Washington, D.C.'s theater of the absurd

Chris, Atlanta, GA — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 21:08:48 GMT

Well, the fact that nobody attended these protests didn't prevent almost every major media outfit from prominently featuring these non-events.

This allows them to regurgiate a bunch of quotes from hyper-partisan liberals. Kind of like the writer did here: "Not many people showed up, so we'll dideicate a paragraph toeach one of them".

Of course, the mainstream media has been the PR wing for the anti-war movement for five years. Why should today be any different?

Washington, D.C.'s theater of the absurd

H R Coursen — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 21:24:08 GMT

Another factor, of course, is that the Vietnam protests did no good whatsoever. Faced with a half-million in DC in the late 60s, Spiro Agnew said that the protest represented only a small fraction of the population. The current administration is totally impervious to objection to its policies, as witness recent statements by Bush and Cheney. Most people, sad to say, ask, Why bother? And, as during Vietnam, protesters risk retaliation from a variety of sources.

Washington, D.C.'s theater of the absurd

Aaron Burr — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 21:30:27 GMT

Of course, the other possibility is that the American public does not support/condone the left-wing lunatics marching in DC. As difficult as it is for the MSM to understand, the issue is just not that simple.

Washington, D.C.'s theater of the absurd

luis siempre — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 21:30:53 GMT

End the war today. Billions for nothing.

Washington, D.C.'s theater of the absurd

Tom, Naperville, IL — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 21:36:19 GMT

"Later, among other protests, they turned Pennsylvania Avenue into a theater of the absurd."

Protesters? Theatre of the absurd?

How about the MADNESS of Bush's Iraq war?

To paraphrase the bumper sticker:

"Hey W, when the protesters decried, nobody died"

Washington, D.C.'s theater of the absurd

Chris, Kane, Pa — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 21:43:15 GMT

Very effective way to control and confine the people to their area, it stop the demonstration due to high cost of gas prices, low wages and everything else.

Washington, D.C.'s theater of the absurd

TC — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 21:47:18 GMT

The protests are occurring at the ballot box

Washington, D.C.'s theater of the absurd

Josh "65 Percenter", Brooklyn, NY — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 22:04:13 GMT

"the number of demonstrators paled in comparison to the Vietnam protests"

It is so tiring to hear nostalgia for the "good old days", when a protest was a protest.

When the RNC Convention protests happened, there were a half-a-million people on the streets of New York protesting away. The media only covered it for a few minutes, when something lit on fire. There have been plenty of large-scale protests against this war, but the media downplays their size and mocks the people involved.

Media outlets want to keep hold of the message. They no longer cover protests, and therefore people are starting to see no point in just demonstrating in the first place.
The only thing the media covers is the absurd or the violent.
Heck you wouldn't even be writing about the protests at all if a bit of absurdity hadn't caught your attention.
Hopefully people don't start to turn to the other media-attention-magnet, violence.

Washington, D.C.'s theater of the absurd

Patrick Briggs, Pasadena, CA — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 22:19:57 GMT

Your article title says all I need to know. Pathetic apolgist for a hapless administration and their chicken hawk supporters.

You have blood on your hands as does every American who doesn't get off their butt to help protest ending this war. People like me won't stop fighting against your misleading bias and the American people's apathy.

How do you go to work in the morning writing this kind of deception??

Washington, D.C.'s theater of the absurd

Tim Philadelphia — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 22:29:30 GMT

Let's face it, those people are by and large, misfit creeps.

Washington, D.C.'s theater of the absurd

Tim Philadelphia — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 22:31:36 GMT

Let's face it, those people are by and large, misfit creeps.

Washington, D.C.'s theater of the absurd

Mark, Sacramento, CA — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 22:45:02 GMT

Agreed Josh. Makes you wonder what Chris in Atlanta watches for news (Fox?). There have been some very significant protests in D.C. in the last 3 years that have gone virtually ignored by the Mainstream Corporate Conservative Media (MSCCM). Just look at who owns NBC- General Electric, one of the biggest defense contractors in the world. What type of message do you think they want to send? As for the draft, the author is absolutely correct. This Country has become so self-absorbed that if someone's collective butt isn't directly on the line, they simply don't care and won't become involved. I mean, c'mon they can't afford to miss the next episode of "America Idled".

Washington, D.C.'s theater of the absurd

Stan Stevens, Birmingham, michigan — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 22:52:01 GMT

The reason the protests are small compared to Viet Nam is that their is no comparison with Viet Nam. Had Saddam not violated his 'probation" after he invaded Kuwait, he'd still be there today. Our troops in Saudi Arabia, protecting them from Sadam, is what set Osama Bin Laden off in the first place. 3,251 killed in 5 years. (USA Today Mar. 19th. page 7 A) That would have been 25,000 in Nam and 400,000+ in WWII.

Washington, D.C.'s theater of the absurd

Robert Marley — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 23:09:30 GMT

I live in DC. More people showed up last week to see the announcement about when the cherry blossoms will hit full bloom than participated in this stupidity. I can't help but laugh out loud when I see all of the media attention paid to the literal handful of far-left morons who showed up today. Get a grip folks. Hindsight is 20/20. Many people, including a lot of Republicans think that the war was not the brightest idea. However, that debate ended more than 5 YEARS AGO! The issue is what are we going to do now? The choices are stay and win or retreat and lose. The only candidate that truly understands the lessons of wars past is John McCain. Par for the course, the Democrat party is on the wrong side of history again. Ironically, the only way the Democrats will win in November is if McCain dies or if all of the national security issues facing our nation are solved before the election. Guess what folks? That is not going to happen because the majority of the American people will never entrust our national security to a Democrat. Remember, Osama loves Obama.

Washington, D.C.'s theater of the absurd

Al Samson Cumberland Rhode Island — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 23:39:49 GMT

Im A Vietnam Vet Against this war From the start voting Republican would be A continuation of this madness Semper fi

Washington, D.C.'s theater of the absurd

Mike, Charlotte, NC — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 23:52:06 GMT

Nobody showed up for a war protest, so let's write a story about it, quote the losers who show up and put it on the front page of MSNBC.com.

The protesters know that they don't need people to show up. They just need one guy and the media will come and quote him because they are against the war too.

So much for ethics in journalism.

Washington, D.C.'s theater of the absurd

Troy, Loveland, CO — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 23:55:33 GMT

Is anyone actually still naive enough to believe that the United States Government is "Of the people, by the people, and for the people?"

If you believe that, you're pathetic.

Your government hasn't worked for the people in decades because the people are actually stupid enough to believe the nonsensical drivel that spews out of every news/information source available.

Face it, people. You have OWNERS. They OWN you. You do not have "rights," you have privileges that can be taken from you by decree.

The American dream is a fraud and so is the entire US Government.

If you can't see that, then you deserve to live under its oppression.

Washington, D.C.'s theater of the absurd

Rev. Hockre, Louisville, Kentucky — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 04:10:25 GMT

Who Would Jesus Bomb?
Who Would Jesus Torture?

The "Christian Conservatives" that defend this war will burn in hell for siding with Satan. Their profound ignorance and blind rationalization of the hundreds of thousands of dead innocents won't save them on judgment day.

Washington, D.C.'s theater of the absurd

Conor — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 06:20:32 GMT

Wow alot of you must be miserable 24/7. I mean so far all i have heard are insults and moronics quotes from the left and decent points on the right.
Do you people on the left realize how stupid, ignorant and hate mongering you all sound.
Doubt it cause you keep doing it.

Washington, D.C.'s theater of the absurd

Conor — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 06:21:27 GMT

and do josh 65 percenter, it was the DNC convention not the RNC. I guesing it was a typo on your part

Washington, D.C.'s theater of the absurd

BigD, Randolph, VT — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 20:55:04 GMT

One thing is obvious by this story and by these comments. The current administration and powers that be have managed to divide us to a frightening degree. At 50 years of age I have never been so angered and sickened by "conservatives," and they have apparently never thought I (and other like-minded people) have been more weak or stupid. It's very sad and I'm sure not very good for our country.

Washington, D.C.'s theater of the absurd

Carli — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 04:51:46 GMT

I agree with Conor, most of you are ridiculous. You're so full of hot air its a wonder you can keep your feet on the ground. We went to WAR people. Whether it was a mistake or not, it happened, its done move on get over it and maybe instead of airing your stupid hate filled opinions, you could actually do something to help our troops over there that are fighting for US. It doesn't matter if you are republican, democratic or whatever, we are still all Americans in case you have forgotten. All that time those people spent protesting would have been better used in helping out and supporting our troops in some way or other.

Washington, D.C.'s theater of the absurd

Bill Inman — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 12:44:37 GMT

Washington, D.C.'s theater of the absurd

Scott., Elizabeth, WV. — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 00:58:18 GMT

I applaud, as the well-worn phrase goes, the right of people to protest the actions of its government. What I am sick to death of is the unwavering support of same by our theoretically "unbiased" media. It's fine with me if you oppose the war and want to say so, but don't hide behind your media credentials to claim objectivity. The worst kept secret in America is that the mainstream press is by and large very liberal politically. Really, it's ok - you can come out of Roger Moore's closet whenever you're finished admiring his hat collection...

Washington, D.C.'s theater of the absurd

Steven in Tikrit — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 09:21:40 GMT

Don't you see how the media is controlling you? First, it was about weapons of mass destruction, when that didn't work (because it was later proven he never possessed ANY of the items he was accused of) the Bush administration spinned it too equating Saddam with Osama, yet their religions are completely different and they were mortal enemies. There wasn't a single terrorist action out of Iraq, the people who flew planes into our buildings were Saudi, Kuwaiti, and Egyptian predominantly. The attack was neither supported by or launched from Iraq. Then he tried to say that there was this big meteor named Iraq heading right for the heart of the U.S. by putting them in the "Axis of Evil" (sounds like Bush is a fan of Austin Powers), yea sure there was. Saddam didn't even have the resources to move his Army into Kuwait and keep it, how was he a threat to the U.S.? Then it was spinned into not leaving a place that can serve as a hotbed for terrorism. What? Saddam Hussein was a Sunni, a non practicing one at that, and the only extremism he ever demonstrated was the atrocities he committed to keep power(the Bush administration has let it be well known what those were). News to the U.S., there are another two dozen Saddams out there running countries. Are we going to get them all? And to make matters worse, we invaded a soverign nation that had never supported any acts of war or terrorism against us, or proven to have done so against ANY free nation, all in the name of getting rid of a "hotbed" of terrorism and a place that we said the bad guys could stage, and in doing so we CREATED a hotbed for terrorism and a place that attacks could be staged and planned from. And to top it off, the terrorists don't have to work as hard to kill Americans, we have put 200,000 + of them in this hotbed. In doing so, we have lost over 4000 Americans now, an unacceptable loss, considering the result has been an unjust war, one that has spent billions of dollars and will have a final bill in the trillions, stressed out our military, wrecked our economy, and drove fuel prices to almost unbearable levels, creating some very rich people that actually WANT to fly more planes into our buildings (where do you think Bin Laden got his money, selling stuffed Easter Bunnies?). Conservatives continue to drive their $40,000 SUV's that get 14mpg while they continue to believe and spew the venom that comes from the Bush administration about just wars, continuing to make the real extremists, the Shia muslims in Saudi, Egypt, and Kuwait, the real source of money for the terrorist, the richest people in the world.

In my opinion this country's policies are backward, and this comes from someone serving it in the military IN IRAQ.

Washington, D.C.'s theater of the absurd

Steven in Iraq — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 10:19:49 GMT

And Rev Hockre, Sir, we stand on the same side of the line on this war, but for blatently different reasons. Your Christian fanaticism and extremism is no different then what your Islamic peers use to justify their actions. Decisions made from our country, if they are to be made with reason and intelligence, need to be done so without the influence of religion, in a completely secular and analytical direction. I do not hear you spewing your religious venom in the name of Jesus Christ when the war in Afghanistan is mentioned. I believe your heart is in the right place, and that you firmly believe Jesus is the son of God, but I would ask that you learn to seperate the concept of Church and State, know that religious influence has no place in our policy making, even if it is the religion shared by the majority, or extremism will begin to run rampant on both sides. I would challenge to you that removing God from our political decision process is the work of Satan as many of your peers believe. Sir, please realize that sometimes war is necessary, as one famous philosopher (I think it was Churchill, but if not I am sure someone will help) once said, all evil needs in this world to exist is that good men do nothing.

Washington, D.C.'s theater of the absurd

Steven in Iraq — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 12:57:38 GMT

Oops realized I made a type-o to Rev Hockre, I meant to say removing God from our political decision making process in NOT the work of Satan as many of your peers believe. Forgive my over indulgence in clicking submit without doing a proper inventory of my work but this is a very important, life affecting decision process our country is engaged in, it is personally affecting my life and many of my friends, and needs not be influenced by radicalism from either side but by reason and intelligence. I am proud of my country but have reservations about our decision making process over the last few years and what like to see it reversed, something that I believe a democratic candidate will do more so then a republican will, though I do not affiliate myself with any party.

Washington, D.C.'s theater of the absurd

Francesco Murtas, Cagliari , Italia — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 19:47:53 GMT

I do not want to too rough,
but you all are facing war in the high school and nobody says nothing about that issue.: IT IS A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT ||||Iraq starts as a lie and since The President of yours announced that you win the really war starts from the begenning,How many kids from the U.S ( Kids yes Kids 18th - 23rd of age )died from that speech.
You all brought in Iraq what was not there before:OSAMA BIN LADEN |.
i REALLY LOVE YOU ALL BUT YOU HAVE TO FACE THE TRUTH.
Ciao FM.

Washington, D.C.'s theater of the absurd

Richard, Lubbock, TEXAS — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 15:26:11 GMT

The protests during Vietnam did some good. President Johnson decided NOT to run again, President Nixon got us out of Vietnam. More information has been forthcoming about Vietnam than would otherwise have been told. The news media has reporters embedded with the troops. Still people don't realize that the FIRST American casualty in Vietnam was in 1945.

Iraq is NOT a lie - OUR SOLDIERS have spent time in bunkers that had stored bio/chem weapons. The ease with which these weapons can be dispersed make them a WMD. If we do NOT fight in Iraq, we will be fighting in OUR STREETS.

Washington, D.C.'s theater of the absurd

Pete Guth, Gree Bay,WI — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 21:51:54 GMT

Now we know George Bush has no idea the price of gas. He does not know the spiraling costs of putting food on the table. And, I guarantee that if he was on the show "Truth and Lies" or whatever they call it, and the question was did you ever cheat on a college test in order to have a better grade, well we know the answer. Don"t we?

Washington, D.C.'s theater of the absurd

Jacki Whitford, Falls Church, VA — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 13:03:33 GMT

We did not pull out of Viet Nam until President Lyndon Johnson saw the look on his pregnant daughter's face as Charles Robb prepared to go to war. He felt the anguish of every American family and decided to end the absurb. Both my father and my boyfriend served two terms of duty in Nam on the Enterprise and the Kitty Hawk. Both came back dark, bitter and changed forever. War is ugly. And it is the veterans and their families who suffer through the post war aftermath that suffer. Not the media who has moved onto another story, not the Government who has moved onto another presidential administration.

And there is no need for a draft. The military is forcing those who volunteered to go (and reservists who had to go by default) to extend their tours until the conflict ends.

War is a nasty, dirty business and as a nation we need to think twice before we get involved in someone else's.

Washington, D.C.'s theater of the absurd

Jean L. Manson — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 02:05:35 GMT

Of course someone gave the war a great deal of thought...do you use gas for your car? Do YOU want to take the straw out of the Iraq oil fields?..Do you think you have a problem with gas prices now? wait till you withdraw the troops and bring that STRAW HOME WITH THEM. The terrorist will then have a country and it's oil revenue, not just a base....Oh Ye hypocrites....I think the draft should come back...get some of the yellow bellies a taste of the price of freedom so they can shoot their mouth off in safety and freedom...They never paid a penney, or a drop of blood for. Yada Yada Yada.......

Washington, D.C.'s theater of the absurd

Jon Allred — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 03:05:34 GMT

American democracy developed over hundreds of years, but we use warfare to compel a Muslim culture to change overnight.

If the roles were reversed, I would be a suicide bomber too. Nobody's going to use a gun to tell me how to live.

Allred,
Salt Lake

Washington, D.C.'s theater of the absurd

Lorraine Taube Brockway Township Michigan — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 20:21:48 GMT

I have stopped trying to understand other peoples thought process long ago but with the conments here I don't know whether to laugh or cry. I KNOW we were attacked. I don't pretend to know what our military or intelligence people know but I was reaaasured by an Air Force officer that our military will never let our country go. I was in the hopital at the time and shared the room with his wife. I believe him God bless America and our military. Thank you for serving our country.

Washington, D.C.'s theater of the absurd

art mulkey avon park FL — Tue, 13 May 2008 21:02:19 GMT

I don't htink writing anthing here is going to change anyone's mind or open closed eyes. We all have our beliefs and we all view the world through the filter of past experiencs and teachings. We in the US are reaping what we sowed. We elected W not once but twice. A true Chrisian does not kill or condone doing so. Human history itself is not one to be proud of. Lots and lots of killing,maiming, raping , pillaging and we just keep getting better and better at it