This Politico story has been making the rounds – see here and here and here and shoot, Memeorandum in general – and it’s mostly because of the passage below, in response over attempts to explain salary bonuses:
But President Barack Obama wasn’t in a mood to hear them out. He stopped the conversation and offered a blunt reminder of the public’s reaction to such explanations. “Be careful how you make those statements, gentlemen. The public isn’t buying that.”
“My administration,” the president added, “is the only thing between you and the pitchforks.”
Really?
Oh, I know that Americans are “outraged” over this issue: Gallup told us so, after all. Gallup also told us that there’s no consensus on how to get that money back, not to mention the fact that the Democratic Congress got almost a low a grade on how they handled this as AIG did. Which is fair, because it’s because of the Democrats – and President Obama – that those bonuses were distributed in the first place. Still, you can look at that and at Rasmussen and conclude that the American people want the money given back. Fine.
But here’s the thing about the ‘pitchforks:’ they’re not being waved around because of the AIG bonuses. We’ve already established that the Democrats’ pet faux-populists tried their level best to gin up some faux-populism over this issue, and they failed. Miserably. Oh, sure, you got the usual death threats from the Angry Left… but there is an actual populist movement growing out there, and they are a lot more vocal about out-of-control government spending than they are about corporate bonuses. This was actually brought up at the time by the actual populists themselves, but it was unaccountably not covered. Just like the entire Tea Party movement in general, really. You know, the one that’s scheduled its next big series of demonstrations for Income Tax Day… which should tell you everything that you would need to know about the real focus of the actually-expressed outrage of the American people right now.
So, I guess this leads to the next question, Mr. President. You say that there are pitchforks out there, and maybe there are. But are you really standing between them and the bankers?
Or are you trying to get the bankers to stand between them and you?
Moe Lane
PS: Do stop by the Treasury Building on the 15th. You can amuse yourself by counting all the signs complaining about socialism.
Crossposted to Moe Lane.
KnightsofMalta
Steve Maley
Caleb Howe
He's Right
red4ever (Diary) Friday, April 3rd at 11:03PM EST (link)One phone call from him and the Acorn Bus Tours of AIG Executive homes will stop.
The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in times of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality.
Dante
ACORN stockpiles pitchforks
UbiquitousKnight (Diary) Saturday, April 4th at 8:01AM EST (link)Technically since Obama has acorn at his beck, he could have an army of pitchforks aimed at those executives in minutes. This intimidation tactic is Obama’s area of expertise. Actually the pitchforks are at his disposal. He can say they are pointed at anyone anytime because he owns the mob that carries the forks.
I thought Obama liked to listen. He is
robmikpet (Diary) Friday, April 3rd at 11:05PM EST (link)always saying he is here to listen. Well it seems he is quick to condem when “He don’t like what he is a hearin’”
It started with “I won” now to “pitchforks”
Does any one think he is willing to listen to anyone with a different opinion of his own. Rush Limbaugh said about that attempt to reach out to conservatives with a dinner at George Will’s house “Do these people think Obama is there to have his mind changed?”
The rockslide to socialism gradually picks up speed.
The rockslide to socialism =>gradually<= picks up speed??????
USNJIMRET (Diary) Friday, April 3rd at 11:20PM EST (link)Define “gradually”, please.
Seems more like an avalanche to me.
h it can get worse my friend this is just the beginning
robmikpet (Diary) Saturday, April 4th at 3:07AM EST (link)unless we stop them in 2010! Although I guess “continues’ to pick up speed might be a better descriptor.
He's starting to pi** off the money
texas214 (Diary) Friday, April 3rd at 11:18PM EST (link)Clinton has tslked about his first round at the govenorship in AR. He has said his biggest mistake was to pi** off the “money” in AR; they lined up against him and he lost.
Zero may want to remember that many of these guys are going to payback the TARP money soon and will be ready to pay him back in 3 years.
I just have one thing to say about this.
Steph C (Diary) Friday, April 3rd at 11:34PM EST (link)AIG and the banks could pay back every penny of that money plus interest and the American People will not see one dime of it back. It will be spent by government on the people’s behalf. The money that flows to Washington goes into a black hole never to be seen again except what they can account for on paper and much of the time they seem loathe to do that.
“[I]f the public are bound to yield obedience to laws to which they cannot give their approbation, they are slaves to those who make such laws and enforce them.” –Candidus in the Boston Gazette, 1772
Hillbilly Politics
He Won't Let Them
red4ever (Diary) Saturday, April 4th at 6:23PM EST (link)I heard this yesterday and was waiting for a link:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123879833094588163.html
Banks want to pay off debt quickly — like you are supposed to and Obama discourages it. Easier to control and threaten with pitchforks.
The banks should print one of those big checks, and march to the treasury to hand it over. The MSM will cover that.
The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in times of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality.
Dante
heard the same thing on Fox earlier today as I was moving around. nt
Steph C (Diary) Saturday, April 4th at 6:30PM EST (link)“[I]f the public are bound to yield obedience to laws to which they cannot give their approbation, they are slaves to those who make such laws and enforce them.” –Candidus in the Boston Gazette, 1772
Hillbilly Politics
red4ever, I just read this through the link on Drudge.
janis (Diary) Saturday, April 4th at 7:15PM EST (link)Can a POTUS, even this one, be so far above the law of the land that he can act with such impunity? How dare this man threaten consequences to a bank CEO who is trying to do the right thing! Obama is some sort of reverse mob goon who threatens to kneecap someone for PAYING BACK THE MONEY. Jeebus, this guy is about as scummy as you can get.
Aaand, he may be getting ready to solidify his power over the banks even more
TNJim (Diary) Sunday, April 5th at 12:16AM EST (link)once he gets back from Europe and sees the latest from the CBO:
http://www.newsmax.com/headlines/bailout_costs/2009/04/04/199777.html
More fodder for the pitchforks
As I said in one of my first comments here..
TNJim (Diary) Friday, April 3rd at 11:44PM EST (link)… I don’t give a rat’s tail about AIG’s bonuses, Merrill Lynch’s exec bathroom renovations. or Citi’s corporate jet. I do give a rat’s tail about the billions of pork project dollars being used for studying a field mouse’s habitat, green energy research that I feel won’t make us that much less dependent on foreign or domestic oil and coal, and going to a known voting fraud instigator like ACORN. The $168 million for AIG bonuses is a pittance compared to all that. The audacity of Dodd, Obama and others to condemn those bonuses when they knew the provision was in there is hypocrisy at it’s highest.
Right you are
Adjoran (Diary) Saturday, April 4th at 12:50AM EST (link)But the whole point is to direct the public outrage away from Washington, away from Obama and the Congress, and towards their preferred targets (basically anybody else besides their own core constituencies).
I knew Rick Wagoner in high school in Richmond; I don’t think I’ve seen him since. But he was a young man of great abilities and admirable character even then. Absolutely genuine, a natural leader.
If I needed someone to get something done, I’d take Rick Wagoner over a hundred Barack Obamas any day of the week.
Unfortunately, all I know about Rick Wagoner
TNJim (Diary) Saturday, April 4th at 1:17AM EST (link)is what I’ve heard from the MSM. So therefore I believe little if any of it. It does encourage me to hear that many GM employees thought highly of him. Therefore I wish him well and hopefully he can find success elsewhere. I agree with your above point about directing the public outrage away from Washington toward the preferred targets. The MSM is only too willing to do so.
FANNIE & FREDDIE BONUSES
beanerecmo Saturday, April 4th at 9:34PM EST (link)Where are the pitchforks at the gates of Fannie & Freddie for the ‘retention’ bonuses to be paid shortly? Oh, I forgot, BHO, ACORN et al are in league with the Chicago crooks, so it’s OK for those bonuses. BHO and his Alinsky-aligned Maoist, Leninist, Marxist cronies in the administration and congress are the ones that provided the pitchforks of anger toward those evil CEOs and companies. The anger should be toward BHO and congress where the real evil lies in wait to bring America down.
I was a liberal until I learned to read, got a job and was mugged by willful tax and spend regressives (aka progressives) and naive acolytes.
and Congressional Aides boni
JLenardDetroit (Diary) Saturday, April 4th at 9:55PM EST (link)Barney Frank (and the other fools) that have so grossly mismanaged our country and are running up this debt (not to mention, gave us the CRA and subsequent crisis) are giving out a bonus to (presumably) each of their staff members who helped those Congress-critters to pressure the Banks to make all those loans, write all that bad-law, etc….
Regards from NoMoTown (the MOTORlessCITY)
“Liberals, looking to do for? America what they’ve done for? Detroit! which is DESTROY IT!”
“I think, therefore I am Conservative”
“Conservative by choice, Republican by necessity”
“You can lead a Liberal to the Truth/Facts, but you cannot make them THINK!”
“Romney [No, not my first choice] does NOT have a MORMON problem. He has a, far too many Americans; these days; are MORONS problem!”
Follow @JLenardDetroit
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Heil “O” Hell No Obamao is NOT MY PRESIDENT! “No U won’t”
I want “O” to FAIL (here, here, & whole Diary (Ofail) here, is why)
“The first Liberal was Satan” – a Rush caller (other Quotes)
Great points, all.
TNJim (Diary) Saturday, April 4th at 11:21PM EST (link)Looks like I was premature when I said the audacity of Dodd, Obama and others to condemn AIG bonuses when they knew the provision was in there is hypocrisy at it’s highest. Now they’re relatively silent about Freddie and Fannie bonuses?
Looks like they raised the bar on hypocrisy again.
Now this might point to a CYA attempt by Congress should public outrage flare up over Fannie and Freddie: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jhZRXkU-OK1vT_clML0BesZWCDxAD979VNFO0
Can’t be taxing our buddies at those 2 fine GSE’s 90% can we?
“A new bill, which passed 247-171 on Wednesday, would allow the bonuses if the Treasury Department and financial regulators determine they are not “unreasonable or excessive.”
Fannie and Freddie bonuses can’t be unreasonable or excessive, can they?
Geez.
Mentioning "pitchforks" becomes a reality
Sluf (Diary) Saturday, April 4th at 12:53AM EST (link)You know, with the administration acting under their mantra of “never waste a good crisis”, the pitchfork statement may have been accidental, but now that MSM is circulating the news, you will see actual pitchforks on the street.
The office of POTUS is not to be taken lightly and the thought of making statements that provoke second-order responses just to get a first-order action is draconian. Let’s face it, there would be no medieval consequences through the judicial system but his suggestion that the population would stand up with pitchforks is totally immature.
Sluf
obama-ACORN-Schummmer-,Reid-Peloski-Frank-Dodd-Housing-Banking Scandal
bobojake (Diary) Saturday, April 4th at 1:12AM EST (link)obama you don’t listen very well to the people. our anger is over the rape of the taxpayers by the illegal ACORN actions and Democrats actions that forced banks to make loans to unqualified buyers and then making the taxpayers pick up their house payment. Now obama your trying the same thing in getting them to buy cars and want us to pick up their payments to. I suppose the next thing we will have to buy their cigarettes.
By the way obama did you give back all the campaign money from AIG and Banks that took your bailouts?
How about that$500,000 book bonus?
Please don’t go overseas and apoligize for me and America. My forefathers have fought for 200 years to build this great Nation the United States and we are very proud of the Nation we built. obama we will not let you give our country away and bad mouth our Nation.
Treaties and agreements with foreign nations have to be approved by the Senate and Congress. You do not have that power so be careful what you say because you may have to eat some crow.
Obama is ginning up the LYNCH MOB!
lonebeagle Saturday, April 4th at 1:14AM EST (link)The POTUS is now threatening private citizens by intentionally encouraging and instigating lawless behavior. This is the most egregious misuse of power and moral corruption that I’ve ever seen in American politics.
The POTUS is SUPPOSED to say that “I will protect you from the MOB and I’ll do everything in my power to protect the rights and freedoms of private citizens.”
Instead Obama is trying to get the mob to kill law abiding citizens.
Maybe the time is coming for a real revolution. Talk is cheap.
Who will stand between Obama and the pitchforks?
Old_Crow (Diary) Saturday, April 4th at 6:39AM EST (link)The citizens are quickly loosing patience with the Reied-Paloozi-Frank-Schumer-Dodd-Obama cabal. It’s time to rise up and take back what the government has stolen.
There was a ‘tea party’ protest in my home town here in NY. We haven’t had a protest here since the ’60′s. The clock is ticking, very loudly.
Obama better quiet the pitchfork talk, he’s too close to the fire and can easily become a victim.
“Enlightened statesmen will not always be at the helm.” — James Madison
How about the folks with the pitchforks?
Ron Robinson (Diary) Saturday, April 4th at 7:29AM EST (link)Do we get a say?
I’d say he’s right where we want him..
________________________________________

Ron Robinson
Chair, AD 49 Republican Central Committee
California Republican Central Committee
PROCINCT Author/ Founder
The Precinct Project
Unified Patriots – How-To: Activists Taking Action!
He was a community organizer
pithnvinegar Saturday, April 4th at 7:53AM EST (link)so he’s used to handing out pitchforks and torches.
Already people have recognized the monster that they created and the larger beast that has been growing in Washington DC and they are are taking to the streets to try and save us all before it’s too late.
Go Tea Parties!
Does anyone else
10ksnooker (Diary) Saturday, April 4th at 8:16AM EST (link)Find Obama to act like a naive juvenile?
Um, not me.
TNJim (Diary) Saturday, April 4th at 8:53PM EST (link)He knows all too well what he wants to accomplish; fear, loathing of the right and capitalism, anarchy (that may turn around to bite him), establishing Democrat, that is, liberal power for years to come. Add a few well-chosen words o the TOTUS and the left swoons in admiration.
Nah, he knows exactly what he wants, hardly the mark of naivety. and he’s doing it, a trillion dollars at a time.
Good point and good fodder for Tea Party signs
John E. (Diary) Saturday, April 4th at 8:59AM EST (link)This “pitchfork” is for you Mr. Tax and Spend President.
Careful, John E. that might be taken as a threat against the president...
penguin2 (Diary) Saturday, April 4th at 11:58AM EST (link)and then the F.B.I. gets involved and everything. OTH, we will be glad to bail you out!
Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God. – Benjamin Franklin
When Good stands up to Evil, Evil blinks. – Vassar Bushmills
Conservative Education: Suggested Reading List
Activists Taking Action: Unified Patriots
Yea I had reservations
John E. (Diary) Sunday, April 5th at 5:14PM EST (link)about the general propriety of that and so I put it in quotes. But as you indicate it isn’t a responsible way to talk. And just because our president is talking that way doesn’t make it excusable for me. Bad idea.
I assume that Obama's army of community organizers
rbdwiggins (Diary) Saturday, April 4th at 9:13AM EST (link)you know, the same army that disenfranchised thousands of voters throughout the City of Philadelphia on election day, will abandon the baseball bat (Their apparent weapon of choice.) in lieu of government-issued pitchforks.
How “Third World.”
“Well, the trouble with our liberal friends is not that they are ignorant, but that they know so much that isn’t so.” – Ronald Reagan
Pitchfork story also making the rounds here - LINK
Mike gamecock DeVine (Diary) Saturday, April 4th at 9:43AM EST (link)http://www.redstate.com/gamecock/2009/04/03/president-obama-threatens-to-lynch-white-bank-ceos/
Never heard of those other sites
smile
Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” – Andrew Jackson
This is so typically Democrat
Jack_Savage (Diary) Saturday, April 4th at 9:44AM EST (link)After Obama and the Democrats get done with the military, all we will have left is pitchforks.
I must say, though, that the businesspeople that turned to the government for help deserve this humiliating treatment, and I hope they (and others) remember it. When you take a dime from the government, you have a majority partner, and it is not a silent one.
Take heart, Jack Savage, our military knows
janis (Diary) Saturday, April 4th at 9:57AM EST (link)how to do all kinds of wonderful things with odd bits and pieces. But I guess I’m thinking of what they can do here in America to help us if things go south more so than what they can do overseas.
Those bankers Obama threatened have friends, families, co-workers and neighbors who know the real score. The Zero trying to gin up outrage against his equivalent of those who were sent to the guillotine during the revolution in France is just a symptom of the disquiet he might be feeling at this point.
I can only hope
Jack_Savage (Diary) Saturday, April 4th at 10:41AM EST (link)I can only hope that business people see how Democrats really feel about them and adjust their contributions and votes accordingly.
And I believe you are exactly right – those who voted for Obama thinking he would HAVE to govern from the center have been rudely awakened. The ones I know have backed off the hero worship in a big, big way. I was waiting around the house for the Organizing for America brownshirts, and they never showed up. Looks like it was a flop nationwide, so I totally agree there is a little disquiet going on.
Yes, it must have been a flop if they had to copy each
janis (Diary) Saturday, April 4th at 10:50AM EST (link)signature three times to get it up to over 600,000 signatures. Maybe the brownshirt crowd just thought they’d have to get O elected and that was the end of their having to work for anything. Bet they are not happy that he expects them to keep on organizing for him, not to mention his continuing appeals for more money.
Abuse of Power akin to others
fisk2521 Saturday, April 4th at 9:49AM EST (link)What hypocrisy by Obama and his henchmen. He and his ‘people’ ratched up this mob mentality with the purpose of deflecting anger away from themselves. It has become clear that these bonuses were known by many on the Hill, arranged long before the public was notified (by what person I’ve never heard) and the responsbility of the administration and Geistner…. I know Obama and his staff believe the American public are too dumb to catch on to this bs, but they are not.
Obama’s ACORN affiliation ins showing and it appears his inability to act like a moral human being that would never put innocent people in jeapardy in order to promote his own career….an extension of the old Chicago Politics and and example of not just “never waste a crisis ” to ‘create one to use to do what you want” I believe he created this catastrophe, denied it, and is now using it to threaten bankers in a pretty direct way that if they don’t adhere to his way — they will be sorry, because he’ll ‘step out of the line of fire between them and the mobs. It doesn’t matter that he actually help create the mobs. Tyrannical rulers like Hitler and Stalin could have done no better.
LDavis
introducing.....
chuckie (Diary) Saturday, April 4th at 9:58AM EST (link)……the new Colt 705 semi-automatic pitchfork…..soon to be classified as an assault weapon, and summarily banned…..
….i don’t think we have a concealed-carry pitchfork law, here in west virginia….
……smile…..
Is it a 5 tine or a 3 tine
bobojake (Diary) Saturday, April 4th at 11:26AM EST (link)lol
Pistol Grip
Hooah_Mac (Diary) Saturday, April 4th at 12:00PM EST (link)That’s the question…if it has a pistol grip, it needs to be banned.
-Priorities-
1. Mission 2. Soldiers 3. Everything Else
I was at Lowe's today and say a fine selection of forks.
ddstrain (Diary) Saturday, April 4th at 9:14PM EST (link)There was a 10-tine mulch fork. Rather wide so good for clearing the path. About $37.
There was a nice 4-tine digging fork. Short handle, nice grip. Looks good for close quarters rooting. I forget the price.
What really caught my eye though was a nice sleek 6-tine manure fork for about $34. Perfectly balanced, not too heavy, hickory shaft handle, tines flaring out gracefully. I expect it clears the crap out pretty well.
Pitchforks are all well and good
itrytobenice (Diary) Saturday, April 4th at 10:08PM EST (link)But with the amount of crap produced by Capitol Hill, we’re going to need a D9 Cat just to make the first path.
And those nasty vermin on the Hill just live in their own filth.
Proper grammar saves lives.
Let’s eat Grandma.
Let’s eat, Grandma.