Tea Parties Forever (Krugman psycho rant - Tea Party/Tax Revolt updates and links)

The New York Times ^ | April 13, 2009 | Paul Krugman

[abb]

This is a column about Republicans — and I’m not sure I should even be writing it.

Today’s G.O.P. is, after all, very much a minority party. It retains some limited ability to obstruct the Democrats, but has no ability to make or even significantly shape policy.

Beyond that, Republicans have become embarrassing to watch. And it doesn’t feel right to make fun of crazy people. Better, perhaps, to focus on the real policy debates, which are all among Democrats.

snip

One way to get a good sense of the current state of the G.O.P., and also to see how little has really changed, is to look at the “tea parties” that have been held in a number of places already, and will be held across the country on Wednesday. These parties — antitaxation demonstrations that are supposed to evoke the memory of the Boston Tea Party and the American Revolution — have been the subject of considerable mockery, and rightly so.

snip

Last but not least: it turns out that the tea parties don’t represent a spontaneous outpouring of public sentiment. They’re AstroTurf (fake grass roots) events, manufactured by the usual suspects. In particular, a key role is being played by FreedomWorks, an organization run by Richard Armey, the former House majority leader, and supported by the usual group of right-wing billionaires. And the parties are, of course, being promoted heavily by Fox News.

But that’s nothing new, and AstroTurf has worked well for Republicans in the past. The most notable example was the “spontaneous” riot back in 2000 — actually orchestrated by G.O.P. strategists — that shut down the presidential vote recount in Florida’s Miami-Dade County.

snip

[abb]

It seems Paul has lost control of himself in this rant. Do I detect a few flecks of spittle on his chin?

Links and updates to follow downthread.

[abb]

ping

[tet68]

What planet is he from?

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

...and supported by the usual group of right-wing billionaires.

There are right-wing billionaires in this country??? It would be nice if Mr. Krugman dropped a few names.

And I'm sure none of the leftist anti-war, anti-Bush demonstrations are funded by left-wing billionaires, such as George Soros.

[Darkwolf377]

The most notable example was the “spontaneous” riot back in 2000 — actually orchestrated by G.O.P. strategists — that shut down the presidential vote recount in Florida’s Miami-Dade County.

I didn't think that was a "spontaneous riot" when it happened--how could it be? It, along with the tea parties, are something Krugman and his ilk find really, truly revolting--American citizens using whatever methods they have available to voice their protest. Shockingly, this means even rich guys (or campaign workers) who wear ties can voice their opinions, too, as well as working-class folks who don't have Paul Krugman's sympathy.

Is he really trying to argue that only "spontaneous" protest is "real" protest? I guess the original tea-partiers just showed up on the deck and noticed a bunch of other guys in Indian dress--coincidentally!

What is it Obama "community organized"--"spontaneous" events?

I don't personally care for the tea party events. I don't really see the point. But unlike Krugman, I don't think it's always gotta be about me, on my terms, when people express themselves. See, Paul, just because someone doesn't have a column in a newspaper, it doesn't mean they don't have the right to speak.

As for the assertion about debate on issues, the only debates going on with Krugman's liberal buddies is how "spontaneously" they can spend taxpayer money on those who didn't earn it.

Oh, and btw, Paul's columns don't just "spontaneously" appear...

[abb]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2009-04-12-teaparties12_N.htm
Tax revolt a recipe for tea parties

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20090413/COUNTY090101/904130315/1327
Tea Party protest set for Public Square

http://www.albanyherald.com/stories/20090413n2.htm
Two tea parties set for tax day

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/legislature/sfl-crist-taxes-fl041309sbapr13,0,217450.story
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist’s anti-tax reputation comes under strain

http://www.eagletribune.com/punewsnh/local_story_103014126.html?keyword=topstory
Windham men hope for taxpayer revolt

http://www.star-telegram.com/news/story/1313237.html
Tax day ‘tea parties’ stir passion in Dallas-Fort Worth

http://www.charlottesvillenewsplex.tv/news/headlines/42884112.html
Local Blogger Plans Charlottesville Tea Party

[abb]

http://womenstate.blogspot.com/2009/04/tea-parties-growing.html
Tea Parties growing!

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/42881092.html
Tea parties reveal Left’s quick descent to hubris

http://www.thepolicyreport.net/2009/04/12/taxpayers-should-oppose-both-increased-taxes-and-increased-spending/
Taxpayers Should Oppose Both Increased Taxes and Increased Spending

http://pukhtunkhwatimes.blogspot.com/2009/04/californias-anti-tax-crusaders-talk.html
California’s anti-tax crusaders talk revolt

http://www.jrdeputyaccountant.com/2009/04/tax-refund-drama-not-just-for.html
Tax Refund Drama: Not Just for California Anymore

[Salamander]

You don’t catch a lot of flak unless you’re right over the target.

Party on!

[abb]

But Krugman seems to have lost it with this piece. He normally tries to write “above” the rabble. I think he’s mad at himself and conservatives because he’s been forced to write about this “tea party” thing.

[prisoner6]

Fear fathers his delusion.

prisoner6

[Salamander]

Well, nobody supplies *us* with free transport via fleets of buses, giant, idiotic puppets, professionally printed/mass produced protest signs or Day-Glo morons on stilts so we must not have any “billionaire benefactors”.

[Anti-Bubba182]

It is amazing. He just won the Nobel Prize. The Democrats have won decisively and here Krugman is trying to kick Conservatives when they are down. He must not have confidence
in the cause as applied by Obama.

[lentulusgracchus]

Is he really trying to argue that only "spontaneous" protest is "real" protest?

If he could, he'd transform his bogus opinion of other people's politics into a structural impairment of their expression -- enforced by police batons, dogs, fire hoses, and "liberal" application of CS gas.

Krugman's just another parasite on Stalinist political front-groups, another duckspeaker spewing prolefeed.

[abb]

http://www.americandailyreview.com/home-features-articles-blog/2009/4/13/thousands-preparing-to-descend-on-boston-for-tax-day-tea-par.html
Thousands Preparing to Descend on Boston for Tax Day Tea Party April 15

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20090413/BUSINESS/904130361
Tea party protests coming to Kentucky

http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/showarticle.php?num=01HIS130409
April 13 in History
1732
Birth of Lord North, British prime minister from 1770-82. His tax on tea provoked the Boston Tea Party and his policies ultimately led to Britain’s loss of America.

http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_12131140
Fairfield taxpayers plan TEA Party, too

http://www.emediawire.com/releases/2009/4/prweb2315874.htm
Trussville to Host Tax Day Tea Party

http://www.gjfreepress.com/article/20090413/COLUMNISTS/904129997/1021/NONE&parentprofile=1062
See you at the Grand Junction Tea Party

http://www.argusleader.com/article/20090413/NEWS/904130331/1001/news
Rally takes aim at U.S. debt

http://www.idahostatesman.com/business/story/730162.html
Boise Tea Party

[Salamander]

Who “forced” him?

Do editors commonly hold their writers at gunpoint?

I have no idea what, if anything, tea parties will ultimately accomplish but it’s better than sitting around the house complaining and doing nothing where no one can hear you but your dog.

If nothing else, they burrow under the left’s skin.
That’s good enough reason for me....:)

[lentulusgracchus]

[Krugman Article] ......shut down the presidential vote recount in Florida’s Miami-Dade County

Shut down Bill Daley and Al Gore from stealing a national election in broad daylight.

A bunch of Democrats were going to go count election-deciding votes in a locked room. That'll happen over our dead bodies!

I hate it when liberals lie so smoothly, when it rolls off their tongues like poisoned honey.

[Will88]

Last but not least: it turns out that the tea parties don’t represent a spontaneous outpouring of public sentiment.

What a half-witted statement. When do we ever see "spontaneous outpourings" taking place in dozens of different locations? Of course there's some coordination, and only a nutcase would find anything to whine about or object to. I guess Krugman's only impressed with "spontaneous outpourings" of support such as ACORN and assorted other taxpayer financed, partisan political groups.

[abb]

http://newmexicoindependent.com/24724/%E2%80%98tea-parties%E2%80%99-come-to-new-mexico-this-week
‘Tea parties’ come to New Mexico this week

http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/20090413/NEWS01/904130309
As tax day looms, city’s preparations, protests abound

http://www.idahostatesman.com/idahopolitics/story/730199.html
‘Tea party’ to send message to D.C.

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=286030&src=5
Tax Day party

http://www.santamariatimes.com/articles/2009/04/13/news/centralcoast/news06.txt
TEA Party to protest on Tax Day

http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/13335/protest-tea-parties-planned-in-st-lawrence-county
Protest ‘Tea Parties’ planned in St Lawrence County

http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2009/apr/13/tea-parties-slated-in-ventura-county-to-protest/
TEA parties slated in Ventura County to protest taxes, spending

http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2009/042009/04132009/458564
The Fredericksburg Tea Party tax protest is Wednesday

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=94750
Fight for your right to tea party

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=94752
Time for T.E.A. and a Fair Tax

http://www.wfpl.org/CMS/?p=4376
Louisville Tea Party Set For Wednesday

http://www.yumasun.com/opinion/state_49348___article.html/economy_nation.html
We must say ‘no’ to taxation

http://www.fayobserver.com/article?id=323621
More Tea Party protests

[abb]

Who “forced” him?

Not who but what. Events forced him to comment. He would have preferred not writing about the tea parties at all. Now he's had to stain the august pages of the Left's New Testament, The New York Times, with stories about the rabble on the right.

We're too big to ignore. And he's pi$$ed about it.

[Salamander]

Fine.
When we’re done with the tea parties, we’ll throw him a pity party...:)