I look out at the crowd from the edge of the stage and wait for the event to begin. A swarming mass of people form a churning sea of reds, whites, and blues. Near the front I spot my friend Rick wearing an American flag headband and pumping a placard into the hostility-charged air. The sign pleads for “more 1776 and less 1984.” In the middle of the mob I see Jen, the bored mother of one of my daughter’s friends, who is screaming about burying Obamacare alongside Ted Kennedy. She just loves that line, thinks it’s so witty. Looking around at the faces, I recognize maybe twenty percent of the people in the audience. They’re my people, strategically placed and heavily armed with talking-point lies to foment agitation. This is our magic act, and we’re good at what we do. I’m expecting a great show, a scream-fest louder and angrier than any metal concert you’ve ever been to.
Tag Archives: thomas sullivan
The Original Subprime Industry by Thomas Sullivan
April 27, 2009 – 8:06 am
At noon I head out to Beaverton, an unfamiliar suburb on the outskirts of Portland, to teach yet another driving lesson. I need some fun after this morning’s travails, and I get a pleasant break. I have three kids in the car, which can be entertaining if the human dynamics work. If they’re in a [...]