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Thursday, April 16, 2009

The Teabaggers Are Getting More Attention than They Deserve

Posted by Brendan Kiley on Thu, Apr 16, 2009 at 3:45 PM

... and I'm not helping. But the real problem with yesterday's demonstrations is what's behind them. Of course they're foolish. As columnist Marc Cooper wrote on how to prepare for the demonstrations:

Go to a hobby store. Buy a scale model of a U.N. One-World-Government Black Helicopter and a tube of glue. Toss the model kit. Sniff the entire tube of glue. You're all set for the party.

... are common folks actually going to dump Earl Grey into Santa Monica Bay because they are outraged, simply infuriated, by the marginal tax rate rising 3% for millionaires?

No. But, nutty as they are, the demonstrations are the saner, more public face of this:

The economic downturn and the election of the nation's first black president are contributing to a resurgence of right-wing extremist groups, which had been on the wane since the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, according to a U.S. intelligence assessment distributed to state and local authorities last week.

The report, produced by the Department of Homeland Security, has triggered a backlash among conservatives because it also raised the specter that disgruntled veterans returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan might "boost the capabilities of extremists . . . to carry out violence."

The next four years will see a spike in the poor-white persecution complex:

• More Dixie flags

• More hatred of fake urban sophistication ("the hipster" will fall even further to become a national buffoon on SNL and sitcoms)

• Fetishization of the rural (trucks and "outsider art," more urban people getting all righteous about their gardens and chickens and compost piles)

• A new fad for Southern cooking in restaurants and bars

• More nü-country songs about the guts it takes to "stay country."

And, if the economy doesn't get better soon, more crazy honkies meeting in sheds and basements in their spare time, publishing paranoid websites and stockpiling guns.

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Comments (42) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment
1
... like the last 8 years, right?
Posted by Baconcat on April 16, 2009 at 3:53 PM
2
What's so disturbing about this??

"by woody72 Florida [Apr 16, 2009 6:10:01 PM]
I had a great time scanning license plates at the Fort Lauderdale Tea Party. I even got the news trucks so we know who they are."

Oh...wait.....
Posted by heywhatsit on April 16, 2009 at 3:56 PM
3
Brendan, your predictions are hilarious and insightful.

I'd add to that list a growing number of voices for secession, either voluntarily (a la Texas) or by dissolution of the union.

That said, I look forward to being a citizen of Pacifica, the eventual union of Washington and Oregon (with Vancouver annexed by military action).
Posted by Ackham on April 16, 2009 at 4:02 PM
4
I'm hoping for a revival of the brilliant late 70's sit-com, "Carter Country".

or "Mama's Family".
Posted by michael strangeways on April 16, 2009 at 4:02 PM
5
Hipsters have been faking urban cowboy for years. Im so confused and will go straight to the Redwood after work.

Also, the Southern cooking fad is so 2 years ago.
Posted by JesseJB on April 16, 2009 at 4:03 PM
6
I'm laughing at all of it now, but part of me admits that it's possible we're only one episode of Glenn Beck away from the next Oklahoma City Bombing or an attempt on President Obama's life. I hope with all my heart that the threats outlined in that report never materialize.
Posted by Hernandez on April 16, 2009 at 4:03 PM
7
and more white Seattle liberal-types totally ignoring the vast epidemic of black and latino committed violent crime
Posted by don't forget that on April 16, 2009 at 4:06 PM
8
One positive thing we will see: More and more consumer products loudly marketed as Made in America.
Posted by tabletop_joe on April 16, 2009 at 4:08 PM
9
You left off "more Ruby Ridges, Unabombers, Wacos, and OK City truck bombs". And more memos from the NRA talking about "jack-booted thugs" (but fewer Republicans with the courage of Bush Sr. to call them on it). And more Gordon Liddys on talk shows talking about head shots.
Posted by Fnarf on April 16, 2009 at 4:08 PM
10
honkies? seriously?
Posted by anon on April 16, 2009 at 4:09 PM
11
Umm, I've been all righteous about my organic garden, disliked the emo/hipster fashion period, fetishized trucks and camo, liked guns, and enjoyed chicken fried anything for most of my life. I will admit to being a transplanted country boy, though.
Posted by seattle bike guy on April 16, 2009 at 4:13 PM
12
Eric Rudolph is another good example.

Michael Savage was railing about Homeland Security persecuting veterans and hard line Christians last night on his loopy radio show...
Posted by sad on April 16, 2009 at 4:17 PM
13
There were those weird bank bombings in rural Oregon a couple of months ago, dismissed by officials as failed robberies.
Posted by your name here on April 16, 2009 at 4:19 PM
14
Another plus: If they keep up with that southern cooking, they'll all die early of diabetes or heart disease.
Posted by deep-fried twinkies with sweet country gravy on April 16, 2009 at 4:22 PM
15
@7 - "Vast epidemic"? We're not talking about mere "violent crime" here. These are rumblings of large-scale domestic terrorism, vigilante assassinations, or worse - things that threaten the very order of society for everyone everywhere.
Posted by DavidG on April 16, 2009 at 4:28 PM
16
It's pretty absurd. If the protests against the Iraq War got a proportional (proportional in terms of actual number of protesters) amount of coverage, the Bush administration would probably have collapsed.
Posted by Michael Canfield on April 16, 2009 at 4:30 PM
Posted by it doesn't get any better! on April 16, 2009 at 4:32 PM
18
Have you heard the people sing?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6-5g78Nr…
Posted by Salute the brave Teabaggers! on April 16, 2009 at 4:33 PM
19
@16 for the insightful win.

I've seen more people at a gardening event.
Posted by Will in Seattle on April 16, 2009 at 4:39 PM
20
We have gardens and compost piles because most of modern agriculture is gross and unsustainable. And because home-grown veggies are cheap and tasty.

Not because we fetishize the rural. Fuck the rural.
Posted by violet_dagrinder on April 16, 2009 at 4:43 PM
21
that Jason Aldean video is great thanks. I'll be sure and mention this song and post at dinner tonight in my long-running argument with neighbors about people who buy/like this sort of music whether they are just uneducated vs. lack of good taste.
I mean this song is kinda a hick version of heavy metal and rap right?
Posted by no new country please on April 16, 2009 at 4:45 PM
22
As was pointed out earlier -

perspective is important - there were more people in attendance at the Mariners Opener Weds. night than there where at all of the teabagging parties combined.
Posted by downtown clown on April 16, 2009 at 4:46 PM
23
@11 I'm in the same boat...I love me some gardening, have plans to get chickens, and have been kind of obsessed with making my own everything (bread, beer, vinegar, yogurt...) lately. I have a firm belief that nothing is better than a backyard BBQ on a sunny day. Unbeknownst to me, I'm a predictable byproduct of the poor-white persecution complex! Aack!
Posted by work schmwork on April 16, 2009 at 4:47 PM
24
I guess you could say that the media’s new catch phrase these days is Tea Party. A couple of years ago, this tradition was reborn by a nationwide grassroots movement of non-partisan freedom lovers, who are seeking a return to the Constitutional roots of this nation.

Arising first as the Ron Paul Revolution and now the Campaign For Liberty, this diverse and tech-savvy group of creative individuals reignited the idea of liberty in the political collective consciousness. Congressman Ron Paul has stated many times, "freedom is popular", so as our liberties continue to be curtailed, the resistance grows. Our instinctive reflex is to rebuke these incremental attacks on our un-a-lien-able rights. This human dynamic to rebel against tyranny is also well known by the elite controllers of the world today. The veritable peaceful, organic, spontaneous, synchronistic rebellion by the immensely informed sovereigns, united under one banner of freedom, has to be prevented at all costs by the establishment. A genuine social movement would enable a paradigm shift to occur, which would enhance the publics understanding of the true geopolitical construct that sustains the status quo. This will allow people to stop fixating on presidential appointments and start focusing on the control system itself, and the architects of the global agenda who manipulate both sides of the political spectrum.

We just witnessed the liberal, anti-war, anti-Patriot Act movement, co-opted by the slick packaging of hope and change, coupled with Obama’s cult of personality. Another predictive programming operation has now been implemented in order to imprint a false neo-conservative overlay over the growing liberty movement. This will trigger a negative auto-response by those unaware of the neuro-linguistic keywords used by the media to falsely label the movement, thus preventing the next crucial growth period from happening. The liberal newspapers and blogs are playing the part by going after their predetermined enemy, but now categorizing the Tea Party movement as a pathetic swipe against Obama by the right. I do agree in some sense that the failed and discredited republicans are basing these events around attacking Obama, while ignoring issues such as the private Federal Reserve system. The problem is that the Orwellian newspeak media has left out the fact that the Ron Paul Tea Parties started under the Bush administration, and were not focused on attacking Bush, but instead were exposing the unconstitutionality of the Fed, IRS, NAU, Patriot Act, NAFTA, wars for empire and the list goes on. Our enemy is not a politician, political party or pundit, it’s the corporate governmental mechanisms of control that expand no matter who is in office.

Using history as our guide, we know that the only way for a tyrannical government to prevent an emergent revolution is to co-opt it by managing who is given the media attention, and how the movement evolves and dissolves. This is a covert operation, a false flag in a sense, using the Ron Paul meme as the camouflage for the foxes underneath. A short time ago, the spirit of the RPR was riding the wave of liberty in the political ocean and was all but ignored or ridiculed. Congressman Paul was the only candidate providing the gust of political fresh air, moving away the fog, allowing us to see the mammoth iceberg named, Federal Reserve System, approaching our vessel. Some pundits from the defunct and discredited false left-right paradigm called his supporters domestic terrorists, for questioning the unconstitutional private apparatuses of the government that have a stranglehold on the American people. Now, these same million dollar media spin-doctors, are having Ron Paul on their shows weekly to speak about the Fed and the 12.8 trillion looting that has occurred over the last year.

The partisan press cycle has picked up on these recent Tea Party events since they are organized by the establishment right as opposition to the left, leaving out the non-partisan Constitutional issues at the forefront of the Ron Paul Tea Parties. The groups organizing the Tea Party takeover are asking for tens of thousands of donations to cover the costs of limiting your free speech. The San Antonio Tea Party, which will feature the front man for Tea Party takeover Glen Beck, states what type of signs are acceptable. This blatant hijacking of the patriot, truth and liberty movement, should be further confirmation that the majority of Americans are waking up and shaking off the two-party propaganda tool that is used to divide and conquer. New counter measures had to be taken by the ruling oligarchy to prevent any further movement outside their control system. The current financial crisis has lifted the veil just enough for some light to pass through, so they need to apply a new layer of filters to conceal the truth behind the veil.

Several bills have been introduced by Congressman Ron Paul that would audit the Fed and abolish the private non-federal bank and return the monetary system back to the people through the Constitution. It’s also imperative that in the midst of this controlled demolition of our financial system, that we factually point out those who are responsible, and call for the arrest and punishment for their crimes.

The usurpers are now corralling this new group of truth seekers that we can reach, planting truthseeds, that will unlock their minds from the false reality pushers of the New World Order. We have the documentaries, books, declassified documents, think-tank policy reports, verifiable government documents to show the past, present and future goals of the New World Order. So now is the time to take action, get involved again and begin reaching out to these new minds before they get duped into the false revolution being perpetuated by the mainstream media.

Countless activists in the movement are impeding this infiltration by using the digital printing press, and burning videos that show the creation of the Fed, IRS, and the New World Order agenda for a global currency, enforced by global government run by private international bankers. We now have a chance to breakaway from the staged political system and grow the movement by reaching the newcomers to events such as the Tea Party, End The Fed and July 4th events that are occurring over the course of the year.

More...
Posted by Bob on April 16, 2009 at 4:50 PM
25
Coming soon to a teevee near you: The all new and improved Green Acres. Starring Zac Efron. I can hardly wait.
Posted by Fifty-Two-Eighty on April 16, 2009 at 4:52 PM
26
What can I say Bob - you are just fucking nuts.

The Teabagging Party was in part co-opted or stolen from the Libertarian Party by rightwingers Dick Armey's (FreedomWorks), Newt Gingrich as well as Fox News. There was no grass roots to it. But beyond all of this, you have entered into the black helicopter, tin foil hat conspiracy nuttery. I urge you to seek help before your hurt someone or perhaps yourself.
Posted by Just the Facts, Ma'm on April 16, 2009 at 4:58 PM
27
Keep bringing up Ron Paul at every opportunity, Bob. Oh, and if you find yourself on television talking about this, be sure to wear your colander.
Posted by Fnarf on April 16, 2009 at 5:09 PM
28
Hahaha. It's just an article I thought was interesting, just to see what kind of reaction I would get. But honestly, folks who automatically think someone's views are dangerous just because it doesn't resemble theirs at all are idiots, republican, democrat, or in between.
Posted by Bob on April 16, 2009 at 5:27 PM
29
Ron Paul is God.
Posted by Ron Paul, sitting at Satan's right hand on April 16, 2009 at 5:29 PM
30
Bob, your piecemeal cut-and-paste of somebody else's work, with no acknowledgment of source, reads ENTIRELY too long and never gets to a point.

And you dangle this obnoxiously composed, barely coherent thing out JUST TO GET A RISE OUT OF PEOPLE?

Are you new to the staff at the Stranger? Keep up the good work.
Posted by Ackham on April 16, 2009 at 6:07 PM
31
the only problem with the country is country folk.
Posted by Max Solomon on April 16, 2009 at 6:27 PM
32
Bob, I don't think your views are DANGEROUS. I think they're vacuous.
Posted by Fnarf on April 16, 2009 at 6:32 PM
33
I thought the intention of that DHS report was good, but I was surprised at how speculative it was. It lacked specificity for it to be of use to law enforcement, and lacked academic rigor for it to be of much policy use or use as a think piece. I think it's fair for right wing people to be defensive about the implication in the report that certain anti-government stands will lead to terrorist acts, just as it's fair for welfare state liberals to be frustrated when accused of being marxist revolutionaries. The problem is that there is reason for concern. It's just that the report wasn't very effective at conveying it, and so might have undermined its stated intention.
Posted by Trevor on April 16, 2009 at 6:33 PM
34
Nevermind that it's actually the hipster scum who are fetishizing the rural. Plaid? Check. Fur hats? Check. Taxidermy? Check.
Posted by ams on April 16, 2009 at 7:09 PM
35
Anyone who is against people who stand up to protect my freedoms is a COMPLETE ASSHOLE -- that's you, Slog writer.
Posted by dmarion@hotmail.com on April 16, 2009 at 8:31 PM
36
I'm with @20 & @23.... I don't think sustainable urban gardening has anything to do with fetishizing the rural. I'd say its quite the opposite actually, as it allows urban residents to liberate themselves from dependence on the large commercial farming operations that dominate the rural landscape. Every head of lettuce you grow or dozen eggs you get from your own flock of chickens is $2 or $3 less that you're putting in the pockets of the industries that support and propagate the idiotic ideas that so many of these people cling to. Working to become as self sufficient as possible is an incredibly smart move on the part of progressive urban residents who wish to avoid being held hostage by these ridiculous "rural values".
Posted by Queen of Sleaze on April 16, 2009 at 9:09 PM
37
28
Nice nervous laugh but your logic is deeply flawed. When someone presents a very disturbed and twisted argument as if it were absolute plain truth then it goes beyond simple disagreement. If you were posting crap about little men living in the center of the earth who communicated nightly with you, I 'd tell you that you were nuts then too. Both this view and the rambling diatribe that you posted hold about as much water equally. So, bob I stand behind what I posted but otherwise go fuck yourself.
Posted by Just the Facts, Ma'm on April 16, 2009 at 9:57 PM
38
Go to a hobby store. Buy a scale model of a U.N. One-World-Government Black Helicopter and a tube of glue. Toss the model kit. Sniff the entire tube of glue. You're all set for the party.


Had to post that again. Fair or not, that's some funny.
Posted by shabadoo on April 16, 2009 at 10:36 PM
39
I have a theory on the whole fetishization of country living. I grew up in Iowa, in a smallish town full of retired farmers and people who had grown up on farms (my mom included) Even if you were a kid who was born "in the city", chances were you'd be sent out to the fields for bean walking or detassling each Summer. Everyone still had some abstract manure on their boots.

In those days, nobody glamorized farm work, because it's not glamorous. People gardened and canned, but that was just part of housework. Restaurants and stores strived to be "sophisticated", and the idea of using an old farm implement as decor was considered tacky and lowbrow.

As people got away from farming (the old folks died and companies started buying up the farms) you started seeing the cheesy kitsch start to creep in, and the people who never handled a pitchfork started talking about "country pride". Country music became John Denver, and eventually morphed into New Country, where multi-millionaires sing songs of solidarity with the working man. The songs became less about country and more about layoffs at the plant, glurgy sentimentalism, and stubborn faux patriotism. (I have the misfortune of having a partner who, while perfectly marvelous in other ways, loves the stuff, and forces me to listen to it in the car. Yet another reason to take the train.)

Now, when I go back to the old home town, it's all country pride, all the time. Wal-Mart sells polyester gingham curtains that were made in India, and the Cracker Barrel restaurant is full every Sunday morning. Very few people garden however, and no one cans anymore (not that I blame them for that) and I think if you asked a kid about detassleing or bean walking, all you'd get is a blank stare.
Posted by Catalina Vel-DuRay on April 17, 2009 at 6:52 AM
40
@39 - And your theory is?
Posted by Steve on April 17, 2009 at 10:45 AM
41
The media are forced to struggle to prove that they're not liberal.

They manage this clever ruse by focussing intensely on highly-organized right-wing protests, while giving short shrift to real grassroots spectacles (like, say, Seattle's anti-Iraq-war demos).

Not to worry: their true liberal agenda remains untarnished.

That is all.
Posted by tunanator on April 17, 2009 at 12:40 PM
42
Steve, darling, I thought I had made myself clear: The farther we (the people) get from the farm, the more country we get. But it's a stupid, faux country.
Posted by Catalina Vel-DuRay on April 17, 2009 at 6:47 PM

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