Why did the Tea Partiers say nothing for eight long years?

[kentuck]

But, once Barack Obama was elected, they became very fearful of big government and big spending? Even though George W Bush was wiping his ass on the Constitution and spending money like a drunken sailor, not one murmur from these stupid assholes.

Why?

Did they trust George W Bush to do what was right? Do they forget what he left in his wake? Do they forget the incompetence, the doubling of the national debt, nothing paid for, not even the tax cuts for the rich? Do they forget the disaster that happened in September, 2008? Do they forget how close we were to total collapse?

But now, they want their country back?

[spanone]

1. junior is a caucasian.

[NoQuarter]

34. FTW!

That was too easy.

[SocialistLez]

47. Pretty much

It was white man running the ship so even if we're headed for a ice berg, as long as the captain's white, that's what matters.

[piratefish08]

2. they were distracted by nascar and monster truck rallies.

[BeyondGeography]

3. Sad white fools

[malaise]

4. Simple

They're ReTHUGS

[geckosfeet]

5. They are simple-minded mouthpeices for RW pacs and stink tanks. They were happy

when jr was fucking the world.

Now they are angry that a black neo-progressive democrat is president, and mad that dems have majorities in both houses.

They are angry and they are not gonna take it anymore.

It's quite simple.

[brewens]

6. Bush is white, claims to be a Christian and speaks like a half-wit.

The kind of guy they trust.

[Enthusiast]

26. You nailed it. Especially the "claims"

part.

[chill_wind]

7. He told them God talked to him

in the Rose Garden all the time.

[RKP5637]

8. Obama is a black man, highly intelligent, interested in a future for

the US and wants a level of fairness for all citizens. This frightens ignorant republicans. He's not white, he's not stupid, he's not backward and he's not a bully repressing citizens. He's the opposite of all of the things a good RW conservative republican aspires too and wants across the country.

[kentuck]

9. It is so obvious.

How can anyone give them any credibility?

[Enthusiast]

27. I give them 0% credibility. They

deserve none. Brown Shirts is all. More Cheney, Bush, Rove, Rumsfeld lovers taking direction from the chief nut Glenn Beck.

[City Lights]

10. Fux Nooze told them things were just peachy under Junior. nt

[tekisui]

11. Because they are Republicans.

[tom_paine]

12. Because they are RW Authoritarian Followers, and the RW Authoritarian Leaders were in charge

It really is as simple as that.

[Mira]

21. Incuriousness, willingness to be directed by fear, not recognizing that ignorance was lauded,

a lack of imagination and an inability to recognize true ability and greatness, that's what made them RW Authoritarian Followers.
And the rest was silence.

[madamesilverspurs]

55. Taking that a step further,

because of those characteristics teapartiers/9-12ers are prime subjects for manipulation by those who have a vested interest in maintaining a highly profitable status quo. Using these willing puppets to fan the flames of a manufactured or hyperbolized outrage the 'puppeteers' manage to maintain some distance in order to claim lack of culpability. The puppets are dispensable, willing yet unwitting cannon fodder in a war against themselves. Con artists live for such people.


-

[kentuck]

13. For just once...

I would like to hear them answer this question. Why were you so silent for eight long years? Were you afraid of George W Bush and Dick Cheney?

[HughBeaumont]

65. I would like them to answer a LOT of questions -

For instance:

"Why are you still fighting The Cold War? You know Chernenko and Reagan are dead, right?"

"If tax cuts to the wealthy create jobs, then why (in both instances it's been tried) has such an action resulted in The Great Depression and The Great Recession, where there was not one net new job created in 10 years?"

"You do know Reagan once had a 50% Top Marginal Tax Rate, right? And once he lowered that, he started taxing people like you and me MORE to make up for it, right?"

(thx devilgrrl) "If 'Freedom isn't Free', then why do you people bitch so much about paying taxes?"

[Botany]

14. Because the "teabaggers" were made up in 2008 by Fox and the RNC

n/t

[PSPS]

15. Because it's merely a creation of the media after the GOP's loss in 2008 (republicans own the media)

[Name removed]

30. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

35. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Tennessee Gal]

16. Because Faux News is leading the Rep Party

just as David Frum said and then got fired by AEI.

[Bluenorthwest]

17. Because they are Republicans

And they are Party loyalists. This whole routine of calling them Tea Partiers was cute for a time, but what they are is Republicans, doing Republican politics under another name in order to keep the Republican brand untainted by their more crazed elements.
They are Republicans, just like the rest of the Republicans, speaking for the lot of them, for the whole of the Party. Yesterday I saw the 08 Republican ticket on a stage talking about 'tea party' politics, and that says it all. They are simply Republicans. Working under a different name. Republicans being Republicans.

[Enthusiast]

24. I think they comprise that last

28% in Bush's approval rating polls late in his presidency. The claims that they are independent is nothing but another RW lie. Think the worst you can imagine about the tea baggers and you'll have them pegged about right.

[femrap]

18. They seem to enjoy having

wars waged in far away countries that have different religions than themselves. And spending shitloads of money on those wars doesn't bother them in the least.

They love to live in Fear and Selfishness...and thump on a Bible that contains a couple of quotes that they like to repeat. Anything about helping the poor is skipped over. These folks like the Prosperity Churches of today.

[OnionPatch]

19. Because they don't mind our tax dollars being spent on wars.

They support our having a military larger than all the world's combined, because they're frightened little people. We've already determined that conservative beliefs are mainly fear-based.

[skepticscott]

20. Only eight?

Good grief, you can bet that all of these people also voted for Reagan twice and GB I twice, even though they ballooned the size of the federal debt massively.

[KharmaTrain]

22. Some Did...The Paulbots...

Those people are an integral part of the teabaggers now. They split with the booshies early on over Iraq and the mounting spending and defecits. They were locked out of the GOOP during the 2008 primaries and have infiltrated the teabaggers...much to the consernation of Armey and the GOOP leadership. Since Paul ran as a rushpublican, those people slip through the polling as they are GOOPers but most definitely a different strain than the ones supporting Romney or Hucklenutz.

These people, along with the LaRouchies, Birchers and other fringe wingnuts have invaded the party and it should be fun to watch as they flex their political muscles during rushpublican primaries in the months ahead.

Cheers...

[mitchum]

23. White makes right

[Enthusiast]

25. Because, in actuality,

they are Bush Republicans.

[XanaDUer]

28. 'Cause he's Black.

My 0.02.

[Karmadillo]

29. Same reason we don't protest the atrocities in Afghanistan? Go team?

nt

[Name removed]

31. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[kentuck]

36. Good question.

Why aren't we ending these wars? And why isn't the left more vocal?

Although I do think most of the "moaning" was about the war in Iraq. Much of the left never believed the lies about WMDs or the threat from Saddam and still see no reason to be there. They haven't changed their mind. They just aren't as vocal about it. Unlike the "tea-baggers", who seem to have changed their minds?

[emulatorloo]

37. "d"emocrats are "moaning" about the war. The "left wing" media too busy promoting teabaggers

and not fact checking Republican lies about the healthcare law.

[Generic Brad]

32. Their anger is primarily racially motivated

You can verify this by pointing this out to any one of them. They will violently respond that you have unfairly played the race card.

A normal person would ask what actions they have taken or statements they have made that would cause someone to be left with such an incorrect impression and then a dialog would ensue. Quickest way to spot a racist is to watch them take exaggerated false umbrage at the suggestion.

[lunatica]

33. They love it when 'Amurka' kicks ass in wars

They're Jingoists. And they firmly believe in Superpowerdom because they believe the US is always right. They believe in "My country right or wrong" although they can't think of a single incidence when it's been wrong.

They definitely believe in revenge and retaliation and truly don't care if innocent ayrabs are killed. I lost a friend in 2003 who shut me up by saying, "I know you care about the children being killed by our bombs, but frankly I don't give a shit. They're all the same as far as I'm concerned, and they should all die."

Revenge pumps out of their hearts and flows in their blood and it's hot and hungry. Their patriotism isn't about love of country. It's about hating everything and everyone who isn't or shouldn't be in their country.

Because deep down inside they're

[Union Yes]

38. Cuz christian whitey was runnin 'Murika. knr nt

[Turborama]

39. They are members of a cult and have been brainwashed to believe anything Faux et al tells them

Just before the election I was predicting that after Obama gets elected any friends who have right wing family members might want to consider getting in touch with an exit counselor for deprogramming and sending them to somewhere like this for some recovery.


http://wellspringretreat.org/

-

[jgraz]

40. Which part of "dumbfuck hillbilly" do you not understand?

:D

[GreenTea]

41. As these graphs clearly show - Big spending republicans, using OUR tax dollars....

BIG spending Republicans always favor, only the rich & the corporations, never the workers nor the middle class with the republicans deficit increasing, big spending ways!

Study: Bush Tax Cuts Cost More Than Twice As Much As Dems' Health-Care Bill

Citizens for Tax Justice point out what I was saying just the other day: We only hear all this crying and moaning about the deficit when it's something for regular working people, and not a powerful lobby. And of course, the Republican'ts are right out there in front of the Hypocrisy Parade:

And yet, many of the lawmakers who argue that the health care reform legislation is “too costly” are the same lawmakers who supported the Bush tax cuts.

Their own voting record demonstrates that health care reform is not a matter of costs, but a matter of priorities.

It’s difficult to see how the Bush tax cuts could provide us with two and a half times the benefits of health care reform. In 2010, when all the Bush tax cuts are finally phased in, a staggering 52.5 percent of the benefits will go to the richest 5 percent of taxpayers.

President Bush and his supporters argued that these high-income tax cuts would benefit everybody because they would unleash investment that would spark widespread economic prosperity. There seems to be no evidence of this, particularly given the collapse of the economy at the end of the Bush years.

The tax legislation enacted under President George W. Bush from 2001 through 2006 will cost $2.48
trillion over the 2001-2010 period.

This includes the revenue loss of $2.11 trillion that results directly from the Bush tax cuts as well as the $379 billion in additional interest payments on the national debt that we must make since the tax cuts were deficit-financed.

<...> Over the upcoming decade (2010-2019), the costs of the health care proposals approved by three committees in the U.S. House of Representatives are projected to be around $1 trillion. (One committee trimmed the costs of its health care bill below that amount, but an official estimate of the cost reductions was not available at the time of this writing.)

The chairmen of the three House committees have explicitly stated that their goal is a final bill that
is deficit-neutral in the decade following enactment.

It’s unclear if they have accomplished this yet, since the Congressional Budget Office has not yet issued final cost estimates of the bills, and the legislation is likely to change before the full House votes on a final bill. But President Obama and
Democratic leaders have also committed to ensuring that health care reform will not increase the budget deficit.

Under the House bills, roughly half of the costs would be offset with savings in our existing health care programs, while the other half would be offset with a surcharge on the incomes of wealthy taxpayers.

In contrast, President Bush and his allies in Congress never even attempted to replace the revenue lost as a result of their enormous tax cuts. The Bush tax cuts were deficit-financed, which increased the national debt and resulted in greater interest payments on that debt, as already explained.

These figures make clear that costs cannot be the real concern of lawmakers who oppose the House health care legislation and yet supported the Bush tax cuts. Their position seems to be that showering benefits on the wealthiest five percent of taxpayers and leaving the bill for future generations is preferable to making health care available for all at a much lower cost and paying that cost up front. That demonstrates a different set of priorities than most Americans have, but it doesn’t demonstrate much concern about costs.
http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/study-bush-tax-cuts-cost-more-twice-m

Bush, who inherited a budget surplus, proposed cuts in 151 government programs, such as grants for elders' food services and community services for the poor, and reduced spending in several others - including significant reductions in Medicare and Medicaid. Spending in many other programs was frozen.

"The budget protects America and encourages economic growth," the president said, urging Congress to pass the budget quickly. He added that the plan reflects that "our top priority is to defend our country, so we fund our military, as well as fund the homeland security."

But Senator Kent Conrad, the South Dakota Democrat who chairs the Senate Budget Committee, said Bush is proposing "more deficit-financed war spending, more deficit-financed tax cuts tilted to benefit the wealthiest." The president's proposal, Conrad said, is "a further explosion of debt and the undermining of our nation's economic security."

Even some Republicans were skeptical of the budget, including the House Republican Study Committee, made up of 100 conservative members of Congress. The committee said in a statement that the budget "includes too much spending" and expressed concern about the increasing deficit, but said Republicans should fight any Democratic effort to raise taxes.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2008/02/05/bush_proposes_31_trillion_spending_plan/

[Greyhound]

42. Because their God did not tell them to.

+


=

[DFW]

43. RNC and Fox money to finance their misspelled signs wasn't freed up until Obama took office

So they couldn't even afford lukewarm Lipton Tea until they were financed into existence.

How many Swiftboaters do you still see running around? zippity doo dah, that's how many.
It's not "The Thrill is Gone." It's "The Money is Gone."

[LaPera]

44. Teabaggers are nothing more than the same old Republican hypocrites who spew lies & duplicity!

[Joanne98]

45. Because they all voted for BUSH!

[laughingliberal]

46. It's all about the team. Unfortunately, we have those in both parties who engage in this

But, yes, they railed against spending by liberals for years and looked the other way when Bush decimated the surplus left by Clinton and did away with the pay/go for the budget. It is about being more for the 'team' and a particular personality than for principles.

The hypocrisy would be stunning were it not for the fact that I now see many Democrats cheering on policies advance by Reagan because our 'team' is now advocating for them.

It's time to stop the march to the right no matter who's advocating it.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

48. Because the CORPORATIONS that run the "grass roots movement"

were very happy with bunnypants' reliable support.

Didn't need to use their media holdings to stir up the torch and pitchfork crowd.

[newspeak]

54. BINGO!!!

[BlancheSplanchnik]

67. I agree

I think I've hit the nail on the head perfectly, too...

but why wouldn't I ?





:D Heeeeee!

[newspeak]

49. because * represented the abusive big daddy

who could keep them safe from the bogeyman? If only they'd give up those rights so he could keep them safe. Because he said that his job was to protect the American people, but not the Constitution? And, I believe everything you say Big Daddy, those mean Iraqis could attack us at any time, so protect us-it's okay if Cheney had that secret meeting, I know he's only looking out for us not his greedy oil buddies. And I'm sure billions going to Halliburton and KBR for keeping us safe has nothing to do with them being connected to Unka Dickie. Really.

And just because you may be afeared of horses, I know in my heart your like my other hero Ronnie--you're a true cowboy. And just because Rummy said that over a trillion was not accounted for--I'm sure it was put to good use, just like the plane load of cash that was not accounted for going to Iraq. I really don't need that hard earned cash, even though I've lost my job and it went over seas--but I'm a true, pull up your boots or is that shorts kinda fella-I don't need no stinkin help, so you can have my money cause I really really trust you. Your not like that darker guy that looks kind of intelligent--he just don't speak to me.

[thotzRthingz]

50. "Why did the Tea Partiers say nothing" (because they enjoy a FASCIST regime... and hate democracy)

[Ohio Joe]

51. They are stupid...

and racist.

[NotThisTime]

52. Because their president was white

[Rage Inc.]

53. I've posited this question eight times on various websites!

Are you rich enough to sue? :toast:

[Skittles]

56. because back then we had a white male repuke "president"

[gleaner]

57. Bush was one of them in their minds ....

He represented them and he represented their values. To them, Bush made this their country and they want him or someone like him in charge again. They never noticed the damage Bush was doing. To them he was their great leader. Someone who was taking them where they wanted to go.

They never quite got it that Bush considered his base to be the very rich conservatives who funded him. I once saw a film clip of Bush all decked out in a tuxedo talking to a room full of the wealthiest donors the Republicans had at that time. He made jokes about people like the Tea Baggers and then said to the room at large, "You're my base. I'm here for you." Maybe they never saw that or understood that being used doesn't make you the owner of anything. Also do you think the Tea Baggers have ever read or comprehended the Constitution? I don't. If you don't know what you are losing you think you have nothing to lose. Besides, since they can't turn on Bush which would entail admitting that they were wrong, they blame Obama. Right or not, he is a convenient scapegoat for them.

[Lorien]

58. The same reason why so many Dems are no longer protesting the war, Patriot Act

wiretapping, lack of a public option, continued ta cuts for the rich, bankster givaways, torture, lack of action on climate change, school privatization, etc. etc. As long as it was THEIR team doing it, it's all OK. It's all about having faith in the person you voted for, not questioning, remaining loyal, toeing the line. It looks as if the issues are really secondary anymore. It's personalities and a style that we're supporting; they choose belligerent, nasty, violent and hostile. We're more mild mannered, conciliatory, we like to "play nice". But basically, aside from the religious divide (one side being the fire and brimstone Talibornagains while the other side at least professes to stand behind the spirit of Jesus' teachings) it's hard to see what the fight is really about.

[upi402]

59. It's the rise of authoritarianism. The media and Republicans whip it up.

I wish it was just racism, or HCR, or debt -but we all know those arguments don't hold up. It's fascism looking for another 9-11 chaotic, fear filled opportunity.

[Hekate]

60. Baby Caligula is white. President Barack Hussein Obama makes them hyper-anxious....

This new Frank Rich Op-Ed "The Rage Is Not About Health Care" is well worth the read.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/28/opinion/28rich.html

It's discussed at DU here
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8034760

Hekate

[Kablooie]

61. White incompetance and greed is fine. People of color running things are the problem.

[Politicalboi]

62. Obama is taking away our freedoms

With HCR. He's bringing us down don't ya see. What a way to do it too. Tricking us into liking "his" health care plan and making us well without even giving credit to the Republicons. How is that going to look in the years to come? It might make them look bad or something. LOL! I guess the Texas Book company will have to work overtime to rewrite this history too. They all thought Bush was the greatest and he was white. And he sent other kids off to war to kill people we don't even know. But talk about Bush now all you get is the latest talking point. "Bush isn't President anymore" The End.

[DainBramaged]

63. They didn't have free time under Booshe, now they are retired so they need to keep busy

Think about it. Old rich white folks with nothing to do except protest Black men and the dreaded Liburals.....

[B Calm]

64. They have selective memory. Before this is all over, everything bad

that happened on George Bush' watch will be blamed on President Obama.

It's the way cons have always operated.

They already have forgotten that Bush was first to bail out the Detroit automakers and wall street banks.

[Roland99]

66. Because Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh didn't tell them to be angry.