The Tea Parties, lets get something clear.

reply to post by DINSTAAR


Thanks DINSTAAR, for posting this. Good to have the truth come out about the Tea Parties!

SeaWind

reply to post by antonia


Hello antonia,

You know, I don't know where I've been all of my life

Yesterday was a HUGE wake up call for me. I guess we (I) can't live in the make believe world forever.
I'm ashamed of myself and of who and what the government is doing to us, to our children, their future.

You have no idea how proud I am to know all you people here on ATS, to be able to read your posts!

ATS is a privilege (IMHO).
I can't feed my brain enough, I've been starving it for so freaking long...

This is a great thread, it seems to present a wider view, lets say, I can see the forest AND many tree's too, but (sigh) ...I can see the forest!

My post may not make much sense but for me it's on topic

@DINSTAAR -

Beautifully, and elegantly stated. Here's an example in microcosm - my girlfriend and I are a perfect example of what you stated:

I'm mostly a republican, she is mostly a democrat; she hates guns while thinking free speech is most important while I love them and tell her ALL our rights are important, but the 2nd Amendment is the one right that keeps the others safe; she wants more social programs and I want less vote-buying using entitlements. She voted Obama and I voted McCain. She loves "Revenge of the Nerds" and I love "South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut.

But here is where we agree: We are both members of PFLAG, GLAD, both despise Westboro B@stard Crooks, both think the Fed govt is currently out at the mall for cookies, both have the greatest respect for our military past and present, both support abortion rights, both think the government needs stay the hell out of our bedroom and our private lives, both love science and history and art and literature, both love animals - esp. cats.

Let someone try to paint us with a broad brush - instant fail.

My point is that someone trying to make sweeping generalizations about any group of people, even just two people, are almost always going to be totally wrong.

(The exception being child molesters, skin heads, nazis, any race supremacists of any race, and creeps like Westboro B@stard Crooks of course)

Originally posted by DINSTAAR
I have been to a couple Tea Party events. I do not participate more than have a humorous sign of something benign and really just went to observe. (my favorite sign that I made said 'Rabble' and that's it)

People that go to Tea Party events are all over the political map. From free-staters, libertarians, Glenn Beck conservatives, anarchists, socialists and other Lyndon LaRouche followers, liberals, Reaganites, gun rights activists, fair taxers, free marketers, populists, antiwar people, along with a host of other things.

The Tea Parties are not a cohesive group. They are not really a group at all. Anyone who has ever been to one can back me up. The Tea Parties themselves have, likely, close to a thousand or more groups that have taken part. Every group has its own agenda and every person in those groups is different.

To say that the Tea Parties are racist is a complete fabrication. They can't be, simply because they are not even a cohesive group on any particular issue. Any and all accusations of racism is partisan character assassination. Accusations of racism, like racism, have no place in philosophical discourse.

Now lets get something clear about people, in general. Liberal or conservative, people generally want something better for all humanity. Its time to stop arguing over what people perceive others motivations to be. We all want to end human suffering and make a better tomorrow for all mankind, its time we start talking about that rather than bigoted accusations of malevolence.

Conservatives, Liberals, Muslims, Evangelicals, Libertarians, Socialists, and Federalists are not evil.... government is

....

Cheers

[edit on 29-7-2010 by mydarkpassenger]

Below is a pledge to work for and live by the ''Original Intent of the Founding Fathers''. I like this one;"I will abstain from the use of and participation in any federally-funded goods, services, benefits or programs, including but not limited to the following:● Use of the federally-funded and supported Internets, email, and networked computers, as the DoD's ARPANET was the basis for subsequent computer networking"('')


www.dailykos.com...

[edit on 29-7-2010 by PresumedInnocent]

[edit on 29-7-2010 by PresumedInnocent]

[edit on 29-7-2010 by PresumedInnocent]

Very true, most people want the best for their families and others in general, but you're talking about PEOPLE, not Government. The people in government want what is best for themselves and the people who got them there.

That is why there is a Tea Party movement. The people have no voice anymore.

The chaos would give way to the bond and binding that an applied constitution would bring.
The original framing would serve well to unify.
As far as racist?
I've been to 4 events, it's been a mix of speakers and to be honest if you need labels attached, the black republicans speaking in my area are the smartest and actually the most conservative.
In short our government, from the township level all the way to the fed has rotted from the inside out, and I do attribute it to non participation by the citizens.
We were designed to be the watchdogs and we did go to sleep, whether by sensory overload, the sirens song, or apathy, we did fall asleep, but I see alot more people at meetings now than I ever have in the 30 years Ive been involved in local government, and I see more crooked liars too.
S&F

[edit on 29-7-2010 by HappilyEverAfter]

Originally posted by ~Lucidity
Yep.

It's not a party. It's a bunch of disenfranchised people. That much has been clear for a very long time now.

There is absolutely no foundation for a party here or even for clear communication. All most do is repeat certain buzzwords and talking points and call it a party. That is not communication...it's chaos.

Sorry, but this is a failed experiment. The Tea Party would be better advised to reform along several different party lines, if parties are the paradigm they insist on.

[edit on 7/29/2010 by ~Lucidity]

Luc, that's ridiculous!

The OP made it very clear that they have no intention to become a political "party".

"Tea Party" is the invention of the MSM. TEA means Taxed Enough Already!

The Stimulus funds totaling over $800 Billion started the 'movement', That, and Health Care Reform.

And we aren't just looking out for ourselves, Luc. We're trying to save your future too.

Great post OP! I have been to a rally here in tampa and it was great. Very much like you said. There was a counter protester at mine and he was treated very respectfully.

All you hear about is how racist these rallys are. For one a black man spoke at ours and second of all, there wasn't a single sign with the slightest hint of racism. We are not a group, we are the people!

Originally posted by NthOther

Let's get something clear about the Tea Parties: while I agree that they are not a cohesive group, the most potent elements among them (the ones the media chooses to pay attention to) are strongly aligned with the Republican party. Can anyone, ANYONE, name a single candidate endorsed by a Tea Party organization that is NOT a Republican? Are there any Democrats? Libertarians?

The simple truth is that the functional Tea Party movement (that is, the factions within it that are presented to you through the media as actually having political power) is controlled by Republicans. Tea Party enthusiasts may take offense to this accusation, but hear me this, and respond thus:

Wow! To see the forest, you need to take your nose away from the bark, Grasshopper.

This isn't about Republican vs. Democrat. It's about Good vs. Evil.

The enemy of my enemy is my friend....and all that rot!

Originally posted by DINSTAAR
reply to post by ~Lucidity

 

Sarah Palin is the leadership No, are you being serious? Or did I miss an example you're referring to?

The Republicans have successfully taken over the TPM. I remember back when it was in its infancy, thinking that that was going to happen. I like how this coming November is like the 'day everything changes' for these people. Nothing will change, but I will at least stand up for them when it comes to unwarranted allegations of racism.

Please name any Democrats that say "NO!" to Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid.

You can't. They ALL have to be voted out and sent home.

That's why it appears the Republicans have taken over. Because it's the only vehicle we have to work with.

Our countries founders were against big government too. Have you read the constitution? So the tea party has that in common with the founders.

The tea party represents the same sentiment as the original tea party in that they disagree with the tax so they are going to dump the tea in the river i.e. the crooked politicians in the river.

The tea party itself doesn't have a leader, however there are people in charge of setting up the get togethers in towns and cities all over the country. FYI you gotta get a license to hold a big protest in this "Free" country so someone has to be in charge of logistics but no one is in charge of the movement. Its a bunch of angry americans who love this country and have watched the crooked politicians drive it into the ground. The framers of the constitution warned the people about this but unfortunatly those warnings are no longer taught in our schools and as you know what you forget your are destined to repeat.

They want to keep what they earn and they want and expect everyone to earn thier own living not live off govt entitlements. They want the federal govt to get off thier backs and get back to doing what the constitutions says is thier only job which is to provide for the common defense which includes patroling our boarders so that illegals of any race or color can't come in without permission. Have you forgotten 911? Right now a muslim extremist who might want to kill millions of americans with chemical weapons could saunter across the boarder and do it unchecked.

Each person who comes to the tea party gatherings has thier own prioritys and thoughts but the one thing that binds them together is the agreement that govt spends too much of our hard earned money on crap that we don't want or need and it has to stop before the country goes bankrupt.

The govt is digging a hole with the debt and the only way to get out of that hole is to stop spending no matter what the consequence to thier pet programs and thier social welfare agenda See? The people of the tea party are willing to take the bad in order to have the good which is a country where the rule of law means something and where the elected official who takes an oath to defend the constitution actually does it. !!!!!!!

reply to post by DCPatriot


Actually, the Tea Party "movement" began with the backers of Ron Paul.

For those out there that do not realize this, Ron Paul had a bill that was to audit the fed, first the government watered it down, then treasonous supporters abandoned it, THEN passed a financial reform package that makes the SEC unauditable, the Treasury Dept a de facto ruler of the economy, and gave the Federal Reserve almost limitless power.

OH well, what the hell. All's good, right?

Well said op!!! you showed niether like or dislike just the facts,"WE" like that

Well said op!!! you showed niether like or dislike just the facts,"WE" like that

reply to post by DINSTAAR


Great post, star and flag, even though you have many, the post makes a lot of sense and it true as far as I can see. I too have been to some rallies, and what I saw are a peaceful lot from all walks of life, neither blaming, or condemning anyone, or any group, and yes, I saw Black people there too, and some Native Americans, a few Asians. Racist? How could a bunch such as this be racist? Many were armed, Ohio is an open carry State, and the police were there, but were drinking coffee and eating food, and not paying a whole lot of attention to what was going on, they didn't have to. The media is trying their best, with full support of the administration, to demonize the Tea Party, but it ain't working. The Tea Party is not a political party, has no agenda save returning America to the Constitutional rule of law, and putting Americas back to work. To call them racist is to be a racist yourself. They are Americans, and they want their country back, thank you. I am with them, I too want back what we had.

reply to post by DINSTAAR


Im curious. Why does the tea party get accused of "astro-turfing"? If it is astroturfing then the partiers are really just shills arent they?

[edit on 29-7-2010 by daptodave]

I can summarize what is bothering TP members:

Taxed Enough Already!

That is why it was formed and that is why so many different folks can get together against the feds.

Sorry DCPatriot, I looked for that acronym but I must have missed your post.

[edit on 29-7-2010 by Starbug3MY]

Originally posted by DINSTAAR
To say that the Tea Parties are racist is a complete fabrication. They can't be, simply because they are not even a cohesive group on any particular issue.

...many racial and religious supremacists can be found among the tea party groups - but - its not accurate to say that ALL tea party affiliates are so inclined - just like it would be inaccurate to say that ALL tea party affiliates are fair-minded, intelligent, well informed humanitarians...

Originally posted by sweetliberty
You say among other things they are for, cutting social services, cutting taxes, shrinking the federal government.
Are most people for that?

Well, I'm not the one you've addressed for an answer, but I've got an answer anyway. The origin of the Tea Party movement was not to start a new political party...Hence the lack of a readily-identifiable leadership. Quite a few people have really gotten the idea about why the TPM started & it really is due to the government growing out of control, even against all Constitutional restraint, in spite of their Oath of Office under the Constitution.

This is why the TPM has such a wide-ranging demographic, because they recognize that the goverment is abandoning all pretext of having gotten corrupted & sucking the vitality from the whole nation: It's not just the Left or the Right, it's pretty much everyone (with extrememly few exceptions) in the upper echelons of government, regardless of party affiliation.

Government cannot create any new jobs that don't suck money out of the private sector...With every new tax or regulation, the "free market" becomes less free & the people always wind up on the losing end. If you don't believe me, how about a few words from one of the Founding Fathers & quite probably one of the staunchest supporters of the Constitution, who was in situ from conception & deliberation to ratification & administration of it?

Thomas Jefferson
My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government.

We've got waaaay too much government...And it gets worse by the day.

In a respectful nod to the title of this thread: To anyone who has enough of a free mind to seperate the wheat from the chaff in the issues presented by government officers & their pet MSM, it doesn't get much more clear than this.

[edit on 30-7-2010 by MidnightDStroyer]

Originally posted by DINSTAAR

'You are pro-life? You are a murderer.'

I am clearly confused on this talking point.

Screw it all, I am still waiting with my: land, gold, silver, copper, guns, ammunition, seeds, kinfolk for the complete collapse of out fiat currency, and with that piece of paper to rough to wipe my own rearend, to die, we can watch the government lose imaginary control; however, we have to deal with their physical control after, but I am not so sure their police state of tyranny will back them with no way to support it.

Bring on the end lets start the beginning!

editted for grotesque grammar

[edit on 30-7-2010 by Eavel]

[edit on 30-7-2010 by Eavel]