Bush faces new breed of policy protesters

[Tinoire]

Bush faces new breed of policy protesters
By Thomas Crampton International Herald Tribune Monday, January 17, 2005

But true influence still eludes them

(snip)
.
The fact that advocacy groups independent of the Democratic Party supported Senator John Kerry to the level of $188 million - more than three times the amount spent by groups supporting Bush - has political analysts saying that the country has entered a new era of political opposition.
.
"We have something unprecedented in U.S. history, and not just in modern U.S. history," said Larry Sabato, a professor of politics at the University of Virginia who is writing a book about the 2004 election entitled "Armageddon: The Bush-Kerry Clash." "No other second-term president has started with such a slim margin of the popular vote and faced such well-organized opposition," Sabato said.
.
(snip)
.
Anger combined with an inability to take action will lead to frustration that Sabato predicts will boil over into street protests in Washington. Not all analysts agree. "Don't expect those critical of Bush policies to fade away, but don't expect to see us rerun 1960s-style protests," said Tom Andrews, a former congressman from Maine who is national director of Win Without War, a group that includes 42 national organizations opposed to the war in Iraq. "You will see 21st-century antiwar organizing."
.
(snip / about the "virtual march" that jammed the Senate switchboards)
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"These newly engaged voters will remain a force to be reckoned with," he said. "They will oppose anything Bush does and likely rally around specific issues that galvanize them in large numbers."
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(snip / about Moveon.org)
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The top short-term issues raised by Moveon.org's members included pushing through election reform, opposing the war in Iraq, protecting the environment and defending civil liberties. In addition to a petition signed by 400,000 demanding that Congress investigate the fairness of voting in the November election, the group has been actively fighting Bush's nominee for attorney general, Alberto Gonzales, with a series of advertisements in newspapers and on television.
.
(snip).
.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/01/16/news/rift.html

CONGRATULATIONS ACTIVISTS! CONGRATULATIONS MOVEON DONORS!

COPNGRATULATIONS KEPHRA!

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Hmm no street protests... okie dokie

maybe these guys have missed the small but growing demonstrations in the streets.

What we will see is a combination of tactics and good ol' fashioned shoe leather on the pavement will continue... though the right and bush rather that not happen...

Out of sight out of mind

By the way, hi Tinoire, my fingers and my feet are ready to move

[Tinoire]

5. I am ready to move with you!

I was just HAPPY to see that article in the International Tribune. It means activists have certainly made a difference.

Peace... That was the first good news of the day!

[Rose Siding]

2. Great post.

Thank you.

[Why Syzygy]

3. Without civil liberties

we have nothing.

Yeah, we're gonna stay behind that movement.

Strange that in a constitutionally protected country we have to maneuver to keep it operational.

[da_chimperor]

10. Funny that. If we'd had a king or dictator earlier in our history

maybe things would have been different.

[Swamp Rat]

12. And a lot easier.

[Goldeneye]

4. Well organized?

We must be making progress. I hope the first guy is right about huge protests.

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. You expect stenographers

to tell you?

[damntexdem]

But no ohter second administration has begun with ...

so little respect for democratic institutions and procedures, nor such a strong intent to undermine them further. Let's hope that our opposition CAN have effect.

[damntexdem]

6. But no ohter second administration has begun with ...

so little respect for democratic institutions and procedures, nor such a strong intent to undermine them further. Let's hope that our opposition CAN have effect.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

8. I believe Mr Sabato is correct

Our anger and frustration is to a boiling point. It will take very little now for it to begin to spill over. Personally, I'm looking forward to seeing more of our own on the streets.

I also think you will be seeing more reflection of our frustrations in our Reps and Senators. We vote them in and it won't benefit their careers to have us hate their apathy. To date we've not voiced this loudly enough. They have coasted along without making too many waves and patting us on the collective heads.

It's all about being visible and vocal, let us not forget that.

[Just Me]

9. Thanks for that read!!! 21st C. opposition, indeed!!!

The opposition is still growing, too,....and becoming increasingly creative!!!

:bounce:

The only thing I can grant Busholini is that he has activated and galvanized "the people".

[Orsino]

11. He's never "faced" anything in his life. n/t