The Tea Baggers' Strange Brew
By Jon Perr Saturday Apr 11, 2009 1:00pmIf nothing else, the conservative movement is an irony producing machine. Aided and abetted by their echo chamber at Fox News, on Tax Day next week members of the raging right will gather at so-called Tea Parties around the country. There, the protesters, at least 95% of whom received a tax cut courtesy of President Obama and Democrats in Congress, will in essence decry "no taxation with representation." And if their misunderstanding of the Boston Tea Party wasn't bad enough, their choice of tea bagging as metaphor is more unfortunate still.
To be sure, what theoretically began as a protest against profligate government has morphed into a Rorschach Test of right-wing political grievance. (For examples, see this video collection from Huffington Post.) Glenn Beck's astro-turf acolytes decry saboteurs and "communists," evolution and "brainwashing machines." The tea baggers' strange brew of Birthers and Birchers proclaim Barack Obama foreign-born while issuing calls to "burn the books." In the end, the far-right foaming at the mouth (starting around the 1:58 mark above) was enough for the renegade conservative blog Little Green Footballs:
"This is some really deranged stuff, and the audience is eating it up."
As Jon Stewart rightly pointed out to the beaten and battered, furious and frothing minions of the right, "I think you might be confusing tyranny with losing." While President Obama has proposed returning the tax rate for the 2% of taxpayers earning over $250,000 to the Clinton-era levels of the booming 1990's, the Tea Baggers apparently believe King George III is still oppressing his colonial subjects under the yoke of the Townshend and Tea Acts:
In 1773, a handful of men dumped tea into the Boston Harbor. That one act set in motion a chain of events that birthed the greatest nation on earth. But today, many Americans feel helpless as they watch an imperialistic government destroy our Constitution and 237 years of liberty.
The first American Tea Party birthed a nation. The second American Tea Party could help save it!
Of course, what the Tea Baggers have saved is hundreds of dollars each, thanks to the Obama stimulus package passed by Democrats in the House and Senate, a Congress which was overwhelmingly elected by the American people. In response, the disaffected denizens of the right plan their own stimulus of sorts, spending their tax cuts on "T.E.A" ("taxed enough already") merchandise. It's no wonder fiscal conservative Andrew Sullivan could only conclude:
"These are not tea-parties. They are tea-tantrums. And the adolescent, unserious hysteria is a function not of a movement regrouping and refinding itself. It's a function of a movement's intellectual collapse and a party's fast-accelerating nervous breakdown."
And as the Rachel Maddow Show among others highlighted, these Fox-Pajamas Media sponsored tantrums chose a most unfortunate means of protest. In the vernacular, as one uncomfortable Salt Lake City reporter detailed, "tea bagging" isn't merely a term referring to rubbing one's genitals over the face of another. The practice has also become part of hazing rituals - and court cases - involving high school and college sports teams nationwide. In Pennsylvania, New York, Utah, Colorado and elsewhere around the country, parents and their children are grappling with what courts have deemed sexual assault. And as its core, the hazing practice involves coercion, taunting and, above all, degradation.
All of which makes tea-bagging the perfect protest of choice for the furious followers of the Republican right.
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have not been paid like seals in a circus?
This was funny stuff. Wingnut universe gray aliens have nothing on these members of the human race.
This should have been on April Fools Day.
why stop with teabagging?
why don't the republicans stage some public cleveland steamers, to protest the rock and roll hall of fame?
how about some hot karls, to protest marxism?
or some donkey punches, to protest the democratic party as a whole?
(sorry, couldn't resist. kids -don't try that stuff at home!)
protest the republican party as a hole (A HOLE)!
until they start going Dutch Oven on us to protest medical marijuana.
A rimjob to protest Obama's fixation with basketball (much like we decried Bush's repeated vacations)
Golden Showers to protest fixing the environment
A Dirty Sanchez to protest immigration reform
but the digital to analog converters are in them selves not a brainwashing tool!
That guy should have his own comedy show!
...the complete mental implosion of a easily (mis)led group of witless followers.
If you have the unfortunate "position" to run into a "tea bagger" as a friend, family member, acquantence at work, etc.
Be sure to let them know you're surprised to find out that they made more than $250k/year. (my guess is anyone affected by the Obama administrations tax increases will not be found anywhere near a "tea bagger")
Also, let them know how surprised you are to find out that they are into such "kinky stuff". Huh???? What you talkin' bout?
Peace.
I guess I see something different here from other people: regret.
A lot of the intensity of emotion for Beck, the teabaggers, etc, is driven by these people's realization that they've been getting played by the conservative Republicans for the last 30 years, but it's too late to do anything about it.
These people were Reagan's and W's shock troops: backing every war, every loony economic scheme, every destructive policy, every mutilation of the constitution. And what are they left with? Foreclosures, endless pointless war, economic collapse, etc etc.
Only now, when it's too late, when the conservative Republican ascendancy is over, have they begun to think about what's really going on in the world. I think they know that they got played, and they're furious.
But they can't bear to admit it, so they're lashing out at whatever's handy. Who's in power? Dems. Obama. The lib'rul media.
When you ask them "Why weren't you pissed off like this about Bush's lapses on 9/11?" or "Why didn't you complain about Wall Street when economic inequality was soaring in the 1990s and 2000s?" or "Why didn't you say anything about warrantless wiretapping before?" all they've got is a guilty look.
They know it. That's why they're so mad.
At least, that's my take.
This gettin' older leaves some of us out of the language loop. I didn't know tea-bagging referred to face-genitalia dragging. It really does make the conservatives' self-important protest language amusing.
Go back and watch Rachel Maddow and Ana Marie Cox barely get through this segment with a straight face.
that is putting forth 2m4m as 2,000,000 for marriage is a hoot too.
Could you explain? I don't understand the reference.
thanks
An Open Letter to National Organization for Marriage
The last point I made. NOM launched a new campaign Two Million For Marriage (2M4M). They didn't check who owned the domain name.
I was watching Rachel again.
That's what happens, when these angry shortsighted kooks fly off the handle in fear, they act irrational and can't think straight. ;)
psyches are Ignorance/Fear based. They're scared of everything and every one, starting with their God, vengeful malicious, cruel.
Conservatives use wingnut ignorance to activate their fear, which leads to power when their leaders promise to protect them, and rage and violence towards anyone who disputes their belief.
Anyhow: I got a Robocall Friday evening inviting me to tea party. Where they got the idea I would attend is a real puzzle. Idiots.
Use their ignorance to activate their fear
didn't even identify himself. Just said, "Americans, are you aware of the tea (bagging parties taking place across the country today as a protest against what's going on in our country?" or something like that. "What's going on in our country;" they can't even point to a particular grievance, because they know their boy Bush, and therefore themselves, are complicit in the catastrophes facing the country.
Right-wing authoritarians can't admit they're wrong; it can collapse their identity, cause them to melt down or attack, as we're seeing now. They've lost power due to their own incompetence and the truth is unbearable. Therefore, "communism," "fascism," brown people, etc. etc. Anyone but themselves.
around 70 hazing incidents involving genitals
The dumbest of the dumb. That guy at the end, is a total Fox news tard. He thinks everything else is brainwashing him except for fox news. I hope these lazy ass, unfit automatons do try and start a revolution. They will loose so fast and hopefully most will be imprisoned and or exterminated. We just need to duck out of the way while the Fox news fireworks go off. Hey you think maybe after tons of riots and government building destruction, the congress and senate might reconsider the fairness doctrine? Maybe hold the O'riely's accountable for their lies, weather they think they are ling or not?
I have a suggestion for the 9-11 truthers, stand back with us and wait, let them quarter brained retards go wild without us. Unfortunately they will set a new president for even more domestic spying and less freedom.
Loud mouth idiots destroyed this country like that guy in the video.
..tards are going to save the country, sheesh.
There's a lot of tough talk during $2.00 pitcher night though.
You know, the, uh.... those ones on evolution and crap.
Yea, burn those damn books, I want everyone else to be just as stooopid as me.
Where were these Idiots when Bush was Pissing on the Constitution?
They are nothing but Mindless Tools of the Republican Party.
When we were having our rights taken away by King George and Elmer Cheney, these same sheep said "Shut up and support your President."
Riiiiiiiiiiight.
Where were these guys when their beloved Bush lost $9 billion in Iraq? it just went missing, nobody accountable and these same people never said a word.
Where were these guys when their beloved Bush grew the government larger by creating new bureaucracies?
These people cry a river when it suits them but they don't really care about America, they would never stand up against their own party for any reason, no matter the crime or the effects of their crimes, there is nothing the Repugs can do wrong in these people's eyes. and at the same time there is nothing the dems can do right in their eyes.
these people are harmful to America, keep an eye on them. They say it's the quiet ones you gotta watch...nope, it's these kinds of people!
He spent those $9B to kill those evil brown Moosulums! That's money well spent!
Obama and his nefarious minions want to spend money on STUFF HERE IN AMERICA! Like, like...INFRASTRUCTURE! And BUILDING THINGS! And HELPING POOR PEOPLE! That's Communist talk. We can't have that!
DOWN WITH HELPING! UP WITH WAR!
After all, you love Jesus, don't you?
LMAO!
in their book of fables, what they fear more, is to be wrong!
Pastor Chuck, leader of the constitution party. I'm not at all surprised to hear the chants of [BURN THE BOOKS] and [THAT EVOLUTION CRAP]... and that "GRAND PUBA" of marketing has stopped paying those evil taxes, he could stand to lose a few pounds, I'm sure a little prison time will help him with that.
on January 20th of this year. Most of these fools don't even know what they're protesting - just an excuse to jump on the "we hate Obama" band wagon. Sour grapes is all. Get over it.
I had no idea that it(tea bagging) was a slang term for anything, until the wonderful Ms. Maddow almost lost it on camera!
They are so clueless! Even more than me!LMAO
and you're right, they are beyond clueless! What a bunch of twits!
These people are worse than twits. They are letting Glenn Beck tell them what to do for Christ's sake. And everything that comes out of Beck's mouth is lunacy. And 75% of the country are LAUGHING at them!!! They are complaining about getting a tax cut!
right on. They need to do more to get their message out. They should have parades lead by seventy-six trombones (preferably rusty ones). And they should round up a bunch of illegal immigrants from Mexico and parade those dirty Sanchezes before the people. Then they can teabag.
I'm just praying that the teabagging doesn't turn into a nationwide Dirty Sanchez.
Been hearing about them for years, but still don't know.
consult the Urban Dictionary
Dirty Sanchez
That people is Michael Savage's audience, these are some seriously mentally small people
Duh
the entire Palin family is going to show up to demonstrate to the country, live on TV, what tea bagging really means.
"savage wiener" in SF...
for the Ron Paul campaign.
► http://www.strijewski.com/wp-content/uploads/...
Though because of childish infatuation with all things [SEX], they've rejuvenated the premise of the Boston tea party to now be re-branded "Tea bagging" party. The Elders can relate to the tea party and the youth can relate to the tea bagging connotation. When minds are presented with stories that don't match up too the facts, I'm not surprised that there is fear and disillusionment.
This FOX guy even thinks they're wandering.
JOHN TANTILLO: This Tea Party Will Be the Fad That Flopped
→ → →[ http://foxforum.blogs.foxnews.com/2009/04/11/... ]
"On your way out pick up your free cup of Kool-Aid and tin foil hat!"
You are gonna have to get a helmet to deflect analog to digital converter brainwashing waves,and maybe some thick gloves,like oven mitts.They're gonna be spreading STD through the air and water supply,so wear a surgical mask at all times,boil your water twice,and for extra protection wear goggles.Get guns,lots of guns and build a fallout shelter which you can stock with non perishable food items and a few acceptable books,i.e. The Holy Bible,The Turner Diaries,The Left Behind Series and a few Readers Digests for a "full" slate.
I hear a TINFOIL HAT works fine.
From DKos: Fox has a teabagg'n problem.
"the evolution crap"??
Oh come on, well anyway out of all this they are right when it comes to the TV, it IS a big brainwashing tool thats why I got rid of it and I am better for it.
Second, If I had the means I would stop paying taxes too, all they are doing is bailing out bankers and blowing up brown people with the money so to heck with that. I would put all my money in to gold and to hell with the dollar, I just wish I had enough money to make it worthwhile:)
Third, these people are too stupid to know exactly whats going on, they need to be lead by people who do. They are loyal though and if you tell them some of what they want to hear they will follow so I hope they don't get lead by a violent person. The bankers run the government, it has nothing to do with communism, its just the form of government the "powers that be" find most convenient to turn to at the moment. America has been a communist nation since 1913 when they insituted the FED, Central banking has no place in capitalism. Check out the "10 planks of communism" and you will find My country Canada and America too.
ANYONE can stop paying taxes ANYTIME.
Just move out of the country. Voilà! no more taxes!
(well... no more US taxes)
Not to mention the Rainbow coalition for marriage, or whatever.....
Hello, too funny!!!
Deb Vegas
If you know you're being brainwashed, can't you avoid it?
Oh, I see. It's everyone ELSE who's being brainwashed. Thank goodness that guy is immune and can free us.
I can hear the collective sigh over at AIG from here. They can continue to reap billions while we all blame each other, books, schools, Obama, or the media. Brilliant.
These people are confused, and dumb.
they dumped all that tea because it was nothing but seeds and stems!
...you should avoid saying this:
You can't know ahead of time (or, in reality, even afterward) what the teabaggers' income is. This may be nitpicking, but I like accuracy, and the best you can say is that it is likely that a substantial majority of the teabaggers will have gotten a tax cut. Obama's advertised 95% (most likely a suspect number anyway) applies to all taxpayers, not any particular subset.
"Burn the books"? Still wanna say Obama is like Hitler?
I think these tea party yahoos are just the 25%ers. These people just cannot think for themselves. The thing that is funny they are not even letting the more lucid of their bunch inform them that they are being stupid. Instead they are letting the Glenn Becks and Shun Hannitys tell them what they should be thinking. Michael Steele is telling them that there is no recession because the mall are full of people. Plus they have Karl Rove telling them that Joe Biden is a big mouth or something. What's next? William Kristal asking why Obama has us in this war?
....."The Russians are Coming! The Russians are Coming!"?
So this is a 50 year plan started in the 50s and 60s and put together by...
Wait for it...
George Soros?
Is anyone else seeing a problem with this?
Anyone else notice that there's not a single minority in that crowd? Seriously, couldn't they find at least one token minority for their little tea party?
is that at least these people are stimulating the economy for that restaurant. Spend on, people! That's what GWB asked you to sacrifice for your country on 9/12. So Good for you.
My goodness. I've seen footage of these rallies. I have never seen a bigger bunch of (misinformed/ignorant/uneducated) people since the Palin rallies. Talk about Fox on the brain. The 15th is going to be like Christmas with all the overflowing comedy.
Happy Easter everyone.
Here is their leader of the "Constitution Party", Pastor Chuck Baldwin.
"Right" around the 1:25 mark... "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, etc. etc." Well at least he got his main point across?
┼ Pastor Chuck→[ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FV0GDOtf4wk ]
??? [Burn the Books]┼[Evolution Crap]┼[Pastor Chuck], a simple puzzle.
Wow! This isn't funny to me, it's frightening! The "evolution" books are the "brainwashing" books. Holy Shit!!!!
Wow Wow Wow!!!!
I mean WOW!!!
Ok, I am becoming more and more obsessed with this Tea Bag debacle by the second.
It amuses me on so many levels and of course frightens me.
I could go on for hours .
This video , I am speechless.
These people are grasping for every single straw .
"Marketing got us into this and marketing can get us out"
Did I hear that correctly?
Going back to the 50's ; Communism , a plan ....?
Is this really going through peoples minds?
I mean people who were born during or after that time?
No amount of stupidity or ignorance surprises me these days , but I just have to say that this is
incredible and once again , I am speechless.
In this area, the typical tea-bagger is unemployed or nearly so, very aware that Warren Buffett was a major fund-raiser and contributor to the Obama campaign, and either a laid-off Berkshire Hathaway Shaw worker, layoffs from that organization's competitors, or laid off from Berkshire Clayton Mobile Homes or a family member of a former employee of that organization.
They are hugely pissed off at the idea that the world's richest man is subsidizing his inflated stocks with their 10-13/hr wages, that any upturn in the housing market will result in their jobs being paid with inflated/devalued currency, or that those jobs will be given to amnestied illegals.
10% of the nation's workers are on UEC, another 5% either didn't qualify or their checks have expired, and Obama, the man they thought would save the economy, is talking about an open border between here and Mexico, effectively handing their jobs over to those with no general investment in America, and handing the paychecks over to the Vatican to refill coffers depleted from child molestor litigation defenses and conviction awards.
Even the non-racists (and I am multi-racial) are horrified that the "party of the people" has sold them out to AIG and Buffett's Wall Street cronies.
The majority are not toothless hillbillies--just disenfranchised workers whose foremothers founded the textile industry in this region, and whose forefathers and extended families built and perpetuated the mills which made the carpets you intolerant elitists walk upon.
Beck is over the top with false generalizations. Don't fall into the other end of that trap.
To hell with tea. Bail on Berkshire, and purchase lower-cap growth stocks.
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