Tea Party Predictions

[Thumpalumpacus]

Agreed, although if the trend stays it will probably be a Tea Partier running for office in 2012. For some reason they seem to get the better turn outs during primaries.

Well, they do strike a chord, but what neither of the (sub)parties seem to realize is that they are splitting the Republican pie.  A sizable minority of Americans will vote for a Teabagger, but it's still a minority, in the end.  Big Business would rather vote Democrat than populist, which is all TBers really are: another avatar of Know-Nothings, or Bryanites, or Wallace-ites, or Perotistas.

[ciredrallop]

I think the Tea Party movement or whatever it was originally called was something that was desperately needed in American politics. The original participants were Republicans, Democrats, and Independents that were tired of both Republican and Democrat candidates. Americans need actual representation in the House and Senate rather than choosing candidates based on party affiliation who ultimately vote with consideration of who pays them the most and what union or group will help get them re-elected 2 years or 6 years later.

I don't know what the Tea Party is now though. I think the Christine O'Donnell primary win was basically the Tea Party equivalent to 'jumping the shark'.  How they were able to find an even dumber candidate than Palin is beyond me. The original Tea Party sparked a little optimism in me for the future of American politics. The current Tea Party sparks a little fear in me for the future of American politics. Maybe the latter is skewed by the obvious campaign to discredit the Tea Party movement. Maybe the 'movement' is still strong and keeping with its original goals. All I really know is if a candidate like O'Donnell was running in my state then she wouldn't make it to Washington.

[Sophus]

FOUR DAYS!  

You know, I was thinking... if the Tea Party does horribly this Tuesday I don't think they'll be good sports about it. How can they go from this great raging ball of hate to, "oh well, I tried.... good luck in office guys!" I'm betting they'll say some of the most obviously stupid, crazy, offensive, racist things we've heard from them yet, which will probably hinder them from continuing to be a political force after next week.... if they lose.

[jduster]

Yes, four more days.

What many people do not realize is that the Tea Party is a group of many completely different people.

The party is a mix of smart, dumb, non-religious, religious, conservative, libertarian, pro-war, anti-war, center-right, and far-right.

I think the Tea Party are significant in helping the effort of opposing Obama.  Having a common enemy unifies them all.

When they succeed in defeating the Democrats and Obama, the party will likely lose its unity and internally fight itself.

[Thumpalumpacus]

Yes, four more days.

What many people do not realize is that the Tea Party is a group of many completely different people.

The party is a mix of smart, dumb, non-religious, religious, conservative, libertarian, pro-war, anti-war, center-right, and far-right.

I think the Tea Party are significant in helping the effort of opposing Obama.  Having a common enemy unifies them all.

When they succeed in defeating the Democrats and Obama, the party will likely lose its unity and internally fight itself.

A very astute observation.  Nothing tames a movement like power.

[Sophus]

What many people do not realize is that the Tea Party is a group of many completely different people.

Not according to the CBS/NY Times poll.

url=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20002529-503544.html]CBS[/url]"]Eighteen percent of Americans identify as Tea Party supporters. The vast majority of them â€" 89 percent â€" are white. Just one percent is black...

Nearly three in four describe themselves as conservative, and 39 percent call themselves very conservative. Sixty percent say they always or usually vote Republican. Forty percent say the United States needs a third party, while 52 percent say it does not...

They are more likely than the general public, and Republicans, to say that too much has been made of the problems facing black people. . .

Sixty-four percent believe that the president has increased taxes for most Americans, despite the fact that the vast majority of Americans got a tax cut under the Obama administration. Thirty-four percent of the general public says the president has raised taxes on most Americans.

But you're right that they all hate Obama. They have flat out said that they're number one goal is "to make Obama a one term President." Lovely. Damn the country to hell so long as they get political gain.

[jduster]

I disagree.

Obama did not give tax cuts; he gave tax rebates.  Rebates are temporary and cuts are permanent.  There's the difference.

The tea party is very diverse.  Racially, I agree there aren't that many African Americans involved in the movement.  African Americans, statistically speaking, are more liberal than conservative.  But this is not a black/white issue.  The tea party's main complaint is that the federal government under the Obama administration is growing too big in size, and that does not involve skin color.  And of course libertarians and other right-wingers vote Republican, because they understand their votes for a third party are spoilers at best and that Republican is the lesser evil.

When I said diversity, I meant diversity in political philosophy, rather than demographic.  Some Tea Party members are devoutly religious, others are non-religious, and the rest are moderately religious.  We both know the tea party is overall right-wing, but how far to the right should the government go, that's where there's disagreement.  Some are center-right, some are right, and some are very far to the right.  There are moderate right-wingers who support some programs such as Social Security, and there are extreme people who want to cut the size of government by 90%.

Whenever the government spends money, as a corollary, taxes must be increased.  He may not have to raise taxes now, but eventually, he will have to.  Obama has increased spending to an all time high, so we should expect the bill to arrive soon.  I mean, it's going to have to arrive eventually.

I am happy that Americans are rising up and getting politically involved and criticizing our much inept president, even though I am not part of the tea party and I disagree with them on many things.

[Sophus]

Are you saying you would like the government to be completely laissez-faire toward the economy during a recession in spite of what every economic advisor (including John McCain's) and the United Nations has recommended every country caught in the recession do? How does that help anyone? The unemployment rate would something like 16% if there were no stimulus.

The tea party's main complaint is that the federal government under the Obama administration is growing too big in size,

The tea partiers say they want small government but that's not true. Look at the candidates they have running. There are at least five or six of them running for Senate who want a government so big it can track, monitor and force a teenage girl raped by her father to have his baby. In their own words, they do not support abortion in cases of rape or incest. This is a small government?
They also want a government so big it can deny the rights of a community of muslims to build a community center because it's someplace "offensive". Some, such as Miller, would like an Amendment outlawing gay marriage.
That is small government? When the feds decide who you can and cannot love?  When they say small government, they mean that they would like for no more rules and regulations placed on unscrupulous corporations. Take the mining industry for example. Sharon Angle, among others, would like to deregulate the mining industry. Regulations that were put in place because of tragedies that resulted in dead miners. These rules devised by "big government" don't trample on any personal freedoms, they save and protect lives. This ideal "small government" of theirs is nothing but a lazy government that cares about profit over human life.

Even if Obama were inept when comes to the economy, how can we let this sort of moral backpedalling take place and live with ourselves? When the economy is weak people are at their most vulnerable, and they'll turn to anybody "different" without realizing how horridly different they are.

He may not have to raise taxes now, but eventually, he will have to. Obama has increased spending to an all time high, so we should expect the bill to arrive soon. I mean, it's going to have to arrive eventually

Higher taxes is going to arrive eventually regardless of who's president because of the massive deficit left to us by Republicans. Obama hasn't spent anywhere near the amount Bush has and the money he is spending actually goes back into the economy, and saves jobs. What is President suppose to do? Pop some corn, sit back, ignore ever economist in the entire world and watch the country unexplainably get better?

Some Tea Party members are devoutly religious, others are non-religious, and the rest are moderately religious.

I'm sure non-religious and moderately religious ones exist within the group, but surely they are a minority, no?

[Thumpalumpacus]

I disagree.

Obama did not give tax cuts; he gave tax rebates.  Rebates are temporary and cuts are permanent.  There's the difference.

Given the $4.3 trillion with a T that your avatar added to the national debt, combined with the shitty economy Shrub left, this is the only prudent thing to do: temporary rebates, to increase capital circulation, which will be scaled back so that we can go about our business of paying our bills.  Even with no increase in government size at all, increased taxes will be necessary to pay down the debt, unless we intend on walking out of it, or spending enormous amounts in interest alone by amortizing it further.

The tea party's main complaint is that the federal government under the Obama administration is growing too big in size, and that does not involve skin color.

If this is so, why weren't they shouting down opponents with "I want my country back!" when W was large and in charge?  Couldn't be because he's white, right?  Ri-i-i-ight.

And of course libertarians and other right-wingers vote Republican, because they understand their votes for a third party are spoilers at best and that Republican is the lesser evil.

Actually, when I was an active Libertarian, I typically voted Lib.  Having said that, I've moved to voting generally speaking for third-parties as much as possible, because the difference between the Republicans and Democrats is narrowing.

Some Tea Party members are devoutly religious, others are non-religious, and the rest are moderately religious.

These are religious and not political stances.  

We both know the tea party is overall right-wing, but how far to the right should the government go, that's where there's disagreement.  Some are center-right, some are right, and some are very far to the right.  There are moderate right-wingers who support some programs such as Social Security, and there are extreme people who want to cut the size of government by 90%.

As Soph has demonstrated, the TP is largely a block of disenchanted Republicans who are gravitating to a populist conservatism -- a recurrent trend in American history, if you consider the "Know-Nothings," the Populist party proper led by Bryan in the late 19th century, the "Boll Weevil" Democrats of the 40s and 50s, or the Perotistas of the 90s.

Whenever the government spends money, as a corollary, taxes must be increased.

It's a pity Bush Jr forgot this basic fact of Checkbook Balancing 101, in waging two very expensive wars off the books, increasing the government's documented outlays, and -- cutting taxes.  Smart move there.

He may not have to raise taxes now, but eventually, he will have to.  Obama has increased spending to an all time high, so we should expect the bill to arrive soon.  I mean, it's going to have to arrive eventually.

Once Obama & the government has wound down the two wars he inherited, and turned the economy back to a bit of modest growth, I bet you'll see expenditures drop.  If they don't drop, we will not remain solvent much longer.

I am happy that Americans are rising up and getting politically involved and criticizing our much inept president, even though I am not part of the tea party and I disagree with them on many things.

Inept in comparison with who?  Do tell.

[karadan]

I found this the other day:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree ... h-brothers

Were you guys aware of this?

[Thumpalumpacus]

In general outline, yes, and thanks for the detail.

[The Magic Pudding]

I think all paramedics should be held responsible for the deaths that happen under their care.
These weak "but he had a knife stuck in his heart" type excuses don't work with me.
And don't try convincing me otherwise with ya fancy book learnin, cause I'm not lisnen.

[Thumpalumpacus]

I think all paramedics should be held responsible for the deaths that happen under their care.
These weak "but he had a knife stuck in his heart" type excuses don't work with me.
And don't try convincing me otherwise with ya fancy book learnin, cause I'm not lisnen.

I notice your wheelbarrow-menagerie is missing.  Were you perhaps afraid of being attended by incompetent EMTs in losing a hand or foot?

Just askin', you know.

[The Magic Pudding]

I notice your wheelbarrow-menagerie is missing.  Were you perhaps afraid of being attended by incompetent EMTs in losing a hand or foot?

Just askin', you know.

That was my Halloween avatar Strangelove, perhaps a cross member added to the sticks would give them an Easter feel.
In the meantime I have given some thought to training some killer turkeys.

[Thumpalumpacus]

Mounting a bodyguard?  Good idea.  We like pudding.