thoughts on the tea parties?

[Anonymous]

I honestly forgot all about them until watching the Daily Show last night, but I'm curious if anyone went?

[Anonymous]

I did and was surprised that a lot of the people were first time protesters and unlike some of the left wing rallies--were very personable and calm. Thought it was interesting when I saw that CNN reporter Randy Kaye going off on someone at a rally--hmmmm thought she was supposed to be unbiased.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, unlike all those Fox reporters who were actually participating in the rallies!

My question to those attendees is why weren't you protesting government spending during the Bush years? Bush took the country from a surplus to record deficits and not a peep from the right wing. Needless to say, I thought the teabaggers were a bunh of partisan fools.

[Anonymous]

sore losers all. . .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, unlike all those Fox reporters who were actually participating in the rallies!

My question to those attendees is why weren't you protesting government spending during the Bush years? Bush took the country from a surplus to record deficits and not a peep from the right wing. Needless to say, I thought the teabaggers were a bunh of partisan fools.

Maybe because Obama is going to equal the government spending of eight years of the Bush administration in 1/8 of the time?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, unlike all those Fox reporters who were actually participating in the rallies!

My question to those attendees is why weren't you protesting government spending during the Bush years? Bush took the country from a surplus to record deficits and not a peep from the right wing. Needless to say, I thought the teabaggers were a bunh of partisan fools.

Maybe because Obama is going to equal the government spending of eight years of the Bush administration in 1/8 of the time?

Bush spent that money when he ran the economy into the dirt. Obama only gets to decide how it gets spent. Even honest republicans know that the government has to pump money into the economy. So if you don't like it, elect a Republican who does not ruin everything he/she touches, so we don't have to do this again.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, this tax year wasn't so bad for us - personally.

In fact, I would've thought the tea party folks would wait another year or two before riling up support when all the Obama spending starts to come back and bite us all in the form of extra taxes. I mean, 8B for high speed train service - so people can get to NYC in 2.5 hours as opposed to 3 hours (sorry, for the digression).

But like any protest group, I don't particular mind so long as they don't block traffic - like they did in Merrifield during PM rush hour.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I did and was surprised that a lot of the people were first time protesters and unlike some of the left wing rallies--were very personable and calm. Thought it was interesting when I saw that CNN reporter Randy Kaye going off on someone at a rally--hmmmm thought she was supposed to be unbiased.

Did you see that tape of the Fox guy (forget his name, but he's pudgy, wears glasses, and does financial news) on MSNBC? It showed him whispering and trying to discern the number of people in the crowd. Someone said it's about 5,000 strong. When he finally was on the air, he said "there's got to be at least 10,000 or 15,000 people here." So much for Fox being unbias eh?

[Anonymous]

the tea party is an angry attack at the sweeping changes a newly democratic president is making. Karl a/h rove actually called the V.P. a liar and used some very low-class language on national tv to describe him. All this is venting. They lost. They're angry. But so what. Won't make one hell of a difference in what Obama's administration does. They'll keep overturning everything done in the Bush administration anyhow. So keep the anger coming, I say, because eventually the republicans will realize it won't get them anywhere.

[Anonymous]

I think some of the left forgets that even though Obama won--almost half of the country DID not vote for him so the idea that those who didn't vote for him should just be quiet should forget it. Also, note that when the left wasn't in and they were protesting programs that they didn't agree with they were "citizen dissenters" and it was all good. People are angry and should have a right to protest..liberalism seems to be all touchy feely unless you don't agree with them..then they ge nasty (hmm see Jeannie Garafolo accusing tea party people as being racist and not wanting a black man in office..what??? I don't care what color or sex of the person in office as long as they don't raise my taxes, infringe on my personal rights and keep some money for generations moving forward). As for spending during the Bush years--I didn't like it then (of cours for the second half the Democrats were in power in Congress..same crew who screwed up Fannie Mae) and surely I don't like it now that it is on steriods with a president who wants to be "friends" with Chavez..WTH??????

I think it's is also important to note that some of the outrage has helped to get some of the first awful programs shelved for now including CAP and Trade which would have hiked prices for home heating, oil and other such products and would have really hurt everyone including the poor as well as card check which would have changed how stores like Target and Walmart operate..such stores have really helped the poor and middle class by bringing down the pricepoint of everyday products.

We are not going to win on all matters and no one will..but fighting the good fight is always worthwhile. For me, standing up for what I believe feels good and I hope more people get involved in the process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think some of the left forgets that even though Obama won--almost half of the country DID not vote for him so the idea that those who didn't vote for him should just be quiet should forget it. Also, note that when the left wasn't in and they were protesting programs that they didn't agree with they were "citizen dissenters" and it was all good. People are angry and should have a right to protest..liberalism seems to be all touchy feely unless you don't agree with them..then they ge nasty (hmm see Jeannie Garafolo accusing tea party people as being racist and not wanting a black man in office..what??? I don't care what color or sex of the person in office as long as they don't raise my taxes, infringe on my personal rights and keep some money for generations moving forward). As for spending during the Bush years--I didn't like it then (of cours for the second half the Democrats were in power in Congress..same crew who screwed up Fannie Mae) and surely I don't like it now that it is on steriods with a president who wants to be "friends" with Chavez..WTH??????

I think it's is also important to note that some of the outrage has helped to get some of the first awful programs shelved for now including CAP and Trade which would have hiked prices for home heating, oil and other such products and would have really hurt everyone including the poor as well as card check which would have changed how stores like Target and Walmart operate..such stores have really helped the poor and middle class by bringing down the pricepoint of everyday products.

We are not going to win on all matters and no one will..but fighting the good fight is always worthwhile. For me, standing up for what I believe feels good and I hope more people get involved in the process.

Well a lot good Bush did with getting literally 90% of the world's nations to hate the United States. A handshake and a smile on Obama's face doesn't mean he's a sellout to the U.S. It's called diplomacy and civility, something Bush and his gang lacked. This is why Europe, South America, Africa, Australia, Asia all hated the Bush administration. If Chavez says he wants to befriend Obama, it's possibly because Obama treated him with politeness and civility and he saw in him a possibility to have someone hear him out objectively. That doesn't mean Obama will sell out.
Nobody cares about whether conservatives protest. Speak up and by all means express yourself. I'm simply saying it just wont' stop the ball from rolling and it's rolling downhill. The flip side to 'almost half the country didn't vote for Obama' is that more than half the country DID vote for him...out of utter disgust for Bush and his policies and where that lead this country.

[Anonymous]

I am just laughing. Running a country is not a popularity contest and if you notice Obama got no support from any of the countries,in his recent summit, on his policies and in fact was chided over his spending..by China and France..god help us!!. Having diplomacy wth Chavez is a non starter--have you no idea what he does to his citizens esp. those who dissent..have you no idea about how he takes over private corporation that invest in his country..oh my fault Obama thinks that's okay..??? You managed to not comment on Card Check being shelved for now as well as Cap and Trade being shelved for now..this is why it's important to speak up otherwise the looney liberals would get everything in. Also think that there are a lot of people who voted for Obama who had no idea how liberal he is. Why?? The mainstream media not only refused to vet him properly but didn't do any kind of follow up when he was extremely vague on how he planned to do his many wonderful things he promised. Saying 95% of the countrys' taxes won't go up ..doesn't tell the true story. Number one he started to back off the 250K number almost immediately 2) if CAP and trade got through and prices of everyday products went up..though the tax wouldn't be something you owed like a bill, the corporate tax would have been passed on. So many liberals just think myopically--oh great no tax increase for me, and don't think big picture. Of course that may be the reason why a lot of these people don't make a lot of money..they don't think.

[Anonymous]

As a matter of terminology, I would like to object to all the railing against Obama as a liberal. I am a liberal who voted for Obama knowing that he does not really share my ideology. At least he is not a conservative ideologue either, so I voted for him over McCain-Palin without hesitation. However, I was not surprised that he has done all kinds of things that disappoint me, from cow-towing to Wall Street to protecting those who carried out the sins of the Bush era. The fact that Mr Pragmatist is not a Conservative does not make him a Liberal.

Since people clearly have different ideas about what "liberal" and "conservative" mean, I think it would help if we'd stop throwing the words around, especially when we use them as epithets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a matter of terminology, I would like to object to all the railing against Obama as a liberal. I am a liberal who voted for Obama knowing that he does not really share my ideology. At least he is not a conservative ideologue either, so I voted for him over McCain-Palin without hesitation. However, I was not surprised that he has done all kinds of things that disappoint me, from cow-towing to Wall Street to protecting those who carried out the sins of the Bush era. The fact that Mr Pragmatist is not a Conservative does not make him a Liberal.

Since people clearly have different ideas about what "liberal" and "conservative" mean, I think it would help if we'd stop throwing the words around, especially when we use them as epithets.

You are sooooo correct, pp! I love how there are people out there who still think Obama is some kind of radical crazy taking us down the road to socialism. These people are as crazy as the ones who think the CIA loosed AIDS upon the ghettoes. (And before I get flamed, please be aware that I hate the CIA and I suspect they have done all kinds of nasty things but this conspiracy theory is absurd.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think some of the left forgets that even though Obama won--almost half of the country DID not vote for him so the idea that those who didn't vote for him should just be quiet should forget it. Also, note that when the left wasn't in and they were protesting programs that they didn't agree with they were "citizen dissenters" and it was all good. People are angry and should have a right to protest..liberalism seems to be all touchy feely unless you don't agree with them..then they ge nasty (hmm see Jeannie Garafolo accusing tea party people as being racist and not wanting a black man in office..what??? I don't care what color or sex of the person in office as long as they don't raise my taxes, infringe on my personal rights and keep some money for generations moving forward). As for spending during the Bush years--I didn't like it then (of cours for the second half the Democrats were in power in Congress..same crew who screwed up Fannie Mae) and surely I don't like it now that it is on steriods with a president who wants to be "friends" with Chavez..WTH??????

I think it's is also important to note that some of the outrage has helped to get some of the first awful programs shelved for now including CAP and Trade which would have hiked prices for home heating, oil and other such products and would have really hurt everyone including the poor as well as card check which would have changed how stores like Target and Walmart operate..such stores have really helped the poor and middle class by bringing down the pricepoint of everyday products.

We are not going to win on all matters and no one will..but fighting the good fight is always worthwhile. For me, standing up for what I believe feels good and I hope more people get involved in the process.

Well a lot good Bush did with getting literally 90% of the world's nations to hate the United States. A handshake and a smile on Obama's face doesn't mean he's a sellout to the U.S. It's called diplomacy and civility, something Bush and his gang lacked. This is why Europe, South America, Africa, Australia, Asia all hated the Bush administration. If Chavez says he wants to befriend Obama, it's possibly because Obama treated him with politeness and civility and he saw in him a possibility to have someone hear him out objectively. That doesn't mean Obama will sell out.
Nobody cares about whether conservatives protest. Speak up and by all means express yourself. I'm simply saying it just wont' stop the ball from rolling and it's rolling downhill. The flip side to 'almost half the country didn't vote for Obama' is that more than half the country DID vote for him...out of utter disgust for Bush and his policies and where that lead this country.

Bush had something like a 80% approval rating in Africa. Why don't you get your facts straight before you start posting a bunch of lies.