Tea Party - What?

[fractalfeline]

Ok, so I'll admit I'm not the foremost in up-to-dateness with current news and politics but I've heard something about the new Tea Party. What is it? Anyone know what the deal is with these people?

As far as I've gotten, I've managed to dig this up: http://teapartypatriots.ning.com/

From what I can tell from their mission statement, they want lower taxes, to cut lots of government programs, and return to "free market" ie remove regulations that the government has placed on businesses. I'm not sure what is meant by "Constitutionally Limited Government" because the first thing I think of is "What do you want the States to have control over, precisely?" Abortion, healthcare, education, what precisely?

I'm not sure what to think about this. From what I've heard, it's splitting the Republican Party. I was hoping someone has more insight than me can help shed light on this movement.

[joejv4]

Actually, my take on what it is (or originally was) that it is a "grass-roots" movement of people that are fed up the clowns we have in Washington, sick of ever increasing taxes and runaway spending by the Federal Government, sick of watching our elected officials pandering to special interests, and most importantly, sick and tired elected officials that are more concerned with getting and keeping power than with representing their constituents.

That's my understanding of the original "Tea Party" movement. Having watched it over the last year, however, it looks to me like what was a great "people's" movement, has been co-opted by the Republican Party, which, in reality, defeats the whole purpose.

If you ask me (a registered Republican, by the way), when it comes to inside the Beltway, both parties (R & D) are the same. They have differing agendas, but neither has an agenda that represents the people. They are all career politicians and it's all about gaining and keeping power. Were it up to me, and, from my understanding, the original Tea Partiers, we'd fire the whole lot. Put normal, work-a-day people in office and let them do what they are supposed to do - serve the people.

That's just my 2 cents.

[fractalfeline]

Ah, ok, I think I get it. Poke me when the credit system comes back up eh?

Anyone else? (I just like getting well-rounded responses before making my mind up about anything like this.)

[jtwhite]

I took it the same was as joejv4.

I would argue that it's more Conservative than grass-roots though, that could be why the Republican Party has kinda taken it up. I think overall, it's a good movement.

If you're looking to learn more about the party and its movements, the best place to start, in my opinion, is Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_Party_protests

Simply the signs tell you a lot about the party: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...Washington.jpg

[fractalfeline]

lol and just as soon as I start inquiring about the Tea Party, one of my friends on Facebook joins the Coffee Party. This is starting to get insane:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...022602928.html
http://coffeepartyusa.com/content/about-us

Coffee or Tea? I like having caffeine in the morning, and Coffee feels good with it's simple, bitter charm, and milk options. But tea has its place too, with multiple flavors, but less milk options (with the notable exception of Chai).

Chai tea. That's not a bad idea. I'll go get some.

[xav0989]

Man, the states are awesome. You have so much things going on there. Here in Canada, things are pertty simple. Although we get our fair share of politicians wanting the power for themselves more than anything else (like our current prime).

[jtwhite]

Man, the states are awesome. You have so much things going on there. Here in Canada, things are pertty simple. Although we get our fair share of politicians wanting the power for themselves more than anything else (like our current prime).

That's one of the things I love the most about America, the ability to protest and say whatever. Unfortunately, we're losing rights every day now because of the current government state. I think Obama is more Socialist-Progressive than Liberal, if that's possible. He's all about control-control-control.

America doesn't know what we got ourselves into. I am not old enough to vote, but if I could have voted, it would have been for McCain and Palin. I'm honestly more moderate than anything but I think Obama is way too far left.

[xav0989]

That's one of the things I love the most about America, the ability to protest and say whatever. Unfortunately, we're losing rights every day now because of the current government state. I think Obama is more Socialist-Progressive than Liberal, if that's possible. He's all about control-control-control.

America doesn't know what we got ourselves into. I am not old enough to vote, but if I could have voted, it would have been for McCain and Palin. I'm honestly more moderate than anything but I think Obama is way too far left.

If I would have been American and old enough to vote, I don't know for whom I would have voted. I believed both sides had some good ideas, but I didn't follow it closely enough to have a definite position.

[fractalfeline]

That's one of the things I love the most about America, the ability to protest and say whatever. Unfortunately, we're losing rights every day now because of the current government state. I think Obama is more Socialist-Progressive than Liberal, if that's possible. He's all about control-control-control.

America doesn't know what we got ourselves into. I am not old enough to vote, but if I could have voted, it would have been for McCain and Palin. I'm honestly more moderate than anything but I think Obama is way too far left.

Seriously! I was hoping for some rights to be restored under Obama, like repealing the Privacy Act and whatnot. I think Bush took Homeland Security too far, and ended up sinking the country with two overseas wars. I mostly did not support McCain because he was saying he'd continue things exactly as Bush had, continue the Iraq and Afganistan wars, etc. Eh well. It's one year into Obama and we still haven't pulled out of Afganistan or Iraq (even though they keep talking about timelines for withdrawal). I also didn't like the anti-stem cell research laws that were in place and hoping those would be repealed too. Eh.

But now with nonsense like bailouts and out-of-control spending for "stimulus plans" and whatnot, I do wonder how much debt we have to dig ourselves into for the glimmer of hope of ending the recession. I imagine there's gotta be a better way of doing things. But then again, would McCain have done any better?