Comments about ‘Strong moral streak is key to understanding tea party’

"... drove Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter out of GOP primary races ..."

Arlen Specter was in a Democratic primary race. It seems that what one needs to be a Tea Party Hat is some ignorance ...

"... helped Nikki Haley finish first in South Carolina's GOP gubernatorial primary."

Along with some hypocrisy. Nikki has been accused of sleeping with two men not her husband over the last few years by the men themselves. No proof but if a Democrat had been so accused, you can bet it would be a much bigger news story. But since Republicans have the monopoly on sexual hypocrisy (of both the homo- and heterosexual persuasions) as well as control of the media, we'll never know.

Sort of like Ann Coulter's disdain for liberals, I won't even talk to a "tea-partier" unless I have to. "Tea party" means coalition of spoiled brat, former Bushie supporting, LOSERS!

What I see of the tea party is not moral. Actually, calling oneself "moral" is speaking like Washington policy wonks. I don't buy it.

The Tea Party thrives on the stresses that many Americans feel as the realities of the 21st Century make it increasingly clear that their visions of a “Leave it to Beaver” America cannot, and never did, work.

The Tea Party is it a movement of anger and anxiety, but is devoid of real-world solutions. Tea Partiers are rightly concerned about national debt, but are completely incoherent when it comes to where to make significant budget cuts or raise revenue.

They can’t make up their mind as to whether they are a movement of libertarians who want to get government out of Americans’ lives, or religious conservatives who want to install the government in Americans’ bedrooms.

There is an awkward and painful truth here that nonetheless needs to be said, and said clearly: The Tea Party is a movement of stupidity and belligerent ignorance, led by stupid, belligerently ignorant people — Sarah Palin chief among them. Talk to a Tea Partier about teaching evolution in schools if you doubt this.

While stupidity has never kept anyone from being elected, it has never been good for our country.

Witless anger is not the same thing as morality.

Saying that they don't talk like Washington policy wonks is another way of saying that thet aren't really very familiar with the issues they complain about. The reference to wanting smaller government without reducing social security or medicare about sums it up.

"hippies selfless?" I think not.
The tea party can be understood as a group of people who are tired of the same old "song and dance" in Washington. The spending has gotten so out of control that the tea partiers understand that it is unsustainable and will destroy our childrens future. They know the govt. has become too large and intrusive in our lives. They want the govt. the way founders gave it to us. They believe that when the federal govt. gets too big we loose our individual freedom. The tea partiers are the most sensible and reasonable people out there; no matter how the DNC media wants to portray them.

Somewhere there is a quote that goes “know men by their works”. or something like that. The important thing is to look past the phony rhetoric and see the Tea Party movement for what it really is.

Terms like small government, low taxes, strict Constitution, no regulation, individual responsibility, morality, and such are just a cover up for their real agenda which is the enslavement of people for profit.

They are the people who refuse to play by the rules, and in fact don’t want any rules at all.

The characterization of the Tea Party people as everyday, ordinary, working people is simply a lie.

Real American are not afraid to help their neighbor, real Americans don’t believe that it is evil or bad to relieve people of the burdens of life, real Americans believe everyone should vote, and real Americans just want a fair and just society to live in.

Kosar leaves "tea party shill" out of his c.v. at the bottom of the article. It's sad that he tries to escuse a group of people who are trying to tear the United States apart, instead of urging that people of all parties WORK TOGETHER for the benefit of this country and its people. Sad.

They all know you don't have to have the moral high ground, just claim it.

Those candidates who pander to the so-called Tea Party and seek their votes will find that, in the end, their quest for office is lonely and forlorn.

As Thomas F. Meagher stated, "Extremism in the American political system is no virtue." The Tea Party is a group of extremists who have lost sight of what the Founding Fathers wanted for this Country. Indeed, the Fathers knew that decisions about this Country's welfare should be made by those educated and successful enough to do so. The Tea Partiers would ignore this wish and have a government composed of a general public that spends its days playing video games and watching reality television. That is a recipe for disaster.

KM has it absolutely correct. Whether you agree with Tea Party views or not, KM describes the Tea Party accurately. Bravo!


"The tea party can be understood as a group of people who are tired of the same old "song and dance" in Washington. The spending has gotten so out of control that the tea partiers understand that it is unsustainable and will destroy our childrens future. They know the govt. has become too large and intrusive in our lives. They want the govt. the way founders gave it to us. They believe that when the federal govt. gets too big we loose our individual freedom. The tea partiers are the most sensible and reasonable people out there; no matter how the DNC media wants to portray them."

Exremists? No, they are Patriots.

The tea party movement is a AstroTurf organization started by Freedom Works and Fox News. It's gaming poor ignorant Americans by spreading fear and hysteria.

"FreedomWorks is primarily funded by individual donations. According to the media watchdog group Media Matters for America, FreedomWorks has also received funding from Verizon and SBC (now AT&T). Other FreedomWorks funders have included Philip Morris and foundations controlled by the conservative Scaife family, according to tax filings and other records. It also receives funding through the sale of insurance policies through which policyholders automatically become members of FreedomWorks.

FreedomWorks is closely tied to its founder, corporate lobbyist and former Republican Congressman Dick Armey, whose former lobbying firm DLA Piper that he resigned in August 2009, represents Bristol Myers Squibb, among other pharmaceutical companies."

True patriots don't work to ruin America.

Tea partyers are handicapped by their lack of a theoretical superstructure to handle their many angsts. These people are extremely resentful of wall street's liberal self-rewards while little guys are tossed out on the street, and justifiably so. But they lack a theortetical framework. Marx is part of that framework, particularly "Capital." Of course, to them "marxist" is an epithet (to them I could just as well call myself hitler, stalin, or Ghengis Kahn). The tea partyers are mad, but they're extremely uncertain whom to blame. Obama is a ready target becaue of his race.

I challenge tea partyers to have a look at Marx, but don't try to do it alone; take a class somewhere on Marx's Capital. You'll be glad you did, and the world will make a whole lot more sense.

Informed Voter (which I doubt very much),

TP'ers are Patriots? Really? How is vacuous ranting in any way patriotic?

What's the TP plan for Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan? (I'll give you a hint, "nuke them" isn't an acceptable answer.)

What's the TP plan for our crumbling national infrastructure?

What's the TP plan for energy independence? "Drill baby, drill" is fun to say, but isn't supported by any credible assessment of our real needs and options.

What does the TP think should be done about the Gulf Oil spill? The TP's Queen, Half-Guv Palin, was just asked that question by Bill O'Reilly on FOX, and even in this softball interview, on this simple question she stuttered, blustered and was exceptionally scattered and nonsensical, even by Palin-speak standards.

The Tea Party is all heat an no light. No brainpower is involved in ranting - any high school dropout can do that.

What we're waiting for is evidence that anyone speaking on behalf of the Tea Party can offer America a coherent, practical and unifying plan for our nation's pressing challenges.

Walk the talk, please.

It's one thing to complain about something.

It's a whole other beast when it comes to actually coming up w/solutions.

I find the tea partiers as hypocritical Republicans filled with sour grapes from the last election.

If they really cared about deficits, fed government growth, and the taking away of our personal freedoms, then why were they silent during the 8 years of Bush?

After he turned our surplus into a deficit, why weren't they protesting then?
Why did they not show disdain for Bush's Patriot Act, which infringes upon personal rights?

It's important to know why they weren't protesting then to know what their true motivations are for the present and future. Along with credibility. I cannot have confidence in a group of people who claim to be against one thing but were silent when it was done by Republicans.

lastly, which might be the most important issue, what are their solutions? What is their philosophy? Sorry, but smaller government and more freedom aren't specific enough to be called examples of a philosophical base. Especially given their resistance to medicare/SS/NASA cuts.

Lets stop complaining and find solutions

So, a movement that encourages people to get involved in the political process is extremist?? Whatever, their reasons, T-Party participants in main have legally participated in political activism. And, the mudslinging for doing so just seems from those like Ultra-Bob just seems to be American now days. Oh, and not wanting government to borrow to help your neighbors is not un-American just a financial persuasion of some Americans. Who on their own probably like most Americans help their neighbor by offering them a job, or reaching into their personal means for a donation. Thanks to all that get involved T-Party or not!!!!!!

The tea party movement means to govern our great nation by nothing more substantial then "bumper sticker" slogans...

KM

“The tea party can be understood as a group of people who are tired of the same old "song and dance" in Washington.”

The name of the tune is the Constitution. what will you change?



“The spending has gotten so out of control that the tea partiers understand that it is unsustainable and will destroy our childrens future.”

This is a phony prediction from a phony religion.



“They know the govt. has become too large and intrusive in our lives.” “They believe that when the federal govt. gets too big we loose our individual freedom.”

Can you name any rights or freedoms taken from us by the federal government that did not generate more rights and freedom, in the history of the United States. So far not a single poster on this board has not.



“They want the govt. the way founders gave it to us.”

Wrong, they want government the way they want to give it to us.



"The tea partiers are the most sensible and reasonable people out there; no matter how the DNC media wants to portray them."

Only in the eyes of pro-business/anti-people fanatics.

“They want the govt. the way founders gave it to us.”

Conservatives wish to return to slavery and remove woman's right to vote?

I don't think thier mantra really goes back to the founding fathers so much as it goes back to the civil war.

They want states rights of federal. They want the federal government to be weak and they would have protested the civil rights acts over technicalities of federal government over reach - even though they say they are FOR the effects of the civil rights acts. (sure)

And they not so secretly talk about the second amendment option to thier political ends.

They are the new born confederacy, plain and simple.

But I don't repect them much an neither do most. They are mostly angry white men venting thier anger at changing demographics.