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April 17, 2010
The winning entry in the category of grassroots professionalism!
While I think it's an inconsistent argument, the Tea Partiers are often accused of being an "astroturf" front for Big Republicanism, while at the same time their handmade signs are scrutinized and ridiculed at every opportunity for spelling errors, politically insensitive gaffes, etc. Actually, I think the obvious sincerity and ingenuity of their homemade signs indicates a movement that is alive, and (hopefully) one that won't easily be bought. But I've carried on about their signs (especially my favorites) in previous posts. In light of the counter-demonstration in Ann Arbor, it seems only fair to recognize the talent of the other side too. You know, give the Devil his due? And among the signs I saw in Ann Arbor on Thursday, I have to say that the winner is this one:
Here's a closeup:
Whether you agree with the sentiments or not, it's excellent. First rate work. I'm not a sign professional, but I'm fairly tech savvy, and even so, I simply don't have the wherewithal to come up with a sign that good. I wouldn't have the slightest idea how to get a sign like that designed, nor would I know where to start. I do know that there's no way on earth I could do that at home, nor could anyone else I know. As to the clever theme (taking right wingers to task for what they allegedly failed to get mad at), it is hardly original. The title varies, and I've seen it as "Freepers, Birthers, Morons of all stripe" and "This is dedicated to all you self proclaimed conscientious patriots, We want to get this straight" and in other forms. The text has been floating around for so long that it obviously wasn't originally designed specifically with "teabaggers" in mind, but the designer of the above sign obviously thinks it resonates against any and all people or groups to the right of center, as long as it has the right catchall title. "Birthers, Deathers, TEABAGGERS, and Angry People" is about as catchall as you can get, although I suspect it is not meant to include angry people on the left, or left wing Trig Palin Birthers, or left wing Deathers like Paul Krugman. The only spelling error I could find is a very slight one - "Abu Ghraib" is spelled "Abu Grahib." While the typo is inconsequential, it is also unoriginal, as the identical typo can be found 1920 times, and seems to date back to at least last August. The verbatim "Tea Bagger" version with "Abu Grahib" is also widely circulating, and can be found on the White House Facebook page, as well as CraigsList. I find it surprising that in all of this time, no one caught a fairly obvious typo which has circulated extensively and is now appearing on professionally prepared signs. Where are the leftist hordes of Tea Party spellcheckers when you need them? Parenthetically, they also seem to forget that there are a number of libertarians and Ron Paul types who would indignantly deny that they didn't get made over any number of complaints listed in the sign. I kvetched about the Patriot Act for years, many conservatives and libertarians were furious and did in fact complain about the horrendous spending during the Bush years (Porkbusters, anyone?), and some of the social conservatives were very upset about Abu Ghraib (which they blamed on Howard Stern and the homos). But who cares about the merits when the goal is simply to stereotype all people on the right as thinking the same things? Anyway, I shouldn't digress from my point. Again, the truthfulness of the ideas on the sign are not so much the issue as the sign's overall quality. Hands down, I'd give it an A. It is without question the most professional grassroots work I have ever seen. MORE: In the comments below, Darleen Click points out that posters like the one above cost $43.50 each at printing shops. Yikes! No wonder the Tea Partiers can't afford professional signs. They're expensive! posted by Eric on 04.17.10 at 12:24 PM
Comments
What someone could have or should have said about something in the past is not logically relevant to the merits of what the person says about something right now. For years I have been scolded not for what I wrote, but for not writing about this, or not writing about that. Attacking people for allegedly not saying something is a vast catchall, and involves hopeless generalization and stereotyping. Unless the goal is engendering hostility or preaching to the choir, it's also an ineffective argument. (Especially if you tell people they didn't get mad about things they did get mad about...) Eric Scheie · April 17, 2010 01:01 PM So chocolatier, Are you mad, and out protesting Obama's Administration which has continued those wars and even expanded the one in Afghanistan (along with the spending), killed numerous civilians in Pakistan while carrying out more drone attacks in a year than Bush did in 7, continues using rendition, is doing nothing more than moving Gitmo to another location, promised that at least 48 of the Gitmo guys will be held indefinitely without trials, put out a hit on an American citizen, extended the Patriot Act and took Bush's profligate spending to a whole new level? There have also been accusations of torture since Obama took office. Angry? I am in no way defending Bush, but maybe, just maybe, it took the beast (silent majority) a while to wake up. Democracy moves that way sometimes. This is particularly true when talking about the segment of our population who don't live for politics, who are out working, raising their families and are otherwise involved in their communities - you know, the self-actualized people with little desire to bend others to their will. That's who I'm seeing at these rallies, and from what I've heard, these Tea Party folks are just as upset with the Republicans as they are with the Democrats. I know I am. Basically, I think the Federal Government overstepped it's constitutional limits many, many years ago and I enjoy seeing that so many of my fellow citizens are feeling the same way. RickC · April 17, 2010 01:33 PM Here's the rule: Short gets read, Long gets thrown in the trash. All I had to read was the title to know I needn't read anymore, had I been at that protest. I read the whole thing here, just to understand your assessment. and what Rick C and Eric said. Sal · April 17, 2010 01:48 PM I remember when Bork was a proper noun and not a tactic. I remember when Cronkite lied about Tet. I remember when The Weather Underground was a terrorist organization. It's the real memory of real events as they happened that the Left needs to smother else why the need for Holocaust denial on the Left? Meanwhile, Kinkos can make signs like that from a simple jpg file or Word document and put it on a board or a banner or whatever you like. They do it all day long. Joan of Argghh! · April 17, 2010 01:53 PM Oh goody another variation of the "chickenhawk" meme If you never spoke out against [blank] then you should forever SHUT UP about [blank] Always assuming of course that even if you spoke out against [blank] you weren't loud enough because I never heard you. ::::sigh:::: Oh, BTW chocolatier, Pelosi took over Congress in 2006 and who now controls the purse strings? Darleen · April 17, 2010 03:07 PM Meanwhile, Kinkos can make signs like that from a simple jpg file Yep, for $43.50 for a single poster. That's why vast majority of grassroot individuals get clever with the handmade signs Darleen · April 17, 2010 03:13 PM If she was mad about those things then she's on the wrong side of the protest. The change Obama has brought has been to expanded Bush's policies and spending. She's as blind as she thinks we are. esurio · April 17, 2010 09:14 PM One more, very small, typo: the use of ellipsis marks "when..[.] when... wait for it" It's a tiny thing, but there should be another period in the indicated spot; two periods together aren't a punctuation mark, but three together is the proper form for an ellipsis. Captain Pedantic: over and out! Pious Agnostic · April 17, 2010 09:35 PM What someone could have or should have said about something in the past is not logically relevant to the merits of what the person says about something right now. Actually, sometimes it is. When a person is saying something about his own motives then the past actions of a person definitely are logically relevant. Everyone has principles when it suits their own interest. The best way to tell if someone is truly motivated by a principle is to see if they hold that same principle when it doesn't suit their interests. Anonymous · April 18, 2010 12:39 AM Perhaps one could ask questions of the sign holder such as:
Gringo · April 18, 2010 01:27 AM Post a comment
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I agree with most, but not all, of what's on this sign. The people who come to tea party rallies and complain about stuff Obama is doing should have been rallying against most of the stuff on her sign. She might have added that the total federal budget increased 50% in the 8 years that George W. Bush was president.