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Is The Tea Party Over?
The tea partiers are launching the revolution. This week. But will anyone actually show up?
On Sunday, Rep. Michele Bachmann challenged viewers of Sean Hannity’s Fox News show to join her last-ditch attempt to kill health care reform. The fiery Minnesota Republican plans to hold a press conference at "high noon" on Thursday. She urged Americans to flood the halls of Congress that day, find their elected officials, "look at the whites of their eyes and tell them, 'don't you dare take away my health care.'"
Since then, so-called tea party patriots have been burning up the Internets trying to rally supporters to attend Bachmann’s event. But so far, their efforts haven't amounted to much. The official Tea Party Patriots website laments that Bachmann’s rally is being stymied by a "media blackout"—meaning that mainstream outlets like the New York Times and the Washington Post have ignored it.
The lack of media interest could stem from the tea partiers’ failure to mobilize as a genuine grassroots political force. In preparation for Bachmann’s press conference, the patriots devised a "three phase attack" on Congress called "Operation House Call." The idea was for tea partiers to call, email, fax and visit key lawmakers, starting at 1:30 on Tuesday afternoon.
But a quick survey of some of the 13 targeted senators' offices suggests that the "attack" has barely registered on the Hill. Kimberly Hunter, a spokeswoman for Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) says that at a little after 3:30 on Tuesday, her office hadn't seen any uptick in calls or visits. If the tea partiers do call, she adds, "We’re happy to listen to their opinions." Likewise, a spokesman for Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), another target on the patriots' list, says the office has fielded a few calls from people saying they are coming to Thursday’s press conference—but overall the volume has been "nothing unusual."
As of Tuesday afternoon, the official tea party website indicated that only 25 patriots were on hand for "Operation House Call." That’s a pretty paltry showing for an organization that claims to represent millions of disaffected Americans. Bachmann’s rally on Thursday could be a different matter—but probably not because of the tea party patriots.
Ever since the inception of the tea-party movement, it has been dogged by accusations that it is really an astroturf operation—a fake grassroots uprising fueled by corporate-funded front groups. Organizers maintain that the phenomenon is an organic expression of anger by ordinary citizens. At their big September 12 gathering in Washington, protesters chanted "not Astroturf" in response to charges by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that health care town hall protests had been engineered by corporate-backed PR firms. Yet, like the town hall protests, Bachmann's "high noon" event and the preceding lobbying efforts are getting a big boost from FreedomWorks, the organization headed by former GOP House Majority Leader and lobbyist Dick Armey. FreedomWorks grew out of a tobacco industry front group and is now funded by big corporations.
FreedomWorks has started a new website called dontkillgrandma.com to help defeat health care reform. And it lays out quite a schedule for this week. Freedom Works suggests that on Wednesday, "patriots" organize vigils in front of their local congressional offices at noon, where they should read from the 1,900 page health care bill. And dontkillgrandma.com urges protesters to start chanting "Kill the Bill!" in unison at midday on Thursday. Presumably, Bachmann will lead such a chorus at her "high noon" event.
In case the tea partiers are too poor or disorganized to make the pilgrimage to Washington on Thursday, another conservative organization, Americans for Prosperity, will bus people in from New Jersey, North Carolina and beyond. AFP is the creation of the owners of Koch Industries, one of the largest privately-held oil and gas interests in the world. Koch also holds interests in pharma and medical device companies. According to AFP, buses in New Jersey are already fully booked, suggesting that organizers have found at least some folks interested in a free trip to DC. Whether they can articulate a good reason to "kill the bill" remains to be seen. But if the tea partiers can’t make an impact without this kind of corporate welfare, it’s hard to imagine that their movement will ever amount to much more than a few bouts of public screaming.
ummm....it's not Thursday yet...
tagged as:- solution
ummm....it's not Thursday yet...
ummm....it's still not gonna
ummm....it's still not gonna happen. Teabaggers are misinformed and misled.
Grow up
Teabaggers? oh grow up loser!
Ah. So, the previous poster
Ah. So, the previous poster is immature for calling names, and you're not?
50 people wil show up and
50 people wil show up and fox news will say it was 50,000!!!
we already know the teabaggers and Beck can't count (they don't like science AND math I suppose).
LMAO!!
teabaggers, teabaggers, teabaggers......start your own party NOW!!!
A question about the left
Can someone please tell me why the left always fights the fight against evil. They fought the fight against communism. They fight the fight against abortion. And now they are fighting the fight against terrorism. What in the world is with these people. Are they so out of touch with reality that they cannot see evil staring them in the eye???
Sure, if you tell me why you
Sure, if you tell me why you consider reforming the worst health care system of the Western world an evil.
Conservatives are new to
Conservatives are new to protesting. Liberals protest all the time, and the practical among them have to admit a little secret: protests don't often do anything. Global, massive protests to avoid the disaster of the Iraq war amounted to nothing.
Protests
Protests don't work for US. But the media and politicians run like crazy from conservatives. Their opinion matters. Ours doesn't. Now we pay for that folly (Iraq) and the folly of ignoring Afghanistan for 6 years and the folly of giving huge tax cuts to the rich while growing government more than the last 20 years combined. But we will pay for it not out of the hides of those who prospered from it all, but from the 'little guys' for the next 50 years, all while listening to the wingers whine about us trying to fix anything. They protest attempts to fix something because they spent a lot of energy on wrecking everything.
And Fox?
Why is it Conservatives never stop crowing about how all the media is aligned against them until we get to the subject of Fox News, when all we hear about is how Fox has incredible ratings and is so popular among so much of the nation?
Either y'all have a thriving news source that's doing better every year, far outshining all the other cable stations, or it's all a Librul Media Conspiracy and everyone's ignoring the poor Conservatives. Make up your minds.
Protest
There's a big difference between carrying a sign that says: "End The War Now!" and one that says: "Let's Bomb The Shit Out Of San Francisco!".
Although I suppose that
Although I suppose that could at least in part be attributed to the fact that they were downplayed as much as possible by the mainstream media, that a percentage of any coverage they did receive attempted to marginalize the protesters as being leftist fringe groups not representing the majority opinion and that Bush restricted protests surrounding his public appearances to "free speech zones" to keep them out of the media as much as possible.
meant to be a reply to
meant to be a reply to "conservatives are new to protest..."
sorry...
Liberals aren't out there because they actually work for a living. They don't have time to go out and mill around and listen to Rep Bachmann and wear funny hats and carry misspelled signs.
These teabaggers must have cashed in their food stamps to get bus fare to the Capitol.
Yeah.. Why not write all your articles in advance.
We have people coming in from all over the country on this because we've had enough of the government in our lives. Do you really think that our movement needs the press "NYT & WP" on this? You gotta be kidding me.
Here's your quote "The lack of media interest could stem from the tea partiers’ failure to mobilize as a genuine grassroots political force." Uhhh do you think that the NYT's isn't in the pocket of OBAMA? Are you really dumb enough to think that if the NYT hasn't covered it, it doesn't exist?
We're out there fighting for individual freedom, and you call us misinformed? All we want is to respect the constitution, pure and simple. Not your interpretation of it. How do you know we aren't organized? Are you on my mailing lists? Are you a 912 member anywhere? As far as corporate welfare goes, I'd rather have the support of corporations that employ people, than the federal government in a wealth transferral scheme. The government has the gun to your head little miss stephanie, and they're eslaving you to the state.
You, my dear, are misinformed.
By the way, the plural for internet is internet, not internets.
In on the joke?
Troll, troll, troll.....I guess we have to explain the joke to you again.....by referring to "internets" we are making fun of G W Bush (you must remember the most recent traitor/war criminal you supported). It was one of his numerous gaffes. Keep in mind, troll, that we are always lauging at you, not with you.
Faux Newz Ministry of Disinformation Czars
Love it!
If you really did care about
If you really did care about the constitution, then why weren't you concerned about such things as the Patriot Act way back when? The obvious double standard seems more than a bit disingenuous imho.
http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=6330
By the way, many people humorously refer to the internet as "the internets" because that's what it was called by GWB.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internets
He doesn't care about the
He doesn't care about the Patriot act because 1) it was Mastermind Demigod Cheney's idea, and 2) it didn't appear to impinge on the freedom of white people.
Sigh. I do believe the
Sigh. I do believe the article states that it's the teabaggers lamenting the fact that its silly little rally is getting no media love from the mainstream. Stick that in your backpocket.
boy if King Pablo isn't a
boy if King Pablo isn't a shining example of what happens when the paranoid meet misinformation. Regurgitate all the Glenn Beck you want just remember, your taking marching orders from a washed up, "formally" coked out morning show dj who has reinvented himself as some social crusader just for the sake of ratings..
by the way, last I checked, there was but one internet, therefore no need for a plural. I do believe that the post you were so desperately tried to down dress was being snarky. and yes, that is a word. google it.
Whose pocket?
Do you think that Michelle Bachmann isn't in the pocket of Big Pharma and the Healthcare Lobbyists? My dear, you are ill informed. When people get together and set up a demonstration, that is "grass roots". When a Congressman or lobbyist organization set up a demonstration, that's being a puppet. Better shorten your strings before they yank you to bits.
tea party
you hit the nail on the head. Michelle Backmann gets good health care from the government. But you shold not have the same.
Yea, you're all for
Yea, you're all for government staying out of peoples personal lives....UNLESS it involves who they sleep with, how they pray, their right to choose or their right to express an opinion different from your own. Sure, that's fair.
First, if you are truly
First, if you are truly interested in protecting the Constitution then accept the new President who was elected in a fair, open and democratic way and help ease the peaceful transfer of power as the Constitution mandates.
Second, internets was meant to be tongue in cheek. Some people say interwebs, too.
Your post is very condescending and superior for someone who doesn't seem to know these two things.
Tea Baggers are Nutz
The Faux Newz and Insurance Lobby will fund any tea bagging crazy out there to Washington - remember the 2 million we had on 9/12?! Good times. Anyway, just find your way there to Madame Crazy Bachmann's office and let's give this ago. My Insurance residuals depend on us stopping the government from giving all American's health care!! Screw the poor! Let's do this for US - not them! Send all incidental costs to Aetna, Blue Cross/Blue Sheild, United Health Care, etc., etc, or your local Republican representative as we all get tax payer kick backs out of this.
Thanks!
answer to King Pablo
Which freedoms have you lost, and since when did we have an "enslaving" (that's how it's spelled, not eslaving) government that holds guns to our heads. You are a Glenn Beck loony.
Funny how you purred! All
tagged as:- solution
- result
Funny how you purred! All you want is respect for the constitution, you are so sweet, cuddly, snugly and enthralling. You sound so innocent when you support fascism and plutocracy. The Progressive Movement's core basis is Respect For The Constitution, we believe that our laws should be respected and these particular laws are there to protect us, we, the people from the vultures i.e The Money People. You, on the other hand, believe in a government in which the wealthy class rules and that is far from all men are created equal.
This is a satire or joke ,
This is a satire or joke , right? Nobody could be this stupid.
IF YOU DON'T WANT GOVERNMENT
IF YOU DON'T WANT GOVERNMENT IN YOUR LIFE, GIVE UP YOUR MEDICARE, YOUR SS RETIREMENT FUNDS, NOT USE THE ALLEYS AND STREETS BECAUSE YOU ALSO MAY NOT WANT TO PAY YOUR TAXES.
IF THIS ENOUGH FOR YOU THAT GOVERNMENT TAKES TOO MUCH OF YOUR TIME?
First of all I guess we have
First of all I guess we have to let you in on the joke. When we say internets instead of internet, it is because we are making fun of Bush because that is how he referred to them. Second there is no plural for internet because there is only one.Third, you need to get something straight, you are in favor of your interpretation of the Constitution. I know conservative birth baggers want to think they have a lock on what the Framer's had in mind, but if you did your own research, and didn't rely on the obvious lies by Glenn Beck, you would see the truth.
When Glenn beck tries to quote Mussolini talking about Roosevelt saying, "This guy get's it". That should strike any rational human that maybe that is too new of a phrase that Mussolini would have used it.
that only works if they do
that only works if they do real research and don't just go to websites like World News Daily
One internet, two internets, three internets...
...after that, it's just 'many'...
Klaatu marachas necktie
1. Internet's' is a
1. Internet's' is a joke.
2. You are misinformed.
3. Name 5...or 1...personal freedom that you feel you have or will lose. Was that before or after Jan 20 2009?
And lastly, why weren't you complaining this loudly when the last adm was REALLY screwing around with the constitution? by the way...it is a document that was written to ALLOW interpretation as the drafters of the document knew they could never cover everything in a way that would stand the test of time. You can look that up.
"Internets"
You teabaggers have no sense of humor. When someone says the "Internets" it's to make fun of George W Bush who called it that. It's a reminder of what an ignorant fool he is, and how silly and paranoid teabaggers and Bush-lovers are.
Keep your government hands off my Medicare
So you'll decline any Medicare benefits, or Social Security benefits apart from what you've paid into the system, I assume. Probably not.
KingPablum please take the
KingPablum please take the Bachman IV out of your arm. Its dropping your IQ.
You miss informed if you
You miss informed if you think corporate america cares about you!!! The bottom line here is they do not want reform because it is going to hurt their bottom line!! It is and has always been and will continue to be about making money and they do not care at whos expense!! So when I read crap like this about the budget and the government controlling or taking your health care away I really see that the big corporate PR people got them a live one here!! You need a reality check! If you do not own a lot of pharmacuetical stock or oil and gas stocks you will not benefit here you will actually lose!!! So before you believe the hype about you tea party BS you need to find out whats behind the movement and it sure is not about protecting your rights as an indivdual!!!
Couch potato revolution?
Trying to mobilize the couch potato viewers of a TV network to actually go out and become the foot soldiers of a political movement is silly. TV viewers are lazy and they have a tendency to change the channel.
Re: KingPablo
Yes, your movement really does need press, because the people who arent reading your cheesy teabagger corporate funded websites havent heard a thing about this. You've had enough of the government in your lives? Try moving to another country and see how bad the government is there, this is nothing. If you've had enough of the government in your life, how about the rest of us have seen enough death in our lives to want some sort of healthcare reform. Let me guess, you've never been without healthcare? I bet if you'd been, you'd have a different opinion on this matter. Maybe one day you'll lose your job for wasting too much time teabagging and you can see how it feels. Maybe one day it will happen to someone you love. Maybe you'll still be too selfish to care.
You're not out there fighting for individual freedom, im pretty sure you dont know exactly why you're out there! Fighting against healthcare reform isnt fighting for individual freedom. You're obviously a republican, and probably just bitter that a democrat is in charge, so if the big corporations tell you to go fight for this or that, you'll do it. And you'll never have a good explanation of EXACTLY why you're fighting something, you'll just have insults, like calling the author of this article dumb. Well you know what? There are a lot of people out there who think you, your cause, and the people in your party are pretty dumb too! And misinformed. You REALLY think they'll kill grandma? REALLY? That might be the most ludicrous lie out there! Misinformed! You REALLY think Obama is anything like Hitler, like many of the people carrying signs at teaparty protests seem to believe? Have any of you read a history book? Do you know what a completely drastic and insulting comparison that is? Insulting to millions of people who suffered from Hitler, we are not suffering at all in any capacity compared to that!
How is providing quality healthcare to all of the citizens of this country not respecting the constitution? Pure and simple, how does that make any sense?
We do know you're organized, you've got big corporations helping you to organize! Yeah, they employ people, and then they waste money on organizing people like you! You know who else employs people? The government. Yeah, that big, evil, looming and apparently scary organization of people who keep our country running! You dont like government? Move to Somalia, see how well they function without one. Maybe you can become a pirate.
The only one with a gun held to their head is you, and its probably held by Rush Limbaugh, while he whispers little lies and misinformation into your ear and sends you off into the world sounding like you got hit with the stupid stick.
By the way, who started the word "internets?" Bush, the last idiot republican you all voted to "govern" us.
RE: KingPablo
OMG! Amazing, simply amazing! Thank you, you expressed everything so eloquently I am deeply impressed.
Yup, the teabaggers have
Yup, the teabaggers have dipped their last sac into the mouths of Americans. Their big hope, a carpetbagger named Doug Hoffman failed in a district he didn't even live in, in a district that has voted Rethugican for 100 years! And they lost in CA-10, where the Left wing won handedly!
I'm sorry you Teabagging racist sexist scum. You've lost because you are losers. You were born scum, and you grew up to be trailer trash.
Hoffman was the American
Hoffman was the American Taliban candidate. He lost big. Even conservatives saw through the Palin charade.
They want a theocracy and a destroyed middle class.
Teabaggers
the bag has been dipped too many times, the tea is now water...flowing into the sewer.....
Who would, in their right minds...
Who would, in their rght minds follow Bachmann anywhere? She is, by far, the most alarmingly deranged, paranoid face of the Republican party to date. And I am one who does not normally place labels on people, but if this isn't real, then she needs a one-way ticket to Hollywood.
She's for real -
She's for real - unfortunately. Michelle needs a one-way ticket to the insane asylum for evaluation and long-term care. Paid for by that health care insurance she has that we pay for.
health care reform
I do not know why anyone thinks that government health insurance will be better. My son is on Medicaid because of a disability, and has been denied coverage several times. Even after the tedious appeals process, coverage is rarely approved. The paperwork is horrendous. Almost as bad as tax forms.
Don't you have a Private Health Care plan?
Why is he using Medicare, isn't this for people 65+?
Medicare is for 65+ Medicaid
Medicare is for 65+ Medicaid is for poor/indigent that have nothing else. And FYI that socialism that you hate "Medicaid" is one of those 'socialism' programs, and if the Republican party had its way your Medicaid would be gone. The reason there are so many forms is they (at the insistence of the Republicans during 'welfare reform' during Clinton) want to make sure you 'qualify' aka not trying to skip out on paying $ to the industry, which affects their bottom line, and the amount the industry likes to 'donate' to their favorite politician as a form of 'political expression' according to various supreme courts in the states, WI being the latest.
Um, because he has a
Um, because he has a disability. Says so in the original post. People on disability get their heathcare through medicare, because otherwise they wouldn't have any.