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The Very Angry Tea Party
The NY Slimes ^ | June 17, 2010 | J.M. BERNSTEIN

Posted on 06/17/2010 4:34:39 AM PDT by LurkedLongEnough

The seething anger that seems to be an indigenous aspect of the Tea Party movement arises, I think, at the very place where politics and metaphysics meet, where metaphysical sentiment becomes political belief. More than their political ideas, it is the anger of Tea Party members that is already reshaping our political landscape. As Jeff Zeleny reported last Monday in The Times, the vast majority of House Democrats are now avoiding holding town-hall-style forums — just as you might sidestep an enraged, jilted lover on a subway platform — out of fear of confronting the incubus of Tea Party rage that routed last summer’s meetings. This fear-driven avoidance is, Zeleny stated, bringing the time-honored tradition of the political meeting to the brink of extinction.

It would be comforting if a clear political diagnosis of the Tea Party movement were available — if we knew precisely what political events had inspired the fierce anger that pervades its meetings and rallies, what policy proposals its backers advocate, and, most obviously, what political ideals and values are orienting its members.

Of course, some things can be said, and have been said by commentators, under each of these headings. The bailout of Wall Street, the provision of government assistance to homeowners who cannot afford to pay their mortgages, the pursuit of health care reform and, as a cumulative sign of untoward government expansion, the mounting budget deficit are all routinely cited as precipitating events. I leave aside the election of a — “foreign-born” — African-American to the presidency.

(Excerpt) Read more at opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Government; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: hysterical; iamsmartandyouarenot; november; racecard
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To: LurkedLongEnough
When the People fear their Government there is Tyranny.

When a Government fears the People there is LIBERTY !!

21 posted on 06/17/2010 5:07:54 AM PDT by DTogo (High time to bring back the Sons of Liberty !!)
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To: Blueflag
If he is representative, the left is dangerously out of touch with reality. In the sense that a critical miscalculation on their part is assured at some point.
22 posted on 06/17/2010 5:08:37 AM PDT by Travis McGee (---www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com---)
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To: LurkedLongEnough

Let me ‘splain something to the author who can’t understand why the Tea Party is so angry:

For DECADES, conservatives have politely taken steps back as the collectivist (fascist/communist, take your pick) usurped our freedoms and gave government more and more intrusive power into our everyday lives, stepping inevitably to the place where “that which is not prohibited is required”. The majority of these usurpations were accomplished not by the will of the people, either, but through the unelected and unaccountable court system.

We took steps backward out of civility, out of the inherent “live and let live” beliefs of the right.

We just noticed the cliff behind us. There are no more steps back in the name of civility.

So, Mr Author who can’t understand the anger, it’s not any recent, current policy, nor is it that “there’s a black man (gasp) in the White House”. As an aside, imagine putting a Keyes, Sowell, or W.E. Williams in the White House and see how angry (and racist?) the left would be.

It’s the culmination of the erosion of liberty and the usurpation of our freedom by your nanny state that has made us angry. We’ve had enough. We’re reaching for the ballot box, possibly for the last time before we move on to the next box of freedom.

You’ve been warned.


23 posted on 06/17/2010 5:16:10 AM PDT by MrB (The difference between a (de)humanist and a Satanist is that the latter knows who he's working for.)
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To: LurkedLongEnough

Proof positive that there is none so blind as he who will not see.

(Not you, Lurked - the author of the article posted.)


24 posted on 06/17/2010 5:17:35 AM PDT by Peet (<- A.K.A. the Foundling)
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To: Blueflag

Interesting that he calls the TP a bunch of nihilists.

Nihilists believe there is nothing but the present life,
and this leads to a worship of the state. You exist for the perpetuation of the power of the state, and that’s your only worth.

The Tea Party people are the exact opposite of nihilists.


25 posted on 06/17/2010 5:17:49 AM PDT by MrB (The difference between a (de)humanist and a Satanist is that the latter knows who he's working for.)
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To: MSSC6644; SueRae

There are only two sides in the Cosmic Battle.
They are on “the other side”.


26 posted on 06/17/2010 5:19:24 AM PDT by MrB (The difference between a (de)humanist and a Satanist is that the latter knows who he's working for.)
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To: EBH

people who seek nothing from the government can’t be controlled

that’s his fear


27 posted on 06/17/2010 5:19:57 AM PDT by MrB (The difference between a (de)humanist and a Satanist is that the latter knows who he's working for.)
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To: mike-zed
And the left was a model of peaceful reflection and thought during the Bush administration.

Media Splatters insists as much

Why let things like reality and facts get in the way of your lying propaganda that would make Goebbels blush?

28 posted on 06/17/2010 5:22:16 AM PDT by thecabal (Destroy Progressivism)
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To: Travis McGee
...the left is dangerously out of touch with reality.

Clearly the author is enchanted with his verbose pomposity. He drivels endlessly about nothing.

Had he personal knowledge of that about which he speaks his writing would have some merit. That he is utterly ignorant of the Tea Party, its adherents and causes, becomes clearer the longer one struggles through his diatribe.

29 posted on 06/17/2010 5:23:00 AM PDT by Louis Foxwell (He is the son of soulless slavers, not the son of soulful slaves.)
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To: Travis McGee

Agreed. It’s like they create a convenient false image of their opposition to ‘demonize’ and then declare it to be real.

The issue, as you suggest is that they will eventually react to the false image instead of the reality. THAT could have dire consequences.


30 posted on 06/17/2010 5:23:01 AM PDT by Blueflag (Res ipsa loquitur)
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To: LurkedLongEnough

They really don’t get it.


31 posted on 06/17/2010 5:24:27 AM PDT by Lurker (The avalanche has begun. The pebbles no longer have a vote.)
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To: MrB

Very well said, sir. Very well said.


32 posted on 06/17/2010 5:25:52 AM PDT by Lurker (The avalanche has begun. The pebbles no longer have a vote.)
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To: IntolerantOfTreason
I don't give a crap whether Bam's real birth certificate is from Hawaii, Indonesia, or Kenya. Culturally, he is not an American, he's an international communist POS. He cannot relate to the way that a real American thinks or lives.
33 posted on 06/17/2010 5:25:54 AM PDT by thecabal (Destroy Progressivism)
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To: LurkedLongEnough

Impressive that the “progressive” brain trust has advanced their pseudo-intellectual agitprop over the past 20 years from “Angry White Male” to “Angry White Tea Party” ...


34 posted on 06/17/2010 5:29:00 AM PDT by spodefly (This is my tag line. There are many like it, but this one is mine.)
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To: mike-zed
It would be comforting if a clear political diagnosis of the Tea Party movement were available — if we knew precisely what political events had inspired the fierce anger that pervades its meetings and rallies, what policy proposals its backers advocate, and, most obviously, what political ideals and values are orienting its members.

I've never known a liberal who needed a reason to hate. If they understand the Tea Party or not - they'll still hate us. And understand? They'll put up a straw man and knock it down no matter what they "get". So here's my suggestion to the Slimes - look up Rick Santelli... talk to him. He's part of the foundation and a great starting point - if they really want understanding... (which I don't believe)

35 posted on 06/17/2010 5:31:55 AM PDT by GOPJ (http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/index2.php?area=dam&lang=eng)
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To: spodefly
Impressive that the “progressive” brain trust has advanced their pseudo-intellectual agitprop over the past 20 years from “Angry White Male” to “Angry White Tea Party” ...

The left hasn't had a new idea in 40 years - so the progression from "conservatives are angry crazies" to " tea party members are angry crazies" is movement... ( by their lame standards, I guess that's "change"...)

36 posted on 06/17/2010 5:34:12 AM PDT by GOPJ (http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/index2.php?area=dam&lang=eng)
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To: IntolerantOfTreason; thecabal
I leave aside the election of a — “foreign-born” — African-American to the presidency.

Perhaps he was born in Hawaii as he claims, perhaps not.

What is indisputable is that even if he was "born an American", he certainly was not "raised an American".

Further, his refusal to release his real birth certificate shows there's something on it that would be fatally embarassing. "Race"? "Father"?

37 posted on 06/17/2010 5:35:00 AM PDT by DuncanWaring (The Lord uses the good ones; the bad ones use the Lord.)
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To: LurkedLongEnough

Somehow, the author doesn’t remember what happened after the Seven Years’ War when the British tried to impose taxes on American colonists to pay for that war—the result was debacle after debacle the ended with the American Revolution.


38 posted on 06/17/2010 5:36:02 AM PDT by RayChuang88 (FairTax: America's economic cure)
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To: Blueflag

Very dire, if they think they can at some point issue an ultimatum to the “angry right” to stand-down, or else be given (for historical examples) the Bonus Army or the Japanese Internment treatment.

That would be a very big mistake, to issue ultimatums that would in effect be waving a red flag a bull.


39 posted on 06/17/2010 5:36:13 AM PDT by Travis McGee (---www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com---)
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To: Blueflag
-- He is MIGHTILY un-perceptive if he cannot infer or read what the tea party is about ... --

Another possibility is that he's a liar.

40 posted on 06/17/2010 5:40:58 AM PDT by Cboldt
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