The American Spectator : Doing the Elders' Work

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Doing the Elders' Work

By David Gutmann on 5.7.10 @ 6:08AM

Tea Partiers in anthro-historical perspective.

The politics of the decentralized, essentially leaderless Tea-Partiers are hard to pin down. Nevertheless, the Left-wing media has not held back from doing just that: they are judging them to be a quasi-militia of clearly racist, rabble-rousing, not-yet-dead White Males. They are Ku Kluxers without sheets, and Grampas from Hell. Case closed.

But the facts on the ground do not support this rather lurid characterization. True, a scatter of placards at Tea Party rallies have possibly racist content, and some have insulted President Obama, but unless a movement openly recruits such crazies, it cannot be held responsible for all the undocumented wild life that drifts into its currents. Then too, there is reason to believe that agents-provocateurs, aiming to make the movement correspond to the Left's caricature, have occasionally infiltrated their racist placards into the demonstrator's ranks.

But for the most part, the Tea Party placards protest against economic policies rather than particular racial minorities or individual politicians. "Tea" in "Tea Party" stands for "Taxed Enough Already." Thus, the movement ballooned early in 2009 in response to the bank bailouts and the stimulus package. More recently, the Tea Partiers went into the streets to register their fierce opposition to ObamaCare, particularly the huge deficit and tax burden that it is likely to engender.

But the Tea Partiers are not just concerned with their pocketbooks and pensions. My studies of elder psychology across a variety of traditional cultures -- the Navajo, the Druse, and the Maya - support a quite different interpretation of the aging Partiers' rebellious mood.

Here, a brief preface is called for. Across the range of ethnically and linguistically disparate societies that I studied, the elders (almost always male) perform a crucial task that has little to do with fiscal concerns per se: they maintain the vital, spiritual aspect of their cultures. Every viable culture is founded in an origin myth, a legend of how a special people, rescued by favoring gods and/or unordinary leaders, survived the birth crisis of their society and went on to flourish. Moses in Egypt, Washington at Valley Forge or Ben Gurion in Jerusalem are examples of the rescuing, founding leader.

If these powerful presences can be brought forward to enliven and give special meaning to the present, the founding myths can function as a kind of immune system of the social order -- they provide a guarantee of continuity in the face of often catastrophic, unsettling change. Typically, it is the elders who perform this function, of connecting the social order in the present to the Gods, to the heroes, and to their legends that redeemed the past, so that the present becomes a continuation of that great history.

And this, I would contend, is what our elders of the Tea Party are doing for us -- and for themselves: By connecting the stuff of our daily life to our founding myths, they are preserving for us principles and causes worth fighting for. Despite being not-quite-dead, white-skinned, male, obese and wrinkled, yet they are doing the work of heroes: they are building and preserving the culture that gives meaning and significance to our otherwise hum-drum lives.

In the Left's contemptuous view, these aging, white-skinned reactionaries wrap themselves in the flag so as to disparage the patriotism of others, while disguising their own un-American racism and greed. What the Leftists refuse to see -- because they cannot see -- is that the very name "Tea Party" evokes the revolutionary climate of the Republic's beginnings, the battles against oppressive governance and for constitutional principles that were fought then, and that have to be re-fought now. The Tea Party protests have recycled the themes, images, and slogans -- "Don't tread on me," for example -- of those iconic revolutionary days, bringing them into the here and now.

Too many leaders of the Democrat party view American history as a narrative of slavery, Indian genocide, nuclear terrorism, environmental rape, homophobia and imperial wars. In this spirit, our president feels that he has to make pilgrimages around the world, apologizing for that America. These "leaders" have tried very hard to undo our founding myth and to replace it with its negation. Predictably, the symptoms of deculturation, decadence and national decline abound. Reacting against this sabotage, the Tea Partiers remind us and the world of the other America: the home of the one revolution that did not degenerate into a bloodbath, that did not eat its children, and that still makes the possibility of freedom real for all mankind.

About the Author

David Gutmann is a professor emeritus of psychology at Northwestern Medical School and a veteran of the Israeli War of Independence in 1948.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (99) | Leave a comment

Deborah D| 5.7.10 @ 8:58AM

Amen, Mr. Gutmann. The Tea Party is at least one portion of the society where being white, male and middle class does not automatically make you suspect (except in the eyes of the left and the media, but I repeat myself.)

The wisdom in this movement is a from a group of Americans who love their country, remember the founding, and only want their children and grandchildren to prosper in the country we all grew up in. These people are your neighbors and friends -- most (including myself) who have never been active in politics before because they've been too busy raising their children, working hard at their businesses and believed enough in the government to trust it to those in Washington and their states to do what is right. Well, we've all awoken to the fact that our politicians don't always have the best interests of the country at large at heart. It's now up to us to remind them of their duties...which are not to themselves, but to the country and its founding and its continuing to being the "shining city on a hill."

Purpleguy| 5.8.10 @ 12:32AM

And, this is news about politicians? Where were the Teabaggers during 8 years of Bush? You don't think a Black President had anything to do with it? Reagan doubled the debt.... Bush double it again... but NOW it's a big deal? Had you been vocal then, I'd listen to you more now - but you weren't, so I don't. Were your parents stupid while you were raising kids earlier? Where were they, if not you? Where were you in 2007 when the Recession started? How about in 2008 when Bush laid low? Only NOW when Obama is President are you oh so patriotic and want to fight the next Revolutionary War. You don't have a King, you have representation, you have the Bill of Rights, you live in the most prosperous country that has ever been, and you bitch like schoolchildren like someone is stealing your lunch money. You're ridiculous and your opportunistic mouthpiece Sarah "I can see Russia from my house" Palin is a fitting leader for the Tea Bag crowd. Sad, very sad....

Ragnar| 5.8.10 @ 2:56PM

"Purple" Guy ... hmmmm... maybe the color purple is from blue the color of sad and red the color of Marxism ? Well my sad commie friend, you and (like our president) need to get a life and stop sucking from the hind teat of the big Collectivist Sow you have been snuggled up to for most of your miss spent life.

John| 5.8.10 @ 4:21PM

"Purple" Idealouge... If you can"t see the difference in what Obama and his cronies are about compared to past administrations, then there is no hope for you. Do us all a favor and move to Iran. I'm sure they would appreciate your opinions....

Gary Ogletree| 5.8.10 @ 4:35PM

Who will bother to finish reading your comment? Anderson Cooper is your teabagger. We Tea Party, fool.

Jon B| 5.8.10 @ 6:12PM

Well put, Purpleguy. Somebody had to tell them when to protest before they would.

Nick| 5.9.10 @ 12:21PM

Where's the source for your lie about President Reagan, Jon Boy?

JmsA| 5.8.10 @ 11:09PM

Purpleturd wrote:

"Where were the Teabaggers during 8 years of Bush?" They were ticked off, that's where; hence his low presidential approval ratings.

"Reagan doubled the debt.... Bush double it again... but NOW it's a big deal? Had you been vocal then, I'd listen to you more now - but you weren't, so I don't." Unlike the One, Bush did not have a $1.8 trillion deficit in his first year, including the $787 stimuless package passed by the democrats. And that's a fact!

"Where were you in 2007 when the Recession started? How about in 2008 when Bush laid low?"
Watching the democrats destroy the economy after they took control of congress, after the doings of Freddy Mac/Fannie Mae, after the implementation of the CRA by Jimmy Carter, and the repeal of Glass-Stegall investment banking regulation by Bill Clinton, etc., etc., etc. Also, don't forget that during the second quarter of 2007, the unemployment rate was 4.7%. What is it now? Oh, yeah, it just climbed up to 9.9%. Nice going!

"Only NOW when Obama is President are you oh so patriotic and want to fight the next Revolutionary War. You don't have a King, you have representation, you have the Bill of Rights, you live in the most prosperous country that has ever been, and you bitch like schoolchildren like someone is stealing your lunch money." We may not have a king, but we have someone that behaves like one and is surrounded and supported by a bunch of inept and incompetent democrat jesters, including leftist libtards like David Obey, who just called it quits, and doesn't represent me, nor I strongly suspect, the vast majority of the country. By the waaaay.... have you seen the approval rating of congress under Pelosi's and Reid's leadership lately? I'm certain you're in denial about that, too. The current regimen and its clown partisan lackeys in congress are endeavoring to destroy our constitutional rights. Moreover, the prosperity of this country wasn't created by the government, but by the people--most of whom, including those in the Tea Party, are fed up and chomping at the bit to kick all of the Marxists out of office. Have you seen what's going in Greece lately? That's a prime example of socialism at work, which, if I'm not mistaken, you have repeatedly advocated. The socialist democrats, like you, may not be stealing our lunch money, but they're try to steal everything, not the least of which, our freedom-- and the people know it.

"You're ridiculous and your opportunistic mouthpiece Sarah "I can see Russia from my house" Palin is a fitting leader for the Tea Bag crowd." Sarah Palin is doing a magnificent job of counter-punching the supercilious One and his cronies. Did you catch the One retract his nuclear weapons comments against Sarah Palin? Somehow, someway, I suspect you didn't. No matter. Your obsession with her and relentless attacks against her, a private citizen, who only trails the One, 45-47 in recent polling--is telling enough.

"Sad, very sad...." Not to the Tea Party, and the rest of us commonsensical, and not besotted with the One, Americans.

There. That was easy, as it usually is when dealing with your puerile and turdy purple droppings. 11/02/2010

George F| 5.9.10 @ 4:26PM

You sure do have a lot of hate in your heart purpleguy. Have you ever in your life done something really kind for someone else for no reason at all.

Probably not.

Try it. You will be astonished at how the hate in your soul will go away.

Alan Brooks| 5.9.10 @ 11:14PM

Even if Reaganomics was fleeting, it did shorten the Cold War. But the Bush family are nothing but very clever, very motivated, hacks who couldn't take Reaganism and run with it if their lives had depended on it.

Once a hack, always a hack.

Louis Jenkins| 5.7.10 @ 9:10AM

It goes deeper than the Tea Partiers. While I appreciate the them, their efforts, and their spunk, we must remember that those buffoons that we've elected serve us. I have attended a few of the Parties as time allows, but the bottom line is we are not being served. It is well past time.

Alan Brooks| 5.9.10 @ 11:17PM

Then WHY the hell does the GOP keep running CORPSES like Dole and McCain?

Mike Landry| 5.7.10 @ 9:30AM

"Despite being not-quite-dead, white-skinned, male, obese and wrinkled, yet they are doing the work of heroes..."
Yeah, some heroes. Your description of them makes sure no one takes your praise of them too seriously, Professor Gutmann.
But they are heroes. And they're not all men and they're not all white, either.

Purpleguy| 5.8.10 @ 12:34AM

Yep, they look like the typical Republican Convention Delegates ... white and a few token minorities too stupid not to be manipulated ...

JmsA| 5.8.10 @ 11:46PM

"[a] few token minorities too stupid not to be manipulated ..."

How about Lt.Co. Allen West, an African--American running for Florida's 22nd Congressional District? He's a forceful, intelligent individual, and certainly not a token minority. Furthermore, I would not refer to him as you put it, not too stupid not to be manipulated--especially to his face. By the way, have you ever heard him discourse about history? He's truly amazing. Once again, you have proven your self-deception despite the untrammelled might of reality.
11/02/2010

George F| 5.9.10 @ 4:30PM

Is name calling all you can do purpleguy? Or is it that you've sold your soul and have to do the bidding of your master.

You are really sad and more than that, you are pathetic.

Alan Brooks| 5.9.10 @ 11:20PM

"Despite being not-quite-dead, white-skinned, male ... and wrinkled, yet they are doing the work of heroes..."

Dole and McCain?

Tony in Central PA| 5.7.10 @ 10:07AM

I'd bet the practically irrational hatred by the Left for this group is rooted in the way they operate. The Left desire an oligarchy of " intellectual " elites. These elites act as surrogate decision makers for everybody. Even if there is some apparently spontaneous public demonstration, it is being orchestrated by said elites.
In opposition to this, the Tea Party is a truly grassroots movement. The only criteria for admission appears to be a concern that our nation is losing its direction. There's no Geroge Soros financing the show.

Alan Brooks| 5.9.10 @ 11:21PM

all demogogues are grassroots, you mental midget.

Tim*| 5.7.10 @ 11:50AM

We ,Tea Party Rebels are our own leaders.
We neither need , nor want designated leaders.

We don't allow agendists to " Define " us.

Our Core Values :

* Fiscal Responsibility
* Constitutionally Limited Government
* Free Markets
The Tea Party Rebellion escalates.

Remember In November.

Jon B| 5.7.10 @ 7:46PM

What you should be praying for is "Forgetting in November." Forget the massive wealth redistribution from 1-2001 to 1-2009. Forget the lies that started a war. Forget the doubled National Debt. Forget the gutted federal consumer protection agencies including FEMA, OSHA, SEC, EPA, FDA, DEA, and more, Forget how the unregulated Free Market screwed America in the rear. Forget that 8 million people lost their jobs because of it. Forget how America was discredited and held in ill-regard by the rest of the world from 1-2001 to 1-2009. Forget about how the deregulation of toys, medicines and medical supplies from China killed our kids. Just forget the Bush years altogether.

Nick| 5.7.10 @ 7:58PM

Where's that source, Jon Boy?

You promised it months ago.
Oh...that's right....you're a liar.

Purpleguy| 5.8.10 @ 12:41AM

Once again, Nicky provides no substance. He won't refute the facts because he cannot refute the facts. He's just a name-calling racist pig of a Tea Bagger who doesn't have anything else to say but to criticize others. Can you refute JonB's facts? Any of them, Einstein? I didn't think so... Good luck with the Tea Bagging thing... Im sure it's your thing.

Nick| 5.8.10 @ 1:21AM

Pay no attention to PurpleJackass folks.

He doesn't even know that Virginia governors don't run for re-election because they can only serve one term, then have to wait 4 years to run again.

He also likes to berate others for spelling "hypocrisy" wrong, and in the same post he wrote "hypocrit", like a moron.

He is not worthy of debate with grown-ups.

AmenBro| 5.8.10 @ 5:16PM

Great points Nick.

Point counter point & pary to Purple Insipidness.

So its not a big deal to spend by borrowing more cash in less than 1 year of office than every single GD president COMBINED since the inception of the UNION??? HEY PURP,,,,WHERES THE SUBSTANCE ?????.

Purple Guy do you mean the same era when VIRGINIA elected the 1st African American Governor??????

Voted for Douglas Wilder then & would not hesitate to vote for himm again. Gov Douglas Wilder's most recent ELECTED tenure in Richmond City politics puts him out of you sphere of INTELLECT. Wilder's view like mine is folks like you are PARASITEs. Your use of civil rights is a severe DISHONOR to the folks that did the HEAVY LIFTING. I remember EXACTLY WHERE I WAS when the CACA hit the fan in the SIXTIES. DO YOU???

Jon B| 5.8.10 @ 6:16PM

I'd bet you beat your pets, Nick, or your spouse in an earlier time.

Nick| 5.9.10 @ 11:12AM

Where's that source, Jon Boy?

AmenBro| 5.9.10 @ 1:47PM

QUOTIN ,,THE ONE"

Bo Hussein BAM BAM BAMA Multimillionaire COMMUNITY Organizer who assures us that he knows when aPEOPLe nake enough cash.

Jon Boy,uninformed dipschticks are the THREAT. I remember your kind slammin REAGAN after his 8 yess were up for taking a 100k speaking fee in Japan..

What's wrong with the picture, SIR after you absorb OBAMIOE BAM's quote in front of the Gra

"What Jefferson recognized... that in the long run, their improbable experiment -- called America -- wouldn't work if its citizens were uninformed, if its citizens were apathetic, if its citizens checked out, and left democracy to those who didn't have the best interests of all the people at heart.

"It could only work if each of us stayed informed and engaged, if we held our government accountable, if we fulfilled the obligations of citizenship."

AmenBro| 5.9.10 @ 1:47PM

QUOTIN ,,THE ONE"

Bo Hussein BAM BAM BAMA Multimillionaire COMMUNITY Organizer who assures us that he knows when aPEOPLe nake enough cash.

Jon Boy,uninformed dipschticks are the THREAT. I remember your kind slammin REAGAN after his 8 yess were up for taking a 100k speaking fee in Japan..

What's wrong with the picture, SIR after you absorb OBAMIOE BAM's quote in front of the Gra

"It could only work if each of us stayed informed and engaged, if we held our government accountable, if we fulfilled the obligations of citizenship."

Alan Brooks| 5.9.10 @ 11:23PM

"* Fiscal Responsibili"

As in "read my lips, no new taxes?"

Alan Brooks| 5.9.10 @ 11:32PM

Mike, it is no use, the GOP is like a person making the same mistake over & over in hoping for a different outcome:

1) first run HW Bush; doesn't work out.
2) run Dole (and relegate the competent Kemp to the bottom of the ticket);
a failed campaign.
3) run Dubya; 8 years of empty "compassionate conservatism".
4) run McCain;
another failed campaign.

Let the GOP destroy itself as the Whigs did.

Mike| 5.7.10 @ 12:02PM

Gutmann writes, "The politics of the decentralized, essentially leaderless Tea-Partiers are hard to pin down. Nevertheless, the Left-wing media has not held back from doing just that: they are judging them to be a quasi-militia of clearly racist, rabble-rousing, not-yet-dead White Males. They are Ku Kluxers without sheets, and Grampas from Hell. Case closed. "

Not a bad description of the GOP.

Troll Watch| 5.7.10 @ 12:33PM

Mikey is a classic progressive. His race obsession is almost at a mental disorder level. He seems to think that everybody in the world has his bigoted view. He is in the correct party for race obsession. Democrats have went from the KKK to nut jobs like Mikey almost without notice. They are always judging groups by their racial content. Lovely.

Mike| 5.7.10 @ 12:47PM

I love this site. Here's the game.

An AmSpec writer prints a pseudo-intellectual over-generalization and I respond in kind. Then someone, like Troll Watch, posts an indignant rebuttal, generally an ad hominem attack, to my post and I get my daily chuckles.

Well played, Troll.

Troll Watch| 5.7.10 @ 1:06PM

It is too late for Mikey. People see him for what he is, a race obsessed bigot. He has lots of company among his friends. There will be wiggling off the hook he is on without a good bit of repentance and prayer. I wish him well but he seems like a hard hearted case.

Nick| 5.7.10 @ 1:17PM

Troll Watch,

Don't worry, there's still hope for Mikey.

There's a chance he might learn something when he enters high-school.

AmenBro| 5.7.10 @ 4:22PM

Damn Mike you got the theory of relativity and all that Quantum mechamics of POLI SCi all FIGGERED OUT,,now don't ye,,,he he.

I'm not worthy!!!

AHHH TO BE so EnLighten-ed-ly,,HEE HEE CERTIFIED, CERTIFIABLE,,,,, you can call me Ray you can Caaaall me Jay,,,,, ahem just don't call me late for cash,,,campaign donations ,,PERKS,,,Travel JUNKETS,,,TAXPAYER Gulf Stream Jets,, BOOOOZE and PROBABLE just by co=ince-a-di-tious BUSTY or 10 dollar quarter roll in the pocket Air Travel attendants,,rent control congressional office-space sans apartments. Lest we forget,,,,,, the,the THE CHILDREN, the DOWNTRODDEN & the children of the downtrodden into infinitude..

Youse ENLIGHTENED FOLKS need to read RED STATE BLUE STATE. Its okay you can still come on here and mis-portray REALITY.. Facts Jack ARE,,,RICH PEOPLE VOTE DEM,,,,not POOR PEOPLE. Dodd's home-state, Connecticut is demographically compared to poor people majority state MISSISSIPPI in this Democrat written POLI SCI book .

Course that's all STATISTICAL FACT,,,not a CARTOON,,, justa as the 20 million dollars DODD got from WALL STREET is his take with him,,,WALKIN AROUND CASH when he retires. Is it me or has anyone mentioned,,,,,,,,,Connecticut is a "BANKING INTEREST RICH ", STATE.

After all DODD REALLY WAS SERIOUS ,,, You remember.....ABOUT RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT,,, in 2008 ,,,,,,,,,,NNNNoooooo he wasn't using that as a vehicle to amass millions from his cheating with the GOP LOVERS in BANKING RICH CONNECTICUT & WALL STREET. Chris "ARMS AROUND COUNTRYWIDE" Dodd's,, intro is so poignant,,,,,what no additional intro from CHUCKIE SCHUMER OR LOLLIPOP BARNEY,,,, excuse me,,,,,,save it,,,,that's another tawdry episode ,,,,,now

AS CORRUPTION TURNS like plowshares into the retiring Senator's 20 MILLION CAMPAIGN FUND festooned by FINANCIAL INTERESTS ,,,,,we now take you to our next episode of ,,,,,

DAYS OF DEMOCRAT WALL STREET LIVES. guest staring AL FRANKIN

EPILOGUE BY,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Its okay,,,,, 5 MILLION FY2009 as per family IRS tax return,,,,,,,,HEAD MF IN CHARGE,,,,,BO Hussein Obama. ReeeeeLAXXXXx,,,, OBAMA knows when people make TOOO MUCH MONEY

You know well intentioned folks like DODD & FRANKIN & SCHuMER, and SOROS and BUFFET and GOLDMAN SACHs,,,,,HMMMMM Oh yeah,,,,, in 2008 GOLDIE's SACK donated a cool million & pocket change to PRES. OBO. Didn't BARHUSOBO win the TITLE,,,20 year highest recipient of BP campaign cash for his selfless sacrificial acceptance of BRIBES oooops I mean campaign donation from BP i.

i.)For Progressives sake BP means BRITISH PETRO;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;as in the GULF OF MEXICO

Yup as Harry Reid,,,,paragon of virtue he is put it,,,ITS,,,,,,,,,,(Monty Python PAUSE),,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,THE GOP MAKIN LOVE TO WALL STREET.

NAW,,,,,that sounds way too much like a FRANKIN Saturday Nite Live Skit. Better still a TEA BAG conspiracy

SOUNDS LIKE SLOPPY AS HAIL SECONDS TO ME.

Course,,,,,,,,my post,,,,,,you can dismiss cause its so,,,,,,,,COARSE.. Liberal,,,scuze me,,,PROGRESSIVES,,, are so smart. When I grow up I want to be as smart as you.

Alan Brooks| 5.9.10 @ 11:26PM

"An AmSpec writer prints a pseudo-intellectual over-generalization and I respond in kind. Then someone, like Troll Watch, posts an indignant rebuttal, generally an ad hominem attack, to my post and I get my daily chuckles."

Mike, let these fools run another hack for president two years from now, they are determined to destroy themselves-- it is the GOP death wish.

Son Of Sam| 5.7.10 @ 9:21PM

They're not "progressives", since their idea of progress is to march backwards into tyranny. They are ObamaNazis, they are the cause of our nation's great distress, and we the people are going to crush them this November

stand strong until freedom dawns
Son Of Sam

Gary Ogletree| 5.8.10 @ 4:37PM

Total nonsense.

JmsA| 5.7.10 @ 12:21PM

God Bless the USA and the Tea Party!

Mike| 5.7.10 @ 12:27PM

Do you really think God will bless the hyper-partisan, hate filled nonsense that passes as politics in America today?

Troll Watch| 5.7.10 @ 12:35PM

Mikey is looking in the mirror and not liking what he sees.

AmenBro| 5.7.10 @ 4:34PM

AAAMMAZZIN GRACE

Saves even a FOOL like you Mikey

Whose Hate filled & partisan????

Son Of Sam| 5.7.10 @ 9:25PM

To answer your question Mike, NO, I don't for a second believe that "God will bless the hyper-partisan, hate filled nonsense that passes as politics in America today". GOD will never bless lunatic ranters like you or the TelePrompter in Chief or the rest of the Kool Aid chuggers.

stand strong until freedom dawns
Son Of Sam

JmsA| 5.8.10 @ 11:19PM

Mike,

I agree that American politics today is hyper-partisan and hate-filled from certain quarters, but I suspect the Good Lord will not ignore the clamor of the people for liberty and a good future for their children and grandchildren.

Alan Brooks| 5.9.10 @ 11:34PM

Jesus would be killed if he came to America.

Mike| 5.7.10 @ 12:51PM

Troll,

You didn't answer my question.

Do you?

Troll Watch| 5.7.10 @ 1:09PM

I didn't take Mikey's question as a question but as some mentally ill person's projection of their faults on others. I still take it that way. He needs to seek help before he goes totally mad.

Alan Brooks| 5.9.10 @ 11:39PM

Let the GOP slip on its own shit, Mike.
In 2012 they will screw it up again,
guaranteed.

Look how they clutch at straws today; the GOP is becoming desperate-- which is where the hatred derives.

Drew| 5.7.10 @ 1:09PM

Quote:And this, I would contend, is what our elders of the Tea Party are doing for us -- and for themselves

And so we see the conceit (and myth) of the Tea Party: That these are the "wise elders" of society, come out to protest against the profligacy of youth. Too bad that most of their complaints (taxes are too high, concern about deficits, loss of freedom) see to be so comically misplaced. Let's be honest and say that it was the Conservative Republicans (the so-called "grown-ups) that managed to embroil us in two endless wars; ran up a staggering deficit; shit-canned half the Constitution; and ran the economy into the toilet. But no matter.

Getting older is a tough thing. (I myself am secure in the knowledge that more than half my days on this earth are behind me.) We may grow in wisdom as we age. But we rarely grow bolder as we grow older.

For an example, one need look no further than Senator John McCain: the man these Tea Partiers would, presumably, have placed in the White House. What happened to the courageous, honorable John McCain? The bold naval aviator who would selflessly refuse repatriation from Vietnamese captivity? The Senator would could rise above an early ethical lapse to forge a bold bi-partisan law to restrict the corrosive effect of money on our electoral process? Or the leading light of the Senate who could work tirelessly on behalf of immigration reform?

Answer: He got old, and he got scared. So desperate for power - at first Presidential, and later for his own Senate seat - that he cast aside his principles to pander to the angry mob. For shame - Senator! An honorable man I'd have gladly voted for in 2000, reduced to a sad, angry, and often-times confused-sounding hack. The man who withstood the torturers of the Hanoi Hilton wouldn't risk his country's future on a witless rube like Sarah Palin, just to get himself elected. We saw a glimpse - momentarily -in McCain's campaign when he pushed back a deluded supporter's outburst that candidate Obama was a "Muslim" - but that flash of decency and honesty was soon lost in the tide of Palin's hate-fests.

Age may provide wisdom. But I see little of that wisdom in the Tea Partier's signs or chants. Instead I see sad, scared, and bewildered folks - railing at a world they are no longer capable of understanding. If theirs is "wisdom" - its not the wisdom we need. Our world, and our nation, require boldness. And I see no bravery among the leading lights of the Tea Party.

Tim*| 5.7.10 @ 1:21PM

" Tea Party supporters are decidedly Republican and conservative in their leanings. Also, compared with average Americans, supporters are slightly more likely to be male and less likely to be lower-income.

In several other respects, however — their age, educational background, employment status, and race — Tea Partiers are quite representative of the public at large. "

The Tea Party Rebellion escalates.

Remember In November.

Liberal Reader| 5.7.10 @ 2:33PM

Drew, you need to do what I did. Get yourself int0 troll rehab and stop being a tool for fascist wannabes. You don't need to hate your country. I have learned a lot. I am sorry that I waited until I was 45 to move out of my parent's house and take some responsibility. It is futile to continue hating adults when your real frustration is with your own immaturity. If you need the name of a good troll rehab facility I can get it for you.

Nick| 5.7.10 @ 3:31PM

Drew needs Molech worshiping rehab, stat!
Because he is a Molech worshiping, progressive troll.

Drew is also a drive-by poster. Pay no attention to him.

Purpleguy| 5.8.10 @ 12:47AM

Don't worry, Nicky,no one pays attention to you. You're a one trick pony and your 15 minutes are up. Go play with your TeaBag.

Nick| 5.8.10 @ 1:20AM

Pay no attention to PurpleJackass folks.

He doesn't even know that Virginia governors don't run for re-election because they can only serve one term, then have to wait 4 years to run again.

He also likes to berate others for spelling "hypocrisy" wrong, and in the same post he wrote "hypocrit", like a moron.

He is not worthy of debate with grown-ups.

JmsA| 5.8.10 @ 11:52PM

You're paying attention to him, purpleturd. What's the matter, you didn't realize you were doing so? I strongly suspected you were detached from reality, but come on, this is simply too much.

Dr.D| 5.7.10 @ 11:34PM

"...Senator John McCain: the man these Tea Partiers would, presumably, have placed in the White House. "

That is a truly ignorant assumption. For anyone who knows anything about the Tea Parties, they have been as much anti-Republican as they are anti-Democrat, so to say that they would a priori have backed McCain is pure hogwash! I can pretty well assure you that every person I know in the Tea Party movement is not impressed at all by McCain.

But then, it was a handy assumption on which to base a smear, wasn't it?

jason taylor| 5.8.10 @ 9:27PM

"Age may provide wisdom. But I see little of that wisdom in the Tea Partier's signs or chants. Instead I see sad, scared, and bewildered folks - railing at a world they are no longer capable of understanding. If theirs is "wisdom" - its not the wisdom we need. Our world, and our nation, require boldness. And I see no bravery among the leading lights of the Tea Party. "

Using a feigned pity to call your opponents cowards is distasteful. As to "boldness", WHY do we need "boldness" ? And why is the government supposed to provide it? It is not necessarily a virtue to force imprudent change on others. And in any case if it was Obama who was "bold" then obviously "we" haven't.

What we need in a President is someone who will manage the store well and be steadfastly and faithfully and honestly-boring. Leave it to ordinary citizens to be "bold" if it pleases them.

Dustoff| 5.7.10 @ 1:12PM

Mike
You didn't answer my question
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Why answer what a child ask over and over. Hoping for a different answer.

Mike| 5.7.10 @ 1:16PM

Again, ad hominem attacks passed off as wisdom.

Son Of Sam| 5.7.10 @ 9:34PM

so Mike, if excessive govt spending was bad under Bush, how is it better when Obama does it four times as much? If the economy was in the crapper when unemployment was 5% under Bush, why is it better at 10% under Obama? If Predator drone attacks against terrorists was wrong under Bush, why is it Ok when Obama does it? If it was wrong for Bush to stonewall the press, why is it OK for Obama to completely CEASE having press conferences? If Bush was wrong to have a slow response on Katrina, why is it ok for Obama to completely ignore the flood deaths in Tennessee?

You have no answers, Mike,you only have your sad, pathetic insults and rants. Reality is closing in...just a few short months until you start fuming about how "stupid" the voters are for voting the "wrong" way

stand strong until freedom dawns
Son Of Sam

Purpleguy| 5.8.10 @ 12:56AM

Bush was spending money for no reason .. Obama saved your asses from another Great Depression. Who says Obama is ignoring Tennessee? It was clear to the world that Bush ignored the Gulf Coast before, during and after Katrina. Stonewalling the Press? Hmmm, well, maybe if Bush had open Town Halls instead of hand picked audience or the military that report to him, maybe it would have been different. Afghanistan was the RIGHT war to be in, Iraq was not, and Bush didn't seriously do anything in Afghanistan -not being a "target rich" environment, in the words of Donald "snowflake" Rumsfeld.

But you know all this, as we all do, you're ashamed of Bush and rightly so. That doesn't mean you get to tear down one of the greatest Presidents you will see in your lifetime (yeah, it's early, but all the signs are there). With all the problem solving President Obama is involved in, you'd think you'd give him credit for something that he's done to help our people and country - but no, why is that? what could it possibly be?

Liberal Reader| 5.8.10 @ 6:40AM

Apparently purplegay uses the word save to mean enriching oneself or one's friends. He needs help. Trolling is turning him into a bunch of brown shirted talking points. Get help before it is too late. Modern methods can get you out of Mom and Dad's basement and living a responsible life but you will need to give up on your fantasy world.

Dustoff| 5.7.10 @ 1:16PM

Drew
Age may provide wisdom. But I see little of that wisdom in the Tea Partier's signs or chants. Instead I see sad, scared, and bewildered folks - railing at a world they are no longer capable of understanding.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Not even close, but nice try. What the Tea Party see's is Greece and they wish to NOT go down that path.

Dustoff| 5.7.10 @ 1:36PM

Mike| 5.7.10 @ 1:16PM
Again, ad hominem attacks passed off as wisdom
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

hahaha, What attack.
I take it, your thin skinned like Obama.

Jon B| 5.7.10 @ 1:59PM

The Tea Partiers are fine. Their ideas are timeless. Their only flaw is that they're 10 years too late. Where were they when the US SC overthrew the Constitution to install Bush? When he shifted the tax burden to the low and middle classes and doubled their debts? When he lied 100's of times to start an unnecessary war that allowed the enemy to regroup and strengthen at their base in Afghanistan, and further ran up their debts? When crucial federal agencies that protect consumers were absolutely and thoroughly gutted?

Only now they protest, when someone else told them too. It is sad that they weren't able to think on their own and identify the problems when they started. So it is a misguided protest in that sense.

Nick| 5.7.10 @ 2:02PM

Pay no attention to Jon B, folks.

He peddles lies and marxist propaganda. Oops! Redundant.

Like the lie that President Reagan gave the Soviets $425 billion.
After 3 days of trying to belittle those of us who called him out on his lie, he finally admitted his fabrication.
Although, he then claimed it was a mistake That it was actually $425 million, but he offered no source. Just his deeply flawed memories.

He also doesn't know that, in America, we refer to it as the Supreme Court Of The United States (SCOTUS), not US SC, or United States' Supreme Court.

What a moron.

Jon B| 5.7.10 @ 2:37PM

Reagan did indeed give Russia $425 million. Sorry that it doesn't make you "feel good," Nick. I wonder why you're so intent on becoming the biggest jackass on this board, though?

Nick| 5.7.10 @ 2:43PM

The only jackass here is the one who can't answer a simple question.
Where's that source, Jon Boy?

You promised it months ago.
Oh...that's right....you're a liar. I forgot.

Troll Watch| 5.7.10 @ 2:49PM

It is sad when when a troll does some mirror time and comes out projecting. Jon B is in a stiff competition with Mikey and Drew for the biggest jackass on the this board. Jon B just thinks he is the biggest jackass but that hasn't been decided yet. If it will make him happy he is the dumbest jackass on the board. I need not be so hard on jackasses. They are perfectly temperate animals when compared to our brown shirted trolls.

AmenBro| 5.7.10 @ 4:40PM

Any clue as to how many metric tons of WHEAT Carter just like OBAM figured would soften the heart of BREZHNEV..

What about CARTER & Kennedy going to RUSSIA to meet with BREZHNEV to assist/advise RUSSIA in defeating President Reagan at the SALT treaty tables?

Ken (Old Texican)| 5.7.10 @ 2:32PM

I'm always sorta' delighted that the communist, (pardon the shorthand), trolls waste time here with their silly screeds.

It must be difficult for them to see their proloetariat utopia going up in smoke, one American at a time. heh.

Jon B| 5.7.10 @ 2:36PM

Me too, Ken. That's why I rarely read your emotion driven begging on here. Hope you feel better today. Your friend...

Troll Watch| 5.7.10 @ 2:57PM

What a lame come back. Jon B is the dumbest jackass on this board.

AmenBro| 5.7.10 @ 4:36PM

God Bless Ya,,You Betcha

Johhhnie----BEEE--Good

Jon B| 5.7.10 @ 6:44PM

I see a lot of really bored people here who think their salvation in life might come from yelling at/name calling of those they do not like. I will pray for all of you tonight. God Bless you!

Nick| 5.7.10 @ 7:02PM

You are complaining about name calling?
What a hypocrite you are, Jon Boy.

Now, where's that source?
You promised it months ago.
Oh...that's right....you're STILL a liar.

Troll Watch| 5.7.10 @ 7:31PM

What a dumb whiner. Somebody should tell Jon B and his idiot leader that they can't lecture their enemies about decorum when they insult them all the time. I believe he is treated fairly here given his rude boorish behavior. Apparently he is kind of a wimp. He should get away from politics for the next 10-20 years is going to be very painful for him and I don't think he can take it. He will need to get used to hearing the truth about his evil philosophy. He should also familiarize himself with the third commandment.

Big Elk| 5.7.10 @ 7:38PM

Liberalism is a mental disorder (I mean just look, 90% of convicted criminals are either registered democRATS, or sympathize with democRATS) and the name for fascist democRATS who hate Tea Partiers, is " Tea Party derrangement syndrome". The definition is, "An unreasonable, paranoid fear of old folks in funny outfits who protest unconstitutional actions on the part of the pretender to the presidency." Ha!

Ragnar| 5.7.10 @ 9:23PM

Very entertaining board today. My advice to all our comrade progressive friends is to come out and meet Tea Party people and you might be shocked to learn how many of us are Democrats and "classical" Liberals. We are mostly "white" but we have "minority" members including one of our local Tea Party's founders and "leader" who happens to be a black man. We fear for our Republic because we have deviated from the original Constitutional intent of the Founders. We are reviled like the Founders and succeeding generations of Americans were by tyrants,tribal collectivists and statists but history has recorded that American patriots have always prevailed when defending their Constitution and Country.I know some of you progressive types who may read this will say "slander", and "ad hominem" smear especially with references to tyrants,tribal collectivists and statists (think King George III,Nazis,Imperial Japanese and Soviets) do not get angry just stop reading Zinn and start reading real history books. And by the way look us up and come on out and meet with us-you might change your mind.

Purpleguy| 5.8.10 @ 1:00AM

I have and I didn't change my mind. You long for a time long passed that isn't reality in the modern world. I know it's hard to get older, but comparing yourselves to the Founders is just wrong. All your idea is is lower my taxes and get the government off my back - except when I need it. It's stale, old, Republican talking points that died with Reagan. Have a nice day...!

Nick| 5.8.10 @ 1:13AM

Pay no attention to PurpleJackass folks.

He doesn't even know that Virginia governors don't run for re-election because they can only serve one term, then have to wait 4 years to run again.

He also likes to berate others for spelling "hypocrisy" wrong, and in the same post he wrote "hypocrit", like a moron.

He is not worthy of debate with grown-ups.

societyis2blame| 5.8.10 @ 2:36AM

Reality's a b*tch, trolls. Also the ultimate avenger. Run all the smack you can on every thread on the net but your "social justice" and "social reality" will never trump the real thing.

But then, you don't really believe Barry, Rahm and Co. are looking out for anyone but themselves, any more than we do - that's just a con you run on the supposed hayseeds.

In truth, you're nothing but sellout concentration-camp trustees for the 2.0 Bolsheviks.

With that in mind, you might want to recall the fate of 95% of 1917's Bol's under Stalin.

If I'm still around to see them hang you with your own rope, I'll give your leg a tug for old times' sake.

FT!| 5.8.10 @ 10:15AM

As a later born member of the "Boomer" generation, (Born in 62) I have watched all my life as my older siblings and their compatriots attack and destroy all the institutions of this great country.
Marriage, Church, politics and all other social institutions have been under siege for most of my life.

Myself and my friends were a conservative minority in our youth and I many times stated to them that our job was to preserve what we could of the institutions of this country and to pass them on to the next generation in the hopes that they would show more sense than the generation before them. (mine!) I stated this as early as the early eighties when I was in my late teens and early twenties.

For the longest time I thought I was alone in this belief. Now that the Tea Party movement has started I now know that I was not alone. For the first time in a long time I have faith that we may save this country.

MS office 2007| 5.8.10 @ 10:52AM

http://www.official2007.com/

Nate| 5.8.10 @ 3:37PM

Tea Baggers, if they're really concerned about the dangers of centralized power, ought to take a look at the banking industry, the oil industry, and the insurance industry.

While products of the ostensibly free market, these bohemoths are acquiring enough power to defy the normal laws of economic gravitation, and their friends in the Republican party (and many in the Democratic party too) are just along for the ride.

Why should BP's oil spill cost local communities billions? Why should a generation of fishermen -- small businessmen carrying on a noble and traditional occupation that has often been handed down from father to son -- be wiped out with virtually no compensation simply because it more convenient for BP's business plan?

Say what you will about Obama and the Democratic party. There are many ways in which power is being centralized. Personally, I'm more comfortable with forms of centralization that can be controlled at the ballot box. No one ever asked me to vote about whether BP ought to follow the safety recommendations its own engineers recommended. But I would have -- despite what such procedures would have done to their record high profits.

Gary Ogletree| 5.8.10 @ 4:41PM

Anderson Cooper is your teabagger. We Tea Party. By now you should know the difference. So you smear us anyway and render your post meaningless and unread.

AmenBro| 5.8.10 @ 5:38PM

SO SHOULD YOU. By chance were you aware just how HIP DIP in the muck/BIRTHING of of CAP-n-TRADe,,,,with the financial technical assistance of ENRON/FANNIE MAE & FREDDIE MAC,, twenty year highest contributor to BARRACK "5 Million 09 income " OBAM-BAM-BAMA ,,,British Petroleum is.

i nkow you're grasping for the answer ,,,,,,,,AS GD deep as the well they are currently trying to CAP,,,,sir.

Do you pay any attention. Are you so MIND NUMBED that you wait for the DNC to tell you when to take your next BREATH...

Its pretty much COMMON SENSE/KNOWLEDGE JUNIOR that those entities you ticked off provided the lion's share of
CAMPAIGN financial LARGESS while comprising the same statistical lean to the left in voting habit.

PAAAALLLLEASE do some homework. Capable of an original thought fella,,,well are ya? EXACTLY HOW MANY JOBS DID HUSSEIN CREATE WHILE EARNING FIVE MILLiON DOLLARS?????????

EVER CROSS YOUR MIND WTF he did to EARN IT???????????????????????????

Tim*| 5.8.10 @ 9:05PM

Do Your Homework .
BP is only the 19th largest oil company in the world.

They're not centralized power.

AmenBro| 5.9.10 @ 2:22PM

XCUZE ME SIR

CENTRALIZED POWER in terms of either one , or even both HUGE FLOPPY EARS of Alfred E. Newman SEPERATED at birth BARRACK Hussein our President.

BP = #1 CASH DONNER TO BAMMI BAM,,the Multimillionaire COMMUNITY ORGANIZER for TWENTY YEARS JUNIOR

READ

AmenBro| 5.9.10 @ 2:27PM

YO TINY TIM

YEAH MAN, & the MULTI-MILLIONAIRE COMMUNITY ORGANIZER exploiter of POOR PEOPLE for profit BHO befits the LIKES OF YOU" Junior

Seen the NO-BID contract to Haliburton JUNIOR????? Where's your outrage. Shit OBAMA MADE more cash than Dick Cheney last year LMFAO

Quote

Their $5.5 million, coming largely from royalties from President Obama's books, was more than four times what George H.W. Bush earned in 1991 ($1.3 million) and more than five times what Bill Clinton made in 1996 ($1.1 million), according to documents amassed by the Tax History Project.

Even adjusting for inflation, the Obamas come out ahead of, say, Franklin Roosevelt, a wealthy man who earned a net income of $82,392.57 in 1937 ($1.2 million in 2009 dollars).

"I was a little surprised" at the Obamas earnings, says Joseph Thorndike, director of the Tax History Project, established by the nonprofit Tax Analysts publishing group in Falls Church, Va. "I guess there's money to be made in publishing."

Although President Obama is tops in known presidential earnings, he plays second fiddle to Vice President Dick Cheney, who routinely earned $1 million-plus incomes during his years in office, including $8.8 million in 2005. That total was reportedly inflated by the Cheneys exercising stock options set aside in 2001 for charity. END QUOTE

Here's a telling quote from ITS,,,,(Monty Python Pause),,,,,,,, ALL ABOUT THE LITTLE GUY Cool Million Dollar recipient of FUNDS from BOTH BP & GOLDMAN SACHs just to mention two GLOBALIST CORPORATE RICH AS HAIL supporters of OBAMMIE BAM..

Speaking to equally uninformed FLAT OUT WRONG heads full of mush such as yours

Perhaps you can shed some light here. AND I QUOTE DIRECTLY FROM HUSSEINN'S PREPARED SPEECH as deliver ALA TELEPROMPTER HEEEEERRRRRRRRREEEEE's BAM BAM

"It could only work if each of us stayed informed and engaged, if we held our government accountable, if we fulfilled the obligations of citizenship."

End BAM BAM Quote at Hampton College.

Yeah Man so long as your ILK can control the message as witnessed by the Maoist WH Comm director whose husband is now WH Council equally as anti free speech as you, contributing $s his wife.

Course the MEDIA unveiled her QUOTING MAO

Tim*| 5.9.10 @ 2:55PM

DUUHHH , A Size Bra!

Read what I was responding to before Ya run your Big Mouth, Twerp.

I was responding to : (Nate :3;37 PM )

Now, Apologize !

Gary Ogletree| 5.8.10 @ 4:47PM

We Tea Partiers are as radical as they come. Like Sam Adams, Jefferson, Washington, etc. Demanding a government be honest is considered naive in Europe. Insisting that Liberty is the only way to achieve social justice is heresy to generations of intellectuals. If you want to know the politics of the Tea Party just review the many signs in the photos from rallies. They say it all, they say it with humor. Pure freedom loving Americanism. Some people hate it. Too bad.

Tim*| 5.8.10 @ 9:11PM

So go tell it to Obama .

BP's biggest donation ( individuals & PAC ) went to Obama at $71,000 .

martin j smith| 5.9.10 @ 7:50AM

Purpleguy and nate are also tea baggers. They are too stupid to understand what they do not want to. So I just, there I have said it and now, I move on .

Ken (Old Texican)| 5.9.10 @ 9:23AM

Folks,
You know, I truly cannot make up my mind why the leftists come here to twist and lie.
Are they just loosers, counting on the gubmint to bail them out?
Are they paid (minimum wage) to paste talking points?
Do they just enjoy defecating in their own lunch-kits?
Can they not even recognize that their whole existence is due to what we have built in America?

Do they think the internet was really invented by Algore?
I truly do hope their masters appreciate the "useful idiots". They seem to me to be in a lose-lose situation, but then I think they are already lost and cannot even comprehend it now.

Oldefarte| 5.9.10 @ 2:48PM

In my lifetime of witnessing the increased destruction of liberalism to its now apex of radicalism, the gradual downfall of this country has been a natural occurrence. Liberals/progressive solely believe in the socialized theory of grovernment mandated SAMENESS, whether EARNED or not. We are ALL BORN/CREATED EQUAL, but that does not translate into their desired WEALTH REDISTRIBUTION GOVERNMENTAL POLITICAL CORRECTNESS!!!!!!!!!