Guardian Article on the Tea Party

[Bill Cravener]

That's interesting anunitu, some I knew of, many I didn't. Some are good, most are bad.

I think that if we were all members of the USMJ-Party we'd all be a much happier bunch! :bg

[dedndave]

as far as i know, there are no elected officials in the "tea party"
i don't think it is officially a political party at all
as i understand it, it is the "tea party movement"
the elected officials that subscribe to it were elected to office as republicans, for the most part
they seem to be backing certain candidates, but i do not think you will find "tea party" on the ballot
although - that could change, i suppose   :P

November isn't too far off
it will be interesting to see if they have legs
i really doubt it

[anunitu]

Every time we have a third party in the elections, one or the other parties (Dems Repubs) end up having a part of their base voters siphoned off and even though the third party has no chance of winning, they effect the outcome.

[dedndave]

i can only see that as a good thing
because they are likely to take votes away from republicans moreso than democrats
that is - if the tea party is a party at all
not that i am a big fan of democrats, either - lol
(i don't like many politicians, as a rule)
but i am less a fan of republicans at this point
they are set to shoot themselves in the foot, i think   :bg

[anunitu]

Agree Dave,I myself concider myself independent( I once ,when registering, put that down,and was told it was a party) So I am officially nonpartisan now.

[baltoro]

I think that it's pretty damn obvious that the Tea Party operatives exist only to incite the disenfranchised: the citizens that are always angry because they don't have a clear concept of the incredibly complex nature of the United States government. If you are a simple-minded fool,...you only recognize simple-minded paradigms,...
Somewhere,...in some Tea Party safe-house there is a strategist. This person is evil. This person understands the true meaning of political power. This person has a very accurate idea of just how disenchanted the American public is,...and, because, this person is a highly paid consultant, he will dictate the tactics that the Tea Party candidates will perform for the television media. It is well known how large of a percentage of the population was financially disabled during the last few years,...and, to the Tea Party candidates, this segment of the population is ready to be organized and directed by a charismatic pied piper. Should be fun to see how much damage they are actually able to inflict.
Clearly, they are just trying to confuse voters. They imply the importance of issues that are historically insignificant. They poll constantly, and, probably have a small army of unemployed physicists to analyze the available data on political factions and cohesive voting blocks. They can project what we're thinking before we even think it. I would guess that their strategy is nothing more than controlling as many votes as possible, without making any real concessions in terms of power or wealth. They will probably capture a near majority of voters in the States, attempting to eviscerate the executive, Presidential branch.

[Bill Cravener]

...in some Tea Party safe-house there is a strategist. This person is evil. This person understands the true meaning of political power.

If you took the time to read my previous posts baltoro you'd know that evil is the Koch's brothers.

There are nearly 77 million Americans who were born between 1946 and 1964 (I was born May 1951) who have or soon will enter their retirement years. Most all of us vote in elections. I know for certain that most will not be happy about cuts in SS, Medicare and services such as Meals on Wheels for starving seniors and kids. If there is going to be a revolution coming we boomers are the ones who will start it. If a politician supports our needs they will get our vote. Remember, we are some 77 million strong and growing, goodbye tea bagger backed republican rats! :tdown

[dedndave]

77 million

absolutes are not as impressive as percentages in this case
roughly 51% of the voting population is age 45 and up   :bg

[Bill Cravener]

That's true Dave and I believe I'm not misstaken that those 44 and below are less likely to vote. :thumbu

[baltoro]

If you took the time to read my previous posts baltoro you'd know that evil is the Koch's brothers.

Yeah, Bill,...I did read your posts. And, I've read about the Koch brothers. It's not just them. Most corporate executives and lawyers have a pretty good feel for the game. They know how it's played (hell, they made up most of the rules),...and they are master manipulators,...cynical and egotistical and bombastic..
I don't think there will be a revolution,...I think it will just fizzle out altogether. It's so easy to get everyone fighting amongst themselves,...and, it's like Mission Impossible to get some individual with the Right Stuff, to take control and save us from our own confused political impulses.

The debt ceiling has been raised over 90 times since 1960. It's NOT an issus.
And, neither are the issues that the Tea Party is proclaiming as critical. Get beyond the rhetoric,... :eek
What's REALLY important ???

[dedndave]

still, those that are younger don't seem to be the problem, here
as you mentioned, the tea-party supporters seem to be older

on a related note....
notice how our govt works ?
they fart around and fart around with the debt ceiling package until the time has run out
the deal that's on the table today will likely pass because they don't have time left to do anything else
that's politics in motion (or not)   :P

one thing that got tossed out that i was hoping to see pass was
that all those tax-cuts bush gave to the wealthy are going to stay in place

[Bill Cravener]

What's REALLY important ???

I don't really know anymore baltoro.

I was talking to a lady friend of mine today who is two years from full retirement if she wants it but she said she probably would not retire because she could not afford to. She lost a good bit of her 401K when the bottom feel out of the economy. She went on to say the many that are eligible to retire are not doing so for the same reasons but on the other hand the jobs the aging are holding on to, if they did retire, would go to someone much younger, there being so many younger folks needing a job. It's kind of a catch 22 sort of thing I guess. Shame, but that's what the US has become, you work until health wise you can no more.

[dedndave]

i'll probably work until i die, anyway
i'd get bored, otherwise   :bg

[baltoro]

Imagine if you will,... :eek
...A world in which the standard of living that we enjoy here in the United States, doesn't exist,...
...A world in which clean water, nutritious food, adequate health care, and secure housing don't exist,...
...A world that is constantly at war. A world in which there is no hope,...a world of epidemics and zombies and horrors,...

This is what most of humanity endures on a daily basis. I, frankly, think we've got it pretty good here.
...And, if you think about it,...these populations of the 'failed states' and 'undeveloped countries',...will NEVER live like we do,... :eek
We've just got a serious excess of annoying idiots,...that think they are entitled to be in complete control of destiny,...

[dedndave]

yah - we have been spoiled
gotten too soft, i suppose
enjoy it while you can

if it crashes, it's going to crash hard
could be that those with assault rifles and other "extreme" weapons take charge
until recently, i never thought it would happen in my lifetime, though
i now see that as a possiblity