Why are you afraid of the Tea Party?

[Nightshade]

I would like to know why people so fear this group of citizens.

[Will Robinson]

I would like to know why people so fear this group of citizens.

Because they have shown they can get candidates elected over those candidates supported by the defacto leadership of the republican and democrat parties.

[snoopy]

I would like to know why people so fear this group of citizens.

Because they have shown they can get candidates elected over those candidates supported by the defacto leadership of the republican and democrat parties.

That's a good thing, isn't it?

[CUDA]

Because they scared the ★■◆● out of the establishment. Never threaten those in power

[Duper]

\thread

[Will Robinson]

I would like to know why people so fear this group of citizens.

Because they have shown they can get candidates elected over those candidates supported by the defacto leadership of the republican and democrat parties.

That's a good thing, isn't it?

Yea. I should have qualified there is no fear from me, but that is sort of the foundation of the fear from all who are afraid, dem and repub.

[callmeslick]

seems the only group that fears them(or ought to) is the establishment of the Republican party, because the Tea Party will spell their eternal doom.

[Tunnelcat]

Firstly, they're too far to the right for most sensible people. Secondly, a lot of the candidates are, or were, absolute nutcases. I'm thinkin' Ken Buck, Sharron Angle, Christine O'Donnell, Michele Bachmann, Rand Paul...........

However, their far, far, far rightness is now the bane of the GOP.

http://www.wnyc.org/blogs/its-free-blog ... cked-2012/

http://news.yahoo.com/gerrymandering-ba ... MAD0PQtDMD

The tea party was just a rehash of The American Liberty Party, The John Birch Society and even the Vince Foster conspiracy theorists. Now they're no longer just a wing of the Republican Party, they ARE the Republican Party. Mitt Romney isn't even conservative enough in their eyes. Scaaaaarrrrrry!

[callmeslick]

throw in the fact that their stances run exactly counter to the demographic trends of the nation, and you have a potential train wreck.

[callmeslick]

here's a campaign that will bust the fear-meter in some folks.....heh-heh, it's starting already!

https://www.readyforhillary.com/who

[CUDA]

everyone fears them as they should. they have clout and have flexed it like no other group in recent American history. they set out to get people elected and succeeded multiple times. and if Not for the Current Administrations fear of them and their attempt to squash them. you would probably have seen even more tea party members in our Government. and you "MIGHT" not have your current President

[Will Robinson]

What is funny to me now is I voted for Obama in the primary out of fear of Hillary and now after living under Obama I cant think of anything scary about Hillary!

[CobGobbler]

Why would I "fear" a group of vocal Republicans that still, in the end, vote Republican? Every single person they got elected still had an R after their name, so no, I don't see any difference between them and the other Republicans.

[CUDA]

You might not, but its obvious elected democrats have a fear of them

[Spidey]

Uh-uh-uh uh, uh, uh-uh uh-uh-uh
Johnny's in America
No tricks at the wheel
Uh-uh-uh uh, uh, uh-uh uh-uh-uh
Nobody needs anyone
They don't even just pretend
Uh-uh-uh uh, uh, uh-uh uh-uh-uh
Johnny's in America

[CHORUS]
I'm afraid of Republicans
I'm afraid of the world
I'm afraid I can't help it
I'm afraid I can't
I'm afraid of Republicans

Johnny's in America
Uh-uh-uh uh, uh, uh-uh uh-uh-uh

Johnny wants a plane
Johnny wants to suck on a Coke
Johnny wants a woman
Johnny wants to think of a joke
Uh-uh-uh uh, uh, uh-uh uh-uh-uh
Johnny's in America
Uh-uh-uh uh, uh, uh-uh uh-uh-uh

[CHORUS]

I'm afraid of Republicans
Uh-uh-uh uh, uh, uh-uh uh-uh-uh

Johnny's in America
Johnny looks up at the stars
Johnny combs his hair
And Johnny wants pussy in cars
Johnny's in America, uh-uh-uh uh, uh, uh-uh uh-uh-uh
I'm afraid of Republicans

God is a Republican
God is a Republican

[CHORUS]
Yeah, I'm afraid of Republicans
I'm afraid of the words
I'm afraid I can't help it
I'm afraid I can't
I'm afraid of Republicans

Johnny's a Republican
Johnny's a Republican
Johnny's a Republican, uh-uh-uh uh, uh, uh-uh uh-uh-uh

[vision]

I think it would be great if the Tea Party were more independent of the Republican Party and be considered an actual third party. That might shuffle up the Democrats and Republicans and hopefully create an avenue for a fourth, fifth, and sixth party to be come viable as well. I don't like the 2-party system. I would like to see a 4 to10 party system. Of course, I would also like to restructure the government completely, so don't mind anything I say (I know you won't). I was all into the Tea Party for a while before they seemed to go over the edge.

[Top Gun]

You might not, but its obvious elected democrats have a fear of them

In what beard-wearing mirror universe is that the case?

[CobGobbler]

You might not, but its obvious elected democrats have a fear of them

Democrats fear what all elected officials fear, losing their next election. It's a good bet to make that the Tea Party is made of of already Republican voters, so there isn't much else to fear from it.

[callmeslick]

You might not, but its obvious elected democrats have a fear of them

really? Here in Delaware the Dems love them.....they have rendered the Republican party essentially unelectable in statewide elections.

[CUDA]

You might not, but its obvious elected democrats have a fear of them

In what beard-wearing mirror universe is that the case?

In the beard winning universe where democrats in congress call for the IRS to investigate the tea party, and democrats that lead the IRS do it.

I guess you were asleep during the past few months when that story broke huh?

[snoopy]

You might not, but its obvious elected democrats have a fear of them

In what beard-wearing mirror universe is that the case?

In the beard winning universe where democrats in congress call for the IRS to investigate the tea party, and democrats that lead the IRS do it.

I guess you were asleep during the past few months when that story broke huh?

I bet it's a love-hate thing for the Democrats. From one perspective, they are stealing votes from Republicans. On the other hand they represent a shift in the power structures of the government, which is cause for concern for all of the people who are currently in power. Finally, I think that maybe they are a threat because they are defining borders along new lines. Recently it seems that Republican & Democrat political lines have been drawn along big defense spending vs. big social spending, which is a fight that I think will eventually be won by the social side - because it's easier for the voters to see their own personal benefit. The Tea party is drawing the lines along big government spending vs reduced taxes - which is a fight that won't be so easily won, I don't think. If the "right wing nutjob" aura fades and the masses start to accept the idea that government can and should be reduced (which I think is feasible), then the Democratic party is in a world of trouble. This is why I think they are trying so hard to alienate the tea party as extremists - because I think there's a valid fear that the voters might actually accept the premise of smaller government if they get past the emotional rejection elicited by a new idea.

Bottom line: they represent a possible change in the status quo, and I think Democratic party stands to lose a lot if spending stops being a priority.

[callmeslick]

if 'spending', as in spending on infrastructure and social welfare, stop being 'priorities', the nation is doomed to third world status in two generations.....

[flip]

If we keep spending, and lose the world reserve currency, we are already doomed

[Will Robinson]

if 'spending', as in spending on infrastructure and social welfare, stop being 'priorities', the nation is doomed to third world status in two generations.....

Have you visited some of the territories inside the US that are primarily dependent on social welfare?!? A couple more generations of your 'social welfare solution' is going to be the final nail in their coffin! They are quite 3rd world in many ways already so maybe you guys should retool your social welfare plans!

[callmeslick]

If we keep spending, and lose the world reserve currency, we are already doomed

that would be true, if it were in any likelihood of happening, but it isn't. Our currency is, and will continue to be the world benchmark for stability.

[callmeslick]

if 'spending', as in spending on infrastructure and social welfare, stop being 'priorities', the nation is doomed to third world status in two generations.....

Have you visited some of the territories inside the US that are primarily dependent on social welfare?!? A couple more generations of your 'social welfare solution' is going to be the final nail in their coffin! They are quite 3rd world in many ways already so maybe you guys should retool your social welfare plans!

who said to build a system 'dependant'. We currently don't do so, nor does anyone I am aware of, expect it to be so.

[woodchip]

if 'spending', as in spending on infrastructure and social welfare, stop being 'priorities', the nation is doomed to third world status in two generations.....

You haven't been thru Detroit lately have you. If you think Social Welfare as in bloated pensions paid for by taxpayer dollars is the key to prosperity then I have some Solyndra stocks I can sell you.

[callmeslick]

bloated pensions have exactly ZERO to do with a social safety net. ZERO.

[woodchip]

bloated pensions have exactly ZERO to do with a social safety net. ZERO.

Yet your buddies on the left seem to think they are necessary for good governance.

[woodchip]

Let me put my 2 cents in as to TB's OP. People on the left are terrified of the people that associate themselves with the Tea Party. They saw the rapidity of turnout during the pre Obama Care debacle and saw core Americans (Americans btw that don't normally demonstrate) come out in droves to protest. You saw the lefts fear illustrated when such luminaries as Anderson Cooper used the term "Tea Baggers" on national cable to try and minimise who they were. You saw organised white SEIU thugs knock to the ground a black tea party protester and never get called out by Rev. Jackson and never picked up by the main stream press (yet let a black professor get arrested by white cops and lordy look at all the coverage). Yes the left is terrified of the tea party member as they see that core of conservative America finally standing up to be counted. Thus you saw even more fear exhibited when the IRS singled out anything conservative trying to get tax exempt status and bury the application in driveling piles of minutiae. Make no mistake about it the last thing Dems want to see is a truly conservative groundswell get organised.

The Republicans fear the tea party members, especially those who get elected, because they are exposing what a farce the Republican party has become. Make no mistake, people like slick want to see the Rep. party be the only other party in power as they are simply the little brother to the Dems. Republicans have shared power with the Dems for so many years now that as Will says, there is inherently no difference. So as more tea party members get elected the Republican party see's the threat they represent to the way things get voted on.

This will be another of those rare times I'm in aggreement with vision. This country needs more than the two party system we have now. While some will say more parties will lead to grid lock, my response is we already have grid lock. Having more views strongly presented and groups willing to defend them is a good thing. Otherwise all you are left with are things like Obamacare being implement simply because one party had control of all the pinatas.

[Tunnelcat]

Hell, left, smeft. People in the CENTER think the tea party is too far to the right. They're so far right, mainline Republicans are cringing. Even Rick Santelli, who essentially single handedly started the movement that became the tea party, has distanced himself from all the idiocy and extremism.

[callmeslick]

This country needs more than the two party system we have now. While some will say more parties will lead to grid lock, my response is we already have grid lock. Having more views strongly presented and groups willing to defend them is a good thing. Otherwise all you are left with are things like Obamacare being implement simply because one party had control of all the pinatas.

agree with this part myself.

[Tunnelcat]

Yeah, the 2 party choices are getting stale and corrupt. We need some other viable choices that aren't crazy or extreme, left or right.

[Spidey]

Lol slick, spending for infrastructure as a “priority” is already many generations behind.

[snoopy]

Yeah, the 2 party choices are getting stale and corrupt. We need some other viable choices that aren't crazy or extreme, left or right.

See, this is exactly the status quo's strategy. Try to propose anything that would reduce the size of federal government and you get "oH NoEs those pEEps aRe CraaaZy."

Like I said, the tea party is fighting on a different battle front, one that threatens both the R's and the D's because it threatens their power based and their open checks to appease their favorite lobbyist. They have all of the momentum in their favor, with the giant PR/News/Corporate machine benefitting from big government - so they have an easy time coming up with lots of talking heads that say that they are nuts... so go ahead and dismiss them without a second thought.

If you define "different than the way we've been doing it" as crazy, than you're going to be stuck with your two parties. I don't see riches for all in the path on which we're headed.

[Top Gun]

You might not, but its obvious elected democrats have a fear of them

In what beard-wearing mirror universe is that the case?

In the beard winning universe where democrats in congress call for the IRS to investigate the tea party, and democrats that lead the IRS do it.

I guess you were asleep during the past few months when that story broke huh?

I guess in your fantasy world those actions would qualify as "fear," huh?

[Spidey]

Fear or malice…take your pick.

[Top Gun]

I think there was certainly malice and/or stupidity involved, but not fear. Most Democratic committees around the country seem to lick their chops at the thought of a Tea Party candidate nabbing a primary spot.

[callmeslick]

Lol slick, spending for infrastructure as a “priority” is already many generations behind.

right you are, and isn't it high time we reversed that course, big-time? And, guess what, that means SPENDING and TAXATION. But, both for the long term viability of the nation, and the economy.

[CUDA]

You might not, but its obvious elected democrats have a fear of them

In what beard-wearing mirror universe is that the case?

In the beard winning universe where democrats in congress call for the IRS to investigate the tea party, and democrats that lead the IRS do it.

I guess you were asleep during the past few months when that story broke huh?

I guess in your fantasy world those actions would qualify as "fear," huh?

fear
/fi(ə)r/
Noun
An unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.

if your not afraid of something then why attack it. why not just ignore it.