Obama was in Wakarusa today, declaring victory. (“In Indiana, Obama declares stimulus is working“) It kind of reminds one of George W. Bush’s “Mission Accomplished” speech.

The first part of the week we had been staying in Nappanee, 6 miles to the south, and at breakfast someone had mentioned that it was hard to get around up there because the President was coming. If I had arranged another day of vacation it would have been nice to ride my bike up there with some protest signs and then listen to leftwing operatives explain where I come from. (Read the memo. I did.)

Who are these people? The people who show up are far right-wing ideologues recruited by paid organizers. Much of this recruitment and organizing is funded by industry lobbyists and public relatgions firms to engage radical right-wing groups. Many of these groups are motivated by far right ideology in general – not by health care as an issue. They are held together by a common vision of the world that centers on defeating Obama and his agenda. We can expect to see anti-abortion groups, pro-gun groups, insurance company employees (mandated by employers to come out), militia groups, and anti-immigration groups.

But instead I did a 76 mile ride to Hamilton, to the site shown above, and from there we drove home. Besides, I’ve ridden my bike to Wakarusa before — stopped there to get a bite to eat on my way elsewhere. It got me thinking, though, about how I could deck out my bicycle with some protest signs where I would usually mount panniers. And then there is the question of what to put on them. One bumpersticker slogan I found on the net a few days ago: “Please don’t tell Obama what comes after a trillion!”