Western Nevada County residents shocked and distressed over the election of Donald Trump have been frustrated by an inability to show their anger, mainly because Rep. Doug LaMalfa hasn't held any town meetings that would give them an excuse to let loose.
But LaMalfa gave local lefties a chance to join in the national protests by scheduling an appearance Feb. 24 at a meeting of an outfit hardly anybody outside the industry knows about, the Mountain Counties Water Resources Association.
LaMalfa was joined by Rep. Tom McClintock, a survivor of two recent raucous town hall meetings, and some elected Republicans farther down the food chain to discuss the "The New Trump Administration A view from the Top." Even state Senator Ted Gaines, who rarely makes an appearance in this neck of the woods, attended the Auburn event.
The demand for tickets exceeded anything association executive director John Kingsbury had ever experienced before. "Normally, we don't have anybody register," he told The Union. Apparently suspicious that the newcomers were more interested in making a political statement than delving into the intricacies of water policy, Kingsbury refunded the $40 price of admission to non-members of the organization.
That prompted protests from the likes of Nevada City Council member Reinette Senum, Caleb Dardick, executive director of SYRCL, the Nevada City Rancheria Tribal Council, and various outfits that apparently don't understand the meaning of the word "indivisible."
That didn't stop them and several hundred others from showing up at the semi-posh Ridge Golf Course and Events Center to voice their concern over water policy, the fate of Obamacare, and various other issues that are vexing people who didn't vote for Trump.
Many Republicans including Trump dismiss the demonstrations as the work of professional organizers and paid activists, partly because MoveOn, Organizing for Action, Planned Parenthood, and other liberal groups have offered help.
Several state and national groups are working to connect these activists online. They publicize meetings and events, and host online seminars on ways to influence members of congress. Many are first-timers who echo in passion, though not politics, the people who emerged early in the Tea Party movement in 2009. Some wags have referred to the protests as the Herbal Tea Party movement.
Conservatives who dismiss the movement as a nefarious plot bankrolled by George Soros conveniently forget how well organized the "spontaneous" Tea Party demonstrations were. They were guided in part by a Tea Party Patriots memo encouraging people attending town meetings to scream loudly, be disruptive and make clear that a significant portion of the audience did not support the congressman's agenda.
"Every few minutes, people at the end of every few rows of seats would spring to their feet, then turn to rows immediately behind them and urge others to stand like orchestrating a wave at a baseball game," recalled Steve Israel, then a Democratic congressman from Long Island, N.Y. "It was the first time I witnessed syncopated booing."
While lefties are by definition disorganized (see Will Rogers), the Nevada County Democratic Party Central Committee offered some suggestions on how to organize and carry out the Auburn demonstration. Among the nuggets of advice offered:
Protest signs: "ResistanceUS has called the event 'Stand Up to Climate Deniers LaMalfa and McClintock'," so it was recommended that water-themed signs be created;
Fashion statement: Wear blue so the group is easy to recognize and can project solidarity. "We are discouraging the color pink. If we look like a whole new group of people, the press can't dismiss us as 'those crazy women.' Don't be afraid to add red and white accents;"
"Be orderly, be polite Folks should arrive with empty bladders in the morning."
Participants estimated 500 demonstrators showed up, but it didn't seem to sway the opinions of Republican officials who addressed water agency officials. Generally they called for more dams and less environmental regulation, which upset Nevada County Supervisor Heidi Hall.
"Very disappointed to hear a highly partisan, extremist speech filled with alternative facts about a dark dystopian future created by evil environmentalist lefties at what was billed as a non-political northern region water symposium," Hall wrote on her Facebook page.
Maybe that's why she wasn't invited to a little get together with LaMalfa arranged by Barbara Jones of Indivisible Women of Nevada County. Senum and Dardick were among those who attended the affair. Everybody got a chance to articulate their pet gripe, but it's unlikely any minds were changed. Senum gave LaMalfa credit for being respectful and listening to his constituents.
The demonstration broke up with no arrests and nobody being hurt. The Sacramento Bee ignored the event, but The Union and some other media covered it so the protesters got some leverage out of their effort. The next opportunity locals have to join the national protest will come in April, when LaMalfa said he'll hold a town meeting. For those so inclined, it will be another opportunity to participate in the great American tradition of political theater.
But there's evidence to suggest that opposition to Trump is more substantial than just people venting their frustration at public demonstrations. A woman I know who attended the Indivisible Women of Nevada County meeting at Miners Foundry two days after the Auburn demonstration reports that the venue was jammed, the women focused on bringing about meaningful change rather than theatrics.
Trump and his acolytes have an interesting four years ahead of them.
George Boardman lives at Lake of the Pines. His column is published Mondays by The Union.
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George Boardman: 'Herbal Tea Party' movement more than traditional political theater - The Union of Grass Valley