First, I can't restrain myself from answering your bolded question. I wasn't even born yet! Heck, my 90-year-old mom hadn't turned Sweet 16 yet. Giddy is correct in saying the Tea Party movement is amorphous at best. For example, there are some that propose eliminating Social Security (an FDR program) and investing in the stock market. However, most of us like the Social Security program but want the program's money returned -- not used for the general fund. Health care? The vast majority of Tea Party participants are for it -- but Democare is not a good bill simply because it will take years to figure it out. The groups with which I communicate are not inclined to attend rallies. Mostly they are running their businesses or departments. However, a few months ago I spotted a guy with a racist sign. When a couple of us went over to ask him not to embarrass the rally members, he dropped the sign and ran. I didn't think much about it until I started hearing/reading the reports about the "Crash the Party" dirty tricks. That kind of tactic is an ethical norm for the Far Left -- and for the Far Right for that matter -- but not responsible human beings. The movement is fueled by anger and passion but has nothing to do with the racial makeup of the president. It has everything to do with his political slant. He promised change but hasn't changed anything except plunge us deeper in debt than Bush the Younger could even conceive. The movement is vigorously opposed to the leadership of Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi -- so is it anti-white as well? Ah, I just can't believe that raising the political consciousness of the apathetic masses is a bad thing.
I'd like to see evidence of that prompt response. My sense was that it was days later after someone had suggested a video that "proved" that the remark was made was found to be inconclusive. At that point, the accusers stood by their story with no evidence except eyewitness testimony. Further evidence was requested and, to my understanding, has never been provided. Why do you assume he wasn't called out? That would not be newsworthy not even traceable. How do you know that all those people even heard him in the midst of that maelstrom and how do you know those who did didn't try and censure him? You don't know yet you are still ramping up the story in the worst possible light to discredit Tea Partiers. All you have is your theorizing about what happened in the moment and in the moments after. How and why was Byrd even allowed to run by the Democratic Party Machine? The Tea Party has no machine. Who speaks for the Tea Party(ies)?
The behavior of a crowd of college kids after their university has won the national championship is far worse than the behavior of Tea Partiers-- perhaps with the exception of one remark(er). One guy/gal says something off and you cite the whole group for a lack of discipline?
He will be President for the rest of history. However, he will be accorded the title former President in January 2013. Count on it.
The financial bailout was Bush's creation - and the right thing to do. It was done to prevent a depression. Do you realize how close we came to economic disaster? And the tea party would have preferred that disaster? Big gov't saved us from unemployment rates of 1930's proportions...it amazes me how people forget that. It's not a Bush nor Obama thing - it was something much worse. The health care bill is based mostly on republican ideas. Most of the liberal ones such as a public option were killed. And the requirement to get health insurance was done mainly to satiate insurance companies - not to socialize or imprison americans. The facts are just being grossly distored by the tea party and it's very very disturbing and annoying. And yes, it is a racist party - because you have multiple leaders propagating ethnic slurs, xenophobia, and hate and no one within the group decrying it. If you tolerate it, you endorse it.
Until we see a serious market crash or a major terrorist attack, accompanied by a legitimate Republican opponent, you can't really say that with a straight face. Things look really grim on the Presidential front for Republicans in 2012.
Actually - I disagree. I find the behavior of the Tea Party to be far more disturbing. College kids don't yell racial slurs and spit in people's faces. Nor are they calling for the violent overthrow of the gov't. The Tea PArty looks like they are really extreme - and I agree with Bill Clinton that this party might incite domestic terrorism ala Oklahoma City. This group is not policing itself, it's making excuses for it's worst members - and that to me is implicitly stamping endorsement. YOU can't have it BOTH way. If you criticize Muslims for not criticizing their extreme elements, than the same applies to the Tea Party. There's nothing more than another Hamas in the making.
Just as Obama burst on the scene without much warning (ask Hlllary), I expect a moderate, fiscally responsible American champion to emerge. Meanwhile, groups like mine are working the precincts in both parties -- as well as school districts -- to gain control. (Not many motivated people are needed to dominate.) From our earliest days Americans have always risen to meet the grimest challenges. We can, and we will.
Problem is your tea party has no room for a moderate. Any candidate endorsed by the tea baggers will be expected to pledge fealty to "the Contract from America". And Obama took six years to lay the groundwork for a presidential run (hardly bursting on the scene without much warning); so I don't see this mythical "fiscally responsible American champion" to emerge anytime soon.
Doesn't it strike people that this Tea Party bashing is reminiscent of the MoveOn.org bashing from the right?
1. You do not know what slurs, if any, are being uttered by several thousand rowdy celebrants. Many are drunk or otherwise jacked up. Trouble-makers surely show up. 2. Who is making excuses for the worst Tea Party members? Defending the Tea Party is not the same as making excuses for the few who exhibit extreme behavior. Enemies of the Tea Party want to use the extremists to shut down the whole shebang. What has been asserted is that you cannot rein in or discipline someone who has no accountability to anyone in particular and over whom nobody has any authority. That's the reality. 3. I have seen some of those celebrations where the college kids damage property, loot storefronts and burn cars. Do you really want to minimize that kind of destruction? 4. I don't sympathize with the extreme elements of virtually any organization but you can't exactly expunge somebody from an open gathering.
What effort has the tea party shown to rid themselves of the racist extremists? Show me something please. I want them to do the right thing. Right now they aren't. I'm tired of people claiming it's just one bad apple. When one bad incident after the next keeps happening and happening, and those in charge do nothing to stop it, it becomes a pattern, not just one bad apple.
The deputy sheriffs, the soldiers, the governors get paid And the marshals and cops get the same But the poor white man's used in the hands of them all like a tool He's taught in his school From the start by the rule That the laws are with him To protect his white skin To keep up his hate So he never thinks straight 'Bout the shape that he's in But it ain't him to blame He's only a pawn in their game. Bob
You get them together and we'll BOTH talk to them! See I'm not a member of the Tea Party either, so we have as much right as anybody. How's Sunday afternoons for you? Kansas and Colorado are both kind of central. Which do you prefer? BTW, no one is claiming it is just ONE bad apple. There are certainly a few, but there was only one in my town on Tax Day-- out of 2,000 attendees-- and he was PROTESTING the Tea Partiers.... went and got himself arrested. Go figure. What are you going to do about him? I know; it's a ludicrous question... but one that you keep asking.
