The Rude Pundit: Time to Join the Fight Against the Right-Wing Townhall Uprisings?

[meegbear]

Is this really the way you guys wanna play this? Is this the way it's gonna go down? You're sending to townhall meetings of members of Congress a bunch of frightened people with misdirected rage, no real understanding of the issues surrounding even their own health care, and little articulation of their point of view other than "Government bad" to shout down officials, the discursive equivalent of howler monkey yawps across the rainforest. And you're doing it with the imprimatur of the Minority Leader. And with the applause of the right-wing media, who, rather than appear at a townhall to lead the charge like in honorable days of old, are like modern generals, staring at their computer screens and smiling at action they foment.

(By the way, a note to Michelle Malkin: the action of loudmouths trying to shut up everyone else ain't a counterinsurgency. You're using that word to make it seem like you're defending the mainstream. Obama and the Democrats were legally elected in part to implement universal health care coverage. Attempting to stop a lawful government from enacting the will of the majority through intimidation, threats, and fear is, at best, an insurgency, and, at worst, terrorism.)

Can you imagine the cries of "quel horreur" and the fainting gestures of the Fox "news" hosts with dainty constitutions if liberals had coordinated the disruption of meetings of members of Congress in order to oppose a policy of the Bush administration? Oh, wait, we don't really have to stretch that far since any effort, large or meager, to halt the march to war in Iraq was not treated like the free speech acts of citizens to question their government. Nope, we were portrayed as traitors. And we didn't get the support of the Democratic leadership. Is this jealousy that the right gets away with shit we can't? Fucking A, it is.

So the Rude Pundit's of two minds about this strain of reactionary civil disobedience. There's that free speech advocate part of him that's thinking, "Hey, cool, at least people are participating and voicing themselves, and, in general, that's a good thing." But then there's the other hand.

That's the part that says it's time to stop acting like pussies in all of this. Sweet fucking Jesus, we sit by and act like the motherfuckers who protest family planning clinics are just innocuous diversions until some doctor gets killed. We didn't fucking shut down the assholes that barged into the recount in Florida. We take it and take it and take it and then simply sigh that our protests amount to so little, and the whole storyline is stolen from us and run by the compromisers, shills, and punks.

So there's the part of the Rude Pundit's mind that says it's time to show these motherfuckers how it's done, to join the fucking fight. Maybe get some stone-cold WTO protesters to fuck up a few Republican townhalls. When Lloyd Doggett was being shouted down in his district, where were the good Austin hippies to counterprotest? Where, in general, are all of us that fucking fought for Obama to be elected? Step the fuck up.

Tell you what: the Rude Pundit's gonna put up or shut up. He'll go to a few townhalls up here in the wicked Northeast. He'll bring his recorder. And if any assholes try to manipulate the proceedings by thinking they can shout loudest, well, the Rude Pundit's feeling confrontational. No violence. That's for idiots. Just a promise to make sure that liars are called out and motherfuckers are accused of fucking their mothers.

Let's open this up. Who's got ideas - real ones, not fantasy ones - about how to be an actual counterinsurgency?

http://rudepundit.blogspot.com/

[BlooInBloo]

1. hahaha! That's what you get when you poke the bear...

:rofl:

A simpler alternative, that has been proven to work, is just to eject disruptors. Either way.

[rocktivity]

2. The counteroffensive has already begun

Just came across this Kos story about a http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/8/4/13836/02418">successful town hall meeting.

:headbang:
rocktivity

[Cha]

6. Thank you, Rock! That was Delicious!

And, I'll be sure and help pass this around the internet:fistbump::patriot::bounce::party::kick:

[barbtries]

9. great story

everyone should read it. i'm willing to attend one of these meetings, though i'm afraid that given my location i may be the only progressive there.

[Cha]

3. Thank you, Rude! This is what some of us were saying

Yesterday about "the terrorism" of the freakin' disruptors!

"By the way, a note to Michelle Malkin: the action of loudmouths trying to shut up everyone else ain't a counterinsurgency. You're using that word to make it seem like you're defending the mainstream. Obama and the Democrats were legally elected in part to implement universal health care coverage. Attempting to stop a lawful government from enacting the will of the majority through intimidation, threats, and fear is, at best, an insurgency, and, at worst, terrorism.)"

And, thank you, for going to some of those town hall meetings, yourself, well equipped.

[redqueen]

4. "where were the good Austin hippies to counterprotest?"

Excellent question.

[TexasObserver]

5. Recommend

[donco]

7. Hold up a sign saying this disruption brought to you

courtesy of health insurance companies. Maybe it will make latest news cycle.

[Joanne98]

8. YAY

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

10. The proper way to counterattack isn't to attend town hall meetings.

The proper way to counterattack is to organize protests at the offices of the places that are organizing these things, or better yet at their homes.

[DCKit]

18. Yay. Then we can be arrested as terrorists too.

What are you trying to foment on DU?

[Echo In Light]

11. Turn up the PA system to drown their voices out, plus, WARN people prior to so they know what to....

...expect, from who, which organizations are behind those groups and why.

[ellenfl]

12. sunlight is the best disinfectant. eom

[felinetta]

13. Let's not act like them.How about this solution?Everyone going in to the meeting is handed a

flyer saying that all are welcome. However, since we know this
debate can get spirited, we have the following rules to make
it fair to all.  There will be no shouting, etc.  while the
people on stage are speaking.  Once it is open for questions,
each side will get 10 minute intervals.  Each side can choose
whether to ask questions, sit silently, or scream during their
allotted time.  Please note, if screaming and heckling is done
at other than designated times mentioned, they will be removed
for disrupting the proceedings and for not respecting fellow
citizens.  Thank  you for your understanding and cooperation.
We know you will all act like adults and respect civility. 
This will set a good example for our children as well. Let's
not act like them, let's act above them.

[Hissyspit]

14. Here:

&mesghttp://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=6217096_id=6217096

[meegbear]

15. Invalid Topic ID

[Hissyspit]

16. Try this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=6217096&mesg_id=6217096

[meegbear]

17. The Rude One's gonna record and chat that's all