John Nichols, on Saturday's rally in Madison

[Lefta Dissenter]

Winter Soldiers Outshine Sunshine Patriots as Palin's Madison Rally Is Overwhelmed by Protest Crowd

http://www.thenation.com/blog/159983/winter-soldiers-outshine-sunshine-patriots-palins-madison-rally-overwhelmed-protest-crow

Wow. That's all I can say.

John Nichols begins his column with the following:

"Tom Paine wrote at the toughest moment of the American revolutionary struggle: “These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman."

Please read the column, and be sure to thank John.

I will write to thank him, once I've mopped up the tears.

[Scuba]

1. Excellent article.....

"Instead of the masses of Tea Partisans that had been predicted, the group the former governor addressed outside the state Capitol filled a 20-foot-by-35-foot space between a riser packed with television cameras and a stage area where organizers with money to burn had erected an entirely unnecessary big-screen TV and concert speakers.

Even if the Tea Partisans packed into the space as tightly as possible, they could not have numbered more than 600 or 700. Local concert promoter Tag Evers, who has organized hundreds of events over the years (including some of the recent rallies at the Capitol) and has an eye for crowds, put the number of Palin enthusiasts at 500. Defending Wisconsin PAC’s Jeremy Ryan announced after rallying against Palin that “there were probably about 500 of them…and 5,000 of us.… Even when they bus people in from other states, they still can’t form a majority.”




One little nit to pick. The author describes the protesters as "union supporters". I believe the opposition to Scott Walker is a much wider group than that name implies.

[Lefta Dissenter]

3. I've been

picking that nit for 8 weeks. I'm self-employed, and usually say that on my signs, in order to remind people that this battle is NOT just about Unions.

I've wondered what this would have been like if the Unions hadn't kicked into full gear, however. They DO have the biggest voice, and they've used it to support all of us. Even the private sector Unions have been amazing.

So we can keep reminding the press (which I know was the point of your post), and thanking the Unions, and marching forward. Thanks for your response to the column! :hi:

[Scuba]

5. The Unions are the ONLY significant voice on the left. That's why...

...the right so much wants to kill them.

I've never belonged to a Union (OK, I've belonged to a Credit Union) but see this fight as as important as any in my lifetime.

[Lefta Dissenter]

6. that's why

"T.H.E. U.N.I.O.N.S. M.U.S.T. B.E. C.R.U.S.H.E.D."

[Hardrada]

2. Pics??

[AsahinaKimi]

4. Good one

K&R