What does TPTB stand for?
Despite my frequent visits to DU, I have to admit that that one has me stumped as well.
I have deciphered many of their other snappy and mysterious shorthands though:
BFEE = Bush Family Evil Empire - They control everything, including oil prices, strokes, undersea volcanos and hurricanes.
And when discussing 911, Bush's role in the attacks can only be framed under the two LIHOP ("let it happen on purpose") and MIHOP ("made it happen on purpose") scenarios. Mossad figures prominently in the planning no matter which scenario you buy into.
If you even suggest that the 911 attacks were actually an islamic terrorist operation, you are dismissed as a dupe of the rightwing controlled NYTimes Rovian mouthpiece.
It really is a fun place to visit, just to explore strange life that inhabits it, like a deepsea hot smoker or the atmosphere of Titan.
The powers that be?