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You are here: Home / Crowd Size, Then And Now

Crowd Size, Then And Now

by John Cole|  February 28, 200911:28 am| 50 Comments

This post is in: Clown Shoes

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I was going to do a big post comparing the rhetoric downplaying the size of protests in the 2003 era and the current tea party, but what it boils down to is I am just too lazy to do the research. Instead, I will just use pictures.

A few bitter cranks in San Francisco protesting the war in 2003:

Citizen uprising in Georgia:

And for documentation purposes only, the new “Moran” picture:

If you get a chance, check out the caption under the Ron Paul protesters here. That made me snort.

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Previous Post: « Out of Ideas. No, Really. They Are Just Out of Ideas.
Next Post: But I Thought It Was Pork? »

Reader Interactions

50Comments

  1. 1.

    Swervus

    February 28, 2009 at 11:36 am

    Helping the Sean Hannity’s of the world learn to count, good for you John.

  2. 2.

    Conservatively Liberal

    February 28, 2009 at 11:36 am

    I bet ol’ "Moran Man" is breathing a sigh of relief right now. Tea bagging Democrats FTW!

    Where do I sign up? Oh, and I don’t shave ’em. It gives them some texture. ;)

  3. 3.

    Comrade Stuck

    February 28, 2009 at 11:40 am

    Wingnut’s just don’t know how to properly protest. I mean, a sign that says "Let the Failures Fail" is way to vague and could easily be misunderinterpreted. And you don’t bring umbrellas to a protest, even if it’s raining. Call it the pussy factor, because everyone knows republicans don’t get wet or cold. There supposed to be tough Hombres chewing on shell casings and stuff. And they need some blood, lot’s of blood for the Christ martyr image thingy (a few thorn hats would be good), not to mention they’re utter fearlessness going against Teh Libtard Man. Fail all around.

  4. 4.

    StickIt

    February 28, 2009 at 11:41 am

    I wonder if that kid holding up the sign even knows what teabagging means and if he does why the hell would he want people to associate him with that? It’s funny the images people wish to assocaite themselves with.

    I mean, that’s exactly what colleges and prospective employers are looking for – people skills like "teabagging." This shit just writes itself.

  5. 5.

    southpaw

    February 28, 2009 at 11:41 am

    Teabagging alone moves the wheels of History!

  6. 6.

    Notorious P.A.T.

    February 28, 2009 at 11:42 am

    As far as I know, Scarlett Johansen is a liberal Democrat. Just sayin’.

  7. 7.

    Alan

    February 28, 2009 at 11:44 am

    Heh. Inevitably, humans first. So give to the Human Fund–"Money For People."

  8. 8.

    MikeL

    February 28, 2009 at 11:48 am

    Joe the Writer.

    For guy who’s just an ordinary plumber, he sure works hard to avoid ever having to do any plumbing.

    /Your 15 minutes are long over, Sam. Accept it.

  9. 9.

    Bad Horse's Filly

    February 28, 2009 at 12:02 pm

    Do you think anyone’s told them yet? You know, I mean about the whole tea bagging thing?

  10. 10.

    Michael

    February 28, 2009 at 12:06 pm

    Again, I’ll point out that there are more Klukkers than there were Teabaggers, which shows you the true strength of the committed…

  11. 11.

    smiley

    February 28, 2009 at 12:06 pm

    @StickIt:

    I wonder if that kid holding up the sign even knows what teabagging means

    Of course not. Apparently neither do his parents or the other people there.

    Edited

  12. 12.

    Svensker

    February 28, 2009 at 12:07 pm

    I love that the Repubs are upset about being "forced to pay for someone else’s mortgage".

    They didn’t seem to mind forcing me to pay for someone else’s war.

  13. 13.

    JL

    February 28, 2009 at 12:13 pm

    A state employee complained about government spending..wtf!!!
    From the AJC

    The idea has taken a life of its own, and Friday, about 200 protesters showed up in Atlanta, some with tea bags, to protest the stimulus bill and other bailouts.
    “My concern is that this country is going down a dangerous path toward socialism and that’s not what my forefathers, or my ancestors, fought and died for,” said protester Allen LaBerteaux, 41, of Lilburn. He had two tea bags in his pocket.The state employee went to the Capitol in the cold rain to register his opposition to the stimulus bill, which he sees as irresponsible spending by the federal government.

  14. 14.

    JL

    February 28, 2009 at 12:20 pm

    @JL: Any ideas why I ended up in the dreaded awaiting moderation zone? It would be nice to know what triggers moderation.

  15. 15.

    cleek

    February 28, 2009 at 12:24 pm

    Dirty Sanchez the liberal Democrats before they Hot Carl you!

    Give the liberal Democrats the Rusty Trombone!

  16. 16.

    cleek

    February 28, 2009 at 12:27 pm

    “My concern is that this country is going down a dangerous path toward socialism and that’s not what my forefathers, or my ancestors, fought and died for,”

    Obama should get on TV and read the dictionary definition of "socialism", then ask the obvious question: "Have I even suggested that the government take over the means of production? No? Then SHUT THE FUCK UP, YOU IGNORANT DOUCHEBAGS. God Bless America."

  17. 17.

    Tsulagi

    February 28, 2009 at 12:27 pm

    I wonder if that kid holding up the sign even knows what teabagging means

    Clicking on the photo to enlarge it, actually it kinda looks like a grinning, semi-masculine looking midget chick holding up that teabagger sign. Also says “freerepublic.com” at the bottom of the sign.

    Given their wetsuit/dildo combination level of imagination, don’t even want to think where they go with happy midgets, teabagging, and Freeper Jesus.

  18. 18.

    cleek

    February 28, 2009 at 12:27 pm

    goddamn the moderation. goddamn it.

  19. 19.

    Michael

    February 28, 2009 at 12:29 pm

    The future of the conservative movement presented himself on Friday, and he was 13.

    The conservative movement may not gain traction again until the lad hits middle age.

    I’m sure his speech was full of lots of conservative certitude. I can hear it now – liberals suck, government is the problem, tax cuts, spending cuts.

    All without a single explanation of "why", or how Big "C" conservatism benefits all who are not at the pinnacle of the status quo.

    I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – the problem is not so much the GOP, it is with the Big "C" Conservatives and the extent to which their rancid ideology drives the rest of the party.

    America is entitled to a contemplative, competent and efficient opposition party.

  20. 20.

    smiley

    February 28, 2009 at 12:33 pm

    @cleek:

    Obama should get on TV and read the dictionary definition of "socialism",

    Bill Bennett told CPAC it’s not socialism and actually wasn’t booed.

  21. 21.

    Comrade Stuck

    February 28, 2009 at 12:37 pm

    @JL:

    Any ideas why I ended up in the dreaded awaiting moderation zone? It would be nice to know what triggers moderation.

    Some days, it seems typing the letter A triggers it.

  22. 22.

    b-psycho

    February 28, 2009 at 12:40 pm

    Has there been a problem with wingnut trolls spamming the S word here lately? I haven’t noticed.

  23. 23.

    Michael

    February 28, 2009 at 12:44 pm

    Antoher thing – lets look at the quality of Conservatism’s current standardbearers. A fat college dropout sex tourist with an opiate addiction. A bombastic, gin-soaked hag with no record of genuine accomplishment. A Filipino anchor baby who hates immigrants. A 13 year old who parrots mommy and daddy. An obnoxious, conflict fomenting recess appointee who the Senate refused to confirm.

    When you lose the ability to say why your preferred policies will make a difference, these are the sorts of spokemen you’ll have left.

  24. 24.

    Leo

    February 28, 2009 at 12:52 pm

    @JL: Someone suggested that "soci alism" and related words trigger the filter because they contain "cia lis." Seems plausible to me.

  25. 25.

    maya

    February 28, 2009 at 1:03 pm

    What were these pro-teasters doing pro-teasting on a work day? Are they part of the new Furlough-Friday Conservative Corp? They could clean the streets while they’re about it and start a whole new Get the Grass Roots Outta the Cracks in the Sidewalk movement.(GGROCS)

  26. 26.

    maya

    February 28, 2009 at 1:05 pm

    PS. Obama might fund it.

  27. 27.

    smiley

    February 28, 2009 at 1:06 pm

    @Leo: By golly, that’s probably it. My comment @20 was stuck for a while for moderation and it contains the dreaded word.

  28. 28.

    AhabTRuler

    February 28, 2009 at 1:12 pm

    @Leo: This is true, and I currently have a post stuck in the filter. But I am stubborn, and I won’t let pharma and spammers take away the word anymore than I will the Republicans.

    Edit: ah, screw it.
    @cleek: This is what I would like to see (edited for filter goodness):

    Barack Obama: Please, continue, you were saying something about best intentions. What’s the matter? Oh, you were finished! Well, allow me to retort. What does the country look like?
    Joe the Plumber: Soc ialism?
    Barack Obama: What country are you from?
    Joe the Plumber: Soc ialism? Soc ialism? Soc..?
    Barack Obama: "Soc ialism" ain’t no country I’ve ever heard of. They speak English in Soc ialism?
    Joe the Plumber: Soc ialism?
    Barack Obama: English, motherfucker, do you speak it?
    Joe the Plumber: Yes! Yes!
    Barack Obama: Then you know what I’m sayin’!
    Joe the Plumber: Yes!
    Barack Obama: Describe what the country looks like!
    Joe the Plumber: Soc ialism?
    Barack Obama: Say ‘Soc ialism’ again. Say ‘Soc ialism’ again, I dare you, I double dare you motherfucker, say ‘soc ialism’ one more Goddamn time!

  29. 29.

    Joe Max

    February 28, 2009 at 1:32 pm

    I was at that protest in SF in 03! I’m 1037th to the left and 783rd from the top in that picture.

    I had a sign that reflected the popular gestalt of the times:

    "Frodo Failed."

  30. 30.

    Fr33d0m

    February 28, 2009 at 1:34 pm

    Why is it Repugnicons think to use things like Tea Bag and Libruls never do?

    Bill Bennett told CPAC it’s not socialism and actually wasn’t booed.

    Can you see the Nixon-Reagan era coming into focus?

  31. 31.

    Farley

    February 28, 2009 at 1:38 pm

    Forced teabagging is a form of rape. Which is why the sign makes sense, because it seems many on the far-right like their sexxxxx to be non-consensual.

  32. 32.

    Notorious P.A.T.

    February 28, 2009 at 2:07 pm

    Obama should get on TV and read the dictionary definition of "socialism", then ask the obvious question: "Have I even suggested that the government take over the means of production?"

    Either that, or "why is socialized health care evil, but socialized national defense super duper?"

  33. 33.

    Notorious P.A.T.

    February 28, 2009 at 2:09 pm

    Someone suggested that "soci alism" and related words trigger the filter because they contain "cia lis." Seems plausible to me.

    Who programmed the filter? Rush Limbaugh? Can we say "oxycontin"?

  34. 34.

    bago

    February 28, 2009 at 2:10 pm

    The kid probably knows what teabagging is, even if the parents don’t.

  35. 35.

    Capelza Gradenko

    February 28, 2009 at 2:24 pm

    cleek…you hurt me. I laughed so hard it hurts.

    Dirty Sanchez the liberal Democrats before they Hot Carl you!
    Give the liberal Democrats the Rusty Trombone!

    I’m stealing those..with due credit.

  36. 36.

    kommrade reproductive vigor

    February 28, 2009 at 3:19 pm

    @Bad Horse’s Filly: Shhh! Wait until they’ve made t-shirts.

    I’m trying to think of a way to convince them only DFHs are protesters so they should instead say they’re prostaters.

    Although I say again, someone needs to taser that dude in the white hat.

  37. 37.

    Chris Johnson

    February 28, 2009 at 3:22 pm

    Beef Supreme at Wonkette-

    “I’ve only got 2 minutes, so I better make this quick.” I bet a thirteen year old boy hears that a lot at CPAC.

    Just goes to show what George Carlin said- there is NOTHING that can’t be hysterically funny when handled properly :)

    I couldn’t watch much of the kid himself, though. I didn’t even make it to the part where he pounds the table like Khruschev, only holding pens instead of a shoe.

    The human race had better figure some things out pretty quick or we shall laugh ourselves to death. THIS is why there are no extraterrestrial radio transmissions. Alien civilizations develop until they can broadcast their equivalent of thirteen year old wingnuts, and then implode…

  38. 38.

    kommrade reproductive vigor

    February 28, 2009 at 3:40 pm

    Right before the march from one point of Lafayette Park to another.

    The whole seven acres would have been too hard.

    Good googly moogly. If these people get any lamer they’ll need Hoverounds.

  39. 39.

    over_educated

    February 28, 2009 at 3:58 pm

    Wow. They really look like the crazies protesting that UFO’s are real and that martians have taken over the government. Hilarious.

  40. 40.

    Wile E. Quixote

    February 28, 2009 at 5:18 pm

    @Notorious P.A.T.

    Either that, or "why is socialized health care evil, but socialized national defense super duper?"

    Yeah, no kidding, I’m tired of single payer national defense. It’s stupid, bloated and incredibly inefficient.

  41. 41.

    cleek

    February 28, 2009 at 5:33 pm

    Forced teabagging is a form of rape.

    1. get someone on the ground
    2. squat over them
    3. slowly lower your nuts into their mouth
    4. ???
    5. successful rape!

    seems like there’s a potentially fatal flaw in this plan.

  42. 42.

    AhabTRuler

    February 28, 2009 at 5:38 pm

    @cleek: I thought that teabagging =/ chipmunking. WTF?

    Huh. Learn something new every day.

    1. teabagger
    multiple meanings. 1) one who carries large bags of packaged tea for shipment. 2) a man that squats on top of a womens face and lowers his genitals into her mouth during sex, known as "teabagging"

    I thought it was only

    2. Teabagger
    One who slaps another person in the face with their nad sack.

    But I was unfamiliar with this:

    3. teabagger
    Any guy who drives a Ford Explorer "Sport" (the two door model).
    This espescially applies to Explorer Sport drivers with bicycle racks mounted on top of their vehichles.

  43. 43.

    Farley

    February 28, 2009 at 6:08 pm

    @cleek: Excuse me?
    Rape doesn’t have to be intercourse.

  44. 44.

    Da Bomb

    February 28, 2009 at 6:15 pm

    @Chris Johnson:

    Beef Supreme at Wonkette-
    “I’ve only got 2 minutes, so I better make this quick.” I bet a thirteen year old boy hears that a lot at CPAC.

    My face hurts from laughing!

  45. 45.

    Svensker

    February 28, 2009 at 6:31 pm

    @Farley:

    @cleek: Excuse me?
    Rape doesn’t have to be intercourse.

    Farley, I think you’re missing the "What Could Possibly Go Wrong?" part here.

  46. 46.

    Laura W Darling

    February 28, 2009 at 6:42 pm

    @Svensker:

    Farley, I think you’re missing the "What Could Possibly Go Wrong?" part here.

    Very elegantly put.
    Given the subject matter.

  47. 47.

    AhabTRuler

    February 28, 2009 at 6:45 pm

    @Laura W Darling: Darling, I don’t think that "elegant" pertains.
    Given the subject matter.

  48. 48.

    Left_Wing_Fox

    February 28, 2009 at 9:26 pm

    @Leo: Soci alism might give you a 4-hour priapism, but at at least you can afford to see the doctor when it happens.

  49. 49.

    DougJ

    February 28, 2009 at 11:09 pm

    That “gold is money” sign really cracks me up.

  50. 50.

    joe from Lowell

    March 1, 2009 at 12:29 am

    Ha! I typed the name of the boner drug, and it moderate my comment.

    Maybe that’s it.

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