tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709798102111768035.post3126723562399759038..comments2023-03-03T21:17:06.281-08:00Comments on IT'S POLITICAL OBVIOUSLY: 'Tea Party' as an obscenityJoshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04676286761517939199noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709798102111768035.post-37503943406116194012010-07-31T19:52:18.129-07:002010-07-31T19:52:18.129-07:00OK...after reading this I'm actually tempted t...OK...after reading this I'm actually tempted to go watch a little Glen Beck. Just to see. Which I NEVER thought would happen so let's just say you're a good missionary for the cause (if in fact you are a teaparty person... I'm not sure you decided or not in your post or comment :) <br /><br />Um... you're also right about there not really being any clear "leader" of the movement. Maybe that's the real difficulty--there SHOULD be a leader so that people are a little more unified, or at least the messages of the teaparty become clearer. But SHOULD there be? Would the movement quickly become just like any other party, with rigid platforms, political-speak and a gladiators-style nomination for every election? Just thinking aloud here.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00466860937596192472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709798102111768035.post-38830917549351801372010-07-29T10:48:00.221-07:002010-07-29T10:48:00.221-07:00NoSurf, to address your last point, even if Obama ...NoSurf, to address your last point, even if Obama isn't the most moderate he is definitely more appealing than the other options.<br /><br />About people within the tea party revoking/rebuking radical people that are racist and voicing the terrible, despicable, most abhorrent idea of wanting to kill the president. From those that are voices within the movement I have heard a lot rebuking and separating from anyone or any group that may think that way.<br /><br />I have heard Glenn Beck denounce those individuals numerous times and I'm not someone who listen's to or watches his shows everyday. He even denounces the "birthers" (those that think President Obama's birth cert is fake). My hearing Glenn denounce these comes from random listenings in my car or random show watchings at home. We're talking 5-10 instances that I have personally heard and not counting all the other minutes/hours of his show I have not listened to or watched. That's just one voice of the tea party movement.<br /><br />Rick Santelli, the guy on CNBC, is another voice for the movement, has also denounced any racist ideas. <br /><br />Now I don't know how well these examples are publicized. But those within their respective spheres of influence are at least (most likely) those that are taking an active part in the tea party movement and so are hearing the denunciations done by at least these two. <br /><br />There are no prominent "leaders" of the Tea Party movement that I have ever heard support any form of racism and idea whatsoever of assassinating the president (I put leaders in quotes because there really aren't any official leaders of the movement). Any I read about, watch or listen to always denounce the ideas if those ideas EVER surface. The problem is, most of what I see outside of listening or watching those in or supporting the Tea Party movement are little snippets that catch the one sign in a crowd of thousands that may be taken as racist. Never do I hear them quoting the supposed "leaders" of the movement or even those who claim to be a part of the Tea Party movement.<br /><br />There are racists still all over this country and in many different political groups including the two major political parties (although my optimism is that this number is small and is still declining, President Obama's election I believe is proof of that). But I don't believe we are doing a good enough job across the board of denouncing any form of racism.<br /><br />Now I understand the apprehension many may have with a new movement that starts up after a black man is elected president. I think everyone in the back of his or her mind was thinking, "I hope this works, that we really are ready to not allow race to separate us any longer." And when opposition to this President comes many will first ask themselves, "Wait are these racists? Are they trying to destroy the progress we have made as a people?" So they should ask those questions that are on their mind.<br /><br />But I've watched the Tea Party movement relatively closely and have seen absolutely nothing that supports the idea that the Tea Party movement is helping racism or assassination in any form, even in the form of turning a blind eye to it. <br /><br />I also, think there are areas to criticize the Tea Party movement, but those criticisms are the same ones I have for most any political movement or political party. That criticism is primarily that they can be too biased or too politically driven instead of principally driven. In that regard, I don't yet know how I feel about the groups that are coming from the Tea Party movement. I don't know if it just another form of politics instead of an actual movement that is principally driven.<br /><br />Wow that was much more than I was planning to write. I just wrote another blog post...<br /><br />As always, great comments and awesome feedback. As I write these posts I'm realizing that I'm more passionate about some of these posts or ideas within the posts than I thought I was.Joshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04676286761517939199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709798102111768035.post-52596240156633543152010-07-25T18:38:43.836-07:002010-07-25T18:38:43.836-07:00I actually joined the "coffee party" on ...I actually joined the "coffee party" on facebook :) And I like what they have to say, a lot of the time. Their mission statement is all about promoting good dialogue between parties/political viewpoints, though of course, being the "coffee party" they are immediately taking an "against teaparty" stance and therefore may be more left than center.<br /><br />But I like what they have to say.<br /><br />As to the tea party... I did a post about that a while ago. I know the teaparty is really a patchwork quilt of ideologies and viewpoints and factions and issues. You can't label the teaparty any "one thing" except perhaps, anti-party. Which in a way I agree with.<br /><br />However, some of the signs that have gone up, ostensibly representing the teaparty, as well as some of the things that have been said on the news, have made me cringe and not want to touch "teaparty" with a ten-foot pole. yes, the teaparty isn't racist. It's a group of diverse people. But I'd like to see people within the teaparty stand up and revoke/rebuke those who say things that are racsit, or express their desire to kill our president.<br /><br />I mean, killing our president wouldn't even be smart. Because next in line is Joe Biden (who is experienced, but says a lot of silly things, and is perhaps more leftist than Obama in a lot of ways, or at least, is more establishment than Obama) and third in line is... Nancy Pelosi. <br /><br />Of those three, one might say Obama is the most moderate.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00466860937596192472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709798102111768035.post-54840451098229877652010-07-14T12:47:43.384-07:002010-07-14T12:47:43.384-07:00I have something against the tea party movement be...I have something against the tea party movement because I don't drink tea. Just kidding.<br /><br />I agree that it is ridiculous the way people can be so vehemently against the opposing party, regardless of what the issue is-- to the point of sounding really stupid as they bash the other person (specifically I am thinking of some online comments I have read). People just need to chill and stop trying to blame the other guy. I agree that there is a lot of common ground and working together we could do a lot.merrilykarolyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16354896948729639433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709798102111768035.post-49418494078540594942010-07-14T12:38:27.943-07:002010-07-14T12:38:27.943-07:00As someone who identifies with liberal/democratic ...As someone who identifies with liberal/democratic parties I have nothing against the Tea Party movement.<br /><br />I see them (fairly or not) as similar to any other protest group. No matter what someone is being outspoken about, there will always been someone else to be just as outspoken back. I think the very act of speaking out opens the flood gates for attack no matter what you're speaking out against.<br /><br />I don't see a problem with the Tea Party groups and even if they were heinously racist/sexist/from Mars, I love the validation and exercise of our Constitutional rights.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709798102111768035.post-63104057741212864882010-07-14T11:46:23.372-07:002010-07-14T11:46:23.372-07:00I'm with you I definitely lean towards the tea...I'm with you I definitely lean towards the tea party's stance but am not a member nor have I been to an event. The thing that gets me thought, is that there is no proof that anyone actually said racist things to the Members of Congress. It is a "his word versus mine" battle. What happened to innocent until proven guilty! In this day if something like that really happened you would think there would be cell phone video or audio of it since everything else is caught that way. I think people have made way too much out of this!Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00224509468051361226noreply@blogger.com