Will and Kate, the tea party, and ‘anti-elitism’
The barrage of coverage in our media of the engagement of Will and Kate, the future king and queen of England, is easy to explain. It’s the latest news event for our celebrity-drenched culture.
What I had a harder time understanding, before I lived in Europe, was the appeal of a monarchy within a democracy like Britain, or Spain, or the Netherlands, in the 21st century. Could any institution be more anachronistic? Why do some people still put up with having, even paying taxes to maintain, a king or queen?
The answer I finally settled on, after getting to know natives of those and other countries with royalty, transcends mere tradition. It goes something like this: We are theirs, but they are also ours.
The royal rush this past week — and the irony of American fascination with the heir to the British crown in this age of the tea party — got me to thinking about how that sentiment went missing in the relationship between American “commoners” and our own elites.
Ask people of any political persuasion what’s wrong with this country, and you repeatedly will hear some version of We are theirs, but they have spun out of our control.
You see it in many areas of American life: in anger at fat-cat CEOs and Wall Street bailouts, in frustration at the mainstream media and its biases, in contempt for Hollywood liberals as well as organized religion. It is clearest in relation to politics.
There is populism across the political spectrum; see the left’s constant assaults on “the rich.” But the most potent brand of people power today belongs to the tea party.
Tea-party populism is sometimes described as anti-elitism, even anti-intellectualism when the subject expands to include the cultural and academic elite. The labels are mistaken.
“Fairness” and equality of outcomes (as opposed to equality of opportunity), the great leveling of society by whittling away at the top, are not the tea partiers’ preoccupations.
They don’t resent people who are successful or intelligent. What they resent is those people who believe success or intelligence comes with the right to tell everyone else what to do. The tea partiers believe not only that the “elites” don’t necessarily know what is good for the rest of us but, worse, that they don’t even bother to ask.
There’s a difference between tea-party populism and the way it is depicted. But while the left and right argue about that, it’s becoming clear that vast caste in the middle, the independents, are buying what the tea party is selling — for now, and only up to a point.
We have seen the political pendulum set land-speed records as it swings from one party to the other and back again. Come January, the balance of power in the House of Representatives will have gone from Republicans +31, to Democrats +78, to Republicans +51, in a span of just six years.
The mantra of the independent voters pushing the pendulum back and forth seems to be: We can’t trust either party past the next election.
As long as the middle remains in that mind-set, the attraction of limited government will only get stronger. The challenge for the newly elected members of our political elite is to make good on their promises — and to go about that in an orderly, sober, well-explained fashion.
Do that, and the claims of rampant “anti-elitism” will become an anachronism, too.
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146 comments Add your comment
bc
November 20th, 2010
5:05 pm
Michael H. Smith 12:50AM “Wouldn’t it be interesting if Jefferson, Adams, Franklin and the rest could see what has become of their grand experiment, the new order of the ages?
They would definitely join in the Tea Party at the very least. Most likely they would be pushing for a Constitutional convention to be held before they declared another revolution”
I won’t presume to speak for Jefferson, Adams, and Franklin. My guess, which is as good as yours, is this: If they appeared today, and saw that the “experiment” had expanded to fifty states, that it had survived a terrible civil war, that slavery in this country had been abolished, that it survived a world war in which it was largely responsible for saving both ourselves, Europe and Asia from tyranny and then helped both our friends and our enemies rebuild their ravaged countries, that the country and its’ people have persevered in the face of economic depressions, recessions and downturns and yet remain mostly optimistic, industrious and largely prosperous, that it has grown to include 300 million people from all walks of life, and those 300 million souls while they gripe, grumble and quarrel with each other maintain confidence in the form of government they established and are still trying to get it right… I believe they would ask to address a joint session of congress to say “Well done, we are gratified to see that the grand experiment continues”. And I believe they would be proud of the country, warts and all, that they helped establish.
Also, anyone today entertaining the idea of having another constitutional convention is no friend of the people of the United States.
iRun
November 20th, 2010
5:17 pm
You don’t presume to speak for them? Then what’s this:
“They would definitely join in the Tea Party at the very least. Most likely they would be pushing for a Constitutional convention to be held before they declared another revolution”
If that’s not speaking for some dead people, I don’t know what is.
I can out run you, too.
iRun
November 20th, 2010
6:32 pm
Once again, I have killed a blog with my awesome running ability!
Michael H. Smith
November 20th, 2010
7:40 pm
bc
November 20th, 2010
5:05 pm
I doubt every bit of your revisionist opinion that “they” meaning, Jefferson, Adams, Franklin and the rest, would – as you boldly suggest – say, “job well done”. They would be sickened by the so-called Progressives from the elite socialist segregationist Woodrow Wilson to the elite apologist Barrack Hussein Obama who sees America as ordinary and common place among the nations of the world. By the way, how many wars did the so-called Progressive a.k.a. LIBERAL DEMWITS get us into saving the world? Ahem…..
Then again they, meaning Jefferson, Adams, Franklin and the rest would not be delighted at the other part of left side – Liberal-tarians – that disavowals the commerce clause meant to regulate a so-called “Free Market” – Et al laissez-faire.
When your opinion at least comes to grips with the reality that only one third of our government is elected by a popular vote – as in a democracy which means “one man, one vote” that results in “a rule by majority” – while the other two thirds of our government is not elected by a popular vote – as in a Represented Republic which protects the rights of minorities that results in “a rule by law” – then maybe your opinion will begin to be about as worthy of reality as mine.
If the founders would be amazed at anything praise worthy today it would be in the fact that their design despite all their own doubts of its success and all else that occurred thereafter which should have destroyed their very well devised plans, remains present in hopes of reform back to the fundamental principles of their envisioned Republic having a weak centralized government as they had established it.
Lil' Barry Bailout
November 20th, 2010
8:26 pm
duck feal
The president is the only Democrat that even tried to put up a good argument for the accomplishments of the last two years
———————
He could afford to…he wasn’t running for anything. It’s all the other Democrats who took the beating for him.
Dusty
November 20th, 2010
10:37 pm
Aw Kyle,
Can’t we have a litle fun with Kate and Will? Some of us grew up with “Prince Charming” and there was the ever bouffant Barbie and stalwart Ken . Don’t guess you ever had a “moon ring” but now you can get a geuine artificial ring like Kates! Whoopee! (Better than a secret code ring!)
Kate & Will are just our every day escape mode. Have there ever been as many shootings, murders, killer wrecks, home invasions, school cheating etc. etc etc. ? We need to get away from it for a few thoughts into the lovely bliss of imagination.
.I know. You’d rather play golf. Oh well, wonder if the wedding dress will be a bouffant cloud of glorious white and gold and where did I put that ring order? Here comes the bride! LA la lala…You men are soooo stuffy!!
John Franklin (JF) McNamara
November 21st, 2010
12:09 am
There’s a difference between tea-party populism and the way it is depicted. But while the left and right argue about that, it’s becoming clear that vast caste in the middle, the independents, are buying what the tea party is selling — for now, and only up to a point.
What? The same media that depicted the healthcare law as having death panels in depicting the tea party unfairly. How dare they?
The left and right aren’t arguing. The tea partyers are extreme right by definition. They were in Republican primarys and ran the most extreme candidates.
The vast caste didn’t vote anything. The Republicans were mad Obama won, especially in the South, and they showed up in droves. Tea Partyers represented somewhere in the area of 35% of the voters. Anger helps turnout.
Now, instead of yelling with no accountablility, they get to govern. Let’s see what they do.
DavidW
November 21st, 2010
5:31 am
They won’t be king and queen of England, because there are no such positions. They would become king and queen of the United Kingdom. There has been no king or queen of England since the Act of Union in 1707, which merged the thrones of England and Scotland.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
November 21st, 2010
6:51 am
How do you like this one, Code Pinko?
LISBON, Portugal — President Barack obozo on Saturday said for the first time he wants U.S. troops out of major combat in Afghanistan by the end of 2014, the date he and other NATO leaders set for moving Afghans into the lead role in fighting the Taliban. -Urinal
“Said for the first time,” eh?
According to Defense Secretary Robert Gates, the timetable, which aims to begin removing U.S. troops by July of 2011, will not create a situation through which violent extremists can simply wait out the clock.
President Barack Obama announced the withdrawal timetable Tuesday evening coupled with a pledge to send 30,000 more U.S. troops.
He missed his first date by three years? After 9 months of “deliberations?”
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
November 21st, 2010
7:32 am
Bibi’s husband, Ashiq Masih, said that is what happened to his wife in June 2009, after she exchanged words with Muslim women picking fruit in their village over their refusal to drink water she had fetched for them, complaining that the container had been touched by a Christian.
The angry women claimed Bibi had insulted Islam’s Prophet Muhammad, and the local imam denounced her from the pulpit, prompting dozens of Muslims to drag her from her home. She was eventually taken to the local police station and charged with blasphemy, then tried and sentenced to be hanged. -Urinal
Aahhh, the religion of “peace.”
Carol
November 21st, 2010
7:47 am
AMEN
Michael H. Smith
November 21st, 2010
7:58 am
The tea partyers are extreme right by definition.
And who wrote that definition? The Socialist Liberals?
They were in Republican primarys and ran the most extreme candidates.
How can the independents in the middle be labeled by you or anyone else as extreme right if “They”, as you call and ascribe to them the political middle?
Furthermore, how can a movement which is not a political party national or otherwise that only has a few consistent political themes as issues, fronting supposedly for a national political party platform of a non-existent national political party sanction a candidate? Did they hijack the Republican Party? What a bunch of RINOS! LOL
Ah but not to worry “They”, these loosely non-organized groups of local-yocals mostly from the South pose what real threat, if “They” only represent a mere 35% of voters nationally?
I mean, if you are on the far left of politics looking at those in the political middle of mainstream America I guess “They” really are EXTREME in your mind’s eye and the only EXTREMISM “They” represent is in their populism attempts to move the body of politics back to the political center away from the two elite political fringes of the Left and Right. Thank God this is only happening in the South, it would be frightening to think the DEMWIT DUNKEYS of the elite SOCIALIST LEFT suffered their worst defeat since the ’30s NATIONALLY!
The worst defeats the Left-Wing has suffered happened outside of the South thanks to the independent middle voter that has firmly REJECTED the BIG GUB’MENT SOCIALIST bunk Obama-Pelosi and Reid have sold them.
The TEA PARTY which is not a political party is onto something that just might be the god-send of all reforms. While those who oppose us, relish our few defeats and political missteps take no account of their own losses, we shall surely gain.
Left wing management
November 21st, 2010
8:29 am
The Tea Party will fail. The only question is, how well will they fail.
Left wing management
November 21st, 2010
8:35 am
:The TEA PARTY which is not a political party is onto something that just might be the god-send of all reforms.”
Interesting how vociferously you define your position as anti-Left wing, obvious assuming, following Limbaugh and Hannity, etc., that this position is fully aligned with the Democratic party leadership. I believe if you were a little more subtle in your political definitions – and here ’subtlety’ means throwing out the useless Left-Right differentiations and looking at the raw movement of interests, like an underground sewer of the political scene – you might find that there are many people on the so-called “Left” side of the spectrum who share your concerns and might be potential allies in a movement that would in fact truly bring about your anticipated “god-send”.
In short, I don’t think you’re cunning enough – because the Limbaughs and Hannitys and Murdochs and Ailes of the world want to reserve things like that for themselves, they’re greedy that way.
Michael H. Smith
November 21st, 2010
9:05 am
If The TEA PARTY should fail, its’ failure certainly will not be due in any part to the lack of examples well provided by the proceeding chartered failures that are the Democrat Party and Republican Party.
In fact, it is this idea of Political Party that has probably given us the “ideal model” for the perfection of failure.
Until individual loyalty to principle is no longer the slave-servant of the political party master the freedom to succeed remains chained in failure. (you can quote me on that one, thanks in greater part to the words spoken by Jefferson)
“If I could not go to heaven but with a party, I would not go there at all.”
- Jefferson
“I never submitted the whole system of my opinions to the creed of any party of men whatever in religion, in philosophy, in politics, or in anything else where I was capable of thinking for myself. Such an addiction is the last degradation of a free and moral agent.”
- Jefferson
Michael H. Smith
November 21st, 2010
9:31 am
Left wing management
November 21st, 2010
8:35 am
…following Limbaugh and Hannity, etc. ?
Yes, you are obviously assuming and obviously assume wrong on many fronts!
I still have an open challenge to Mr. Hannity (or any others of like mind) to defend their so-called “Free Market”, based solely on the Constitution. Care to joust at that Mr. Glenn – I’m a Libertarian – Beck? Funny how you guys always talk about getting back to the fundamentals of the Constitution, until it confronts you with the powers granted to the Big Bad Gub’ment the authority to – OMG Mr. Boortz – REGULATE our not so “Free Market”. Ahem…
I think you will find the few potential allies you speak of either in the TEA PARTY movement already or at the very least supportive of it and they are more centrist than left, with the exception of social issues.
And for the record Left wing management, I oppose the Bush tax cuts remaining in place without the justification of offsetting spending cuts. Which of course means reductions in all areas of government and entitlement reform at some very near point will have to take place.
Left wing management
November 21st, 2010
9:51 am
“And for the record Left wing management, I oppose the Bush tax cuts remaining in place without the justification of offsetting spending cuts.”
Ok, we’re good on that score.
“I still have an open challenge to Mr. Hannity (or any others of like mind) to defend their so-called “Free Market”, based solely on the Constitution. Care to joust at that Mr. Glenn – I’m a Libertarian – Beck?”
Good luck with that.
Michael H. Smith
November 21st, 2010
10:39 am
Good luck with that.
The harangue of their silence to address this Constitutional issue, oh so deafening, is speaking undeniable volumes on their behalf. Under the authority of the Constitution, Congress shall regulate the economy of this country for the general welfare of the citizenry.
How unfortunate Congress delegates to an unelected bureaucracy its awesome powers and irresponsibilities to regulate our economy. Every regulation that is written by the bureaucracy should have to go before the full body of Congress for an up or down vote before it could ever carry the weight of law.
Do you think for a moment what is presently going on with the elite TSA enforcing body groping/body scanning as a regulation would ever have been past into law by Congress?
Now, have we all learned an invaluable lesson as to why we should not allow our Congress to delegate its powers to regulate, create what is in effect law, to a bureaucrat or the bureaucracy?
Time to brew some TEA by testing the Republican mettle that always P-moans Regulations.
Every regulation that is written by the bureaucracy should have to go back before the full body of Congress for an up or down vote before it could ever carry the weight of law.
Now, put up or shut up. Pass the above idea into law or simply cower to the betrayal silence.
yuzeyurbrain
November 21st, 2010
11:20 am
You have some good points. However, you do not mention the “Know-Nothing” aspect of American populism, which is a large component of the current Tea Party phenomenon. It is an uglier strain of the American psche and explains the scapegoating of people who are “different”, particularly Hispanics and Moslems, tribal (for me and my group) instincts, and disdain for those who are smarter. To the know-nothings, even my handle “yuzeyurbrain” gets them agitated. And their are certain contradictions, for example, like the respect for great wealth and the desire of many Tea Party folks to be at the top of the money heap and the acceptance of the rest of us be hardworking thrifty, and servile, poor folks. One contradiction I have never understood, however, is why the same people who prefer major elected officials to be no smarter than them would always prefer the best neurosurgeon to handle a brain tumor or the best lawyer to defend them if arrested?
Michael H. Smith
November 21st, 2010
11:57 am
…uglier strain of the American psche ?
The uglier strain of psyche that exist in American society is the one that would divide Americans into such things as Hispanics or Muslims for some special recognitions or privileges awarded, other than those entirely given to the American in identity.
There are no contradictions in human nature, other than the commonly shared nature of all being totally human.
Real Athens
November 21st, 2010
12:26 pm
Would be these folks be considered “elitists”?
http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/perdue-staff-climb-pay-748031.html
Now that’s the kind of change that is good for our state: Tea Party change.
I’m sure all of these people would have been hired if vetted through the normal process (most of us go through) of: application; interview and selection of the best candidate.
Some top state staffers who have switched jobs in recent months and their salary changes:
Kevin Clark
Old Job: Governor’s Office, deputy executive counsel and deputy chief operating officer
Old salary: $113,500
New job: Executive director of the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority
New salary: $135,000
Pat Wilson
Old Job: Governor’s Office, government affairs director
Old salary: $93,700
New Job: Deputy commissioner of Department of Economic Development
New salary: $125,000
Heidi Green
Old Job: Deputy commissioner of Department of Economic Development
Old salary: $123,600
New Job: Commissioner of the Department of Economic Development
New Salary: $150,000
Kenley Finlayson
Old job: Division director with the governor’s Office of Planning and Budget
Old salary: $109,798
New job: Director of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council
New salary: $120,000
Erin Hames
Old job: Governor’s office policy director
Old salary: $74,800
New job: Chief of staff, Department of Education
New salary: $144,200
Misty Giles
Old job: Governor’s public safety adviser
Old salary: $41,200
New job: Division head at the Office of Planning and Budget
New salary: $90,500
Debbie Dlugolenski
Old job: Deputy director, Office of Planning and Budget
Old salary: $138,312
New job: Director, Office of Planning and Budget
New salary: $155,000
Trey Childress
Old job: Director, Office of Planning and Budget
Old salary: $124,000
New Job: Governor’s Office, chief operating officer
New salary: $139,500
Tommy Hills
Old job: Governor’s Office, chief financial officer
Old salary: $130,308
New job: State treasurer
New salary: $130,308
Jannie Marie Miller
Old job: Governor’s transportation adviser
Old salary: $88,580
New job: Executive director, Georgia Regional Transportation Authority
New salary: $120,000
Joe Doyle
Old job: Director, Governor’s Office of Consumer Affairs
Old salary: $114,280
New job: Commissioner, State Personnel Administration
New salary: $134,000
Ken Stewart
Old job: Commissioner, Department of Economic Development
Old salary: $156,818
New job: Senior advisor for industry strategy, Georgia Tech
New salary: $240,000
snoqualmiefalls
November 21st, 2010
12:34 pm
Corporate welfare? Like farm subsidies? Tobacco subsidies? Sugar beet subsidies?
Yeah, get rid of it all and who is going to donate the big bucks to political races?
Arguements put forth in this paper by Lil Barry are just one more reason I would never,ever, live in the old confederacy, Lincoln made a mistake,should have just let the confederacy leave the Union, the rest of us, not living in an alternative reality would be much better off.
Paulo 977
November 21st, 2010
12:35 pm
ND @10:38pm
Well said ….
Michael H. Smith
November 21st, 2010
12:50 pm
The Democrats in this state are far too modest to ever accept the honest credit due to them for the change that has taken place. I mean, everything was so well vetted under their 100 years of control.
DannyX
November 21st, 2010
1:15 pm
“I mean, everything was so well vetted under their 100 years of control.”
Ex-Democrat Perdue and ex-Democrat Deal sure changed things!
Again what change?
We have Atlanta Gas Light Short Skirted Lobbyists, Georgia Power give-a-ways, Sonny Land Deals, Sonny Tax Deals, Sonny Business Deals, Sonny Loans, Deal no-bid contacts, Bank failures, transportation failures, water failures, education failures, and State imposed property tax increases. There are lobbyists camped out under the Gold Dome.
This state is run by the Christian Coalition Of Good Ol’ Boy Republicans. Nothing has changed since the days of the “Christian Coalition Of Good Ol’ Boy Democrats.” Nothing.
The Tea Party is not allowed near government of Georgia. No room form them at all here.
DannyX
November 21st, 2010
1:35 pm
What Tea Party…What change?
From about an hour ago, ajc.com….
“As Republican Nathan Deal prepares to take office as Georgia’s next governor he’s relying on a transition team stacked with current and former lobbyists, business leaders and others who could have a financial stake in the decisions of his administration.”
“…stacked with current and former lobbyists,…” Warning to the Tea Party! You are not welcome here in Georgia. Stick with rants about Obama and the Dems. We will crush you.
Look! Over there, a socialist Obama old lady death squad…
Real Athens
November 21st, 2010
2:30 pm
The Georgia GOP: Making it safe for businesses to decide what residents pay for services aka Corporate Welfare.
Welcome to the Future:
Georgia Power rates will go up $844 million over the next three years, according to a deal reached Friday.
Signed by the company, the litigating staff of the state Public Service Commission and a group of large retailers, the deal would push up the typical residential customer’s bill by an average of $15 per month by 2013.
The bulk of that, or $10.86 per month, would take effect Jan. 1. … In a statement, the company said business customers will see an increase of about 7 percent to 8.7 percent in their bills, while residential rates would rise 10 percent.
Thanks Tea Baggers.
Dusty
November 21st, 2010
2:31 pm
You guys certainly get yourself all tied up in knots over something that has not even happened. Gov. elect Deal has only selected a ADVISORY team to help him make plans. So some were lobbyists? I don’t believe that is illegal. The lobbyists have cut ties with their former employers..
A former lobbyists may be the more well informed on certain subjects than others. That is what Deal wants. Solid information to get him going in the right places. How can you get an experienced business leader without getting one that is in BUSINESS? If they have had business with the state, the state has a lot of business and a lot of interests. I don’t know where you folks (AJC reporters) expect to find specialists with no connections of any kind. Out in a pasture some where??
If Deal is in debt because of financial help to his daughter, that is not crooked either. He still has holdings and has turned all private business over to a Blind Trust.
So hold off on the condemnation until you have something concrete to present. Just because Deal is a Republican is not enough!
Real Athens
November 21st, 2010
2:44 pm
“The lobbyists have cut ties with their former employers.” Not.
Uh, from the same article … “As part of joining the team, lobbyists agreed to halt any lobbying activities and de-register with the state. However, they are not barred from collecting paychecks from their firms or clients while they serve.”
“A former lobbyists may be the more well informed on certain subjects than others (sic). That is what Deal wants.”
Nathan Deal is bankrupt. He wants to get paid.
DannyX
November 21st, 2010
2:58 pm
Don’t you just love socialism, Georgia style???
Georgia rate payers are the ones making the investment for the new nuclear power plants.
All the guaranteed profit from the new plants goes to company.
Don’t ya just love free market capitalism?
Good job, “Republicans.”
Dusty
November 21st, 2010
3:12 pm
OK Real Athens,
Halting all lobbying activities and de-register with the state is NOT exactly the same thing as cutting ties. Semantics, my friend. If former lobbyists get paychecks for work ALREADY done, that is not surprising. Most people like to get paid for work they have done.
Nathan Deal is bankrupt? The USA is BEYOND BROKE. Deal looks like a miser compared to the financial policies of the Obama administration. They are still adding millions to the deficit every day. (ex. Black farmers and Indian “refunds”).
So do your liberal GA fiddling while Washington burns from a liberal administration you don’t even seem to notice..
Real Athens
November 21st, 2010
3:24 pm
Spare me the “semantics”. I don’t know about you, but my paycheck does not list exactly what tasks I performed to merit my salary. Nor, does yours or lobbyists’ or governors ad infinitum.
I’ve read your posts. When did you become so unquestioning of government? Nov. 2, 2010?
The fires in Washington were started by 8 years of Republican rule (preceded by 8 years of Democratic rule – that left a surplus – preceded by blah, blah, blah, ad nauseum)– unfunded wars, tax cuts and increased spending and the Troubled Asset Relief Program signed into law by George W. Bush and supported by a Republican majority Congress.
Liberal? Conservative? Again, semantics. Think for yourself.
Dusty
November 21st, 2010
3:42 pm
Real Athens
You do your party credit. Straight down the Democratic line. Everything that goes wrong, Bush did it. Right down to that attack on 9/11 which I assume you think was done by “friends” and not terrorists.
Bush, with the best information collected worldwide, took action against what was considered the greatest threat of that time. WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. under the control of a MIddle East dictator. NO, Saddam was not a terrorist, just sitting sympathetically in the middle of them.
Meanwhile, Bush rallied this country from its knees. He moved in every way to protect this country from further attacks of any kind. If that is wrong, we are no longer a strong and worthy country.
Which brings us again to the present state of the USA. Broke and discouraged with an unpopular president.. Even a “Real Athens” usually can recognize that. Most Americans have noticed even if you haven’t. The last elections might give you a clue.
catlady
November 21st, 2010
7:00 pm
Anyone surprised that Nathan is surrounded by lobbyists? Why should he make new friends? Remember, Georgia, you were warned!
If only Georgia’s debt could be erased so easily!
Lil' Barry Bailout
November 21st, 2010
9:11 pm
DannyX: Don’t ya just love free market capitalism?
———————
Are you referring to the $7500 rebate taxpayers will have to give folks to entice them to buy the POS Chevy Volt?
Lil' Barry Bailout
November 21st, 2010
9:13 pm
catlady: Anyone surprised that Nathan is surrounded by lobbyists?
——————
Name a politician who isn’t.
WAW
November 21st, 2010
9:22 pm
A friend’s recent remarks apply very well to today’s comments:
The arrogant brooks no weakness in himself and may even secretly rejoice to find flaws in others. But imperfections are inherent in being human, so the arrogant, like everyone else, always has feet of clay, however well hidden they may be. Fearing exposure, haughtiness forms a hard shell masking inner emptiness.
My two cents: Ya’ll need to read a little more American History. Only one comment mentioned Lincoln, a couple mentioned the Civil War, and none applied the effects of these to current events. Georgia was on the losing side. The UNION won! The Georgia Senate will pledge to “one nation under God” (No comma) before pledging to “Wisdom, Justice and Moderation”. Better start trying to like each other ’cause we’re all we’ve got.
Real Athens
November 21st, 2010
9:49 pm
A $7500 tax rebate is small beans.
What about The Energy Policy Act of 2005 that mandates that billions of gallons of ethanol be blended into vehicle fuel each year, guaranteeing demand. This and US corn ethanol subsidies between $5.5 billion and $7.3 billion per year. Producers also benefit from a federal subsidy of 51 cents per gallon, additional state subsidies, and federal crop subsidies that can bring the total to 85 cents per gallon or more. US corn-ethanol producers are also shielded from competition from cheaper Brazilian sugarcane-ethanol by a 54-cent-per-gallon tariff.
khc
November 22nd, 2010
5:59 am
dusty and little barry…what a pair of maroons
Lil' Barry Bailout
November 22nd, 2010
6:12 am
I’m with you, Real Athens…let’s dump that bit of corporate welfare too!
Robert
November 22nd, 2010
7:49 am
“There’s a difference between tea-party populism and the way it is depicted. But while the left and right argue about that, it’s becoming clear that vast caste in the middle, the independents, are buying what the tea party is selling — for now, and only up to a point”.
Kyle, why are the American People legitimizing the home grown terrorist group(s) known as the “tea party” whose weapons of choice are hatred, fear and rage/mob mentality against minorities, women, gays & lesbians, Muslims and Jews. The whole world saw their hatred and rage on diplay during the 2010 midterm election. The whole world saw their lack of respect for President Obama by calling him names (Obozo, Barry, Obamacare, etc. ) and showing up at town hall meetings with loaded guns and wearing stuffed monkeys on their back. The whole world saw a new level of terrorism never before experienced by the American People when the “tea party” inspired many white Americans to vote for the entire republican ticket regardless of the canidates experience across this country. This “fear” tactic used by the “tea party” movement was designed to “take our country back” which was the battle cry used to recruit white Americans who felt disenfranchised due to the economy, lost of jobs and the election of President Obama. The whole world say America take a giant step backwards regarding civil rights and human rights.
Intown
November 22nd, 2010
9:29 am
“The challenge for the newly elected members of our political elite is to make good on their promises — and to go about that in an orderly, sober, well-explained fashion.”
I wish the Republicans saw this as their challenge. Alas, they will continue their political maneuvering to manipulate the public in order to grab power at the expense of our Republic.
No More Progressives!
November 22nd, 2010
11:00 am
Left wing management
November 20th, 2010
12:43 pm
midtownguy: “As opposed to America’s “kings” (Bush, Kennedy,et) who avoid military service and expect the “last in privilege” to do their fighting for them.”
Which Bush are you referring to? Bush Senior was a Naval Aviator in WWII and was shot down over the Pacific. Bush the second did not go to Viet Nam, but joined the TX Air National Gaurd in May 1968 & was a trained pilot flying an F-102.
The only American King I’m familiar with is the President for Life, FDR.
Left wing management
November 22nd, 2010
11:15 am
No More Progressives:
I was referring above to George Herbert Walker Bush, who served bravely and honorably.
Not So Casual Observer
November 22nd, 2010
12:08 pm
Robert@7:49am,
Your rant is pure nonsense and opinion without fact.
The Tea Party was only alleged to have brandished weapons of hate (the spitting incident, etc.) but there were no such actions at their rallies, as hard as the Lefties tried to create such an atmosphere.
I imagine the 96% of Black voters who selected Obama in 2008 does not rise to your standard for terrorism. Do the actions of the Black Panthers at polling places qualify as terrorism in your mind? Does the abject failure of the Obama administration not warrant a “take our country back” movement? Does the move toward socialism by Obama not warrant a desire by capitalists to remove the Democrats from office?
Where were you when the Democrats began the attacks on G.W. Bush immediately after the November election in 2000? Suitably appalled I hope!
Robert, your side lost and as your queen so proudly proclaimed, “Elections have consequences”!
Laurel Kornfeld
November 23rd, 2010
12:33 am
Anti-elitism will NEVER become anachronistic. There are no such things as “commoners” and “elites.” There are citizens, period. Plenty of Americans are not gushing over this wedding; in fact, we’re sick of the media trying to ram it down our throats. We had a revolution in 1776 to get rid of this sort of thing. Kate is no better than any other human being on this planet, and worshipping her or even any “celebrity” is not healthy–it makes people live vicariously instead of having their own authentic experiences. The notion of royalty is both medieval and the worst form of welfare supporting a few people who because of their parentage live parasitic lives. Remember: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men (people) are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among them life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” This statement is a direct rejection of the concept of “high born” and “low born,” a concept that has absolutely no place in the 21st century.