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22 Mar 2010 09:24

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Politics: Guy who astroturfs: Be scared in November, Democrats

  • At a time when Americans foremost wanted action on jobs and the economy, they were given an unconstitutional mandate that fundamentally expands the power of government. The real winners are insurance companies and big pharma.
  • FreedomWorks chairman Dick Armey • Regarding the problems he sees with the health care bill. Armey, one of dozens of voices in a chorus of political voices the New York Times put together after the vote, stands out because he ended his quote with this ominous statement: “This debate is far from over, and will be a critical issue come November.” Armey, by the way, is one of the leading behind-the-scene guys in the tea party movement, so his words should leave Democrats scared. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

21 Mar 2010 11:23

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Politics: Racism and rage: Did the Tea Party severely hurt their movement?

  • So I’m having a hard time tonight trying to believe almost uniformly white tea partiers are anything other than a racist, right-wing reaction to the election of an African American president who brings with him feminists and gays (even if he doesn’t do as much for them as they would ideally like).
  • Salon writer Joan Walsh • Regarding yesterday’s heated health care situation, where some awful Tea Party precedents hit their ugly head. First, Rep. John Lewis, a civil-rights hero, was called the N-word (which she repeated but we won’t) at least fifteen times. Second, fellow Congressional Black Caucus leader Rep. Emanuel Cleaver was spat on by a tea partier. Third, popular gay Rep. Barney Frank was called a “homo” and F-word (not that one, the other one) by the same folks. Finally, Rep. Louise Slaughter had a brick thrown through her congressional office in Niagra Falls. Dissent is one thing, but holy crap dudes. What does health care have to do with this? You did a lot to set your cause back yesterday. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

13 Mar 2010 11:01

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Politics: Harry Reid has a Tea Party competitor. Did Harry put him there?

  • Some Tea Party members thinks he was planted by Reid’s buddies. Jon Scott Ashjian, who just declared as a candidate in the 2010 election for Harry Reid’s Nevada senate seat, is drawing more than a little controversy. “Nobody in the Tea Party knows who he is. He didn’t know any of the principles of the Tea Party,” said Danny Tarkanian, one guy who’s gunning for the Republican nomination (and whose dad is a famous former UNLV basketball coach). Sue Lowden, the GOP frontrunner, says she’s never seen him at a Tea Party event. Strange. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

12 Mar 2010 11:37

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Politics: Espresso your views: The Coffee Party kicks off for realises tomorrow.

March 13 is the day that thousands of people will get together at coffee shops nationwide to talk politics, no matter the party. Nice idea. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

10 Mar 2010 10:34

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Politics: The Tea Party’s social schedule doesn’t match Obama’s

  • 3/18 the date Obama wants the health care bill passed by
  • 3/27 the date the “Tea Party Express” protest bus takes off (too late)
  • 4/15 the date the party plans to take over D.C. for Tax Day (also late) source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 6 Comments • Permalink

08 Mar 2010 10:42

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Politics: The Tea Party movement getting in the way of actual tea parties

  • When I look at search engine results for ‘Chicago tea,’ I find a whole bunch of Chicago tea party movement sites. There are a few tea places and then all this political stuff. It’s pretty annoying.
  • Chicago tea shop owner Tony Gebely • Regarding a huge marketing problem he has as a result of the Tea Party – what if people actually want tea instead of fiscally conservative politics? It’s really hard to find it on Google. Gebely’s problem isn’t anywhere near as bad as a guy who’s starting a business called “Memphis Tea Party” – pretty much every result that comes up is for the Memphis Tea Party, the organization. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

05 Mar 2010 12:01

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Politics: Is the Tea Party movement a conservative hippie movement?

  • The Tea Partiers are closer to the New Left. They don’t seek to form a counter-establishment because they don’t believe in establishments or in authority structures. They believe in the spontaneous uprising of participatory democracy. They believe in mass action and the politics of barricades, not in structure and organization.
  • New York Times columnist David Brooks (who really needs to update his stodgy column mug) • Regarding the similarities between the Tea Party movement and the New Left (i.e. the hippies). Both are populist uprisings (though one can argue that Dick Armey’s FreedomWorks is responsible for astroturfing the Tea Party movement). Both don’t align neatly with the political party in power. Both have been known to get together on the National Mall en masse. Neither have leadership in the traditional sense. And both are important movements. However, Brooks notes that the things that failed the New Left – “imprudence, self-righteousness and naïve radicalism” – will fail the Tea Party movement. Interesting take. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

28 Feb 2010 10:21

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Politics: The “first” tea partier doesn’t fit the traditional tea party mold

This girl right here, Keli Carender, is commonly credited as being first to the Tea Party. Really? We thought Rick Santelli was the first. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

26 Feb 2010 23:15

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Politics: Dear Coffee Party: Pushing for civil discourse a great idea

Coffee

  • The Coffee Party is an interesting idea. An alternative approach to the Tea Party that switches drinks along with tones (a pro-bipartisanship political movement!) is really welcome in the political climate. While we’re not saying this will change the world, it’s good to have an alternative voice that can’t be dismissed as “liberal” or “socialist” so quickly. As regular watchers of the political sphere, we have a couple thoughts for you guys:
  • Calm but firm The reason this idea is gaining any sort of traction whatsoever is because the political discourse is too angry for some. But being calm and respectful doesn’t mean not having a backbone, though. Tell politicians what you want to see. Bring new ideas and red meat. Skip both the granola and the nuts.
  • Don’t align with anyoneWe really hope that the Coffee Party doesn’t side specifically with Democratic interests just because they’re in conflict with Tea Party interests. What we see with Tea Partiers is that they actively push against moderates on both sides, not just liberals. A big open tent is a much better idea.
  • Get a rally together! The Tea Party movement went from zero to 60 because they were well-organized and got themselves on TV frequently. You need to do the same. Get a rally together in D.C. – invite everyone you can, get a bunch of local coffee companies involved and bring low key to a big scale. Good luck. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

23 Feb 2010 21:18

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Politics: The right is letting Scott Brown know how pissed they are

  • 4,200 comments on Brown’s Facebook page source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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