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etson:Maybe if people were more specific as to what they object to in the Tea Party’s agenda it would be easier to have a discussion.Lower taxes? Opposition to cap & trade? Opposition to the stimulus program? Reduction in growth of govt spending?
One can argue forever about those points. Just to address one, lowering taxes for the rich is counter=productive and unfair and has been shown to increase deficits.
However, the more important objection to the Tea Party is its tone and its underlying hostility and racism. Note that the Repub’s Contract’s images showed 2% non-whites, not a small thing as it’s representative of how out-of-touch the TP is, and how in-thrall the GOP is to the TP.
Their rhetoric is extreme…II amendment swashbuckling does not a policy make; their agenda is also dubious and extreme, and, to switch the original question, they have no specific policies (How can taxes be cut? Where? What replaces the stimulus? When?) Their constant harping on Christian ‘values’ (a joke in itself) is alienating to the rest of us non-Christian, non-religious. Religion has no part in a political credo.
Being non-white, an atheist/agnost, liberal and perfectly OK with high taxes and a goverment that gives a lot in return, I’m pretty scared of them.
Whew – you guys are really going at it today!
well I have to leave soon for my job interview(thank god) but I will try to dive in
As a lefty liberal when the Tea Party started I think it appealed to both sides, I could see what their goals were and I think many in the Tea Party were not intent on blaming Obama or calling him Hitler/Stalin. I beleive they were trying to show how Gov’t was spending wildly on various projects, but then Fox News and the radical right claimed the Tea Party as their campaign and all the nutjobs came out and they lost the momentum.
EVERY time I hear that stupid alaska broad speak I cringe b/c she never says anything concrete. It’s always things like “We’re gonna take back America” BS – um ok, and do what exactly?
SO I think Etson/Lech that is the problem that I have with the Tea Party. Their message has been diluted by the radicals that have infilitrated it and claimed it
cmu: While I generally agree with your posts, you have actually just provided a pretty good definition of closed-minded: “Willing to state our opinions strongly enough to discourage discussion.” That applies no matter where you are on the political spectrum, and it’s nothing to brag about.
Tea Party candidate Sharon Angle suggests assassinating Harry Reid:
“I hope that’s not where we’re going, but you know if this Congress keeps going the way it is, people are really looking toward those Second Amendment remedies and saying my goodness what can we do to turn this country around? I’ll tell you the first thing we need to do is take Harry Reid out.” —Nevada GOP Senate candidate Sharron Angle
lechacal- if the Tea Party wants to be taken seriously…”
You can stop right there. Anyone with an audience that big needs to be taken deadly seriously. Limit yourself to trite insults at your peril. Seriously, it is just not that hard to refute some of the things I just posted. You should try it.
etson:Maybe if people were more specific as to what they object to in the Tea Party’s agenda it would be easier to have a discussion.Lower taxes? Opposition to cap & trade? Opposition to the stimulus program? Reduction in growth of govt spending?
One can argue forever about those points. Just to address one, lowering taxes for the rich is counter=productive and unfair and has been shown to increase deficits.
However, the more important objection to the Tea Party is its tone and its underlying hostility and racism. Note that the Repub’s Contract’s images showed 2% non-whites, not a small thing as it’s representative of how out-of-touch the TP is, and how in-thrall the GOP is to the TP.
Their rhetoric is extreme…II amendment swashbuckling does not a policy make; their agenda is also dubious and extreme, and, to switch the original question, they have no specific policies (How can taxes be cut? Where? What replaces the stimulus? When?) Their constant harping on Christian ‘values’ (a joke in itself) is alienating to the rest of us non-Christian, non-religious. Religion has no part in a political credo.
Being non-white, an atheist/agnost, liberal and perfectly OK with high taxes and a goverment that gives a lot in return, I’m pretty scared of them.
Hal, that statement implied defeating him, not assassinating him as I read it.
I have a lunch date, so your political fisticuffs are a good time for me to exit stage left.
Have fun. Not too many black eyes today, I hope.
🙂
Whew – you guys are really going at it today!
well I have to leave soon for my job interview(thank god) but I will try to dive in
As a lefty liberal when the Tea Party started I think it appealed to both sides, I could see what their goals were and I think many in the Tea Party were not intent on blaming Obama or calling him Hitler/Stalin. I beleive they were trying to show how Gov’t was spending wildly on various projects, but then Fox News and the radical right claimed the Tea Party as their campaign and all the nutjobs came out and they lost the momentum.
EVERY time I hear that stupid alaska broad speak I cringe b/c she never says anything concrete. It’s always things like “We’re gonna take back America” BS – um ok, and do what exactly?
SO I think Etson/Lech that is the problem that I have with the Tea Party. Their message has been diluted by the radicals that have infilitrated it and claimed it
“maybe coming up with some real solutions”
In many cases they don’t think the ‘problems’ are the government’s to ‘solve’.
The debate is over the scope of government.
cmu: While I generally agree with your posts, you have actually just provided a pretty good definition of closed-minded: “Willing to state our opinions strongly enough to discourage discussion.” That applies no matter where you are on the political spectrum, and it’s nothing to brag about.
Lech, Why don’t you tell us what you think the Tea Partiers believe and what you agree with.
Tea Party candidate Sharon Angle suggests assassinating Harry Reid:
“I hope that’s not where we’re going, but you know if this Congress keeps going the way it is, people are really looking toward those Second Amendment remedies and saying my goodness what can we do to turn this country around? I’ll tell you the first thing we need to do is take Harry Reid out.” —Nevada GOP Senate candidate Sharron Angle
“By bxgrl on September 29, 2010 11:39 AM
lechacal- if the Tea Party wants to be taken seriously…”
You can stop right there. Anyone with an audience that big needs to be taken deadly seriously. Limit yourself to trite insults at your peril. Seriously, it is just not that hard to refute some of the things I just posted. You should try it.