Town hall tomorrow, need sign ideas

[IllegalArgument]

I'm going to a health care town hall tomorrow. There is a decent chance there will be tea baggers. So, I want to have some counter signs ready for them.

Any suggestions?

And no, tea baggers does not mean anyone who opposes the suggested health care reforms, just the people who think shouting "Obama is a Nazi" is good political discourse.

[Ducky]

I have many humorous suggestions, none of which would be passable for the forum's MA to post.

[applecorped]

"Will work for food"?

[Regnad Kcin]

"Lose Weight Now, Ask Me How."

[Ziggurat]

And no, tea baggers does not mean anyone who opposes the suggested health care reforms, just the people who think shouting "Obama is a Nazi" is good political discourse.

Actually, it means something sexual (google it if you aren't familiar, but not from a work computer). It's been used as a slur by folks like Rachel Maddow for people who showed up to those "tea party" protests earlier this year, thereby demonstrating that she hasn't matured since the 4th grade.

[MattusMaximus]

"Don't like socialized medicine? Give up your Medicare NOW!" :)

[Ziggurat]

"Don't like socialized medicine? Give up your Medicare NOW!" :)

I bet some people would if they could get a refund on the medicare taxes they paid.

[MattusMaximus]

I bet some people would if they could get a refund on the medicare taxes they paid.

Perhaps, but my guess is most would keep it. Hands down.

ETA: And many of the anti-reformists know this, which is precisely why they're running ads full of b.s. that Obama is going to strip away their Medicare benefits and similar nonsense.

[Whiplash]

I'm going to a health care town hall tomorrow. There is a decent chance there will be tea baggers. So, I want to have some counter signs ready for them.

Any suggestions?

And no, tea baggers does not mean anyone who opposes the suggested health care reforms, just the people who think shouting "Obama is a Nazi" is good political discourse.


Ahh, so that justifies the return insult. Got it.

[Ziggurat]

Perhaps, but my guess is most would keep it. Hands down.

Maybe. But given that the government is never ever going to give refunds for past medicare taxes, there's no inconsistency in using a program you've already been taxed for but opposing the introduction of any other such programs. Which is why that slogan doesn't work very well.

[Praktik]

Actually, it means something sexual (google it if you aren't familiar, but not from a work computer). It's been used as a slur by folks like Rachel Maddow for people who showed up to those "tea party" protests earlier this year, thereby demonstrating that she hasn't matured since the 4th grade.

Actually - nearly all my friends and I agree that the teabag slur is hilarious.

but... okay... maybe we prove your point

dammit

[UNLoVedRebel]

"I went to San Francisco to get free healthcare and all I got was AIDS"

[IllegalArgument]

Ahh, so that justifies the return insult. Got it.

They think it's acceptable to scream people down. Friends and neighbors I know are nervous about going to the town hall because of these people.

I think a mocking and sarcasm is in order to deflate these windbags.

Hopefully, it will be a nice civil meeting with both sides getting their voice heard.

Would be quite happy not to have to take the signs out but in case.

[applecorped]

"I went to San Francisco to get free healthcare and all I got was AIDS"


ugh

[MattusMaximus]

Maybe. But given that the government is never ever going to give refunds for past medicare taxes, there's no inconsistency in using a program you've already been taxed for but opposing the introduction of any other such programs. Which is why that slogan doesn't work very well.

Except that it smacks of hypocrisy. And it does work against the morons who are whining about Obama's "socialist" policies who also use Medicare. It's good enough for them but not for anyone else... Which is kind of my point, duh.

[applecorped]

And it does work against the morons... duh.

Well stated.;)

[geni]

[citation needed]

[leftysergeant]

Ahh, so that justifies the return insult. Got it.

Actually, it does. Reality check. That's what they're doing. Getting their jollies doing something kind of icky.

[Ziggurat]

Except that it smacks of hypocrisy.

Why? Because it's not ideologically pure? That's not hypocrisy, that's what people with limited resources and limited choices do. And if you're only interested in what "smacks of hypocrisy" as opposed to, you know, actual hypocrisy, then perhaps you shouldn't demand people bail out of a government program while at the same time advocating an expansion of government programs.

And it does work against the morons who are whining about Obama's "socialist" policies who also use Medicare.

Work in what sense? Convince any of them that they're wrong? No, it will not. It is likely to do the reverse. Make you feel good about the superiority of your position? Sure. Convince any undecideds? I wouldn't count on it.

It's good enough for them but not for anyone else

The fact that they aren't refusing what their taxes already paid for doesn't mean they think it's good enough.

Which is kind of my point, duh.

Yeah, I know that was your point. But it's not a valid one.

[tyr_13]

[citation needed]

I like this.

[UNLoVedRebel]

I like this.

You didn't like mine? :(

[madurobob]

I saw a photo recently I thought was funny - might have even been on this forum. In the photo, standing just behind the group of teabaggers facing the camera was what appeared to be one of them proudly holding up a large sign and smiling broadly. His sign had a few small arrows pointing to others in the crowd and said something like "we have no idea what we're talking about".

I like that idea - infiltrate the teabaggers with a nonsensical sign. Like "fist come, first served" or "good fences make good neighbors" or "still waters run deep"

[tyr_13]

You didn't like mine? :(

NO! Now go back to San Fransisco until you have both AIDS and crabs.

Mmmm, crabs... :D

[Thunder]

I'm going to a health care town hall tomorrow. There is a decent chance there will be tea baggers. So, I want to have some counter signs ready for them.

Any suggestions?

And no, tea baggers does not mean anyone who opposes the suggested health care reforms, just the people who think shouting "Obama is a Nazi" is good political discourse.

"Govt. Health care for Veterans is Socialism!!"

"Where is Obama's certificate of Baptism????"



:D

[GreNME]

[citation needed]

This is awesome. If this gets used you have to get a picture next to the nutbags, holding up the sign next to theirs.

That would be instant internet gold. I swear, I would pay you for a decent hi-quality pic like that.

[ProbeX]

Just bring a white noise machine.

[Whiplash]

Guy, sorry, I was being a smartass for the most part.

[MattusMaximus]

"No more socialist police & fire departments! Privatize them NOW!!!"

"Down with the socialist military! Private mercenary armies NOW!!!"

[Ladewig]

"Obama turned me into a newt!"

[Dr Adequate]

Actually, it means something sexual (google it if you aren't familiar, but not from a work computer). It's been used as a slur by folks like Rachel Maddow for people who showed up to those "tea party" protests earlier this year, thereby demonstrating that she hasn't matured since the 4th grade. Sure. It lowers the whole tone of what would otherwise be a serious public debate.

http://insanitea.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/ovens.jpg

[Ziggurat]

Sure. It lowers the whole tone of what would otherwise be a serious public debate.

Congratulations. You found a nut. Was opposition to the Iraq war not serious because of the existence of troofers? No, Dr. A, you are trying to establish a double standard.

[Thunder]

"Obama bin Laden!!!!"

"Obama is a Jew!!!"

[Dr Adequate]

Congratulations. You found a nut. Was opposition to the Iraq war not serious because of the existence of troofers? No, Dr. A, you are trying to establish a double standard. No I am not. This is why I have never ever in any way objected to people making fun of truthers. On the contrary, I have repeatedly mocked them myself, and you have never objected to my doing so in the slightest. And now I'm mocking the crazies who are in sympathy with your end of the political spectrum, and suddenly you're outraged. And then you use the phrase "double standard".

[Ziggurat]

No I am not. This is why I have never ever in any way objected to people making fun of truthers.

You missed my point entirely. I'm not objecting to you making fun of that guy - he deserves all the mockery he gets. But it is deeply dishonest to categorize what is a rather diverse group by his example, just like it would be dishonest of me to imply all Iraq war opponents are troofers. And that's basically what you're doing with your excuse for Maddow's puerile insult.

[PogoPedant]

Make up your mind (http://imgur.com/O7rgP)

[gtc]

Why not one which says on the back:

Support bipartisanship.

And on the front:

Bush = Swastika = Obama

[Ziggurat]

And on the front:
Bush = Swastika = Obama

I think too many people would miss the sarcasm.

[DC]

"Let's join the 1st World"
or
"Let's join the Civilized World"
or
"Let's join the 21th Century"

[uk_dave]

Make up your mind (http://imgur.com/O7rgP)

Win

[Juniversal]

Make up your mind (http://imgur.com/O7rgP)Lol nicely done. :cool:

[KoihimeNakamura]

"You too can fail History! Yes you can!"

[DC]

From each according to his ability, to each according to his need

they sure would love my sign :)

[ddt]

A bit long, bit in reference to one of the first "tea baggers":

"Before you start a fight, check your health insurance policy"

[Dr Adequate]

You missed my point entirely. I'm not objecting to you making fun of that guy - he deserves all the mockery he gets. But it is deeply dishonest to categorize what is a rather diverse group by his example .... Diverse though the attenders of tea parties may be, I note that they do in fact all have one thing in common, namely that they all attend tea parties.

It would be surprising if there was complete unanimity of opinion between the Mad Hatter and the March Hare. Yet there is at least one respect in which they are strikingly similar.

[Leif Roar]

"Empty Barrels", perhaps?

[DC]

"We are not the best Country in the World when it come to healthcare"

[linusrichard]

Actually, it means something sexual (google it if you aren't familiar, but not from a work computer). It's been used as a slur by folks like Rachel Maddow for people who showed up to those "tea party" protests earlier this year, thereby demonstrating that she hasn't matured since the 4th grade.

The use of the term for this originated with teabaggers, and "folks like Rachel Maddow" took them up on it. Was it out of respect for their own choice of name, or the gleeful opportunity to hoist them by their own petard, as it were? Surely the latter, but that doesn't take away from the fact that the teabaggers themselves started it.

Sure, maybe "folks like Maddow" should have somberly pointed out the sexual connotation and refused to use the term, suggesting their own alternatives. But come on. When a group names itself after a weird sex act, or an ad for an all-male threesome (http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/04/anti-gay-rights-calls-its-marriage.php), you gotta laugh. And I'll tell you what: When Jimmy Carter or Bill Clinton starts his coalition to reduce unemployment in the Pacific Rim nations, and names it "RimJobs," you get to laugh too, and I won't be so unkind as to remind you of this post.

[linusrichard]

[citation needed]

Attribution needed. (http://xkcd.com/285/)

[Wildy]

"Obama bin Laden!!!!"

"Obama is a Jew!!!"

"Obama bin Laden is a Jew!!!"

[Ziggurat]

The use of the term for this originated with teabaggers, and "folks like Rachel Maddow" took them up on it.

No, I don't think it did.

[Ocelot]

:)

[mhaze]

Actually - nearly all my friends and I agree that the teabag slur is hilarious.

but... okay... maybe we prove your point

dammitHilarious? Well gollie gee wiz.

How well has your favorite slur done in shutting down the opposition through use of Saul Alinsky rule 5, Ridicule your opposition?

Not very well?

Yep, that is hilarious. So keep on shouting.

[leftysergeant]

If there is open carrty where you are, print a big sign that says "I'm with stupid" and stand next to some Tea Bagger with a weapon.

[MattusMaximus]

Hilarious? Well gollie gee wiz.

How well has your favorite slur done in shutting down the opposition through use of Saul Alinsky rule 5, Ridicule your opposition?

Not very well?

Yep, that is hilarious. So keep on shouting.

Am I the only one who finds the irony of mhaze chiding those on the left for using Alinsky's tactics to be hilarious? You know, given the context of the rightwing nuts showing up and hijacking town hall meetings and all...

[daredelvis]

The use of the term for this originated with teabaggers, and "folks like Rachel Maddow" took them up on it. Was it out of respect for their own choice of name, or the gleeful opportunity to hoist them by their own petard, as it were? Surely the latter, but that doesn't take away from the fact that the teabaggers themselves started it.


qft


Congratulations. You found a nut. Was opposition to the Iraq war not serious because of the existence of troofers? No, Dr. A, you are trying to establish a double standard.

I seem to recall wholesale dismissal of anti Iraq war protest due to the presence of ANSWER by many right-wing JREFers. You wouldn't have been one of them?


http://www.flickr.com/photos/irees/3446664194/
"I shaved my b@^^s for this?"

Daredelvis

[tyr_13]

:)

Shouldn't the speech bubble be coming from his vocalizer?

[Ziggurat]

I seem to recall wholesale dismissal of anti Iraq war protest due to the presence of ANSWER by many right-wing JREFers. You wouldn't have been one of them?

No, I would not be.

[daredelvis]

No, I would not be.
My apologies.

Daredelvis

[linusrichard]

No, I don't think it did.

How informative.

Teabag Obama (http://teabagobama.blogspot.com).

Tea bag the liberal dems (http://washingtonindependent.com/31868/scenes-from-the-new-american-tea-party).

Tea bag party (http://teabagparty.org/) (safe for work).

Tea bag Congress (http://teabagcongress.com/).

Etc (http://www.reteaparty.com/2009/02/27/rick-santelli-is-as-mad-as-hell-chicago-tea-party/), etc (http://www.zazzle.com/teabaggers_vote_tshirt-235042146571197991), etc.

[leftysergeant]

Thew Goofy Old Perverts knew what tea bagging was when they started it and now they are are stuck with it. I am totally down with it. It is a perfect term of derision and a perfect descriptor of what the anti-Obama nutbars are doing to the POTUS, to health care reform and to the nation.

The next sound the Tea Baggers need to hear is of jaws snapping on something soft.

[Ladewig]

"Barney Frank was right"

[UnrepentantSinner]

How well has your favorite slur done in shutting down the opposition through use of Saul Alinsky rule 5, Ridicule your opposition?

:v:

Am I the only one who finds the irony of mhaze chiding those on the left for using Alinsky's tactics to be hilarious? You know, given the context of the rightwing nuts showing up and hijacking town hall meetings and all...

No. Maybe we can take up a collection for the irony impared on this forum and at least buy them some used ironymeters.

[Matthew Best]

http://forums.randi.org/picture.php?albumid=254&pictureid=1512

[ponderingturtle]

Actually, it means something sexual (google it if you aren't familiar, but not from a work computer). It's been used as a slur by folks like Rachel Maddow for people who showed up to those "tea party" protests earlier this year, thereby demonstrating that she hasn't matured since the 4th grade.

And I believe John Waters claims credit for coining the phrase for his movie Pecker.

[ponderingturtle]

Maybe. But given that the government is never ever going to give refunds for past medicare taxes, there's no inconsistency in using a program you've already been taxed for but opposing the introduction of any other such programs. Which is why that slogan doesn't work very well.

No one has already been taxed for future medicare spending.

[ponderingturtle]

Congratulations. You found a nut. Was opposition to the Iraq war not serious because of the existence of troofers? No, Dr. A, you are trying to establish a double standard.

Why you already established one. You are concerned about people who had for the medicare of others wanting it, but what about people having to pay for the pasts military excesses with the debt accrued from it?

[Praktik]

Hilarious? Well gollie gee wiz.

How well has your favorite slur done in shutting down the opposition through use of Saul Alinsky rule 5, Ridicule your opposition?

Not very well?

Yep, that is hilarious. So keep on shouting.

They're not my opposition. We're spectators chewing on popcorn safely ensconced in the Socialist Paradise of the Great White North.

Have a sense of humour bud, "teabaggers" = awesomesauce..;) And we ain't shoutin', we're chuckling..;)

[Dr Adequate]

Hilarious? Well gollie gee wiz.

How well has your favorite slur done in shutting down the opposition through use of Saul Alinsky rule 5, Ridicule your opposition? But it is only one of your fruitloop fantasies that sane people who laugh at crazy whackjobs laugh at them because they have read the writings of your favorite bogeyman Saul Alinsky. We haven't. Nor even have we, independently of your obsession with Alinsky, decided that laughing at shambling halfwitted morons would be a politically astute tactic.

No, sane people laugh at wingnuts because they're funny.

I understand how this might be difficult for you to understand. But such is the case.

[Dr Adequate]

Incidentally, is there any reason whatsoever why wingnuts rave on about this Alinsky guy except that they're mad? I kinda remember that there was some nebulous inadequate way that they tried to tie him to Obama, but I can't remember what it was.

Anyone?

[madurobob]

http://forums.randi.org/picture.php?albumid=254&pictureid=1512

Thank you - that's exactly the one I was talking about!

[Ziggurat]

I kinda remember that there was some nebulous inadequate way that they tried to tie him to Obama, but I can't remember what it was.

Anyone?

Alinsky pretty much invented "community organizing" of the sort Obama did. You don't think that's a significant connection?

[Dr Adequate]

Alinsky pretty much invented "community organizing" of the sort Obama did. You don't think that's a significant connection? You know, when I call your bluff, that is not the point at which you can go on bluffing. That is the point at which you have to put your cards, face up, on the table.

I call your bluff.

[Professor Yaffle]

"Down with this sort of thing".

6-F2HKLzB6c

[Ziggurat]

You know, when I call your bluff, that is not the point at which you can go on bluffing. That is the point at which you have to put your cards, face up, on the table.

I call your bluff.

Strange. Alinsky is one of the central figures of Chicago community organizing. Obama was a Chicago community organizer. I would have thought the connection would be self-evident. Perhaps the fact that Obama wrote a piece (http://www.edwoj.com/Alinsky/AlinskyObamaChapter1990.htm) for a book about Alinsky's legacy would demonstrate the point, if you're in need of web links.

But I'm not sure why you've got a bee in your bonnet about this anyways. It would seem a far more sensible response on your part regarding their connection would be "so what?" As various right-wing protest groups are discovering, Alinsky's tactics can be adopted to a wide range of objectives, so the existence of a connection doesn't necessarily mean much at all.

[DDWW]

"Stop talking and just vote!"

They (Dems) do not need any Republican votes to pass anything they want. the Dems can have all the credit then when it works out so well and never never loose another election.

DD (What could go wrong?)WW

[Dr Adequate]

Strange. Alinsky is one of the central figures of Chicago community organizing. Obama was a Chicago community organizer. I would have thought the connection would be self-evident. I said cards face up not cards face down.

Perhaps the fact that Obama wrote a piece (http://www.edwoj.com/Alinsky/AlinskyObamaChapter1990.htm) for a book about Alinsky's legacy would demonstrate the point, if you're in need of web links. Oh look. He doesn't mention Alinsky once.

But I'm not sure why you've got a bee in your bonnet about this anyways. Well, let me explain this to you. The right-wing keep on raving and screaming about this guy Alinsky and how he was Obama's "mentor". And yet it seems damn hard to connect the two men in any significant way. One might almost say that the wingnuts have "a bee in their bonnet". So what interests me is, why do they have to lie and lie and lie and lie and lie in their feeble attempts to discredit the PotUS? Is there not something damaging that they could say about him that would actually be true?

It would seem a far more sensible response on your part regarding their connection would be "so what?" "So what"? So they are a bunch of hysterical halfwit liars.

I will admit that I knew that already.

But it's worth repeating.

As various right-wing protest groups are discovering, Alinsky's tactics can be adopted to a wide range of objectives, so the existence of a connection doesn't necessarily mean much at all. So why do people like mhaze bother lying about it?

[Ziggurat]

"So what"? So they are a bunch of hysterical halfwit liars.

Like I said, so what. If it doesn't matter whether or not Obama follows Alinsky's methods, then it doesn't matter if there's a connection between them. You're focused on a fight you don't even need to wage.

[Praktik]

So why do people like mhaze bother lying about it?

One of my continual frustrations growing up in this modern world has been the replay of old battles, over and over again, by our aging, decrepit elders.

The reason why conservatives bandy about the Alinsky connection is the same reason they swift-boated Kerry and the same reason Phelps lost his Kellog's sponsorship and the same reason Jackson's nipple at the Superbowl was such a travesty: because the battles of the 60s live on and on and on. Alinsky represents the core of the America-hating, spitting-on-soldiers, free-love hedonists that the modern conservative movement has largely defined itself against.

And thusly, to tar Obama with Alinsky has a lot of resonance, especially among movement conservatives.

To people like you and me though, and possibly Ziggurat given a recent reply, it might just generate a "wtf"?

Or in my case, slight nausea at being confronted with another iteration of a battle that lost its meaning some decades ago.

[Dr Adequate]

Like I said, so what. If it doesn't matter whether or not Obama follows Alinsky's methods, then it doesn't matter if there's a connection between them. You're focused on a fight you don't even need to wage. But laughing at morons is both fun and instructive.

By analogy, lots of creationists feel the urge to assert that somewhere out there there are living dinosaurs (not including birds, in which case there certainly are).

Now, it is true (note the analogy) that the existence of living dinosaurs would not be contrary to the theory of evolution, and indeed if proved would cause every biologist to get out the champagne and party.

But (again not the analogy) the fact that creationist retards make a dogma of something so utterly contrary to reality is fun, and gives me good cause to slap them around.

Now, if you were to come up to me and say: hey, but nothing in the theory of evolution is contrary to the existence of living (non-avian) dinosaurs, so "you're focused on a fight you don't even need to wage" (keep noting the analogy) then I would reply that it is fun and instructive to beat the creationists on any subject about which they wish to be wrong. The fact that they don't even need to be right about this particular bit of stupidity merely adds zest to the fun I have in showing them up. If they are dumb enough to show saddles on a triceratops when they don't even need to, then am I going to pass up the opportunity for a huge win?

Well then, if the sort of extremist rightist kooks that I despise are going to tell dumb lies about Obama and Alinsky, then am I going to pass up an opportunity to prove that they are a dumb bunch of driveling liars? Whether or not it would be OK if they were telling the truth, the opportunity to show up my ideological opponents as ranting deranged lunatics is too ... how can I put this? ... too irresistible to resist.

[Praktik]

Am I the only one who finds the irony of mhaze chiding those on the left for using Alinsky's tactics to be hilarious? You know, given the context of the rightwing nuts showing up and hijacking town hall meetings and all...

Didnt think of it til now but yes, that is also hilarious!

[Dr Adequate]

So, let's try it again.

Alinsky pretty much invented "community organizing" of the sort Obama did. You don't think that's a significant connection? You know, when I call your bluff, that is not the point at which you can go on bluffing. That is the point at which you have to put your cards, face up, on the table.

I call your bluff. The one card you've shown is that Obama once wrote an essay in which he never even mentioned the name "Alinsky".

Can I see your other cards?

Do you see now why this is fun for me? Maybe less fun for you, but that's the way the cookie crumbles.

[linusrichard]

Am I the only one who finds the irony of mhaze chiding those on the left for using Alinsky's tactics to be hilarious? You know, given the context of the rightwing nuts showing up and hijacking town hall meetings and all...

No, but that works for them too - "the left can hardly complain that the right is lying and shouting down debate on health care, after all, Obama once wrote an essay [not] about Alinsky, and Hillary turned down a job from the man." It's win-win.

[Donal]

"Gays and Lesbians Against Healthcare Reform"

[thaiboxerken]

I saw a photo recently I thought was funny - might have even been on this forum. In the photo, standing just behind the group of teabaggers facing the camera was what appeared to be one of them proudly holding up a large sign and smiling broadly. His sign had a few small arrows pointing to others in the crowd and said something like "we have no idea what we're talking about".

This would be good, except it should say "these people have no idea what they're talking about." Also, the sign should be on a stick that is much taller than the tea-bagger's signs. Stand behind them and raise the sign.

[ponderingturtle]

"Gays and Lesbians Against Healthcare Reform"

GLAHR? Needs a better acronym.

[daredelvis]

GLAHR? Needs a better acronym.

"Gays and Lesbians Against Your Dumb Asinine Healthcare Reform"

GAYDAHR

Daredelvis