Posted on 02/19/2010 8:17:51 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
There has been quite a bit of talk lately about a growing political movement by newly-minted Constitutionalists called the “Tea Party movement”. It has been touted as a “grass roots rebellion” all over the conservative airwaves and news media, despite the huge names endorsing the ideas.
In an article by David Barstow, he describes the movement as being a separate mechanism away from the Republicans, and that it has a more “traditionally conservative” background.
“[A] significant undercurrent within the Tea Party movement that has less in common with the Republican Party than with the Patriot movement, a brand of politics historically associated with libertarians, militia groups, anti-immigration advocates and those who argue for the abolition of the Federal Reserve.”
Barstow’s article goes on to describe the aforementioned Constitutionalists as only recently coming to political awareness when they realized that “Washington was a threat”. Further, several of them mention the possible, if not probable, impending need for revolution, “Mrs. Stout said she felt as if she had been handed a road map to rebellion.” This theme of militias actually being called into action is widely apparent throughout Barstow’s article and in Tea Party ideals.
“In Indiana, Richard Behney, a Republican Senate candidate, told Tea Party supporters what he would do if the 2010 elections did not produce results to his liking: “I’m cleaning my guns and getting ready for the big show. And I’m serious about that, and I bet you are, too.”
What has essentially happened, however, is that the Tea Party movement has been touted so fervently by conservative media that it hardly qualifies as a grass roots movement. Last April, Fox News pushed for the Tea Parties so hard that it actually fabricated video footage in order to make a Tea Party seem larger.
Even further, the lead proponent of the Tea Parties at the Fox News Channel is none other than Glenn Beck. While Ron Paul is a favorite presidential candidate, Barstow’s article seems to imply that Sarah Palin is a lead choice for many of these Tea Party members. The connection then is the relationship of the Tea Party’s organizers, proponents, leaders and media supporters all being tied, in some way, to Fox News. That network, for years, has been the media outlet for Republican talking points–you know, the ones touting “anti-big government” rhetoric while simultaneously supporting the Patriot Act. Barstow addresses the assumption of the connection.
“Some Tea Party groups are essentially appendages of the local Republican Party. But most are not.”
While it has to be said that not all, or even most, Tea Party members of average citizenry believe that the Tea Party is a tool for conservatives in power, that is unfortunately the case. As the Tea Parties have finally come to realize that our democracy is bought and sold, manipulated by popular special interests with great hairlines and high cheekbones, they have unfortunately missed the fact that they are being led by such people.
Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin, I believe it is fairly obvious, are two filthy politicians and charlatans of the highest order. For Christ’s sake, if the guys who make South Park can figure this out, you would think that grown, 40 or 50-year old adults could. Then again, these are the same people who, “voted twice and failed political science twice.”
Beck, Palin and the rest of the Fox crew are profiteers, gerrymandering a political movement that believes that an armed revolution is the way to stop Pfizer from contributing to Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign fund. These are the same reactionary, excitable and scared people that are just too easy for big-time conservatives to prey on.
The bottom line is, a major tenant of this “classical conservatism” these Tea Party people have forgotten is that of gradual change. Talking about “justifying war” and “revolution” and “sometimes there’s no other choice” is talk of actionable violence (which, by the way, let’s not forget how stupid that is. They have tanks, you have a 1911 and a deer rifle). It doesn’t surprise me that these people don’t understand–they only just now joined the foray of political thought, and even then, they’re being dragged through the swamp instead of discovering it for themselves.
But the problem here is that there very well is a problem with our government. Everyone, from all sides, recognizes it. Seats in both houses and the Presidency are bought with campaign war chests provided by “special interests”. There are more lobbyists than members of the house and the senate, combined. Yet acting as a bunch of yokels by rounding up a posse and lighting a torch only makes it easier to identify just who’s going to come out on top.
As always, the path to governmental change is from the inside, out. It’s the same thing I always say to protesters trying to get something changed in Salem with cardboard signs here in Eugene. Pool your resources, canvass, get something signed, and get some money (the dudes who want medical marijuana do it). Go buy your own candidate, one that will pass laws or create some real change (even if it is ridiculous). Tea Party people, even if misguided, have a fundamental flaw in that they do not understand the situation at hand. Armed revolution will not come to this country, and spouting the problems of a populist, elitist government while simultaneously being led by those same people is completely asinine.
Until they understand that, they’re just sheep. Sheared for their wool, slaughtered for their meat.
I remember reading a post telling about such tactics. This is being orchestrated by the Obama Regime I am sure.
Must be making things up to cover for the photos of the 9/12 march?
Sounds like your typical lefty, trolling hard.
If this is it, it’s comical in its obviousness. You don’t have to worship the ground on which Sarah Palin walks to know this is arrant nonsense.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2454039/posts
btrl
Well, I kinda like how they're handling their current roles.
Well there has been talk here about armed revolution, but not serious talk, just senarios and things.
We dont want much, just lower taxes, more freedom, less government, stronger military, closed borders and just to be left alone.
Is that too friggin much to ask for????
Elitists always underestimate the general public. Tom Brokaw said that it was hard to move the ‘herd’ in another direction. Well, once it gets going, it’s even harder to stop, and the herd is moving.
That sums it up.
I did. Your hunch that it was a blog post is correct. The comments generally skewer the blog post, and there is also a link to follow-up comments by the "keep my guns clean" politician.
-- Doesn't even remotely get the facts right. --
Other than mass media (including FoxNews), I used to give people the benefit of the doubt. But I have adopted the practice of switching the presumption when a liberal is talking or writing. I assume they are misdirecting or lying.
I don’t like the names “Contititonalist” or “constructionist”. I don’t even think we should be called tea-partiers.
Let’s go back to basics and call ourselves Americans, in order to distinguish ourselves from Democrats, Liberals, Progressives, Socialists and Communists, which are really the same thing and anti-American.
Patriots. Patriotic Americans.
“Have any of them SEEN These Folks at a TEA Party?
Most Have Walking Canes , walkers or an Oxygen Tank with in Reach.”
Where do you attend tea party gatherings? Cemeteries and crematoriums?
The ones I attend are packed with young families with kids in hand.
Headed to one Now, at a ‘Wax House’./sarc
Pacific Northwest liberals. They are stunningly obtuse; and smug about it.
You forgot the /s tag, didn't you?
So this is University of Oregon's version of conservatism. The author (perhaps one T. Dane Carbaugh) doesn't even sign the work.
Another reason to be glad I'm finally getting outa YOO-JEAN. Maybe the last one to leave will turn out the lights.
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