Outlier, or Harbinger?
A question whose answer I await with some interest.
By Moe Lane Posted in Liberals — Comments (8) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
When you've lost the AP, you've lost the war. Well, if you're the antiwar movement, that is:
More than 190 arrested at D.C. protest
By MATTHEW BARAKATWASHINGTON - Several thousand anti-war demonstrators marched through downtown Washington on Saturday, clashing with police at the foot of the Capitol steps where more than 190 protesters were arrested.
I know you're thinking: "And?" Read on, and all will be explained, or at least commented upon.
This wasn't a favorable article towards the antiwar folks. Some more snippets:
Army veteran Justin Cliburn, 25, of Lawton, Okla., was among a contingent of Iraq veterans in attendance.
"We're occupying a people who do not want us there," Cliburn said of Iraq. "We're here to show that it isn't just a bunch of old hippies from the 60s who are against this war." [Bolding mine.]
...which nicely insinuates that meme into the narrative, doesn't it? Well, not "meme": they are mostly a bunch of old hippies (not to mention Stalinists, Maoists, and whatnot) from the 60s. But it was nice of the AP to remind us of this by having the quote vigorously denying it.
The protesters gathered earlier Saturday near the White House in Lafayette Park with signs saying "End the war now" and calling for President Bush's impeachment. The rally was organized by the ANSWER Coalition and other groups.
Organizers estimated that nearly 100,000 people attended the rally and march. That number could not be confirmed; police did not give their own estimate. A permit for the march obtained in advance by the ANSWER Coalition had projected 10,000.
...and when was the last time that you saw the AP actually contradicting the antiwar movement's notoriously inflated numbers? I'm sure that it's happened; I just don't know if they've ever done it in front of reliable witnesses.
Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Robert "Buzz" Patterson, speaking from a stage to crowds clad in camouflage, American flag bandanas and Harley Davidson jackets, said he wanted to send three messages.
"Congress, quit playing games with our troops. Terrorists, we will find you and kill you," he said. "And to our troops, we're here for you, and we support you."
...yeah. Mild snark about sartorial choices aside, that's pretty much the message that the GoE group wanted to highlight. And the AP obliged them. Weird, huh?
What makes all of this of more than slight interest (and moderate amusement) is the intriguing possibility that we're going to see more of it from the AP and other Old Media sources. If media vendors can be no longer counted upon to uncritically accept the rather grandiose claims of MoveOn.org, International ANSWER, Code Pink, and others of that stripe... well, those groups (and others) are not going to enjoy the experience at all, at all. Then again, they've been fulminating about media bias against them* for decades now, so it only seems fair to let them discover what hostile coverage really feels like. Or even unbiased coverage.
Still, one swallow does not make a summer, and all that. Guess we'll see.
Moe
*I know, I know - but you have to remember that many of these people need the mythology of a Romantic Struggle to help them continue to do very tedious and unrewarding tasks. Take that away, and they're just a bunch of aging, lonely people standing in the rain, with little small talk and no dinner waiting for them at home.
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Outlier, or Harbinger? 8 Comments (0 topical, 8 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
In order to even come close to answer's projected number (10,000), one would have to include those "supporting our troops" as well.
The FOXNews reporter on the scene estimated there were approximately 5,000 protesters, and a 2:1 ratio of protesters/supporters.
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“Well, the trouble with our liberal friends is not that they are ignorant, but that they know so much that isn't so.” – Ronald Reagan
To the decline of the Times stock price. Capitalism once again triumphing. Its probably just an outlier though.
______________________________
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777
HTML Help Central for Red Staters
Reality: Thompson/Romney Dream: Santorum/Watts.
______________________________
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777
It has the ability to poke its way out of almost anything trying to cover it up.
Envisioning when all that is Left is the Right.
turnout, Marc Fisher states that he counted the demonstrators (methodology not given) as being 6,800. The 10,000 permit request indicates an actual turnout of several thousand. The pictures at Victory Caucus show a sparse, dispirited crowd heavily representing loons, aging hippies, Communists, terrorists and 9/11 truthers.
The purpose of this turnout was to influence the Democratic Congress to pass withdrawl legislation next week. Like the Code Pink disruptions and the MoveOn Petraeus ad, it has failed to accomplish this and indeed has been counterproductive, indicating the weakness and the extreme nature of the anti-war movement.
or have they finally figured out that losing customers is not good for the bottom line? Actually, I think I know the answer and it is not good for their financial outlook...hehe.
Formally known as Deagle... "Golf is a way of life..."
Interviewed one of the people that participated in the die in. She said Petraeus had betrayed everyone. It was quite revealing
"The nine most dangerous words in the English language are 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help'"
Ronald Reagan
www.proprietornation.blogspot.com