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WHAT SATURDAY'S MARCHES MEANT
boblonsberry.com ^ | 09/14/09 | Bob Lonsberry

Posted on 09/14/2009 6:13:13 AM PDT by shortstop

Glenn Beck said the problem is corruption.

On Saturday, as hundreds of thousands of Americans took to the streets across the country, upset with the direction of the government, insisting that the people and the Constitution be respected, Glenn Beck said the problem was corruption.

He said that it’s not about party, it’s not about the deficit, it’s not about health care or Van Jones or even cap and trade. He said it’s about corrupt politicians from both parties in Washington.

And I think he’s wrong.

I think it’s about philosophy and principles. I think it’s about a federal government which is now in the hands of people antagonistic to the values and teachings of our Founders and forefathers.

I love Glenn Beck, and I appreciate the part he has been able to play in urging like-minded people to gather and make their voices heard. But I think on Saturday that he – like all of the politicians and media people – should have listened, and not talked.

Because I think the people spoke pretty clearly. I think those hundreds of thousands of people who stood together have a very clear understanding of what the problem is. On Glenn Beck’s broadcast, and in news accounts of various gatherings, the strongest and most articulate messages came from the people themselves. Regular folks with a microphone stuck in their face spoke what was in their heart and in their mind.

If this is a demonstration of people power, and those people are demanding preeminence over the politicians, they are demanding preeminence over the pundits, too.

The problem is not corruption.

At least not as the word is generally understood. The problem is not that Barack Obama is taking bribes, it is that he believes in a flawed and failed un-American philosophy. The crippling of our society that will come from Democrat global-warming regulations is not the result of Democrats being on the take, it is the result of Democrat global-warming regulations being based in falsehood and an antagonism toward American society.

I wouldn’t want to vouch for the character of any politician, and I wouldn’t be surprised if many of them were feathering their nests, but people didn’t take to the streets Saturday because they feared politicians were corrupt. People took to the streets Saturday because they feared politicians were destroying the country and its liberties.

Countless parents took their children to rallies clear in the understanding that they were doing so in hopes of saving for those children a free and strong America. Person after person spoke about principles, and the absolutely central role the Constitution must play.

It was about freedom.

It is always about freedom.

The problem in Washington is that they have forgotten that. They think it is about power. Specifically, a new cabal in Washington thinks it is about using power to force their twisted view of American destruction onto the rest of us.

Glenn Beck went out of his way to say that it’s really not a matter of Democrats versus Republicans and that both parties are wrong altogether. He seemed to take pains to say it wasn’t “anti-Obama” or anti-Democrat.

But that’s not exactly true.

Yes, the national Republican Party has long since abandoned the constitutional, conservative principles it is supposed to stand for. That’s why the Republican Party is in the situation it’s in today. Republicans are far less pleased with their Washington representatives than Democrats are with theirs.

But to say that the two parties are equal in culpability for the current upset is wrong. A year ago, for example, the Democrats controlled Congress and George W. Bush – a Republican who had by then seriously compromised conservative values – was in the White House.

And nobody was in the streets.

There were no rallies like those held on Saturday. Those people, though probably unhappy, were not so provoked as to take action.

But something clearly has changed.

From the tea-party rallies to the town-hall meetings to Saturday’s events, a great many Americans are standing up in defense of their freedom and country.

And what pushed them over the line?

It was Barack Obama and the agenda of his administration. It is the insolence of Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid and the Democrats they lead in the Congress. It is the Democrat-driven and Marxist-inspired plan to “change” America. It isn’t honest to overlook that fact and its clear partisan overtone. It is a Democrat and Republican thing – not because of labels, but because of philosophies.

And while it may not always be clear that the Republicans are the good guys, it is undeniably obvious that the Democrats are the bad guys. Putting the Republicans in charge may not be a perfect solution, but taking the Democrats out of power is an essential step.

Cleaning out the RINOs, and getting rid of Republicans who have sold out their constituents’ values – who have not lived up to their oath to follow the Constitution – is essential and ongoing. But the real fight is against a philosophy which over the last eight months has conducted a blitzkrieg against American freedoms, institutions and interests.

And that philosophy owns the Obama White House and the Democrat Congress.

Everyone who marched on Saturday knows that.

And the sooner the politicians and the pundits catch on, the better.


TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 912project; beck; lonsberry912march; teaparty
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I don't think it's a matter of who is right- Beck or Lonsberry. In my opinion, both are right.
1 posted on 09/14/2009 6:13:13 AM PDT by shortstop
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To: shortstop

We all are right for a variety of diverse reasons. But I have to agree that the overwhelming value that drives the people is their freedom and the impending LOSS of freedom to Marxist manipulation.

Because without freedom, nothing else matters.


2 posted on 09/14/2009 6:21:50 AM PDT by o_zarkman44 (Obama is the ultimate LIE!)
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To: shortstop

I think Lonsberry is MORE right. Corruption is a problem, yes, but that’s only a small part of it. It is about freedom and our country’s founding values. I love Glenn Beck, but he’s got this one wrong.


3 posted on 09/14/2009 6:23:05 AM PDT by MizSterious (Do you not think an angel rides in the whirlwind and directs this storm? John Page, 1744-1808)
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To: shortstop

Corruption is a form of tyranny, since it puts a few in power by way of their greed, dishonesty, and collusion, so I believe that the rally on Saturday was about both. If there is corruption in the government, freedom is at risk, if not already compromised, albeit in a stealthier manner.


4 posted on 09/14/2009 6:23:12 AM PDT by SlowBoat407 (Achtung. preparen zie fur die obamahopenchangen.)
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To: shortstop
they are demanding preeminence over the pundits, too.

Rush Limbaugh has run his mouth for twenty years, and won converts and followers all over the country. He's become a rich man by doing so, and rightfully so. The one thing he's never done, and I've thought this for a long time, is give us SOLUTIONS - i.e. something to do about the issues he points out.

I take nothing from Rush. Without Rush, there would not have been a Glenn Beck or a Shawn Hannity, Michael Medved, Dennis Miller, Michael Savage, etc. Shawn Hannity modeled himself in Rush's mold of being a critic and commentator, but without Rush's intellect and originality (love ya, Shawn, if you read this, but it's true). Michael Savage is the prototypical "break some dishes, but don't DO anything" angry man. The rest are pretty much thin tea versions of Rush, although each has their unique flair.

The ONLY one of them so far to provide what we really need, more than anything else, a focal point, leadership if you will, is Glenn Beck. He's a flawed leader - he is too apocalyptic by far (I've heard Rush reign in Glenn's apocalyptic visions when they talk publicly), but he is leading. We've needed that for years. Where this goes is anybody's guess. but FINALLY somebody is giving us some clues as to how to reverse this mudslide of tyranny.

5 posted on 09/14/2009 6:24:09 AM PDT by Hardastarboard (I long for the days when advertisers didn't constantly ask about the health of my genital organs.)
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To: shortstop
In my opinion, both are right.

I agree. I think it is a combination of factors that are overwhelming enough to make people stop their regular lives so as to take part in these protests.

The Dems pay people to go to pro-leftist protests. Those of us who are attending the tea parties have to take time and money away from something else to participate.

6 posted on 09/14/2009 6:25:35 AM PDT by MEGoody (Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.)
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To: shortstop

I’ll have to agree with both, but I think what Beck sees is that people get to Washington (with good intentions) and something happens...they succumb to the lobbyists, they don’t listen to the electorate,all they care about is being poltically correct and not rocking the boat. And in that way it is corruption, but not so much of the politician himself, but of the system.


7 posted on 09/14/2009 6:27:51 AM PDT by dawn53
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To: shortstop

“The crippling of our society that will come from Democrat global-warming regulations is not the result of Democrats being on the take, it is the result of Democrat global-warming regulations being based in falsehood and an antagonism toward American society.”

Yeah, Bob. But you gotta remember that the two are interlinked. The people who intend to destroy us are always on the take as well. When you go after corruption you are going to find them. They break laws. Follow the money. It’s the surest way to purge them. Makes it hard to claim persecution when $50K in cash is found in your freezer.

I really like Bob, but I think he still sips some of the Republican flavored Kool-aid.


8 posted on 09/14/2009 6:29:52 AM PDT by Seruzawa (If you agree with the French raise your hand - If you are French raise both hands.)
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To: shortstop

There are many reasons. The point is that whatever the individual reason, a million individuals, with little coordination beyond “be in DC 9/12”, marched to the center of power and yelled “STOP IT!”

A million citizens that low on options bodes ill.


9 posted on 09/14/2009 6:31:53 AM PDT by ctdonath2 (Joe Wilson was right.)
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To: shortstop

Michelle Malkin’s *Culture of Corruption* is relevant here. Obama & Co have taken corruption to new heights. But, they have done so because if their supporters were to learn what they’re pushing, they’d have no supporters. Marxism wouldn’t retain any support except from certifiable *nuts* (any more than it will work if implemented here).


10 posted on 09/14/2009 6:34:48 AM PDT by JohnQ1 ("Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever." Oscar Wilde)
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To: Seruzawa

I do believe the Democrats are on the take with the global warming scam. They have much to gain. Individually, For example, Algore and General Electric stand to gain huge financial wealth. Party-wise, the Dems can increase our taxes and thus “spread the wealth around” resulting in many more dependent voters and assuring their power for years to come.


11 posted on 09/14/2009 6:36:01 AM PDT by shortstop (General Petraeus in 2012.)
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To: shortstop
But I think on Saturday that he – like all of the politicians and media people – should have listened, and not talked.

I have to agree with this observation.

We can (and do) hear Glenn pontificate and build his theories 5 days a week, but Saturday was a time for the people to speak and they did a fine job on their own. We didn't need Glenn to interpret for us. In fact, his commentary distracted from the message.

We turned from FOX to watch the proceedings on C-Span for that reason.

12 posted on 09/14/2009 6:36:31 AM PDT by Iron Munro ("You can't kill the beast while sucking at its teat." - Claire Wolfe)
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To: shortstop
But to say that the two parties are equal in culpability for the current upset is wrong. A year ago, for example, the Democrats controlled Congress and George W. Bush – a Republican who had by then seriously compromised conservative values – was in the White House.

And nobody was in the streets.

A red herring argument, Bob. A year ago, the nation was in the midst of a presidential election campaign. We were in the streets moving to the voting booths. The conservative choice was severely limited, to say the least.

13 posted on 09/14/2009 6:37:37 AM PDT by TADSLOS (Proud FR Mobster)
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To: shortstop

Corruption is the enabler for the march to Marxism, and Marxism is the mother of all corrupt systems.


14 posted on 09/14/2009 6:40:53 AM PDT by 9YearLurker
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To: shortstop
The crippling of our society that will come from Democrat global-warming regulations is not the result of Democrats being on the take, it is the result of Democrat global-warming regulations being based in falsehood and an antagonism toward American society.

Lonsberry is clueless here. That falsehood was heavily financed. There is a tremendous amount of money at stake. It may be thoroughly laundered money, but it's still corruption.

15 posted on 09/14/2009 6:41:42 AM PDT by Carry_Okie (Islam offers three choices: surrender, fight, or die.)
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To: MizSterious

Agreed...


16 posted on 09/14/2009 6:43:46 AM PDT by SE Mom (Proud mom of an Iraq war combat vet)
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To: shortstop
Photobucket

Jesus allows people ultimate freedom ... to select which road they wish to take in life. With Obama, the freedoms are being destroyed and his [evil] agenda is being forced. I wonder how many agnostics were at the March in Washington?
17 posted on 09/14/2009 6:45:11 AM PDT by mlizzy (Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapels Everywhere spells P.E.A.C.E.)
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To: shortstop

“WHAT SATURDAY’S MARCHES MEANT”

It’s the prelude to the showdown between the New World Order and the freedom-loving, hard-working American people.

The Liar-in-chief is just a Charley McCarthy puppet. They write the script, he reads it.


18 posted on 09/14/2009 6:46:02 AM PDT by RoadTest ( Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols - Psalm 97:12a)
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To: shortstop

The overall problem is one of immorality. Corruption is a subset of immorality. Taking away freedom and people’s earnings to give to non-producers is immoral. The list goes on...

I’m thinking (hoping) the pendulum has begun to swing back toward a more moral culture. The ACORN expose is an example. People continue to tune out the MSM (or SRM) lies. Joe Wilson is an example with the shout heard around the world. The TEA party movement is one big example.

I’m so proud of the folks that went to DC this past weekend. They were civil and even picked up their own trash. This is the America I want and love. It’s not the immoral big government in bed with big business and the SRM that will make America great. Big government and SRM are the problem, not the solution.


19 posted on 09/14/2009 6:48:19 AM PDT by Need4Truth (Let government pay their own debt.)
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To: shortstop
The problem is not corruption

Corruption takes many forms. Corruption of mind, corruption of spirit, corruption of principle, corruption of philosophy, corruption of ambition, corruption of greed. IOW the seven deadly sins. They are all rampant in the halls of government at all levels.

20 posted on 09/14/2009 6:50:23 AM PDT by Don Corleone ("Oil the gun..eat the cannolis. Take it to the Mattress.")
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