The Tea Party

[kramwest1]

I was (partially) kidding

sure there are some independents, and even a few democrats in that movement

but, when push comes to shove in November, Palin, Dick Army and others that have influence with them will have them pull the lever for the GOP

sure some, less than 10% of them, will complain, but all the GOP will be on board with Tea Party pledge of fiscal responsibility, pay as you go, talking points, etc.

It'll be interesting to see if write-in candidates make any difference in any races.

McCain's reelection race is the most interesting I know of, but I'm sure there are some others.

Coming back to my home state, MN, Jesse Ventura really didn't gain any momentum until the late summer. I'm not saying Ventura aligns with the Tea Party, but his election was certainly out of frustration of the Dems and Repubs. (I voted for him.)

 

[Bluer White]

YouTube - Schumer: 'The Hard Right, Which Still Believes' in 'Traditional Values'...'All That Is Over.'

 

[BVS]

Are you pretending to not understand what he means by that? Or do you agree?

 

[MrsSpringsteen]

Crash The Tea Party!

boston.com

Tea party is on guard for Hub stop

April 11, 2010

Sarah Palin is slated to be in Boston Common Wednesday for the Tea Party Express “Just Vote Them Out!’’ tour — a cross-country rally that will end with a protest in Washington on tax day, April 15. This is the first time the tour is coming to Boston, home of the original tea party, and activists are expecting thousands of fired-up activists to attend.

But keep an eye out in the crowd: There may be some misfits afoot.

Conservative talk-show host Sean Hannity warned Friday about a rogue website that’s encouraging mischief-makers to crash tea party rallies. How will they infiltrate?

“Whenever possible, we will act on behalf of the tea party in ways which exaggerate their least-appealing qualities (misspelled protest signs, wild claims in TV interviews, etc.) to further distance them from mainstream America and damage the public’s opinion of them,’’ suggests the site, called crashtheteaparty.org.

The site says it is the project of a nationwide network of Democrats, Republicans, and independents who are sick of the tea party movement. But its creator, Jason Levin, says he is just a 36-year-old technology educator from Portland, Ore. He is thrilled that his idea went viral, thanks to Hannity.

“I think words are often more powerful than actions and if you can just get the idea out there that there is this great unwashed monolithic group of people prepared to invade the tea party, the people in the tea party — who are so ready for that message — will just take it and run with it,’’ Levin said in an interview.

Tea party members wouldn’t really do that, would they?

Well, conservative blogs and websites were immediately abuzz with warnings to keep their eyes peeled for crashers. Warned one post: “Next tea party you go to be on the lookout for trouble makers. Chances are they could be agents of these idiots.’’

 

[MrsSpringsteen]

By Edward Mason | Monday, April 12, 2010 | Home - BostonHerald.com | Local Politics

U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, whose stunning victory in January was fueled in part by Tea Party anger, has snubbed the fiery grassroots group and declined its invitation to join Sarah Palin Wednesday at a massive rally on Boston Common, the Herald has learned.

Brown’s decision to skip the first big rally in Boston by the group whose members are credited with helping him win election has some experts saying he’s tossed the Tea Party overboard, as he prepares for re-election in 2012.

“He wants to mainstream himself before the election,” said Larry Sabato, a University of Virginia political scientist.

Brown, who took heat for the alleged misbehavior of some of his supporters at campaign events, may be trying to distance himself from what could be a volatile event, said political analyst Lou DiNatale.

“You’re worried at a rally that there’s a sign, a statement, an incident that’s certifiably cuckoo occurs ,” DiNatale said.

“To win re-election, Scott Brown floating to the right is a serious problem.

“And showing up at a Sarah Palin, Tea Party event is not the way to the middle.”

But Brown spokesman Felix Browne said the senator applauds the “energy and enthusiasm” Palin and the Tea Party bring to GOP politics.

The Senate is in session and Brown can’t get away, Browne said.

“He’ll be doing the job he was elected to do - serving the people of the commonwealth of Massachusetts,” Browne said.

Sabato said it’s “possible” Brown can’t get away but noted senators do travel to their districts during the weeks-long stretches that the Senate is in session.

“It’s not like they’re voting constantly,” Sabato said.

Tea Party members said they don’t feel slighted.

“It’s not about paying favors back,” said Mark Williams, chairman of the Tea Party Express, which organized the rally and invited Brown.

“I’d happily forgo (having him) if he’s truly doing the job of the people.

“He has half a century of Kennedy damage to compensate for, after all.”

Barbara Klain, head of the Greater Lowell Tea Party, said Brown also turned down an invite to speak at their April 15 rally in downtown Lowell.

“He said he was going to be in Washington,” Klain said. “He needs to be doing his job.”

It’s a view Sabato suggested was willfully naive.

“It’s naive, but they’re cutting him some slack,” Sabato said.

“But he’s their hero, more so than Sarah Palin - they got him elected.”

This won’t be the first time Brown has appeared to distance himself from Palin.

Shortly after his triumph, Brown denied receiving a congratulatory call from Palin, only to remember the exchange when pressed.

Palin is a possible 2012 presidential rival to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, whose aides were the architects of Brown’s Senate win.

 

[BVS]

Here's a little insight for you TP guys, Brown was an opportunist, he used you and doesn't want to be associated with you.

He supported health care in his state, but opposed it to get your vote. He voted for the job's bill and I'm pretty sure he'll continue to disappoint you all by not being quite as backwards as you all...

 

[kramwest1]

Here's a little insight for you TP guys, Brown was an opportunist, he used you and doesn't want to be associated with you.

He supported health care in his state, but opposed it to get your vote. He voted for the job's bill and I'm pretty sure he'll continue to disappoint you all by not being quite as backwards as you all...

I love the national people trumpeting Brown in Mass. along with Mitt Romney. New England Republicans? I'll take them over some small/southern/central state Dems.



BTW--from Wilson Research:

SRLC 2012 Presidential Straw Poll RESULTS
April 10th, 2010 by Wilson Research Strategies

WRS is proud to be the pollster for the Southern Republican Leadership Conference and the tabulator for the 2012 Straw Poll.

Methodology: Only paid, credentialed attendees to the 2010 Southern Republican Leadership Conference were permitted to cast a ballot in the straw poll. The survey questionnaire includes six questions: first choice for 2012 Presidential primary, second choice for primary, resident state, age, and who the respondent supported in the 2008 primary.

The following are the topline results. A more detailed analysis of the data will be available in the following days on the WRS blog.

Initial Choice
(If the primary election for president were held today, for whom would you vote?)
Mitt Romney 24% (439)
Ron Paul 24% (438)
Sarah Palin 18% (330)
Newt Gingrich 18% (321)
Mike Huckabee 4% (80)
Mike Pence 3% (58)
Tim Pawlenty 3% (54)
Rick Santorum 2% (41)
Gary Johnson 1% (3)


Second Choice
(Who would be your second choice in the Republican Primary Election for president?)
Newt Gingrich 20% (339)
Sarah Palin 20% (332)
Mitt Romney 14% (242)
Mike Huckabee 11% (178)
Mike Pence 8% (141)
Rick Santorum 7% (125)
Tim Pawlenty 7% (114)
Gary Johnson 6% (104)
Ron Paul 6% (98)

 

[KhanadaRhodes]

I love the national people trumpeting Brown in Mass. along with Mitt Romney. New England Republicans? I'll take them over some small/southern/central state Dems.

agreed.

 

[kramwest1]

And more:

Oklahoma Tea Party Plans To Form Armed Militia

Oklahoma Tea Party Plans To Form Armed Militia

SEAN MURPHY and TIM TALLEY | 04/12/10 09:30 PM | AP

OKLAHOMA CITY — Frustrated by recent political setbacks, tea party leaders and some conservative members of the Oklahoma Legislature say they would like to create a new volunteer militia to help defend against what they believe are improper federal infringements on state sovereignty.

Tea party movement leaders say they've discussed the idea with several supportive lawmakers and hope to get legislation next year to recognize a new volunteer force. They say the unit would not resemble militia groups that have been raided for allegedly plotting attacks on law enforcement officers.

"Is it scary? It sure is," said tea party leader Al Gerhart of Oklahoma City, who heads an umbrella group of tea party factions called the Oklahoma Constitutional Alliance. "But when do the states stop rolling over for the federal government?"

Thus far, the discussions have been exploratory. Even the proponents say they don't know how an armed force would be organized nor how a state-based militia could block federal mandates. Critics also asserted that the force could inflame extremism, and that the National Guard already provides for the state's military needs.

"Have they heard of the Oklahoma City bombing?" said Joseph Thai, a constitutional law professor at the University of Oklahoma. The state observes the 15th anniversary of the anti-government attack on Monday. Such actions could "throw fuel in the fire of radicals," he said.

But the militia talks reflect the frustration of some grass roots groups seeking new ways of fighting recent federal initiatives, such as the health reform plan, which requires all citizens to have health insurance. Over the last year, tea party groups across the country have staged rallies and pressured politicians to protest big government and demand reduced public spending.

In strongly conservative states like Oklahoma, some legislators have also discussed further action to fight federal policies, such as state legislation and lawsuits.

State Sen. Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso, a Republican candidate for governor who has appealed for tea party support, said supporters of a state militia have talked to him, and that he believes the citizen unit would be authorized under the Second Amendment to the Constitution.

The founding fathers "were not referring to a turkey shoot or a quail hunt. They really weren't even talking about us having the ability to protect ourselves against each other," Brogdon said. "The Second Amendment deals directly with the right of an individual to keep and bear arms to protect themselves from an overreaching federal government."
Story continues below

Another lawmaker, state Rep. Charles Key, R-Oklahoma City, said he believes there's a good chance of introducing legislation for a state-authorized militia next year.

Tea party leader J.W. Berry of the Tulsa-based OKforTea began soliciting interest in a state militia through his newsletter under the subject "Buy more guns, more bullets."

"It's not a far-right crazy plan or anything like that," Berry said. "This would be done with the full cooperation of the state Legislature."

State militias clearly are constitutionally authorized, but have not been used in recent times, said Glenn Reynolds, a law professor at the University of Tennessee and an expert on the Second Amendment. "Whether someone should get a militia to go toe-to-toe with the federal government ... now, that strikes me as kind of silly," he said.

Some conservative legislators in Oklahoma say talk of a militia, which would be privately recruited, armed and trained, goes too far.

"If the intent is to create a militia for disaster relief, we have the National Guard," said Sen. Steve Russell, R-Oklahoma City, a retired Army lieutenant colonel. "Anything beyond that purpose should be viewed with great concern and caution."

Democratic Gov. Brad Henry's communications director Paul Sund also discounted the militia discussion, saying the National Guard handles state emergencies and security.

Federal authorities say that radical militia groups have not emerged in Oklahoma, unlike many other states, in part because of the legacy of the Oklahoma City bombing. On April 19, 1995, an anti-government conspiracy led by Army veteran Tim McVeigh exploded a truckbomb outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, killing 168 people.

Last month, FBI agents conducted a raid on the Hutaree militia group in southern Michigan and accused members of plotting to kill law enforcement officers.

(This version CORRECTS the spelling of building from Alfred P. Murray to Murrah.)

 

[Tiger Edge]

"The Second Amendment deals directly with the right of an individual to keep and bear arms to protect themselves from an overreaching federal government."

Score! Who do I shoot first?

I have a great feeling about this, guys. Who needs a federal government? Fuck da feds!

 

[2861U2]

The Daily Gut

Tuesday's Gregalogue: Infiltrating the Infiltrators

So a hater of the Tea Party movement claims he plans to destroy the group, by infiltrating it and then having his cohorts act racist and homophobic. He thinks manufacturing this behavior can devastate the party's reputation.

Well, I guess that beats honest debate.

But what a lot of work! Which leads me to believe this guy is a nobody, in between jobs, desperately seeking approval (and possibly, some tongue) from Keith Olbermann. The dope even started a web page, a Facebook page, and more than likely holds secret meetings in a tree house in his parent's backyard.

The secret knock is based on a Rage Against the Machine song!

It's funny because it's the Tea Party movement. But I suppose it wouldn't be so funny if it were the woman's movement, a civil rights movement, a gay parade. Then that would be evil, intolerable, wrong. But because these are average Americans pissed off about big government, they're open game.

But here's what I love: The guy's goal is to act racist and homophobic, in order to create...proof of racism and homophobia! Which means, he's pretty much proved that none of it exists in the tea parties, if he has to go to the trouble of importing the stuff.

And, he's also invented a new way for racists to get away with being racist: just say you're an undercover liberal!

But the fact is, progressive types have been branding the Tea Partiers as extremists since day one. Now, for lack of examples- they must create behavior they cannot substantiate.

So I'm going to do the same. I'm going to infiltrate the infiltrators! And then act like them! Which means I'll have to stop bathing.

And if you disagree with me, you're a racist homophobe who wears mink.

 

[PhilsFan]

I don't agree that we need to infiltrate the Tea Party to make them look insane.

 

[corianderstem]

If that's true, I would agree that it's asshole behavior and it makes me more than a little sad.

Don't be a dick, dude. You're not helping.

 

[BVS]

This isn't new, it was first being reported by right wing blogs and the AM guys as an organized Democrat movement, but it's just this one asshole.

I mean do they really need help?

 

[Bluer White]

Crash The Tea Party!
“Whenever possible, we will act on behalf of the tea party in ways which exaggerate their least-appealing qualities (misspelled protest signs, wild claims in TV interviews, etc.) to further distance them from mainstream America and damage the public’s opinion of them,’’ suggests the site, called crashtheteaparty.org.

You posted a few articles, what do you think of dishonest party crashers?

 

[BVS]

Well it's not a well organized group of dishonest party crashers.

Actually, the majority in his forum look to be tp'ers themselves.

Irony? Or someone who is bored and perhaps multiple personality?

 

[INDY500]

excellent

 

[U2387]

Well, I guess that beats honest debate.

286, do you REALLY think the Tea Party is any better on that count? "socialist," "nazi" "non-citizen" "government takeover of health care" "death panels".....................

Yes, the counter rally guy is an idiot not interested in serious debate, and the tea party has plenty of racist, homophobic, etc, whatever people to point out without any embellishment from this guy. What he will actually help them do is gain more sympathy and support.

However, a few things about what you posted here, 286.

1.)This Tea Party guy says the following without any sense of irony? You've got to be kidding me!!

But what a lot of work! Which leads me to believe this guy is a nobody, in between jobs, desperately seeking approval (and possibly, some tongue) from Keith Olbermann. The dope even started a web page, a Facebook page, and more than likely holds secret meetings in a tree house in his parent's backyard.

I was asked by a bunch of people at the gym tonight if I went to the Tea Party on Boston common. Well, it was the middle of the afternoon, I had to work was my response, and even if I was off, I would rather slit my wrists than listen to Sarah Palin or frankly to any of the left wing counter protesters.

I count myself as one vote for Democratic politicians to start saying what Republicans said about Vietnam era protesters- "they're out there because they don't work like the rest of the country, bunch of knuckle dragging sloths they are." Had I been alive, I would have opposed the Vietnam war, but I did not even join the tame protest movement against Iraq, never mind the largely anti military, anti cop, anti troops know nothing hippies of that era.

2.) Give me a break about The Tea Party not being a racist movement! It was one of its founding tenets, and though this article was written by a partisan, it uses verifiable facts:Tea Party Hysteria Rooted in Racism ? Sarah Palin Truth Squad

Anyone who thinks this movement is a grassroots, anti tax, anti big government populist movement has not been paying attention, or are they are just believing what they want to believe. The ENTIRE movement was started by a ranting lunatic on the trading floor on Wall Street worried about being regulated and about Main Street actually getting some help with the stimulus.

When you strip away all of the absurd contradictory claims, all that is left is race. No one will ever convince me that, after 8 years of record spending by Bush and Republicans, much of it unnecessary, that Obama coming in and spending on a stimulus when it was ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY TO PREVENT A DEPRESSION is the catalyst for this movement. They talk a good game about "bailouts" and "deficits" but just as surely as they can not spell, they have no idea what they are talking about on any of these issues.

Bailouts: They were all passed under Bush, and it is because of the provisions that Chris Dodd and Barney Frank inserted that there is even a payback mechanism for taxpayers in there! Paulsen literally wanted a $700 billion blank check. Bush gave the auto industry the money, Obama made some rules for them, and when they were not followed, sent 2 of them through bankruptcy. Now the money is being paid back and ownership is going back to the private sector.

Deficits: Given the stimulus' effect on the economy-it has, according to McCain's economist Mark Zandi, kept us from sliding into a Depression, restored real growth faster than expected and led to less job losses every month since it was passed. We actually gained jobs in March. So $787 billion is actually more like a $300 billion addition to the deficit given where the estimates of economic/revenue conditions would have been with no stimulus. So we have a $1.3 trillion dollar deficit that Obama is responsible for $300 billion of. Come back and talk to me when someone else blows a $236 billion dollar surplus and ends up with a $1.8 trillion deficit!

How about the economy in general- some lady in the article I posted joined because her son lost her job! And the Tea Party is doing exactly what about that unfortunate situation? Did she forget the meltdown started in early 2007, we slipped into recession in late 2007, had a frightening 2008 wiping out trillions in wealth and that after any recession ends, employment takes some time to come back. Given the simple fact that it is economically impossible to have really done much better than we have since this past summer, it is hardly Obama's fault that we have 9.7% unemployment today.

This movement exists because we have a black President, no more or less to say. Just look at the signs, the "neggar" sign that the founder of the movement carried around, and also at the militia/violent/anti fed talk that has come about within the Tea Party. This group is getting downright scary if they are actually considering starting some kind of armed militia. Hello, you have a goddamn National Guard(so that covers the militia) and Obama has an F rating from gun control groups so far, so he is not coming for your guns!

 

[U2387]

I never really do see much discussion of/acknowledgement of how this movement actually got started.

I sure as hell remember it. I was listening to a JT bootleg, I think it was from Worcester, but I digress, on a cold February 2009 day in Vermont. I looked up at the clock, panicked and realized I had class in 15 minutes. As I was reaching for my jacket, I clearly remember the voice on the TV getting louder. Then it was full throated, maniacal, Jim Cramer like screaming! This guy, a CNBC reporter, was breaking protocol and going on an editorial rant! This is rewarding irresponsibility, this is horrible, anti capitalist, creates all kinds of moral hazard, do YOU really want to pay for these idiots to get bailed out???!!!!!!!! It was this guy, Rick Santelli, and he was being cheered on by a whole floor of righteously angry, taxpayer subsidized Wall Street traders! Rick Santelli - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Bailout this, bailout that, aren't you sick of it all. Please, if you are as sick of it as me, lets all get mad as hell and have a TEA PARTY." And the beat down, oppressed derivatives traders cheered every single word. They were going to take the power back.

Wait a minute, I said to myself. Where was this guy when these bailouts he hates so much were actually passed? Then it hit me. The timing lined up perfectly with 2 events. 1, the stimulus bill passed that week, and 2, Obama had just given his commitment in no uncertain terms that he would be pressing forward with financial regulatory reform. This was the first guy who really went on a public tirade against Obama- remember, it was his massively well received by all Democrats, Independents and 30% of Republicans honeymoon! And who was he? A grassroots anti government activist? A downtrodden, sick of taxes truck driver? A laid off mechanic? A deficit hawk? A grandfather scared about the future of America?

No, he was a Wall Street analyst, paid by the same people who caused the entire mess. He was lashing out against government efforts finally hitting Main Street in the form of a stimulus, and he was lashing out against the threat of regulatory reform. Oh, shit, better get some people out on the streets, make them look like real worker types, just like Bush did to promote his tax cuts! The Tea Party is born- whip up the idiot masses who don't like the black guy, just take every proposal, no matter that it helps Wall Street and screws Main Street, call it something scary like socialism or fascism and death panel, and there you go, the idiots will follow you hook, line and sinker!

In a way I feel bad for them, they are too stupid to know that they are a front for the same people who got us into this mess! Hey, brilliant move by Wall Street! How else to explain their opposition to bailouts while also strongly opposing a payback mechanism and common sense regulations against excessive systemic risk? They have no idea what they are for, and they think bailout supporters like Palin and The Republican Party are out there fighting for you against Wall Street!!

Please, anyone who thinks the Republican Party, or frankly the Democratic Party, is ever going to truly go to the mat for you against Wall Street is to see me immediately about buying the intracoastal water way for $1. Obama will tinker around the edges, make things a little less dangerous down on Wall Street, but if they give him a lot of shit about x or y provision, it will be gone faster than you can blink!!

These people are happy to be idiots as is evidenced by their love of dysfunctional morons like Palin and Limbaugh. Amazon.com: Idiot America: How Stupidity Became a Virtue in the Land of the Free (9780767926140): Charles P. Pierce: Books

Nixon is a big part of what is wrong and so divisive with modern politics, he was a law breaker and his policies sucked from a liberal or conservative stand point. I would not have voted for him, but 2 things are undeniable. The man is also undeniably fascinating, so I have read a fair amount about him.

1.)The man had incredible perseverance- he lost to Kennedy, then lost 2 Governor's races and ran for President again despite all this!

2.)He had incredible INTELLECT and would turn over in his grave at the thought of the Party he called home being run by know nothing tea baggers who scoff at anything that even hints of intellectualism and refuse to even discuss serious issues facing the country in good faith!

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

i think the best thing possible for america is if the tea party actually breaks off and forms it's own political party, with sarah palin as it's nominee for president.

the leftovers can join up with the independents and moderate democrats, while the hardcore liberals can stay as the democratic party.

then with a true, strong moderate middle party who the majority of americans would vote for... we can slowly get rid of the nutso wackjobs on both side of the asile and actually get something done in this fucking country.


ahh, a man can dream.

 

[BVS]

I'm with you on that dream...

 

[Moonlit_Angel]

I think that's a beautiful idea, Headache. I'd certainly go for that setup.

Angela

 

[deep]

before that would happen

you would get this on the GOP ticket

Bible thumpers would take a spoonful of Mitt with Sarah to wash it down

 

[kramwest1]

before that would happen

you would get this on the GOP ticket

Bible thumpers would take a spoonful of Mitt with Sarah to wash it down

^Who's on top of that ticket?

As far as the Tea Party go, it would be nice to see Ron Paul take some leadership. I don't agree with him on many things, but he seems mostly reasonable.

 

[BVS]

Hey, I'd go for that as well, that would be political suicide for the GOP.

Palin has already lost her footing with the majority of the GOP, all they would have to bring up in the campain is that she's a quitter.

Romney has very little footing with the Tea Party crowd, he's pretty much dead in the water since his plan is pretty much what the health care bill has turned out to be.

I just don't think they'd be able to balance each other enough.

 

[Irvine511]

it was hilarious seeing them on the TAXPAYER FUNDED AND THEREBY SOCIALIST metro this evening.

please, just be consistent.

 

[martha]

I think that's a beautiful idea, Headache. I'd certainly go for that setup.

Angela

What a pleasant surprise to come home to! How are you, dear?

 

[kramwest1]

it was hilarious seeing them on the TAXPAYER FUNDED AND THEREBY SOCIALIST metro this evening.

please, just be consistent.

Yeah, but I'm sure they hated every efficient, environmentally-friendly, affordable minute of it.

 

[U2387]

Hey, I'd go for that as well, that would be political suicide for the GOP.

Palin has already lost her footing with the majority of the GOP, all they would have to bring up in the campain is that she's a quitter.

Romney has very little footing with the Tea Party crowd, he's pretty much dead in the water since his plan is pretty much what the health care bill has turned out to be.

I just don't think they'd be able to balance each other enough.

This is correct.

Palin and Romney are both dead issues when it comes to going on a GOP ticket that has any shot at winning.

Palin will remain prominent in the Tea Party and her reality TV show or whatever makes her the most money for the "entertainment" she provides. However, she has lost it as far as legitimate shot at winning a primary goes.

Romney is a phony and a half, a disingenuous loser who has never held an honest position in his life. The conservative base, while it has a few Romney devotees, by in large see right through him and view him as a moderate at best and a liberal at worst. I don't care about straw polls, look how he did in the 2008 Republican Primary where the ultimate winner, McCain, was far from the 1st choice of the base!

 

[kramwest1]

So, there is still the Lou Dobbs factor. Does he have any potential in the Tea Party?