First, "Get their attention"...then ACT.

The Tea Party got Washington's attention, then acted to win the house. Next, Senate and White House.

The OWS crowd got their attention. Now their form of action is to get more attention.

It'll grow and mature as a movement to the action phase for sure but will they effect the elections before the co-opted movement turns to the violence that would be so useful to TPTB?

Edit to add: Also fighting tooth and nail against the republican establishment and their coronation of Mitt Romney...

Originally posted by Vikus
Ever since the Tea Party got hijacked from the Sean Hannity types, they won't put any more pressure on Washington for things that matters.

The original Tea Party message was for smaller government, no bailouts for Wall Street, cutting down foreign presence, cutting corporate welfare (a lot of corporations gave money to leftists), and cutting out corruption.

The OWS movement seems to agree with 60%-70% of TP message. The problem is the OWS is being hijacked by George Soros and Obama and turning the (portrayed) OWS message into one of outright socialism.

The funny thing is that I was listening to the radio today and a couple of "conservative" hosts were interviewing individual Occupy L.A. protesters and giving them unedited free time to speak. The Occupy L.A. protesters (while speaking in a weird New Age sort of way) were saying nearly exactly the same thing that (original) Tea Party members were saying. Many were complaining that the Federal Reserve is ruining everything, politicians are corrupt, Obama is worthless and part of the 1% crowd, banks are screwing people over, and multinationals were moving jobs to China. Sure there were some protesting for illegal immigrants, but hey, it's L.A.

What I got was that just like the elite media was trying to make the TP look like a bunch of racist inbreds, Fox News and such were trying to make OWS look like drugged up spoiled hippies. The Occupy L.A. members who spoke actually sounded very intelligent, just like Tea Party members who were given a chance to speak through the media censorship. Even the pro-illegal people were pointing out that illegals suck up much less money than the banksters.

I hope there will be a point when people start looking at who the real enemy is.

Agreed! But the problem is that we Americans are stuck on our own sense of "WHAT IS MINES IS MINES AND I FIGHT FOR IT!" decisiveness that we can't come together and work things out. The last thing America needs is a massive divide of the 99%, because if that happens, the "others" will win and we will still be stuck in the crapper.

Originally posted by ownbestenemy

Originally posted by Southern Guardian
[Oh I can verify it, the absense of nationwide tea party protests since the end of 2010, coincidentally following the 2010 congressional elections where we saw Republicans take the majority. The absence of a nationwide tea party protests before the general elections and before Obama got elected.

You can verify my personal account?

I just did. I can't change your mind, you've made it up already.

Lets start with your first issue-- after I get my beer. Regardless of who and what voted "aye" or "nay" (thought I would prefer 100% nay on the issue of 'Re-authorizing" the Patriot Act; it came down to the man who signed it into law....President Obama.

So now you're blaming Obama for the action and choices of the Republican senate, many of whom are tea party freshman? How convenient. Obama's signing of the patriot act does not discount the fact that many republican congress, many of whom were tea party freshman, voted to continue it. Not sure where you get this rational from, but then again, that's just your excuse.

Just like all who like to claim the "Bush Tax-Cuts", the Patriot Act can be seen as President Obama's. He had a chance to make a stand yet took the politically expedient way out and signed it into law.

What? Your criticizing Obama on his support of the patriot act? Is this suppose to make a difference to the actions of this new republican majority? I don't think so. If you're going to waste your time distracting and blaming Obama for the actions of this current republican majority, go ahead, it's not a good case though, it doesn't excuse them one bit.

Did I ever, in my post you replied to, say that those voted in were separated from the last bunch?

You didn't say it, you implied it. You continued to insist that the tea parties were 'waiting' to see how this new bunch of republicans were performing, the ones they voted in, the ones they insisted needed to take over in government. This is the change they and you voted for, and you got 0 change over the last year while they are in power. And what's you're excuse? The tea parties are still 'waiting' to see what they do? What utter nonsense. I don't know how long you intend to make these excuses, they certainly don't do you justice.

Pull your head out of your rectal cavity

Down to personal insults, a shame.

I said, given my personal dealings with people

Personal dealings with people? As if your personal dealings with people will make a difference in this country? I suppose when the majority of tea partiers continue to vote in the same Washington hacks who push this country to ruins, you're going to continue to discount this by making excuses that 'your personal dealings' are all that matters, while criticizing liberal and Obama voters for their actions, right.

The tea party constituents are voting like clockwork, for the same neocons. There is the exception of Rand Paul who actually made a stand against the patriot act, but apparently those types of supporters are in the minority in the tea parties. But this is all irrelevant to you, all you care about is 'your personal dealings with folks', not their actions in the voting booth.

Common excuse of the tea parties folks, the actions of the movement are irrelevant, only that of individuals, even in the light of the vast majority collectively supporting the Washington establishment. Unless, ofcourse, it comes to counting the amount of tea partiers in numbers, or votes, then it's under one united movement.

Convient.

Originally posted by Southern Guardian
I just did. I can't change your mind, you've made it up already.

As have you. Interesting though that you have decided that my personal accounts are yours. I don't know you nor do you know who I have spoken to. Just as I have spoken to various elements of the OWS crowd and they hold some extreme ideals -- yet, I understand that it is their sentiment and not the whole.

Continue your blanket assertion Southern...its pathetic.

So now you're blaming Obama for the action and choices of the Republican senate, many of whom are tea party freshman? How convenient. Obama's signing of the patriot act does not discount the fact that many republican congress, many of whom were tea party freshman, voted to continue it. Not sure where you get this rational from, but then again, that's just your excuse.

No, if you would actually utilize some critical thinking skills, I was not blaming President Obama. The Senate is comprised of a Democratic majority. In regards to the Patriot Act extension; it received equal love from the Democratically held Senate; both Democrats and Republicans say "aye"

The fact that President Obama signed it, without threat of veto does not discount anything. If anything, I would be the one to praise the president for making a stand -- instead, it was signed into law by him without any contentions or objections.

All of Congress and the President are at fault. Yet you want to continue this division and argue over that fact. Yet you rationalize it because Tea Party leaning representatives voted for it.

If that is the case, and we will see the real moxie of the Tea Party crowd come election time. If they are true to their word, than even those supported via the Tea Party movement, will be axed and shown that they are the status quo.

Sadly, you are so caught up in your rhetoric, that you cannot accept the fact that I would be right there arguing the fact that they need to be held accountable and no voted back in for their inability to change the status quo and continue on with the politics that we are all familiar with.

...new republican majority?...

You do know that there are two Houses within the Legislative correct? So even if there is a majority in one, the Senate had a chance (in which they overwhelming supported and voted "aye" for the Patriot Act extension) and they failed. As did the president for just signing the bill without even a word of threat to veto it.

You didn't say it, you implied it. You continued to insist that the tea parties were 'waiting' to see how this new bunch of republicans were performing, the ones they voted in, the ones they insisted needed to take over in government. This is the change they and you voted for, and you got 0 change over the last year while they are in power. And what's you're excuse? The tea parties are still 'waiting' to see what they do? What utter nonsense. I don't know how long you intend to make these excuses, they certainly don't do you justice.

You want to talk about utter nonsense. First you claim to give understanding to the small amount of people I have spoken to that retain the Tea Party mantra. Not once have you even asked if the questions you raise are my own to them. Yet you want to proclaim that you know all.

You keep applying the "you" pronoun as if I, personally, am the Tea Party. I am not, never have claimed to be. I only asserted and explained my personal account. But I forgot that you are omnipotent and know all. For that great one, I ask for forgiveness.

Down to personal insults, a shame.

It is only a personal insult if you take it as such. Given your assertion that you know me, know the people I speak with, know their intentions (along with every other Tea Party supporter) it was a suitable comment.

Personal dealings with people? As if your personal dealings with people will make a difference in this country? I suppose when the majority of tea partiers continue to vote in the same Washington hacks who push this country to ruins, you're going to continue to discount this by making excuses that 'your personal dealings' are all that matters, while criticizing liberal and Obama voters for their actions, right.

As if your personal ramblings will make a difference. Jesus you are so full of your self. I offered up a personal experience; even gave a disclaimer that the experience was highly subjective given the personal account; YET you want to take it as claim to all Tea Party defenders.

Originally posted by ownbestenemy
As have you. Interesting though that you have decided that my personal accounts are yours.

Again, there has never been a nationwide tea party movement since the elections of the GOP majority to congress, there was never one before the general elections.

These are facts, not personal accounts.

No, if you would actually utilize some critical thinking skills, I was not blaming President Obama.

Then what were you doing then?

My post was specifically regarding the actions of those republican congressman and woman, many of whom were tea party freshman, who voted to continue the patriot act and war on Libya. You decided to bring up Obama into the mix, even though this doesn't change the fact these lawman voted the way their did.

'I was not blaming Obama' is being dishonest on your part. If you weren't blaming Obama for the actions of those GOPers, don't bring him up.

The Senate is comprised of a Democratic majority. In regards to the Patriot Act extension; it received equal love from the Democratically held Senate; both Democrats and Republicans say "aye"

I don't know what the point of this is?

I make the point that this Republican congress, along with the tea party freshman congressman, have, in majority, voted for the same invasive policies of the past. What's you response? To bring up Obama and the Democrats for doing the same, as if this makes a difference to their actions? No.

All of Congress and the President are at fault.

Not all, there are a good few congressmen and woman, senators. That being said, the tea parties don't do any justice voting and continuing to support the very individuals who contribute to this mess.

Yet you want to continue this division and argue

Division? You want to talk about division? Go to the tea parties, it's my way or the highway. One of the most divisive movements I've ever seen. In 2012 they'll vote overwhelmingly for who ever is the GOP nominee, then you'll start seeing just how divisive the tea parties can get.

First you claim to give understanding to the small amount of people I have spoken to that retain the Tea Party

Small amount of people you've spoke to? The OP was not about your click, or the collection of people you know, it's about the overall movement. I just love how tea partiers and their sympathizers continue to argue about noncohesiveness, but when it comes to counting protests and votes, the tea parties are all one. Right. Nobody is concerned about the collection of people you know and your personal account, it is completely irrelevant to the overall movement of the tea parties, unless you and your friends are supporting the direction of this movement.

The people you know right? As far as I see it, once you join the tea parties, you push towards the overall agenda and movement, that's what I see. You want to be treated individually? Go and find somebody else who will do so, your one in the same to me.

I offered up a personal experience;

Your personal experience means nothing to the overall movement of the tea parties. They continue to support in mass the GOP establishment, arguing that your personal experiences should discount this is bull#