# What good does it to be a part of a protest on inauguration day? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 18, 2017, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-does-it-to-be-a-part-of-a-protest-on-inauguration-day/777463 "2017-01-18T12:46:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-does-it-to-be-a-part-of-a-protest-on-inauguration-day/777463/21 "2017-01-18T16:27:29Z")
LBJ was haunted by the Vietnam War protesters that chanted outside the White House during his administration. He heard them. I sincerely hope that for every second this monster is in office, that there are hundreds if not thousands of voices that follow his every move. He needs to know that his adoring brain dead supporters are greatly outnumbered. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-does-it-to-be-a-part-of-a-protest-on-inauguration-day/777463/22 "2017-01-18T16:38:41Z")
I doubt Trump would be “haunted” or ‘hear them’. I’m also skeptical that he’s a “monster”, and I suspect that no one outside the Secret Service, and especially not protesters, are going to “follow his every move” “for every second” of his first term. I don’t even think the word “greatly” is accurate in the way you used it. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-does-it-to-be-a-part-of-a-protest-on-inauguration-day/777463/23 "2017-01-18T16:49:23Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I doubt Trump would be “haunted” or ‘hear them’. I’m also skeptical that he’s a “monster”, and I suspect that no one outside the Secret Service, and especially not protesters, are going to “follow his every move” “for every second” of his first term. I don’t even think the word “greatly” is accurate in the way you used it. The Trump Presidency: Nothing to see here folks! Move along please. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-does-it-to-be-a-part-of-a-protest-on-inauguration-day/777463/24 "2017-01-18T16:53:36Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I doubt Trump would be “haunted” or ‘hear them’. I’m also skeptical that he’s a “monster”, and I suspect that no one outside the Secret Service, and especially not protesters, are going to “follow his every move” “for every second” of his first term. I don’t even think the word “greatly” is accurate in the way you used it. It’s true that protest rarely do anything, but you never know until you try. You seem be making the case that no one should ever protest. Is that what you think? ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-does-it-to-be-a-part-of-a-protest-on-inauguration-day/777463/25 "2017-01-18T16:56:03Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > It’s true that protest rarely do anything, but you never know until you try. You seem be making the case that no one should ever protest. Is that what you think? No. I think peaceful (and law-abiding) protests are great. If they want to do that, have at it. It’s part of our great American tradition. I just wouldn’t anticipate it affecting Trump much. It’s like you said, “protests rarely do anything”. That’s probably even more true in his case. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-does-it-to-be-a-part-of-a-protest-on-inauguration-day/777463/26 "2017-01-18T17:02:32Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > What’s the most blatantly racist thing on Breitbart’s home page today? I don’t know. Steve Bannon has had another job for several months; maybe Breitbart has gotten less racist since he left. I’ll leave that to you to figure out – I have better things to do than collect data on how many lies vs. racist statements they make on any particular day. But I take it that by limiting the question to how much racist content was published **today** , you aren’t arguing with the overall notion that Breitbart has a record of publishing pro-white garbage? ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-does-it-to-be-a-part-of-a-protest-on-inauguration-day/777463/27 "2017-01-18T17:04:51Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > No. I think peaceful (and law-abiding) protests are great. If they want to do that, have at it. It’s part of our great American tradition. I just wouldn’t anticipate it affecting Trump much. It’s like you said, “protests rarely do anything”. That’s probably even more true in his case. I dunno, Meryl Streep sure got his attention without much effort and made him react like a 2 year old and totally embarrass himself. He sure didn’t do a good job ignoring that. He’s obsessed with praise and criticism. He can’t help himself but react, and badly at that. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-does-it-to-be-a-part-of-a-protest-on-inauguration-day/777463/28 "2017-01-18T17:10:47Z")
> [@Airbeck](#): > > I dunno, Meryl Streep sure got his attention without much effort and made him react like a 2 year old and totally embarrass himself. He sure didn’t do a good job ignoring that. > > He’s obsessed with praise and criticism. He can’t help himself but react, and badly at that. The initial protests in cities right after election day definitately got under his skin. ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-does-it-to-be-a-part-of-a-protest-on-inauguration-day/777463/29 "2017-01-18T17:15:02Z")
> [@Mr.Miskatonic](#): > > The initial protests in cities right after election day definitately got under his skin. Yeah they sure did. Forgot about that. I remember seeing his tweets about that contrasted with his tweets from after the 2012 election saying that we needed to protest and revolt against Obama. He changed his tune pretty severely since then I guess… ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-does-it-to-be-a-part-of-a-protest-on-inauguration-day/777463/30 "2017-01-18T17:27:31Z")
Protesting the results of a democratic election makes no sense to me. The elitists are insulting the 50% of the country that voted for Trump. At least wait until the guy is in office to protest his policies. He hasn’t even done anything yet. He might even have a few good ideas. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-does-it-to-be-a-part-of-a-protest-on-inauguration-day/777463/31 "2017-01-18T17:29:21Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Protesting a democratic election makes no sense to me. > > They are just insulting the 50% of the country that voted for Trump. > > At least wait until the guy is in office to protest his policies. He hasn’t even done anything yet. Yes he has. His nominees are all pretty horrifying. You can tell a lot about a person by who they surround themselves with. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-does-it-to-be-a-part-of-a-protest-on-inauguration-day/777463/32 "2017-01-18T17:29:24Z")
They serve several purposes. For the people who protest it gives them the opportunity to take action against the Trump presidency, rather than having to just bend over and take it. Even if the protests aren’t effective they are at least therapeutic to those who participate. For those against the Trump presidency it lets them know that they aren’t alone. For the lawmakers in Washington it reminds them that while the Republicans did win the presidency they don’t have a popular mandate, and so shouldn’t assume that their actions will meet popular approval. For the undecided it gets media attention directed at the negatives of the Trump agenda. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-does-it-to-be-a-part-of-a-protest-on-inauguration-day/777463/33 "2017-01-18T17:34:48Z")
> [@Mr.Miskatonic](#): > > The initial protests in cities right after election day definitately got under his skin. That’s not saying much; his skin is so thin he could get paper cuts from a Kleenex. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-does-it-to-be-a-part-of-a-protest-on-inauguration-day/777463/34 "2017-01-18T17:36:11Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Protesting the results of a democratic election makes no sense to me. The elitists are insulting the 50% of the country that voted for Trump. > > At least wait until the guy is in office to protest his policies. He hasn’t even done anything yet. > > He might even have a few good ideas. 😃 Oh, you mean the [approximately 26% of eligible voters](https://mises.org/blog/26-percent-eligible-voters-voted-trump) who picked Trump? Clinton’s “approximate” percentage is about the same–even though she got a couple million more votes. I don’t care what Trump voters think of me; I’m more miffed at the folks who should have know better but didn’t vote–or went 3rd party. We’ve heard lots from Trump on his “policies”–but they keep changing. What will Congress let him get away with? I’m not impressed by his choices for the Cabinet. ---
**Author:** ![yanceylebeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yanceylebeef/32/12290_2.png) [@yanceylebeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yanceylebeef)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-does-it-to-be-a-part-of-a-protest-on-inauguration-day/777463/35 "2017-01-18T17:37:57Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > No. I think peaceful (and law-abiding) protests are great. If they want to do that, have at it. It’s part of our great American tradition. **I just wouldn’t anticipate it affecting Trump much.** It’s like you said, “protests rarely do anything”. That’s probably even more true in his case. Are you fucking kidding? He gets his panties in a twist every time someone says something mean about him on Twitter. He can’t let anything slide. ANYTHING. He is going to have people scouring the web for any mention of him. Any criticism of his policies is going to be perceived as personal and he will have retaliate with even more personal attacks against anyone who speaks out. Won’t affect Trump. Bullshit. He is the most sensitive, whiny executive we have ever had in this position. And it’s going to be glorious watching it eat him up. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-does-it-to-be-a-part-of-a-protest-on-inauguration-day/777463/36 "2017-01-18T17:48:45Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > He hasn’t even done anything yet. [List of political appointments of Donald Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_appointments_of_Donald_Trump), including all but one of the cabinet positions. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-does-it-to-be-a-part-of-a-protest-on-inauguration-day/777463/37 "2017-01-18T17:53:11Z")
I’m certainly no expert on protest issues, not having turned out for a major demonstration since a couple of the big anti-Iraq-invasion rallies in 2002/03. But I’ve got a seat on the bus for Saturday’s march in DC, so I’m happy to provide a personal perspective in case it’s at all enlightening. > [@Urbanredneck](#): > > What I wonder is what do they hope to accomplish? In my case, I’d like to see this march be a launchpad for sustained systemic progressive activism. A lot of us are very dissatisfied with the Trump administration’s proposed assaults on Planned Parenthood funding, reproductive rights, civil rights, science-based environmental and energy policy, etc. And taking part in a march is sort of a psychological “signing on” to a commitment to keep fighting back against such policies. Putting in the time and effort to actually turn out in a constitutionally guaranteed peaceable assembly, and seeing that so many other people also put in that time and effort to turn out and stand side by side with you, really makes you realize the importance of the struggle and, if you’ll pardon the cliche, the “power of the people”. > [@Urbanredneck](#): > > 2nd question - some of these groups are probably going to be committing some acts of violence and maybe terrorism. Why would you want to be associated with that? :dubious: Wow, we think very differently. To my thinking, if my peaceful protest is at risk of being hijacked by fringe groups or false-flaggers or anyone else committing non-peacefulness, I have a responsibility to be there to call that out and try to stop it. Not just run away and, quite literally, “let the terrorists win”. What I personally am not going there to do, btw, is the whole “legitimacy” issue. No “Not My President” signs for me. That’s another reason I’m marching on the day **after** the inauguration, rather than directly protesting the inauguration event itself. To me, the crux of the matter is that Trump is legally eligible to serve as President and he won the election awarding him the Presidency according to the laws currently in force, so as of January 20 he **will** be the President. Everybody who’s looking forward to seeing him inaugurated is welcome to enjoy it, as far as I’m concerned. I have no interest in participating in it, but neither do I want to try to shut it down. I think Trump is an absolutely terrible choice for President and I’m very much opposed to most of what he wants to do with being President, which is why I’m marching on Saturday, but I’m not interested in engaging in futile arguments about whether or not he actually **is** the President. According to the rules now on the books, he is (or will be, starting Friday), so that’s that. > [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > “prominent white supremacist”? Based on what? Did he burn a cross in someone’s yard? Participate in a KKK rally? Is there video of him using the n-word? Exactly. This is why I think it’s more accurate and informative to describe Bannon as a “white supremacism promoter” rather than as a “white supremacist” _per se_, and the former is how I always refer to him. AFAICT we know nothing reliable about Bannon’s own personal level of commitment to racist or white-supremacist principles, but what we do know is that Breitbart under his guidance was established and strengthened as a so-called “alt-right” white supremacist media outlet. That makes Bannon a prominent promoter of white supremacism, although his own status with regard to white supremacist beliefs remains unknown. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-does-it-to-be-a-part-of-a-protest-on-inauguration-day/777463/38 "2017-01-18T18:16:03Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > …The elitists are insulting the 50% of the country that voted for Trump… Put math education on the list. Maybe start with arithmetic. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-does-it-to-be-a-part-of-a-protest-on-inauguration-day/777463/39 "2017-01-18T18:26:09Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > 2nd question - some of these groups are probably going to be committing some acts of violence and maybe terrorism. Why would you want to be associated with that? I think that in terms of your 2nd question, it will probably be OK. James O’Keefe has been[caught offering sums of money to activists to disrupt the inauguration](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/counter-sting-catches-james-okeefe-network-attempting-to-sow-chaos-at-trumps-inauguration_us_5873e26fe4b043ad97e516f7). So it seems that the alt-right’s plans to pull this kind of bullshit stunt have been nipped in the bud. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-does-it-to-be-a-part-of-a-protest-on-inauguration-day/777463/40 "2017-01-18T18:27:41Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Protesting the results of a democratic election makes no sense to me. The elitists are insulting the 50% of the country that voted for Trump. > > At least wait until the guy is in office to protest his policies. He hasn’t even done anything yet. > > He might even have a few good ideas. 😃 50% of the country did not vote for Trump. He didn’t even get the most votes among people who _did_ vote. And in a democratic election, the winner is the one with the most votes. Trump won an _undemocratic_ election. Which is not to say that I see any point in protesting, but since you obviously weren’t paying attention to the election, maybe there are others who also need to be educated. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-does-it-to-be-a-part-of-a-protest-on-inauguration-day/777463.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-does-it-to-be-a-part-of-a-protest-on-inauguration-day/777463.md?page=3)