Letter of the week, 4/20/09: Pathetic "Tea Party"

[David]

Pathetic tea party
Editor:

On April 19, R-J letter-writer Leonard Marcheselle of Plantsville (“Opposing views”) said he took serious issue with what he believed to be hate commentary in an op-ed piece by syndicated columnist Dr. Paul Krugman. He said these tea party people showed their support for the "American way."

If hundreds of thousands of people were involved, maybe we should also take note that millions of other Americans don't agree. Anyone watching these so-called peaceful tea parties saw hateful signs depicting the President as “Hitler,” death threats, and name-calling that was filled with hate.

Why shouldn't we laugh at them - the Republican Party of "NO"? The party which, for the last 8 years, brought us to this point?

So, is letter-writer Marcheselle going to change history and tell us the President brought us to this point in the last 4 months? And he thinks tea party people shouldn't be ridiculed? The tea party is pathetic.

DEBORAH DANIELS, MERIDEN

[Snakebite]

Its nice to see the country should be filled be submissive "yes" people.

I could have used one last night.

[RC12L4]

Protests only count when Liberals agree with them.

[flatrat]

The teabagging parties, led by sponsor Faux News, (fear and unbalanced), were great comedy.

Its shown how irrelevant and taken over by the fringe elements the Republican party has become.

Keep them coming.

-----------------
Palin for President 2012

[Common Sense]

Why do so many people including letter writer Ms Daniels forget that the Democratic party has been in control of the US Senate and House of Representatives for the last four years?! Pelosi certainly has been a major disappointment with all her promise's of four years ago. And there is still in fighting in the Democratic party mostly in the House of Representatives. Chris Dodd and Barney Frank certainly contributed to the mess we are in but there is plenty of blame on both sides of the aisle going back to President Carter. Not everyone involved in the tea party protests were Republicans. It is ridiculous to assume that thousands of protestor's belong to any political party. And some of the 'tea parties' were also aimed at State spending across the country. I want President Obama to be successful but not on the backs of our children, grandchildren or generations to come. The bill has too much pork. While I detest hate message's by anyone there were plenty of protestor's that don't belong to any political party and were taking part in freedom of speech peacefully all over the country. I am grateful that we live in a country where we have that freedom. "I may not agree with what you have to say but I will defend to the death your right to say it". Try doing that in Venezula or Cuba.

[S_Meriden60]

Not everyone involved in the tea party protests were Republicans. It is ridiculous to assume that thousands of protestor's belong to any political party. I want President Obama to successful but not on the backs of our children, grandchildren or generations to come. The bill has too much pork. While I don't care for the hate message's by anyone there were plenty of protestor's that don't belong to any political party and were taking part in freedom of speech peacefully or over the country. I am grateful that we live in a country where we have that freedom. "I may not agree with what you have to say but I will defend to the death your right to say it". Try doing that in Venezula or Cuba.

`````````````````````

I agree. I see people from both Democrat and Republican sides at these protests. It's good to see people taking an interest and letting Washington politicians know they're out there and not happy about wasteful projects.
It's not fair to assume all are Republican either. It is also unfortunate that Fox news paints the picture that all of them are. The site of Carl Rove, Rush and Cheney on Fox nauseates me. If the Republicans ever hope to have a chance in politics again, they need to dump those clowns.
Obama has some good agendas but some have been loaded down with too much pork in order to get them voted in. I think this is what most of the protests are about and the bailouts without accountability.
I think Obama has now found out that Washington doesn't believe in Change. It's all about what can you do for me before I vote on something that might benefit us all.

[Common Sense]

Unfortuntely President Obama like so many President's before him is finding out that Congress runs the country, not the President. However whoever is the President at the time gets the credit or the blame. History judges Presidents when it should be judging the entire government at any particular time.

[Common Sense]

I read four newspapers in print, three on line and watch NBC, CBS and Fox News to form my own opinion. I try to get all sides of the issues. Having said that, although I don't agree with what they all have to say at times, Bill O'Riley and Glen Beck are not registered with any political parties. A fact someone just pointed out to me. When Glen Beck was on CNN Headline News I found that interesting because I thought CNN was on the liberal side. I've also noticed NBC has been getting on President Obama's case lately which comes as a surprise.

[iwantwallingfordbetter]

Why do so many people including letter writer Ms Daniels forget that the Democratic party has been in control of the US Senate and House of Representatives for the last four years?! .

i thought it was since 2007.....election of 2006.....4 years...not quite

[CMNSNC]

Over the years the topic of giving the president the power of a 'Line Item Veto'.
This would enable the President to scratch out the pork usually attached to worthy legislation.
It's been brought up many times but as you can imagine went down in flames when brought up before Congress.
I believe Obama and any other future president would really like to have this in their arsenal. I think the American people should demand it!
Right now in order to get anything decent passed in Congress, it has to include crap we really don't need or can afford at this time. It was overlooked when things were going good, but with the taxpayers expected to tighten our belts, shouldn't Congress be expected to do the same?
Or is it, do as we say, not as we do?

[S_Meriden60]

I also watch many different TV news networks and read different newspapers as well as Internet sources before I form my opinion.

[RC12L4]

The teabagging parties, led by sponsor Faux News, (fear and unbalanced), were great comedy.

Its shown how irrelevant and taken over by the fringe elements the Republican party has become.

Keep them coming.

-----------------
Palin for President 2012

You're assuming everyone involved is a republican.

[Common Sense]

Here is a summary of the election of 2004. Having posted this the Democrats still have been in control since 2006 and haven't accomplised anything even now. I still stand by my statement that it is Congress not the President who are in controll no matter who is in the Oval Office



Summary of the 2004 United States Senate elections results Parties
Breakdown Total Seats Popular Vote
Up Elected Not Up 2002 2004 +/- Vote %
Republican Party 15 19 36 51 55 +4 39,920,562 45.3%
Democratic Party 19 15 29 48 44 -4 44,754,618 50.8%
Independent - - 1 1 1 0 186,231 0.2%
Libertarian Party - - - - - - 754,861 0.9%
Constitution Party - - - - - - 301,402 0.3%
Independence Party - - - - - - 220,121 0.2%
Green Party - - - - - - 157,533 0.2%
Reform Party - - - - - - 22,461 0.0%
Socialist Workers Party - - - - - - 16,685 0.0%
Other parties - - - - - - 1,762,873 2.0%
Total 34 34 66 100 100 0 88,097,347 100.0%
Source: Election Statistics - Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives
Summary of the 2004 United States House of Representatives elections results Parties Seats Popular Vote
20021 2004 +/- Strength Vote % Change
Republican Party 229 232 +3 53.3% 55,713,412 49.2% -0.4%
Democratic Party 204 202 -2 46.4% 52,745,121 46.6% +1.6%
Independent 1 1 0 0.2% 674,202 0.6% +0.1%
Libertarian Party - - - - 1,040,465 0.9% -0.5%
Green Party - - - - 331,298 0.3% -0.1%
Independence Party - - - - 246,070 0.2% 0.0%
Working Families Party - - - - 145,979 0.1% N/A
Constitution Party - - - - 132,613 0.1% 0.0%
Reform Party - - - - 85,539 0.1% +0.1%
Other parties - - - - 2,063,606 1.8% -0.8%
Total 434 435 0 100.0% 113,192,286 100.0% –
Source: Election Statistics - Office of the Clerk

[iwantwallingfordbetter]

no they didn't in 2004

[flatrat]

You're assuming everyone involved is a republican.

Not at all, although most attendees assuredly identify more as republicans than democrats. And I am not criticizing those who sincerely call for responsible spending or taxation, either this year, or for the previous 8 years of fiscal irresponsibility. Its the theater of it all.

The statement that "the republican party has been taken over by the lunatic fringe" stands on its own merits, no matter who teabagged that day or not.

Alignment with the "christian taliban" didnt work out so well for republicans either. Anf you dont hear people calling Karl Rove a genius anymore.

There are rational, moderate, republicans out there, but they must be in exile.

Look at what happens to those who disagree with El Rushblimp. And look at how they are turning on Charles Johnson at Little Green Footballs for calling out some of the insanity.

Moderation is shouted down.

I do think the party will rebound. Romney is keeping his mouth shut, positioning for a run as a moderate.

[joe912]

What is pathetic is not the "Tea Party" but Ms. Daniels' misguided belief that the Republican Party is responsible for the state that we're in.

Mr. Obama is not directly responsible, but he shares some of the blame as a former member of Congress. In fact, both the tax-and-spend Democrats and the don't-tax-and-spend Republicans are equally to blame for the swamp we're in.

And we as as voters are most culpable. We continue to vote for Republicrats and Demopublicans without giving any regard to fresh new ideas that might extricate us from the morass.

I've heard many times that a vote for a third-party or independent candidate is wasted. When enough of us see the light, however, our nation will be much better.

[Common Sense]

The President of today is just the postage stamp of tomorrow"...Gracie Allen

[JTS]

Where were the protests over the billions wasted in Iraq? Or the outrage against Bush's Medicare drug coverage budget-buster? Or fury over the Homeland Security porkfest? Funny how the right-wingers only find their convictions when a Democrat is in the White House.

[RC12L4]

Where were the protests over the billions wasted in Iraq? Or the outrage against Bush's Medicare drug coverage budget-buster? Or fury over the Homeland Security porkfest? Funny how the right-wingers only find their convictions when a Democrat is in the White House.

In Obama's first 100 days in office more money has been spent than in Iraq in the last 8 years.

[flatrat]

In Obama's first 100 days in office more money has been spent than in Iraq in the last 8 years.


ODS, is it curable?