For JTF's Reading Pleasure: "What is the Tea Party"

you think that dumb ass Reagan knew what he was doing? he busted the air traffic controllers, signifying the collapse of the power that unions once held. that, tied with NAFTA really took it to the union jobs in this country. i hate that thing, regardless of party

Hate to burst your bubble buddy but the illegal aliens that Reagan gave amnesty to burst the Union's power, which was waining to begin with. Not to mention all of the counter-productive contracts with the Mafia.

Oh, the Carpenters and Joiners on the West Coast are full of illegals now. So their pensions are going to people who stole our birth-right.

I think Reagan fully knew what he was doing. He probably had a whole bunch of people sitting around screaming about their flights. Unions don't have a right to hold the public hostage because they want more money. Besides, a closed shop is just an excuse to send a job to China. A good trade unionist doesn't need one.

I find it hard to believe that you'd be against guns, when the history of the labor movement is full of incidents where state militias, private contractors, police, scabs, and pinkerton men beat, shot, and stabbed Union men, women, and children at the behest of the gang banksters. The ones that didn't get killed where the ones who organized and fought back, WITH FIREARMS!

How do you cut spending while the economy is spiraling into a deep recession, small business struggling, and 8 million unemployed? Fair mind economists say you have to stimulate the economy to spur growth. How can we reduce the size of government when the military complex and all of it's affiliates are expanding because the United States is fighting two wars and the ever elusvive war on terror? Hard ain't it?I've stated my ideas before, but as you mention below, they'll never happen.

The real problem here is: a) our leaders lack political courage to make tough decisions and b) it's difficult to get a working coalition to solve these difficult problems due to a toxic political environment in Washington. Agree 100%. I don't know if term limits fix this, but it's certainly a start.

What, the Tea Party will suddenly get a squeaky clean and a born gain Congress to work with? The minute a credible, sober minded Tea Party candidate emerges, and none have yet, he or she will be handed the same old broken system and be asked to change it from the inside out.The middle of the road Tea Party candidates also get stomped out by the legacy Repub machine (just happened in our primary in VB).

I've stated my ideas before, but as you mention below, they'll never happen.

Agree 100%. I don't know if term limits fix this, but it's certainly a start.

The middle of the road Tea Party candidates also get stomped out by the legacy Repub machine (just happened in our primary in VB).

The only problem with term limits is that you eventually cede control and influence to the lobbyist with 20 years of experience. Imagine a freshman Senator standing toe-to-toe with one of these guys who's been working the Hill for two decades. No chance he'll get the support he needs. Our most respected Senators are our most seasoned ones, not the other way around.

Secondly, if we go term limites you'll never become an expert at anything. Imagine some of the Senators that have chaired and served on the intelligence committee or anything related to foreign policy. It's takes many years to accumlate the knowledge and depth to shape policy and understand the world abroad. Again, some young buck just coming into congress or the senate just can't do it if we institute term limits.

The only problem with term limits is that you eventually cede control and influence to the lobbyist with 20 years of experience. Imagine a freshman Senator standing toe-to-toe with one of these guys who's been working the Hill for two decades. No chance he'll get the support he needs. Our most respected Senators are our most seasoned ones, not the other way around.If term limits are in place, it decreases the power of lobbyists. Assuming a constant flow of funding to the lobbyists, with more turn-over, more ground to cover.

Secondly, if we go term limites you'll never become an expert at anything. Imagine some of the Senators that have chaired and served on the intelligence committee or anything related to foreign policy. It's takes many years to accumlate the knowledge and depth to shape policy and understand the world abroad. Again, some young buck just coming into congress or the senate just can't do it if we institute term limits.I'm talking something along the lines of what Newt proposed in 1994, 12 years for each house. You'll still have enough experience on the various committees to bridge any gaps as newbs get up to speed.

Pretty balanced article from Time on both sides of the argument (go figure, LOL).

Congress Term Limits: No Magic Fix for Washington's Woes - TIME (http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1967192,00.html)

No one's arguing with the basic premise of the Tea Party. In fact, I'll gurantee you that you'll find no less than half dozen Dems, in both houses, that agree with these exact same principles. I can name at least 6 off the top of my head. But let's not get the argument twisted here. How do you cut spending while the economy is spiraling into a deep recession, small business struggling, and 8 million unemployed? Fair mind economists say you have to stimulate the economy to spur growth. How can we reduce the size of government when the military complex and all of it's affiliates are expanding because the United States is fighting two wars and the ever elusvive war on terror? Hard ain't it?

See this is why the Tea Party will never take off in my opinion. These are the same old Reagan year arguments, problem is this is 2010 and the world is much more complex. They say cut this and cut that, but EXACTLY what are their policy prescriptions? I've said this before but the problem isn't big government v small governement. The real problem here is: a) our leaders lack political courage to make tough decisions and b) it's difficult to get a working coalition to solve these difficult problems due to a toxic political environment in Washington.

What, the Tea Party will suddenly get a squeaky clean and a born gain Congress to work with? The minute a credible, sober minded Tea Party candidate emerges, and none have yet, he or she will be handed the same old broken system and be asked to change it from the inside out.

Help me out here...what do you call this? Running out the clock? Didn't they oppose the debt commission if raising taxes in any form is on the table?

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that's what sucks with politics. those clowns talked for 3 straight minutes, and didnt say anything

Alaska Politics Blog : Tea Party group supporting Joe Miller under fire for blog comments (Updated) | adn.com (http://community.adn.com/adn/node/152458)

that's what sucks with politics. those clowns talked for 3 straight minutes, and didnt say anythingAir America did the same thing 24x7 :silly:

Interesting story considering the NAACP's charges of racism against the Tea Party.

SHOCK: Racism At NAACP Event? - wcbstv.com (http://wcbstv.com/topstories/tea.party.naacp.2.1812710.html)

Also, rumors flying that the Obama administration may have pushed hard for Sherrod's swift resignation given their uneasiness surrounding the whole Van Jones and Black Panther stories.

BOISE, Idaho — Three times since 2000, Republican Rod Beck failed in his bid to rejoin the state Senate, defeated by primary election rivals he insists didn't support party ideals. So Beck opted to change Idaho's GOP from within.
At the state Republican convention last month, he got his big chance.
Joined by tea party members, Ron Paul disciples and old-guard conservatives, Beck strode into the three-day confab in Idaho Falls amid a swelling national tide of frustration with Washington, D.C., magnified by Idaho's already rightist tilt. When it was over, a majority of the 500 delegates had transformed their platform with a spasm of anti-fed outrage — and anger at Republicans who Beck thinks have strayed from the fold.