Tea Party Convention-laughable!

[MaryMary]

Well, then that should allay some of the frustrations people have expressed that poor people on the public dole are not paying in.

should we allocate to smokers families aid just what smoking members pay in cigs taxes?

[Smee]

Considering some of the past arguments, I'm having a hard time taking these seriously. It feels very much "look over there!" to me. This thread is making me feel like I'm the one who's rabidly pro personal responsibility. I reckon I'm ok with that.

[Smee]

Though the underlined "smoking members" made me giggle. I couldn't help it. Sometimes I'm really a 14 year old boy at heart.

[mrsthrifty]

I had to laugh when I read about the racist basis of the Tea Party...Hope you let Angela McGlowan and all the other "non-Caucasian" speakers know! They may want to rethink their involvment! LOL! But this comment is SO predictable!! and lacks supporting factual information. It is called "ignorance".
Also, I think it is humorous that when Bush was in office he was blamed for everything that ever went wrong. Geez! He was all powerful! No mention of the fact that the last couple of years in office the Congress was controlled by the Democrats... OK that is fine... but when Obama is in there is whining galore anytime he and his administration are called out on something. hmmm...
I am not a Republican fan or a Democrat fan or a fan of ignorance! If you have a valid point, then make it but don't use racism as a crutch!
Oh! and Bush is STILL being blamed every time Obama makes a speech! How lame is that! Is he competent to do his job or does he have to make excuses!! And where are the Democrats jumping up to say "don't blame Bush! He couldn't do this all by himself!" Nope not saying it but they will make that argument for Obama Was someone talking about double standards and inconsistencies in arguments?

[kittensqueak]

I would respond to holiday but as far as I know there is no religious debate allowed here. Forcing women to be pregnant? Who made them pregnant? I need to practice some self restraint and stick to the deals here.

And that is exactly why I am so thankful there is a provision in our Constitution regarding THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE!



I heart religion, I just think they have to be separate for the sanity and peace of our nation!

Not to PnP - but to the TP in general - if getting preggo is a personal choice, isn't smoking?! If you can regulate women's choice - why on earth can't you regulate (by taxing) one of the most gross, disgusting, harmful, bad for your health things like smoking?!

[Smee]

I had to laugh when I read about the racist basis of the Tea Party...Hope you let Angela McGlowan and all the other "non-Caucasian" speakers know! They may want to rethink their involvment! LOL! But this comment is SO predictable!! and lacks supporting factual information. It is called "ignorance".

What's also predictable (and I did) is the shout it down mockery. I don't think the word "ignorance" means what you think it does. You seem to be confusing it with disagreement. There is absolutely a racial element and to deny it because there are "non-Caucasian" supporters is as absurd is saying that racism is dead because the president is black. Of course, since no one said that it's all about racism or that every supporter is racist, the point is moot and your accusations pointless diversions. It's become the typical modus operandi-- don't bother with discourse; just scream over your opponent and accuse them of things they never said/did. If necessary, lie outright.

If you have a valid point, then make it but don't use racism as a crutch!

Did you have a valid point to make or did you just drop by to share some friendly emoticons? Or are you completely denying the existence of racism within this whole Tea Party movement? Because I'll bet I can dig up some pictures that suggest otherwise, and there are plenty of these folks in my personal life who cheerfully explain in clear terms exactly what they really mean by "it's our country" and "taking back our country." I don't make the assumption that they are the mouthpiece of the movement, but I do believe the numbers who share their views are pretty significant. That is not quite the same as, well, what you claimed. Ignorance indeed.

"But there are racist [insert political party or group of people I don't like here], too!" Yeah, "hey, look over there!" Saved someone the trouble.

[Lev8mysoul]

I'm not getting how thinking that taxes are a necessary evil that should be kept as low as possible is flawed logic. Subsidizing one's own addictions is one thing--subsidizing one's addiction AND the government at the same time is another. The government has no business levying "sin taxes" any more than they should be taxing productivity. Although sin taxes do make it a little more palatable--"We're only taxing something that you shouldn't be doing anyway." Like the government has any business at all telling people what to smoke or not smoke.

Which of course can lead to certain foods, or drinks, etc. being taxed more because, well, that particular food, drink, etc. is bad for you, and so on.

[loaslaen]

The government also has no business telling women how to gestate or telling anyone who they can marry, but they do and many (most?) anti big government people support that.

They're not telling women how to gestate, but who NOT to kill. The government has EVERY right to legislate murder and the taking of human life. Pregnant women are the ONLY humans allowed to take a life without cause and without prosecution. This is not "equal rights", but "Superior Rights". A government has no right legislating ANYTHING, if it can't watch out for the most vulnerable of its citizens, but instead, condones their killing.

[loaslaen]

I don't think calling things like they are (Re: Tea Party = Republicans who don't want to be blamed) is "character assassination."

The Tea Party isn't full of Republicans who don't want to be blamed. Those Republicans are still within the Republican party making excuses. Sarah Palin is a Republican that has pointed fingers at her own party when they were wrong, and this is why alot of "my party, right or wrong" people don't like her. Alot of people also joined the Tea Party movement because their representatives are not representing them, but ignoring them. You don't support someone that doesn't represent you, and you don't "switch sides" either. You make your voice heard and that is exactly what the Tea Party movement is doing.

[biscottilover]

I don't mind the tea party. Yes, they get my blood pressure up with their rhetoric. However, I respect their right to speak up. Our government was built by the people and for the people. If the representatives they elected aren't representing them correctly in congress, then they should come forward and elect new ones who will.

What do I think this will all lead to? Well, if they truly want change, then they need to translate their voices into action. And if this translates into more representatives representing their interests in office in November, so be it. Let them fix Washington. Someone has to look at the long run. Time might fix the recession, but what's going to fix the social security crisis, medicare, and Afghanistan. I hope that they can stop shouting down solutions, and come up with their own. Especially because "Main Street" Americans are those who depend on social security, medicare, etc. I don't think tax cuts or budget cuts will magically fix these problems.