Pelosi: Tea parties are part of an ‘astroturf’ campaign by ‘some of the wealthiest people in America.’
Pelosi: Tea parties are part of an ‘astroturf’ campaign by ‘some of the wealthiest people in America.’
This morning on San Francisco’s KTUV News, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) explained that today’s tea party protests are not by any means an organic grassroots movement. Rather, she said, they are a deliberate astroturf campaign organized by two well-funded right-wing think tanks intent on obstructing the Obama agenda:
PELOSI: What they want is a continuation of the failed economic policies of President George Bush which got us in the situation we are in now. What we want is a new direction. … This [tea party] initiative is funded by the high end — we call call it astroturf, it’s not really a grassroots movement. It’s astroturf by some of the wealthiest people in America to keep the focus on tax cuts for the rich instead of for the great middle class.
Watch it:
As ThinkProgress has documented, the principal organizers of the local tea party events are the well-funded right-wing think tanks Americans for Prosperity and Freedom Works. Both of which provided logistical support and public relations assistance, including “sign ideas, sample press releases, and a map of events around the country.”
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Pelosi is going to get hammered. You don’t speak the truth on network TV.
April 15th, 2009 at 4:39 pmI’m so glad we’re starting to live in an age when people can actually be honest about what’s going on in front of our faces. Good for her.
April 15th, 2009 at 4:40 pmThe best loyal opposition money can buy.
Fatrucks.
April 15th, 2009 at 4:41 pm“Pelsoi”?
April 15th, 2009 at 4:42 pmThank you Nancy….I think we already knew that piece of info. Repugs definition of grass roots is ….start from the top and work our way to the idiots who do all the leg work. Unfortunately…nothing gets done…have you ever instructed white trash to do anything without fcuking it up?????
April 15th, 2009 at 4:43 pmWe had a small protest here in our town – 50 people maybe. One man was wearing a sign around his neck that said “Freedom Works”. I walked by the group during my lunch break. I’ll bet I was the only one who knew that “Freedom Works” is not a slogan but the name of an organization. I’d even bet the sign wearer didn’t know.
April 15th, 2009 at 4:43 pmSo when the tax cut to 95% of Americans takes place, the teabaggers are going to claim a victory.
April 15th, 2009 at 4:45 pmHere’s the problem with Astroturf campaigns: they’re like the manufactured boy bands of the late 90s. When was the last time you heard a fresh new hit from LFO or Five? They cause a stir all of a sudden, look really polished and legit, but after the initial heat dies down, they’re never heard from again. These people don’t know what they’re protesting and they don’t really care. There’s no unifying thought among them except that President Obama is a bad person. They’re protesting spending, taxing, borrowing, Bill Ayers, Pelosi, Reid, North Korea, Iran, the USSR, China, and apparently Earl Grey himself.
When they get all this garbage out of their systems, we’ll never see them again. In a year, when the economy is on the mend, our international relations are better than we’ve seen in a long time, and President Obama hasn’t started a single concentration camp, these teabaggers will be but a shell of their former selves. A few Ron Paul loyalists and a handful of fringe Black Helicopter types. At least LFO left us “Summer Girls” to bob our heads to. I, too, like girls that wear Abercrombie and Fitch (Chinese food makes me itch).
April 15th, 2009 at 4:49 pmWhy is this a race issue?
April 15th, 2009 at 4:49 pmJane Hamsher assembled a Tea-Bagger Timeline replete with main characters…
Excerpt:
April 15th, 2009 at 4:49 pm
From the many pictures that I have seen via the Internet, I haven’t seen anyone of any color other than the color white.
April 15th, 2009 at 4:52 pmAnd Nancy’s House majority agreed to a $25 billion tax cut in the stimulus package benefiting those same wealthy people. Corporations buying back debt for pennies on the dollar get a tax break, while citizens dipping into their retirement to save their house get nothing.
Candidate Obama promised a break for those using retirement funds in a crisis situation, but he didn’t deliver as President. Max Baucus and Nancy Pelosi did come through for the big money boys.
April 15th, 2009 at 4:53 pmAnderson Cooper put his own spin on teabagging, TheZoo has the video.
April 15th, 2009 at 4:54 pmCats r Flyfishn Says:
backup Says:
have you ever instructed white trash to do anything without…
Why is this a race issue?
From the many pictures that I have seen via the Internet, I haven’t seen anyone of any color other than the color white.
Had several blacks and hispanics at ours today. But yes, most were white.
April 15th, 2009 at 4:54 pmGood for Pelosi! Tell the truth gurlfriend! There was one small article in the Charlotte Observer on the teabagging craptackular but I haven’t seen ANY coverage?! After I leave work – I’ll be checking out the 6 o’clock news for details and LAUGHS! ROTFL!
April 15th, 2009 at 4:54 pmSome of the livestock doesn’t follow directions too well, especially the part about not doing or saying anything too stupid while on camera. The nice CNN reporter who went head to head with the loonies in Chicago deserves a raise. First guy she went to had a sign calling Obama a facist and obviously had no idea what the word even meant. She didn’t have a chance to tell the really angry guy talking about Lincoln that the first federal income tax was used to fund the Civil War but nice work nonetheless.
April 15th, 2009 at 4:55 pmNancy Pelosi said “It’s astroturf by some of the wealthiest people in America to keep the focus on tax cuts for the rich instead of for the great middle class.”
Thereby, buying into the right wing meme that taxes are too high and tax cuts are the answer. WRONG. If wages had kept up with productivity gains and inflation, then the great middle class would have the coin in their pocket to provide the demand in the economy.
April 15th, 2009 at 4:55 pmThey are actually “Sour Grapes” protests.
The losers lost and they are all pissy about being losers.
April 15th, 2009 at 5:03 pmDamn. I have to agree with Pelosi on something.
But she’s absolutely right, so I must.
These protests are a joke, because the morons out there protesting the President….a President who hasn’t even been in office for 90 days yet, are actually paying LOWER taxes under him.
They’re shilling for the people who ARE going to be impacted by the 3 percent increase. They’re shilling for the richest Americans so that they won’t have a few dollars less in their fat bank accounts.
And the “debt” they’re claiming will go to their children?
Well….only if their “children” end up wealthy.
April 15th, 2009 at 5:06 pmThere were millions at the tea-bagger fest!!
Millions of tea-bags that is.
April 15th, 2009 at 5:07 pmThis is a good point. If 95% of blacks voted for Obama, it would seem less likely they would protest his leadership.
I don’t buy the idea that a lack of black attendees indicates a racist origin of the events, but it could be an indicator of the partisan makeup of the crowds.
If 95% of blacks self identify as Democrats, it blurs the lines between what is a racial issue vs. what is differences in political ideology.
April 15th, 2009 at 5:08 pmBeck actually has a crowd, but he’s broadcasting from the “event” and has Ted Nugent fluffing teh crowd with his guitar. There are those concert mobile Big Screens too, so I don’t know how “grass roots” that can be. I’ve never seen them at a protest before.
April 15th, 2009 at 5:08 pmWhat I want to know is how many hairy b–ls were on display?
April 15th, 2009 at 5:09 pmXisithrus Says:
——————————————————————————–
There were millions at the tea-bagger fest!!
Millions of tea-bags that is.
And a few fat old hags
April 15th, 2009 at 5:09 pmThis is all the repugs have right now – supporting phony demonstrations with a cast of characters who don’t know what they are protesting.
This financial crisis happened over the last ten years, yet, they have held their protests until today – when we have a president who is an advocate for the working class, who must spend money to keep the entire financial system from collapsing and leading straight to another Great Depression.
Protestors today are incoherent in their message, dysfuntional in their approach.
April 15th, 2009 at 5:10 pm- – Anderson Cooper outdoes David Shuster:
April 15th, 2009 at 5:13 pmhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I64Ed5iLu4M
Now, now, Mike, thats no way to talk about their leaders [Limbaugh/Beck]
April 15th, 2009 at 5:13 pmI don’t know what the party is about, I got an increase in $100 in my paycheck. Isn’t the tax rate right now lower than the Reagan Era???
April 15th, 2009 at 5:13 pmTed ’soil myself so I dont have to serve’ Nugent?
Hah Hah Hah
April 15th, 2009 at 5:16 pmindi, so did I, and it really comes in handy.
April 15th, 2009 at 5:17 pmSpose those protestors are going to return that money to the Treasury in protest of their lower tax rates?
Heh.
Does anybody here remember the XFL? It was a manufactured football “league”, differing from the NFL in a number of ways — probably the biggest difference being that instead of a number of franchises, all teams in the XFL were owned by the same business entity.
A number of promotions were held to fill up the stadiums with “devoted fans” for these brand new teams (free tickets, incentives and giveaways for people who showed up, etc.) — necessary to make the teams appear as if they had a following when they were broadcast on television. And we saw what was basically artificial fans, watching what may have been artificial competition (after all, the XFL was heavily partnered with pro wrestling interests). And the owners really didn’t care who won or lost, as long as television viewers watched.
A manufactured reality made to look like something genuine. To nobody’s surprise, the XFL folded after one season.
When I hear of manufactured events like these tea parties, I think of the similarities between this and the artificial spectacle of other corporate-manufactured reality — the XFL being a prime example.
April 15th, 2009 at 5:21 pmWow, what you don’t get is that this IS a grassroots movement and… it is NOT a partisan issue that is being protested. Our government, beginning with Bush and now with Obama is spending too much! More than our taxes can and will be able to handle. You can call me a fearmonger if you like, but do the math people. The trillions of dollars the Administration wants to spend has to come from somewhere. No, we aren’t being taxed yet… but it will have to come in order for the spending to continue as they want. We will all suffer, black, white, Republican and Democrat, etc… The only way to support this spending is taxation. I am thrilled that the dem’s are happy that their choice of President won, but it is time to take the rose colored glasses off and see what he has in store for us. ALL OF US! And do you really believe that the inner city folks that were thrown on a bus to go tour AIG homes really had a clue why ACORN picked them up? There are plenty of ignorant sheep on both sides of the fence, so please stop insulting. Mabye if you did what BECK tells all of his listeners to do: “don’t take my word for this, do your own research and you will come to the same conclusion”. Beck is not and never has tried to lead blind sheep. He wants to make you think, and learn on your own. Unlike Pelosi, who wants everyone to believe her paranoia that these tea parties are sponsored by and organized by the rich! I am heading to one tonight and I assure you it was put together by concerned local citizens who want a voice in their government.
April 15th, 2009 at 5:23 pmCailleach Says:
What I want to know is how many hairy b–ls were on display?
Everyone knows teabagging works so much better after a fresh shave.
April 15th, 2009 at 5:23 pmThe flea..um TeaBaggers dont seem to understand how our debt works. China and Japan have bought 44% of our debt thru treasury bonds/bills
Thats something isnt it? A communist country is buying large parts of our debt.
Democrats are not communists, thats just Koch/Bircher/Olin/Bradley/Scaife pot stirring.
Democrats, republicans, far and center and in between are consumers. 72% of our 14 trillion GDP comes from the average working person.
April 15th, 2009 at 5:24 pmThank you Nancy.
April 15th, 2009 at 5:25 pmI find it hilarious that they are protesting against spending that appears to be working. There are plenty of indications that the immediate financial crisis is moderating and the DOW went up another 109 points.
It’s stupid enough that they can’t specify what they are protesting but, if they are indeed protesting spending that works? I’ll be laughing clean through the 2010 election.
April 15th, 2009 at 5:25 pmbackup Says:
If 95% of blacks self identify as Democrats, it blurs the lines between what is a racial issue vs. what is differences in political ideology.
Well, I think what backup says is interesting.
/Looking outside for Apocalyptic signs.
April 15th, 2009 at 5:26 pmmisscoleopteramolly Says:
Does anybody here remember the XFL? It was a manufactured football “league”, differing from the NFL in a number of ways — probably the biggest difference being that instead of a number of franchises, all teams in the XFL were owned by the same business entity.
A number of promotions were held to fill up the stadiums with “devoted fans” for these brand new teams (free tickets, incentives and giveaways for people who showed up, etc.) — necessary to make the teams appear as if they had a following when they were broadcast on television. And we saw what was basically artificial fans, watching what may have been artificial competition (after all, the XFL was heavily partnered with pro wrestling interests). And the owners really didn’t care who won or lost, as long as television viewers watched.
A manufactured reality made to look like something genuine. To nobody’s surprise, the XFL folded after one season.
When I hear of manufactured events like these tea parties, I think of the similarities between this and the artificial spectacle of other corporate-manufactured reality — the XFL being a prime example.
I still have my “He Hate Me” jersey in my closet. Remember how the XFL started with a “no fair catch rule” and then all those guys got horrific injuries in the first two weeks because they were looking straight up in the air at a punt and got ker-smashed by a guy running full-speed into them? Kinda like how all the teabaggers are looking straight up into the air expecting the rest of America to agree with them, but then they get ker-smashed by logic and common sense.
April 15th, 2009 at 5:27 pmI agree we spend too much and we consume to much on credit. However the 1.3 or 1.9 trillion, whichever it is, pales in comparison to the 13 trillion to bail out the financial entities that created the economic mess thru deregulation and supposedly ‘risk free’ innovations that were highly leveraged.
April 15th, 2009 at 5:29 pmI could be wrong, but I’ve heard that the next event for the Teabaggers is to go to Lake Erie and show how steamed they are. They’re going to call it a “Cleveland Steamer” party. In Texas they’re going to protest immigration by those filthy Mexicans. They’re going to call that one a “Dirty Sanchez” party. Finally, they’ll go to Detroit asking Americans to follow the band to the rust belt to play a different kind of tune. They’ll call that one a “Rusty Trombone” party.
April 15th, 2009 at 5:31 pmBig “IF”
April 15th, 2009 at 5:33 pmAnd here I thought it was organized by Lipton.
Actually, I think that the people who organized these tea parties are making some big bucks off of it and the people who are actually protesting are simply being used.
April 15th, 2009 at 5:34 pmIm pretty sure that 95% of whites, blacks, or hispanics actually vote.
April 15th, 2009 at 5:34 pmIE 95% of america doesnt even vote, so how can 95% of blacks self identify with democrats backup?
April 15th, 2009 at 5:35 pmI remember the XFL, Vince McMahon’s aborted attempt to be in football. All of what you say is true, but I would add also that the announcers kept referring to the players in the league as “regular working guys, plumbers, forklift drivers” acting out “their dreams”. It was all manufactured to some degree, in order to give the impression that everyone was excited about it. But the reality no one gave a s***, and they folded in one year.
April 15th, 2009 at 5:37 pmTo expand on my earlier post, the XFL was pushing that “regular guy” schtick so badly it became a caricature. It was like the announcers memorized their lines too well, and it had no naturalness to it, kind of like these “protests”.
April 15th, 2009 at 5:39 pmMedia Matters has a list of GOP lawmakers who are participating in these “non-partisan” events. Has anyone seen a list of Dems? Or perhaps, while the GOoPers are out schmoozing the militia crowd, the Dems can seize absolute power while the GOoPers are on their unofficial recess?
http://mediamatters.org/items/200904150041
April 15th, 2009 at 5:41 pmObama 69,492,376 votes + McCain 59,946,378 votes = 129,438,754
129 million is less than half the population of the US which is 300 million.
So, less that 50% of blacks, if there is such a thing, ’self identify’ with democrats.
And that number drops further when one considers that not all of the less than 50% blacks, just as not all of the less than 50% whites, vote democratic.
So, whatever this 95% point your trying to make..doesnt make sense…
April 15th, 2009 at 5:43 pm@51 “if there is such a thing”
Exactly. I don’t think there is such a thing.
April 15th, 2009 at 5:48 pmThe thing is, Xisithrus and Ape-Man, that the Reichwhiners get scared when people they can’t understand get together. Whether it’s race, ideology, culture, or education, they get scared when “outsiders” function as a group.
April 15th, 2009 at 6:03 pmXisithrus. I haven’t read the whole link, but here’s where I get the 95% number:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1083335/Breakdown-demographics-reveals-black-voters-swept-Obama-White-House.html
April 15th, 2009 at 6:18 pmPelosi should shut the hell up, since her multi-millionaire butt benefits from the tax cuts for the rich all these ignorant peasants are protesting for.
NAFTA Nancy is also partly responsible for our economic catstrophe and the destruction of the middle class by giving our living wage jobs to Mexico, while encouraging Mexicans to come north to steal more here by dangling the amnesty carrot in front of them.
April 15th, 2009 at 6:24 pmThe grass has bare spots…it needs more seed…it already has way toooo much fertilizer.
April 15th, 2009 at 6:27 pm54.backup Says: Xisithrus. I haven’t read the whole link, but here’s where I get the 95% number:
Two gaping problems with your source, Capt. One, it does not specify from whence these numbers are derived. In other words, they could’ve been made up. There is no reference that I could find to any research or poll.
The second is that since there is no requirement for stating ethnic or race origins in voter rolls, where did the Mail get this information…and so quickly as it’s published so soon after the election?
(from your “source.”)
This source is extremely questionable…
April 15th, 2009 at 6:33 pmpelosi is such a liar.
Why is she acting so defensive when Americans from all sections of the nation come out against high taxation and wasteful government spending? Why is she trying to marginalize legitimate protests against the oppresive government.
ANSWER: Because she is a tax and spend buearocrat who cares very little about traditional working americans. She only cares about the san francisco liberals who continually vote her into office.
She is attacking everyday Americans with her reckless comments.
GET IT THROUGH YOUR BOTOX FILLED HEAD PELOSI. WE DON”T LIKE HIGH TAXES AND WASTEFUL GOVERNMENT SPENDING.
EXCEPT FOR THE FAR LEFT WING RADICALS ON THIS BLOG, Moderate Democrats and Republicans do not like wasteful spending and high taxes.
April 15th, 2009 at 6:36 pm58. Tim43 Says: Why is she acting so defensive when Americans from all sections of the nation come out against high taxation and wasteful government spending?
Because it’s a corporate-funded, trumped-up bogus protest sponsored by the republican party to stir up the ignorant and gullible.
April 15th, 2009 at 6:41 pmGET IT THROUGH YOUR BOTOX FILLED HEAD PELOSI. WE DON”T LIKE HIGH TAXES AND WASTEFUL GOVERNMENT SPENDING.
EXCEPT FOR THE FAR LEFT WING RADICALS ON THIS BLOG, Moderate Democrats and Republicans do not like wasteful spending and high taxes.
Taxes are lower for 95% of us. What are you saying? You dislike the high taxes for the wealthy? Well join the tea parties they paid for.
And I think you know where the real wasteful spending happened, and it was the last eight years. Since you GOP morons are so fond of your business metaphors, surely you can understand that money needs to be spent in investment for future returns and repair of downturns.
If TP is the Far Left Wing as you way, you don’t even have a clue as to any real political spectrum. People from around the world are laughing at you as you speak.
How are you qualified to assess spending over a period of months, when the economy was in such sorry shape from the LAST 8 YEARS. It’s simplistic.
April 15th, 2009 at 6:42 pmHey…that must be me! I just LOVE me some high taxes and wasteful spending….wu hu pass the dip & chips we gotta loot the treasury and send our kids and grandkids into major debt.
Hey, I want what’s mine and what’s yours too!!!!
/Snark
April 15th, 2009 at 6:44 pmIt’s sad, Tim. You have so much frustration and it’s being completely exploited by a party and ideology that doesn’t care about you at all. Where have you been? When has the GOP ever balanced anything? They have siphoned money from working Americans to distribute to themselves, the rich. From the military industrial complex, to Halliburton, to Wall Street. The worst part is that they have completely fooled so many sectors of the population (fundamentalists, ’small gov’t’ folks, etc.) into believing they will actually fight for them.
I’ll be honest and say that I don’t attribute perfection or integrity to the Democratic party, but at least it gets some things right, some of the time, and there’s many working within to improve on that. The GOP stand for nothing but the most base human impulses of greed, selfishness, and aggression.
April 15th, 2009 at 6:49 pmAre you joking? This woman is dumber than a pallet of bricks. Have we all forgotten this http://current.com/items/89785046/500_million_americans_will_loose_their_job_every_month_nancy_pelosi.htm she didn’t just say it once, but many times. It was not a slip. All I mean to say is no one should put any stock in things she has to say. As for the discussion, let me get this straight. So you are pointing out that it is in best interest of businesses to fund some of the Tea Parties, and? BUINESS IS WHAT MAKES OUR COUNTRY WORK. If the government decides to burden them even more without taxes, what the hell do you think will happen? The fact that they are so scared is exactly the same reason these Tea parties are happening and will keep happening. You must understand, I am not against different types of ideas and different points of view on how America can be. What I and many are against is the office of the President of the United States of America being filled with a KNOWN socialist, yet he didn’t run for the socialist party. Talking about these kinds of massive changes in open debate to weigh the pros and cons is one thing, but attempting to hijack a country is unacceptable. And anyone who see someone who is better off than you currently are and felt it was ok for the government to harass and villainize them for making more money than you only to cheer them on , should be ashamed of themselves. These people are Americans, we are Americans, act like it. So yes, people are upset; people will remain upset and will continue to preserve our country from all enemies both foreign and domestic.
April 15th, 2009 at 6:56 pmThere appears to be only one appropriate response to trollish behavior. They don’t hear things like facts or logic. They have their own agenda and a big part of it is sowing confusion and discontent. They aren’t here to contribute to discussion but more to derail it for their own enjoyment. They like being trolls.
Laughter is the best medicine.
April 15th, 2009 at 6:58 pmManuel-
You are irrelevant to the discussion of this blog.
-BUINESS IS WHAT MAKES OUR COUNTRY WORK.
Wrong. People make our countries work. While you happily roll over to your masters’ corporatization of the U.S., the rest of us respectfully disagree.
What I and many are against is the office of the President of the United States of America being filled with a KNOWN socialist, yet he didn’t run for the socialist party.
Why don’t you email the Socialist Party USA? It appears that as literal card-carrying socialists, they might just know who is or who isn’t a socialist. You are wrong.
Talking about these kinds of massive changes in open debate to weigh the pros and cons is one thing, but attempting to hijack a country is unacceptable.
That “discussion” you’d like? It was called the election campaign, where people listened to politicians debate and discuss their policy decisions. Here in the United States, what we call a ‘democracy,’ that’s how it’s done. And guess what? People talked it over aaaaand….
you guys lost! Just look at the numbers. Might have had something to do with the last 8 years of failed GOP policy…
April 15th, 2009 at 7:07 pmaegsmum Says:
Wow, what you don’t get is that this IS a grassroots movement and… it is NOT a partisan issue that is being protested.
Yeah, we don’t “get” that because it’s false on both counts.
.
aegsmum Says:
Our government, beginning with Bush and now with Obama is spending too much!
Well, how much should the government spend? Give me a number. What amounts on what?
.
aegsmum Says:
ACORN
Oh, I was going to have a discussion with you, but never mind. Bye bye.
.
Tim43 Says:
Why is she acting so defensive when Americans from all sections of the nation come out against high taxation and wasteful government spending?
ANSWER: Because this tea party initiative is funded by the high end — we call call it astroturf, it’s not really a grassroots movement. It’s astroturf by some of the wealthiest people in America to keep the focus on tax cuts for the rich instead of for the great middle class.
April 15th, 2009 at 7:19 pm“You guys lost” is that supposed to mean I am a republican, and I have had something to do with the last 8 years of policy. Please, if you ever want to seriously talk about issues stop pretending like “your guy is better.” If we keep allowing party lines to define who we are and where we stand on all issues we are all doomed. I don’t care whose party “won” and I sure as hell don’t care what Bush did during his presidency and “where was I when he was doing whatever.” I have been against EVERY bail out, and will be against every future use of money WE DON’T HAVE. Regardless of the party doing it. Oh, and the retort to my “business is what makes our country work” statement. Ya true enough; people do, so why are we vilifying people? All because they make “too much money”….must be nice to be the one deciding who falls into that category. Will Gov run things better than the private sector? Everything the government runs becomes bloated and overgrown, always, without exception. Not to mention, in order to run it, the government will have to seize control of private sector property. Why does any of this sound like a good idea? Government is a necessary evil, not our savior and they are over reaching.
Ok, well I will let yall get back to patting each other on the back. Thanks for not flaming me and for hearing me out.
April 15th, 2009 at 7:40 pmHas anyone offered a specific example of what spending they are protesting?
That’s what I thought. The poor sheeple got all riled up by FAUX and ReichRadio so, being dutiful mindless drones, they assembled like a bowl full of wind-up toys. And not a one of them can identify a single issue and explain why it’s damaging or dangerous.
Every single comment I’ve seen from the participants can be summed up with two words. “I’m afraid“.
The remains of the GOP consists of bloody-minded cowards and ignorant savages.
April 15th, 2009 at 7:40 pmmanuel4321 Says:
I sure as hell don’t care what Bush did during his presidency and “where was I when he was doing whatever.”
Therefore, the only reason that you’re complaining now is not government spending, or taxation, or corporate giveaways. The only other thing that’s changed is that there’s a Democrat in office instead of a Republican. Which means you do care. In fact, it’s all you care about, since nothing else applies.
Is it just me, or did a zillion right-wing “I hated Bush’s policies too, really, trust me!” people just suddenly *pop* into existence yesterday?
.
manuel4321 Says:
Why does any of this sound like a good idea? Government is a necessary evil…
I agree. The most effective method for developing, producing and delivering goods and services is private enterprise. Ideally, most goods and services would be handled by the free market.
But, in case you hadn’t noticed, this is not an ideal situation.
Y’all demanding a free-market, low-tax economy after poorly executed free-market low-tax policies have brought us to the brink of global economic collapse is like demanding a trip to Disneyland after dad got laid off. Sorry, but we can’t afford what you want right now. We are going to have to temporarily engage in a partially collective (yes, that means Socialist) effort to get ourselves out of this mess, and hopefully move back towards the ideal situation once it’s feasible again.
Don’t like it? Then you folks shouldn’t have blown up the economy to begin with.
April 15th, 2009 at 8:28 pmNancy P has no idea how to be anything but an OBAMTRON robot. She also has no idea about what it is to be an American, fight for your country, and drive herself to work. She is one of the too long in congress elitist facists who seek to destroy our great country. Anyone with a half a brain knows you CANNOT spend your way out of debt. If you morons out there think it is possible, just try to do it. Our great founding fathers began our nation with wonderful ideas and concepts and a grand document called the constitution which by the way gives all of us the right to protest against that government when we think they have been doing things wrong. We are not an arm of Fox News, you idiots, we are Americans, who come from every walk of life. Today at my state capitol I met people who were exercising their free speech about the fact that our money is going to pay for too many STUPID things except what the constitution intended our federal government to do. It is time to get back to what they intended and focus on what we are going to leave the future generations. For those of you who are interested try reading the constitution, that is, if you can read.
April 15th, 2009 at 8:44 pmSorry…OBAMATRON…long day.
April 15th, 2009 at 8:46 pmI’m not rich. I would like to thank whoever put this on in my town. Ii also didn’t get a check for attending. DID YOU
April 15th, 2009 at 8:55 pmI am truly insulted by Pelosi. I’ve been around for a long, long time and frankly haven’t heard such ridiculous garbage coming out of a politicans mouth. It seems that if you disagree with big spending programs, that if it doesn’t bankrupt America, will definately enslave those yet born with burdensome taxes, you are an extremist.
I went to a tea party and it wasn’t partisan at all. People are really, really angry at our liberties being eroded away through the big government power grab. All people should be concerned about their lose of freedom. This is not a republican or democrat issue, but it is an issue that all should recognize as irresponsible.
April 15th, 2009 at 9:04 pmHas anyone noticed that Pelosi seems to be a bit off? There is some very different about her with what she says compared to her overall facial expressions, hand movements and body language?
April 15th, 2009 at 9:12 pmnuna:
1. If it was not partisan, how many non-Republicans were invited to speak?
2. What liberties are the Democrats, or President Obama, eroding?
3. What “freedoms” are they taking from you or anyone else?
4. What “big government power grab” are you referencing?
April 15th, 2009 at 9:31 pmThose that spoke and those that attended were never asked about party affiliation. Liberties and freedom of choice are eroded when government places a burdensome tax on the works of your labor and takes the works of your labor and decides, who, when, where and at what amount it should be distributed. Big government is always, always about control (tyranny). They will decide what kind of car you can purchase, the doctor you can see, invade your privacy, decide what presciptions you can take. Big power grabs: GM/Chrysler, bank/insuranc bailouts (common stock), social security, medicare, medicaid (all three bankrupt); immigration. taxation, welfare state, national health care, etc. etc. etc. When those that work for government have better pensions, wages, benefits than those that are paying for it, this is a big power grab. When your money is leaving your pockets to support governmental programs that you have NO CONTROL OVER, that’s power over you resulting in you having less opportunity to decide how you want to spend or save the works of your labor.
As a small business owner, we want and need to hire additioal employees, but we won’t. Under the current climate, why should we? So who exactly are the loosers in this environment? How many people are unemployed? Small business employs 70% of the populus and under the current administration, small business and business in general will be penalized if they grown. Many more businesses will simply leave the country. Other businesses will simply ride it out under there is an administration in Washington that understands the power and back lash of business. It will get worse before it gets better, but those that have lost their jobs shouldn’t be counting on this administration to turn things around, unless you’re in a union. But again, that will only go so far and reality will eventually hit.
The tea parties are not about dems or repubs. People are really angry and have every right to be demonstrating against the spending of trillions. We will never be able to pay it off. Our children’s standard of living will be far below that of their parents. I personally think that is sad. What people fail to realize is that, just like business, those that can leave, will leave and everyone else will have to stew in the debt created by both the republican and democrat parties.
April 15th, 2009 at 11:16 pmmarshann Says:
Nancy P has no idea how to be anything but an OBAMTRON robot.
Never mind that she was Speaker of the House before he was even a candidate…
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marshann Says:
She also has no idea about what it is to be an American, fight for your country, and drive herself to work.
Next you’re going to tell me she doesn’t know how to tie her own shoes. You’re a silly person.
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marshann Says:
Anyone with a half a brain knows you CANNOT spend your way out of debt
Gotta spend money to earn money. Isn’t that a conservative thing to say? Well, it used to be, anyways.
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marshann Says:
For those of you who are interested try reading the constitution, that is, if you can read.
I find it hy-larious that people who keep saying things like this keep tripping up on the fact that they’ve never read the Constitution themselves. Ditto Bible.
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nuna Says:
I’ve been around for a long, long time and frankly haven’t heard such ridiculous garbage coming out of a politicans mouth.
If you disagree with what she said, then back up your disagreement. She explained that it was an “astroturf” movement. How is it not? You skipped over that entire part, there.
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nuna Says:
I went to a tea party and it wasn’t partisan at all.
Yes it was. Or are you talking about a real “tea party” with parasols and stuffed animals? Joe the Plumber in a sundress?
April 15th, 2009 at 11:26 pmThose at the tea parties are angry about big government spending. Is it so hard to believe that everyone should be concerned about this? If you’re not, no insult intended, you will be shortly. Taxes come in many forms. Aren’t any of you sick to death of working for 4.5 months just to pay taxes? Everyone should find this offensive, unless you’re a freeloader … then happy days are here again!!!!
April 15th, 2009 at 11:38 pmNuna:
Please tell us, specifically, what program is so offensive?
How much will your taxes increase under the Obama budget?
I’m retired. I payed in my whole life and now I’m collecting on my investment. Am I a “freeloader” in your estimation?
April 15th, 2009 at 11:52 pmnuna Says:
Those at the tea parties are angry about big government spending. Is it so hard to believe that everyone should be concerned about this?
What specifically are the angry about? Putting the costs of the wars on-budget so that we can start to control those costs? Making the tax structure moderately more progressive to shift some of the burden off of the middle class? Shifting government spending towards job creation and infrastructure rather than corporate giveaways and irresponsible wars?
Obama’s been making intelligent moves to try to steer the ship of state away from the shoals of complete collapse. Except that now, all of the people who have been cheering and “YEE-HAW”-ing for eight years are protesting him.
So, no, I don’t believe you’re “angry about big government spending.” I believe that you are liars. As you have always proven to be, every time.
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nuna Says:
Taxes come in many forms. Aren’t any of you sick to death of working for 4.5 months just to pay taxes?
That’s one of those fake numbers that don’t apply to real people. Average =/= median. People who are invested in lying to you and who can do math told you that, and you believed them because you are a Republican and therefore can’t do math.
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nuna Says:
Everyone should find this offensive, unless you’re a freeloader … then happy days are here again!!!!
Which makes it more puzzling what y’all are complaining about. Because you wingnuts are all freeloaders. You want the same share of government services everybody else does (oh yes, quit pretending you don’t benefit from infrastructure of all kinds) but throw a temper tantrum whenever you’re expected to pay your fair share for it. Frankly, it’s disgusting, and made worse by the fact that you continually accuse everyone else of doing what you’re doing.
April 15th, 2009 at 11:56 pmThe first Tea Party was by grassroots. Grassroots is not a dirty word. It’s like saying the grassroots aren’t intelligent enough to have a Tea Party unless their told to by the wealthiest people. Pelosi, give the people more credit then that.
April 16th, 2009 at 1:33 amChapalody Says:
The first Tea Party was by grassroots. Grassroots is not a dirty word. It’s like saying the grassroots aren’t intelligent enough to have a Tea Party unless their told to by the wealthiest people.
You totally missed everything being discussed in nearly every current topic on this board, didn’t you?
Grassroots means that everybody participating thought about it at roughly the same time. Astroturf means that a small handful of people with money and media power used that money and media power to create the illusion of a grassroots movement. This is provably an “astroturf” movement.
Nobody’s saying “grassroots” is good or bad. That point seems to have sailed so far over your head, I’m surprised you could still see it.
April 16th, 2009 at 1:47 amWell… of those 300 million people, roughly 80 million are not old enough to vote. That leaves about 220 million, and of those 220 million only about 170 are registered. So just under 130 million out of 170 million is over 3/4 of the country’s registered voters.
April 16th, 2009 at 3:25 amThe only reason that pelosi can lie with a straight face is because of botox. The more botox that she injects, the less movement in her face, thus the better she can lie.
NO QUEEN PELOSI: The tea parties were a grass root movement started by a mom in Seattle.
http://michellemalkin.com/2009/04/15/a-tax-day-tea-party-cheat-sheet-how-it-all-started/
Anyone who votes for or supports pelosi has absolutely no clue about the foundation of this great country.
April 16th, 2009 at 11:30 amYep, we don’t pay our fair share. No one lives off us. Here’s some reality for those of us ignorant of the current tax system.
The top 1% of taxpayers, that’s defined by people who earn $388, 000,” almost $389,000; $388,806 is the number. If you earned that or above, you’re in the top 1%. “In 2006, you paid 40% of all income taxes, the highest share in 40 years. The top 10% in income, that’s income above $108,904, paid 71% of all income taxes. Barack Obama says he’s going to cut taxes for those at the bottom. But that’s going to be a challenge, because Americans with an income below the median paid a record low of 2.9% of all income taxes, while the top 50% paid 97.1% of all taxes
The top 10% now pay 71%. I’m not in the top 10%, I hope to be there soon, but have to say I’m not willing to pay my share, plus the share of 71% of the rest of you!
April 16th, 2009 at 11:31 amSo true…and meanwhile Pee-Lice-Ie…Dingy Harry and B.O….are watching troops still die overseas…while their voting block still gives them knobbers…and follows all their bile & BS…lock…stock and barrel.
The leftest are in for a shock when they wake up and find that these three…along with their DemocRATic friends…have mortgaged their future…because of the bills they have been slipping through congress without politicians reading them.
I LMAO when B.O. and friends claimed they had NO KNOWLEDGE about the bonus payments…when they knew exactly what was going on in the middle of the night when they put their bill together.
Right now without added interest payments…each one of you college students will own about 120 thousand each…to the federal debt for the bills B.O. & Pee-Lice_ie have passed since B.O. took over. That is before paying off you’re student loans and regular taxes that you usually owe. Talk about the rich getting richer.
I hate to break it to you lefties (Not really)…but you’re leaders are taking you for a ride and you are enjoying the trip. I think the best thing that can happen is all the RED states succeed from the BLUE states…and let each group stand on their own. If you were to compare the finances…the Blues would be in deep doo doo for sure.
April 16th, 2009 at 11:38 amastro Says:
Yep, we don’t pay our fair share. No one lives off us. Here’s some reality for those of us ignorant of the current tax system.
The top 1% of taxpayers, that’s defined by people who earn $388, 000,” almost $389,000; $388,806 is the number. If you earned that or above, you’re in the top 1%. “In 2006, you paid 40% of all income taxes, the highest share in 40 years. The top 10% in income, that’s income above $108,904, paid 71% of all income taxes. Barack Obama says he’s going to cut taxes for those at the bottom. But that’s going to be a challenge, because Americans with an income below the median paid a record low of 2.9% of all income taxes, while the top 50% paid 97.1% of all taxes
The top 10% now pay 71%. I’m not in the top 10%, I hope to be there soon, but have to say I’m not willing to pay my share, plus the share of 71% of the rest of you!
That’s why B.O. and Pee-Lice-Ie are going to give so called Rebates to these freeloaders which is effect nothing but our money sent to them in a check. If someone pays no income taxes and gets a rebate with money in it…it is called stealing from their neighbors.
April 16th, 2009 at 11:43 amMoreover, anyone who mocks Americans that are fed up with big government and out of control spending should go read the constitution.
Blogs like Think Progress have twisted these protests to suit their own agenda making you believe that only the fringe right wingers led by the rich to attend. Quit the lies Think Progress and your radical left wing agenda.
Furthermore, CNN and MSNBC showed a very small subset of coverage in towns that happen to be predominently white and then feigned outrage that there were no minorites.
left wing agendists like CNN, MSNBC, Think Progress, media matters and the like continue to lie to the people and it ultimately shows in their ratings. If they were honest in their reporting they would have reported on all tea parties. I saw a number of ethnically diverse Americans at ours.
April 16th, 2009 at 11:44 amWe had positive support from over 99% of the black and hispanic drivers that went by our location, and had a number of these ethnically diverse Americans standing side by side with everyone else. Democrats, Libertarians, Republicans and Independents, all were present in fairly equal numbers.
Understand this: this is not left or right, black or white! This is our governement, regardless of party, these 537 elected members of the federal government who have forgotten who they work for, have spent beyond belief and then spent some more!!! Government is broken, period. They are no longer working for the best interest of the people, they are working to determine what will garner them the most votes, period. They, all sides, are on a power trip!
April 16th, 2009 at 12:11 pmAstroturfing! You don’t say.
April 16th, 2009 at 1:55 pm(You people live in a bubble. Honestly.)
Why is “sour grapes” if you’re conservative but “principled” if you’re liberal? Talk about a double standard. I’m Hispanic and I attended a tea party yesterday. I saw lots of blacks and Hispanics. So would you call us black and Hispanic trash, too? Watch what you say, libs. You wouldn’t want to be accused of being racist. Be careful because what you don’t realize is that we blacks and Hispanics care about our tax dollars, too. Obama claimed we’d all be getting more money back starting April 1st. Well, I’m getting a lousy $12 a week back. And I guarantee you that when gas prices (or ethanol) prices go up, or when that stupid cap-and-trade fraud scheme goes through that $12 will vanish into thin air. So much for any tax savings I was promised. He thinks I’m stupid because I’m a dumb Hispanic. But I’m not. 2010 is coming and so is 2012. And I do know how to vote. And guess what? I’m a legal citizen — born here in the USA and I know what I’ll be doing to protect this country and my rights.
April 16th, 2009 at 3:05 pmYou left-wingers just don’t get it do you? Can you even get it? This isn’t a Republican or Democrat thing. Your Congress is bankrupting you! Hell-bent on redistribution of wealth, and government control of healthcare, banks, etc. Maxine Waters said it herself…she wants to socialize the auto industry (that’s a full & uncut video of her, impossible to take out of context). “Oh but you’re going to get a tax cut!” Sure, at the expense of someone else. That’s unprincipled. I don’t want stupid stimulus checks, don’t need a tax cut right now, and the wealthy & corporations don’t need tax hikes just so a profligate government can waste it. Debt is $11T. GDP in 2008 dollars is about $14.2T. Is that sustainable? Half of our national debt is in foreign hands. We have to import billions of barrells of oil because special interests won’t let us drill. Oh you left-wingers want alternative energy? Fine, great…really! Just tell me why Sen. Feinstein just voiced her oppostion to solar panels & wind generators in the California desert. I was at a tea party because I’m angry at my government, both sides of the aisle. Not because some rich guy told me to go protest.
April 16th, 2009 at 5:25 pmOK Pat obviously senile dementia has set in. Time to see the nice young men that will need to take care of you soon.burun estetigi rent a car arac kiralama
April 18th, 2009 at 5:14 amsac ekimi
Republicans should get on the “Progressive Protest Wagon” and learn that a true grassroots movement involves buying your support directly from the protesters that you’ll eventually bus to the front doors of your subject. At least the tea-party’ers drove themselves to the demonstrations and did so on their own dime.
April 21st, 2009 at 1:01 pmLets compare Axelrods roll in developing a “grassroots” campaign……..hmmmmm, didn’t think so. Your as dense as the “teabaggers”……giggle, giggle
April 22nd, 2009 at 12:46 am