Doesn't Matter if one Were to Protest in an Evening Gown

[AuntPatsy]

Sure hate to burst some DUrs bubbles on this board but The simple truth is those that view anyone protesting this adminstration's war for greed and power could care less about their state of dress, in thier minds they are nothing more than peaceniks and need to shut up...believe me I know...

Sure they would find a way to make fun of someone wearing a pink tiara? So what? Have you seen some of thier protests and state of dress along with the crazy things some wear not to mention signs spewing the most incoherent nonense...

I for one watched the procedings today and to be honest with everyone here, I swear this is the truth, I didn't notice this woman in a pink tiara, my eyes and ears were more focused on what Valerie and those in that courtroom were saying, the background was pretty insignificant considering I was more interested in the true players of todays hearings and what they had to say, to be honest, I couldn't even tell you what anyone wore in that courtroom if you were to ask me..

My point is, thousands of innocent lives have been lost and more will continue to be lost along with God knows how many lives have been altered due to this administrations use of doing whatever it took to silence any and all critics...

Perhaps if more people had worn pink tiaras five years ago and got more attention maybe their might have been less innocent lives lost and or destroyed.

JMHO

The time for playing by a certain set of rules has to be changed, the media is not American's friend, sometimes you have to alternate ways of getting the word out if we trully hope to see change, the very fact that this adminstration is still in power seven years later is surely a testament that playing nice does not work.

[uppityperson]

1. exactly.Thank you.

To hell with impecable manners, I'm trying to save the world.

[gratuitous]

2. Spot on

And you said it better than I could have.

[Eric J in MN]

3. Is there a screen capture of the woman wearing a pink tiara online? NT

NT

[AuntPatsy]

13. I don't know, I recently saw her on CNN when they showed

part of Valerie's question and answer session, I then looked and still I all I could see was a pink shirt on a lady standing up, still didn't see the tiara and had to strain my eyes to read the message on her shirt...

I still don't see how her actions distracted from the procedings, considering the fact that it took this long to even find an audience concering the actions against Valerie, I just doubt people that trully care about this adminstrations evil antics are going to waste time berating a protester, only those that wish the messenger remain silence would benefit by doing such, again, just my HO.

[cali]

4. Wrong. And I'm speaking as someone who has protested

in an evening dress as part of Millionaires for Bush. It was a riot. I still think the choice of wearing a pink tiara and trying desperately to be on TV during the Plame hearing, was dumb- and not effective. In fact, it was counter productive.

[Warren Stupidity]

10. Odd that: it is Billionaires for Bush.

"in an evening dress as part of Millionaires for Bush. "

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[onenote]

15. as usual, you are spot on

I'm old enough to have participated in the effort to stop the Vietnam War (draft lottery number 46 if you want to know). And while the efforts of the yippies and the sds and others got attention, it wasn't until suburban housewives and "regular" people started showing up for demonstrations that the tide really began to turn politically.

Whether one thinks it should be this or not, it is an undeniable fact that members of Congress think that decorum matters and virtually no elected official is going to want to be associated with someone who wears a tiara to Congressional hearing. So, as Cali says, doing so is counterproductive.

[AuntPatsy]

21. I respectfully disagree, we had a protest here in out town

that I passed by not too long ago, the women sitting down and those standing around the table were obviously what you would consider to be respectable housewives and the like, nicely dressed, didn't matter, those that opposed their stance on protesting the war were very vocal and said hateful things to them, they did not respond in kind, wasn't a huge deal, still, the very fact that they were protesting set some off, my husband included, so I respectfully disagree with you assertion.

[cali]

24. It's about where she chose to conduct her bit of theatre

not that did it. She chose the wrong forum.

[AuntPatsy]

33. I honestly understand why you think that, I just strongly feel

that the rules must be changed, don't you get sick of seeing these political functions with people dressed up in thier sunday best who do nothing more than use the background scenes in order to do nothing more than hide thier own imperfections, deceitful intentions and in many cases these days outright criminal dealings from the public?

Perhaps if people realized that simply because one dresses well and knows when to sit properly and speak in what some to view as perfect English in mixed company is NOT always deserving of admiration than perhaps they couldn't always get away with hiding thier true selves..

[JetCityLiberal]

53. No. She didn't.

You are wrong.

"bit of theatre" what a load of crap....

edit spelling

[AuntPatsy]

18. Not wrong in my opinion, obviously we think differently, nothing

wrong with that. Again, considering no one in that administration has had to face any real prosecution for thier actions even after such a long period of time is very telling that playing by so called political niceness simply is not helping innocent people from dying and innocent people from being subjected to out and out intimidations.

[niyad]

5. I saw the tiara, and the codepink person--and thought "YAYYY for them"-- and cannot believe that

people on our side are making negative comments.

Like you, however, my primary attention was on the hearing, NOT the audience.

K & R

[proud2BlibKansan]

36. This is so sad

I know that lady in pink at the Plame hearing. She has given up her life to stay in DC and lobby against the war. It saddens me that democrats on a progressive website would criticize her.

[dogday]

6. She has on a pink shirt saying Impeach Bush Now

and she stood up behind Plame for over a minute before they made her stand down... More power to her and all the other people who find creative ways of getting the message across.....

[AuntPatsy]

22. Still have yet to see the tiara but looking hard you can see the

message on her shirt, I agree with you, more power to her, perhaps if all the Dems wore the same things might begin to change a bit faster and perhaps lives will be saved.

[dogday]

35. It will come shortly

You got to give kudos to her, she never stopped trying to get the message across.....

[jazzjunkysue]

46. I just saw it. The pink was great: Otherwise you wouldn't be watching her.

WHen she stood up it clearly said Impeach Bush.

Fabulous!

Go, Code Pink!

Did anyone find out if she was ushered out?

[tinfoilinfor2005]

7. I didn't mind the protest. I agree with the sentiments. What I didn't like

was the fact that I have waited months for this investigation and to hear Valerie Plame speak, and the bobbing lady with the tiara was very distracting. I actually missed some things VP said. I think the emphasis today was on the investigation which will bring us closer to revealing the criminals and hopefully locking them up. Anything that distracts this process is less productive to this cause.

[Beaverhausen]

14. I agree with this. The moment she stood up Plame was giving key testimony

regarding who sent Wilson to Africa and if she had "recommended" him or not.

[AuntPatsy]

25. I understand, but for me, her actions did not distract me from

listening intently to what those people speaking were saying, it was something to watch, sad that such displays of true fighting for justice is so rarely seen. I can only hope that the actions of those today that strove to fight for justice being served becomes more worthwhile than being neglected to short sound bites heard on late night comedy sitcoms.

[karlrschneider]

8. So would you care to make a guess at how many people the pink lady

persuaded to come over to our side today? Just wondering, since we are going to need a significant chunk of
undecideds to get an impeachment, let alone a conviction in a senate that can't even get a majority to limit the
Iraq quagmire. I'm sure everyone who saw this nutty woman will be writing letters to their congresspersons insisting on articles, right?
:eyes:

Her actions were rude, stupid and counterproductive.

[AuntPatsy]

26. Those that are not on our side or yours today, I have a feeling

had no desire to change stances simply because of one woman wearing a pink tiara, just read some of the conservative sites, actually the only actions that I views to be rude, stupid and counterproductive to finding justice came from that last woman who walked away silently and alll alone knowing full well that her words were coming back to haunt her..

If the pink tiara is remarked upon by this adminstrations supporters, I would see that as nothing short of desperation from those who are finally finding it not so easy to continue to lie so openly as well intimidate those that call them on thier lies.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

29. For a moment I wondered whether it wasn't a freeper trying to make liberals

look stupid. I'm still not certain that it wasn't. Over the top is fine for street demonstrations that need the pizazz and shtick to attract media attention. Valerie Plame was the attraction and all that was required at these proceedings today.

[mondo joe]

54. It's certainly the sort of theater one associates with freepers. Reminded me of the Schiavo

protestors. Just as appropriate.

[Warren Stupidity]

39. 40,000 nt.

[Warren Stupidity]

9. Bingo.

We are off slaughtering Iraqis for at least two more years. Having voted the opposition party back into power to DO SOMETHING TO END THIS WAR, they are about to refinance it, giving the cabal at least as much money as they ask for, thus avoiding the only possible effective legislative route to DOING ANYTHING TO END THIS WAR. We voted for peace, we got ESCALATION. We could not even get an amendment requiring the cabal to seek the constitutionally mandated congression authorization before expanding the war to Iran. And yet some here can only find fault with THE FASHION in which we OUTRAGED FEW choose to speak out against the madness.

Shame on them. I have no tolerance for their

BULLSHIT

[SlowDownFast]

17. Has nothing to do with the fashion.

I couldn't give a fuck if she/he was dressed as the easter bunny or wearing Prada - the person obviously and purposely positioned herself/hisself in camera view and was making faces and gestures.

If he/she had just perhaps stood there (pink Impeach shirt and all) without the faces/gestures, I might be less inclined to get irritated about it. But it was a selfish self-promotion deal during VALERIES' DAY and inappropriate.

Fucking stupid.

[AuntPatsy]

27. Ignoring the pink tiara do you feel that justice might finally be

occuring soon enough to ensure another several thousand innocent lives are not lost to this adminstrations lies after listening to today's hearings?

[cali]

19. Your adopted surname serves you well

It is making a difference having dems in office. And if you didn't see that in today's hearing, well, you're never gonna see it.

[AuntPatsy]

28. You forget, they serve "we" the people and its' been proven

that they did not regain this foothold on thier own merits, it was the voice of many dissatisfied Americans protesting and yes even those in pink that has helped to turn the tide against this adminstration,

My intent meaning they fight as they did today knowing that a majority of Americans are not firmly standing behind them, where was the fight five years ago?

It is because of many Americans protesting and yes even those in pink Tiaras that has fought for those to have the voice that the dems demonstrated in todays hearings. It should not have taken them this long though, but i regress, I'm just thrilled to know they finally have that voice once again.

[Warren Stupidity]

38. Oh so we are voting down the appropriations bill?

Yes sure I am glad we are holding hearings, and I certainly hope that something other than the hearings held comes of all these hearings. So far however, as I stated, it seems rather obvious that our party will do nothing to end the war.

So, how was it that you participated in a 'millionaires for bush' event when there is no such organization?

[blues90]

12. The only people who ahd any idea

Of who the lady in pink was are the smae people who know how wrong bush is , the same people who protest . I doubt anyone else watching would know and could care less , most were watching the hearings .

I have no problem with protests at all , this however was unfitting .

I do feel protesters need a new way of going about it . I don't feel so far that the protests have been effective , these politicians are blind as well as the public even if the protests were televised .

The tactics of protesting had an effect in the 60's but now it's 2007 and we have an entirely different world with a criminal self protected dictatorship .

[stirlingsliver]

16. Agree. It's The Cause

I agree. It's the cause that counts.

Not how someone dresses.

[treestar]

20. I agree and some people are more easily distracted than others, too

or they notice something briefly but don't talk about it later.

People will be individuals. Obviously this lady thought what she wore was fine.

All of this worrying about impressions and being judged as a group is nearly pointless - you're right, the kool-aid drinkers would find something else if this tiara was not on this lady's head.

Besides, just because she did it does not mean that anyone who agrees with her on an issue is "associated" with her in every one of her choices right down to the decision to wear the tiara. Letting that concept go without challenge is handing the right wing victory on a platter. It lets them define the terms. Which, as usual, they don't apply to themselves - are they all "associated" with the crimes of the others? No, they never allow that. So why does the left?

[AuntPatsy]

31. Do you recall the right wearing those pathetic and downright

sick purple heart bandaids? Where was the outrage on such attire that far too many wore to high viewing functions?

Which is worse at attempting to get someone to hear a silent message?

My point being I heard not one right winger call the wearing of such and making fun of the purple heart an outrage. I agree with you.

[NYCGirl]

34. That was at the GOP Convention, wasn't it? You know, where EVERYONE wears

funny hats and lots of buttons and carries balloons?

Edited to add link:

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/08/30/gop.purple.hearts/

And edited to add: That doesn't make it a good thing to do (thought I'd get that in before someone piped up with "Are you defending that?")

[AuntPatsy]

60. It didn't end there, those horrific people and those that were on their

side continued in the same vien for far too long before it silently floated once again into the background when thier master once again retained controll...

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

23. Being "nice" hasn't worked.

I'm surprised that many here seem to think that protests about killing and maiming thousands of people should be "dignified" and low key so as not to embarrass the "nice" people.

[northofdenali]

30. Agreed, Tierra - we should all be screaming at the top of our lungs.

We should have millions in the streets, constantly. It isn't doing a bit of good writing nice letters and being considerate of the opposition.

INVESTIGATE. IMPEACH. IMPRISION.

[AuntPatsy]

32. Agree with you, we haven't gotten here today by being nice

it's been by shouting and still the shouts are being muffled, it seems we have to get louder and louder, time for change and the change must denounce the hypocrisy of what may appear to be dignified but is anything but, you cannot and should not judge someone on their standing in society or their state of dress, it limits not only you but our whole country to do so.

[mondo joe]

43. "Nice" hasn't worked so let's try stupid? I don't think so. NT

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

44. Well, if you were so offended by a citizen voicing her concerns, there's always the off switch.

[mondo joe]

50. I'm disappointed by people trying to distract from a very serious and important

testimony.

I'll leave "offended" to the more sensitive.

[treestar]

51. It may not have a bad effect these days

People are getting used to multiple input at the same time. You can't do much in the U.S. today without being distracted by one thing or another but you just learn to get back to whatever you were doing.

The younger generation, especially. I think many would see and note the protest but still be aware of what Plame said.

[mondo joe]

55. And yet it's still a distraction, from her testimony and from opposition

to Bush in general.

Strikes me as the left's answer to the Terri Schiavo nutjob protestors.

[mondo joe]

37. Valerie Plame's testimony was not a protest. It is not helpful to distract from

her testimony today.

[w4rma]

40. Pink tiara girl helped draw attention to the program. (nt)

[mondo joe]

42. People tuned in because the pink tiara was there?

:eyes:

No, it was a distraction.

[w4rma]

45. How do you know that some channel flippers didn't? (nt)

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

41. I Disagree. There's A Time And Place For Protest. This Hearing Was Neither. The Acts Were Stupid

in my opinion. The only issue in the world is not just theirs. They need to be respectful of other important issues if they are to expect others to be respectful towards theirs.

[Warren Stupidity]

47. The hearing had neither a time nor a place?

I do love the theory that 'protest' should be 'appropriate'. Actually protest must be outrageous as it is only the outrageous that actually gets noticed. Pink tiara lady made it to tv and has created buzz: her protest was successful. Tomorrow tens of thousands will protest and will be almost completely ignored.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

48. No, You Clearly Misunderstood. The Hearing Was Neither The Time Nor Place For Such Protest.

You have a differing opinion. More power to ya. Mine is that it was just quite simply a flat out dumb decision on whoever participated in the decision. Plain dumb, and plain disrespectful.

[Warren Stupidity]

49. Says who?

I misunderstood nothing. Anyplace anywhere anytime that gets attention is the right place and time. Any protest that actually gets on tv is a good protest.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

52. Well Forgive Me For Finding That To Be An Extremely Narrow Way Of Looking At Reality.

Personally, I find reality to be far more complex then such narrow sentiment.

You can feel however you want to and if you think that anytime, anywhere, no matter what is an appropriate time for their protests you have that right. But I'm in 100% disagreement with that overly simplistic ideal.

[mondo joe]

56. Really? ANY PROTEST THAT GETS ON TV IS A GOOD PROTEST?

Do you think the nutjob Terri Schiavo protestors helped make their case with their protest theater?

Or did it make them look like loons and hurt their case?

[Warren Stupidity]

57. Uh yes actually they did.

Protests that do not get on tv effectively do not happen. A good protest is one that gets noticed, regardless of the merits of the what is being protested. So the nutjob Terri Schiavo protestors, all twelve of them, got tv coverage day after day after day: good and effective protest for their cause. Of course I despise their cause and would have prefered if they had bad protests that nobody saw.

They looked like loons to you. They effectively reached and motivated their base. You go watch jesus camp and get back to me if your think that they looked like loons to those people.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

61. No, a protest is only good if it helps achieve its ends.

Simply getting on TV is not in itself good if the kind of coverage you get is such as to make people less, not more, likely to support you.

I have no idea if the protest in question fits that criterion, but it's certainly not the case that getting on TV should be the objective of protesting.

[AuntPatsy]

62. How can you be sure such a display did not help in some way?

The truth is you cannot be, as far as getting on tv these days, can we be honest and both admit that far too much about people protesting this insane war is both being ignored and or ridiculed on a fairly far too consistant basis by the media and has been since day one?

I just think considering that those responsible are still far too powerful leaves me with a feeling that not enough is being done..and every little bit helps no matter how small or seemily inconsequential another might view it to be.

[Obamarama]

58. She looked fucking ridiculous....

I think the reason people are having a negative reaction is because this juvenile action was, I am willing to bet, is about "Look at me." What other reason could there possibly be? She's not trying to draw attention to anything else other than herself. That's not cool, that's not effective, and that's not very intelligent activism...it's only childish and petulant and all about her.

The woman was attention seeking, and drawing it away from something important and serious. Judging from the reactions she's getting, her objective was achieved.

[TheConstantGardener]

59. I disagree in a way

There are some people in the "protest crowd" whose attitire and attitudes DO scare people away. Imagine 300,000 people marching well-dressed like the Civil Rights Movement. Now THAT'S a protest.