rix is offline rix Post #1  April 16,2010, 10:32pm
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Happy 1st Anniversary, babe!

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The dreaded "tax day" of April 15th has come and gone, but not without protest by participants in the Tea Party Movement throughout the nation.

What is your take on the Tea Party Movement? Is it a populist grassroots movement or "astroturfing" for outside interests? Is it a "right-wing fringe group," or does it adequately represent the interests of all who claim to be fiscally conservative? Does the group have diverse and multicultural representation, or is it primarily dominated by one particular subculture? Are, for example, certain YouTube incidents of participants berating those less fortunate for not being more "self-reliant" characteristic of the average Tea Party supporter, or isolated incidents?

Also, are their efforts misdirected? Are they barking up the wrong tree? After all, what about bailouts and holding bankers accountable? Is there a bit of a double-standard since roughly 57% have a favorable view of Bush? After all, Palin supported the Bush "bailout" while rejecting the Obama "bailout." Also, when asked if "organization" might prompt a third-party candidate, a Tea Party spokesperson replied; "I hope not!" Therefore, are they basically just critical of current policies while offering no viable solutions? And since they are not interested in the possibility of an independent candidate introducing some "fresh air," are they basically just reinforcing the "status quo duopoly" of Democrats and Republicans who currently dominate Washington protecting a government "for corporate interests and by corporate interests?" Or, is it genuinely a grass roots movement that desires a government for the people and by the people?
 
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jayjay is offline jayjay Post #2  April 19,2010, 8:31am
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...things seem to have gotten quiet around here.

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It's easy for people to say they want less government spending and taxes. Where the rubber meets the road is when it comes to people accepting the loss in services they're used to receiving from the government. That's why I'm afraid the government spending spree is likely to go unchecked into the forseeable future.
 
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Milliwog is offline Milliwog Post #3  April 19,2010, 9:07am
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is content.

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I've actually participated in three tea party events in the northeastern Kansas area. The first two were events that I heard about on the radio. I found myself gathered with other people who are just concerned about the growth of government- and also who don't appreciate being demonized for attaining a certain amount of success in their own lives. Many of the people attending were at least in their 60's or older and I believe that they are very concerned that the country that they have known and loved will not be recognizable for their grandchildren. I feel that way myself. I want my grandchildren to have the same opportunities that I have had, unencumbered by this generation forcing on them debt that they have not asked for.

The most recent event that I attended was a stop that the Tea Party Express made in my state capitol. It was obviously more organized, but still the same type of people attending. while it was a mostly white crowd, it didn't look any different than the makeup of my workplace- a Post Office with about 100 employees.

Bottom line- a lot of people in this country are not in agreement with the direction that the country is going under the current Democrat-controlled Congress and administration and they aren't being silent. I don't really see any difference in this expression of dissent than what I've observed in the anti-war movement (except that most of their participants probably aren't as old and haven't actually been invested in keeping this country going by paying taxes and providing jobs for others).

The best way to find out what the Tea Party is about is to go to an event and find out for yourself!
 
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Can_I_just_be_Jo is offline Can_I_just_be_Jo Post #4  April 19,2010, 10:18am

blames self-help books

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Here is my take on the tea party. Everyone I have met in person from the party seem like normal folks who are worried about the direction the government is going. People I know who are in the tea party are normal folks. Then I see the media coverage and it seems like they are all a few beens shy of a combo platter.

So my take is the media is distorting things. If they are as crazy as the media makes them out to be I would have met at least one nutter.
 
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HappyandLight is offline HappyandLight Post #5  April 19,2010, 7:02pm
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Plus 1!!!!

I think it's horrible how the media is trying to slander them.

They are concerned about mounting debt and good reason. It is astronomical and made four times worse by BO. This is not responsible and could cause enormous suffering in ways we can only dream of if we don't stop and reverse the trend.

Can_I_just_be_Jo wrote :
Here is my take on the tea party. Everyone I have met in person from the party seem like normal folks who are worried about the direction the government is going. People I know who are in the tea party are normal folks. Then I see the media coverage and it seems like they are all a few beens shy of a combo platter.

So my take is the media is distorting things. If they are as crazy as the media makes them out to be I would have met at least one nutter.
 
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dito is offline dito Post #6  April 20,2010, 1:41pm
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They should also be concerned about our foreign policy spending as well.
 
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cameracollector is offline cameracollector Post #7  April 25,2010, 5:32pm
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I'm sorry, but when folks are gathering in protest and that protest includes hate language on signs, calling public officials by the N-word, and generally mean-spirited and unproductive grandstanding, I DO think they're more than a few beans short of a combo platter.

And yes, it's being organized, or astroturfed if you prefer. Believe me, I know it when I see it - I worked for one of the founders of astroturf lobbying in the 1980s.

Let's not forget that many people were very dissatisfied with the direction the country took under Bush II, Rove, and Cheney. THAT IS WHY OBAMA IS PRESIDENT NOW. Get it?
 
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Rand_011 is offline Rand_011 Post #8  April 26,2010, 7:26am
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And the reason behind the Tea party movement is due to the egregious government spending that has taken place recently ...

That being a reason many people are very upset with Obama, Pelosi and Reid team ... Get it?
 
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cameracollector is offline cameracollector Post #9  April 26,2010, 12:50pm
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Yes, Rand, I get it. I understand that people are upset. My point is that they had their chance to succeed Bush, and their viewpoints were in the minority. Let's not forget when the economic screwups started.....

My biggest problem is with how many in the Tea Party choose to show their anger - through hate speech and hateful actions, rather than through civil speech and constructive citizenship. [And btw, I don't condone eco-terrorists, either.]

For the record, GM is advertising that it has paid back its bailout loan, early and with interest. I believe several banks have done so regarding TARP. Not even close to socialism. Not one little bit. Despite the waving racist posters of Obama as every evil character, both fictional and real. The man is a middle of the road pragmatist. Anyone who can't see that is too far to the right to see clearly.
 
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dito is offline dito Post #10  April 26,2010, 2:58pm
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cameracollector wrote :
Yes, Rand, I get it. I understand that people are upset. My point is that they had their chance to succeed Bush, and their viewpoints were in the minority. Let's not forget when the economic screwups started.....

My biggest problem is with how many in the Tea Party choose to show their anger - through hate speech and hateful actions, rather than through civil speech and constructive citizenship. [And btw, I don't condone eco-terrorists, either.]

For the record, GM is advertising that it has paid back its bailout loan, early and with interest. I believe several banks have done so regarding TARP. Not even close to socialism. Not one little bit. Despite the waving racist posters of Obama as every evil character, both fictional and real. The man is a middle of the road pragmatist. Anyone who can't see that is too far to the right to see clearly.
Clinton?

A few are out of control, but not all. Most are well behaved and respectful.

Your are correct. He's a corporatist.
 
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