Eruption
April 20th, 2010 | Editorial Cartoons | 22 Comments
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Like many who lean to the left, I’ve had a tendency to dismiss the Tea Party movement as a loud distraction, a small, misinformed collection of wingnuts. The reality is much more complicated. The economy is bad, and people are hurting. It’s natural at times like this for people to become angry, and they generally vent their anger at the party in power, whether that party is responsible for the economic conditions or not. What I can’t quite understand is why these same folks weren’t out in force when the Bush administration was running up huge deficits, increasing the size and scope of government, a compliant Republican Congress was spending like–well–like they accuse Democrats of spending, banks were ruining the economy and the Bush White House was bailing them out and passing massive stimulus bills. Add to that the Republican party shamelessly shifting the tax burden away from the rich and onto the middle class. I listen to the Tea Partiers rhetoric, and it seems to me that it applies at least equally tot he sins of the Republicans as it does to the Democrats, yet almost all of the anger is aimed at Obama. We haven’t seen this kind of vehemence since Clinton (who balanced the budget and reduced the size of government) was in office. I’m angry, too, but I’m furious with a Republican economic philosophy that has resulted in the decades-long stagnation of the income of us working stiffs while the rich have gained an increasing share of the nation’s wealth.
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[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Ed Stein. Ed Stein said: New blog post: Eruption http://edsteinink.com/2010/04/20/eruption/ [...]
Rachel Maddow does a good job of showing how corporations are funding and busing these folks around. The book 1984 suggests that the whole Demublican/Republicrat division is distracting folks from the real division- rich and poor. The banks are spending $1 million/day to stop bank reform.
yup, where were they? king george 2 did not cross a bridge he would not blow up, a world leader he could not spurn, a country he would not want to bomb, a deficit he could not explode. while the republican cast the aspersion of democrat ‘tax and spend’, ronnie and king george preferred the ruse of tax cut the rich and spend like there is no tomorrow. georgie was a total deficit spender, made worse by his lies, war profiteering, ignorance of the constitution, torture. war for him is a game of G.I. Joe by Hasbro, just toy soldiers who need nothing. of course I am off a bit here, dickie and darth may be more guilty, and karl rovian sewed fear mongering to the max.
the rich, the top 1-2%, take home about 75% of the money. so, yes, they should be taxed proportionately. cutting their taxes cuts the treasury and makes the deficit worse. small wonder they object to the Obama tax cuts on everyone else.
the violence of the tea party and militias is brought into the mainstream by gop urging. why do they have to go to Starbucks with a gun? the coffee is burnt and bitter, but do not take it out on the poor barista.
there are no black op choppers coming to take their guns, only the machinations of cocaine overdosage delusions. no one took the constitution, only the bush administration trashing it. no one took their country, only their ongoing contradictory irresponsible illogical fantasies.
they want guns on campus? today is 11 years after one of many school shootings, this one in Littleton. Virginia Tech say many more killings. a place of education and interrelations. they want guns in bars. frankly, I want them to carry openly so I know from where I will run just as fast as my warp engine can go. I do not want any children I know to attend college or university in this state, as I fear for what they might do if and when someone or something pisses them off royally.
and, I want them to bring back to this country those millions of jobs their rich friends sent away for their own personal gain. they are not charitable, for the most part, and do not churn back into the communities any good will; actually, they object to community activities and activists, like Barack Obama, who turned away from Wall Street to work with Main Street and to help Main Street.
they want capitalism? that is not bad. except we no longer have capitalism, rather we have robber barons all over again. they want the government out of their way? then they should have no need for any of the commons, such as infrastructure & police & fire & postage & utilities & roads & our standing military & etc. paying taxes helps pay for the commons as We the People are the employers of the government and pay for the services. unless you are king george or dickie the darth and will do as they please.
perhaps their illustrious disillusions leaders should try on a nice canvas jacket, one that buckles in the back.
Where were the people when Bush was in office? Hiding in their homes, giving quiet absolution to the policies they now protest. Maybe this leniency came from their approval of the president’s actions in other parts of the arena, be it social issues, defense, whatever. Now many of those who cried foul then, and now have the president they wanted, stay quiet while he puts the pedal to the floor on deficits, and continues other Bush policies, such as the Patriot Act that were wildly unpopular and protested by the left during the last decade.
Sadly, the widespread hypocrisy in our country and the elevation of party over ethics and the common good is making many of us suffer now, and paints a grim picture for future generations.
Here’s an article that shows not how lop-sided the Tea partiers judgment is, rather it shows how FLAT OUT WRONG they are: http://www.forbes.com/2010/03/18/tea-party-ignorant-taxes-opinions-columnists-bruce-bartlett.html
Why is it that when the Republicans do something it’s OK, but when the Democrats do the very same thing it’s always built up to be the kiss of death? Whether the American people want to admit it or not, we’re simply looking at a struggle between the “Haves” and the “Have Nots.” Unfortunately, for this country, the “Haves” don’t seem to have any remorse when it comes to raking in their millions at other peoples expense. My favorite guy to watch is Senator Mitch McConnell, R, KY, Senate Minority Leader. Now, here’s a politician who’s very familiar with the term “connections.” His dad knew the right people of influence who enabled McConnell to get an early discharge from military service (an explanation was refused) so he could attend law school. From there, it was just a steady political climb upward until now the name McConnell is synonymous with “Obstructionism.” Just think, after Kindred Healthcare gave McConnell over $108,000 through late March 2010, is it any wonder why the Senator almost burst a vein over healthcare reform? And so the Republican game continues. The typical GOP philosophy seems to be, “We can do whatever we want in order to maintain our wealth, but as far as those poor bastards are concerned, let’s watch em’ like a hawk. Those Dems just aren’t up to our level of thinking. I mean, look at em’, they’re still trying to peddle that “For the People” crap.” Well, we still have a few written documents which emphasize the fact that our forefathers wanted our system of government instituted for the benifit of “The People.” Just look at how greed, money and power is destroying America – the very thing the drafters of our Constitution wanted to prevent.
Polls show that Tea Partiers are economically comfortable, better off than the average American. Many are on Social Security and are fierce to defend that and Medicare (“socialist” government programs both). They are also overwhelmingly white, and strong supporters of the Republican Party (with a very favorable opinion of George W. Bush).
It’s not the economy that’s causing this degree of anger. And although, to some extent, it’s just having a Democrat in the White House, it’s even more about having a black man in the White House. They want to “take back our country,” meaning that we (white people) are in danger of being swamped by blacks, Hispanics, and other minorities.
Of course, they’re generally careful not to be this blunt, but that’s what this is all about. Their hysteria about Barack Obama, their rage at immigrants (largely Hispanic), at welfare, at helping poor people, rather than the wealthy (I always figured that rich people didn’t NEED any help, but I guess they got used to it during the Bush administration).
Look at the polls. Tea Partiers think that Barack Obama benefits black people over whites, and that society has made “too much” of the problems faced by black people. They think that white people – in particular, white men – are the ones facing discrimination these days. They hear – and fear – that non-white births will soon be a majority in America. They abhor the necessity of being “politically correct.” They are the most conservative of Republicans, and they think that white people need to “take our country back.”
Yes, you would get protests against any Democrat in the White House, but we’re seeing this degree of hysteria, rage, and sheer lunacy because our president is a BLACK MAN. If Barack Obama were white, would they be convinced that he wasn’t a “real” American, that he was a foreigner, a Muslim, an impostor? Of course not. This is the last dying gasp (I hope) of white racism in America.
Blacks and far-left loons do not make up a majority of the voting population, so apparently there were a goodly amount of “white racists” that voted for Obama.
What is all the Fear I see on this page, Americans have the right to protest. The Tea Party does not advocate voilance in any way shape or form. I am not one of them so do not get excited! They have a right to speak out just as the other people had a right to boo Bush. That is what we do in this country “VENT” and then we invent. Since our founding fathers we have vented called the President all kinds of names. Look at Harry Truman, or Abe Lincoln he was refered to as an ape. The only country similar to us would be the Auss’s who are made up of a bunch of criminals in their founding fathers. Ours were a bunch of regilous nuts and people that were running away or looking for a better way. SOO lighten up. The answer is to get involved quite sitting on your ass and get out be involved to change or quit complaining. You elected your sentor and congressmen and it he or she is a no good rotten son of a gun! Help get ride of them.
WCG-exactly.
OldBT-You do not see fear. Sorry, yes you do see fear, fear based upon irrational illogic not fitting you world. You do not like ‘large’ government, whatever that is, so where were you when Reagan and Bush 2 increased and grew government and debt exponentially into the trillions? Most of the population has some work tied to the government, one way or t’other. If you do not recognize the violence in the words and actions of those tp’ers, then you need a new set of spectacles. reload, target, nazism, socialism, communism, fascism, stalinism, white faced joker. Among the first steps to eliminate someone is to de-humanize them, de-legitimize them, minimize them. Once you (generic) have convinced yourself (generic) someone is vermin, sub-human, less than a man, then it becomes that much easier to destroy them, with glee and satisfaction.
of course they have a right to protest; we all have that right, and it is a right. Sadly, king george 2 and dickie the darth did not tolerate protest. It was kept at a distance. Anyone demonstrating with conscious awareness of those bozos was wrastled down by the Secret Service and the local gendarmes. A man in Beaver Creek voiced his opposition to dickie the darth and was arrested. I know not what happened in his lawsuit. His actions were legal, completely, and he was no threat to dickie the darth. 3 women were tossed and arrested at the king george 2 rally in Denver because they wore t-shirts in opposition to that simpleton.
Query-Why do you need your gun at Starbucks? Has someone pissed you off royally? Too much caffeine?
We are not like the Aussies. The first white folk to populate the land were POMEs, prisoners of mother england. (pronounced ‘pommies’) The Founding Fathers here indeed were pious religious men, as you would call ‘men of faith’, although they are being de-legitimized by the Palinator and the Texas schoolbook publishers. Revisers of history. The history of this lesson laid in the Puritan form of observation and Catholic and Protestant observations and practice of religion, or faith, that led them across the pond and to allow freedom of religion separate from political leaders so others would not be faced with similar persecution as they had experienced. That is why we accept and tolerate other religions to establish and practice freely. You may hate Moslems, but they have an equal right as you do to worship their god as they teach and are taught. Same for Jews, Mormons, Hindus, Buddhists, etc. Are you aware Mexico is extremely Catholic and nearly universal, yet Mexican law is very clear there is a separation between church and state?
In my observation on this latter score, sometimes I wonder whether or not some of those religious nuts want another Holy Roman Empire, or similar Protestant version, to rule in this country.
We the People are a tolerant accepting diverse varied group from around the globe. That is why so many came here over the first 2 centuries of our white existence, and come still. I can assure you many more are really very happy where they are. It is a misnomer to think everyone wants to come here to mow your lawn. They are truly happy in their home countries and cultures. Those who want to come here like to have bit of home in their homes with them. Truly, I hope that does not bother you.
Just one point, Those founding good people you mentioned. They were not so tolerent, they were by todays standards “Nut jobs”. They Burned Withches it is a fact. They Tared and feathered people they did not agree with and hanged people for the same reason. It is part of our history. Our country has a dark side a not very tolerent side, so lets not suger coat the history of this great country. We have a dark history just like all the rest really no better no worse than any other. Because People are (as my mother used to say) JUST NO DAMN GOOD.
I’m ba-ack. sorry. indeed there was intolerance, burnings and pressing (or crushing) were employed. Another of many ‘dark chapters’ in the white history of this country. Yet that does not alter the separation of church and state in our Constitution. And note the witching in Salem, and elsewhere, occurred in the 17th century, and ‘only’ 8 or 9 people in Salem were killed until the townfolk realized the few accusing kids were what we call malingerers. and there are other dark chapters irrelevant at this time.
In Kansas they have just tried a man for Killing a doctor for operating a clinic for abortions. He was on a mission from GOD. A NUT JOB. He has dozens of supporters. Point is This country is full of NUT JOBS …
Absolutely, and each has the proper interpretation of connection with the gods. When Islam ruled the Mediterranean crescent, including the Iberian peninsula, they were the light of the western world, giving us mathematics and science, while Europe wallowed in the Holy Roman Empire of suppression of the Dark Ages, also known as Knight Time. Sadly, for the Moslem world, it has been all downhill from there. And I should note Sephardic Jews of the time flourished under the crescent of Islam, they were tolerated and integrated. Okay, sorry I wander off base.
I think it is more about ignorance, intolerance, bigotry, and the power of Money, (mostly the power of Money).
The big money interests have the ability to pay for commercials and to influence the media to promote their positions and because sooo many people are either uneducated or just gullible, they believe what the commentators on the news channels are influenced, (paid), to say. These people think that their country has been taken over by “Bleeding Heart Liberals”, (definition: people who care about others less fortunate). They truly believe that it is their “duty” to rid their country of those terrible ‘Liberals” because the “Liberals” are trying to create a country that does not fit their Narrow, Conservative, Christian vision of what they want their country to be and they are willing to use violence and intimidation to achieve their goals.
I fear that the government’s continued cuts to education are just going to make things worse and create a generation of less educated and gullible people for the Big Money interests to influence and control. Our best hope is that the internet will continue to be a source of Free and Unrestricted information that the people will be able to use to find the “Facts” of the issues that the Big Money interests can not restrict or delete.
FoosMaster, a couple of points to ponder. The Party in power right now has more money and more rich people that declare themselves as members of that party then the othre party. The current President was electid because he was (a) different party then the one that had been in power (b) he was half black. He was gromed for the job by the party starting several years ago. Money elected this man as it does all presidents in todays world. They in turn owe thier soles to the money and it will be repaid as it has always been. On the backs of the regular people who do not vote and do not want to be bothered. (the middle class). (b) The Federal government does not educate children or is responsible for the education of children nor should it be by either party. The reason is of the influence that could be brought to bear on teachers ( ie. No child left behind, ) which would create great harm. Ask teachers of the old school they will tell you the truch on this subject. Something to think about if you are afraid of Big Brother then why would you want the Federal Government involed in education.
gadzooks, not a shred of truth or fact or reality or logic or reason in that last bit of drivel. the gop are a cabal of rich old white coots and some very bright very dangerous younger pups, ie the Ralph Reed types. just a bit of actual data mixed with a mass of propaganda to slant to skew what and how people think and act and respond like fine choreography.
Donald the Duck, What?
I just love this Cartoon – is based on the ‘reality’ of these Hypocritite Nut Jobs…. ( 9 trillion in Debt because of these “Conseratives” starting with that POS Reagon)
that these Republi-Lemmings can’t see that they are in bed and fornicating with the Rich is unbelievablt
Ed,
Based on previous comments to Oldbt – doesn’t this response merit a strike or written reprimand? Pretty much just ad hominem and doesn’t contribute to the conversation.
Mighty interesting how quiet the Teabaggers are over BP’s oil catastrophe.
Have to enjoy your time you place into your blog