On the Teabaggers and Gingrich
First thought: If they're really trying to echo the Boston Tea Party, shouldn't they be throwing rich people's income into the bay?
Second thought: This whole thing is, in part, a tryout for Dick Armey and Newt Gingrich who are behind the astroturf on this thing. (Notice the perfectly timed 2012 rumor coupled with "look what Newt can organize.")
This thing hits all the current GOP buzzwords and worries. message, ideas, technology, self organizing. They see this as a tryout for their own Obama-style operation.
We'll see.
Later Thought: I think they're really just protesting nothing more than anger that they're in the minority.
Fourth thought: It'll be really interesting to watch them try to spin these small gatherings into something big.
Second thought: This whole thing is, in part, a tryout for Dick Armey and Newt Gingrich who are behind the astroturf on this thing. (Notice the perfectly timed 2012 rumor coupled with "look what Newt can organize.")
This thing hits all the current GOP buzzwords and worries. message, ideas, technology, self organizing. They see this as a tryout for their own Obama-style operation.
"These tea parties demonstrate an important lesson for the GOP: namely how a good message coupled with savvy use of free technology empowers groups to self organize, and make an impact," said Phil Musser, former executive director at the Republican Governors Association and now a GOP consultant. "It's a good lesson that those running for elective office should seek to emulate."
We'll see.
Later Thought: I think they're really just protesting nothing more than anger that they're in the minority.
Fourth thought: It'll be really interesting to watch them try to spin these small gatherings into something big.
posted by mikevotes at
7:46 AM
12 Comments:
The Colonists were protesting the lack of democratic representation. The Teabaggers are protesting the acts of democratic representation.
Actually, I'm not sure what they're protesting against. Everyone seems to have their own personal hallucination they're lashing out against. It's not so much a protest as a temper tantrum. (See Colman, Norm). I don't know what they should throw into the bay.
By
-epm, at 8:05 AM
See this as the stunt it is. In reality, they're protesting nothing but anger that the GOP is in minority.
By
mikevotes, at 8:11 AM
The problem for Newt is that the rabble that is the rump is angry, bitter, racist, and frankly hates "liberty" (when it's practiced by anyone other the the right kind of Americans). They may be able to get the machinery going, but I wonder if they can control the message/image? These angry, frightened Palinesque people are what turned off a lot of independent.
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-epm, at 8:12 AM
"See this as the stunt it is. In reality, they're protesting nothing but anger that the GOP is in minority."
Exactly. And since it so inwardly focused I don't know how this is perceived by "outsiders" as anything but a circus of the bitter. Easily dismissed as a stunt.
Kinda how I usually view protesters at G20 summits.
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-epm, at 8:19 AM
At this point, nobody really knows what the "message" is.
Last week, it was supposed to be all about taxes. "TEA" was said to stand for "taxed enough already".
Now Beck says no, it's about spending.
The proliferation of professionally-printed signs calling for Obama's impeachment adds another message, however.
When you have such a muddled message, these protests really become little more than a show of force. We are supposed to understand that there are people out there who don't like Obama.
And those people are all white, predominantly male, over 40, and overweight.
The Right is trying to emulate the tactics of the Left in some kind of perverse "turnabout is fair play" bid, but they are not suited for that strategy.
By
Todd Dugdale , at 9:02 AM
EPM, I don't know if Newt is the guy. But he's trying pretty hard to make himself the guy. And all this stunt is about is convincing all those dispirited GOP leaders that he could rally the troops, that he can create something.
At this point in the cycle, it's about lining up insiders and money men, getting them roped into your camp early. That's what I think he's trying to do. He doesn't give a crap about building constituency yet.
....
Todd, That's kinda what I'm trying to say. The message is more of a Republican "proof of life." It's not about any cause except that they can still kinda rally.
As I said above, I really think this is more about the Gingrich/Armey camp proving something to the GOP leaders/power figures/donors than it is about any lasting message or movement.
To me, this is a demonstration event as they play for power within the party.
By
mikevotes, at 1:22 PM
Two thoughts:
1) On some level these protesters remind me of the PUMAs. Pissed they lost. Hyper-hypocritical and tilting at delusions.
2) Without Fox News, no one would have known what to do. Fox News herded these angry, undirected hallucinants to the astroturf organizers.
By
-epm, at 1:56 PM
Kinda like the Pumas in that it's anger driving it, although, unlike the Pumas, they do have some real issue differences.
2) I don't think you can minimize the role of Fox "News" in this. This is clearly their baby.
(What happens when a "news" outfit gets involved in staging the news?)
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mikevotes, at 3:50 PM
I heard FOX was dumping its "Fair and Balanced" motto.
This must be their first step testing the waters of not being fair and balanced. HAHAHA
Astounding, that Republicans are protesting what they have spent the last 30 years building up.
By
Unknown, at 7:20 PM
Time - "Astounding, that Republicans are protesting what they have spent the last 30 years building up"
Huh? Not sure I follow.
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OpenMindedRepublican, at 6:33 AM
Time, I really think they overstepped on this one. They're getting some serious criticism and they seem sensitive about it.
....
OMR, I would guess Time is talking about the debt/deficit. Reagan really launched the modern debt. I figure that's 30 years.
That would be my guess at Time's point.
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mikevotes, at 7:05 AM
You are right Mike, that is my point. Thank you.
The Bush administration structured (poorly) the first TARP. President Bush told the nation that this was necessary or our financial markets would collapse. I have no doubt that if he were still President he would be supporting this second bailout, helping the auto companies, and any other company that he deemed essential to America's financial security.
Dick and Newt are apostles of Reagan and his "trickle down" theory - aka - later known as "no new tax pledge." These financial theories are proven failures, mainly because they refused to cut spending at the same time, which caused our debt/deficit to grow to dangerous levels.
Now, Dick and Newt are out there with this sill tea bag stunt to try and whip up public anger over our financial situation, that their policies created.
Of course, it's all President Obama's fault and his large spending cannot be allowed-geeesh.
These guys (Newt and Dick) are as dishonest as politicians come.
By
Unknown, at 10:32 AM
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