Politics Why don't the Tea Partiers get arrested?

http://news.yahoo.com/700-arrested-protest-nys-brooklyn-bridge-030009188.html

Why does it seem like every time the left protests, the police are out in force and are arresting all these people. Yet, when the right protests, the cops are no where to be seen (well maybe in the back ground to prevent fights)?

I haven't been to any small protest, but I did go to the Rally To Restore Sanity last year, and the people there basically shut down the metro, occupied a few streets and marched over some bridges, and there weren't that many cops (at least there weren't mass arrests).

 

What exactly would you like the Tea Partiers to be arrested for?

 

There have been sporadic arrests - 10 at the US Capitol (2009) , 14 in Denver (June 2010), 6 in St Louis (2009). I doubt we'll see them being arrested in any great numbers as the Tea Party crowds don't get that big anymore (unless a Palin or a Bachmann are on the stump) and don't enjoy the same level of media coverage they once did. Makes me wonder about their true numbers vs. the influence their backers have paid for.

I am confused though about your comment on the Rally to Restore Sanity. From my perspective, that was definitely not a Tea Party event. Are you maybe talking about Glenn Beck's "Restoring Honor Rally?" held at the same spot a month before? I've been trying to find an event such as the one you've described where Tea Partyers have behaved in a similar way to the 700 arrested yesterday but am so far having no luck. If it did happen at Beck's rally I doubt it was done in protest of anything. Probably just another of his end times pre-enactments.

 

Beat me to it.

 

The average Tea Partier stays on the sidewalk. Scofflaw leftist jaywalkers!

 

Maybe the media just never reported on the arrests as they do at other protests.

No, the Rally to Restore sanity was a fairly non-partisan rally. But, I wanted to show that in Washington DC, they didn't have a problem with 200,000 people coming together, blocking roads and bridges, and preventing the general public from getting anywhere on the metro. I don't remember hearing about any arrests at either that rally or Beck's rally.

It's not just the behavior of the Tea Party protesters, but I just think the police would go into providing security at a Tea Party rally entirely differently than if a bunch of hippies or ravers came together. http://www.kmov.com/entertainment/Los-Angeles-officials-investigate-unruly-ravers-126360503.html
(I went to a rave last weekend in LA, and the cops were great until the end. I'm not sure why they forced everyone out as fast as they did. It was uncalled for.)

 

While I am more left wing than right, I suspect that left-wing protesters are more inclined to make an issue of arrests.

It would be interesting to see some comparative figures.

 

We are talking Jon Stewart's Rally to Restore Sanity aren't we? His purported counter-balance to Glenn Butthole's Restoring Honor Rally? Funny, I don't see it how it could be considered a non-partisan affair. Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert do not attract right wingers (except for the idiots who don't get Colbert's sarcasm).

I do agree though, if and when the Tea Party decide to take to the streets and bridges they are more likely to be escorted than arrested. So far they've limited themselves to hot air ballooning sites to hear the GOP's best and brightest mangle history and the stairs outside Congress to call Barney Frank a faggot.

I foresee an event - in the wee hours of November 3rd, 2012 when they might just step over the line and really fuck up. I'll be curious then to see the law enforcement response.

 

I been to a few Tea Party events and they are more like summer picnics in the park than they are traditional protest rallies. You know like: Marge is in charge of the Potato salad...Bob's bringing his 5 alarm chili...Sally is bringing her special red white and blue Rice Crispy Squares...Is George gonna dress up like George Washington again????

 

Just don't put Marylou in charge of the signs again!

 

I'm sorry.. won't post more, but this is .. oh, please - somebody - explain it to her, poor old love.

 

The National Democrat Party Convention is going to be about 20 minutes from my house in 2012. I told my wife to make sure we have some bail money handy because i was going to be spending some time letting Democrats know what I think. She promptly rolled her eye at me and said something about a little jail time with proper lubrication never hurt anyone - I decided that I am going to be cooperative and do what the authorities suggest. If i get on national TV I will give TFP a shout-out.

 

Jesus loves him some tea, apparently.

Ace, if you get on national TV make sure you give us a V sign so we'll know it's you.

 

Will do. I just got off the phone with one of my Tea Party buddies, he is planning on protesting at the Democrat Party Convention also - he is already working on the agenda:

Finish work early about 4:00 pm.
Denny's for dinner, catch the Early Bird Senior Discount, about 4:30 (not old enough but will flirt with waitress)
Pick up Paul Revere costume from cleaners, about 5:15
Get dressed, pick-up Revolutionary War Musket from Bob, about 5:30 (non-working gun will really shake 'em up)
Get to the protest meeting site, about 6:00
Lead prayer circle, about 6:15
Protest - 6:15 to 7:00
Give Bob his musket, about 7:45
Pick up some Breyers Ice-cream for late-night snack, Ben and Jerry's is unacceptable - far too liberal (Breyers and Ben and Jerry's both owned by the same company - Unilever), about 8:00
Take dog for a walk, 8:15 - 8:45
Prepare ice-cream, sit down and watch Hannity, 9:00 to 10:00
Bed time, 10:00

These are the people feared by liberals!

 

Feared? Na ... Ridiculed? Every chance I get.

 

this has been making the rounds, but it's really quite good and explains, in about 2 minutes, why there's every reason to have contempt---and nothing more---for the fox news:



naturally, fair and balanced fox didn't air the segment:

http://www.observer.com/2011/10/exc...-fox-news-anchor-in-un-aired-interview-video/

the tea party, as a product brought to you by roger ailes and the other deeply principled architects (tm) of the contemporary neo-fascism, is not an object of fear. they're a joke. and were faux news to disappear, they would. besides, they've blown their load politically. things are starting to change in the u.s. of a. my sense is that soon the neo-fascist right will be falling into an ever more complete irrelevance. i look forward to that. it will make me laugh and laugh.

beyond what baraka said above, one of the central differences between astroturf movements created by and for the political interests of the likes of roger ailes and social movements that come from the left is in the amount of media coverage.
the tea party had tons of it.
the police tend not to like being on camera.

 

I believe the Tea Party now stands for hate, and inequality. In my opinion, it seems that was not the case in the beginning, but they were hijacked by self-serving politicians looking to destroy Obama. The mass medias roll, in there never ending quest for higher ratings, publicizing the most outrageous comments has played a big roll too.
Proud of the Wall Street Protests! Interesting how the media is puzzled as to why they're protesting.