This 'Tea Party' phenomenon is fascinating and holds GREAT potential!

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  Apr 16, 2009 2:51 AM GMT

  Alright so, as an independent, I really think that today's "Tea Party" protests could potentially be the start of a new national movement.
  
  Contrary to what the partisan Dems will say..These were NOT simply Republican/ conservative events, and I think that therein lies the potential. These are Americans from all cross sections of the country protesting the obvious...THERE IS NO MONEY TO PAY FOR ALL THE PROGRAMS that President Obama has proposed and Congress has passed. Therefore, the government is just printing trillions of dollars and incurring trillions more in debt that will inevitably lead to inflation and massive tax increases in the future (and not just on the rich, this is BASIC economics, people). Not to mention that this debt is financed by communist China buying endless amounts of US bonds!!!
  
  Now, I, for one think this is a very intellectually advanced line of reasoning...
  
  I mean, Bush, in his typical poor decision-making, unlocked the gates on this with his first bailout and now Democrats and Obama are running amock. So, the potential for a new movement (if this frustration is harnessed correctly) that challenges the ABSURD spending of the President and Congress (both parties) is VERY exciting.. I mean since September of last year it's as though everyone has forgotten basic economic principles.
  
  So, though I'm sure I'll probably be bombarded by a number of established angry ideologues on here, what do you guys think?
  
  
  

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  Apr 16, 2009 2:54 AM GMT

  i think it's time to emmigrate to canada.
  

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• NursePractiti...
  
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  Apr 16, 2009 5:28 AM GMT

  Bush and his buddies didn't seem to have a problem spending billions of dollars every year we didn't have. So long as it went to their friends instead of the people who have to foot the bill in the end. Now suddenly they're all, "outraged" because of spending? Please, they broke this country and now want to pick up their toys and run away with a mess for everyone else to clean up. They're so pissed they are even calling openly for armed rebellion! How's that for their supposed love of America.

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• Sebastian18
  
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  Apr 16, 2009 5:36 AM GMT

  
  
  Just saying, this whole tea-bagging phenomenon is pretty sophomoric if you ask me. Let's get back to work focusing on upholding some basic degree of unity in this country. I suggest we start by having a group meeting in the tearoom.
  
  

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  Apr 16, 2009 5:37 AM GMT

  zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz ..
  
  

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  Apr 16, 2009 5:39 AM GMT

  nursemuscle saidBush and his buddies didn't seem to have a problem spending billions of dollars every year we didn't have. So long as it went to their friends instead of the people who have to foot the bill in the end. Now suddenly they're all, "outraged" because of spending? Please, they broke this country and now want to pick up their toys and run away with a mess for everyone else to clean up. They're so pissed they are even calling openly for armed rebellion! How's that for their supposed love of America.

  I am not picking on you here nursemuscle, but i hear this argument all the time. Why now, why not the last 8 years under Bush. Well, why not now? Just because no one protested the last 8 years does not mean it is not a valid protest now. Maybe no one protested because despite 2 unpopular wars, massive spending, etc...people were making money and jobs were plentiful. I am not saying that it was right not to complain, but it didn't seem to be as relevant to complain.
  
  I don't know how many times it needs to be said, but its not all the dems fault, its not all the republicans fault. Its the system of govt that were have that is at fault. Greed and Power is what drives our politicians, not doing what is right.
  
  I would also like to see your source where you got the info that TEA Party is calling for openly armed rebellion.

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• jaded57
  
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  Apr 16, 2009 5:45 AM GMT

  I actually attended our local teabagging party in Shreveport La. I actually felt out of place amongst a bunch of redneck right wing gun toting (seriously some had guns) NRA members for Bush. My only solace was that I found my group amongst the throngs of mad angry bubbas. We were actually representing Ron Paul and the Independents quite well. There were like six of us there but we had signs and tee- shirts so we all matched. We actually had a great time supporting our local canidate who is Independant and running again for public office. He even managed to get up to the stage to speak. The crowd went nuts for his anti everything speech. Also there were a hella lot of hot straight country boys there too so the eyecandy rocked.
  
  As far as people who say that this is all bullshit that its just Republicans throwing a temper tantrum since Obama came into office. Your mistaken all of the speakers at our rally here in the deep red south placed the blame on both parties. And no one had a problem. Congressman Fleming a republican flat out said both sides have dropped the ball. Do I think this is some kind of new movement. I dunno I hope so. I mean honestly I got a tax cut on the first and Im happy with it. But I am a realist and realize that we dont have the money to pay for all of this. Our taxes will probably go up in the near future. I like Obama enough I think he was the less of the two evils. But really hes just another politician. He works for the franchise so I have low expectations of anything he will actually accomplish for me.
  
  

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  Apr 16, 2009 5:45 AM GMT

  Grandpa tea-bagger and communist infiltration .. marketing got into this .. brainwashing .. burn books
  
  

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  Apr 16, 2009 5:45 AM GMT

  nursemuscle saidBush and his buddies didn't seem to have a problem spending billions of dollars every year we didn't have. So long as it went to their friends instead of the people who have to foot the bill in the end. Now suddenly they're all, "outraged" because of spending? Please, they broke this country and now want to pick up their toys and run away with a mess for everyone else to clean up. They're so pissed they are even calling openly for armed rebellion! How's that for their supposed love of America.

  
  
  You are right, and those Bush Republicans have no room at all to complain about overspending and big government. However, as the OP stated, these tea parties are not just Republicans, but citizens from many political backgrounds who think that the government, Republican and Democratic led, has gone way beyond it's bounds.
  
  As for their love for America, this is the most American thing to do. If you recall the Declaration of Independance:
  
  "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."
  
  Although I think the income tax could be considered a long train of abuses and usurpations, I don't think that we are in absolute Despotism...yet. However, I think this government no longer has the consent of many of the people, and that is an issue that needs to be addressed. Questioning the government and calling for rebellion if necessary is perhaps the most American thing we can possibly do.
  
  P.S. Violent rebellion is not the point of the tea parties.

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  Apr 16, 2009 5:48 AM GMT

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  Apr 16, 2009 5:58 AM GMT

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  Apr 16, 2009 6:00 AM GMT

  ActiveAndFit saidhttp://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/30199155#30199155

  Well that was sure one side of it. Who wants to post the other side?? Then we can figure out the truth of the matter somewhere in the middle.

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  Apr 16, 2009 6:53 AM GMT

  
  the sheer stupidity amazes me. simply amazes me. americans seem unable to learn from their own history.
  
  
  
  ugh.

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  Apr 16, 2009 7:12 AM GMT

  lol hey now hey now. let's not go lumping all americans in with Glenn Beck.

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  Apr 16, 2009 7:17 AM GMT

  wadawg said

  ActiveAndFit saidhttp://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/30199155#30199155

  Well that was sure one side of it. Who wants to post the other side?? Then we can figure out the truth of the matter somewhere in the middle.

  yah, here is the other (faux news) side:
  

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  Apr 16, 2009 7:26 AM GMT

  Go for it, Make it and keep it independent.
  
  Don't let the movement become infested with political ideologues on either side of the aisle, they all work for the same people in the end and the party differences are just political show.
  
  They all serve financial Wall Street.
  
  Obama has appointed more people from Wall Street finance into his administration than ANY other president in US history.
  
  Bush had the oil and arms industry in his administration - thus it was the presidency of the oil and arms multinationals. This will be the Bankers presidency.
  
  O'Banker, scuse me, Obama policies on economics will serve the rich financial elite at the expense of absolutely everyone else.
  
  The solutions will be offered on beds of carefully crafted and eloquently delivered rhetoric, and will be likely accepted by the masses who so badly want to believe everything Obama says - and it'll be far worse in the end for it.
  
  Blind faith in a political leader is the most dangerous tool to hand to a politician, and without exception, when this has happened in history, the results were always disastrous. Almost always worse for the population that had the blind faith than any others that are affected by it.
  
  The tea parties are a good idea - dont become centralized, keep it localized and free moving - allow for change to occur, and keep it organic and with good purpose.
  
  I wish you the best.
  
  Sincerely, a Canadian hoping that Americans take their fate into their own hands - and that doesn't mean casting a ballot.
  
  oh, p.s. - Gerald Celente of Trends Research Institute has said that in the next 3 years there will be massive tax protests and "rebellions" - so... keep it peaceful.... more will join eventually, when they realize what's going on.

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  Apr 16, 2009 7:26 AM GMT

  All those years on CNBC and yada yada yada, and yet he still cannot conduct an interview without insulting his guest.

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• GQjock
  
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  Apr 16, 2009 11:14 AM GMT

  All whack jobs and Loonies unite (Insert picture of tin foil hat here)
  
  ">

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  Apr 16, 2009 11:34 AM GMT

  Looks like those people whose taxes will go up under Obama did a very good job of rallying together the sheep whose taxes won't go up. "My dear, I do not protest. I do not rally. There are people for that and they do it for free."

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  Apr 16, 2009 12:03 PM GMT

  These tea parties are a cynical Republican effort to create a phony issue, largely organized by Dick Armey, a former Republican leader in the US Congress, along with a loose assortment of right-wing interests and media commentators, most notably from FOX. Their shared stated goal is for Obama to fail, and for the Democrats to lose elections to Republicans. This is about political theatre, not taxes.
  
  The words "rebellion" and "revolution" have been bandied about by them, a dangerous turn for US politics. Such hysterical rhetoric obscures the facts and prevents reasonable discussion, plus it risks violence by unstable minds. The use of the historical revolutionary image of the Boston Tea Party cannot be more clear: citizens should take to arms and fight.
  
  As for the matter of taxes themselves, the middle class will receive tax BREAKS under the Obama plan. Only the rich, who were given most of the Bush tax breaks, will have to give them up. Yes, by all means let's go to the barricades on behalf of the rich, who would go back to paying what they did under Ronald Reagan; could anything be more unfair, more deserving of ripping our country apart over?
  
  Regarding Obama's spending, it's temporary and aimed at restoring the economy, so that everyone can benefit, and the debt can be reduced. It's to repair the economy the Republicans ruined; no wonder they don't want to be reminded of it.
  
  Deficit spending at historic levels was fine under the Republicans, so long as it suited their own goals of war and financial greed. Now that Democrats propose directing money to help ordinary people, energizing the economy, and shifting the tax burden to the wealthy, the Republicans are urging mobs to take to the streets. Not in the spirit of traditional protest, but invoking the historical image of armed rebellion and revolution.

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  Apr 16, 2009 12:14 PM GMT

  Has anyone actually had their taxes rise since Obama took office? I know my payroll taxes actually DROPPED after the stimulus package and there's been more money in my pocket on payday.
  
  Furthermore, many of these lower income protesters barely pay any federal income tax in the first place! What they don't realize is that they're being gouged by city, state and other local taxes on everything they buy. Getting rid of the federal income tax...is just going to bankrupt the federal government, which will lead to massive job losses in many fields. Think of all the police officers we'd lose without the federal subsidies. Or the reduced amount of road construction and traffic improvement without federal highway matching funds. And yet we'd still be paying sales tax...which would hurt the people with the least amount of money the most.
  
  No follow through in the logic to most of this. I'm all for revising the current tax codes and systems...but for the government to function, the citizenry has to pay taxes to fund it! All these people who battle against levies and property taxes...and then wonder why American public schools aren't worth shit and why it takes the ambulance 30 fucking minutes to show up at an accident scene. Shame.
  
  No sense for the common good.

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  Apr 16, 2009 12:14 PM GMT

  GymNewbie23 saidContrary to what the partisan Dems will say..These were NOT simply Republican/ conservative events, and I think that therein lies the potential.
  

  
  
  These absolutly were Republican/Conservative/wingnut (you left that out) events. This is what is known as astroturf: fake grassroots events created from the top down.
  
  

  Brian Beutier
  But in recent days, a new angle on this story has emerged--one which casts some doubt on the degree to which these protests are in any way organic. Lee Fang of ThinkProgress and New York Times columnist Paul Krugman have led the charge, calling the tea parties astroturf events--paid for and, perhaps, populated by, well-funded top-down organizations like FreedomWorks and Americans for Prosperity.

  
  
  And those two organizations are as partisan as it gets.
  
  And come on, the gold standard? Who the fuck still advocates for the gold standard?

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  Apr 16, 2009 12:16 PM GMT

  MunchingZombie said
  And come on, the gold standard? Who the fuck still advocates for the gold standard?

  
  
  Thank you. Every time I see this it saddens me how people do not have an understanding of current economic realities.

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  Apr 16, 2009 12:31 PM GMT

  For our liberal friends, if you think Republicans weren't upset woth Bush and his drunken sailor spending, you are wrong. You cannot simply say that just because Bush spent money its ok for Obama to spend money. After all, its my money they are spending and I think enough is enough.
  
  I'm not saying the programs that the money is being spent on are all bad, but there is no money to pay for it. I could go into Best Buy and spends thousands but if my bank account is empty that would be a foolish choice on my part.
  
  Stop blaming republicans for Obama's spending......

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  Apr 16, 2009 12:32 PM GMT

  You know, if the 2008 election taught me anything, it is that partisan Democrats are really no better than the partisan Republicans they criticize. My own personal motivation for going into politics (just wait and see boys- watch out) is that neither party wants to take ANY responsibility for their poor actions....Instead it devolves into angry, ignorant, close minded Liberals blaming everything on Republicans and angry, ignorant, right wing radicals blaming everything on Democrats. In my view, both extremes are EQUALLY as much a threat to democracy.
  
  But I will say, it is veeery convenient for a couple of guys on here like GQJock and Muncinzombi..to simply dismiss any opinion that isn't their own as being "right wing radical". That is the problem, you don't even listen to other points of view. It makes you no better than that which you love to criticize.
  
  So, answer me the following questions..Given the trillions in new spending (which is money that does not exist) HOW will Obama pay for all this new debt without having to raise taxes in about 2 years on EVERYONE? HOW will Democrats be simultaneously be able to give us universal healthcare, bailout half the country, create green energy, help people pay their mortages, continue to give money to AIG and GM, WHILE also still give "95% of Americans" a tax cut??????? THAT is IMPOSSIBLE

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