It's a Tea Party in the USA

[vovat]

Something I fail to understand is why Republicans seem to be eager to defend the Tea Party movement. Come on, it seems like most of those people have no idea what they're protesting, and those who do probably don't all want the same things.

And if they aren't based on racism, as I've seen some people claim, why don't they take issue with the blatantly racist signs?

It reminds me of when Mitt Romney held up that sign that said, "No to Obama Osama and Chelsea's Moma [sic]," then denied he read it. Yeah, you really didn't have any way to win on that one, Mittens. And it seems to be the same way with the Tea Parties. If you're there and not racist, either you don't mind allying yourself that a group that puts up a public image of racism, or you're too clueless to realize you're hanging around racists. But in answer to my own question, I think part of the problem is that I'm not sure there's any organization to the whole thing. The events are organized, or people wouldn't know to show up. But otherwise, I'm really not so sure. It seems like all the people there really know is that they hate the President and like being loud and obnoxious.

Now, there are all kinds of groups like this all over the world and the political spectrum, so really, who cares? Well, the thing that confuses me is that I would have to imagine that intelligent conservatives would want to distance themselves from these rowdy racists, and make it known that they're a fringe group that doesn't represent the main interests of the Republican Party. But that's not what I see. Instead, I see Republicans trying to defend the mobs. Why? Is it a misplaced sense of party loyalty? I get the impression that that's common among Republicans, considering that Sarah Palin still has supporters. I mean, sure, during the election you wanted to keep your party in control, and probably figured admitting the lower half of the presidential ticket was a few beans short of a burrito wasn't the best way to do that. But the election is over now! You can go ahead and admit that Palin was an embarrassing mistake! You have nothing to lose anymore! She's not even in politics now. Are there Democrats who are that loyal to their own party? Sure, but it doesn't seem to be as common. It looks like people who lean left (by the American definition, anyway) are often more willing to mock their own side. Plenty of left-leaning media made fun of Clinton, but it seems like the Republicans felt they had to defend Bush at every opportunity, no matter what the hell he did. If he'd shown up to deliver the State of the Union with his underwear on his head, I'm sure the right-wing media would have come up with some excuse. I guess it's possible I just wasn't looking in the right places for conservatives taking shots at Bush, but still. And if it isn't this solidarity that leads to Republicans who actually CAN read above a first-grade level defending the lunatics, what is it?

Comments

[1womp.livejournal.com]

I really believe that the Tea Party is an incredibly successful political ruse. I think that it was designed to draw the extreme crazies away from the "regular" Republican Party. It is well known that top Republican operatives "founded" the "movement." Here, as I imagine it, is their Master Plan...

Phase One: carefully stage the appearance of a spontaneous, grassroots movement (check).

Phase Two: surreptitiously stock its early events with conspiracy wingnuts and angry lunatics (check).

Phase Three: Republicans must play like innocent buddies with Tea Baggers, as if they are perhaps even courting their support (check).

Phase Four: the Tea Party crazimeter is dialed up to 11 (check).

Phase Five: Republicans must reluctantly reject the "radical" TPers, electing instead to "remain" dignified and "main stream" (coming soon).

Phase Six: without the continued machinations of Republican strategists behind the scenes, the Tea Party implodes, leaving a newly streamlined Republican Party apparently "morally stronger," and smelling like a rose (probably about the time of the next elections).

After that, the Tea Patsies become merely a curious footnote in American history. Oh, they will have occasional reunions, and TP memorabilia will become somewhat collectible (mostly for its curiosity value), but the crazies will have been routed out of the GOP. On paper, it is one of the most ingenious political moves ever, but, in reality, it has fostered an incredibly dangerous, volatile climate. One thing that I've learned (the hard way, unfortunately) about genuinely unbalanced people is that they have no concept of societal norms and boundaries. They construct these weak, simplistic realities for themselves, and can become extremely unpredictable, if not murderous, when our world intersects with theirs. Playing puppet-master with these nutbags is like pouring gasoline on a flaming cross. (caveat: I will admit that there may be some TPers - a small, sad number, expected to return to the GOP when their days of Tea Partying end - who are not crackpots. I think I feel most sorry for them).

[vovat.livejournal.com]

Do you really think Republicans are capable of planning that far into the future? They couldn't even come up with an exit strategy for Iraq! Still, I do think trying to separate out the crazies might be part of the plan.

[suegypt.livejournal.com]

The reason they didn't come up with an exit strategy in Iraq is because {when Dick Cheney was president} he expected the Iraqis to come out in droves and carry us on their shoulders as liberators. When the ungrateful bastards didn't do that, he had to come up with someone other than Saddam to blame. Liberals will do.

I just hope, if this is a distraction strategy via Republican Machine, that they sacarifice Palin for real this time...

[vovat.livejournal.com]

I always wondered whether anyone actually bought that "we'll be hailed as liberators" line, or they just thought it was a cool slogan (you know, like "Mission Accomplished"). But knowing the odd reverence some of those guys hold for the United States, perhaps they really DID think it could happen.

[ozma914.livejournal.com]

You did it! You hit upon the main thing, the one item that makes the tea party stand out: "I'm not sure there's any organization to the whole thing."

Exactly. It's a true grass roots effort, a rising that came as a surprise not just to the Democrats, but to the Republicans and just about everyone else. They certainly don't represent the main interests of the Republican Party; they're almost as sick of the GOP as they are of the Democrats. It's a big tent the parties can only dream of, and everyone who thinks government is more a problem than a solution is welcome. Sadly, that does attract a tiny minority of racists and crackpots, blown out of proportion by the mainstream media and a scared Democratic party, but they're far, far in the minority -- and looked down upon by other people in the tea party. The tea party members are trying to do something that hasn't been done in many decades: Take control of this country away from Washington and put it back in the hands of the citizens. The media can cherry pick all they want in the hopes of making all the tea partiers look alike, but they're a diverse and determined group that isn't going to go away just because politicians no longer want to listen to the people.

I know plenty of tea partiers now; they're professionals and factory workers, white and blue collar, college professors and lawyers, white and black; most are people who just wanted to have their families and get along with their lives, but they were pushed to the limit and now they're pushing back. Painting them all with the same brush is worse than just a lie; it shows a complete misunderstanding of how the movement came to be.

[rockinlibrarian.livejournal.com]

I second all this. Hey, my kid got his picture in the paper at one of those Tea Party thingies last year! And his Daddy, who took him there in the first place, says the purpose of the Tea Party is to combat overtaxation, that's all (although I still find this ironic, coming from him, when we're getting a $2000 tax return this year and only $7 of that had been taken out in taxes in the first place).

Although I do think there's a certain amount of Us vs Them brainwash involved too, that makes it harder to disown the Crazies, because hey at least they're on Our Side....

[vovat.livejournal.com]

I get the impression that the Tea Party movement was initially based on tax protest (which is why it has that name, alluding to the Boston Tea Party, with some of them referring to themselves as "Teabaggers" out of general cluelessness), but has since evolved (or devolved, maybe?) into more of a free-for-all. And the thing is, when has a protest without a clear goal really accomplished anything? It seems to me that the successful ones tend to be the ones where the members are united for a specific purpose. Even if taxes are still the central focus, WHICH taxes? And it's not like Obama instituted a big tax hike after coming into office, so why now? (I kind of think the "Republicans lower taxes and Democrats raise them" idea is more hype than fact at this point anyway, except possibly for the richest of the rich, most of whom probably aren't showing up at any Tea Parties.)

Although I do think there's a certain amount of Us vs Them brainwash involved too, that makes it harder to disown the Crazies, because hey at least they're on Our Side....

But aren't crazy Usses sometimes even worse than crazy Thems, because a person is more likely to be unfairly lumped in with the former?

[rockinlibrarian.livejournal.com]

But aren't crazy Usses sometimes even worse than crazy Thems, because a person is more likely to be unfairly lumped in with the former?


I personally think so, which is why I have such a problem with people who say idiot stuff in the name of Christianity; but I think the conservative talk show hosts are brainwashing their followers into ignoring that.

[ozma914.livejournal.com]

Yeah, there's Us vs Them brainwashing going on on both sides, although the Tea Partiers tend to be independent enough that all but the most conspiracy-theory prone ignore it. I still believe the crazies are a very small minority on *both* sides.

I think I'd like to attend one of those events someday; I've heard from several people who remarked on how surprised they were that such large crowds were orderly and -- here's the real shocker -- how they picked up after themselves and left little trash behind. It's a far cry from idiots turning over cars and setting things on fire.

I had to pay federal this year. *sigh*

[suegypt.livejournal.com]

I would have to imagine that intelligent conservatives would want to distance themselves from these rowdy racists, and make it known that they're a fringe group that doesn't represent the main interests of the Republican Party

Yeah, but the problem is, they all think they are "intelligent conservatives" and they all claim to speak not only for the conservatives, but "the American People." If I had a nickel for every time Boner said the American people don't want this health care bill, I'd be able to afford my prescriptions right now.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

Good point, although I have to wonder about Palin referring to her own constituents as "Joe Six-Packs," which doesn't exactly paint them in the most intelligent light. They're probably the sort who can be repeatedly insulted without realizing it, though.

[dragonxbait.livejournal.com]

Totally unrelated to your post, but there is an opening at Tom's work for a librarian. It's a super cool place and position (except it's in MA). I can pass the listing along to you if you are interested (i just need your email).

[vovat.livejournal.com]

fablesto at gmail.com