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The Tea Party frightens me (ZOGBY, Arab American Institute) BARF!
Gulf Daily News ^ | February 14, 2010 | JAMES J ZOGBY

Posted on 02/14/2010 3:50:08 PM PST by maggief

EXCERPT

Former Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin gave the keynote address. While some media pundits dismiss her, poking fun at her lack of knowledge and verbal gaffes, I believe she must be taken seriously. She is a dangerous populist, who delights her following with crude appeals to patriotism, anger at Washington, resentment at all things "foreign" and her penchant for ridiculing, as "out of touch elites," a wide array of opponents.

She may not know history or geography, but to her enthralled base she speaks the truth. Palin has touched the exposed nerve of anger and alienation of some elements of the white middle class. And, in this context, attacks against her only serve to reinforce her supporters' feelings of being aggrieved.

(Excerpt) Read more at gulf-daily-news.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: angrymob; arabamericans; fearfuldems; handwringers; palin; teaparty; teapartyconvention; zogby
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To: maggief
This one is not like the NY Times or the Los Angeles times as far as excerpts... :-) ...



The Tea Party frightens me

 

By Dr JAMES J ZOGBY President, Arab American Institute
Posted on Monday, February 15, 2010

Last weekend, when Washington was being hit by its worst-ever snow storm, the Tea Party Movement was holding its first national meeting in Nashville, Tennessee. I watched parts of the convention on television and became concerned by what I saw and heard. After reviewing two sets of national polls, released this Friday, my concern was heightened.

Former Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin gave the keynote address. While some media pundits dismiss her, poking fun at her lack of knowledge and verbal gaffes, I believe she must be taken seriously. She is a dangerous populist, who delights her following with crude appeals to patriotism, anger at Washington, resentment at all things "foreign" and her penchant for ridiculing, as "out of touch elites," a wide array of opponents.

She may not know history or geography, but to her enthralled base she speaks the truth. Palin has touched the exposed nerve of anger and alienation of some elements of the white middle class. And, in this context, attacks against her only serve to reinforce her supporters' feelings of being aggrieved.

Former Congressman and 2008 presidential candidate Tom Tancredo also addressed the convention. Some will recall the splash he created a few years back when he advocated bombing the holy places in Mecca and Medina if the US were attacked again by terrorists. Giving the meeting's opening address, he was in prime form accusing President Obama "and his left wing allies" of "looking at every opportunity to destroy the Constitution before we have a chance to save it" and telling the cheering crowd that "this is our country", urging them "to take it back".

In one especially disturbing passage, Tancredo played his anti-immigrant, anti-foreign card, charging that "people who could not even spell the word 'vote' or say it in English put a committed socialist ideologue in the White house. His name is Barack Hussein Obama".

It may make some feel better to dismiss all this as the bizarre rantings of a disgruntled minority. I think not. The polls show the strength of this current within the Republican Party. While only 35 per cent of Republicans consider themselves supporters of the Tea Party Movement, 60pc agree with its views. And more than one-half of all Republicans believe the group will make their party stronger.

They may be a minority, but they are angry, feel threatened, and have demonstrated their ability to organise their anger into a disruptive and, at times, violent force - as they did last summer in breaking up healthcare reform Town Hall meetings across the US.

And despite being a minority, they have a "star" in Palin and strong media voices like Rush Limbaugh, Fox TV's Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity. With the Republican Party rudderless, at the moment, this current has become the de facto leadership of the opposition to the White House. The Tea Party's danger, then, is not so much that it will become the majority, but that it will continue to intimidate more moderate voices in the Republican Party.

This is not a new phenomenon. Such movements frequently arise in periods of social dislocation and economic distress. They prey on the fears of the middle class with appeals to patriotism, and warnings against elites and foreigners - creating in the minds of their supporters a life/death struggle of "us" versus "them". Appeals to anger using chauvinism, xenophobia and racism are their trademarks. We've seen similar efforts rise up in recent times with Jšrg Haider in Austria, Jean-Marie Le Pen in France and Nick Griffin in the UK - and it has now come to America.

So excuse me if I don't join those who dismiss Palin or her Tea Party crowd or take consolation in the polls showing that 71pc of Americans feel she is not qualified to be president. I'm frightened by the 26pc who think she is qualified (including 42pc of all Republicans). The crowds that cheer her on or respond with delight to Tancredo's bigoted remarks shouldn't be dismissed. They are reason to be concerned, very concerned. jzogby@aaiusa.org

21 posted on 02/14/2010 4:07:08 PM PST by Star Traveler (Remember to keep the Messiah of Israel in the One-World Government that we look forward to coming)
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To: notpoliticallycorewrecked

“They have reason be afraid”

Let’s be real. As a group, the left have about as much courage as the French.


22 posted on 02/14/2010 4:08:30 PM PST by avoth
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To: maggief

If YOU are “frightened” by Sarah, then you deserve to be!
Your “fear” is indicative of your contempt for America and the Constitution. Embracing Obama’s vision for America is what should be feared and fought at every turn!


23 posted on 02/14/2010 4:09:17 PM PST by G Larry (DNC is comprised of REGRESSIVES!)
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To: CharlesWayneCT
What verbal gaffes?

1. I've been to all 57 states.

2. In the depth of the depression, when Roosevelt spoke to the American people on TV...

3. Abdulmutallabadadoo was an isolated extremist.

Oh, wait a minute...

24 posted on 02/14/2010 4:12:25 PM PST by BusterBear
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To: Star Traveler

I tend to error on the side of caution. :)


25 posted on 02/14/2010 4:12:36 PM PST by maggief
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To: maggief

She is a dangerous populist, who delights her following with crude appeals to patriotism, anger at Washington, resentment at all things “foreign” and her penchant for ridiculing, as “out of touch elites,” a wide array of opponents.
— - - - - - - -

Terrified they are. They are afraid that voters will take matters into their own hands at the ballot box and take power away from the political class. The government is under the control of life-long Marxists and Maoists and she is “dangerous”?


26 posted on 02/14/2010 4:16:03 PM PST by excopconservative
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To: maggief
You were saying ...

I tend to error on the side of caution. :)

Yes, you can do that, too...

But, the posting page will actually stop you from posting the whole article on websites that are prohibited from doing that. So, if you don't know for sure... then you'll find out when you hit the review button on the post (and here I'm talking about posting the thread, not a post further on down the thread).

Otherwise, just check this FReeper thread...

Updated FR Excerpt and Link Only or Deny Posting List due to Copyright Complaints


All the ones that you need to excerpt or only link are listed. Do a search function on your browser for the relevant site you're looking for and you can find out in a few seconds.

27 posted on 02/14/2010 4:17:42 PM PST by Star Traveler (Remember to keep the Messiah of Israel in the One-World Government that we look forward to coming)
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To: paguch

This Zogby is the brother to the poll taker and involved in some muslim groups...democrat also...wouldn’t trust him with my dog.


28 posted on 02/14/2010 4:18:20 PM PST by goat granny
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To: maggief

“...exposed nerve of anger and alienation of some elements of the white middle class.”
Here we go again!
This zogby goat fornicator is a liar if the first order.


29 posted on 02/14/2010 4:23:34 PM PST by Scotsman will be Free (11C - Indirect fire, infantry - High angle hell - We will bring you, FIRE)
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To: CharlesWayneCT
Zogby: The Tea Party frightens me

It should, Mr. Zogby.

It should.


30 posted on 02/14/2010 4:24:47 PM PST by Lazamataz (Hey Obama, Can You Hear Me Now....? GOOOOoood......)
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To: Star Traveler
We've seen similar efforts rise up in recent times with Jšrg Haider in Austria, Jean-Marie Le Pen in France and Nick Griffin in the UK - and it has now come to America.”

Zogby is a fanatical, Islamic fundamentalist idiot.
I lived in Europe for years. There is nothing in common between Jean Marie LePen and the Tea Parties.
This is merely another attempt by the notoriously racist Jihn Zogby to smear the Tea Parties.

I'm frightened by the 26pc who think she is qualified”

You should be frightened, Mr John “Kerry Will Win in 2004” Zogby. Back in 2007, only 25% of the population thought 0bozo was qualified to be president. A year later he was president. If nothing at all, it's worth election Sarah Plain president just for the thought that it frightens the heck out of racist bigots like John Zogby.

31 posted on 02/14/2010 4:26:34 PM PST by SmokingJoe
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To: A CA Guy

A gaff is a hook.


32 posted on 02/14/2010 4:32:06 PM PST by drubyfive
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To: maggief
When he's not helping his brother screw up polls, James Zogby is a big wig in the Democratic Party.

From Wikipedia

James J. Zogby (born 1945) is an American academic, political consultant, commentator, and the founder and president of the Washington, D.C.-based Arab American Institute. He is a senior analyst with his brother's polling firm, Zogby International, and is a lecturer and scholar on Middle East issues. He is also member of the Executive Committee of the Democratic National Committee.

33 posted on 02/14/2010 4:32:36 PM PST by bwc2221
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To: bwc2221

Well connected, isn’t he.


34 posted on 02/14/2010 4:37:09 PM PST by maggief
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To: maggief
"The Tea Party frightens me"

Just one word....GOOD!!!

35 posted on 02/14/2010 4:38:05 PM PST by RoseofTexas
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To: Bigtigermike

Just like 71% think she is unqualified? Where was I when this poll was taken? And Obamalama was qualified. He is not qualified to shine Sarahs Shoes Grand central station.


36 posted on 02/14/2010 4:39:53 PM PST by crazydad (What)
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To: maggief
Zogby is a typical ignorant arab. Doesn't comprehend civilization even though he has tried to live with it, too arrogant to realize the failure is his.
37 posted on 02/14/2010 4:42:51 PM PST by hinckley buzzard
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To: maggief

And, ZerO doesn’t?


38 posted on 02/14/2010 4:43:57 PM PST by depressed in 06 (Tea parties today, Lexington tomorrow.)
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To: maggief

Quite frankly, Muslims scare me. Sarah....meh...not so scarey.


39 posted on 02/14/2010 4:45:36 PM PST by dforest (Who is the real Jim Thompson? I am.)
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To: maggief

......not as much as Chuckie Schumer and friends frighten me.


40 posted on 02/14/2010 4:48:01 PM PST by rod1
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