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

[andy58-in-nh]

Well done.

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.

[FreeInWV]

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.

[ken5050]

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?”

[nathanbedford]

This travesty which wallows in lies, innuendo, and exaggerations is so beneath the standard one has a right to expect from a Nobel prize winner publishing in the New York Times that one is confronted with the reality that Paul Krugman, the Nobel Prize committee, and the New York Times have utterly prostituted their reputation to move the leftist agenda.

[andy58-in-nh]

The Left's concerted attack on the concept of "value" (in fact: on objective reality) has borne bitter fruit. In our time, ethical and behavioral standards have eroded dramatically, a fact that ought to evoke shame but instead brings shrugs. In such an environment, things like Reputation and Honor appear as antiquated artifacts, faded reminders of a past long gone and blown across the landscape by the leveling wind of egalitarianism.

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.

[abb]

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

[abb]

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

[abb]

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: It’s About the Spending

http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/578997.aspx
Tax Day Tea Parties Protest Gov’t Spending

[abb]

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

[abb]

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

[abb]

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

[Fu-fu2]

Your #67-—great post!

[Arizona Carolyn]

Krazy Krugman strikes again.

[abb]

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!

[abb]

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

[abb]

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

[\/\/ayne]

Paul Krugman

[GOPJ]

thanks for the ping.

[GOPJ]

Krugman has a job writing for the New York Times - and he calls us crazy?

[George Smiley]

I’m old enough to remember when Nobel Prizes *meant something*.