Originally Posted By Mr X Well, I'm going to add some details as this thread moves along (assuming anyone is interested), but it seems to me that the so-called grassroots "Teabag Movement", which is really nothing of the sort and was actually FOMENTED by the noise machine, has turned in its' masters. Among other things, they are now pissed at Sarah Palin for a) endorsing McCain and b) for insinuating that the Republican party needs to absorb the movement, and NOW they're going after Bill O'Reilley... Some amusing quotes from an extreme right-wing forum (I left out all the "he's a blankity blank-blank!" comments, but I assure you there are present and plentiful)... ***Well, BOR is coming up with Pinheads and Patriots. I wish he would include himself in that segment, just one time. Is he a Pinhead or a Patriot? You be the judge! I vote friggin' PINHEAD!*** ***His ego rivals that of Obama’s.*** ***O'Reilly couldn't really be as stupid as he looked tonight could he? Could it be that he was just faking it? Well maybe he actually is that stupid after all*** And a couple of great off the topics, (on birthers) "At this point, the majority of the American public are 'birthers.' Everyone that I do business with is well aware that he isn't a citizen. Only the Skool Teechur types are dragging their feet." (on Sarah Palin's intellect) "I’d like to know that she can do that on intricate policy details." "Who would she do it with? There isn't anyone in the media that has her level of understanding to even banter with." So, the monster is turning on its' creator. Ain't that just always the way!?
Originally Posted By Mr X Another good quote... "Fuggedaboutit a third party, the GOP needs to become radicalized by the principles of the Tea Party"
Originally Posted By DouglasDubh Mr X, if you're really interested in what conservatives think, I'd suggest you stay away from these fringe message boards, and read "The Corner" on National Review Online.
Originally Posted By Mr X I only read the fringe boards for a chuckle Doug. Trust me. As for being really interested in what conservatives think...I'm not, really. Not so much. At all. But I AM interested in seeing how that fringe monster might be getting ready to split the Republican votes like a banana in November. THAT would be a great source of amusement, indeed (and frankly the left wing and their inaction and lack of a collective spine doesn't have much chance of holding on save for the right wing kooks doing themselves in which seems potentially likely).
Originally Posted By Mr X Besides, Doug, I've been reading YOUR contributions online for years. That's more than enough of an education on how right wingers think and what they're all about, wouldn't you say?
Originally Posted By Dabob2 I am interested in what conservatives think, and I've always read things like National Review (I once subscribed to the NR and The Nation simultaneously, which must have amused my mailman). NR is more fringe-leaning itself these days (not to mention not nearly as good a read since Buckley died) but at least it still fancies itself as intellectual, despite that becoming a dirty word in politics. The trouble is that the conservative movement these days is dominated not by the likes of NR, but by the anti-intellectual, the Southern wing of the GOP, talk radio, neo-know-nothings, and the religious right. That's simply who calls the tune in conservatism these days; it's why Rush Limbaugh is a far more influential figure right now than, say, George Will. This dominant group is also almost entirely white, straight, and far more male-dominated than the Democrats (look again at the two sides of the aisle during the last SOTU if you doubt me - the Democratic side had lots of black faces, Asian faces, Hispanic faces and quite a lot of women; the GOP side had a handful of women and mostly a sea of white men. That might equal electoral success in the short term if they can channel anger and get people to once again vote against their own best interests, but it's certainly not the future of the country demographically.) And while by no means are all the adherents racist or sexist or homophobic, there is no question that racism and sexism and homophobia are an important component, though usually unspoken rather than blatant (Tom Tancredo aside). I don't know, Mr. X, if the tea partiers are going to "turn on their masters" or be reliably Republican voters. The tea party "movement" is too unfocused right now and actually is comprised of several groups as well as unaffiliated folks. There's a strain of libertarianism in there that chafes at the two-party system (as well as GOP foreign policy, as well as the bigotry I spoke of above if they're true libertarians); there are also without question forces behind the scenes pulling strings to try to harness this anger specifically for GOP electoral success (one of the larger t.p. groups is run by none other than Dick Armey). Part of the problem is that one of the few things the tea partiers agree on is that they're taxed too much - a large percentage actually thinks Obama has already raised their taxes when in fact he has lowered them for nearly all Americans - and no responsible politician is going to be able to put off tax increases forever. So they're starting from a foundation of an ideal that is almost sure to be dashed by whomever they turn to temporarily... and might well turn ON quickly if said pol is not "pure" enough. So there are contradictory forces within the movement, and something of a shaky basis to start with - we'll see if (and how) things get focused in the future.
Originally Posted By andyll <<Mr X, if you're really interested in what conservatives think, I'd suggest you stay away from these fringe message boards, and read "The Corner" on National Review Online.>> I'm on a golf forum that has a political board. It is full of generally normal people. The conservative members post that same kind of stuff all the time.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***I don't know, Mr. X, if the tea partiers are going to "turn on their masters" or be reliably Republican voters. The tea party "movement" is too unfocused right now and actually is comprised of several groups as well as unaffiliated folks*** I'd say they already have. Look at the NY23rd. Sure, they'll probably vote R in the general elections (whether they like it or not), but before that they'll back up the looniest kooks they can find in the Primaries...which is good news for the left wing to say the least.
