"The Billionaires Bankrolling the Tea Party": Is this important?

[Siddhartha]

your tunnel vision and selective indignation are obvious to the most casual observer.

I started this thread to find out what Tea Party supporters thought about billionaires supporting their movement. As far as I am concerned, discussions about other people who support other movements are off topic.

I can understand why some people feel the need to deflect the thread.

 

[soundforbjt]

Of course^^^they need to deflect...the teabaggers are just plain grassroots folks from main street, USA. You may have seen them on a rerun tv show starring Andy Griffith.

The fact that evil oil barons paid their way there and support the baggers for the republican good is inconsequential, because it's all about the "average" Americans.

Everyone else is an elitest, snob, and probably lib'rul...

 

[IGBT]

I started this thread to find out what Tea Party supporters thought about billionaires supporting their movement. As far as I am concerned, discussions about other people who support other movements are off topic.

I can understand why some people feel the need to deflect the thread.

Fails to dismiss the fact that you are engaging in selective indignation.

 

[cubby1223]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/29/opinion/29rich.html?src=me&ref=homepage

This is a New York Times Op-Ed article. It says that a couple of very rich individuals are supporting the Tea Party.

I am not sure if this is important in terms of the legitimacy of the movement. What do you think?

I haven't received my check yet.

Have you noticed there are some very rich individuals who support the progressive moment too?

 

[cubby1223]

I started this thread to find out what Tea Party supporters thought about billionaires supporting their movement.

Billionaires are people just like you and I and are free to support whatever ideas they choose to support.

Besides, we all know you didn't start this thread because you were genuinely curious to know someone else's opinion.

 

[Craig234]

Billionaires are people just like you and I and are free to support whatever ideas they choose to support.

Besides, we all know you didn't start this thread because you were genuinely curious to know someone else's opinion.

But you have zero concern whether that 'opinion' is harmful, whether it breaks democracy by giving a few whose interests are at odds with the public the power to overwhelm public opinion with propaganda and media, and whether it's done in dishonest ways such as hijacking people for a phony 'grass roots' movement, hiding their role.

 

[cubby1223]

But you have zero concern whether that 'opinion' is harmful, whether it breaks democracy by giving a few whose interests are at odds with the public the power to overwhelm public opinion with propaganda and media, and whether it's done in dishonest ways such as hijacking people for a phony 'grass roots' movement, hiding their role.

Says the guy who wishes Hugo Chavez were the leader of the United States.

 

[cubby1223]

Oh, don't have a response to that one, do you? Huh, Craig? You're pathetic. Go back to the comforts of your fav commentators.

 

[cubby1223]

Seriously, that is too funny. "by giving a few whose interests are at odds with the public the power to overwhelm public opinion with propaganda and media"

You just described your progressive movement. Never checked a poll? Time to wake up, buddy.

 

[cubby1223]

I must be too dumb to understand. We need to support our friendly progressives to stick it to those evil rich. We must support all their agenda items, we must support all their spending initiatives, we must support the coming insolvency of our government's finances. So when our federal government collapses in debt from all the progressive agenda items to help us dumb people, the rich will still have their money and the smart rich will have moved to a more prosperous country.

While we dumb tea party fanatics will sit here with our crumbled country but thanking progressives for solving all our problems!!! Damn the rich and damn their evilness.

Thank you Craig, you truly are the Alpha and the Omega. Thank you for your blessing. Thank you for all your kindness. Thank you for saving me.

 

[Craig234]

Says the guy who wishes Hugo Chavez were the leader of the United States.

You're an idiot, and a liar.

First, you don't need to put three sentences into three posts.

Second, I don't want Hugo Chavez to be the leader of the US. Here's the six year old level of argument you have:

Cubby: "Hugo Chavez is shooting male babies for sport and raising 10,000 female babies in his harem for pedophile sex!"

Craig234: "No, that's a lie, put out by (this organization) who wants to get rid of Chavez to make themselves more money.

Cubby: "You defended Chavez! You say he can do no wrong and want him ot be the US President!!!111!!!"

Third, I don't have a response to you saying I want Chavez to be president of the US? See above, child. But it'll make you to happy I'd take him over Sarah Palin easily.

Fourth, you are an ignoramus about the right-wing organizations and funding, and so you make an idiot of yourself spouting off lies about the left being the people with the harmful agenda, the corrupt buying off of public opinion, the well-funded propaganda organizations, and the corrupt agenda media. Idiot.

But oh wait, you brought evidence to the claim about which side has the biggest corrupt funding, propaganda and media - you said 'check a poll'.

Oh, ya, that proves your point. Clearly the side with those massive propaganda tools to get public opinion can't do ok in a poll (boggle at the idiocy).

Cubby1223: "The hostages are OBVIOUSLY not being held at gunpoint being ordered what to say - just ask them, and they say they want the guns pointed at them."

 

[MikeMike]

Ah HAHA...

when you can't attack the message, attack the messengers...

it's hilarious to watch the left try and attack the "tea party" messengers, and then bitch when someone attacks the messenger who is attacking the messengers, and then say "can't attack the message, so attack the messenger"

so fucking funny.

spin spin spin your boat, gently UP the stream...

 

[OrByte]

Ah HAHA...

when you can't attack the message, attack the messengers...

it's hilarious to watch the left try and attack the "tea party" messengers, and then bitch when someone attacks the messenger who is attacking the messengers, and then say "can't attack the message, so attack the messenger"

so fucking funny.

spin spin spin your boat, gently UP the stream...

teabagger meltdown?

 

[Craig234]

Ah HAHA...

when you can't attack the message, attack the messengers...

it's hilarious to watch the left try and attack the "tea party" messengers, and then bitch when someone attacks the messenger who is attacking the messengers, and then say "can't attack the message, so attack the messenger"

so fucking funny.

spin spin spin your boat, gently UP the stream...

What don't you get? Evil billionares who want to buy public opinion to hurt the country and benefit the billionares, corrupt tools who work for them, and idiots they target.

The message is pretty easy to attack - what part of the reasons not to get rid of Social Security, Medicare, the CIA and FBI, and environmental laws do you need help with?

That's the Kock brothers agenda, being pushed onto the gullible idiots by creating and then riding on their 'anger'. The message is being attacked just fine.

 

[MikeMike]

teabagger meltdown?

no, not at all, i havent even looked at the different agendas yet... no election yet... when it comes, i will be informed and have a side, but as of yet, im no where on the political spectrum so i have a very unbiased opinion... other than my dislike of a lot of what Obama is implementing, i have no idea who ill vote for...

oh, this thread is such a circle jerk... its like "hey, let's post a straight left thread, and then bitch at everyone who shares a slightly different point of view..." the complete psychotic stances of Craig, where "the left can do no wrong" and Prof John "the right can do no wrong" is insane... then you have Dave who loves to talk out of both sides of his mouth...

it was mentioned once before in this thread by Amused...

and every fucking psychotic, blinded, flip flop, crazy person in here needs to realize that they are just accusing the other of exactly what they are doing... pot meet kettle, yada yada yada

 

[Craig234]

no, not at all, i havent even looked at the different agendas yet... no election yet... when it comes, i will be informed and have a side, but as of yet, im no where on the political spectrum so i have a very unbiased opinion... other than my dislike of a lot of what Obama is implementing, i have no idea who ill vote for...

oh, this thread is such a circle jerk... its like "hey, let's post a straight left thread, and then bitch at everyone who shares a slightly different point of view..." the complete psychotic stances of Craig, where "the left can do no wrong" and Prof John "the right can do no wrong" is insane... then you have Dave who loves to talk out of both sides of his mouth...

it was mentioned once before in this thread by Amused...

and every fucking psychotic, blinded, flip flop, crazy person in here needs to realize that they are just accusing the other of exactly what they are doing... pot meet kettle, yada yada yada

Actually, you are the one with a lot in common with PJ. To 'not have an opinion' yet speaks volumes about both ignorance and political opinion.

'I haven't decided how to to vote on the 'kill the poor' ballot initiative, but before the election, I'll see if it's a cost-efficient execution method and make an informed vote.'

'I don't know how I stand on the Koch brothers' radical and harmful agenda, but I'll make up my mind whether I'm for abolishing the EPA after I research.'

Utterly clueless - but loudly clueless.

Just disgusting - and ironic, as you go on about 'accusing what you do'.

 

[BoberFett]

Craig, can you do anything other than call people liars? That seems to be your only retort.

 

[umbrella39]

Ah HAHA...

when you can't attack the message, attack the messengers...

The message is 100% transparent bullshit and everyone see this but the sheep. I think we'll see the real conservatives continue to distance themselves from these idiots. The fringe is to be catered to when needed, not heard.

 

[FuzzyBee]

boomerang

Just because you are rich doesn't mean your motives have to be self serving. Soros seems to put his money behind what he believes is right, the Kochs seem to put it where it will make them richer and more powerful. Even Warren Buffet has said he doesn't mind when he has to pay a lot of taxes, because that means he made a lot of money that year.

Those that seem obsessed with having more money and power always push for a right wing agenda. The Kochs are but one example. The list is legion.

Do you not think the Kochs are doing what they "believe is right" because they aren't leftists?

 

[MikeMike]

Actually, you are the one with a lot in common with PJ. To 'not have an opinion' yet speaks volumes about both ignorance and political opinion.

'I haven't decided how to to vote on the 'kill the poor' ballot initiative, but before the election, I'll see if it's a cost-efficient execution method and make an informed vote.'

'I don't know how I stand on the Koch brothers' radical and harmful agenda, but I'll make up my mind whether I'm for abolishing the EPA after I research.'

Utterly clueless - but loudly clueless.

Just disgusting - and ironic, as you go on about 'accusing what you do'.

you have your god damn head cramed so far up your fucking ass, you can lick your own damn large intestine... just honestly, when you want, pull it out, wipe the brown dirty shit out of your eyes, and realize that all you are doing is calling me a liar... i have ideas, i am not well versed on the exact idealogues of any one yet... i get the impression that the Koch brothers are a bit extreme, but i also know Nancy pelosi is extreme, you are extreme, etc... there are a lot of extremes... just what poison do you feel is the least poisonous... we as humans will make ourselves extinct just like a bacteria would if it can't either move from area to area, or figure ways to survive without depleting everything it needs to live in a location

 

[ProfJohn]

Craig, can you do anything other than call people liars? That seems to be your only retort.

Liar!!!!


He likes to call them idiots too.

 

[Craig234]

Do you not think the Kochs are doing what they "believe is right" because they aren't leftists?

So did Hitler. So did Charles Manson. If you aren't a psychopath, you can't confuse the agenda of these people or the Koches with the agenda of healthy democracy.

If you are one of their cultists, then that's exactly what you'll do - 'all free speech is equally good'.

 

[Craig234]

you have your god damn head cramed so far up your fucking ass, you can lick your own damn large intestine...

You fall into the cesspool of not worth responding to.

 

[Craig234]

He likes to call them idiots too.

So, that's your substantive reply to:

Does it really mater who funds these groups?

So, that's your position. It 'doesn't matter who funds our political parties.'

I could explain why that's wrong, but let's hear more from you about how it 'doesn't matter who funds our political parties'. A sampling:

What do you have to say about government unions and their control over our country and the Democrat Party???...

In these two states the unions have essentially taken over the states through their control of the Democrat Party.
Their union dues fund the party and their vast numbers allow them to force the party to do their biding.

Any candidate who doesn't walk lock step with the unions faces a primary challenge or gets their largest source of funding
cut off costing them their office. Then come general election the large Democrat majority in each state ensures that
union approved Democrats stay in control of the state legislatures.

So we now have at least two states that are controlled by public unions who are more interested in their own self interest
than the interest of the people who they are suppose to be working for.

What do you have to say about this?

I would say that there is a 99.9% chance of some type of fundraising scandal post election.

We know he took money from people in the Gaza strip, he gave the ones they found back.

We know there have been numerous reports of donations being made with stolen credit card numbers, again refunded.

We know, if you read the right wing media, that he has disabled basic fraud protection mechanisms on his fund raising
sight. TONS of information about that floating around. People named Osama Bin Laden with address such Afghanistan etc
making donations. In short, Obama does not compare the credit card info to the info given by the donor to see if they
match. This opens up ALL kinds of fraud issues.

How's that 99.9% fundraising scandal coming?

As I have been saying for a long time. It seems that Obama's money miracle is not so much little people giving Obama
little bits of money, but big time donors giving big time money.

BTW Obama raised $9 million in one night in Hollywood. 250-300 People paid $28,500 each!!! Who do you think has a bigger
voice in his decisions, the people who are sending him $50-100 each of the people who paid $28,500??

Think of it this way. In August he raised $66 million, or $2 mil a day. That one $9 million night is the equivalent of
4+ days of fund raising.

In a thread "Why do most Hollywood celebrities support Obama?"

Look at the life styles of hollywood types: drugs, parties, multiple sexual partners. It is very permissive and 100%
opposite of what the right wing conservatives would view as acceptable behavior.

In 1970 a bomb went off killing three members of Ayers group. Later Ayers said the bomb was "destined for the army base
nearby"

Despite this Obama attended a fund raiser Ayers held for Obama at his house....

End with a picture of Obama and Ayers and some question about Obama and his judgement.

The Obama supporters might not care about Obama and Ayer but a lot of other Americans are going to be surprised to hear
about this connection.

You started a thread titled "Big donors are the key to Obama's record haul":

And his pledge to not take money from lobbyists is a bunch of BS as well. At least 130 of his bundlers are lawyers from
law firms with lobbying arms. And another 100 are top executives or brokers from investment businesses. Obama can claim
to not talk money from the lobbyists themselves, but he is taking money from everyone else associated with them.

I wonder how much of this story will get into the mainstream American press.

Clearly, you don't think it matters who funds our political parties.

Except that the funding by a group results in "their control over the country", so they've "essentially taken over the states", as the donations "allow them to force the party to do their [bidding]", and now we have "states that are controlled", when it fits your agenda.

Except that who is funding matters when you insinuate funding from "the Gaza Strip" will drive his policies - or his policies will be bought by those who want "drugs, parties, multiple sexual partners" from Hollywood. Or even better, that the donations from a fundraiser linked with William Ayers will drive him to support the type of terrorist violence you list.

Except that you say it matters simply if they're big donors', and demand that the issue of his donors get widespread attention in the media - for something that's 'who cares'?

 

[P4man]

The Tea Party as it stands now is nothing about what it was supposed to be. This version, with Glenn Beck, Sara Palin and all the other bandwagon jumpers only took what WAS a grassroots movement and championed its name on their sleeve to further their own political agendas. The part that worries me most is that there are many who do not realize its been hijacked, overridden, sucked of any real change and replaced with talking heads who until Bush's departure were all about being a Neo-Conservative.

Mr. Beck is a master at playing on people's emotions. Until recently I never heard him say much about "God", but since he has taken the job at Faux News it seems he likes to make points and analogies relating to religion. Hannity was a coward essentially lambasting Ron Paul for his strict Constitutional views and now supports the very thing that Paul's supporters started. The Tea Party money bomb. He even has concerts!

Those at the Right saw their power dwindling and reached out to steal whatever lifeline they could find which happened to be the Tea Party.

Good post and this is exactly how I see it (as admittedly, a foreign observer). What started as a genuine protest against bad policy seems to have turned in to a vehicle to direct opposition against govenment policies towards the republican party that endorsed those same policies (or at least most of them) for decades. Its as hollow as Obama's "change" message and its only a matter of time before the tea party movement endorses increased military spending.

Its depressing how every political discussion in the US seems to turn in to an ideological battle between "left" and "right", when I barely see any difference between them on the fundamental issues. And its bizare how I only seem to find common sense and intellectual honesty on the fringes of either side. Say a Ron Paul or a Dennis Kucinich. As different as they may seem to most Americans, those are the kind of people the US politics needs more off, rather than more Meg Whitmans, Sarah Palins or Rod Blagojeviches.