Why don't we strip the Tea Part down to what it REALLY means?

[Zebo]

Ayup. And we see how well they do in elections. Let's face it, Americans love fake drama. Why is reality TV such a big hit? Because people love the yelling and fighting, even though in the back of their mind they know it's all scripted. We want to argue about abortion, guns, welfare, taxes, drugs, war. There's no room for a political party that wants to keep the peace. It's all about manufactured drama in this country.

Frankly, I'd love to see the whole fucking things collapse. Once people see REAL drama, as in half the country starving to death, maybe they'll give up on the fake drama.

Not me so much. I've been shot not fun. I been in apocalyptic hell holes. But I am prepared as I can be but that does not mean much.

When your neighbor comes with a smile, kids in tow, only to blow your brains out for food y'all will dream about good ole days.

 

[xj0hnx]

Exactly, as long as the tea party just foments dissent and doesn't take a stand on anything they are harder to attack. They won't be able to accomplish anything substantive because they don't have any actual stands to take, but they will be more effective as long as they are a moving target, because they are really just in place to muddy waters and attack democrats.

Delusion is as delusion does. They (the movement) are not concerned with individuals social biases, pro, or anti, any of those issues. If you weren't such a partisan sheep, and actually knew any of them you'd see that on social issues they run the gamut.

 

[CaptnKirk]

My brother got tangled up with these fools, and he drank the Kool-Aid.
He thinks all the minorities are out to get him and take his job.
He can't realize that the company he worked for was sold to a foriegn enity, German Corporation - and they shut down the American plants.
Dose he blame the German Corporation for bringing the American displaced jobs to Europe?
No! It's the Blacks in the South, and the Mexicans sneaking over the border to collect welfare that took his job.
He eats up the GOP line and never thinks anymore - Beck and Limbaugh have mind melded his entire sense of comprehension.

South gonna rise again - Johnny Reb is his salvation.

 

[xj0hnx]

My brother got tangled up with these fools, and he drank the Kool-Aid.
He thinks all the minorities are out to get him and take his job.
He can't realize that the company he worked for was sold to a foriegn enity, German Corporation - and they shut down the American plants.
Dose he blame the German Corporation for bringing the American displaced jobs to Europe?
No! It's the Blacks in the South, and the Mexicans sneaking over the border to collect welfare that took his job.
He eats up the GOP line and never thinks anymore - Beck and Limbaugh have mind melded his entire sense of comprehension.

South gonna rise again - Johnny Reb is his salvation.

Your brother is a loony, what does that have to do with the TEA Party?

 

[BoberFett]

I see a lot of Gaston flags at rallies which is usually indicative of libertarianism. Many republicans are libertarian even though Republican party has not been so since 19th century...save maybe Goldwater/Reagan. But it's their closet shot. Sure as hell is not Dems.

If all these people are libertarians, why aren't they voting in presidential elections? They're clearly activists, so I assume they vote. This means they voted for McCain or Obama, in either case they're certainly not libertarians.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Your brother is a loony, what does that have to do with the TEA Party?

He starts his post out saying his brother is a tea party member, what do you not understand about that?

I take it you don't agree with his assesment of his brothers beliefs lining up with tea party values, if so come out and say so, no need to play games and ask dumbass baiting questions.

 

[IronWing]

The Republicans did not co-opt the Tea Party. The Republican Party together with Fox News manufactured the Tea Party. The Tea Party is a sock puppet.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Frankly, I'd love to see the whole fucking things collapse. Once people see REAL drama, as in half the country starving to death, maybe they'll give up on the fake drama.

I swear sometimes I think half the country thinks like this
They have such a sad pitiful view of life that they wish apocolypse on the world so everyone could be as hopeless as they are
I really hope your just a sensationalistic whinny little drama queen because if you truly wish starvation on half the country you are beyond help.

 

[Lemon law]

I always have to wonder about any thread title that starts with, "Why don't we strip the ( insert group any group) down to what it REALLY means?"

But in terns of any damn random group one could possibly pick, the tea party almost defies any effort to strip them down and characterize them. And in a sense, because the tea parties are composed of such a radically different set of individuals, no matter how one characterizes them, few half way thought out ways to lump them into one single lump will not be per say partly correct, but my point is, no single catch all can come even close to accurately describing them all.

But the point I wish to make, is that unless the tea party self defines itself with a platform, a set of programs they advocate, and in general can come up with an intellectual underpinning, its likely to go the way of the party of H. Ross Perot, as a political grass roots movement that comes, flowers, and then dies leaving no legacy behind.

Its simply that tea party unwillingness to define itself that screams temporary flash in the pan. If the tea party refuses to define itself, why should anyone of us even try to define them?

 

[Cogman]

Ha ha ha. Your upset because the Tea party picks which parts of the constitution it wants to defend? Welcome to the world of politics. I suppose later you are going to go crazy because the NRA doesn't try and defend the 3rd amendment. After all, they are focused only on the second.

 

[Deudalus]

Ha ha ha. Your upset because the Tea party picks which parts of the constitution it wants to defend? Welcome to the world of politics. I suppose later you are going to go crazy because the NRA doesn't try and defend the 3rd amendment. After all, they are focused only on the second.

Where did I say I was upset?

I said why don't WE as voters strip a certain movement down to what it should really be, as opposed to what it is.

I have no problem with the NRA because it clearly has a goal and it clearly follows any means to reach that goal.

I do have a problem with the Tea Party because it clearly believes it has a goal (strict adherence to the constitution) and depending on the issue it may or may not actually want to reach that goal.

Two very different things.

 

[Cogman]

Where did I say I was upset?

I said why don't WE as voters strip a certain movement down to what it should really be, as opposed to what it is.

I have no problem with the NRA because it clearly has a goal and it clearly follows any means to reach that goal.

I do have a problem with the Tea Party because it clearly believes it has a goal (strict adherence to the constitution) and depending on the issue it may or may not actually want to reach that goal.

Two very different things.

Except you are getting tea party member mixed up with constitutionalists. Two different movements. Its like getting Pro-lifers mixed up with fundamental christians.

We, the voters, have no right to strip down any movement to any constrant we think they should have (short of removing illegal behavior). It is called the 1st amendment. People have the right to say and do just about whatever they want, so long as they aren't infringing upon the rights of others.

 

[xj0hnx]

He starts his post out saying his brother is a tea party member, what do you not understand about that?

I take it you don't agree with his assesment of his brothers beliefs lining up with tea party values, if so come out and say so, no need to play games and ask dumbass baiting questions.

There are no "TEA party values", the TEA Party is not an organization, and it contains people from all walks of life with a wide array of values.

The Republicans did not co-opt the Tea Party. The Republican Party together with Fox News manufactured the Tea Party. The Tea Party is a sock puppet.

You're a fucking idiot.

 

[Kappo]

My brother got tangled up with these fools, and he drank the Kool-Aid.
He thinks all the minorities are out to get him and take his job.
He can't realize that the company he worked for was sold to a foriegn enity, German Corporation - and they shut down the American plants.
Dose he blame the German Corporation for bringing the American displaced jobs to Europe?
No! It's the Blacks in the South, and the Mexicans sneaking over the border to collect welfare that took his job.
He eats up the GOP line and never thinks anymore - Beck and Limbaugh have mind melded his entire sense of comprehension.

South gonna rise again - Johnny Reb is his salvation.

I see the apple doesn't fall far from the tree out there in the South.

What stated "values" involve being a racist tard from the GOP?

Want to see racism?

http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=175817

Watch the video. And wonder why this administration refuses to prosecute them.

 

[Zebo]

My brother got tangled up with these fools, and he drank the Kool-Aid.
He thinks all the minorities are out to get him and take his job.
He can't realize that the company he worked for was sold to a foriegn enity, German Corporation - and they shut down the American plants.
Dose he blame the German Corporation for bringing the American displaced jobs to Europe?
No! It's the Blacks in the South, and the Mexicans sneaking over the border to collect welfare that took his job.
He eats up the GOP line and never thinks anymore - Beck and Limbaugh have mind melded his entire sense of comprehension.

South gonna rise again - Johnny Reb is his salvation.

:thumbsdown:

Did you happen to mention to him blacks are in way worse shape and any other group?

Anyway it's still a fallacy to attribute racism to party just as much as it would be to many democratic grass roots. Do racists exist? Sure. Nothing we can do about that until we all breed to one another and look about like Saudis in a few hundred years - until then simpletons will look for easy answers and nothing easier than skin color.

 

[IronWing]

You're a fucking idiot.

Fox News gave a giant audience and plenty of airplay to a handful of protesters who carried the Fox agenda. Fox News organized early Tea Parties. Republican politicians consistently showed up at these astroturf rallies. The Tea Parties get out the vote for the Republicans while giving the Republicans some distance so the Reps don't have to accept responsibility for the worst of the ranting and raving. When the Republican Party or Fox decide the Tea Party is no longer useful, it will wither. No more airplay, no more candidate addresses. The Tea Party: just another tool in the establishment toolbox.

 

[Craig234]

The Republicans did not co-opt the Tea Party. The Republican Party together with Fox News manufactured the Tea Party. The Tea Party is a sock puppet.

And energy companies have quietly funded the organizers. It's all about keeping the idiots hating the people the rich want them to hate instead of getting a clue.

It's a little like Fox News itself. Any other media product, like a liberal show or network, without a wealthy sponsor, would have sunk and did sink given the investment needed to become profitable. But Rupert Murdoch bought - did not earn - his place in the marketplace, by paying for big losses for Fox to buy it market share when it started.

It was the first channel that paid the cable providers, rather than the other way around, for a place on the cable lineup. Big money buying spots in the political system.

 

[Steeplerot]

Tea Party = tool of corporate interests manufactured by Fox News and the GOP fueled by racism/ignorance catering to the lowest common denominator of intelligence in this country who are foolish enough to buy their line against their own best interests.

 

[Craig234]

Tea Party = tool of corporate interests manufactured by Fox News and the GOP fueled by racism/ignorance catering to the lowest common denominator of intelligence in this country who are foolish enough to buy their line against their own best interests.

The tea party is sort of the modern version of what racism allows.

It has most people who are not explicitly racist. Talk to individuals, and some are, and some are not. The party does not allow 'official' racist stuff that looks bad.

It's a lot better than the racist groups in the 60's, with George Wallace 'segregation forever' being their pledge equivalent to the 'no new taxes' pledge today.

It's better - times have changed (thanks mostly to liberal leadership leading the change).

The thing is too though, they don't need explicit racism. They just need to be the least hostile choice for racists. 'Keep your racist signs at home, but you are among friends'.

All they need is to seem welcoming enough to get them and their votes. It's the modern version of the southern strategy - based on fear of blacks driving whites to the party.

The truth is going to be somewhere between the Tea Party's backers saying there is no racism, and its most strident opponents painting it as a renamed KKK. It basically has a lot of people who see non-whites as one of our biggest problems, with a lot of hate - not all by any means - and that is going to color the party (no pun intended), even if the party keeps its distance officially and has many or even most members who are not that way.

The 'big tent' Republicans had no problem absorbing a racist south, and the Tea Party has no problem absorbing the racist people who find it attractive, it seems.

They have no need for a counter-product racist agenda, but you will likely find them supporting the more racist side of any 'mainstream' issue - pro-Arizona, anti-Affirmative Action, anti-poverty programs that help minorities disproportionately, anti-multi-lingual programs, etc. All they need is enough bait to catch the racist fish and their votes for their corporatist (even while some of them claim not to be corporatists) agenda, instead of joining some other group, much less finding out the left is the better side.

 

[Kanalua]

Out of Iraq, out of Afghanistan
Abortions legal across the board
Gay people marrying (what does this really matter anyways)
Drugs legalized across the board
Taxes FLAT ACROSS THE BOARD

Government back to regulation of business rather than BEING IN BUSINESS BY BAILING OUT AND BUYING BUSINESSES.

Iraq/Afghanistan: Not really a States rights issue.
Abortions: The real issues with conservatives/tea party is that it is a State issue, let the states decide.
Drugs: State issue (At least in state).
Taxes: lower tax (flat tax is still bad if it's unreasonably high).
Bailouts: Lower taxes, less money to bailout (not really a states' rights issue).

 

[Acanthus]

Iraq/Afghanistan: Not really a States rights issue.
Abortions: The real issues with conservatives/tea party is that it is a State issue, let the states decide.
Drugs: State issue (At least in state).
Taxes: lower tax (flat tax is still bad if it's unreasonably high).
Bailouts: Lower taxes, less money to bailout (not really a states' rights issue).

The irony of course being that every tea party member i know in my immediate vicinity obviously doesn't make enough to pay any taxes.

Also, none of them seem to know that their taxes have gone down under Obama / ARRA.

 

[Steeplerot]

When you hear that "Taxed enough already " shit coming from people in practically the lowest taxed first world country you know you are dealing with idiots, the willfully ignorant or purposely misinformed.

 

[Rainsford]

The TEA Party isn't about any of those issues, and should remain as such. If the individuals in the party want to worry about them than whatever, but there's no need for the "organizations" that make up the party to get involve in them.

I actually agree with you on that point...and it's worth noting that the TEA Party doesn't have an official position on things like gay marriage.

But that doesn't mean that the people IN the TEA Party don't look like hypocrits when they use an overly broad justification for why they support the TEA Party, yet totally fail to live up to that reasoning on other issues.

In other words, if you say you're a TEA Party member because you hate taxes, no problem. If you say you're a TEA Party member because you're a libertarian and dislike big government intruding on our lives, you look like an idiot if you turn around and say the government should ban gay people from marrying, have fascist police powers, and tell women what to do with their bodies.

And unfortunately, while the TEA Party has a libertarian platform, the majority of folks who take part in it seem to only be libertarian when it's a convenient way to bolster their argument.

 

[CitizenKain]

What, people still believe that tea parties aren't given marching orders by the GOP? Sure, the little local groups are run by a handful of loons, but the big ones (Tea Party Express) that have real influence are run by the GOP.

 

[umbrella39]

The TP is too heavy on incoherence, contradiction, and contempt for facts or reason.

They want deficit reduction and tax cuts and at the same time.

They reflexively want big government out of our lives but rely on them for assistance.

It's a transparent sock puppet movement whose solutions to our problems read more like King George.