American Glob

A handful of local town meeting officials in the western Massachusetts town of Amherst are actively campaigning to host a couple of GITMO detainees there. Funny thing is, at least one of them is also responsible for making sure that American flags don’t fly in downtown Amherst on the anniversary of 9/11.

Michael Graham reports in today’s Boston Herald:

“Selectman Diana Stein was uncertain about supporting the article, the Springfield Republican reported, until she realized her fear of the detainees had been “propagandized” into her. The other “yes” vote, Gerald Weiss, had no such qualms, saying the detainees were “suffering because of the U.S. government.”

“Music to the ears of Ruth F. Hooke, who wrote the article and says the detainees “sound like fine guys. They’d fit right in Amherst.”

“She should know. As a member of Town Meeting, Hooke supported resolutions calling for the impeachment of President George W. Bush, the immediate withdrawal of all troops from Iraq and granting the right to vote to non-citizens.”

“What does Hooke oppose? Military action against Iran and the flying of American flags in downtown Amherst – on 9/11.”

“Read that again: Ruth Hooke wants released Guantanamo detainees roaming downtown Amherst next Sept. 11, but she opposes flying American flags to commemorate that horrific day.”

Hey middle America, meet Amherst, Massachusetts where the American flag is (to some) a “symbol of terrorism.”

The volume on this video isn’t great but stay with it. Then walk around for a few minutes counting to ten so you don’t pick up your chair and start smashing things.

Michael Graham is a radio host at Boston talk station 96.9 WTKK. He has more details on this story at his website.

The laundry list of liberals who are now accusing conservatives of being unpatriotic is laughable.

The Politico writes today “Now Who Loves America More? It’s Not the GOP”

Eugene Robinson of the Washington Post wrote an article this week asking “Why Do Conservatives Hate America So?”

The George Soros funded progressive propaganda machine known as Media Matters has written numerous pieces denouncing conservatives as unpatriotic haters for being happy that Obama was unable to bring the Olympics to Chicago.

The DNC and some liberal writers used the America hating slur on conservatives saying that if you felt Obama was undeserving of the Nobel peace prize, you were “siding with the terrorists.”

Sensing a pattern yet?

What we have here is a clear misunderstanding of the concept of patriotism on the part of progressives.

You see, conservatives associate patriotism with love of country, regardless of who is president and even though many of us strongly disagree with President Obama’s policies, we still respect his office. It is our very love of America as it is and has always been that makes us resistant to the “change” which many of us feel is being forced upon the country.

Progressives on the other hand, only associate patriotism with love of President Obama. They feel there is something inherently wrong with America which will only be a great country when it is “changed” to reflect their world view as a more progressive, i.e. European style country. This view is rejected by conservatives who love America just the way she is.

Progressives feel any criticism of Obama is a criticism of America. It isn’t. It’s just a criticism of Obama but this explains everything. Progressives feel Obama represents America. He doesn’t. He’s just the current president, that’s all.

Progressives are currently using a line of attack based on patriotism because it is a point on which they have always rightly felt vulnerable. One need look no further than the numerous people with whom President Obama associates who have long had a negative view of America.

Bill Ayers hated America so much he decided to attack his own country with bombs. Jeremiah Wright used his position as a religious leader to hatefully criticize America from the pulpit. Van Jones has made no secret of his radical views and his disdain for the county. Even the first lady was once excoriated by the press for uttering her famous line about being proud of her country for the first time when her husband became the obvious nominee for the Democrats.

For progressives to hurl accusations of anti-Americanism at conservatives is laughable.

If progressives were truly patriotic themselves, they would have been patriotic all along, not just because we finally have a progressive president in the White House.  They would not continue insisting that there is something wrong with America, even as they control a majority of American government.

They might have even showed a bit more patriotism under President Bush, but we all know how that worked out.

Dissent under George W. Bush = Patriotism.

Dissent under Barack H. Obama = The uneducated, unruly, and unwashed masses.

Everything you need to know about Liberals is summed up in the following report from The Politico.

How dare the American people show up at public meetings to make themselves heard…

“Screaming constituents, protesters dragged out by the cops, congressmen fearful for their safety — welcome to the new town-hall-style meeting, the once-staid forum that is rapidly turning into a house of horrors for members of Congress.”

“On the eve of the August recess, members are reporting meetings that have gone terribly awry, marked by angry, sign-carrying mobs and disruptive behavior. In at least one case, a congressman has stopped holding town hall events because the situation has spiraled so far out of control.”

The situation has spiraled out of control… in Washington, DC.

Which is exactly why a lot of angry people are showing up at town hall events around the country. That’s not the fault of the American people. It’s the fault of their non-representatives who fully deserve the wrath of their disgusted constituents.

Liberal Democrats and Liberal Republicans have invited the negative feedback they will receive from their constituents in the August recess of 2009.

Why? Stimulus. Cap and Trade. ObamaCare. Etc.

If they can’t handle the criticism, and they probably can’t, they should be voted out of office as quickly as possible.

2010 can’t come soon enough.

The Boston Tea Party of 2009 started on Boston Common and ended at Christopher Columbus Park on the waterfront.

At 4 pm, Michael Graham took over as emcee.  Graham is a conservative libertarian and popular talk radio host on Boston’s 96.9 WTKK.

He has guest hosted for Glenn Beck and is a contributor to National Review. You can visit his website via our blogroll.

But before you do that, watch this:

Yes, Boston. Home of the original Tea Party! There were two Tea Parties in Boston today and we were at both of them.

The first one took place on Boston Common right near the State House. Here are some crowd pics. In our next post, we’ll focus on signs.

The second Tea Party took place on the waterfront after working hours. At least four times as many people showed up.

We’re not saying which one yet, but you’ll find out when we update this evening with photos and video.

Happy Tax Day!

Be safe, be respectful and have fun!

-AG

We’ve seen this before.

New York State’s 20th congressional district is tied up in a very close race between Democrat Scott Murphy and Republican Jim Tedisco. You know what? It doesn’t matter who wins.

What does matter is that the very people who have volunteered their lives to defend our country are not likely to have their votes counted for purely political reasons. Hans A. von Spakovsky writes at The Corner on National Review:

“Only 25 votes separate Republican Tim Tedisco and Democrat Scott Murphy in the special election for New York’s 20th district. That means the winner will be determined by 6,000 outstanding absentee ballots.”

“The problem for military voters in places like Iraq and Afghanistan is that it takes so long for absentee ballots to make the trip by mail from county election officials in the United States to bases in combat zones overseas and back again. As a result, only a tiny percentage of their votes get counted.”

“Under New York law, absentee ballots in this race had to be postmarked by March 30, the day before the March 31 election, and received by April 7. That left most military voters only 25 days to receive, mark and return their absentee ballots, which everyone agrees isn’t enough time, given overseas mail delays.”

“The Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, which is responsible for enforcing the federal statute that guarantees the right of overseas citizens and military personnel to vote by absentee ballot, contacted the New York State Board of Elections and requested that they issue their ballots sooner for this race. The two Republican members of the board voted to support this request. Yet the two Democratic members of the board, shamefully enough, voted against doing so. Were they trying to disenfranchise military voters?”

“…the voters who will end up being disenfranchised by New York election officials and inadequate enforcement by the Justice Department are the very Americans who put their lives on the line for the rest of us who reside safely here. This is shameful conduct.”

Shameful is not a strong enough word. Disgusting, disgraceful, outrageous, maddening, sickening, pitiful, cowardly and treasonous come to mind.

It doesn’t matter which way the American Military chooses to vote, that is their business only. What does matter is that these people have volunteered their lives to protect and defend the United States of America.

They are deserving of enormous gratitude and respect from the American people and our elected officials.

The very least our country can do is honor their right to participate in America’s democratic process.

Anything less is a stain on America that will not be removed any time soon.

Thanks to Michelle Malkin, we have this nifty map which shows the location of Tea Parties all over the United States on April 15th:

You can even CLICK HERE to find your local Tea Party.

Michelle has encouraged people to spread the word, so that’s just what we’re doing. Besides, how often do you get to dust off your powdered wig and your tri-corner hat?

Dissent is still patriotic, folks. Get to it.