The tea-baggers are largely either poorly educated and/or poorly informed, mostly older "moral majority" types who have been led by the nose into believing all the lying crap the Republicans have spewed over the past several months. Many still believe in "death panels" and the impending, untimely end to grandma. Many still harp on Obama's citizenship, and believe he is some kind of evil communist/fascist. Some believe he is the Antichrist. Some are just flat-out racists. All are bent on "taking back" their country when in fact, nothing has been taken from them.
On the whole, they are mindless dupes – just as were the Christian fundamentalists who were cajoled into backing Bush in 2000 and again in 2004. Most of them got nothing for their trouble except dismissal and derision from the Bush administration once the votes were counted.
The Republicans have no interests beyond their own political survival. That survival, as they see it, necessitates that they toe the line set down by the banks and mega corporations who fill their campaign coffers.
Most of the banks and big corporate interests look upon Obama as a wrench in their gears. The Republicans have been instructed to block Obama at every turn. If Obama praised "Mom and Apple Pie" the Reps would oppose it.
Unless and until the Dems grow a backbone, which doesn't seem likely, the Obama Administration will doubtless continue to go down in flames. The only hope I can see is that this all-out stonewalling of Obama could have unintended consequences as more of the voting public recognizes just how craven the Republicans are, and how this is far more hurtful to the interests of the country than anything coming out of the Obama White House.
The best thing that can be said for most congressional Republicans is that compared to many Democrats, they have far better haircuts and wear better suits. Basically, most fabrics tend to drape better over a tight ass.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Jon Sobel
You're absolutely right about the GOP's cynical and terrible-for-the-country obstructionism. You've painted the Tea Party movement much too simplistically, though. Ben McGrath explored them in a good New Yorker piece recently.
2 - Dr Dreadful
The best thing that can be said for most congressional Republicans is that compared to many Democrats, they have far better haircuts and wear better suits. Basically, most fabrics tend to drape better over a tight ass.
LOL. That deserves a first-page entry in 'Classic Poisonous Quotes of the 21st Century'. :-)
3 - Arch Conservative
Virginia, New Jersey, Massachuetts ....
looks like Washington Republicans aren't the only ones saying no to Obama and the Dems.
Have a happy Thanksgiving Btone.
4 - FitzBoodle
Puzzling over why the republicans would think that accusing Obama of "socialism" would get any traction, while to all appearances Obama is actually a Stealth Republican, I finally concluded that the republican strategy is to warn minority people that the only entry to national politics is through the republican party.
It's not ideological, it's party politics.
5 - jeannie danna
Baritone,
The party of "No" extends much further than Washington. Here, they appear not to be allowed to read an article with a different point of view, unless it's in lock-step with each-other.
It's like watching a little pack of dogs running around marking their territory.
You should have a lot more exposure and many more intelligent comments by now.
I'm glad Jon's comment was the first one in this thread; it was civil.
I want my articles back, so
they can be published elsewhere.
6 - roger nowosielski
He will, Jeannie. I didn't even realize this article was posted two days ago.
7 - Baritone
I agree Fitz, ideology has nothing to do with it. It's all about the party.
B
8 - Baritone
You may be right Arch. But, be careful what you wish for. If the Reps regain control of Congress and ultimately the White House, I wonder how long it will take for people to start hanging them in effigy? A few months; a year, perhaps? Being on top is a precarious place to be.
9 - jeannie danna
Baritone,
I didn't even know you were here.
10 - jeannie danna
I'm sure mine was thoroughly read way before Lisa could edit it. My fault for leaving it up there so long.
Nothing like being prepared.
11 - Dan
"The tea-baggers are largely either poorly educated and/or poorly informed..."---Baritone
Far from the truth. This slander has been exposed so often as to make the charge an exercise in pathetic futility. Surely we're beyond that. One need only reflect that tea partiers are the ones who have the ability to feed, clothe, and house themselves. They only need government in the minimalist constitutionally sanctioned function.
"Many still believe in "death panels" and the impending, untimely end to grandma..."
Case in point. Progressive simpletons pivot between arguing that the notion of "death panels" is ridiculous, and arguing that health insurance companies already implement the strategy now. (which they do) Critics of the tea partiers should make up their minds which way they would like to argue. Claiming both sides exposes them as fools.
"On the whole, they are mindless dupes"
That term would be more reflective of anyone who voted in the moronic teleprompter interpreter--yes, he really does not know how to pronounce "corpsemen"--thinking that somehow this racially obsessed, small time community agitator could become Presidential.
Fortunately, It looks as if reality is beginning to overtake the malignant media and their corrupt propaganda before much more damage is done. ACORN has been taken down despite their best efforts to conceal the scandal. Obama's communist cronies are being exposed. (thanks to Glen Beck) And the tea party movement is expanding well into fertile "independent" territory.
Probably the best role for the Republican party until the folly of allowing leftists to be in charge can be corrected is to be the party of no. Or the party of hell no.
12 - roger nowosielski
Lots of venom there, Dan. You've surely become radicalized since you posted last.
13 - Dr Dreadful
You do know that this Dan is not Dan (Miller), don't you, Rog?
Indeed, it was the advent of Second Dan which prompted Original Dan to change his handle.
14 - roger nowosielski
Sure I do, Dreadful.
The Second Advent, you said?
15 - Baritone
Jeannie,
This article was just published this afternoon (Fri.) It seems to have picked up a little steam.
My guess is that Dan is NOT an Obama acolyte, but, as I said, that's just a guess.
Actually, Jeannie, I wrote this as a comment to your post, but as I got into it, I decided that it could stand on its own as an article. So your article was the inspiration for this.
Frankly, I find the scathing, self-righteous, condescending conservative crap tiresome. It was conservatives, dating at least back to Reagan, who have sniggered this country in the back side. It is conservatism that has lead to deregulation of the banks and commodity markets which put this country in the dumpster.
I'm certainly not happy with the state of things under Obama. He and his people have screwed the pooch more than once during the past year, but much of their failure is due to Republican stonewalling and the spineless blue dog Dems who have proven to be DINOs (Democrats in name only,) as I predicted shortly after the 2006 elections.
I saw then that a number of the Dems who had been elected to congress were of a truly conservative bent who would be trouble for the Party down the road.
Right now, the most hated and mistrusted pols are conservative Democrats and moderate Republicans. Historically, the middle of the road was the place to be, but for the time being it is tantamount to a no-man's land. For a pol to compromise is to hammer another nail in his or her own political coffin. We are in a "You are either for us, or you're against us," all or nothing mode. It seems no one is quite liberal enough or quite conservative enough to dodge criticism. It's a stand-off between the extremes with no "de-militarized zone" between.
Meanwhile Obama probably wonders what the fuck happened?
Once again, I still contend that the main stream tea partiers are wackos.
Obama can't pronounce "corpsmen?" Well, let's see, that's 1 for Obama. And what was the last count for Georgie "Nuculer" Bush? You remember him don't you? You know - "The Decider?"
B
16 - Dave Nalle
No is such a wonderful word. If only people had discovered it sooner.
Dave
17 - roger nowosielski
Well, Jeannie, that's was quite an admission on Baritone's part and I am glad for you.
And I'm sorry that I haven't given your article sufficient attention thus far because I was involved on another thread. But I promise to do better tomorrow.
Good night.
18 - Irene Wagner
Posers! They don't know how to say no like Dr. No knows how to say no.
19 - Irene Wagner
Dr. Dreadful, I didn't know it was a Dan v2.0, thing. I thought, Dan(Miller)'s comments were flagged for spam because Akismet thought he was trying to sell beer as were Mark (v1.0)'s was trying to sell...health and beauty aids.
20 - Baritone
Dave, don't you imagine that the tables could easily be turned? It the Dems manage to lose their congressional majority, couldn't they be just as obstructionist as the Reps? Is it really in the interest of this country to effectively paralyze congress? Or are you one who believes that nothing is better than something? Are you so pleased with the status quo that you'd prefer nothing ever change?
The Reps may well get just what they are after. But it may well come around and bite them in the ass just as hard. If this is how it comes down, how, where and when will it stop? What you are apparently reveling in now may turn out to be what you are wallowing in down the road. Be careful what you wish for. Conservative shit smells just as bad.
21 - Baritone
BTW - ANYONE who gives ANY credence to ANYTHING Glen Beck says is BRAIN DEAD!
B
22 - pablo
Baritone 15 said:
"I'm certainly not happy with the state of things under Obama. He and his people have screwed the pooch more than once during the past year, but much of their failure is due to Republican stonewalling and the spineless blue dog Dems who have proven to be DINOs (Democrats in name only,) as I predicted shortly after the 2006 elections."
You also say Baritone:
"Is it really in the interest of this country to effectively paralyze congress?"
Unfortunately so called liberals of your ilk fail to understand how wonderful paralysis is in Washington. The founding fathers wanted it to be extremely difficult to enact legislation. I hope they remain paralyzed, since virtually every act that the congress has passed in the last ten years or so has been draconian in nature, and usurped my guaranteed rights under the constitution.
When are you going to call for prosecution of torturers ole buddy? When are you going to demand the the Patriot Act, and the Military Commissions Act be overturned pal? Big brother can kiss my ass.
Was it the blue dogs Baritone that promised to end signing statements? Was it the republicans Baritone that said we would pull out of Iraq and Afghanistan Baritone? Is it the blue dogs that are not prosecuting torturers Baritone? Was it the republicans that installed Geitner, Volker, Sumners and Bernanke Baritone?
Obama does not need any help from the republicans in destroying our republic, he is doing that very well on his own.
23 - jeannie danna
Baritone,
Actually, Jeannie, I wrote this as a comment to your post, but as I got into it, I decided that it could stand on its own as an article. So your article was the inspiration for this.
Thanks! You know, I was really let down here yesterday, but then, what the hell did I expect? In libraries, book stores, and on shelves in homes, books sit gathering dust, while waiting for someone to come along and pick them up, all across this country.
So what if I didn't set the world on fire yesterday, today is a new day!
But Baritone? If you wrote this as a response to my article, then, please come over and write another one. I really need to know that someone here actually respects my thoughts...
:] I have a brain!
24 - jeannie danna
Baritone,
Last night, I looked up another writer I used to read on this site.
But, I belong here...
: I am a blogcritic!
25 - jeannie danna
Baritone,
It is so funny to see people responding to a post addressed to me. When I did that yesterday, I was painted to be some sort of emotional-train-wreck.
I can see right through these games...ignore the article, talk way above the authors head, and above all, dis-credit the source!
#15 will be responded to fully by me.
Baritone,
Even if I don't write an article a day like many here on the left do in a desperate attempt to control the chatter.
If I inspire you-an-actual-writer-to-write,then, my efforts are not in vain. "Not by a long shot!"