The Tea Party

Stephany - posted on 10/01/2010

Can somebody PLEASE tell my how jokingly referring to members of the Tea Party as tea baggers is the same as calling Democrats CUNTS? Where the hell did THAT come from? Geez....
Here's the thing that I don't like about ANY politician (but especially the Tea Party, since they are so insistent on getting their way): none of them can just say in simple terms where they stand on anything! Let me ask a question and let them give me a one-word answer. Are you okay with abortion? Do you believe in universal health care? Should be yes or no, and I don't want to have to decipher a 1000 word answer to hear it. I feel like that kid in The Christmas Story- I'm being told to drink more Ovaltine and all I want is a damn CODE! JUST SAY YES OR NO!!
That's my biggest issue- every single member of the Tea Party that I've seen on T.V. can't explain their own logic. So you want less government, but you are currently receiving unemployment and live in subsidized housing (a guy on the local news when they had the Tea Party rallies)? You want less government but think the government should be able to control every woman's uterus? You want less government but you want the government to be the one regulating the moral thread in the U.S.? HOW DOES THAT WORK?! I'm utterly confused by their contradictions! I honestly believe that a large minority of the people in the Tea Party don't even know the basic sentiments of the party itself- they just saw a chance to complain and protest the Black man in office. A lot of these people were the same ones 6 years ago who were damning the rest of us for "disrespecting" our president. What are they doing now? At least we based our "disrespect" on Bush's (in)actions, and not on his skin color.
I tend to think that helping the fellow man is not a choice- it's a requirement of humanity. Protest all you want, have all the parties you want. At the end of the day, though, don't tell the single mom with four kids to choose between paying rent or taking her sick kids to the doctor; don't tell her that she doesn't belong in the political fabric of America because she's not a member of your religion; and don't tell her that the government is helping her too much because I'm sure that if the tables were flipped, these people would need all the help they could get. THAT is the difference between 'human' and 'humane'.

Dana - posted on 10/01/2010

Well if democrats were stupid enough to call themselves cunts to begin with, then I suppose we'd have it coming.

Heather - posted on 10/01/2010

Well, I suppose we could call all democrats cunts, but I don't think that facilitates communication or understanding between our parties. Just sayin'.

Dana - posted on 10/01/2010

Yes, we all know what it means which is why it is AWESOME.

Heather - posted on 10/01/2010

I think the tea party is misrepresented by stupid people who have no idea what it means to be a member of the tea party and just want to use it as an excuse to further their racism and stupidity. I also think that people outside the tea party misrepresent it and spread misinformation instead of finding out what the tea party actually represents. Both are equally wrong. Just as there are stupid, crazy, liberal democrats and stupid, crazy, conservative republicans, there are stupid crazy tea partiers. I actually agree with Jenny(for the most part here). Everybody's corrupt and no one has the people's best interest in mind. This is why George Washington warned us about the 2 pary system. In the end, everyone is for the same thing(themselves) and nothing gets done.

I just have to say that "tea baggers" is such a derogotory term. Do you even know what tea bagging is??

Isobel - posted on 10/01/2010

I would love to have political parties AND lobbyists outlawed :)

Isobel - posted on 10/01/2010

Alison, I vote NDP, full well knowing they will never get into office...because I feel like they are a good moral opopsition...I don't think there's much of a difference between the conservatives and the liberals these days...if we just vote for those we know could get into office...we're like the States...and I don't want to follow their lead.

Molly - posted on 10/01/2010

@ Petra
"To each his own" and they definately have their own oppinions of what is "going on".

Alison - posted on 09/29/2010

@Stephanie: YOU ARE AWESOME!!!
@Jenny: From one Canadian to another: you gotta stop voting GREEN! This is precisely why Harper is our current Prime Minister. The Direct Democracy is a great idea, but right now, please vote for someone who could actually get into office!

The sad thing about politics is that honest people do not stand a chance. If you are not willing to play the game, it is impossible to get anything done.

Rosie - posted on 09/29/2010

that along with their "save the white cracker babies" t-shirts makes me want to cry. god, i wish i could find it again, lol!

Petra - posted on 09/29/2010

@ kati - hahaha, I told my partner about that video and he almost choked. Gittin rid uh fishin... who even started that rumor? They enthusiastically spout anything and everything that comes down the line. Really makes you wonder where the intelligence in this "party" is at.

Rosie - posted on 09/28/2010

wheres my video of the tea party lady spouting off about how "obama is goin' to get rid of fishin'" (imagine that in my best hillbilly voice). that's right folks, getting rid of fishing. just a couple of screws loose.

Dana - posted on 09/28/2010

Nay and yes half of them are total wackos. It's really discouraging that so many people can spout such stupid things. Really, half of them have no idea what they're talking about.

Krista - posted on 09/28/2010

I see your point about that Laura, but I still have major quibbles with the way we do it right now. My former MP, who was Conservative, was completely awesome. I would have voted for him no matter what party he was in -- dude had serious integrity, worked hard, and got stuff done for his constituents.

But a vote for him meant a vote for Harper, and so I always had to hold my nose to vote for him.

It was a happy day for me when he was booted out of caucus for standing up to Harper --- I could finally vote for Bill with a happy conscience, knowing that I was voting for BILL, and not for Bill 'n' Stephen.

Isobel - posted on 09/28/2010

voting directly for the president would make out politics more like American Politics...even more vilifying and mudslinging...no thank you.

Tanya - posted on 09/28/2010

It kind of reminds me of children who get what they want after throwing a temper tantrum...they yell and scream, but still get what they want even though they are being "bad"...In the mean time the more logical and sensible people of America that respect the President just as we have every president before him, are sitting here quietly like the "good kids" while the temper tantrum artist gets all the attention. They yell "freedom of religion" but yet this is exactly what they want to deprive everyone else who is not Christian of, they should instead yell "freedom of religion...so long as it is only our religion".

Jenny - posted on 09/28/2010

I would be more than contwent with abolishing parties.



Yes, Direct Democracy is very feasible. It does not need to be expensive, it can all be done through technology. We can use the money we save on abolishing the current system to ensure all citizens have access to the new system. We register through our social insurance numbers. I have many more thought on it but gotta get back to work for now. If you google it has been put into use in many parts of the world, even some areas in the US.

Krista - posted on 09/28/2010

Is that feasible, though, Jenny? Gad, just thinking about all of the money spent on the Quebec referendum, I shudder to think what the costs would be if most issues were decided that way.

Personally, I think that the better option is to reduce the role of political parties -- and maybe even abolish them altogether. That way, candidates would have to sell themselves on what they actually plan to do for their constituents, instead of coasting in because an area is traditionally Liberal or Conservative. As well, with no party line to toe, the representatives would be better able to represent their constituents without fear of some party whip coming after them.

I also think we need to be able to directly vote for our Prime Minister, as opposed to tying it into the MP system. Getting rid of parties would also accomplish this. We'd all vote for our individual reps, and then would vote separately for our Prime Minister, who could then select his or her cabinet based on skill and experience, not based on party loyalty or seniority.

Jenny - posted on 09/28/2010

I currently do not vote but when I did I voted for Green Party. The whole damn system is corrupt and it doesn't matter who gets in, they are two sides of the same coin. Elections are a smoke screen that just divide people. Although they are sure good for business when the candidates need upwards of $150 million apiece just to play the game.

I am a firm supporter of Direct Democracy. BY the people, FOR the people.

Kate CP - posted on 09/28/2010

Jenny: So the only logical response is to not vote at all? That seems like a bad idea...

Jenny - posted on 09/28/2010

My opinion is the Tea Party was financed in the background to pull attention from Obama and ensure nothing gets done. I also firmly believe there was racism involved too. I do not believe the Tea Party would have formed if Hillary Clinton was in office right now.

I still don't understand why we still vote on people and not issues though. I have not seen one candidate who supports all the issues as I do and I bet most of you don't either. People are too easily corrupted and none of them can handle public office, not with so much money flowing around.

Isobel - posted on 09/28/2010

If I were an American, I would vote for ANYBODY who promised to get rid of the lobbyists. period.

Tanya - posted on 09/28/2010

I think they are "wackos" they want less government, but yet they want the president to step in and restrict the rights of others only if it goes against thier beliefs.

Barb - posted on 09/28/2010

Laura wrote: "Unfortunately they don't seem to realize that the creator of the movement is big corporations, and those big corporations don't really give a shit what happens to America...they just want the govt out of their business so they can continue raping and pillaging your country."

I agree that this movement is controlled mainly by the big business corporations, but what i really think is that they ARE our government. They go back and forth between being administrators, lobbyists, and marketing directors, to being senators and congressmen who pass laws to make their business agenda more profitable for themselves. I don't think they want government out of their business, i think they want people out of the government.

Quite frankly at first i was really hoping the tea partiers were people who really wanted to get big business out of our government. set term limits, have true freedom of and from religion, bar lobbyists from congress and the senate. let them have the same benefits we have. Get the corruption out of government.

But now am sorely disappointed that they want to take the country back from anyone who isn't a christian or a corporation.

I do feel they are a bunch of ultra right wing christian racist conservatives and the more noise they make, the more it makes me look to see what good the Obama administration is doing that making them whine and cry so much.

Petra - posted on 09/28/2010

@ Molly - I think the idea of people getting together to formally protest current political issues is great as well, as long as you're setting out a clear statement with realistic goals.

From the info I found online about the baggers, they don't have much to say other than Obama is a dick and we want to lessen the government's control... by making the government step in and set down new regulations. Oh, and we want tax breaks! Never mind that Obama had just set out new tax regulations, which effectively lowered their taxes... They are primarily white, middle aged (and older), wealthy males who are either conservative or republican, and nearly half of their members are Christian. Further, since they base all of their stances on popular opinion from their polls, issues on which they tend to strongly agree are pretty vague. So, as a political group: weak sauce. As yet another nutty right-wing group who just wants to make Obama look bad, rather than work with him to offer solutions, I have to find them amusing. But I hope that the majority of Americas do not actually take them seriously. Calling the government plan for mortgage refinancing "subsidizing losers" is seriously elitist, self-serving BS - "promoting bad behaviour" by helping people keep their homes? These guys make my head explode a little bit. And then I picture them waving their little tea bags at their protests and I start to giggle all over again.

Molly - posted on 09/27/2010

I think that the members of The Tea Party have a wide range of oppinions. Just as the persons who signed the Declaration of independence did. This is why the answers very. As a whole they seem to want to go back to how the government was ran in the first 30 years. Before all the ammendments and before the goverment had there foot in every household and business' doorway.

Personally, I think that the idea of people coming together or on their own to express that they are dissatisfied with how the government is running things is a great idea. If you object to what they are saying, get your butt out there and share your rational oppinion. If you don't do it someone else will.

I personally, try not to lump my political oppinion with others. My oppinion really is my own!

Amber - posted on 09/27/2010

I honestly find that the majority of politicians are idiots. Regardless of the party the represent. They have stopped caring about the issues and started making it a popularity contest and a chance to slander each other.
How about everybody stops worrying about party lines and starts trying to fix the problems in this country. Nobody is getting much of anything done, and the only people that are suffering from it are the people of this country.
And while I'm not against health care for those who can't afford it from the government, I just wonder how soon it will be a broken system just like the one we have now. And I wonder what's already wrong with it if government officials went out of there way to make sure that they never had to receive this type of healthcare?
If it's not good enough for them, is it really going to help anybody else?
I find it very hard to believe anything that comes out of ANY of their mouths, it doesn't matter which "side" they are on.

Rosie - posted on 09/27/2010

oh that's hilarious stephany!!!! i wish i was as witty when the moments come like that.
i do believe that they aren't ALL complete ignorant idiots, but i really do feel a good portion of them are. i don't get the republican party and the way they think. it makes absolutely no sense to me, so i could probably guarantee that almost all of them i would disagree with.
everything that i've seen on them makes me believe they are nutters. i mean seriously, who in their right mind sits at the border of mexico in lawn chairs? what do they think they were doing? were they gonna chase down any illegals that they just happened upon? comeon, give me a friggin break.

Stephany - posted on 09/27/2010

@ Petra- I laughed so hard when I read your comment! "Tea Baggers"- haha!
@ Laura- Yeah, I think I've heard them refer to themselves as right-wing Christian conservatives. I'm not sure if that's official or anything, but what is with them, anyway?
A guy running for office in my home state came to my door the other day. He said he's a member of the Tea Party (to which I imagined tapping my fingers together Mr. Burns style and saying "Bwahahaha!"). I invited him in so I could ask him a few questions. *Keep in mind, these were his answers, not necessarily those of his entire party!*
Anyway, I asked him how he felt about publicly-funded health care. He said he was against it, that the responsibility first lies with the family, then with their religious congregation. So, I asked why the public shouldn't be responsible, and he said that it's a private choice to have and receive health care. The masses shouldn't have to pay for everyone else. So, I asked him why the people at a church should be responsible for paying for others in the congregation. He said they wouldn't feel that it was an obligation to help their fellow man because the bible says so. (Bwahaha!), So I asked if that "fellow man" stuff stopped when they stepped out of the confines of the church walls? Are church-going folks only supposed to follow that part of the bible- the part of helping the fellow man- when they were in church once a week and forget it the rest of the week? He blushed and said, "well, of course not!" So, then I asked why they wouldn't then be comfortable with helping all fellow men (and women, damnit!) by regulating it through the government? Long pause. I offered to make him some tea so he could be a little more comfortable. He kind of laughed, then said he just felt it wasn't the government's job. So then I asked if it was the government's job to push Christian ideals of the masses by implementing a system where people had to join a church to receive health care. He said "well, of course not", and reminded me that we have freedom of religion. I said "Yes, freedom of religion but not freedom of health." I then asked him to leave, which I'm sure was a relief to him. As he was leaving he asked if he could leave a sign in my yard, and I told him that in our house we drink coffee. Sorry.

Isobel - posted on 09/27/2010

that's another thing, is Christianity part of the Tea Party movement? because some seem to think it is, while others say it's all about fiscal responsibility...It seems like they can't even really agree on what they are amongst themselves.

Charlene - posted on 09/27/2010

Well, I really like their song 'Heaven Coming Down', but I don't really know any of their other songs. ;)

Petra - posted on 09/27/2010

As a Canadian who is pretty ignorant about this subject, I just want to say that I've been led to believe that the Tea Party is a pretty extreme right-wing group who really takes offense to being dubbed "Tea baggers." This really, really cracks me up.

Isobel - posted on 09/27/2010

I think a great many of them are reasonable people who are just dissatisfied with the way the country is going.

Unfortunately they don't seem to realize that the creator of the movement is big corporations, and those big corporations don't really give a shit what happens to America...they just want the govt out of their business so they can continue raping and pillaging your country.

I also think there is a large fringe element of racists and crazy conspiracy theorists...and if the Tea Party wants to be taken seriously, they need to cleanse themselves of this group.

I also think that the Tea Party speaks in Rhetoric...nothing they say is real or specific...I want to hear in plain English what they want and what they would do. No "take the country back" no more "drinking the koolaid" no more "protecting the family". Say what you mean, is it...kick out the muslims? is it that Obama is a "raghead" as one of the Repub senators so nicely referred to him? Is it that you only believe that a man and a woman of the same race and socio-economic status should be allowed to marry? is it that NOBODY should every be allowed to have an abortion or take hormonal birth control...

why can't these people see that what the Tea Party is saying...is nothing. Yes, fine you are upset with what's going on in your country...I think a lot of people are...you just disagree with how to fix it.

Charlie - posted on 09/26/2010

Well i find the whole hoopla of American politics pretty crazy but yes the Tea party takes the cake , if people behaved the way they do here in Australia they would be institutionalized !