America Is On The Brink Of A Second Revolution

By majestic on October 1, 2010 in News 86

At least that’s what mega-bear Paul B. Farrell says, adding that it’s going to cost us a whole lot more than we’ve already lost, writing at Marketwatch:

“What’s distinctive about the Tea Party is its anarchist streak — its antagonism toward any authority, its belligerent self-expression, and its lack of any coherent program or alternative to the policies it condemns,” warns Jacob Weisberg in Newsweek. But why not three cheers for the Tea Party Express?

Admit it, something historic is brewing. And yes, it’s good for America, even the anarchy. Revolution is renewal. Tea-baggers want to take on both parties, “restore honor” and “take back the country.” Bring it on, the feeling’s mutual.

OK, maybe most Americans just silently mimic the words, “we’re mad as hell, won’t take it any more.” But watch out: After November the campaign’s shrill rhetoric explodes into action.

Tea-baggers are kicking the revolution into high gear. Debt is sinking America. Both parties are to blame. So vote out incumbents. Spare no one. We need new leadership, another Reagan or Truman. Congress better get the message: Cut that budget, or they’ll dump the rest of you in the coming Great Purge of 2012.

Unfortunately they’re tone deaf. Congress cannot see past the election. All that changes in November.

So thanks Tea Party, Vegas odds must favor a Second American Revolution. Actually, the revolution is already roaring, hot, it’s about time. The GOP and the Dems had more than a decade. But America’s worse off. We need a real revolution to restore sanity … or we can kiss democracy and capitalism good-bye, permanently.

Warning: Another revolution will cost investors 20% more losses

Yes, big warning, the Second American Revolution will extract painful austerity, not the “happy days are here again” future touted by tea-baggers. For years it’ll be impossible for most of America’s 95 million investors to develop a successful investment or logical retirement strategy.

Why? Political chaos will translate into extreme volatility and a highly unpredictable stock market. Result: Wall Street will lose another 20% of the value of your retirement portfolio in the next decade, just as Wall Street did the last decade. So if you think you’re “mad as hell” now, “you ain’t seen nuthin’ yet!”

Here’s the timeline:…

[continues at Marketwatch]

Collapse, Debt, Financial Crisis, Revolution, Tea Party

Daniel Pinchbeck Returns with ‘Notes from the Edge Times’

Murdering People Who Disagree With You

Andrew

Tell that to Wall Street.
Andrew

Tell that to Wall Street.
Haystack

You’ve already posted this a dozens of times. Its been read, and people still feel it’s worthwhile to think about what might happen in the future. Get over it.
Haystack

You’ve already posted this a dozens of times. Its been read, and people still feel it’s worthwhile to think about what might happen in the future. Get over it.
Haystack

It’s curious that the author characterizes a conservative, reactionary movement as “revolutionary.” The real story is how the power elites have managed to channel justified anger at themselves into a movement that dumbly serves their pro-corporate interests. How is it that the same people who are waving pitchforks and torches over the bailouts are, at the same time, decrying the governments attempts to regulate the financial industry? That’s not revolution–that’s manipulation.
- malatesting123
  
  Thank you for succinctly expressing the views of all of those who see through the bullshit and lies. I will go one step further though. This is a fascist movement. I dare anyone to argue otherwise under the traditional (or at least commonly accepted) definition of the term. To label the tea Party as anything resembling “anarchist” is a disgusting, lying rape of that beautiful word and all it represents. There are still those of us who remember what revolution and anarchy mean, and do not intend to let the brownshirts win. We know what they represent, who they stand for. We will not be fooled, nor will we sit back and casually allow these bigoted, misinformed idiots to infect our class with their poison. To the rich, those of us who still care say fuck off. Let the real work begin.
  - Haystack
    
    “When facism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.” –Sinclair Lewis
  - Andrew
    
    Yes, fascist. Exactly.
Haystack

It’s curious that the author characterizes a conservative, reactionary movement as “revolutionary.” The real story is how the power elites have managed to channel justified anger at themselves into a movement that dumbly serves their pro-corporate interests. How is it that the same people who are waving pitchforks and torches over the bailouts are, at the same time, decrying the governments attempts to regulate the financial industry? That’s not revolution–that’s manipulation.
GoodDoktorBad

Revolution? Implosion seems inevitable. We have no focus, no solidarity, our enemies are ourselves.
No one to blame, because everyone is to blame. We want to blame the wealthy or corporations or government yet we secretly want to be them. We all want to be rich, have “fuck you money” and tell everyone else to fuck off. We want to hire Mexican house-keepers, pay no taxes, and spend our money on Hummers and Oreck vacuum cleaners. Few even know how to feed themselves without a trip to a grocery store filled with crappy and overpriced food. We don’t have the guts to change because we are all completly dependant on the present system. The same system that made us so insular, so psuedo-independant, so stupid and immovable in our attitudes and addictions.

Revolution? Where is the enemy? We’re not fighting the red-coats. There is no winning scenario.
We are dependant on each other but can’t deal with that reality. Most of us would rather eat each other than admit that we need each other. Need food? Shelter? Answer: “fuck off LOSER”. Thats our litany….
…….and no one will even get it until it all falls apart. There is nothing real holding us together as Americans any more. Our sickness has spread over the face of Earth. No facelift will correct it when its skin can’t even hold cohesion.
Anonymous

Revolution? Implosion seems inevitable. We have no focus, no solidarity, our enemies are ourselves.
No one to blame, because everyone is to blame. We want to blame the wealthy or corporations or government yet we secretly want to be them. We all want to be rich, have “fuck you money” and tell everyone else to fuck off. We want to hire Mexican house-keepers, pay no taxes, and spend our money on Hummers and Oreck vacuum cleaners. Few even know how to feed themselves without a trip to a grocery store filled with crappy and overpriced food. We don’t have the guts to change because we are all completly dependant on the present system. The same system that made us so insular, so psuedo-independant, so stupid and immovable in our attitudes and addictions.

Revolution? Where is the enemy? We’re not fighting the red-coats. There is no winning scenario.
We are dependant on each other but can’t deal with that reality. Most of us would rather eat each other than admit that we need each other. Need food? Shelter? Answer: “fuck off LOSER”. Thats our litany….
…….and no one will even get it until it all falls apart. There is nothing real holding us together as Americans any more. Our sickness has spread over the face of Earth. No facelift will correct it when its skin can’t even hold cohesion.
Vox Penii

Hey guys I’m the victim of a socialist conspiracy. All my hard work googling stuff to paste here in an effort to prove that you all, like Hitler, are evil communists is being deleted. I just know I was within an inch of getting through to you all.. saving your soul that you might sculpt it into some glorious McCarthy-esque form.

Ah well, the best laid plans as they say. I don’t know how much time I have left.. Just know that deep down I know that you consider me a friend and that I’m okay with that, even if it does reveal your weak, marxist tendancies. I do hope you find the Soviet collective farm of your dreams,

God Bless,
~The Talking Cock
- GoodDoktorBad
  
  Awwwwww, you poor “thing”.
- http://voxmagi-necessarywords.blogspot.com/ VoxMagi
  
  Did you just copypaste the same foot long screed that everyone has already been trolled with a dozen times?
  
  Jesus dude…I liked it better when you referenced Wittgenstein in an appropriate context. That was thoughtful and impressive. It was a good way to win friends and influence people. Inflicting off topic threadbusting piles of near total irrelevance…not so much.
  
  I enjoy the rare occasions when you draw from a relevant and accurate source that shows a high degree of literacy and a logical relationship to the topic at hand…I really do…I just wish it happened more often. Getting bawleted for playing ‘copypasta’ should probably be some form of lesson to you…but I somehow doubt it.
  - Vox Penii
    
    “If people never did silly things, nothing intelligent would ever get done. “
- Andrew
  
  Impostor.
  - Vox Penii
    
    Speculation
    Speculation
    Speculation
    Speculation
    etc
    - gemmarama
      
      ha! suddenly you’ve developed a sense of humour.
      
      seriously though, what will we do without the talking cock? mom, are you out there?
- Rohatsu
  
  Why do you think revolution has to be marxist? What about satyagraha?
- justagirl
  
  i’m not ok with the fact that you’re “ok with that”… even if it’s not true.
Vox Penii

Hey guys I’m the victim of a socialist conspiracy. All my hard work googling stuff to paste here in an effort to prove that you all, like Hitler, are evil communists is being deleted. I just know I was within an inch of getting through to you all.. saving your soul that you might sculpt it into some glorious McCarthy-esque form.

Ah well, the best laid plans as they say. I don’t know how much time I have left.. Just know that deep down I know that you consider me a friend and that I’m okay with that, even if it does reveal your weak, marxist tendancies. I do hope you find the Soviet collective farm of your dreams,

God Bless,
~The Talking Cock
Pb

From the article: “We need a real revolution to restore sanity … or we can kiss democracy and capitalism good-bye, permanently.”

The Tea Party is entirely a creation of its capitalist backers (e.g., the Koch brothers).

So, please, give me a break.
Pb

From the article: “We need a real revolution to restore sanity … or we can kiss democracy and capitalism good-bye, permanently.”

The Tea Party is entirely a creation of its capitalist backers (e.g., the Koch brothers).

So, please, give me a break.
Anonymous

Awwwwww, you poor “thing”.
Alech

The anti-intellectual streak of the TP leads me to think that their revolution would play out more like the cultural revolutions of Mao and Pol Pot than like the French revolution. Funny how every day the right starts behaving more like the commies of yesteryear.
Alech

The anti-intellectual streak of the TP leads me to think that their revolution would play out more like the cultural revolutions of Mao and Pol Pot than like the French revolution. Funny how every day the right starts behaving more like the commies of yesteryear.
http://voxmagi-necessarywords.blogspot.com/ VoxMagi

Did you just copypaste the same foot long screed that everyone has already been trolled with a dozen times?

Jesus dude…I liked it better when you referenced Wittgenstein in an appropriate context. That was thoughtful and impressive. It was a good way to win friends and influence people. Inflicting off topic threadbusting piles of near total irrelevance…not so much.

I enjoy the rare occasions when you draw from a relevant and accurate source that shows a high degree of literacy and a logical relationship to the topic at hand…I really do…I just wish it happened more often. Getting bawleted for playing ‘copypasta’ should probably be some form of lesson to you…but I somehow doubt it.
http://voxmagi-necessarywords.blogspot.com/ VoxMagi

In a perverse way…maybe their revolution is what we need. Maybe we need to sink into anarchy, knee jerk reactionism and weird cult like religious fringe domination before regular Americans will miss the freedoms we’ve been losing slowly. Perhaps enduring a thuggish theocratic state dominated by goose stepping dignity battalions is what will drive Americans off their couches, away from Dancing With The Stars and American Idol, and into the streets to take their country back from the goons, frauds and thieves we’ve tolerated for generations since the advent of television?

These people have a vision for American, some of it their own dark fantasies, most of it fed to them by corporate power brokers who dream of total freedom for global business…but until we experience that reality it will only seem like a William Gibson novel instead of a threat we have to fight to prevent.

Believe me…I’d rather see them lose drastically and see a progressive shift in American politics that will drive back the tide of amoral locust like devouring of resources for short term gain…I’d love to see people plan for the future with their primary interest being the well being of humanity and of civilization as we know it…but I really do fear that the only way we’ll prioritize and get on track is to go through the hell that Germany went through in the 30′s, the mania it went through in the 40′s, and the slow rebuilding and reassessing of its national character it went through afterwards. Only when a people can acknowledge that they were easily duped because of their frustrations can they begin to safeguard against making the same mistake again. It looks like that might be what it takes for us in the US.

But I really, really hope it doesn’t come to that.
http://voxmagi-necessarywords.blogspot.com/ VoxMagi

In a perverse way…maybe their revolution is what we need. Maybe we need to sink into anarchy, knee jerk reactionism and weird cult like religious fringe domination before regular Americans will miss the freedoms we’ve been losing slowly. Perhaps enduring a thuggish theocratic state dominated by goose stepping dignity battalions is what will drive Americans off their couches, away from Dancing With The Stars and American Idol, and into the streets to take their country back from the goons, frauds and thieves we’ve tolerated for generations since the advent of television?

These people have a vision for American, some of it their own dark fantasies, most of it fed to them by corporate power brokers who dream of total freedom for global business…but until we experience that reality it will only seem like a William Gibson novel instead of a threat we have to fight to prevent.

Believe me…I’d rather see them lose drastically and see a progressive shift in American politics that will drive back the tide of amoral locust like devouring of resources for short term gain…I’d love to see people plan for the future with their primary interest being the well being of humanity and of civilization as we know it…but I really do fear that the only way we’ll prioritize and get on track is to go through the hell that Germany went through in the 30′s, the mania it went through in the 40′s, and the slow rebuilding and reassessing of its national character it went through afterwards. Only when a people can acknowledge that they were easily duped because of their frustrations can they begin to safeguard against making the same mistake again. It looks like that might be what it takes for us in the US.

But I really, really hope it doesn’t come to that.
malatesting123

Thank you for succinctly expressing the views of all of those who see through the bullshit and lies. I will go one step further though. This is a fascist movement. I dare anyone to argue otherwise under the traditional (or at least commonly accepted) definition of the term. To label the tea Party as anything resembling “anarchist” is a disgusting, lying rape of that beautiful word and all it represents. There are still those of us who remember what revolution and anarchy mean, and do not intend to let the brownshirts win. We know what they represent, who they stand for. We will not be fooled, nor will we sit back and casually allow these bigoted, misinformed idiots to infect our class with their poison. To the rich, those of us who still care say fuck off. Let the real work begin.
Haystack

“When facism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.” –Sinclair Lewis
Virgendelavacas

Hmm.. I thought I was the only one that saw the hints of anarchism in this movement. Though being an anarchist myself, seeing it in a group like the Tea Party sends shivers down my spine. No, I think Anarcho-Capitalist would be the proper term to use there, if you could call it anarchistic at all. I mean, these people, for the most part, are still happy to have a grotesquely overgrown military and other law enforcement as one of their beloved authority figures.
Virgendelavacas

Hmm.. I thought I was the only one that saw the hints of anarchism in this movement. Though being an anarchist myself, seeing it in a group like the Tea Party sends shivers down my spine. No, I think Anarcho-Capitalist would be the proper term to use there, if you could call it anarchistic at all. I mean, these people, for the most part, are still happy to have a grotesquely overgrown military and other law enforcement as one of their beloved authority figures.
Andrew

Impostor.
Vox Penii

Speculation
Speculation
Speculation
Speculation
etc
Vox Penii

“If people never did silly things, nothing intelligent would ever get done. “
gemmarama

ha! suddenly you’ve developed a sense of humour.

seriously though, what will we do without the talking cock? mom, are you out there?
Liam_McGonagle

Jesus! What’s with all the hopelessness? It’d all put you in mind of Hunter S. Thompson’s ’64 essay “The ‘Hashbury’ Is the Capital of the Hippies”, where he describes the degeneration of the student Left into drug-addled passivity.

The Founding Fathers didn’t have it all just handed to them, unlike the thoroughly worthless Boomer generation. They had the wisdom to recognize the best thinkers amongst themselves, the humility to admit it publicly, and the bravery to do everything in their power to promote them. Are we too timid to even use the votes that they and generations of Americans died for?

Everyone expects Obama to just wave some magic wand and make it all better himself. As if it could somehow be reasonable for a single man within the context of a system of elaborate checks-and-balances to counteract over 30 years of right-wing propaganda and mismanagement in under 2 years. A man, by the way, whose salary is about $400k–a fraction of the BASE salaries of most bigtime corporate exec’s (i.e., not including their bonuses, stock comp deals, life insurance cash surrender plans, etc., etc., etc.).

Face it, folks: It’s us. We have to show up and make our voices heard to clear this shambles up. And the first short-term step is to get out and vote DEMOCRAT this November. Even if only to keep forward momentum, and not to achieve immediate and decisive victory.

The real problems are obvious, and they CAN be cured. The single biggest problem, the one from which most of the others flow, is the dysfunctional financial sector.

Basically, Laissez Faire Republican policies have allowed the counterfeiting of 40% of the U.S. money supply through bullshit publicly traded securities, which have soaked up and contaminated the the for-real-honest-to-goodness M1 & M2 measures of money.

Answer: Tax on securities HOLDINGS. Get that? HOLDINGS–not income. Force the big banks and uber-wealthy to cash in their hoards back to the people through the government. This will not only bring some balance back to the whole government/private sector dichotomy, but also fund important social needs like education and infrstructure while simultaneously inducing the orderly dismantelling of the too-big-to-fail banks.

If we vote Democrat in November, we just may be able to keep momentum to implement such a solution. Something that would never happen if we just stay home crying about the sky falling.

Man, it’s disgusting to see Farrell crapping all over himself like that. Have some dignity, man!
- Andrew
  
  I suspect the hopelessness has something to do with Obama’s betrayal of the country by continuing Bush’s totalitarian imperialist policies regarding Posse Comitatus, Habeas Corpus, extraordinary rendition (torture), spying on Americans citizens, and even adding to them by claiming the executive (dictatorial) privilege to assassinate American citizens.
  - Liam_McGonagle
    
    Yeah, yeah. I know. This has not been 2 years of unblemished success or complete moral purity. But let’s look at some pragmatic realities.
    
    Dubya had 8 frickin’ years to load the agencies with incompetent, corrupt weasels via presidential appointment. At this point they’re so deeply woven into the fabric that it is going to take a more than a little while to sort that out. Remember, Obama’s only 1 single man, distracted by 2 wars (1 of which FINALLY beginning to wind down according to schedule), an imploding economy run by savagely inept bankers, an environmental catastrophe of epic proportions, and Republican and Tea Bag buffoons howling for his blood. Keep in mind that the right-wingers haven’t even let him finish installing his OWN appointments in many of those spots yet!
    
    And remember, even if somehow Obama was able to make all of those appointments and reverse 8 years of bad regulatory policy in under 2 years, there will STILL be the legal nightmare of transitioning, defending the government against the inevitable tide of law suits, negotiating compensation for victimes, etc., etc., etc.
    
    Let us remember, too, that while bullshitting right-wingers are fixated on Islamic terrorists to the point of wetting themselves everynight in contemplation of the toothless 80-year old lady running their neighborhood gas station, it’s not an entire fantasy. There ARE real threats from terrorists that have to be addressed.
    
    Finally, what’re our real options?
    
    1. Fighting to give Obama enough breathing room to START to make things better, or
    
    2. Surrender to the forces of right-wing plutocracy, corruption and racism?
    
    Hell, everyone these days loves to be talking about a ‘Golden Age’ of American peace, prospertiy and moral virtue. Well, I know this may come as a shock to anyone who still believes in Santy Clause, but IT NEVER FREAKIN’ EXISTED.
    
    The Founding Fathers were indeed torch bearers of Enlightenment Age values whose existence, even as mere ideals, makes life worth living. But it didn’t come easy. There were messy squabbles and outright feuds amongst them. And no end of scandalous hypocrisies.
    
    We all know about Jefferson’s relationship with Sally Hemmings. And shit, Adams was the only one of them that never owned a slave. (Although he was, in the opinion of a large number of historians, also the most mediocre of all the Founding Fathers).
    
    Yeah, Abraham Lincoln owned slaves, too. He later came to see the light and took great political risks to promote their integration in society. My suspicion, however, is that the gruesome realities that destroyed Reconstruction under the less talented Grant would have eventually ground Lincoln down as well had he not been assassinated.
    
    And the Kennedies? While today Bobby is remembered for his opposition to the Vietnam War and racism, let’s not lose sight of the fact that he started out as a team mate of Roy Cohn and Joseph McCarthy during their political witch hunts. Bobby Kennedy was a great, great man, but he didn’t come out fully formed with a completely adequate moral understanding, and it took a while to find a way to integrate his newfound morality in a complex and combative political environment.
    
    So I have no doubt that Obama is a far superior choice over staying at home in November and handing the show over to the likes of Dingbat O’Donnell.
    - GoodDoktorBad
      
      Like shit and death makes a fertile soil, hopelessness will bring forth its own antithesis eventually.
      
      We’re falling down the well and can’t hope to climb out untill we hit bottom and come to terms with ourselves and each other. We will rise again but some won’t survive the journey. This has always been the way we learn as humans. Constant armageddon as a way of life. The wheel turns…..
      - justagirl
        
        what’s at the bottom of the well? (bwa ha haaaa). -
      - GoodDoktorBad
        
        My hungry, bloodthirsty maw awaits……..I can smell the coming feast. Climb! Climb for your life!
        LOL!
        Smoooooches!
      - justagirl
        
        i’m not klimbin’.
        LOL!
        get offa kitterz. he doesn’t like you taking pics of him.
      - GoodDoktorBad
        
        “kitterz” (Mario) is a ham. He is a submissive……. of course he is just playing me with that act.
        He rules the world with a silent and friendly furry fury…..watch out!
      - justagirl
        
        i know his name. how could i forget? i bet he would like me better than you, anyway. -
      - GoodDoktorBad
        
        Fooooooeeey!
        LOL
      - justagirl
        
        UN-fooey.
      - GoodDoktorBad
        
        Hong-Kong Foooooey!
      - justagirl
        
        “but, henry, what will the neighbors think?”
      - justagirl
        
        you’re funny. xo
      - Liam_McGonagle
        
        Bravo. Nice use of metaphor and appeal to mystery there with the shit analogy. Useful and true.
        
        And I think the counterpoint that gives that metaphor its deepest meaning is farming is some fer-real backbreakin’ work. The fertility of a field only comes to fruition under the plow.
        
        I see these ideas as complementary, and the world would be much poorer off without them.
        
        As for whether we’ve hit bottom yet, I suppose that’ll only become undebatably clear 20 years or so down the line. These events take time and are typically fraught with ambiguity for most participants.
        
        For my part, though, being as I’ve said elsewhere, lamentably related by blood to a wolfpack of Tea Douchers, I’ve got a pretty strong feeling we’re near rock bottom.
      - GoodDoktorBad
        
        I have always thought that the idea of “armageddon” speaks of the revolution of conciousness first and foremost. Physical destruction and change are only the external effect that we view as “the end”.
        
        The end is also the beginning……
Liam_McGonagle

Jesus! What’s with all the hopelessness? It’d all put you in mind of Hunter S. Thompson’s ’64 essay “The ‘Hashbury’ Is the Capital of the Hippies”, where he describes the degeneration of the student Left into drug-addled passivity.

The Founding Fathers didn’t have it all just handed to them, unlike the thoroughly worthless Boomer generation. They had the wisdom to recognize the best thinkers amongst themselves, the humility to admit it publicly, and the bravery to do everything in their power to promote them. Are we too timid to even use the votes that they and generations of Americans died for?

Everyone expects Obama to just wave some magic wand and make it all better himself. As if it could somehow be reasonable for a single man within the context of a system of elaborate checks-and-balances to counteract over 30 years of right-wing propaganda and mismanagement in under 2 years. A man, by the way, whose salary is about $400k–a fraction of the BASE salaries of most bigtime corporate exec’s (i.e., not including their bonuses, stock comp deals, life insurance cash surrender plans, etc., etc., etc.).

Face it, folks: It’s us. We have to show up and make our voices heard to clear this shambles up. And the first short-term step is to get out and vote DEMOCRAT this November. Even if only to keep forward momentum, and not to achieve immediate and decisive victory.

The real problems are obvious, and they CAN be cured. The single biggest problem, the one from which most of the others flow, is the dysfunctional financial sector.

Basically, Laissez Faire Republican policies have allowed the counterfeiting of 40% of the U.S. money supply through bullshit publicly traded securities, which have soaked up and contaminated the the for-real-honest-to-goodness M1 & M2 measures of money.

Answer: Tax on securities HOLDINGS. Get that? HOLDINGS–not income. Force the big banks and uber-wealthy to cash in their hoards back to the people through the government. This will not only bring some balance back to the whole government/private sector dichotomy, but also fund important social needs like education and infrstructure while simultaneously inducing the orderly dismantelling of the too-big-to-fail banks.

If we vote Democrat in November, we just may be able to keep momentum to implement such a solution. Something that would never happen if we just stay home crying about the sky falling.

Man, it’s disgusting to see Farrell crapping all over himself like that. Have some dignity, man!
Andrew

I suspect the hopelessness has something to do with Obama’s betrayal of the country by continuing Bush’s totalitarian imperialist policies regarding Posse Comitatus, Habeas Corpus, extraordinary rendition (torture), spying on Americans citizens, and even adding to them by claiming the executive (dictatorial) privilege to assassinate American citizens.
mole_face

Could the Tea Party be any more contrived? If I had to guess, I’d say that the establishment is trying to drum up support for a return to the “glory days” of traditional Libertarian-leaning “free market” capitalism. Weed will be legal but we’ll be dealing with Sarah Palin on TV regularly. I’ve always been disturbed by the streak of extreme nationalism and militia bullshit running through 911 Truth and the Tea Party. The Nazis used conspiracy theories to manipulate their population too – they were even opposed to Freemasonry. Something to consider…
- Liam_McGonagle
  
  Unfortunately I can’t comfort myself with the neat little fantasy that the Tea Party doesn’t exist. My parents and two of my brothers are Tea Douchers. I believe Hadrian999 may have made a statement to similar effect.
  
  Sorry, Hoss, but that shit is fer-real.
fuzzgun

Could the Tea Party be any more contrived? If I had to guess, I’d say that the establishment is trying to drum up support for a return to the “glory days” of traditional Libertarian-leaning “free market” capitalism. Weed will be legal but we’ll be dealing with Sarah Palin on TV regularly. I’ve always been disturbed by the streak of extreme nationalism and militia bullshit running through 911 Truth and the Tea Party. The Nazis used conspiracy theories to manipulate their population too – they were even opposed to Freemasonry. Something to consider…
Liam_McGonagle

Yeah, yeah. I know. This has not been 2 years of unblemished success or complete moral purity. But let’s look at some pragmatic realities.

Dubya had 8 frickin’ years to load the agencies with incompetent, corrupt weasels via presidential appointment. At this point they’re so deeply woven into the fabric that it is going to take a more than a little while to sort that out. Remember, Obama’s only 1 single man, distracted by 2 wars (1 of which FINALLY beginning to wind down according to schedule), an imploding economy run by savagely inept bankers, an environmental catastrophe of epic proportions, and Republican and Tea Bag buffoons howling for his blood. Keep in mind that the right-wingers haven’t even let him finish installing his OWN appointments in many of those spots yet!

And remember, even if somehow Obama was able to make all of those appointments and reverse 8 years of bad regulatory policy in under 2 years, there will STILL be the legal nightmare of transitioning, defending the government against the inevitable tide of law suits, negotiating compensation for victimes, etc., etc., etc.

Let us remember, too, that while bullshitting right-wingers are fixated on Islamic terrorists to the point of wetting themselves everynight in contemplation of the toothless 80-year old lady running their neighborhood gas station, it’s not an entire fantasy. There ARE real threats from terrorists that have to be addressed.

Finally, what’re our real options?

1. Fighting to give Obama enough breathing room to START to make things better, or

2. Surrender to the forces of right-wing plutocracy, corruption and racism?

Hell, everyone these days loves to be talking about a ‘Golden Age’ of American peace, prospertiy and moral virtue. Well, I know this may come as a shock to anyone who still believes in Santy Clause, but IT NEVER FREAKIN’ EXISTED.

The Founding Fathers were indeed torch bearers of Enlightenment Age values whose existence, even as mere ideals, makes life worth living. But it didn’t come easy. There were messy squabbles and outright feuds amongst them. And no end of scandalous hypocrisies.

We all know about Jefferson’s relationship with Sally Hemmings. And shit, Adams was the only one of them that never owned a slave. (Although he was, in the opinion of a large number of historians, also the most mediocre of all the Founding Fathers).

Yeah, Abraham Lincoln owned slaves, too. He later came to see the light and took great political risks to promote their integration in society. My suspicion, however, is that the gruesome realities that destroyed Reconstruction under the less talented Grant would have eventually ground Lincoln down as well had he not been assassinated.

And the Kennedies? While today Bobby is remembered for his opposition to the Vietnam War and racism, let’s not lose sight of the fact that he started out as a team mate of Roy Cohn and Joseph McCarthy during their political witch hunts. Bobby Kennedy was a great, great man, but he didn’t come out fully formed with a completely adequate moral understanding, and it took a while to find a way to integrate his newfound morality in a complex and combative political environment.

So I have no doubt that Obama is a far superior choice over staying at home in November and handing the show over to the likes of Dingbat O’Donnell.
Liam_McGonagle

Unfortunately I can’t comfort myself with the neat little fantasy that the Tea Party doesn’t exist. My parents and two of my brothers are Tea Douchers. I believe Hadrian999 may have made a statement to similar effect.

Sorry, Hoss, but that shit is fer-real.
Andrew

Yes, fascist. Exactly.
Komima

no one will do anything but talk. people prefer to live in ignorance, its not the 1700s
Komima

no one will do anything but talk. people prefer to live in ignorance, its not the 1700s
Other Mr T dont pity fools

Such pessimism. It isn’t a done deal yet, but it could happen. Americans have this incredible ability to pull miracles off at the last second. I have faith in the American people. Social collapse can be a positive thing, if we grasp the opportunity for creative destruction as an opportunity to destroy the relationships between social institutions and people that they have failed. C’mon folks, we’re talking about our neighbors and families. I already see the tea party movement splintering because apparently we are now living in a post-movement social age, thanks to expanded interpersonal communication on the internet venues… like this one. It’s now impossible to co-opt a movement, because propaganda (as it used to exist) is becoming obsolete. As the tax base dries up and the political classes lose their ability to govern, let’s go into this thing with our eyes wide open. It doesn’t have to be a time of desperation. “Preppers”, you are now the “it” thing. I am prepping the best as I can afford to. Social capital is the new “money”, volunteerism and helpfulness are the ways you earn it from your community. Why not start now?
Other Mr T dont pity fools

Such pessimism. It isn’t a done deal yet, but it could happen. Americans have this incredible ability to pull miracles off at the last second. I have faith in the American people. Social collapse can be a positive thing, if we grasp the opportunity for creative destruction as an opportunity to destroy the relationships between social institutions and people that they have failed. C’mon folks, we’re talking about our neighbors and families. I already see the tea party movement splintering because apparently we are now living in a post-movement social age, thanks to expanded interpersonal communication on the internet venues… like this one. It’s now impossible to co-opt a movement, because propaganda (as it used to exist) is becoming obsolete. As the tax base dries up and the political classes lose their ability to govern, let’s go into this thing with our eyes wide open. It doesn’t have to be a time of desperation. “Preppers”, you are now the “it” thing. I am prepping the best as I can afford to. Social capital is the new “money”, volunteerism and helpfulness are the ways you earn it from your community. Why not start now?
Anonymous

Like shit and death makes a fertile soil, hopelessness will bring forth its own antithesis eventually.

We’re falling down the well and can’t hope to climb out untill we hit bottom and come to terms with ourselves and each other. We will rise again but some won’t survive the journey. This has always been the way we learn as humans. Constant armageddon as a way of life. The wheel turns…..
Rohatsu

Why do you think revolution has to be marxist? What about satyagraha?
justagirl

i’m not ok with the fact that you’re “ok with that”… even if it’s not true.
justagirl

what’s at the bottom of the well? (bwa ha haaaa). -
Anonymous

Bravo. Nice use of metaphor and appeal to mystery there with the shit analogy. Useful and true.

And I think the counterpoint that gives that metaphor its deepest meaning is farming is some fer-real backbreakin’ work. The fertility of a field only comes to fruition under the plow.

I see these ideas as complementary, and the world would be much poorer off without them.

As for whether we’ve hit bottom yet, I suppose that’ll only become undebatably clear 20 years or so down the line. These events take time and are typically fraught with ambiguity for most participants.

For my part, though, being as I’ve said elsewhere, lamentably related by blood to a wolfpack of Tea Douchers, I’ve got a pretty strong feeling we’re near rock bottom.
Anonymous

My hungry, bloodthirsty maw awaits……..I can smell the coming feast. Climb! Climb for your life!
LOL!
Smoooooches!
Anonymous

I have always thought that the idea of “armageddon” speaks of the revolution of conciousness first and foremost. Physical destruction and change are only the external effect that we view as “the end”.

The end is also the beginning……
justagirl

i’m not klimbin’.
LOL!
get offa kitterz. he doesn’t like you taking pics of him.
Anonymous

“kitterz” (Mario) is a ham. He is a submissive……. of course he is just playing me with that act.
He rules the world with a silent and friendly furry fury…..watch out!
justagirl

i know his name. how could i forget? i bet he would like me better than you, anyway. -
Anonymous

Fooooooeeey!
LOL
justagirl

you’re funny. xo
justagirl

UN-fooey.
5by5

Ask the Rwandans how good anarchy looks. What a retarded thing to celebrate. Most Americans haven’t the faintest idea what real anarchy is.

What we’re looking at isn’t a second revolution in the sense of a return to the ideals of the Revolutionary War. What we’re seeing are the Royalists and religious hardliners of that era who lost that argument striking back. What we’re seeing are the traitorous secessionists of the Civil War taking another stab at it. What we’re seeing are the corporatists who tried to assassinate F.D.R. trying the same fascist crap by different means. What we’re seeing are the same witch-hunters of the 1950′s swapping out “commies”, for “islamists” or “gays”.

Same dumbasses, different day.

And actual Americans who believe in the principles this country was built on will have to beat back the wingnuts yet again.

Personally, I am of the opinion that if you want to run a country that stupidly, this time, we should just give you some patch of land and let you. Inside of half a century Teabagland will be a crazed, violent, impoverished theocracy, begging for aide from America.

And without having to coddle the stupid among us, America will build magnificent schools and get even smarter, create energy efficient transportation, have renewed science and industry, create wonderful works of art and literature that are the envy of all the world, have good health and prosperity, and journey to the stars, leaving your punk ass behind.
Anonymous

Ask the Rwandans how good anarchy looks. What a retarded thing to celebrate. Most Americans haven’t the faintest idea what real anarchy is.

What we’re looking at isn’t a second revolution in the sense of a return to the ideals of the Revolutionary War. What we’re seeing are the Royalists and religious hardliners of that era who lost that argument striking back. What we’re seeing are the traitorous secessionists of the Civil War taking another stab at it. What we’re seeing are the corporatists who tried to assassinate F.D.R. trying the same fascist crap by different means. What we’re seeing are the same witch-hunters of the 1950′s swapping out “commies”, for “islamists” or “gays”.

Same dumbasses, different day.

And actual Americans who believe in the principles this country was built on will have to beat back the wingnuts yet again.

Personally, I am of the opinion that if you want to run a country that stupidly, this time, we should just give you some patch of land and let you. Inside of half a century Teabagland will be a crazed, violent, impoverished theocracy, begging for aide from America.

And without having to coddle the stupid among us, America will build magnificent schools and get even smarter, create energy efficient transportation, have renewed science and industry, create wonderful works of art and literature that are the envy of all the world, have good health and prosperity, and journey to the stars, leaving your punk ass behind.
Anonymous

Hong-Kong Foooooey!
justagirl

“but, henry, what will the neighbors think?”
baph777atYT

TheTea Party was a group started by the wealthy because they didn’t want to have to pay any higher taxes under Obama to help out most of the citizens in this country.

It was their good fortune that America had elected a black president because this allowed them to recruit a lot of poor whites with racist feelings and Fundamentalist Christians into their organization to really obscure the fact of what they really are from quite a few people. In effect with the racist poor whites and the fundies supporting their cause they would appear to be a group that wasn’t just a bunch of rich white conservatives wanting to protect their assets.

I don’t know about what this article says, but I do believe that after the upcoming elections and I do think Obama will be voted out in 2012, then we will really begin to see social tensions in this country come to a boiling point when the poor whites realize that the rich elite conservatives aren’t doing anything to ease the load on the common man at all and are returning too policies where the poor stay poor or become poorer and the rich stay and possibly grow much richer.
baph777atYT

TheTea Party was a group started by the wealthy because they didn’t want to have to pay any higher taxes under Obama to help out most of the citizens in this country.

It was their good fortune that America had elected a black president because this allowed them to recruit a lot of poor whites with racist feelings and Fundamentalist Christians into their organization to really obscure the fact of what they really are from quite a few people. In effect with the racist poor whites and the fundies supporting their cause they would appear to be a group that wasn’t just a bunch of rich white conservatives wanting to protect their assets.

I don’t know about what this article says, but I do believe that after the upcoming elections and I do think Obama will be voted out in 2012, then we will really begin to see social tensions in this country come to a boiling point when the poor whites realize that the rich elite conservatives aren’t doing anything to ease the load on the common man at all and are returning too policies where the poor stay poor or become poorer and the rich stay and possibly grow much richer.
Nowhereman

We should kiss “democracy” and “capitalism” goodbye–permanently. While Stalin killed 8-16 million political opponents (who weren’t right-wingers by the way–they primarily were the real communists), capitalism is based wiping out anything that they can make a profit off of. Capitalism will destroy planet earth. Capitalists live in a state of anarchy. They aren’t subject to the same laws as everyone else because as the old adage says, “money talks-bullsh*&t walks”. They can’t work together as a group because they are too busy “competing”, which is a popular codeword for ripping each other off in various ways. A capitalist is only concerned with immediate short term profit. If you hold a silver dollar in front of a capitalists face he will stop seeing anything else except that silver dollar. He will cease to think about anything other than how to take that silver dollar from you.

Democracy for the top .001% an economic dictatorship with laws made to be enforced only on the chumps/suckers/”citizens” is real existing democracy. We can create ideal notions of what democracy should be despite the fact that democracy has never ever been as is “should” be. It boils down to which metaphysical set of ideas you want to adhere to.

From my perspective I saw life expectancy for men in the ex-USSR drop by TWENTY years. I saw children going hungry and begging in the streets and thirteen billionaires stole everyone’s money. There’s your “freedom” and “free market”. Nothing more than a lousy lawless kleptocracy out to throw the poor under the bus and out to start WWIII just to jumpstart the global economy with a new virtuous cycle of accumulation.

Not everyone is so crass as to want to be as criminal and vicious as those who rule our world. I would rather starve, or die in the street like young workers are doing in Egypt right now.
Nowhereman

We should kiss “democracy” and “capitalism” goodbye–permanently. While Stalin killed 8-16 million political opponents (who weren’t right-wingers by the way–they primarily were the real communists), capitalism is based wiping out anything that they can make a profit off of. Capitalism will destroy planet earth. Capitalists live in a state of anarchy. They aren’t subject to the same laws as everyone else because as the old adage says, “money talks-bullsh*&t walks”. They can’t work together as a group because they are too busy “competing”, which is a popular codeword for ripping each other off in various ways. A capitalist is only concerned with immediate short term profit. If you hold a silver dollar in front of a capitalists face he will stop seeing anything else except that silver dollar. He will cease to think about anything other than how to take that silver dollar from you.

Democracy for the top .001% an economic dictatorship with laws made to be enforced only on the chumps/suckers/”citizens” is real existing democracy. We can create ideal notions of what democracy should be despite the fact that democracy has never ever been as is “should” be. It boils down to which metaphysical set of ideas you want to adhere to.

From my perspective I saw life expectancy for men in the ex-USSR drop by TWENTY years. I saw children going hungry and begging in the streets and thirteen billionaires stole everyone’s money. There’s your “freedom” and “free market”. Nothing more than a lousy lawless kleptocracy out to throw the poor under the bus and out to start WWIII just to jumpstart the global economy with a new virtuous cycle of accumulation.

Not everyone is so crass as to want to be as criminal and vicious as those who rule our world. I would rather starve, or die in the street like young workers are doing in Egypt right now.