Posted on 04/13/2009 2:04:54 AM PDT by abb
This is a column about Republicans and Im not sure I should even be writing it.
Todays 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 doesnt 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 dont represent a spontaneous outpouring of public sentiment. Theyre 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 thats 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 Floridas Miami-Dade County.
snip
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
The thing to keep in mind when considering Paul Krugman is that his purpose at the New York Times is to provide intellectual camoflage for what would otherwise rightly be seen as crude propaganda. In the social circles inhabited by the Times' remaining 15 or 20 readers, a Nobel Prize resting lightly upon the mantle conveys both unquestionable academic stature and unimpeachable character. What the heck: it worked for Al Gore, he of the drowning polar bears and inexorably rising seas.
This guy is a boob. One of my liberal colleagues said the same thing this morning. I calmly asked him that if this was a big Republican organized event (astroturfing he called it), then why did the Pittsburg Tea party have Dr. Alan Keyes as their keynote speaker on saturday? Would the GOP actually pay to provide a platform to Dr. Keyes, who repudiated the GOP and joined the AIP?
He couldn’t answer that.
Krugman’s spittle and drivel about the supposedly ( his take) “meaningless” tea parties recalls the classic argument one can use against atheists..to wit: “If God doesn’t exist, as you profess, then why are you so concerned about those of us who believe in Him?”
When newspapers are pimps and writers their whores, one who abstains from their influence might be forgiven for taking satisfaction in the knowledge that whatever their paying customers may come away with, it will be an empty, soul-denying experience.
http://economywatchblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/04/the-tea-party-revolt-and-why-i.html
The Tea Party “revolt” and why I don’t get it.
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2009/04/tea_parties_tax_revolts_and_re.html
Tea Parties, Tax Revolts and Real Change
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2228034/posts
Pre-game time:Lets get ready to Tea Party!
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2228030/posts
Southwest Florida FReepers: Fort Myers Tea Party, 04-15-2009, 5-7 PM, Centennial Park
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2227968/posts
Tea Party - Lincoln, NE
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2227956/posts
Greenville SC Tea Party April 17, 2009 at 6PM
http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/dws/drc/localnews/denton/stories/DRC_Area_events_to_0412.c9a58856.html
Area events to protest higher taxes planned
http://www.theind.com/content/view/4200/95/
Lafayette joins Wednesday’s tea party demonstrations
http://dawgnetnews.com/index.php/opinion/450-indy-tea-party-voices-american-frustration
Indy Tea Party Voices American Frustration
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Blog/Default.aspx?id=487832
Greenwood Tea Party Denied Permission to Meet at City Hall
http://woodlandsonline.com/evps/evitem.cfm?evid=21308
The Woodlands Tax Day Tea Party Event
http://www.kbnd.com/329564.aspx
Interest Bend’s Tea Party Growing
http://www.thedailyjournal.com/article/20090413/NEWS01/90413010
VINELAND: Group planning tax protest outside post office
http://www.mlive.com/news/annarbornews/index.ssf?/base/news-32/123963362394740.xml&coll=2
Rallies to protest spending
Demonstrations to take place in area and at state capital
http://www.mlive.com/news/citpat/index.ssf?/base/news-28/1239631507221630.xml&coll=3
2 anti-tax protestsplanned
http://menifeelive.com/site/pages/posts/tax-day-tea-party-in-temecula130.php
Tax Day Tea Party in Temecula
http://blog.heritage.org/2009/04/13/morning-bell-its-about-the-spending-2/
Morning Bell: Its About the Spending
http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/578997.aspx
Tax Day Tea Parties Protest Gov’t Spending
http://www.redstate.com/colinhanna/2009/04/13/tea-party-is-just-the-start/
Tea Party is Just The Start
http://www.thenextright.com/jon-henke/the-tea-party-protests
The Tea Party protests
http://www.kcbd.com/global/story.asp?s=10171421
Local protesters to host “tea party”
http://www.wsaz.com/home/headlines/42895477.html
Statewide Tea Party Set for Wednesday
http://www.arizonaeighth.com/2009/04/green-valley-tea-party.html
Green Valley Tea Party
http://americanpowerblog.blogspot.com/2009/04/grassroots-tea-party-revolt.html
The Grassroots Tea Party Revolt
http://justbkuz.wordpress.com/2009/04/13/weekend-tea-party-tallies/
Weekend Tea Party Tallies
http://lesliecarbone.blogspot.com/2009/04/reston-tea-party.html
Reston Tea Party
http://richmondteaparty.wordpress.com/2009/04/13/what-are-they-critical-of-not-enough-spending/
What Are They Critical Of? Not Enough Spending?
http://www.elliscountyobserver.com/?p=5644
Waxahachie Tea Party | Courthouse @ 9 a.m.
http://daytonos.com/?p=6150
Dayton Tea Party invites area political party representatives as special guests at Rally
http://togetrichisglorious.blogspot.com/2009/04/krugman-and-tea-parties.html
Krugman and the tea parties
http://www.cumminghome.com/events/governmentpolitical/forsyth-county-mobilization-for-the-april-15th-tax.shtml
Forsyth County Mobilization for the April 15th Tax Day Tea Parties
http://www.cheatseekingmissiles.com/2009/04/13/toast-krugman-at-your-tea-party/
Toast Krugman At Your Tea Party
http://wakeupwaco.blogspot.com/2009/04/waco-trib-newspaper-tea-party-rebuttal.html
Waco Trib Newspaper - Tea Party Rebuttal
http://iowaindependent.com/13907/busy-week-of-conservative-protests-planned
Busy week of conservative protests planned
http://soundpolitics.com/archives/012849.html
On Tea Parties
http://www.wlox.com/Global/story.asp?S=10173837&nav=menu40_2
Tax Day Tea Party event planned in Gulfport
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/04/13/pub-moveon/
Move Over, MoveOn: Tea Parties Spark Conservative Insurgency Online
Tea parties have sparked an online insurgency, with independent media sites driving coverage of the protests, suggesting that conservatives may be catching up with their liberal counterparts in building a Web-driven, grassroots campaign to push their agenda.
http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/dws/drc/localnews/denton/stories/DRC_Area_events_to_0412.c9a58856.html
Area events to protest higher taxes planned
http://blogs.app.com/inthemoney/2009/04/13/come-to-belmar-enjoy-the-ocean-breezes-and-scream-about-your-taxes/
Come to Belmar, enjoy the ocean breeze and scream about your taxes
http://www.kansas.com/news/breaking/story/771642.html
Anti-stimulus ‘tea party’ to feature senator, hot dogs
Your #67-—great post!
Krazy Krugman strikes again.
http://www.desertdispatch.com/news/barstow_5863___article.html/day_plans.html
Barstow plans for Tax Day protest
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/04/13/activists-gear-up-for-tax-day-tea-party/
Activists gear up for national ‘Tax Day Tea Party’
http://backyardconservative.blogspot.com/2009/04/tea-party-bullish-for-america.html
Tea Party: Bullish for America!
http://www.wbaltv.com/money/19169813/detail.html
‘Tea Party’ Protests Planned In Maryland
http://www.lincolntribune.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=11688
Locals to Rally at Court House for Lincoln Tea Party
http://www.qctimes.com/news/local/article_cb03253a-287e-11de-a107-001cc4c002e0.html
Tea Party Day meant to protest federal government excess
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/nov05election/detail?blogid=14&entry_id=38439
War declared: GOP lawmaker blasts top conservative pundits as “wanna bes”
http://www.tulsatoday.com/newsdesk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1931&Itemid=2
Tulsa TEA Parties ready
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,515437,00.html
Tea Party Protests Seeing Green
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/geoffrey-dickens/2009/04/13/stephen-moore-challenges-matthews-go-tea-party-chris-retorts-stay-
Stephen Moore Challenges Matthews to Attend Tea Party, Chris Retorts: ‘Stay In Your Box!’
http://www.ktka.com/news/2009/apr/13/tea_party_protests_around_country/
Tea party protests around the country
http://www.fayettedailynews.com/article.php?id_news=3367
Tax day Tea Party protest set to pour into PTC
http://www.newstreamz.com/2009/04/13/county-says-courthouse-open-for-protest/
County says courthouse open for protest
http://www.newarkadvocate.com/article/20090413/UPDATES01/90413017/1052/COMMUNITIES02
Tax protesters plan gatherings in Pataskala, Newark
http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20090413/NEWS12/90413036
Lawmakers discuss relief for N.Y. taxpayers
http://www.saljournal.com/news/story/rally4-13-09
Rally planned after TEA Party
http://www2.hernandotoday.com/content/2009/apr/13/rallies-planned-wednesday-health-care-taxation/
Rallies planned Wednesday for health care, taxation
http://www.crescent-news.com/news/article/4565628
Holgate woman fed up with government costs; organizes ‘tea party’
http://www.rrdailyherald.com/articles/2009/04/13/news/doc49e361b34480e620110841.txt
Tea party planned in Roanoke Rapids
http://michellemalkin.com/2009/04/13/tea-party-smear-watch-the-race-card/
Tea Party Smear Watch: The Race Card
http://www.elliscountyobserver.com/?p=5651
Revised Tea Party Times | 9:30 a.m. AND 6:30 p.m.
http://pumaeyes.wordpress.com/2009/04/13/join-us-on-april-15th-the-tea-party-begins-at-1100/
Join us on April 15th. The Tea Party begins at 11:00
http://slapstickpolitics.blogspot.com/2009/04/denver-tea-party-monday-update-rallies.html
Denver Tea Party: Monday Update; Rallies Scheduled Around Colorado On April 15
http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/42895477.html
Statewide Tea Party Set for Wednesday
http://craigorndorff.com/2009/04/13/abingdon-tea-party-on-harrisonburg-front-royal-join-tea-party/
Abingdon Tea Party On; Harrisonburg, Front Royal Join Tea Party
http://countusout.wordpress.com/2009/04/13/thousands-preparing-to-descend-on-boston-for-tax-day-tea-party-april-15/
Thousands Preparing to Descend on Boston for Tax Day Tea Party April 15
http://daytonology.blogspot.com/2009/04/dayton-tea-party-local-political.html
The Dayton Tea Party & Local Political Culture
Paul Krugman |
thanks for the ping.
Krugman has a job writing for the New York Times - and he calls us crazy?
I’m old enough to remember when Nobel Prizes *meant something*.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.