Want to stop the Iraq War? Buy a hybrid or plug-in hybrid and boycott firms that help Red Bushies.

Actions. Not words.

But that can't be right. Because we don't want it to be.

The only protest that is going to make the President of the United States change a policy is a violent protest that threatens the interest of the President and his/her party.

And that's not going to happen in the near future. Perhaps later, but not now.

This is specifically war policy, though. As far as civil rights go, protests have paved a lot more ground successfully, in comparison.

Seriously, I still think the answer is in the ballot box. The problem with the Democrats is that they still don't have enough true liberal-held seats to really win the toe-to-toe with the GOP - the small but still too numerous conservative blue-dog Democrats are holding them back.

It's not the only means, but doing nothing is not going to end the war. Not to mention that the Neocons would love to expand the war into Iran. Do you think that doing nothing is going to dissuade them? What is the alternative to protesting that you are suggesting Josh?

@1 - The sexiness of radicalism went away when Bush got elected, though 9/11 did make it worse. The Left is more energized when Democrats are in office because they feel 1) the Democrats are betraying the lefty causes that the pretend to support during campaign season, and 2) Democrat leaders are more likely to actually listen and change policies (even if they're not). The Republicans don't give a shit what the Left thinks and aren't afraid to say it. Do you think the 1999 WTO protest in Seattle would've been as huge with a Republican administration in office? I don't.

Going out and marching in protest is symbolic, and that's all. I don't think it ever changes anyone's mind.

Spin in circles to the music provided by the masters.
Dance in their beautiful ballroom.

Whatever they want, they will have.

Get too greedy, try too hard to deny their will and the music will stop, the buffet will be closed, and you will awake from your illusions of self-empowerment.

No, no, no. Not orange. Pink. Haven't you been watching the Patraeus report? It is "Code Pink" doing the protesting leg work.

Is it just me, or does anyone else think "Code Pink" is the worst name for a protest group ever. Sounds like the Q Patrol or something. Who could possibly take a protest seriously by a group called "Code Pink"?

Get. Real.

Look, I love transit too. My son has a bus pass for school. I used to walk him to school when he was in primary and middle school. I walk to work most days.

But pretending everyone else will change is ... interesting. And not going to happen.

@13 is right about Pink tho. A friend of mine in SF works for Code Pink. And they show up in pics, which is more than most protests will ever do.

95% of the commuting traffic is in cars because there is no alternative. Every other developed country in the world has a decent rail system. Why not us? The only reason is our leaders, and the citizens who elect them, lack the political will. We coughed up a half-trillion dollars for Iraq. What if we had spent some of that money on modern mass transit?

I think this sums up the whole movement nicely.

And because people are lazy. Congestion could be reduced a great deal if people would carpool, but gas is still so cheap that most commuters won't even bother.

Again, if you want to protest, do something then write a book about it. But marches of a million people will just get reported as 50,000 by the media anyway ... far better to send 5-6 people to a hearing and get more coverage on the news.

Meanwhile, my suggestions that we build better mass transit, charge road tolls, and raise gas taxes is a manifesto? Who do you work for, Ford?

Every other developed country in the world has a decent rail system. Why not us? The only reason is our leaders, and the citizens who elect them, lack the political will.

I disagree. I think another reason is that we Americans live in a corporatocracy, and those who profit more from automobiles being built and fueled than from our nation building and maintaining a responsible, sustainable transportation system are the ones who call the shots here.

End corporate personhood!