, or anderson cooper regarding the tea parties. they not only make fun of them but do call them unpatriotic as well.

-1

IN RESPONSE:

odowd80
Sep 1, 09 1:00 PM CDT

I just watched the entire Maddow clip where she made fun of teabaggers (they deserved it for coming up with such a dumb name). She never discusses their patriotism. Maddow/Olberman may have brought up patriotism in the context of the Fox News attacks on leftist protesters, but never seriously criticized teabaggers for being unpatriotic.

IN RESPONSE:

godawgs
Sep 1, 09 1:11 PM CDT

which clip did you watch? there are more then one clip of her, what olberman or cooper or actually any reporter on network that wasn't Fox? you are arguing a point which you know you can't win. the left wing media had a field day with people, calling them everything under the sun.

IN RESPONSE:

odowd80
Sep 1, 09 2:03 PM CDT

godawgs: I'm still waiting on an example of progressive talkers calling teabaggers unpatriotic. I think you assume that its happened on MSNBC, but it hasn't. They were called all sorts of names, but they weren't criticized for being unpatriotic. Rick Perry may have been called unpatriotic since he advocated secession from the United States, but that criticism would have been accurate.

IN RESPONSE:

godawgs
Sep 1, 09 2:28 PM CDT

@odo I am still waiting for an example of what facts I left out as well.

| 0 minutes ago

Timinator2K
Sep 1, 09 11:37 AM CDT

"Fueled by Fringe"...yeah, right. Standard newser bullshit. Don't worry, all of you WILL be hearing A LOT more from "The Fringe" of the GOP in 2010 and 2012...as in MASSIVE numbers of "Fringies." Reply

-4

| 0 minutes ago

schmidtkoff
Sep 1, 09 11:47 AM CDT

this is all so tiresome these diatribes. and george orwell said: "in a time of univesral deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Mad
Sep 1, 09 12:05 PM CDT

Why does anger, shouting, and especially LIES "energize the republican party"? Why does one never hear of a need to 'energize the Democrat party'? Republicans are such sheep! So easily swayed with rhetoric and so willing to believe any shit, yet imperious to the truth. Spooky they call themselves "American" Reply

IN RESPONSE:

DontLikeYou
Sep 1, 09 3:57 PM CDT

//// Why does anger, shouting, and especially LIES "energize the republican party"? ///----- It worked for the Clintons and Obama. Liberals lie all the time. Have you ever heard of the human contributed global warming lie? Liberals are nothing but angry, self-loathing malcontents who thrive on lies and deceit. Why is it that every democrat who runs for president must hide their real selves in order to get elected? Lies are the backbone of the democrat party.

-2

| 0 minutes ago

jwells
Sep 1, 09 12:41 PM CDT

{the Democratic National Committee will hold its 2nd annual “Democratic Reunion” Saturday, July 28, to engage and energize Democrats as we mobilize for the 2008 election.} at democrats.org sorry....typed your quote in the search engine and got 122,000 hits. are you at school and can't use the internet very much? ================================= and speaking of sheep, MAD, here comes -strange- farmer obama over the hill to gather his sheep and begin the process of becoming FRIENDS with them. :) Reply

-2

IN RESPONSE:

Mad
Sep 1, 09 2:02 PM CDT

Might lame, jwells. Are you seriously claiming one frequently hears the expression "energize the Democrat base"? You lie like Libby

| 0 minutes ago

DontLikeYou
Sep 1, 09 3:51 PM CDT

It was amazing to see all those fringe righties protesting health care... you know, you saw them too--- 110 pound house wives, the mentally disabled man in a wheel chair, the elderly retired police officer--- how dare those right wing bastards question the empty suit known as obama. Reply

-1

| 0 minutes ago

DontLikeYou
Sep 1, 09 3:53 PM CDT

//// The party is riding a tiger and the question will be whether they can control these people or not.” /// --- Why would the GOP want to control these people? They are not liberals who need to be controlled, they are "real Americans" from Main Street who are the heart and soul of this country and the GOP. Reply

-2

| 0 minutes ago

bsmenot
Sep 1, 09 8:28 PM CDT

How is it that politics in this country became a sporting event. Each side with our tee-shirts, bumper stickers, and banners. Everybody waits for the next point to be scored so they can shove it in the face of their opponent. Whatever happened to people working together for what is in the best interest of us all. Even more, what is in the best interest of the children that will follow. To you liberals. I learned to stop looking for the perfect world a long time ago. It does not exist. To you conservatives. I have seen the deceit and lies, but I can't believe that is around every corner. Even a democrat can have good ideas. So how about all of us looking at good ideas on both sides, but taking caution to do them right. We need to tell our politicians to stop rejecting good ideas just because the other party brings it up first. Need to stop blocking good bills because it is the other party's idea. Need to stop using the rejection of their own bad policies by others to insight anger among people. The division of this country only proves that our politicians are only looking out for their own self interest. A country controlled by government has never prospered. That does not mean we as Americans can not change things. We can, but as people without the control of government that thinks it knows better. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Unaffiliated
Sep 2, 09 11:45 AM CDT

Here, here!

| 0 minutes ago

cornelison
Sep 1, 09 9:19 PM CDT

The President should seek a universal health plan with the Dems in Congress. Work out the main details, tell the public & vote on it. This president & Congress will go down in history as one of the most courageous politicians ever. Oh yes, the Republicans will want to take credit for it. Reply

-2

IN RESPONSE:

bsmenot
Sep 2, 09 8:31 PM CDT

@cornelison....look I really don't mean to sound offensive but I have seen the US from one end to the other and I have also seen a lot of your country. There is a lot of differences and frankly the style of socialism of your country has never impressed me, your standard of living does not come close, and your medical system is far below the standards here. When my 18 year old was in an accident where he was crushed by a dump truck his $1.5 Million dollar policy was gone in 3 days. In the last year in a half since the accident he has had over 70 surgeries and his bills would have been in access of $80 million. His being alive is a text book case. Nobody has ever survived his kind of trauma. No our system here is not perfect but doctors and hospitals donated the time and supplies by writing off the expenses. Surgeons flew in from across the country at their own expense, and medical equipment was loaned or given. We have the highest standard of medical professionals and medical equipment in the world. Those of us that have experienced what a great system we have don't want to give it up. This healthcare bill would have lowered this standard. I am very much in favor of every American having healthcare coverage. This bill was not the way to do it. I hope it dies and we can work on something that will cover everybody without compromising standards. It can be done. I am sorry, but I truly believe my son would be dead if this would have happened in your country. This really is an American problem. I think maybe you should sit this one out.

| 0 minutes ago

Derni
Sep 1, 09 9:34 PM CDT

The Dems are self-destructing with not puching Health care and offering a public plan-the Reps have missed a few great opportunities to make some progress at the expense of the Dems-but theylet the fringe people dominate-sad Reply

| 0 minutes ago

oldgoat
Sep 2, 09 3:23 AM CDT

I've turned my GOP surveys back in with notes to tell them that until they get past the hate, lies and misinformation that they spew out and until they reign in their spokespeople like Hannity, Beck and Rush that fuel it that I won't vote for a GOP member. When they get back to a candidate that can run on facts and not rely on gimmicks like Joe the plumber or the you betcha gal Palin it will help. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Unaffiliated
Sep 2, 09 11:46 AM CDT

oldgoat, you're a spring chicken in my book!

| 0 minutes ago

View all 44 comments »

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Fueled by Fringe, GOP in a Tight Spot

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