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E.J. Dionne Jr. of Washington Post Muses: Can the left stage a Tea Party?
Washington Post ^ | 10/03/2011 | E.J. Dionne Jr.

Posted on 10/03/2011 7:46:05 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

Why hasn’t there been a Tea Party on the left? And can President Obama and the American left develop a functional relationship?

That those two questions are not asked very often is a sign of how much of the nation’s political energy has been monopolized by the right from the beginning of Obama’s term. This has skewed media coverage of almost every issue, created the impression that the president is far more liberal than he is, and turned the nation’s agenda away from progressive reform.

A quiet left has also been very bad for political moderates. The entire political agenda has shifted far to the right because the Tea Party and extremely conservative ideas have earned so much attention. The political center doesn’t stand a chance unless there is a fair fight between the right and the left.

It’s not surprising that Obama’s election unleashed a conservative backlash. Ironically, disillusionment with George W. Bush’s presidency had pushed Republican politics right, not left. Given the public’s negative verdict on Bush, conservatives shrewdly argued that his failures were caused by his lack of fealty to conservative doctrine. He was cast as a big spender (even if a large chunk of the largess went to Iraq). He was called too liberal on immigration and a big-government guy for bailing out the banks, using federal power to reform the schools and championing a Medicare prescription drug benefit.

Conservative funders realized that pumping up the Tea Party movement was the most efficient way to build opposition to Obama’s initiatives. And the media became infatuated with the Tea Party in the summer of 2009, covering its disruptions of congressional town halls with an enthusiasm not visible this summer when many Republicans faced tough questions from their more progressive constituents.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: coffeeparty; left; liberals; teaparty
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To: sauropod

Don’t forget Vann Jones, he has his wildly popular movement.


41 posted on 10/03/2011 8:15:47 AM PDT by phormer phrog phlyer
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To: SeekAndFind

What concern is that of yours E.J.? It almost gives the impression that The Washington Post has a left-wing bias.


42 posted on 10/03/2011 8:15:56 AM PDT by Texas Eagle (If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all -- Texas Eagle)
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To: SeekAndFind
E.J. Dionne Jr. of Washington Post Muses: Can the left stage a Tea Party?

Of course, Mister Dionne, the left can certainly stage a tea party, as a matter of fact they are drinking tea right now on Wall Street.


43 posted on 10/03/2011 8:16:28 AM PDT by nathanbedford ("Attack, repeat, attack!" Bull Halsey)
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To: MrB

This is of course the correct answer.

What would they do - form a teachers union ....? Whoops!

The fact this moron can’t see the forest for the trees is a perfect example of modern left media. He - literally - does not understand the world he is reporting on.


44 posted on 10/03/2011 8:17:00 AM PDT by Eldon Tyrell
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To: A_Former_Democrat
Exactly! Limited government, personal liberty, freedom and responsibility.

There can be no "tea party" for the left, only a "red party." (or perhaps a "green party") :)
45 posted on 10/03/2011 8:18:03 AM PDT by Sudetenland (There can be no freedom without God--What man gives, man can take away.)
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To: SeekAndFind

No Labels:

“We’re tired of people using a simple label like ‘liberal’ or ‘progressive’ or ‘leftist’ to identify us as a socialist/communist movement, so we’re going to demand that we have ‘no labels’ so that we can’t be so easily identified.”


46 posted on 10/03/2011 8:18:30 AM PDT by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter knows whom he's working for)
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To: GOPJ
The left has the power of illusion - and the power of hate.

Just like their ideological "father".

47 posted on 10/03/2011 8:19:51 AM PDT by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter knows whom he's working for)
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To: SeekAndFind

The left is soooooo jealous.

Here’s why the left fails: when they throw a party, the FREAKS come out. The anarchists, the socialists, the communists, the Black Panthers, the Earth-firsters...

It’s embarrassing. No one *normal* wants to be associated with these losers.

The Tea Party, on the other hand, *is* normal people. So naturally, people aren’t ashamed to be seen with them.


48 posted on 10/03/2011 8:20:53 AM PDT by bolobaby
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To: SeekAndFind

They already have one, it’s called the media.

Pray for America


49 posted on 10/03/2011 8:21:44 AM PDT by bray (Sarah is hated by the establishment of both Parties. Winner!)
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To: rightwingcrazy

Problem is that the Tea Party is, by its nature, a spontaneous movement

The left does NOTHING spontaneous - it has to be by their socialist handbook and in lock step coordination. Besides, their issues run the gambit of social order - if a crowd of lefties are interviewed each one would have a different social agenda to gripe about and believe in. The Tea Party just wants what our forefathers fought to give us - our constitution, smaller government, lower taxes, etc. - too simple for the vast intelligence of the left/s.


50 posted on 10/03/2011 8:25:34 AM PDT by Bitsy (!)
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To: SeekAndFind
the Left are what the media thinks our tea party are

rabble rouser street protesters with extra constitutional aims in mind

51 posted on 10/03/2011 8:26:15 AM PDT by wardaddy (I'm hardcore Dixie Man to the bone but I am having some serious nostalgia for the West these days)
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To: rightwingcrazy

Right. I ususlly try Dionne for a paragraph or two and then I hit the paragraph that says he’s setting up false premises or just doesn’t understand. But he’s apparently an interesting conversationalist around Washington.

This got to me today: “Conservative funders realized that pumping up the Tea Party movement was the most efficient way to build opposition to Obama’s initiatives.” He understands top-down organization, not spontaneous. At that point I quit. “Conservative funders” didn’t really have a feel for the Tea Parties until way after they were off and rolling. I have never seen discussion of significant outside funding in blogs or comments here, which are much closer to the ground than Washington is, of any persuasion.

Just think, later in the week I’ll see how clueless Dionne is again. Happens twice a week.


52 posted on 10/03/2011 8:31:15 AM PDT by Blagden Alley
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To: cuban leaf

If you have ever been to a Tea Party rally the place is left better than when they came. Those folks respect others and have manners. They are a credit to our nation. When the left who are angry, and disrespectful meet they leave the place like a garbage dump and that says it all for me. I love hanging with folks that respect our nation and wish to address they issues with respect without all the foolish of the left.


53 posted on 10/03/2011 8:32:09 AM PDT by vicar7 ("Polls are for strippers and cross-country skiers" Sarah Palin)
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To: SeekAndFind

Latte Party?


54 posted on 10/03/2011 8:32:21 AM PDT by moovova (Report my sarcastic, fear-mongering lies to www.AttackWatch.com by clicking HERE.)
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To: SeekAndFind
Dionne doesn't realize that the Left already did, and first.

It was the "Bush lied," "Bush's fault" crowd that emerged after the 2000 election.

-PJ

55 posted on 10/03/2011 8:40:03 AM PDT by Political Junkie Too (Everyone's Irish on St. Patrick's Day, Mexican on Cinco de Mayo, and American on Election Day.)
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To: NRA1995

Given the left’s love of communism and Marxism, they should start the “NYET” party (Not Yet Enough Taxes).


56 posted on 10/03/2011 8:42:49 AM PDT by JaguarXKE
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To: Blagden Alley
the paragraph that says he’s setting up false premises or just doesn’t understand

I do the same thing, and it comes out fairly early. You might as well just stop there once you identify it, because all the rest of his assertions are based on those false assumptions.

57 posted on 10/03/2011 8:43:24 AM PDT by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter knows whom he's working for)
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To: nathanbedford
Of course, Mister Dionne, the left can certainly stage a tea party, as a matter of fact they are drinking tea right now on Wall Street.

Are you sure this is entirely accurate? I mean the "Mister" part; I mean, have you seen this "guy?" Rachel Madcow looks more masculine.

58 posted on 10/03/2011 8:46:58 AM PDT by JaguarXKE
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To: MrB

I’m not so sure that’s true about Fox News these days.


59 posted on 10/03/2011 8:48:53 AM PDT by JaguarXKE
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To: SeekAndFind

The Left already tried this with the “Coffee Party”. How did that work out for them?


60 posted on 10/03/2011 8:49:02 AM PDT by ReformationFan
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