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Dear Tea Party: Don't Tread on Me, Either (Compares us to the Confederacy)
WCVB-TV The Boston Channel ^ | October 29, 2010 | Ted Reinstein

Posted on 10/29/2010 1:37:23 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

Boston -- First, Mazel-Tov ("Congratulations"), as my people are fond of saying. It seems like only yesterday that Rick Santelli was having his solitary rant. on CNBC and no national Tea Party even existed yet.

Actually, it nearly was yesterday -- less than two years ago. (Just wondering, too: now that he’s generally credited with having induced the Tea Party, isn’t Rick Santelli the ultimate “birther?”)

But now here you are, a strapping young 21-month-old full of fire (and suburban seniors) about to upend the political landscape this year. Not too shabby for an amorphous group with no defined leaders (but lots of corporate cash. ).

Truthfully, I give you credit. You were unhappy from the get-go with President Obama and his majority in Congress. And I do mean literally from the get-go: the first “Tea Party” rally was held outside Seattle only a month after Obama took office.

What, were you unhappy with his choice of inaugural wear?

From TARP, to the Stimulus Bill, to Healthcare Reform, to Climate Change legislation, you became more and more incensed. “Don’t Tread On Me,” you proclaimed from your flags at rallies across the country. (Some other signs proclaimed things about Obama that cannot tastefully be described.)

Hey, who can blame you entirely? You’re angry? Take a number -- so am I. So is almost everyone else I know, even if they’re not out waving flags, wearing tricorn hats, and deriding the long-overdue effort to reform our busted healthcare system as, “Obamacare.”

You’re fond of saying, “I want to take my country back.” Which one? The one from 1773? Because the one in 2011 is also full of people who aren’t necessarily with you on this big reclamation project. Have you noticed that?

Not that there aren’t plenty of Tea Party people who are perfectly bright and friendly and articulate, and genuinely concerned about the country. There are. I’ve met some, interviewed some, even attended a Sarah Palin rally with some. (You betcha!)

The question I have is, when some of your candidates win, and if you help spearhead even a partial Republican takeover in Congress -- what then?

You have made it clear that you will brook no compromise whatsoever on anything at anytime with Democrats. Or accept reasonable Republicans in your midst who would. The Tea Party-addled Senate Minority Leader, Mitch McConnell has said that his party's sole goal. going forward is to ensure that President Obama serves only one term.

This is not the fertile ground on which desperately-needed solutions to our nation’s critical problems can grow. It’s instead a bed of boobie traps and crushed glass that threatens to cut up and eviscerate the good will of reasonable people who want to work together.

I asked Alan Wolfe, a professor of political science at Boston College, when was the last time the nation has seen such complete lack of any cooperation from one major party.

“It’s been a while,” said Wolfe. A long while, as it turns out.

“Not since just before the Civil War, when the South, as a group, acted that way toward Lincoln.”

Needless to say, Republicans -- not to mention Tea Partiers -- are no fans of Democratic hero, FDR. Yet when he passed Social Security, Roosevelt had 81 Republican votes. in the House, and 15 in the Senate. When Democratic President Lyndon Johnson passed Medicare, a majority of Republicans in the House (70) supported it.

Obama’s GOP tally on Healthcare Reform? Zero. Not a single Republican vote in either the House or the Senate.

“There is no precedent for that at all,” says Wolfe.

But here we are. Big problems that aren’t going away, and that won’t be solved without compromise. Which is now, officially, a dirty word.

You know, The funny thing is, I want my country back, too. The one that got big things done by working together.


TOPICS: Heated Discussion
KEYWORDS: 2010; congress; democrats; obama; obamacare; palin; teaparty; teapartyrebellion
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Ummmm, Rep. Joseph Cao (R-LA) voted for ObamaCare, Ted. Google is your friend!
1 posted on 10/29/2010 1:37:25 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

The dems didn’t just cheer for an al qaeda victory in Iraq when Bush was in, they tried to legislate it. The author knows where he can shove cooperation.


2 posted on 10/29/2010 1:45:02 PM PDT by ccruse456
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Ted’s words are like teardrops on a page.


3 posted on 10/29/2010 1:45:12 PM PDT by counterpunch (End the Government Monopoly!)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

The administration now in charge gives most of the country the treatment the Reconstruction South got in post Civil War times.


4 posted on 10/29/2010 1:47:21 PM PDT by oyez (The difference in genius and stupidity is that genius has limits.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
And last time I checked, the DIMs weren't exactly being cooperative with the Repubs. The reason the Repubs were being so 'one-sidedly resistant' to the DIMs was a 'consequence' of the DIMs treatment towards them.

This whole article smells like a stealth piece to label Tea Partiers 'racists' again. The whole, 'this is 2011, not 1773' part of the article, and 'will you include those people who weren't here during the revolution' part smells of calling us 'racists'.

5 posted on 10/29/2010 1:47:59 PM PDT by LoneStarGI (Vegetarian: Old Indian word for "BAD HUNTER.")
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
You have made it clear that you will brook no compromise whatsoever on anything at anytime with Democrats. Or accept reasonable Republicans in your midst who would. The Tea Party-addled Senate Minority Leader, Mitch McConnell has said that his party's sole goal. going forward is to ensure that President Obama serves only one term.

Ted, you blithering idiot!! It was zero AND his dumbocrat majorities in the Congress who announced that THEY would not work with or compromise with their Republican (RINO) counterparts in the Congress. This wasn't our deal, it was theirs. The Republicans, for decades, have worked tirelessly with their leftist counterparts in the Congress trying to iron out policies and procedures that benefit America - NOT their party's sycophants!!!

I could go on poking more holes in your rant, but you're too wrapped up in your own BS and arrogance to listen to the majority of the country who fell for a hustler, quickly discovered what a liar and a fraud he is and now want to stop or undo everything he has done to destroy the country.

In the words of former President Bush, either you're with us, or you're with the terrorists!!

Which is it, Ted??

6 posted on 10/29/2010 1:51:34 PM PDT by DustyMoment (Go green - recycle Congress in 2010!!)
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To: counterpunch

Teardrops aren’t yellow.


7 posted on 10/29/2010 1:53:32 PM PDT by Dr.Deth
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

We’re superior to you racists, now vote for us.


8 posted on 10/29/2010 1:54:33 PM PDT by Tzimisce (No thanks. We have enough government already. - The Tick)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Actually, on the final bill, he voted no.


9 posted on 10/29/2010 1:56:13 PM PDT by Truthsearcher
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Let me see, the last time a major party caused major civil disruptions, called the president a traitor, and deliberately tried to botch a major military effort? Why, that would be the Democrats when they tried to sabotage Bush II’s foreign policy for personal and party gain. But when some radical leftist tries to shove the country to the extreme left side of the spectrum and conservatives refuse to cooperate with him and his party, why that’s just terrible and un-american. (smirk)


10 posted on 10/29/2010 1:56:34 PM PDT by driftless2 (For long-term happiness, learn how to play the accordion.)
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To: Truthsearcher

So he was for it before he was against it?


11 posted on 10/29/2010 1:59:16 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (Every decent man is ashamed of the government he lives under. ~Mencken)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Needless to say, Republicans -- not to mention Tea Partiers -- are no fans of Democratic hero, FDR. Yet when he passed Social Security, Roosevelt had 81 Republican votes. in the House, and 15 in the Senate. When Democratic President Lyndon Johnson passed Medicare, a majority of Republicans in the House (70) supported it.

Are we supposed to long for a return to these good old days?

12 posted on 10/29/2010 2:00:00 PM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson ("Every nation has the government that it deserves." - Joseph de Maistre (1753-1821))
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
He says: "“Not since just before the Civil War, when the South, as a group, acted that way toward Lincoln.”

He's right about one thing..... Republicans did act together as one during the civil war. Because the Republican party was founded in order to force an end to slavery!

And let's not forget it was southern democrats who acted as one to keep humans in the bondage of slavery.

13 posted on 10/29/2010 2:01:56 PM PDT by GloriaJane (http://www.last.fm/music/Gloria+Jane)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
This is not the fertile ground on which desperately-needed solutions to our nation’s critical problems can grow.

Now a liberal wants to claim we should be working together? Didn't your leader just call us all his enemy???

14 posted on 10/29/2010 2:03:13 PM PDT by WhyisaTexasgirlinPA ("The View" is the new Maury Povich inspired "Fight Club in Heels")
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

And, of course, the writer and his professor friend refer only to “the south”—omitting the fact that these “obstructionists” were Democrats.


15 posted on 10/29/2010 2:05:20 PM PDT by Charlemagne on the Fox
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I believe he voted for it with the Stupak amendment and voted against the final version without it.


16 posted on 10/29/2010 2:05:51 PM PDT by Truthsearcher
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Mr.Obama, president de facto, has declared the GOP to be the enemy. So much for bringing the country together. The democrats never cooperate on anything. What the democrats call coopertion is the democrats getting everything their way. When things don’t go their way, they malign others and behave like the elitist bullies they are. Weds. Nov. 3rd will be interesting to see how they react to a crushing defeat. I am sure there will be cries of foul play in order to intimidate and regain power by lies and inneundo. Time the democrats sat the game out and let a group of people willing to do the right things run the country. Hopefully the Gop will remember, we will vote them out too if they don’t perform. And we would preferably do with new GOP candidates, since there is no way in —ll that the party who declares it’s own citizens to be the enemy should ever be in power again.


17 posted on 10/29/2010 2:07:26 PM PDT by This I Wonder32460
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To: ccruse456

I’ve been waiting for that


18 posted on 10/29/2010 2:08:25 PM PDT by personalaccts (Is George W going to protect the border?)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

“This is not the fertile ground on which desperately-needed solutions to our nation’s critical problems can grow. It’s instead a bed of boobie traps and crushed glass that threatens to cut up and eviscerate the good will of reasonable people who want to work together.”.....

And who created that situation, Turd Brain?.....Your no compromise freinds of the whack left, that’s who. To hell with the whack left! You’re going back in the box! This episode of the Twilight Zone is over!


19 posted on 10/29/2010 2:15:52 PM PDT by AngelesCrestHighway
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

This whole article could have been written 4 years ago about the Democrat kooks- and it would have been more fitting. The fact that it was not is the only proof I need that this guy is an idiot.


20 posted on 10/29/2010 2:18:57 PM PDT by WinOne4TheGipper (Truman: The buck stops here. Obama: Buck? What buck? Did I tell you how it's all Bush's fault?)
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