It’s time for the tea party to go local
This is going to be an anti-incumbent election year. Right?
That’s the conventional wisdom. Nationally, the tea party movement puts on display what a host of opinion polls say: The public is weary of Washington’s hard-left policies, independent voters are fast fleeing the Democrats, and enthusiasm is high among Republican and conservative voters.
Typically, that kind of mix leads to big gains for the opposition. Political handicapper Charlie Cook’s latest list describes a whopping (all gerrymandering considered) 99 U.S. House seats as potentially in play; 62 of them, including 57 seats now held by Democrats, are tabbed as truly competitive. (The GOP needs a net gain of 40 seats to reclaim a majority.)
Georgia of late has bucked the national leftward drift, putting and keeping Republicans in power since 2002. But now they, too, have to face the anti-incumbent sentiment. What will that mean in 2010?
The number of new entrants and departing incumbents offers a signal about the level of turnover we can expect. If so, things could get interesting this fall. But only mildly so.
Qualifying for Republican and Democratic primaries is over, and an atypical number of lawmakers aren’t seeking re-election. The Legislature will have at least 41 fresh faces among its 236 members (180 in the House, 56 in the Senate).
Forty-one, or 17 percent, may not seem like a very high figure, but it’s progress: Just 26 legislators gave up their seats in 2006 and only 16 in 2008. The last time voluntary attrition under the Gold Dome was this high was in 2004, when redistricting meant that some incumbents were not-so-voluntarily pitted against one another.
Curiously, in a supposed anti-incumbent year, most of the departing are not retiring but seeking higher office. We may recycle more than we replace.
Still, there are more primary challenges this year than in 2008 or 2006, more seats sought by both Democrats and Republicans (as well as any third parties), more races in which the winner will have won both a primary and a general election. That’s the good news.
The bad news is that a frustrating 114 seats still have but one contestant. Two of them aren’t even incumbents, meaning they will affect state policy without being vetted by voters.
And part of the reason for this situation, I believe, goes back to national politics.
An amazing 57 Georgians are running for our state’s 13 congressional seats as Republicans or Democrats this year — almost double the number just four years ago. That total includes 11 incumbents, six state lawmakers trying to move up, and 40 others.
Now, I’m all for newcomers running for office, and I’d be happy to see some of them win a place in Congress. But at the same time, only so many of them have a real shot at winning. And I have to think that we’d be better off if many of those 40 “others” had run instead for the Legislature — and cut down on the number running unopposed.
Georgia’s problems are also numerous. They aren’t going away. There’s too much stale thinking at the Capitol, on both sides of the aisle. New voices would be welcome.
Now, a word for the tea partiers:
Your national focus is understandable and laudable. The sweeping changes sought by President Barack Obama and the Democrats have in part nationalized statewide elections, as we saw in Scott Brown’s U.S. Senate win in Massachusetts.
But Washington is not the only place that merits your attention and passion. Or your candidacy for office.
It’s too late this year for anything but an independent run, which is probably a long shot. But Tea Party 2.0 must include a greater emphasis on state and local policies and elections if the movement is to make it in the long term.
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105 comments Add your comment
Chris Broe
May 6th, 2010
12:59 pm
J conservative: I am properly chastised and I hate wrong-premised bits as much as the next guy. “Tax and spend” is an overused cliche. I shouldn’t have used it to set up the bit. I hate it when I mix up fiscal and monetary policy during a rib. I hate it when I forget to include the Keynesian implications of big government intrusions in a parody.
I can do better. I know in my heart that I’m funny, sir.
JF McNamara
May 6th, 2010
1:08 pm
Linda,
There is still very little difference between Republicans and Democrats in the way they actually govern. There’s just more ideological rhetoric. If things start going the wrong direction, which hasn’t happened in the real world, they’ll be forced to pull back or be voted out.
Lay off the talk radio and Fox News and stop being so panicky. At the very least, wait until we actually have some bad results from the policies to panic.
The Snark
May 6th, 2010
1:11 pm
It’s time for the tea party to go local … and do what, exactly?
The tea partiers are a passionate bunch, I’ll grant you. But a vague stew of resentment and anger, based on a poor understanding of the facts and issues, and fed on generalities, is not a platform for positive change. These people are yelling, not talking, and they’re certainly not listening.
The problems facing our country can’t be solved by yelling, or by muscling the opposition out of the way, or by treating everyone who disagrees with us as a Nazi or a Communist. We need rational discourse, talking and listening, maybe a little compromise here and there. The tea partiers make for interesting daily news, but they aren’t going to help us one bit.
Whacks Eloquent
May 6th, 2010
1:18 pm
Snark,
And which voters will help us? Ultimately the decision is ours collectively, from the most to the least informed. At least with the Tea Party you have a group of voters who is starting to pay more attention to the stands and voting records of their representatives!
Rockerbabe
May 6th, 2010
1:35 pm
There is NOTHING sweeping about the changes President Obama has set into motion. In fact, a lot of what he has done is just the continuation of what Dubya’s did in his two terms in office. So what’s the big deal? You right wingers just loved Bushie, so what’s the problem? Oh, I know, YOUR pov lost the election and now you are upset that President Obama is sort of doing what he said he would do. . .where you not listening to the campaign? Did you not understand that the new party coming in gets to have its turn at shaping this country’s policies and laws or did you think you were going to get to govern in your usual manner – “business as usual”.
Wait a minute! Bushie and his banker friends Fu23ed up the economy and now you are having to actually pay the price for all your excessive spending habits. Poor babies – SORE LOSERS, ALL OF YOU.
Linda
May 6th, 2010
1:38 pm
JF@1:08, As I said, the major problems are not the Dems or the Reps. It’s the Progressives, Socialists, Marxists.
Obama said, “We are five days away from fundamentally transforming the US of America” & he is doing exactly that.
You answer is to stop watching the channel that more Americans watch than CNN, MSNBC & HLN combined, the only one reporting the truth, & to wait.
I have no intention to be uninformed, misled, silent nor unheard.
The Snark
May 6th, 2010
1:43 pm
Whacks Eloquent:
So remind me, what exactly is the Tea Party platform? Anything specific enough to help an elected representative make a decision on a specific bill?
Whacks Eloquent
May 6th, 2010
1:46 pm
To modify an old phrase, “It’s the taxes, stupid”! Works for me! I am pretty sure even the biggest numskull in the GOP (there are plenty) knows the Tea Party is about taxes, and that they in particular will be held accountable!
Banned By Cindy
May 6th, 2010
1:56 pm
With regards to the “where you when” assertion, it’s called “live and learn”, and reaching a “tipping point”.
Study some history. Like the Civil War and how Lincoln was a dictator who jailed people for disagreeing with him, established a worthless fiat currency to fund the war, and was responsible for 600,000 dead Americans. How about Woodrow Wilson needlessly getting the country into WW1 and establishing the seeds of BIG BROTHER and the military-industrial complex. Or Roosevelt disastrously prolonging the Great Depression with his asinine interventionist policies then “curing” unemployment by killing and maiming the “workers”
Some of us used to give the government “the benefit of the doubt”. Now after over 150 years of disastrous warmongering and fraudulent corruption, it’s “fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice shame on me”
If you STATISTS are too STATIC to adjust and would rather meekly conform to the nanny state like little helpless sheep begging and groveling for other folk’s wealth and the fruits of their risk and labor then you’re RIGHT IN THE WAY of individuals who wish to live their ONE AND ONLY lives without you blood suckers making demands of them.
Lot of nerve you have. Mind your own business. keep your hands off other folk’s “treasure” as the previous poster dimwittingly phrased it.
Linda
May 6th, 2010
1:58 pm
My husband & I participate with the Tea Party as well as the 9/12ers.
The 9 principles are:
1. America is good.
2. I believe in God and He is the Center of my Life.
3. I must always try to be a more honest person than I was yesterday.
4. The family is sacred. My spouse and I are the ultimate authority, not the government.
5. If you break the law you pay the penalty. Justice is blind and no one is above it.
6. I have a right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, but there is no guarantee of equal results.
7. I work hard for what I have and I will share it with who I want to. Government cannot force me to be charitable.
8. It is not un-American for me to disagree with authority or to share my personal opinion.
9. The government works for me. I do not answer to them; they answer to me.
The 12 values are: honesty, reverence, hope, thrift, humility, charity, sincerity, moderation, hard work, courage, personal responsibility & gratitude.
HDB
May 6th, 2010
1:59 pm
Linda
May 6th, 2010
12:52 pm
Decades ago, there was not much difference between the Dem & Rep parties, especially at the state & local levels. The problem today at the national level is that the Dem party has been infiltrated with progressives/socialists/Marxists that seem to be in the process of intentionally bringing the country to its knees.
Linda….a counterargument to your supposition:
Decades ago, there was a difference between the Democratic & Republican parties on the national level; co-founded by black people, the Republican party was devised to abolish slavery and achieve equality, especially at the state & local levels. The problem today at the national level is that the Republican party has been infiltrated with racists/neconservatives/wealth revampers that seem to be in the process of intentionally bringing the country to its knees.
Opinion??
“You answer is to stop watching the channel that more Americans watch than CNN, MSNBC & HLN combined, the only one reporting the truth, & to wait.
I have no intention to be uninformed, misled, silent nor unheard.”
As an American, it is mandated that we make informed decisions pertaining to our elected officials; NO ONE wants you to be uninformed, misled, silent nor unheard. What is DESIRED is that you get ALL of the informaton…not just the slant from Fox News. Diversify your resources…Fox is NOT fair and balanced!! If you want balanced….try the BBC!!
When I make a decision, it’s based on experience AND research from various sources…not JUST CNN, MSNBC or the locals!!
HDB
May 6th, 2010
2:07 pm
Linda…I applaud your principles…however, your idealism is flawed in several areas:
“5. If you break the law you pay the penalty. Justice is blind and no one is above it.” Justice is NOT blind!! The penalties for people of color are always GREATER than for those given to Caucasians…..fact!!
“3. I must always try to be a more honest person than I was yesterday.” The people won’t listen to an honest politician!! We had a President that told the nation that we had to deal with less (Jimmy Carter)…and he was voted out of the White House and replaced by a President who started this era of fiscal irresponsibility (Ronald Reagan)!!
The question that NO ONE has YET to answer to my satifaction is this: Where was this level of concern when the nation was getting BUSHwhacked….and Reagan’s “trickle-down” only allowed the WEALTHY to maintain??
Whacks Eloquent
May 6th, 2010
2:21 pm
HDB,
If you think justice is flawed, your argument is not with Linda! The principle she listed refers to true justice, not whatever distortion may exist in Washington. Your beef should be with them, not the Tea Partiers.
The Snark
May 6th, 2010
2:24 pm
Taxes? That’s it? Taxes? You’ve got to be kidding me.
You can’t govern a democracy with a one-note platform like “I hate taxes.” Nobdy likes taxes. But self-governance requires a bit more responsibility than “I don’t want to pay taxes.” Your tea party friends aren’t showing any sense of responsibility.
It reminds me of the time I invited my teenage kids to the living room for a family discussion of finances. After I carefully explained that the recession had reduced Daddy’s income, Mommy’s income was stagnant, and the household expenses had gone up, their only contribution was: “When am I going to get a car?”
Whacks Eloquent
May 6th, 2010
2:31 pm
Snark,
I beg to differ, but it does all tie back to taxes. Responsibility with the revenue the government gets from them. Most Tea Partiers are not complete fools, they know they will pay some taxes! But by God, why can we not DEMAND that the revenue be used responsibly? Linda posted some principles from an organized TP group, I like those, well thought out. Others like me who are not in an official group believe similarly. Beyond that, what is our responsibility? I dare say right now it is to vote these CLOWNS out of office!
Your little homily is cute, but wasn’t it all the Obama voters who expected the great “O” to give them free insurance, no more mortgage or car payments, and a job? How is that going for them? Who are the real fools?
retiredds
May 6th, 2010
2:31 pm
HDB @ 2:07, you will never get a satisfactory answer to your question because the icon Reagan and the fumbling/bumbling Bush were masters of deception. Denial does reign supreme.
Spoke Too Soon
May 6th, 2010
2:57 pm
Is the AJC aware our Commander In Chief used that foul language?
He is pathetic.
Jefferson
May 6th, 2010
3:03 pm
Nothing wrong with the country, you better enjoy life before you die.
Guy Incognito
May 6th, 2010
3:04 pm
Hey Libs,
Look at the Dow. When everybody screams, “gimme, gimme, gimme” as the socialist model teaches, the result is inevitable
Linda
May 6th, 2010
3:07 pm
HDB@1:59, There are members of all races in both parties. Calling Herman Cain, Lisa Fritsch, Kevin Jackson, Michael Meyers, Angela McGlowan, Star Parker, Charles Payne & David Webb racists is racist.
Conservatives believe in capitalism.
Your assumption that I do not diversity my news sources is another misconceived judgmental accusation.
I did not write the 9 principles. I merely believe in them & am trying to be a better person with them in mind.
Bush made many mistakes but he did not cause the economic collapse.
What is happening in the country today is unprecedented & will lead to economic collapse. Our country is being run by Progressives/Socialists/Marxists.
Audrey in Georgia
May 6th, 2010
3:07 pm
Poor Linda.
Law Abiding Citizen
May 6th, 2010
3:08 pm
Pudding Tain: Tell me just ONE thing in the new Arizona law that gives local law enforcement officials permission to do that the exact same FEDERAL LAW can’t already do! You can’t do it because they are exactly the same. The Federal government is not doing it’s job of securing the borders so the state is having to protect its citizens. And you throw out the work “racist.” Just exactly what is the definition of the word racist. You probably don’t know. You need to know these things before you make a further fool of yourself!
Whacks Eloquent
May 6th, 2010
3:13 pm
Guy Incognito,
The Dow slide today is based on what is happening in Greece. And that is because of Bush, he sold out the Greeks and gave their major manufacturing base to Haliburton. And now Haliburton has collapsed the banks over there so that they can weaken the Euro. Once the Euro is trashed, we will all switch over to using the yuan…
Williebkind
May 6th, 2010
3:13 pm
Puddin Tain
May 5th, 2010
10:31 pm
What unconstitutional law? Are you talking about the U.S. constitution or progressive liberal constitution. I have not read the progressive liberal constitution. How does it go?
Williebkind
May 6th, 2010
3:15 pm
The Snark
May 6th, 2010
2:24 pm
Seems like you are doing a great job of raising an entitlement group of kids.
scrappy
May 6th, 2010
3:15 pm
“At least with the Tea Party you have a group of voters who is starting to pay more attention to the stands and voting records of their representatives!”
If only this were true. Actually this is about as far from fact as you can get. The Tea Party seems to be made up of a mob of people that are mad that Obama & the Dems won and will whine and cry until the GOP is back in. They are not informed. Listening to talk radio and believing it all as fact does not equal informed.
Williebkind
May 6th, 2010
3:16 pm
The Snark
May 6th, 2010
2:24 pm
Seems like you are doing a great job of raising a group of entitlement mentality citizens.
Linda
May 6th, 2010
3:16 pm
The economic collapse I mentioned @ 3:07 is happening NOW on our stock market.
Williebkind
May 6th, 2010
3:18 pm
The Tea Party is recognizing the liberals in republican disguise. They have pulled off their masks and looked into a liberal face. Now it is time to undo the damage radical socialists have done. That is what I hope the Tea Party will continue to do.
Whacks Eloquent
May 6th, 2010
3:25 pm
scrappy,
the Tea Party supporters have been going after GOP candidates at town hall meetings as well. There is a good one on YouTube from NJ where the candidate is exposed for knowing jack about the Constitution. Of course there are ignoramuses in every group, but there are plenty of informed, mad-as-hell voters ready to vote out the incumbents in November! Call them TPers or what you want. But you’ll just call them racist because you don’t agree with them, that’s the Democrat way!
Linda
May 6th, 2010
3:31 pm
Williekind@3:38, Republicans in name only are RINOs. The supposedly pro-life Blue Dog Democrats who held out on the health care bill until they were bribed are now called Yellow Dogs.
G
May 6th, 2010
3:32 pm
Maybe some rebranding would be in order. Tea Party sounds like a bunch of rich people sitting around eating crumpets and sipping tea.
I don’t see anyone dressed as natives and dumping government cheese in the water.
HDB
May 6th, 2010
3:40 pm
Whacks Eloquent May 6th, 2010
2:21 pm
“HDB,
If you think justice is flawed, your argument is not with Linda! The principle she listed refers to true justice, not whatever distortion may exist in Washington. Your beef should be with them, not the Tea Partiers.”
Whacks…I have no beef with Linda; I was pointing out the fallacies of her premise. Justice is NOT just found in Washington, but Atlanta, Macon, Columbus……
The Tea Partiers did NOT exude this level of vitriol when Bush was President; is it NOT appropriate to ask the TRUE meanings behind such an uprising?? Where was the concern from the right when Bush took war spending off the books? Where was the concern from the right when Bush’s cronies prospered with no-bid contracts…and American GIs were electrocuted due to shoddy worksmanship??
Linda May 6th, 2010
3:07 pm
“HDB@1:59, There are members of all races in both parties. Calling Herman Cain, Lisa Fritsch, Kevin Jackson, Michael Meyers, Angela McGlowan, Star Parker, Charles Payne & David Webb racists is racist. ”
First, I didn’t call them racists; I’ve OFTEN said that black conservatives are USED by white conservatives as a wedge to marginalize the black community!! There is persistent PROOF that that is occurring!!
As a moderate, I too believe in capitalism….but I also believe in a strong social safety net!! Many conservatives seek the destruction of that safety net to create a more-draconian existence. That, I FIGHT against!!
“Bush made many mistakes but he did not cause the economic collapse.”
No, he EXPANDED it!! The cause of the economic collapse was cut and spend Republican policies enacted in 1980 by Ronald Reagan! That is the foundation of present conservative dogma!! How can you CUT taxes, increase spending, and then expect fiscal responsibility!! Note: the last balanced budget was with a DEMOCRAT at the helm!!
“What is happening in the country today is unprecedented & will lead to economic collapse. Our country is being run by Progressives/Socialists/Marxists.” Not true….progressives are quite different from socialists and Marxists!! If yo desire to BLAME….blame the people for putting fiscally irresponsible Republicans in leadership positions….blame the people for falling for the Republican hype and divisional tactics……
HDB
May 6th, 2010
3:43 pm
Law Abiding Citizen May 6th, 2010
3:08 pm
Pudding Tain: Tell me just ONE thing in the new Arizona law that gives local law enforcement officials permission to do that the exact same FEDERAL LAW can’t already do!
In Arizona, the police can question you in your home if your grass isn’t cut…while waiting for the bus…while you are walking your dog….while you’re CUTTING your grass…..while you’re sitting on your porch…..
The law was made vague to give police unfettered POWER!! Sorry, I don’t want to go there!!
ajsux
May 6th, 2010
3:49 pm
If you want to change the system, reduce the requirements for independents and third party candidates to get on the ballot in Georgia. Georgia has the worst ballot access laws in the country. Nothing will ever change until we can really challenge the status quo. but, it has been impossible to change because the dems and repubs agree on one thing, if independents and third parties get on the ballot (and real people, not the kooks from the libertarian party), their time for accountability is coming.
UGA Law
May 6th, 2010
4:06 pm
Tea Party 2.0? Really, Kyle? You expect Republicans and Fox News to permit the Tea Party to be an independent organization, rather than a total and completely subservient subsidiary of the Republican Party? The organization was created by national Republican organizations, and they won’t let it go.
retiredds
May 6th, 2010
4:06 pm
This just in from Reuters”
WASHINGTON, May 6 (Reuters) – The U.S. Senate voted on Thursday to reject an amendment from Republicans to a sweeping Wall Street reform bill that would have weakened a proposed financial consumer watchdog bureau.
So, who’s side are the Republicans on, Main Street or Wall Street?
Libby
May 6th, 2010
4:16 pm
Join the Liberal Party! We serve KoolAid and worship our ObamaGod!
It’s simply delish and you’ll come running back for more!
retiredds
May 6th, 2010
4:19 pm
Guy Incognito and Linda: the stock market closed at 10,532. Earlier in the month it got to 11,205. The correction to date is 673 points or 6%. Many market professionals consider a 10% correction a good possibility. The economy is not collapsing and the socialists aren’t running the markets. Granted today’s precipitous drop on the Greek jitters shows the potential for a larger correction but once the dust settles the trend is for a trading range of from 9,500 to 11,500 for quite awhile. There will be ups and downs which is what markets do.
retiredds
May 6th, 2010
4:22 pm
my second sentence should read, “Earlier in April it got…
Linda
May 6th, 2010
4:36 pm
HDB@3:40, You said the Rep party has been infiltrated with racists. I gave you a list of black Reps. Now you’re accusing them of being used, as if they were ignorant or stupid. I can assure you that Cain, the former buyer & President of Godfathers Pizza is not used by anyone. Jackson wrote “The Big Black Lie” without any influence from the Rep party. Meyers with the NY Civil Rights Coalition, who voted for O, has a mind of his own. Nobody messes with Payne. Webb talks to his listeners all day long & decides for himself. Parker is smarter than all of us put together. McGlowan is drop-dead gorgeous & is an expert in diplomacy with those she disagrees with.
These are people who I greatly admire. They speak for themselves & believe that their principles are more important than & that their character has nothing to do with their skin color. Black conservatives have the most courage & are the least racist members of our society. How dare you accuse these black intelligent, highly successful conservatives of being used!
Who deserves this strong safety net other than orphans, the disabled, our veterans & those temporarily out of work? Do you know the difference between Robin Hood & Jesus Christ?
The economic collapse was the ideology of Affordable Housing = Social Justice, the belief that home ownership was a right, not a privilege, started under Clinton.
Progressivism sounds better then Socialism/Marxism but my history does not differentiate between them.
The Reps made mistakes but they have never spent a billion billion dollars = a trillion dollars in a bill, let alone 3 of them.
HDB
May 6th, 2010
4:59 pm
Linda May 6th, 2010
4:36 pm
I never said ignorant nor stupid…but you right, I DID say USED!!
I listen to Herman Cain….note when he was hired at Pillsbury…note how he was EDUCATED (HBCU – MOREHOUSE!). How dare you accuse these black intelligent, highly successful conservatives of being used!
Easily — why are the spouting the same idioms that white conservatives use to marginalize the black community?? Why have they yet to reach BACK into the community if their paradigm is so successful?? When I listen to black conservatives, I hear condescention….not positives!! The delivery obstructs the message!! You hear things from a white perspective…you see things from a white perspective!! Change your paradigm and look fromt the other side of the fence!! I say this as an educated, experienced black man of close to 60!! I DO believe in education, hard work…..but I ALSO see the paradox that conservatism is…and the racist paradigm that it embraces….and the refusal of black conservatives to call out that racism in order to be accepted by whites!!
If you desire a different perspective:
http: // blackcommentator.com/ 154/154_thindwa_black_conservatives.html
(spaces to ensure the transmission of the link)
..and I DO read Walter WIlliams and Thomas Sowell..and have listened to Herman Cain…..I speak from EXPERIENCE…not from conjecture!!
HDB
May 6th, 2010
5:05 pm
Linda….also note the writings of Sophia Nelson…and note the paradoxes she presents……
Each of your HEROES wish to deny that racism exists…and it’s impact!! They wish to portray themselves as “rugged individuals” who made it on their own accord…while denying that they had assistance in their lives that granted them access to success! I KNOW that I got help…and the GOVERNMENT through the FORCE OF LAW assisted me in getting the ACCESS to become SUCCESSFUL!! That can NOT be denied…but many black conservatives attempt to DENY that fact!! In that aspect…YES, they ARE BEING USED!!
HDB
May 6th, 2010
5:06 pm
Good night all….see you tomorrow!!
Kevin….hang in there!!
Linda….thanks for the dialogue…..look at a different perspective if possible!!
Linda
May 6th, 2010
8:11 pm
HDB@4:59, 5:05 & 5:06, One cannot be used unless one is ignorant or stupid, ignorant meaning lacking common sense & intuit, not education. Herman Cain, et al, are neither ignorant, stupid or used. These conservative black people are brilliant.
I came from a family of Democrats & am still a registered Dem. I am a conservative because I believe in a small fed. govt. limited to its roll as specified in the Constitution, fiscal responsibility (not spending $ we do not have for pork we do not need), lower taxes, rights as specified in the Bill of Rights, states’ rights, & social issues. Why is it difficult for you to think that blacks don’t share these visions? The Dem party is more secular than the Rep party & more blacks are Christian than not. That’s the paradox. Black Dems are in the wrong party.
You & I are about the same age (except I have a little more “experience”). Our children & grandchildren will tell you that idioms, communities, perspectives & paradigms no longer have color. We go by character, principles, morals, not color. I hear & see things from a colorless perspective. If you are still on one side of the fence, tear the fence down. Racism is almost over for the same reason that kids outgrow bullying. The only true racists left in America today are a few old black men & their followers. Every generation grows further away from it.
The black conservatives do not call out racism in the Rep party because it doesn’t exist. The worst insult you made was to accuse this same group of pandering “in order to be accepted by the whites.” These outstanding men & women don’t need acceptance from anyone, especially whites. They have already arrived.
With every passing day, I see more ways the Dem party is using/manipulating low-income people from all races. Progressives use social justice, economic justice & now ecological justice to gain votes & power. They don’t give a tinker’s whit about the people themselves.
Try going a week without seeing color or better yet, go out of your way to be extra nice to someone of a race different from yours. (Avoid the potholes & you won’t get a flat.) I see that blacks came from a position of strength & triumph. God wouldn’t have created any of us in these skins to see any of us suffer & fail or, worse, to fight among ourselves.
May God bless you & may everyone you love, love you back & even more, because of your character.
Michael H. Smith
May 6th, 2010
9:45 pm
Linda,
Something you might find interesting about Woodrow Wilson, who was a socialist (so-called progressive), that many do not know. Woodrow Wilson is responsible for segregating America’s military, which until he became President it wasn’t. In fact, this segregation extended into many other areas of government as well.
Another interesting fact, until the Republicans abandoned blacks, virtually surrendering and ceding the battle for reconstruction to the Democrats, blacks were all Republicans and were even elected to office as Republicans after the war between North and South. Unfortunately, after Lincoln’s death the Republicans lost their moral soul. As a result the aristocracy(condemn it to hell) of the South had its’ regrettable “separate but equal society” and the South who lost the war, won the battle for reconstruction. Which was later endowed by Socialist Democrat Woodrow Wilson’s gift of segregating the military and government.
If you are black in this country, the sad fact is that neither political has done your bidding in good faith, notwithstanding collateral benefits from results of service to political expediency.
The Tea Party, which is only a movement at the moment, should it ever become an actual political party with a party platform plank is one of the best opportunities for black citizens of this country to have, actually shape and mold, a political party they have never had in this country, without the baggage of the past that the other two political parties will forevermore carry in tow.
You can consider this an open invitation from one member of The Tea Party to join and take part in making this movement into the political party none of us have ever had – but rightly deserve?
Michael H. Smith
May 6th, 2010
10:05 pm
No More Progressives!
May 6th, 2010
12:13 pm
Though it may be possible, I’ll never bet against America. Even when all the odds were improbable that America would survive, those who wagered on America’s demise have always lost.
Linda
May 6th, 2010
10:53 pm
Michael, Wilson was a progressive/socialist/Marxist who raised the top income tax rate to 77%. He reigned during the Forgotten Depression. Now, we have another one.
I don’t think the Reps abandoned blacks (I refuse to use the term African-Americans). I think the blacks were manipulated/used by the Dems. History at one time taught us how to avoid repeating mistakes, but history is being distorted & manipulated now in our schools. Our children are being indoctrinated by the fed govt., especially Obama, & we must stop it. We must eliminate the fed. dept. of education.
The Tea Party does not wish to become another party. It would be counterproductive.
StevenCee
May 7th, 2010
9:14 am
Why begin the column with a false premise? From everything I hear about, and from the Tea Party people, ” The public is weary of Washington’s hard-left policies,” is not very accurate.
I thought they are tired of government being ruled by the big corporations, not being responsive to the people, spending way too much, trade policies costing millions of American jobs, etc, which are hardly all attributable to “Washington’s hard-left policies”! As someone who is an Independent, with some views considered “conservative” & probably more considered “liberal”, I find it humorous to describe Obama’s administration’s actions as “hard-left”, maybe even laughable. Aside from healthcare reform (which, lacking any kind of broader access to a government plan is not even close to being “far-left”), most of what he’s done is not very far from many of Bush’s policies, except maybe for making more of an earnest effort at tackling our financial mess.
Much of the mud slung his way is by some horribly mis-informed & uninformed citizens. Hearing many of them saying how “Obama’s raised their taxes”, is also laughable, since it’s 100% without foundation, as are many of the other gripes they’ve been told by their less-than-credible, millionaire elitist entertainers, broadcasting misinformation 24/7. When people allow others to do their thinking for them, all kinds of fantasies (or lies) become their reality, and really, it’s not laughable, it’s sad, & as someone who grew up when truth was actually a value & what journalism was all about, it’s really, really sad….
Chris Broe
May 7th, 2010
9:54 am
The Dow’s plunge could have been aggravated by the live feed of the Greek riots into the floor of the exchanges. The dow dropped ten points for every molotov cocktail. It’s a good thing they didn’t show the baseball fan taser video. We coulda had another ‘29.