"The Tea Party: Just a Bunch of Republican Malcontents.
What we have seen gathering in small and relatively huge crowds across the nation are defeated and angry Republican malcontents desperately recasting themselves as Tea Party for no other reason than to surreptiously revive their damaged and discredited "Republican" brand. These are the same nasty, vitriolic Palin/McCain followers who during the campaign threatened to kill the then presidential candidate Barack Obama, as they routinely and vituperatively spewed racial epithets at any black people within their sight. This took place in every Sarah Palin rally. Now this crowd is masquerading as the new people's movement pretentiously animated by their professed aversion to big government spending. Where were they for the last 8 years when President George Bush's tax cuts for the rich went through the roof while working families were left hanging out to dry, and leaving the biggest national debt and deficit ever known to mankind.
The American people are watching this development with great interest as the Republican Party is now trying to resuscitate itself even as their rejected policies remain in place. For the two terms of Bush the government and its spending has expanded to proportions unseen since the inception of the Republic. The same Republican big government encroached upon individual rights and tore them apart piece by piece in the name of national security, even as they consistantly compromize the nation's security on an international level. Hardly has three months elapsed since their crushing defeat, but they want their power back. After 12 years in charge of Congress and 8 years in the White House. As much as they hate government, they need it to amass wealth for their constituencies in huge tax cut give-aways, and legislate morality as they autocratically intrude in bedrooms of their fellow Americans. The Tea Party is going nowhere because they are nothing but the Republican Party they are pretending not to be.
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What we hearing from Republicans are the rantings of a radicalized party. That's what Republicans are, and they're becoming more radicalized every day. The GOP is a party of, by, and for, radicals.
Tea parties and other ridiculous Republican behavior since losing the presidential election has the feel of a massive childish temper tantrum. I believe that their tantrum like rhetoric actually has less to do with Obama (aside from the bigot element) than with their general frustration over being put out of power by the voters.
Republicans are frustrated by their failure to live up to their cowboy self-image, but the juvenile mentality that seems to mark most of them won't accept admit. Obama gives them something simple and tangible to fixate on so that they can continue to deny that voters were tired of wide ranging GOP leadership and policy failures, as well as Bush's serial catastrophes.
In short, Republicans misbehaved these past 8-years, the voters took their toy (power) away, and so, Republicans are stamping their feet and screaming until the voters give it back. The problem with that is these are adults, not some 5-year old. Some of them are holding the power of an elected office and others are holding guns. None of them are amusing and, in 2010, the voters need to paddle those still holding office.
April 20, 2009 9:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Right Wingers have regressed into such a child-like state, I fear they're no use to us any longer. We need unity to mend this nation, not whining,lying and tantrums.
We don't have time to coddle them, and the logistics of a "time out" for such great numbers is pretty overwhelming.
We can't ignore them, either. Mob mentality is their forte, and they enjoy setting their hair on fire.
They may behave like children but we mustn't underestimate their capabilities. Especially now that the caliber of their guns is apparently no object.
(Note that I use the term "Right Wingers", because I don't believe all Republicans fit the mold. Of course, I could be wrong.)
April 20, 2009 10:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dying breed - unfortunately some are blood relatives...
April 20, 2009 11:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Armey's gang of real losers.
April 21, 2009 9:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
Art. 1 Section 5: Each House shall be the judge of the elections, returns and qualifications of its own members, and a majority of each shall constitute a quorum to do business; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the attendance of absent members, in such manner, and under such penalties as each House may provide.
Congress must follow court decisions -- it is by no means clear that they need to wait for them.
The Rethugs ought to realize that depriving a state of half of its Senate seats is profoundly undemocratic and may very well carry political consequences in Minnesota and elsewhere.
April 21, 2009 9:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
It is interesting to see how the Party of Resentment is diminishing in Minnesota. While the Republicans hold tightly to the controversy that is the election, the electorate is running out of patience. It's a Wall Street attitude. They want to win now, which they will not and they will lose even more in the end. I am glad to observe them self-destruct. It's a slow moving car wreck.
April 21, 2009 12:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nothing new here. They spent 8 years bellyaching at Clinton per rantings of chairman limbo. Gonna do it again too.
Slick Willie was way too smart for them. Every time one of them came up with a new way to get Clinton, that person would go down in flames. Right Newt? They promise even greater hijinks and hilarity now. As a side benefit, rational Republicans spent 16 years stepping away from the GOP under Clinton and as they saw Bush careening from folly to devastion during his term. Republicans who saw the values of the GOP being cashed in by extremists became Independents and Democrats. Fully indoctrinated mill ends and oddities are all that remain dancing the limbo. Obama the Roadrunner could not have asked for a better opposition party than Wyle E. Coyote and the Acme Corporation.
April 21, 2009 10:36 AM | Reply | Permalink