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- Anomaly100, on 04/13/2009, -37/+138"But the charge of socialism is being thrown around only because “liberal” doesn’t seem to carry the punch it used to."
There's also Fascist, Communist, Marxist, well, they just throw anything out there without knowing the definition. - harry8227, on 04/13/2009, -30/+86The problem isn't with Republicans or Democrats, its with both, its with the government itself. Both parties are more interested in what is good for them rather than the country. You could reduce taxes on everybody and be just fine if you didn't give away the farm to people overseas, support those who could work but wont, give things to illegal immigrants they should not be getting like school health care etc. That is what entices them to come here in the first place. Stop giving them things they would stop coming. Stop all the giveaway crap you could run the government, payoff the debt and reduce taxes all in one whack.
- freedomjoe, on 04/13/2009, -68/+124FTA
Beyond that, Republicans have become embarrassing to watch. And it doesn’t feel right to make fun of crazy people. Better, perhaps, to focus on the real policy debates, which are all among Democrats.
But here’s the thing: the G.O.P. looked as crazy 10 or 15 years ago as it does now. That didn’t stop Republicans from taking control of both Congress and the White House. And they could return to power if the Democrats stumble. So it behooves us to look closely at the state of what is, after all, one of our nation’s two great political parties.
....
But the charge of socialism is being thrown around only because “liberal” doesn’t seem to carry the punch it used to. And if you go back just a few years, you find top Republican figures making equally bizarre claims about what liberals were up to. Remember when Karl Rove declared that liberals wanted to offer “therapy and understanding” to the 9/11 terrorists?
_________
We've been warned by many that this could happen again. I know many get frustrated by the focus on the religious right/GOP and their candidates, but it behooves us to keep an eye on them. - johnhummel, on 04/13/2009, -5/+39That's only because the last 8 years were a complete repudiation of their policies.
And I'm not talking about the real conservatives - those who want to have less government and less spending. I can talk to those people just fine. I'm talking about Republicans, which are a different animal. The ones that said "Give us the legislative, executive, and judicial branch of the Federal government, and we'll fix all the problems the liberals won't let us solve!"
So the American people did (whether by hook or by crook, but they did). In return, we got a ballooned deficit, a pointless war, warrantless wiretapping, torture, increased government surveillance, groups such as the EPA, FDA, the SEC, and consumers protection so eroded that it actually helped lead to utter financial meltdown. We saw religion propped up as a way of making decisions in health care and education, and saw teen pregnancy and STDs increase because of it.
*Now* when people hear the same arguments Republicans have made for 15 years, they see exactly what it leads to.
I'd love to see a real conservative argument rise up, because opposition is good to make people think about what they're doing. But as long as these temper tantrum throwing tea bagger keep shoving their face into the cameras, Democrats are going to be able to run their policies as long and as far as they want to. - jhbarr, on 04/13/2009, -9/+41Have you ever heard of the FDIC, NTSB, CAFE limits, etc. not to mention the Chrysler and Savings & Loan bailouts in the 80s under Reagan. Banks have been taken over by the government for years via the FDIC. Problem is the current issues are due to an insurance company the government could not take over. If more stringent CAFE limits had been put in place, the US auto industry might not be on its last legs.
- davebg8r, on 04/13/2009, -37/+69Krugman cant look beyond his own biases and ideology to realize that there is alot more to the political spectrum than 'Republicans and Democrats'. Even within each party there is a wide spectrum. Many of us disdain both parties and the havoc that party politics have caused to this country, including the current situation where we continue to get partisan bickering instead of real solutions to problems.
Its amazing how so many on the left seem to look down on people standing up for their rights just because the neo-cons want to hop on board a movement. I think theres a bit of jealosy and anger that its happening under 'their guy' instead of under Bush and that they didnt think of, and werent able to, do something similar under Bush. Deal with it. Many of us will no longer stand by after whats gone on the past few years. - northwatuppa, on 04/13/2009, -12/+43I would argue that the Republicans didn't look anywhere near as crazy 10 or 15 years ago as they do now, though.
- Rusty626, on 04/13/2009, -31/+58"Last but not least: it turns out that the tea parties don’t represent a spontaneous outpouring of public sentiment. They’re AstroTurf (fake grass roots) events, manufactured by the usual suspects. In particular, a key role is being played by FreedomWorks, an organization run by Richard Armey, the former House majority leader, and supported by the usual group of right-wing billionaires. And the parties are, of course, being promoted heavily by Fox News."
Have they figured out yet what "teabagging" means? Everyone's laughing at them. - superkendall, on 04/13/2009, -69/+95The tea parties are (if you actually go to one as I have) all about the Libertarian ideal that government should be less involved in our lives, not more.
That the government should spend less, not more, and let the private sector and we the people help drive a recovery instead of artificially spending money on things people do not want or need but that benefit a campaign contributor.
They are things that people from all parties attend - Libertarian, Democrat, Republican. They are things that started before Obama was sworn in, when people were fed up with supposed "conservatives" spending like mad.
If you don't like the dramatic increase we have seen in federal spending and government expansion with no end in sight, come to a tea party. Yes you'll see some people calling Obama a socialist or what have you that might be kind of fringe. But that's what a true bi-partisan effort looks like - the fringe and the middle coming together in a common cause.
There are plenty of tea parties all over the U.S. on the 15th, come and see for yourself. These are fiscal conservatives from all stripes, that may be far more socially conservative than you have been led to think. The U.S. public has been solidly fiscally conservative for some time and will continue to be so, regardless of differences on the social agenda. - p0l02009, on 04/13/2009, -14/+39Mr. Krugman won the Nobel Prize for economics. He's an "ignorant useful idiot" and you represent the "genuinely informed and/or intellectually curious"?
I'm sticking with Krugman. - GreatSunJester, on 04/13/2009, -5/+28Liberals see liberals do something and it is innovative, daring or creative. Liberals see conservatives do something it is politically motivated, covering something up or just plain evil.
Conservatives see conservatives do something and it is innovative, daring or creative. Conservatives see liberals do something and it is politically motivated, covering something up or just plain evil. - allowners, on 04/13/2009, -43/+66A sad indication of where the US is today. It would be humorous if these folks were not dangerous.
- seltaeb4, on 04/13/2009, -8/+30Dirk Bellig is an excellent example of what has plagued the Republican Party for decades: he has an absolute certainty that he is right, while simultaneously not having a clue in hell about what he's talking about
He's what might be referred to these days as an "ignoranus": not only is he completely ignorant, but an ***** to boot. - GiveMeFreedom, on 04/13/2009, -24/+45This is coming from a guy who believes in a welfare state ...... buried
- BulkHedd, on 04/13/2009, -32/+53This is just ridiculous. Why is it that when 10 nutjobs from Code Pink show up to protest it's considered brave and noble but when Republicans do it (in larger numbers, mind you) they are morons?
As for throwing around words like "socialist" I seem to recall Conservatives being called Nazis frequently as well as fascists. I guess "Conservative" just doesn't carry as much weight as it used to. - jfsimard79, on 04/13/2009, -15/+36It's sad that they want their voices heard, that they want to assemble peaceably and redress their grievances?
- GQCarrick, on 04/13/2009, -8/+29Because most people on Digg voted for Obama, they don't want anything bad being said about him. I really don't care either way but all people should look at both sides of the argument before making any decisions. Decisions along "party lines" should be outlawed.
- drmangrum, on 04/13/2009, -18/+38Even though I know I'll be buried...
It doesn't matter if it's a grassroots campaign or a corporate smokescreen by the Rush Limbaugh, Fox News, et al. What's important is the message. Just because there are some lunatic rabid conservatives fanning the flames doesn't mean the underlying message is invalid. Too quickly people are quick to dismiss and ignore the right completely. You have to look past the Right Wing Assbags to see the true reason for the anger.
For the most part, people ( the non-billionaires ) aren't angry over paying taxes, they're angry about what's being DONE with those taxes. We see billions of dollars going to huge corporate entities in the guise of saving the economy, yet things keep getting worse. We were told the spending bills that added trillions to the debt was needed so American families could stay in their homes, yet people are still losing their homes. We were told the government is going to invest into failing companies so people wouldn't lose their jobs, but these companies are still considering bankruptcy after taking BILLIONS in taxpayer money. We were told our troops would be brought back home, yet more are being sent to Afghanistan and the pull out of Iraq is still a long ways off.
There MUST be opposition in congress. People have to stop thinking in terms of "good guys" and "bad guys." It's not that simple. Democrats can ***** things up just as bad as Republicans when they don't have a voice of opposition. It's this hard-line party mentality that's strangling American politics.
You're just as bad as the Republicans were when they call Liberals and Democrats names when you are quick to call them all crazy, deluded, etc. NOT ALL REPUBLICANS ARE BAD! - stonebear, on 04/13/2009, -12/+32To be fair; the tea parties are a libertarian bandwagon that has been co-opted by legions of floundering, politically broke "ex" neocons looking for an identity to steal. I know you can't even hear them now, but when a libertarian says socialism; he means republicans too.
- billricardi, on 04/13/2009, -9/+29You know what? I'm going to write a Knol on how to stage revolutionary protest; and it will have nothing to do with left and right, it will have everything to do with LIBERTY. Because what I've seen is weak sauce. There's nothing revolutionary about it, it's just fodder for media talking points!
The Boston Tea Party was about financial impact with a pointed message. Not whining. Why do revolutionary actions get watered down to suit the débutantes these days? What happened to Civil Disobedience on a massive scale? - nullvector, on 04/13/2009, -28/+47Yes. Down with free speech. Curse them for meeting in large groups to voice an opinion.
They should be ashamed of themselves for assembling in a public area. - larrimer7, on 04/13/2009, -6/+24I dont understand why the truth is being dugg down...
- PhilPerspective, on 04/13/2009, -27/+45It sounds like you don't even know who is funding the "Tea Parties". Why is Faux Noise hyping them so much? I suppose you didn't hear about all those protests the left had this weekend against the bailouts. I wonder why. So much for that "liberal" media. Where were all you fiscal conseratives during the Bush years? One last point. Just because some of us support Obama doesn't mean we automatically support everything he does, or people like Summers and Geithner.
- darkthomas, on 04/13/2009, -24/+41Why do people assume that these tea parties are populated entirely by Republicans? I'm an objectivist whose beliefs are contrary to that of both Republicans and Democrats and I'm a big fan of tea parties.
- muckemuck, on 04/13/2009, -5/+22Exactly. ... and unfortunately people like Hannity started tagging along and trying to make these tea parties theirs - and trying to make them look like "anti-obama" or "anti-socialism" parties. Then we got Malkin, Gingrich, and others creating their own tea parties.. and suddenly what was just protest against out of control government spending and increased taxes becomes some partisan BS. Ugh.
And for the record there WERE tea parties while Bush was in office... and the neocons mocked them then. - novenator, on 04/13/2009, -13/+29jhbarr, you're confusing him!
- crunchdigg, on 04/13/2009, -1/+17http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=191g6Pc4tOM
He tries to look "Socilism" up on his phone.
"OK, so Socialism, it's basically like the views of Hitler...
It's like between Communism and ... I don't know what the other word is."
Nothing like attempting to write a word you don't understand on your shirt,
and going to the mall to tell people to avoid it. - bizzywho, on 04/13/2009, -42/+58Don't you people understand what is happening?
The media is trying to brainwash you into thinking that the Tea Party Protests are a bunch of fringe lunatics who should be ignored!
Diggers are saying that organizations backed by Bush, Cheney, and Rove (Americans For Prosperity and FreedomWorks) are funding all of these Tea Parties! Well, they are wrong! Those organizations only funded TWO Tea Parties!
Tea Parties organize as flash mobs! And they are more along the lines of Constitutional and Libertarian values! Not Neo-Conservative values!
It's not about party affiliation! It's about America and taking back a fighting chance!
***** THE LIBERAL MEDIA!
Bush was trying to brainwash us during his administration. Now, it is Obama's turn! Don't let him!
Don't believe the lies that the media is trying to spoonfeed you. Don't get distracted by the filth spewing out of Rush Limbaugh! Don't buy into the rhetoric that Obama says! - novenator, on 04/13/2009, -24/+40SuperKendall, nice copy and pasting job. I see you have identical comments on every single thread about the tea party on Digg. Maybe you should actually read the articles and base your comments on that instead of spamming everyone with pro-Tea Party talking points.
http://digg.com/users/superkendall/history/comment ...
http://digg.com/political_opinion/Tea_Parties_Fore ...
http://digg.com/political_opinion/Beck_Tea_Bagging ...
http://digg.com/arts_culture/Late_Night_Yea_Though ...
http://digg.com/politics/Tea_Bag_Parties_Corporate ...
http://digg.com/world_news/What_Part_of_FNC_TAX_DA ... - Nattybumpoe, on 04/13/2009, -3/+18@Shikamoo
Four years ago it was un-American to question authority, and unpatriotic -- you had to stand behind your commander and chief or you were tagged un-American, unpatriotic, dangerous, liberal, communist, etc. - swrostmore, on 04/13/2009, -5/+20European socialist countries have the highest standard of living in the world, is that what you call "failure," Dirk?
- ZenMojo, on 04/13/2009, -10/+24[Obama's a Socilist...!] written on a t-shirt.
"You spelled Socialist wrong."
"Oh? You got a marker?"
"So you think Obama's a Socialist?"
"Yeah, he's pushing these Socialism ideas that are going to ruin our country.
"So what's a Socialist?"
"Huh?"
"What's a Socialist? You're calling him a Socialist, so what is one?"
"I...you know...there's a dictionary definition...of what a Socialist is...."
"You don't know do you."
"I...well, no, not off the top of my head, but he's dangerous!"
--Rough Quotation from "Right America Feeling Wronged"
This exchange pretty much sums up the right's positions at the moment. - edstate, on 04/13/2009, -1/+15Nice summation. Reasonable people would find any of that hard to disagree with. Unfortunately, there's a dearth of those kinds these days. Especially here.
- rcpiercy, on 04/13/2009, -10/+24The Boston Tea Party wasn't whining. If anyone can remember back to 5th grade history, that protest was largely a "staged riot" and it was about taxes levied on TEA. IT WAS ABOUT TEA! They were patriots and would be sickened by what's going on today. Also, saying taxes were higher under most of Reagan's administration is no justification for raising taxes, especially when the highest marginal tax rate when he entered office was 90%.
- GQCarrick, on 04/13/2009, -9/+23Last time I checked this happened once before...................Before the American Revolution. Our Forefathers got together and wanted their voices heard when government (England) wasn't listening. Let the people talk already, you may be surprised that they are bitching about the same things you are.
- drmangrum, on 04/13/2009, -11/+25Because Digg is no longer for intellectuals. The vast majority are rabid liberals who've lost the ability to look at a situation from all angles and fair judgment call. They would prefer to be told what to think than how to think. Then you have the problem of many being college students. They think they know everything even when they're completely wrong.
Too many are stuck in the Us vs Them mentality. All they see is The Red Team and The Blue Team. They would rather cheer their team and heckle the other team than to come to the conclusion that both sides have something to offer. - edstate, on 04/13/2009, -3/+16You're right. And even if you're "stuck in the middle", like I am, if you merely *question* the party line you're met with a snarling, frothing wall of hate.
The sad irony is that it's exactly what they're supposedly against, ala their demonizations of O'Reilly, Limbaugh, etc. You'd think the opposite of intolerance would be tolerance. But it's not. It's merely the same, but from a different direction. - gn84, on 04/13/2009, -3/+16No, government is accountable to the special interests who bribe their way into power. The 50.1% of voters (less than 33% of the adult population) who "choose" their government have very little power. And government is not accountable at all to the 49.9% in the voting minority (not to mention the 30-50% that don't vote).
See Diane Feinstein's speech on the senate floor last October relating to the TARP bailout. She's clearly "accountable" to the 90%+ of her constituents who wanted her to vote no. - UselessTrivia, on 04/13/2009, -1/+14I guess bush was a socialist too...seeing as how the first 700 billion was his doing.
- Samurai77, on 04/13/2009, -29/+42He states people are calling Obama a socialist because he wants to change tax rates, No Obama is a socialist because he gave away 1 Trillion dollars to private businesses, that my friend IS A SOCIALIST.
Krugman is a teat sucking libby panderer. - NSResponder, on 04/13/2009, -23/+35Krugman is a tool.
-jcr - inactive, on 04/13/2009, -1/+13lrn2sarcasm
- kemp34, on 04/13/2009, -4/+16I agree that unchecked government spending and economic intervention is a problem. I was one of the biggest critics of Bush and the Neo-cons. I will be at a Tea Party rally speaking my mind.
- hd95, on 04/13/2009, -36/+48Straw Man alert
- GQCarrick, on 04/13/2009, -3/+15Why are they stupid for voicing their opinion? Because it doesn't agree with your own, is that it?
- acknotSW, on 04/13/2009, -11/+23I would agree. Today they appear to be totally bat ***** insane while in the past they at least had some ideas and stuck to them, if it wasn't for the religious affiliations, I would probably consider myself a republican instead of an independent.
Remember what led to the republicans taking over the house in 94, overwhelming and never ending corruption by the democrats in congress who had been the majority for over 40 years. The outright route led by newt, left the democrats totally stunned and they were not that much better off than the republicans are now. Neither party can stay in power for long without losing their way and becoming corrupt. The old adage of power corrupts is as true as it ever was.
The real difference between the two situations is that the demoralized democrats still had Bill Clinton in the white house for another 6 years while the republicans, this time around, got blown out of the water and lost the Whitehouse. The party has no clear direction other than to try to recapture seats if Obama looks like he is ***** the goat and right now, he isn't. If Obama is still popular in 2012, they will be lucky to hold onto what they have now.
I’ve said this to many people and I’ll say it again. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a republican party split between the far right religious zealots, probably led by newt or a rush puppet, and the more socially moderate but fiscally conservatives in the party led by ?. - Geography, on 04/13/2009, -30/+42I'm just glad the Tea Parties will encourage those party participants to spend money they wouldn't normally otherwise - helping stimulate the economy in their own way. Hopefully they won't undermine confidence further.
- gn84, on 04/13/2009, -9/+20"Kinda like Germany in the late 1920's early 1930's"
You mean when the National Socialist German Workers Party was gaining power by blaming laissez-faire capitalism for problems caused largely by government spending and money printing (ww1 reparations weren't helping, either).
Now, who's advocating increased government spending? Which Nobel-winning "economist" advocates printing money to pay for all the government spending?
While the intentions of FoxNews and the like are questionable, groups like ACORN are the neo-fascists here. - superkendall, on 04/13/2009, -13/+24And just what on earth has given you THAT idea? A local government is accountable to you. A government far enough removed, as the one in washington - is accountable to none.
- aletoledo, on 04/13/2009, -1/+12@NJank
Thats true. Just like Obama isn't JFK, MLK or even FDR. Still people want to get inspired by the past greatness of america, because our current system is in shambles. -
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