A movement looking for attachment.
Just three and a half months ago, all of the media was atwitter with the idea that the "teabag" movement was going to represent some great watershed, some great and lasting moment of coalescence of populist resistance against Obama. This idea that the teabaggers were important became so entrenched, that mainstream politicians tried to wheedle their way under the mantle.
But, then the events were actually held, and microphones were put under the noses of the "teabaggers," all white, all far right Republican, all very crazy, and many somewhat racist.
Within a week, politicians began to abandon them, and then the press began to use the phrase "teabaggers" to refer to the far out Republican fringe. Once the CEI and FoxNews abandoned the movement (that they had so successfully astroturfed and promoted,) the whole thing fell, all in about a month.
But the thing is, the anger that brought all those people out for the ridiculous act of dumping a teabag, (I mean, really, how stupid is that?) that anger didn't go away just because mainstream figures and politicians fled from the people who actually make up that group. Those angry people are still out there, and now many of them have moved on to the "birther" movement.
It's my hunch that the "birther" movement is about at its peak right now. The "cause" will certainly continue on the internet, but its volume and popularity seem now set to decline as mainstream Republican figures begin to try to tamp down these crazies once again.
The thing is, Republicans like the idea of this highly motivated angry fringe as it's extremely politically useful. However, they want them angry and seen by the media, ... but not actually heard. The flaws in the argument and the ugliness behind the passion begin to appear when amateurs try to take on the highly skilled job of spokesperson.
I think we can trace this whole thing back a little further through the post Obama election gun purchase spree ("They're gonna take our guns,") back into the McCain campaign after they made the decision to start the "palling around with terrorists" stuff. Remember how crazy that got, with people shouting "kill him" from the crowd until finally McCain had to officially distance and discredit it all in that memorable townhall moment with that really wierd woman?
My point is this: We can debate the reasons these people are so angry (race, "culture" (which probably includes elements of race), or susceptibility to propaganda (Obama as Hitler, Stailin, socialist, fascist, etc.,)) but the bottom line is that these folks are going to stay angry, and not go away.
The "birther" movement may crest, but another "terrorist," "take our guns away," "socialist," "teabagger," "birther" movement will come behind, attempting to tap into these folks' anger. There's just too much power and profit to be had exploiting these folks for them to allowed to fade into the woodwork.
But, each time, it will likely follow this same recurring pattern. Movement, someone exploiting and promoting that movement, politicians trying to glom onto the movement. Movement hits critical mass where footsoldiers actually get on TV, and then politicians and media start to distance and discredit.
I can't tell you what the next movement will be, but I can guarantee that the "birthers" will fade only to be replaced by something else outlandish.
Way too long a post, but I hope you get my point.
But, then the events were actually held, and microphones were put under the noses of the "teabaggers," all white, all far right Republican, all very crazy, and many somewhat racist.
Within a week, politicians began to abandon them, and then the press began to use the phrase "teabaggers" to refer to the far out Republican fringe. Once the CEI and FoxNews abandoned the movement (that they had so successfully astroturfed and promoted,) the whole thing fell, all in about a month.
But the thing is, the anger that brought all those people out for the ridiculous act of dumping a teabag, (I mean, really, how stupid is that?) that anger didn't go away just because mainstream figures and politicians fled from the people who actually make up that group. Those angry people are still out there, and now many of them have moved on to the "birther" movement.
It's my hunch that the "birther" movement is about at its peak right now. The "cause" will certainly continue on the internet, but its volume and popularity seem now set to decline as mainstream Republican figures begin to try to tamp down these crazies once again.
The thing is, Republicans like the idea of this highly motivated angry fringe as it's extremely politically useful. However, they want them angry and seen by the media, ... but not actually heard. The flaws in the argument and the ugliness behind the passion begin to appear when amateurs try to take on the highly skilled job of spokesperson.
I think we can trace this whole thing back a little further through the post Obama election gun purchase spree ("They're gonna take our guns,") back into the McCain campaign after they made the decision to start the "palling around with terrorists" stuff. Remember how crazy that got, with people shouting "kill him" from the crowd until finally McCain had to officially distance and discredit it all in that memorable townhall moment with that really wierd woman?
My point is this: We can debate the reasons these people are so angry (race, "culture" (which probably includes elements of race), or susceptibility to propaganda (Obama as Hitler, Stailin, socialist, fascist, etc.,)) but the bottom line is that these folks are going to stay angry, and not go away.
The "birther" movement may crest, but another "terrorist," "take our guns away," "socialist," "teabagger," "birther" movement will come behind, attempting to tap into these folks' anger. There's just too much power and profit to be had exploiting these folks for them to allowed to fade into the woodwork.
But, each time, it will likely follow this same recurring pattern. Movement, someone exploiting and promoting that movement, politicians trying to glom onto the movement. Movement hits critical mass where footsoldiers actually get on TV, and then politicians and media start to distance and discredit.
I can't tell you what the next movement will be, but I can guarantee that the "birthers" will fade only to be replaced by something else outlandish.
Way too long a post, but I hope you get my point.
posted by mikevotes at
1:07 PM
6 Comments:
Sorry if this is a dumb question, but what is the CEI?
By
Patrick, at 3:08 PM
Sorry. I probably should have linked. CEI is the Competitive Enterprise Institute, a "think tank" run by Dick Army with alot of experience generating astroturfed public outrage for corporate interests.
When you see Republicans on the ground rallying for some item that will greatly benefit business but probably hurt the rank and file Republican on the ground. That's frequently the CEI.
Led/mercury levels. Strange boutique-y industry specific regulation and tax items that seem to have unexpected grass roots support.
For instance right now, they're coordinating opposition to global warming legislation and carbon emissions stuff.
They're also working to block a tax on bottled water.
By
mikevotes, at 3:59 PM
Thanks. I'm not an Obama fan, but I must say the tea party people are not helping their cause. Most seem like they just want to be angry about something.
By
Patrick, at 4:33 PM
Well, it's not just the shouting. It's the irrationality. The teabaggers complaints, for instance, sound like a semi reasonable position about deficits when presented by a professional, whether it's someone spinning for them or even a news anchor explaining their supposed position..
However, when you get the actual teabag people on camera, shouting about Obama and fascism, that whole image falls apart, into a crazed, irrational, sometimes racist white guy who seems to be blatantly citing items from the internet that we all know are not true.
If you're Republican, it's kinda like the anti-Iraq war argument. There was a very cogent argument against Iraq and against alot of the Bush policies and practices ther. However, a screaming irrational protester in a hand written shirt shouting things from the internet kinda undermines the rational position. You know?
By
mikevotes, at 5:48 PM
Actually, I think their position is totally unreasonable, even when professionally presented. Balanced budget, smaller government, lower taxes and so on begs the question: what departments/programs do you want to cut back or eliminate? Rarely does anyone get specific, and then they are still just tinkering around the edges.
I am convinced that if McCain had won, he could (and quite probably would) be doing pretty much the same things Obama is - and the Tea Party folks would be cheering him on. It's pure tribalism. Most people will defend whatever "their" guy does and oppose whatever the "other" side wants.
By
Patrick, at 8:05 PM
I tend to strongly agree. The act of stimulus atthe point of risk we were facing was the right choice.We could argue about targets and application, but the overall theory was dead on correct in my eyes.
My point was not that their argument was right, but that that argument could be rationallly stated, which it really wasn't.
And the man on the street teabaggers, definitely weren't the ones who should be making it (if you support the idea.)
I wasn't trying to support that position, just trying to say that the teabaggers are about the worst spokesmen because all their pent up hate that comes out tends to obliterate any point they're trying to make.
By
mikevotes, at 8:50 PM
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