Teabags and Strings

There is no doubt now that the April 15th Tea Parties were the brain step child of the Republican Party. To boost the event(s) and pull people into the parks and streets, Fox News talked them up and sent their conservative “news” commentators to them. Sure people are angry, upset and fearful of spending but from all that I’ve heard and read about these Tea Parties, there were many different reasons for people to be there.

Just like the Republican Party, the teabaggers couldn’t even agree on what they were protesting. Some were protesting taxes, some the deficit spending, and others simply Barack Obama and whatever he did. There were those who questioned his birth certificate, those who wanted their country back from the socialist abyss and some who seemed terrified of the threat of fascism, Marxism, communism or terrorism. You name it, that’s what we all need to fear.

Now it seems to me that the Republicans are simply looking for a way back into the political arena. Obviously they jumped the shark at the last election. The lies and dirty campaigning tactics on top of eight years of disaster were too much for Americans. Republican votes consisted of hard line straight ticket voters, right wing religious fanatics, Fox News watchers and racists. A good portion of their votes as usual were based on fear. And now they’ve since lost and because they lost they’re only recourse is more name calling and more fear.

The Republicans have become the party of no, the party of constant criticism and the party of inspiring revolution. President Obama has remarkable support and still an approval rating in the high 60’s. I think the Republicans are the ones drowning in fear themselves. They’re afraid of losing their power, afraid of change and afraid of taking any steps beyond the same old beliefs, rhetoric and platforms they’ve always stood on. They depend on their narrow minded base which is shrinking at an alarming rate.

Democrats have had three short months to try to get us moving in the right direction. I say let them show what they can do. But unfortunately Americans aren’t a patient people. They want improved infrastructure, adequate health care, freedom from foreign oil, the best educated people in the world, yet they complain about taxes? Even worse, they complain about taxes when they’ve been given a tax cut!

President Obama is trying to give us what we asked for, what we voted for. I say let’s give him a chance to do that.

The Media

The media shapes public opinion and every move, every nuance, ever hand gesture is interpreted for us by the press, by the nightly news, by the biased cable network shows and by the satirical programs shown late at night when the children are asleep.

You can pretty much predict how a person will vote in an election by the news shows he/she watches. Unlike many though, I watch them all, or at least many and assorted. You’ve heard, no doubt, of the “Keep your friends close, your enemies closer” premise. That’s why I give Rush Limbaugh some begrudged attention during lunch. More times than not I must change the station before I lose my temper or more frankly, barf. This guy has to be the rudest, loudest, most disgusting voice on the radio. I’m truly amazed that anyone would openly admit to believing his pompous rhetoric, often lies, exaggerations, opinions as truth, let alone repeating it. I can pretty much tell who listens to this drivel. When discussing politics they use his words, not their own, hence, I suppose the term “dittoheads.”

The power of the media is truly remarkable. They hold the voters, or at least the majority of us, in the range of their microphones. I wonder how many bother to fact check what they’re hearing.
Why are Republicans so afraid of Limbaugh? Votes and/or support from their base I presume, yes, but is there some other underlying reason? That being said, I can’t help but wonder why anyone would cast a vote for a politician who doesn’t have the fortitude to stand by their beliefs.

To be continued…………….

The Next Generation

Huffington Post has an interesting article about Jonathan Krohn, conservative wunderkind. He’s the 13 year old author of Define Conservatism “and political prodigy voted "Atlanta's Most Talented Child" in 2006…” With his high pitched pre-pubescent voice, constant waving hands and unmitigated enthusiasm he’s more fun to watch and listen to than the repetitive aging politicians and mean spirited radio talking heads.

Where did this kid get his conservative ideology? Ahh…talk radio. My interest goes down just a notch. Would this man child be espousing democratic principles if he had listened to a more progressive radio show rather than Bill Bennett?

He did hone in on principles vs policy something his seniors hadn’t figured out so far. According to Jonathan the Republican party has lost sight of its principles, which he called the “shell” to conservatism’s “filling”. That was a quite a perfect metaphor I thought.

As for his choices for president? Krohn would love to see Newt Gingrich although he thinks “..it's impossible to see him up there. I don't see him doing it.” He’d "love Sarah Palin"...SCREEEECHHH!!!

My interest suddenly skidded to the left.