1 "I canÂ’t remember the last successful boycott, but maybe itÂ’s worth a try." Doesn't have to be "successful" in the traditional sense of getting a company to change its behavior. There are several companies that I know won't miss my business, but which I refuse to give money simply because I don't like giving my hard-earned money to assholes, people who hate me, or companies that use it to fight my political goals or do evil.

2 Phurst

3 What they should be doing is going after the "politicians" who are involved in this graft and corruption. Why is it that Abranoff and "K" street were so bad but GE and these other big companies are so good?

4 I sense overreach and loss of focus in this plan.

5

Personally I would like to see them go after CEOs who go from company to company driving them into the dirt. 

I always wanted a gig like Isner. Get paid millions to run Disney into the dirt, then get paid more millions to leave. Now that's good work.

6 Boycotts from the right don't work that well because we make rational decisions about who makes the best product for the money.  We don't go around looking for fights to pick.  Maybe that should change.

7 A regular twitter update of the corporations who advertise on MSNBC would be a powerful tool. One could re-tweet it to the conservative talk radio and blogger networks.

8

Chad,

 

please post that story about the mexican rancher killing zetas. it's a good story

9 Tossed out my GE coffee pot yrs ago, have not bought Sargento cheese stuff since the they pulled their adds from Glenn Beck and haven't seen a Sean Penn, Matt Damon or Danny Glover movie in years. Yeah I'm a rebel, my wife thinks I'm nuts but hey, its the small things in life.  

10 Of course a real conservative boycott would be for WalMart to refuse to stock corporation X's products.

11 Boycotts rarely work  G.E is huge and involved in many things in our daily lives.
They are such a huge conglomerate just google G.E. SUBSIDIARIES
to see how far they reach....

12 What they should be doing is going after the "politicians" who are involved in this graft and corruption. Why is it that Abranoff and "K" street were so bad but GE and these other big companies are so good?

Posted by: Vic at November 24, 2010 09:38 AM (e4sSD)

Because when Republicans do it, its bad, and when Democrats do it its not?

Compare former Rep Gerry Studds - who got a standing ovation from the Democrats in Congress for having sex with a boy, and former Rep Foley who exchanged creepy, sexual emails with young men.

13 BTW, I don't buy ANYTHING that is made by GE. Now I need to add Johnson&Johnson to the list?

14 A better plan would be to hire a set of good PIs to investigate the congressional assholes who are in GE and others back pockets.

The press has become worthless in this regard.  They don't have a problem with sending two dozen reporters to AK to dig through Palin's trash but can't seem to devote 5 sec to investigating a Democrat.

If the Tea Party can raise enough funds to "investigate" these crooks it would do more good.

15 please post that story about the mexican rancher killing zetas. it's a good story

I think someone had something on that a couple days ago, but I will put something up at midday if no one else does.

16 please post that story about the mexican rancher killing zetas. it's a good story

I think someone had something on that a couple days ago, but I will put something up at midday if no one else does.

I saw it at your site, but i think it would go over well with the moron crowd.

17 I'm so glad that Ace decided to have many of the commenters post, it's a great idea.  How diid you guys get the nod.  I would love sometimes to do an occasional post.   But it's always on esoteric stuff but interesting nonetheless. 

18 use rules for radicals against them don't go after GE go after the CEO he's an easier target. or go after their board of directors those people probably have even less experience being in the public eye.

19

The key to the success of the Leftists is that they don't just boycott - they wage lawfare on their enemies.  Look at CAIR - they have what, 20,000 members tops?  I suspect that any boycott by CAIR would inspire a buying frenzy by regular Americans, yet they scare the suits because they're willing to throw lawyers at anything.

We need an army of ideological warriors from the legal profession to carry out counter attacks, and to harrass our foes like the Left does.  Force them to choose which evil they want - angry litigous Leftists, or angry legitigous Rightists.

20 How diid you guys get the nod.

Ace asked for volunteers over the weekend. There were probably bribes of pancakes and hobo-pelts involved too.

21 How diid you guys get the nod.

Everyonce in a while he puts out a call for open bloggers, just watch for it and he will send you the info.

I saw it at your site, but i think it would go over well with the moron crowd.

I can't claim credit for doubleplusundead. I am just one co-blogger among many,  DPUD get credit for the site.  That must be where I saw it too I will put it up here midday.

22 It is hypocritical to stage protests against corporations backing Obama's agenda while, at the same time, blocking legislation that would force corporate sponsors of election ads to be identified.  Most of that corporate money went to support GOP candidates this past election.

23

I'm so glad that Ace decided to have many of the commenters post, it's a great idea.  How diid you guys get the nod.  I would love sometimes to do an occasional post.   But it's always on esoteric stuff but interesting nonetheless. 

i had to suck a golfball through a 50 foot hose.

24

This story is mostly seeing coverage in Mexican media, but it deserves reporting in all of the Americas.  Don Alejo Garza Tamez deserves to be recognized for his heroic last stand in the face of overwhelming odds.

I think the Zero administration would have him arrested for domestic terrorism had he been on our side of the border.

I will say that Mr. Garza was a real man.

25 Totally OT and probably linked before but DOOOOOOOMMMMMM, where's Monty:
http://tinyurl.com/2ur7wlc

26 I already refrain from buying stuff from companies that piss me off.  What's more, outfits like GE really don't make much anymore that is targeted at the consumer - it would be hard to tell an airline that you won't fly on a plane with GE engines.  And some companies provide goods and services that are difficult to replace.  But, it's not a bad idea when practical; I've been boycotting NBC since about 1987, I think, although apparently so have a lot of other people.  Not that anyone has noticed but I don't miss 'em. 

27 Hey, I'll give up the gulfstream if you give me some of that sweet, sweet TARP and Stimulus sugar. Deal?

28

i had to suck a golfball through a 50 foot hose.

Posted by: Ben at November 24, 2010 10:00 AM (DKV43)

cut...jib...newsletter

29

Damn GE. it's so big that you can't avoid buying its products, try as you might

30 Successful boycotts? The threat by the Left was enough for over twenty corporation to drop ads on Beck.

31

I hardly understand the comparison to Jesse Jackson and his 'success'.

One group is trying to enlighten consumers about the corporation's [extreme] political leanings and/or donations. The other is just a shakedown artist trying to extort money.  

 

32 Start with the members of the Climate Action Partnership.

33 Actually, I think a low-level boycott is why Ford did relatively well after the government took over GM and Chrysler.

34 This is the Quickening - THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE!!!

Okay, joking aside, this is nothing more than the continued progression to inevitable conflict.
Boycotts are obvious steps and do matter in the long run - anything that diminishes your opponents ability to promote conflict against you is good - but not as much as the real answer which continues to be the hard work of lifting up your own cause to be a better solution than the old/busted/tired/cheap/easy model of tearing down down your enema.

35 i'm not giving splenda up

36 With respect to GE, its not boycotting that will help, its getting Immelt fired.  The guy is a failure on all counts and has turned GE into a rent seeking political organization that just happens to be publicly traded.  He should be fired on stock performance alone, never mind his awful, sycophantic behavior with Obama.

What a loser, an overpaid, overhyped loser.

37 I boycott anyone that pisses me off or publicly works against my political beliefs.  That includes canceling credit cards, telling the phone solicitors to go fuck themselves (LA Times) and bad-mouthing them any time their name comes up.  Feels good.

38 Totally OT and probably linked before but DOOOOOOOMMMMMM, where's Monty:
http://tinyurl.com/2ur7wlc

Meh, what's the point? The yuan's still pegged to the dollar.

39 "Actually, I think a low-level boycott is why Ford did relatively well after the government took over GM and Chrysler." I bought an F-150 in August. I did not consider GM or Chrysler. Toyota was on the table for me, but I could not find a Tundra with the double cab in this area. The CrewMax bed is too short for what I need. Before the GM takeover, I would probably have been looking at a Silverado.

40 I've been in a semi-boycott of Hollywood for years.  I average one movie a year, and that one better have good splodey shit.

41 A boycott is a state of mind.  I will avoid your product as long as the memory of what you did remains intact.  Not one penny spent at Sears since they screwed with me in 87.

42 How about we boycott ALL South Korean vehicles.. those fucks have tariffs up the ying yang on our autos.. we sold a little over 6,000 autos there last year.  Yet, we imported 600,000 SK autos here.

Fuck 'em.. boycott their cars and tell them they're on their own dealing with Kim Jung Il.

43 43 How about we boycott ALL South Korean vehicles.. those fucks have tariffs up the ying yang on our autos.. we sold a little over 6,000 autos there last year.  Yet, we imported 600,000 SK autos here.

Posted by: ChiTown-Jerry at November 24, 2010 10:49 AM (f9c2L)

I boycott any complex product from any mainland asian nation, ungrateful Korean pukes included.  They can't be trusted to make anything to specification, nor to forego the use of toxins in the manufacturing process.

44 Boycott is  pretty useless. Now buying a share and making a stink at the shareholders' meeting...then you got something.

Corporatism never works; any business a leader advocating it does not value long-term growth of company and should be sent to a Gulag.

45 i'm ready...i don't have much money any way...i'd rather give it to companies that support the American way of life

i personally think it is worth preserving...at least for a little longer

46

 

It's always hilarious to hear the left rail against "Corporations".

 

Yeah - the same corporations that line up to stick the American people with the invoice.

 

47 Boycotts don't work? Ask Las Vegas about how things went after Obama discouraged visitors. Also I agree that Ford benefits from an unannounced boycott. Yo Ford.
I say bring it on!

48 Boycott = Masturbation, it might make you feel good, briefly, but doesn't accomplish much.

49 My Korean Hyundai Santa Fe was built in Alabama. It replaced my Subaru which was built in Indiana. Which replaced my crappy Chevy that fell apart after 2 years. I think that one was built in Mexico.

50

One group is trying to enlighten consumers about the corporation's [extreme] political leanings and/or donations. The other is just a shakedown artist trying to extort money. 

Posted by: lethargic laceyunderalls at November 24, 2010 10:12 AM

That's why Jessuh gets what he wants. He doesn't so much threaten to boycott as he threatens to go in front of every TV camera in the world to denounce the target corporation as eeeevvvvilllll racists !!11!!!

CEO's are basically chickenshits, so they fold like cheap lawn furniture

51 CEOs, my ass. Envy is an ugly thing.

52 For a boycott to really have any chance of success, it will have to generate a lot of publicity.  What's the chance of our beloved MFM giving any Tea Party-inspired boycotts any face time whatsoever?

53 The issue is, the issue. Jackson has the one that brings corporate cowards to their knees every time: race. Mere American values will never change a company's behavior.

54

What's more, outfits like GE really don't make much anymore that is targeted at the consumer

Have you seen major appliances lately?  I have a postage-stamp-sized kitchen and needed to incorporate as much as I could with dual appliances, like a combo microwave/convection oven.  GE not only had the lowest price, but also the most streamlined model.  It killed me.  I told the store owner I absolutely detested GE and the only reason I was buying that model was because I was over a barrel. 

I denounce myself.

55 The same old same old boycott won't work.

Try something new; how about a  FLASH boycott? Like a flash mob we hit them hard for a day or two. Imagine no conservatives in Home Depot for an entire weekend, pick a weekend that usually has a high volume. That would catch their attention.  Hit several companies in a row over a period of time, hit them hard with a one/two day drop in sales, let them know we have the numbers to continue if needed.

56 Posted by: RushBabe at November 24, 2010 11:54 AM (a3Z62)

Too bad none of the GE products like that are made in this country anymore. They used to have a factory in Hayward, CA where a friend of mine worked putting together GE appliances. That factory is now long gone.

57 The 3 richest Americans, Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, and Larry Ellison all supported Obama. Better just boycott EVERYTHING to be safe that your money isn't going to socialism

58 The 3 richest Americans, Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, and Larry Ellison all supported Obama.

Democrats, the Fat Cat Party.

59 Pro-lifers have been used to boycotting.  I hope the TP consults with them, since they have become good at digging up backdoor connections.

60 37 With respect to GE, its not boycotting that will help, its getting Immelt fired.  The guy is a failure on all counts and has turned GE into a rent seeking political organization that just happens to be publicly traded.  He should be fired on stock performance alone, never mind his awful, sycophantic behavior with Obama.

What a loser, an overpaid, overhyped loser.

Posted by: biff at November 24, 2010 10:18 AM (PYHRj)

--Yeah, Jack Welch is a Republican.  Not crazy about his family values, but he was a damn good CEO.

61 My wife, myself, and many of our friends are in a constant state of boycott against liberal companies.  We can't realistically hit them all, but we do our best.  This is the shadow boycott going on in this country.  A classic example is the fact that many conservatives refuse to see movies with excessively vocal liberal actors.

62

Personally I would like to see them go after CEOs who go from company to company driving them into the dirt nardelliing them.

(Trying out a new word here.)

63 I have boycotted Home Depot over their contracting practices, in which they contract a job, then farm it out to a sub, who farms it out to another sub, and so on about 15 more times, until the guys that show up to do the install are the least qualified and cheapest and do the shittiest job. Screw those guys.

64

We are the people that actually HAVE money to spend.... it's about time.

CC

65

biff @ 37: With respect to GE, its not boycotting that will help, its getting Immelt fired.

Part of Welch's job was to pick his successor, and he picked Immelt -- a guy who swore up and down that the dividend was safe before he recommended it be lowered to 10¢ from 31¢, who promised again and again that his company wouldn't spin off NBC Universal up to the point that they struck a deal with Comcast, and who is still going on about how GE is going to get out of financial services and focus on its core, industrial, legacy businesses with no progress to date.

What's sad is that Bob Nardelli (of later infamy at Home Depot and Chrysler)was the next best choice for Welch's old job.

66 This is the shadow boycott going on in this country.  A classic example is the fact that many conservatives refuse to see movies with excessively vocal liberal actors.

Posted by: Jeff at November 24, 2010 12:27 PM (IRzx9)

--I have heard that it is not enough just to boycott, but to write the targeted company in question to let them know of the fact and why you are boycotting it.  OTOH, if somebody liek Freedom Works leads the way like described, the company may know anyway, but a sharp but polite letter would not hurt.

Yeah, fuck those libtard Hollywood douches.  True Grit is out of bounds since it (why, oh why) has Matt Damon! in it.

67

I think if I were to boycott any big U.S. company (using the Dow as a guide here) it'd be Hewlett Packard.

Their last CEO was in a scandal, the current CEO was in a scandal, and I just saw the Internet video with the Army captain downrange shooting a printer to hell because HP tech support wouldn't help him for free. So fuck Hewlitt Packard first.

Then, fuck duPont. Last I knew, this was the company that was pushing the hardest for carbon credits.

68 We should just attempt to force Obama to live up to his campaign promise  of taking the cap off of social security taxes.  When these elitist CEO's have to pay 15% of their income and golden parachutes to social security, you can BET social security will shortly be fixed for all!

69 I would like to see them go after CEOs who go from company to company driving them into the dirt Stop talking about Carly Fiorina

70 Remember some time ago that the American Family Association (or some such) called for a year-long boycott of Ford?  As I remember, they were posting losses for that year when everyone else made at least some profit (even GM and Chrysler!).  Whether the boycott had any effect on what they were protesting about I don't know, but I do know that it hurt their bottom line.

71 Heh..Hasn't this already happened to GE at least?

Does anyone own any GE stock anymore?