If the tea party were liberal

arthurdent

http://crooksandliars.com/tina-dupuy/co ... re-liberal




Just imagine there was a giant swarm of super-super liberal freshmen in Congress. They had given the President a “shellacking,” secured a large number of seats in the House of Representatives and had been on the job for eight months. Just a bunch of lockstep liberals clogging up the Capitol. In that time, they’d done amazingly little work while cashing their government paychecks. Sure, they’re supposed to represent a nation still wounded from the worst economic disaster in two generations, instead they spend all of their time debating and passing symbolic go-nowhere bills while going on television to blame the economy on the President. That’s when they’re not on recess. These freshmen hate Washington so much they’re almost never there.

Oh, and their battle cry while doing nothing which keeps the government from functioning? “Washington is broken!”

These imagined liberal freshmen are extremists. They’ve already signed a pledge with a liberal lobbyist saying that they will not – under any circumstances whatsoever – cut, alter or in anyway change social safety nets. So whatever burning national issue of overriding importance comes up their only solution is to adhere to their lobbyist’s pledge.

The Smurfs use the word “smurf” for all verbs. As in: “I’m going to smurf you!” These extreme no-lawmakers use “social security.” As in: “We can social security our way out of this crisis.”

And they want to re-write the Constitution. Yes, they say it’s a great document (blah blah blah) but it would be much better if it were amended to suit their sole goal of bringing down the incumbent President. So since the last amendment took 203 years from proposal to ratification – they decide no one can do anything until we have another amendment.

Then the polls say that Congress’ approval rating is at an all time low. The margin of error looks more favorably on the Congress than the American public. As a direct result of the brazen incompetence and blind ideology - a rating agency downgrades the country’s Treasuries. The stock market tumbles. These liberal tea party-like folks are caught on video cheering at the news of the chaos they’ve caused.

If they were liberals - Fox News would run headlines: “Liberals Hate America.” Well, basically Fox News would say pretty much the same stuff, but in this case it would be warranted.

These liberal obstructionists would be called terrorists. Not just maybe once in a private off the record meeting with the VP – but on the record and all the time. Since these liberal freshmen would seem to have the same economic goals for the U.S. as Osama bin Laden – that would be pointed out repeatedly. They’d be accused of treason. Their loyalty would be questioned: “Are they upholding the Constitution or their pledge?” There would be calls to deport them. People would tell them to leave the country and go wreck some other economy. They’d be dubbed a hoard of Neros fiddling with their pledges while Rome burned.

If liberals were doing to the country what extremist tea party Republicans are doing – it would be called unpatriotic. A whole tsunami of sound bites would sweep the country calling for the sabotage to stop.

Liberal dissent is akin to a security breach but conservative economic calamity is given a pass. We’ve treated the tea party like they are our country’s kooky, graying, drunken uncle at Thanksgiving dinner spouting some non sequiturs he picked up on AM radio. When really they are well-funded economic saboteurs who refuse to participate in the democratic process. Their goal of causing the executive branch of government to fail means our entire country goes with it.

The media likes to pretend it treats the political spectrum as opposite equals. The right is the same as the left – the other side of the same argument. Politics is not symmetrical nor is the coverage of the partisans. Nothing makes this clearer than the coverage and tolerance of the brinksmanship-happy tea party.

If liberals did this to their own country they’d be called criminals. The tea party did do this to their own country and they are treated like avant-garde Civil War reenactors.

Jason P

The ironic thing is, the Tea Party is the only group committed to "change".

mikepegg44

arthurdent wrote:

http://crooksandliars.com/tina-dupuy/column-if-tea-party-were-liberal




Just imagine there was a giant swarm of super-super liberal freshmen in Congress. They had given the President a “shellacking,” secured a large number of seats in the House of Representatives and had been on the job for eight months. Just a bunch of lockstep liberals clogging up the Capitol. In that time, they’d done amazingly little work while cashing their government paychecks. Sure, they’re supposed to represent a nation still wounded from the worst economic disaster in two generations, instead they spend all of their time debating and passing symbolic go-nowhere bills while going on television to blame the economy on the President. That’s when they’re not on recess. These freshmen hate Washington so much they’re almost never there.

Oh, and their battle cry while doing nothing which keeps the government from functioning? “Washington is broken!”

These imagined liberal freshmen are extremists. They’ve already signed a pledge with a liberal lobbyist saying that they will not – under any circumstances whatsoever – cut, alter or in anyway change social safety nets. So whatever burning national issue of overriding importance comes up their only solution is to adhere to their lobbyist’s pledge.

The Smurfs use the word “smurf” for all verbs. As in: “I’m going to smurf you!” These extreme no-lawmakers use “social security.” As in: “We can social security our way out of this crisis.”

And they want to re-write the Constitution. Yes, they say it’s a great document (blah blah blah) but it would be much better if it were amended to suit their sole goal of bringing down the incumbent President. So since the last amendment took 203 years from proposal to ratification – they decide no one can do anything until we have another amendment.

Then the polls say that Congress’ approval rating is at an all time low. The margin of error looks more favorably on the Congress than the American public. As a direct result of the brazen incompetence and blind ideology - a rating agency downgrades the country’s Treasuries. The stock market tumbles. These liberal tea party-like folks are caught on video cheering at the news of the chaos they’ve caused.

If they were liberals - Fox News would run headlines: “Liberals Hate America.” Well, basically Fox News would say pretty much the same stuff, but in this case it would be warranted.

These liberal obstructionists would be called terrorists. Not just maybe once in a private off the record meeting with the VP – but on the record and all the time. Since these liberal freshmen would seem to have the same economic goals for the U.S. as Osama bin Laden – that would be pointed out repeatedly. They’d be accused of treason. Their loyalty would be questioned: “Are they upholding the Constitution or their pledge?” There would be calls to deport them. People would tell them to leave the country and go wreck some other economy. They’d be dubbed a hoard of Neros fiddling with their pledges while Rome burned.

If liberals were doing to the country what extremist tea party Republicans are doing – it would be called unpatriotic. A whole tsunami of sound bites would sweep the country calling for the sabotage to stop.

Liberal dissent is akin to a security breach but conservative economic calamity is given a pass. We’ve treated the tea party like they are our country’s kooky, graying, drunken uncle at Thanksgiving dinner spouting some non sequiturs he picked up on AM radio. When really they are well-funded economic saboteurs who refuse to participate in the democratic process. Their goal of causing the executive branch of government to fail means our entire country goes with it.

The media likes to pretend it treats the political spectrum as opposite equals. The right is the same as the left – the other side of the same argument. Politics is not symmetrical nor is the coverage of the partisans. Nothing makes this clearer than the coverage and tolerance of the brinksmanship-happy tea party.

If liberals did this to their own country they’d be called criminals. The tea party did do this to their own country and they are treated like avant-garde Civil War reenactors.

All I ever hear is how damaging the tea party is...who is praising them except for tea party supporters?
and if they were liberal and doing the same I wonder if this guy would have a problem?

jnaught

This article is spot on! The tea party is nothing more than a group of domestic terrorists who lack even the most basic understanding of history, economics or government. They held the nation hostage for months and now, as a result, the markets are free falling ... and taking the rest of us along for the ride.

Parachute

jnaught wrote:

This article is spot on! The tea party is nothing more than a group of domestic terrorists who lack even the most basic understanding of history, economics or government. They held the nation hostage for months and now, as a result, the markets are free falling ... and taking the rest of us along for the ride.

hahahhahhahha......

The ballz on those terrorists... actually demanding that Congress balance their budget.

Makes Bin Laden look fiscally conservative, those tea party terrorists!!

Fuckin hilarious....

Go Beavers

Parachute wrote:

jnaught wrote:

This article is spot on! The tea party is nothing more than a group of domestic terrorists who lack even the most basic understanding of history, economics or government. They held the nation hostage for months and now, as a result, the markets are free falling ... and taking the rest of us along for the ride.

hahahhahhahha......

The ballz on those terrorists... actually demanding that Congress balance their budget.

Makes Bin Laden look fiscally conservative, those tea party terrorists!!

Fuckin hilarious....

They do whine about the government and demand a balanced budget, but I haven't seen any concrete proposals on how they plan to do this or even a concise vision from their leaders (whoever they are). If anyone can post a link to this info, I'd appreciate it.

Parachute

Happily... This is the Tea Part's suggestion to reign in our Govt spending and force Congress to follow a budget like we all have to: Cut, Cap, and Balance.

http://www.cutcapandbalanceact.com/

What is so wrong with Congress living within its means? We all have to, so should they.

gimmesometruth27

Go Beavers wrote:

They do whine about the government and demand a balanced budget, but I haven't seen any concrete proposals on how they plan to do this or even a concise vision from their leaders (whoever they are). If anyone can post a link to this info, I'd appreciate it.

the vision is simple. cut everything and lower taxes.

also oppose every single idea proposed by the opposition, even if it is the best idea put forward...

Go Beavers

Parachute wrote:

Happily... This is the Tea Part's suggestion to reign in our Govt spending and force Congress to follow a budget like we all have to: Cut, Cap, and Balance.

http://www.cutcapandbalanceact.com/

What is so wrong with Congress living within its means? We all have to, so should they.

Sorry, too vague. I do like that Road to Ruin is capitalized. It's like they put an official title to their fear mongering.

arthurdent

Parachute wrote:

Happily... This is the Tea Part's suggestion to reign in our Govt spending and force Congress to follow a budget like we all have to: Cut, Cap, and Balance.

The problem with CCB is that it completely defies the laws of economics and demonstrates the Tea Party's inability to grasp reality. CCB lives in a land of unicorns and fairy dust.

The Economic Disaster Of The GOP’s Cut, Cap, Balance
http://homebrewedtheology.com/the-econo ... alance.php

gimmesometruth27

i think if the tea party were liberal the dems would shun them rather than embrace them. the dems have done a pretty good job of marginalizing the crazies and the extremists in their party... why do you think their party is never unified?

inlet13

jnaught wrote:

The tea party is nothing more than a group of domestic terrorists who lack even the most basic understanding of history, economics or government.

I support the Tea Party and I have a PhD in economics (specializing in public economics), work as an economist and teach economics. Do I also "lack even the most basic understanding of history, economics or government"?

When is this charade of insulting people's intelligence because of their economic/political ideology going to end?

mikepegg44

Go Beavers wrote:

Parachute wrote:

Happily... This is the Tea Part's suggestion to reign in our Govt spending and force Congress to follow a budget like we all have to: Cut, Cap, and Balance.

http://www.cutcapandbalanceact.com/

What is so wrong with Congress living within its means? We all have to, so should they.

Sorry, too vague. I do like that Road to Ruin is capitalized. It's like they put an official title to their fear mongering.

balanced budget amendment is a pretty good plan. Phase the fucker in over 10 years and bam...you have a deficit reduction deal that is MANDATED by the document that governs all. Obama says we don't need one, but I think history proves that congress cannot live within the receipts received...too bad really, because deficit spending can be a success if done reasonably...but now they have ruined it for everyone with 6 to 7 years of increasingly large deficits.

Parachute

Go Beavers wrote:

Parachute wrote:

Happily... This is the Tea Part's suggestion to reign in our Govt spending and force Congress to follow a budget like we all have to: Cut, Cap, and Balance.

http://www.cutcapandbalanceact.com/

What is so wrong with Congress living within its means? We all have to, so should they.

Sorry, too vague. I do like that Road to Ruin is capitalized. It's like they put an official title to their fear mongering.

Ruin is where we're at dude. "Fear mongering"? We just got downgraded. Even Carter didn't get downgraded....

Sorry it's too vague. Can you site the plan that you think is best?

Parachute

mikepegg44 wrote:

Go Beavers wrote:

Parachute wrote:

Happily... This is the Tea Part's suggestion to reign in our Govt spending and force Congress to follow a budget like we all have to: Cut, Cap, and Balance.

http://www.cutcapandbalanceact.com/

What is so wrong with Congress living within its means? We all have to, so should they.

Sorry, too vague. I do like that Road to Ruin is capitalized. It's like they put an official title to their fear mongering.

balanced budget amendment is a pretty good plan. Phase the fucker in over 10 years and bam...you have a deficit reduction deal that is MANDATED by the document that governs all. Obama says we don't need one, but I think history proves that congress cannot live within the receipts received...too bad really, because deficit spending can be a success if done reasonably...but now they have ruined it for everyone with 6 to 7 years of increasingly large deficits.

Good point.

gimmesometruth27

i don't think any self respecting liberal would staple lipton tea bags to a hat and go out and protest. or go to any public place for that matter...

but one MIGHT carry a cup of seattle's best coffee...

Jason P

Seems to me that liberal activists are having sour grapes that the first grass-roots conservative activist group has seen success in their agenda and made an impact.

Not bad for a bunch of illiterate, racist, hillbillies. I find it odd that an intellectually superior group of individuals isn't able to mount an effective counter-attack.

gimmesometruth27

Jason P wrote:

Seems to me that liberal activists are having sour grapes that the first grass-roots conservative activist group has seen success in their agenda and made an impact.

Not bad for a bunch of illiterate, racist, hillbillies. I find it odd that an intellectually superior group of individuals isn't able to mount an effective counter-attack.

they are a minority of the minority party in the senate and a minority in the house yet they held everything hostage and refused to compromise on anything. they viewed coming to negotiate as compromising, as eric cantor so famously said. i guess that might be a good thing to you, but it is selfish and inexcusable to me. the strategy of grind everything to a halt and oppose everything is effective for sure. i just wish the dems would have done that to gwb when they were the minority party. we would be a completely different country if they had...

arthurdent

Jason P wrote:

Seems to me that liberal activists are having sour grapes that the first grass-roots conservative activist group has seen success in their agenda and made an impact.

this isn't grassroots. This is fucking astroturf pure and simple. Just look at the big $$$ donors who've backed various tea party endeavors. It's astroturf and the Tea Party has wrapped themselves in wonderful red plastic.

Go Beavers

inlet13 wrote:

jnaught wrote:

The tea party is nothing more than a group of domestic terrorists who lack even the most basic understanding of history, economics or government.

I support the Tea Party and I have a PhD in economics (specializing in public economics), work as an economist and teach economics. Do I also "lack even the most basic understanding of history, economics or government"?

When is this charade of insulting people's intelligence because of their economic/political ideology going to end?

And what specific tea party ideas and proposals do you support?

Parachute

Go Beavers wrote:

inlet13 wrote:

jnaught wrote:

The tea party is nothing more than a group of domestic terrorists who lack even the most basic understanding of history, economics or government.

I support the Tea Party and I have a PhD in economics (specializing in public economics), work as an economist and teach economics. Do I also "lack even the most basic understanding of history, economics or government"?

When is this charade of insulting people's intelligence because of their economic/political ideology going to end?

And what specific tea party ideas and proposals do you support?

I asked you what plan you support a couple hours ago...

Idris

gimmesometruth27 wrote:

Jason P wrote:

Seems to me that liberal activists are having sour grapes that the first grass-roots conservative activist group has seen success in their agenda and made an impact.

Not bad for a bunch of illiterate, racist, hillbillies. I find it odd that an intellectually superior group of individuals isn't able to mount an effective counter-attack.

they are a minority of the minority party in the senate and a minority in the house yet they held everything hostage and refused to compromise on anything. they viewed coming to negotiate as compromising, as eric cantor so famously said. i guess that might be a good thing to you, but it is selfish and inexcusable to me. the strategy of grind everything to a halt and oppose everything is effective for sure. i just wish the dems would have done that to gwb when they were the minority party. we would be a completely different country if they had...

Why did the dems not do it?...That is the question.
--

Indeed, if the dems did that, we would be a different country for sure, but the dems did not do it, because they are just about the same as the other 'side'.

Even now, it's not to late for the dems to stand up and start spitting some 'truth and reality', but they are silent, no doubt because most dems and republicans are stuck in the same 'reality', a reality of propaganda,greed and whatever else.
-
I also kinda agree about the 'sour grapes' comment...

Go Beavers

Parachute wrote:

Go Beavers wrote:

inlet13 wrote:

I support the Tea Party and I have a PhD in economics (specializing in public economics), work as an economist and teach economics. Do I also "lack even the most basic understanding of history, economics or government"?

When is this charade of insulting people's intelligence because of their economic/political ideology going to end?

And what specific tea party ideas and proposals do you support?

I asked you what plan you support a couple hours ago...

Sorry, we liberals actually work! (joking)

Here's some ideas:
cut the miltary by 200-250 billion to start
social security: increase retirement age, reduce benefits for the wealthy retirees, bump SS taxes to higher incomes.
Medicare: limit civil suits and therefore reduce the amount of unnecessary testing done by docs. The elephant: a huge chunk of $ is spent on people's last years of their life, this will eventually have to be looked at differently.
Let Bush's tax cuts expire.

I could come up with some more, later.

arthurdent

Go Beavers wrote:

Let Bush's tax cuts expire.

that would solve a pretty good chunk of our debt right there.

Jason P

gimmesometruth27 wrote:

they are a minority of the minority party in the senate and a minority in the house yet they held everything hostage and refused to compromise on anything. they viewed coming to negotiate as compromising, as eric cantor so famously said. i guess that might be a good thing to you, but it is selfish and inexcusable to me. the strategy of grind everything to a halt and oppose everything is effective for sure. i just wish the dems would have done that to gwb when they were the minority party. we would be a completely different country if they had...

I think the democrats finally figured out how to play hardball this past year as a minority, at least by judging their actions in Wisconsin, Indiana, and Ohio. At least the Tea Party reps didn't go hide in Canada and Mexico.

Anywho, the whole debt deal was a political charade in my opinion. I've read that there will be 2-3 more political showdowns in the next year and they will all play out the same way.

Parachute

So...
1. Cut the military
2. Tax successful people.
3. Let politicians determine if a life is worth saving "at the end." (Death Panel)
4. Tax successful people.

Man, you could be President!!

I think we can agree that we disagree.

inlet13

Go Beavers wrote:

inlet13 wrote:

jnaught wrote:

The tea party is nothing more than a group of domestic terrorists who lack even the most basic understanding of history, economics or government.

I support the Tea Party and I have a PhD in economics (specializing in public economics), work as an economist and teach economics. Do I also "lack even the most basic understanding of history, economics or government"?

When is this charade of insulting people's intelligence because of their economic/political ideology going to end?

And what specific tea party ideas and proposals do you support?

Put simply,... cutting government spending dramatically. No more "job-creating" stimulus plans. Repeal Obamacare. etc...

arthurdent

inlet13 wrote:

Put simply,... cutting government spending dramatically.

government's a pretty big arena. Which parts of government spending would you like to cut?

Go Beavers

Parachute wrote:

So...
1. Cut the military
2. Tax successful people.
3. Let politicians determine if a life is worth saving "at the end." (Death Panel)
4. Tax successful people.

Man, you could be President!!

I think we can agree that we disagree.

I think we can agree that I want to destroy the country.

Really, though, by the time we're old and crusty, I'm sure medical technology will be at a point where we can extend our lifeless bodies another ten years, so I'm just saying how we respond to that needs to enter into the discussion. Right now should pop-pop have a $1500 CT scan because his shoulder is sore? It's probably sore because he hasn't done any physical activity for 8 years.

arthurdent

arthurdent wrote:

inlet13 wrote:

Put simply,... cutting government spending dramatically.

government's a pretty big arena. Which parts of government spending would you like to cut?

here's a handy pie chart to help you:
http://www.usgovernmentspending.com/budget_pie_gs.php

Jason P

Go Beavers wrote:

Here's some ideas:
cut the miltary by 200-250 billion to start
social security: increase retirement age, reduce benefits for the wealthy retirees, bump SS taxes to higher incomes.
Medicare: limit civil suits and therefore reduce the amount of unnecessary testing done by docs. The elephant: a huge chunk of $ is spent on people's last years of their life, this will eventually have to be looked at differently.
Let Bush's tax cuts expire.

I could come up with some more, later.

I agree w/ cuts to the military, but both sides will be reluctant to even touch the issue. The other problem is discretionary spending which bloats military spending even more then the current budget shows.

I have a sinister idea to help both healthcare and social security budget impacts ... death panels! :twisted: On a serious note (kind of), it is a conundrum that by using medical care and allowing people to live longer, not only is healthcare cost bloated, social security is doled out longer as well.

Logan's Run, anyone? (I'm exempt, of course )