Who is behind AngryRenter.com?
Mortgage Bailout Infuriates Tenants (And Steve Forbes) - WSJ.com
AngryRenter.com looks a bit like a digital ransom note, with irregular fonts, exclamation points and big red arrows — all emphasizing prudent renters’ outrage over a proposed government bailout for irresponsible homeowners.“It seems like America’s renters may NEVER be able to afford a home,” AngryRenter.com laments. The Web site urges like-minded tenants to let Congress feel their fury by signing an online petition. “We are millions of renters standing up for our rights!”
Angry they may be, but the people behind AngryRenter.com are certainly not renters. Though it purports to be a spontaneous uprising, AngryRenter.com is actually a product of an inside-the-Beltway conservative advocacy organization led by Dick Armey, the former House majority leader, and publishing magnate Steve Forbes, a fellow Republican. It’s a fake grass-roots effort — what politicos call an AstroTurf campaign — that provides a window into the sleight-of-hand ways of Washington.
Wow. I’m fairly shocked actually.
May 15th, 2008 at 10:05 pm
burbed is shocked. I, however, am shocked — shocked — to find out that there is astroturfing going on in Washington DC.
May 15th, 2008 at 10:08 pm
My word, that’s quite Machiavellian.
May 16th, 2008 at 12:24 am
what politicos call an AstroTurf campaign
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We are only six months away from primary election. Compare to 2004, this year Washington DC looks quiet, boring and passive. Is there something wrong?
May 16th, 2008 at 4:23 am
I’m kind of shocked too - mostly just that someone is astroturfing something I support. Not that I’m in favor of this fake crap even when it’s supporting something I’m in favor of.
May 16th, 2008 at 7:31 am
I’ve been never able to get past the fact that the man who worked so hard to make sure the military was free of gays was named Dick Armey.
May 16th, 2008 at 7:55 am
Regardless, have you read the comments? People are genuinely pissed. The biggest contributing state is ( surprise) California. Of California, most come from ( another surprise) the Bay Area and LA. Quite a few people who signed who mentioned they made six figure incomes and couldn’t afford. Perhaps if anything, angryrenter makes it readily apparent how absurd this whole thing has been and how it is actually creating economic damage beyond foreclosures and write-offs. There’s 50,000 people that have signed the thing so far.
May 16th, 2008 at 8:23 am
Makes you wonder who’s behind Burbed?
May 16th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Makes you wonder who’s behind Burbed?
madhaus’ top 10 predictions of who’s behind burbed
10. Dick Armey, who is even more ticked off at us due to California Supreme Court ruling yesterday. Now those danged gays can inherit property state tax-free without paying lots of legal fees!
9. Jealous southern Californians who can’t understand why our prices haven’t crashed like theirs.
8. Really bitter Las Vegans.
7. FBs who commute to San Jose from Stockton and are priced out in their next life, too.
6. Real estate agent who got into the game in 2006 and is in hiding from angry Milpitas clients.
5. Lawrence Yun!!!
4. White people locked into Cupertino who can’t sell their
housegarden shed for the $3,300,000 they feel they deserve from those Asian homework-obsessed families who must have Monta Vista high school.3. The Pope! There’s mawble cawlums in them thar houses!
2. Tracy Chamber of Commerce, figuring if they can’t share the gain, they’ll spread the pain.
and the number 1 suggestion of who is really behind burbed.com:
…. 1. Facebook employees wanting to buy 3 Palo Alto houses for the price of 1!
May 16th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
1. Facebook employees wanting to buy 3 Palo Alto houses for the price of 1!
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This is over the top. It cannot be true. Facebook is supposed to save Palo Alto housing market. Why would a Facebook employee want to buy 3 PA home for the price of 1? Does not make sense.
I thought it would other way around: Burbed is a Facebook employee and wants to buy 1 PA home for the price of 3.
May 16th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
My best guess, Burbed is a real estate agents. He always makes fun of his competitor’s properties. It helps him to sell his own clients’ properties in higher price with less competition.
Basically, this site is RBA version of AstroTurf campaign against other competing real estate agents.
May 16th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
My best guess, Burbed is a real estate agents. He always makes fun of his competitor’s properties. It helps him to sell his own clients’ properties in higher price with less competition.
Basically, this site is RBA version of AstroTurf campaign against other competing real estate agents.
Item 6 can apply, and item 5 covers all of NAR.
May 16th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Well, I’m anti-bailout so I see no real problem with this….. isn’t that weird half-donkey-half-elephant-logo group astroturf too?
And, I’m a visual thinker, you can’t believe the laffs I get out of the name “dick armey” hehe.
May 16th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
8. Really bitter Las Vegans.
Latinas who have given up meat?