Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

New York Time's Tom Friedman : The Tea Kettle Movement
New York Slimes ^ | 09/29/2010 | Thomas Friedman

Posted on 09/29/2010 11:46:17 AM PDT by WebFocus

There are actually two Tea Party movements in America today: one you’ve read about that is not that important and one you’ve not read about that could become really important if the right politician understood how to tap into it.

The Tea Party that has gotten all the attention, the amorphous, self-generated protest against the growth in government and the deficit, is what I’d actually call the “Tea Kettle movement” — because all it’s doing is letting off steam.

That is not to say that the energy behind it is not authentic (it clearly is) or that it won’t be electorally impactful (it clearly might be). But affecting elections and affecting America’s future are two different things. Based on all I’ve heard from this movement, it feels to me like it’s all steam and no engine. It has no plan to restore America to greatness.

The Tea Kettle movement can’t have a positive impact on the country because it has both misdiagnosed America’s main problem and hasn’t even offered a credible solution for the problem it has identified. How can you take a movement seriously that says it wants to cut government spending by billions of dollars but won’t identify the specific defense programs, Social Security, Medicare or other services it’s ready to cut — let alone explain how this will make us more competitive and grow the economy?

And how can you take seriously a movement that sat largely silent while the Bush administration launched two wars and a new entitlement, Medicare prescription drugs — while cutting taxes — but is now, suddenly, mad as hell about the deficit and won’t take it anymore from President Obama? Say what? Where were you folks for eight years?

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


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: teakettle; teaparty; tomfriedman
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-50 last
To: wac3rd

What do you have against Switzerland?


41 posted on 09/29/2010 12:33:41 PM PDT by susannah59
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: wac3rd
I want to run, will I win?

Do all that and many would vote for you.

Dissolve the “federal” reserve bank, restock Fort Knox to the correct level of gold reserves and issue united States Treasury notes based on the gold reserves and I will vote for you.

.

42 posted on 09/29/2010 12:39:55 PM PDT by TLI ( ITINERIS IMPENDEO VALHALLA)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: downtownconservative
No wonder he's so uninformed and clueless!

...and to top it off, no mention of ME. How could he write a teaparty related article without even acknowleging it's supreme leader.

43 posted on 09/29/2010 12:41:49 PM PDT by Eddie01 (There's just so many ignorant people, it's depressing)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: WebFocus

The entire article is a LIE and Friedman knows its a lie. Like Rush says, we don’t have a media anymore, only a communications-wing of the democrat party.

The article is pure propaganda meant for the weak of mind.


44 posted on 09/29/2010 12:58:00 PM PDT by subterfuge (BUILD MORE NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS NOW!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: WebFocus
The Tea Kettle movement can’t have a positive impact on the country because it has both misdiagnosed America’s main problem and hasn’t even offered a credible solution for the problem it has identified.

And this compares unfavorably with "Hope and Change"?


Frowning takes 68 muscles.
Smiling takes 6.
Pulling this trigger takes 2.
I'm lazy.

45 posted on 09/29/2010 1:11:40 PM PDT by The Comedian (Guns, Gold, Food - The guy with the guns ends up with all the gold and food.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: WebFocus
Where were you folks for eight years?

When Bush left office his approval rating were in the mid twenties. Bush had to have lost about a third of his base voters to get that low.

46 posted on 09/29/2010 1:18:13 PM PDT by RJL
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: WebFocus

We weren’t pining to be ruled by red Chicoms like you Tom.


47 posted on 09/29/2010 1:25:11 PM PDT by y6162
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: arthurus

Everyone who, claiming superior insight, has tried to create a heaven on earth has only managed to create a hell on earth.


48 posted on 09/29/2010 1:26:55 PM PDT by caseinpoint (Don't get thickly involved in thin things.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: WebFocus
I'll be letting off steam in the voting booth!

And I can't wait!


49 posted on 09/29/2010 1:27:41 PM PDT by GloriaJane (http://www.last.fm/music/Gloria+Jane)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: WebFocus

Dead bias giveaway - when the author asks you which Defense program you have to cut to balance the budget.


50 posted on 09/29/2010 9:57:32 PM PDT by monkeyshine
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-50 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson