I keep trying to tell myself that the teabaggers are irrelevant

[reflection]

but I just spent the last hour watching AndersonScooper and TYT videos* of their protests, and more importantly, their proclivity for violence when painted into a corner by people asking them legitimate questions.

I think the most disturbing thing is that their anger overlaps any and all current events. Health care, taxes, immigration. Whatever Obama and Congress are working on, they're against it.

I must grudgingly admit they are not irrelevant, they are ignorant, hateful, and dangerous.

These people scare me. This must be what pre-WWII Germany felt like. An oppressive economy, a fearful populace, and an overwhelming collective desire to slap a label on someone and attach blame for all their problems.

Older DUers: I wasn't born until 1970. Were the 60s anything like this? Or is this a whole new animal?
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(There is no point to this post, except to say that I am going to hug my girls extra tight tonight. Much love to all.)

[superduperfarleft]

1. Even if they aren't out waving signs, there's still around 50% of this country

that thought that Bush deserved two terms, and that it was perfectly acceptable to put Sarah Palin in a position of power. So while the actual Teabaggers are a loud, loony minority, there's still a large contingent of americans that sympathize with them. Yes, I know, it's a scary thought.

[RagAss]

2. Never fear a skull full of Methane.

[reflection]

4. I don't understand what you mean.

But that probably speaks to me more than it does to you. Sorry. I'm not very swift about some things.

[RagAss]

6. Just an expression....most of them don't think for themselves....by the way..

What's this fear about? We've always had bigots in this country. These people can't handle the fact that a black man is President. No mystery here. It goes against the big illusion in their tiny brains that this wasn't supposed to happen in their lifetime....they are the ones full of fear and hate.

[reflection]

11. I hear what you're saying.

I can't explain why these guys have my antenna up so straight. It may be that I'm surrounded by them in TN. It may be that I have children now and have to protect more than myself. Or maybe I'm just having one of those days.

[livetohike]

3. I was a teenager in the late 60's. I remember that the

John Birch Society was a big deal among conservatives then. I don't remember them getting the kind of coverage the Teabaggers are getting, but then we only had four TV stations in Pgh. in those years :-).

[leftynyc]

5. And like the birchers

they will have to be shown the door by fellow republicans. William Buckley outed them as the racist scum they are. I'm sure he's spinning in his grave that they're back amongst repubicans.

[livetohike]

17. Exactly!

New generation, but same old racist b.s. I think the Republican power base is letting the teabaggers have their fun, but as we get closer to November 2010, they will get serious and start squashing them. Putting Palin to rest will be the first issue.

[tblue]

7. You tell me:

It's the same 15-20% of the population effing it up for everyone else.

[ricochetastroman]

8. The 60's were completely different

There was revolution all right, but there was love, togetherness, and hope in the air. Everywhere

No joke :hi:

[Scuba]

14. The 60's were far more hopeful than today is.

[RKP5637]

18. That is quite true! I thought we were really onto something new in the 60's. I had

a lot of hope. Today I don't. In the 60's I thought things would only get better and better. Today I really don't know where we are headed. I'm not a pessimist, just a realist.

[Scuba]

19. Maybe we need some new music.

[RKP5637]

23. Exactly!!! The music in the 60's was incredible, just one group after another,

and it was fun music, all of it.

[tridim]

9. The Internet and the MSM amplify their influence, by a lot.

But I guess these days, perceived influence is really all that matters.

They're kind of like the Soviet Union during the cold war.

[reflection]

12. I thought of that.

sort of goes hand-in-hand with the poster above who states there were only 4 TV stations back in the day. Maybe we're just immersed in bad news 24-7. And these teabaggers are definitely bad news.

[RKP5637]

10. I was in college in the 60's. I remember well the looks of violence and anger during

the fight for civil rights. I also remember well those that thought the Vietnam war was was OK. All were to me really hateful lame people.

I think these people have always been with us throughout history for eons. Certainly during the 60's we saw and heard from them but it was different. like another poster said, we did not have this non-stop media coverage. Also, back then IMO, the media mostly reported facts, sort of... As I recall we did not have media for profit like now and the need to attract viewers with tabloid journalism as much to keep your P&L in line. We also had many media sources, not a handful of conglomerates like now.

The main difference I see between these people now and then is they have no robes on now.

[BlueIdaho]

13. Stop being scared - we are the majority.

They only have as much power as the rest of us are willing to give them. They are mostly old, white and fearful of the world they live in. They are the outsiders, not you and I. There is NOTHING new about this hate filled bunch of racists. They are the same 18% that would have followed George Bush into the jaws of hell. Hell they would have followed Adolf Hitler into the bunker. This is not a new political force - regardless of what the media says.

They want "their" America back? Fuck them - They can't have it back.

This is OUR America and we making it a better place for all our children.

[RKP5637]

24. Good Post!!! And as you said, and I agree, "They want "their" America back? Fuck them - They

can't have it back." The way I look at it they fucked up America, why should they have it back. There are many of us the same age that renounce everything the Teabaggers stand for. We are progressives, the same age range, but find the Teabaggers horrific. The media gives too much press to the teabaggers,

[proud patriot]

15. Don't fear hateful Cowards

Mock them it's fun

[AlinPA]

16. I lived in the 60's. This is different. That was protest, this is an attempt at takeover of a

political party. This is also hatred and bigotry. The teabaggers are angry that a person of color has become president.

[Tsiyu]

20. Hey i live in tennessee

And there are a lot of progressive, good people here. We have no more baggers - and perhaps fewer baggers - than there are in Colorado and Oklahoma or Arizona. We have a Democrat as our Governor.

So hug your girls but don't live in any fear of those old, bitter codgers and young ignorami who make up the Teabag Brigade. The are no more than a media creation and the media want you to fear them.


How one experienced the 60's depends on where one lived. I was in Upstate New York, so the Civil Rights battles were far away. but Viet Nam was always close.

People were divided, but politics wasn't openly discussed and wasn't chatted about, dissected and attacked 24/7 as it is today.

You saw the gruesome images of war. No one tried to sugarcoat our young men's deaths. This raised people's emotional connection to war.

The thing about then that is similar to now - so much upheaval, so much trauma as a national body - tends to stall people's ability to grow and move forward. Not just in a tangible way - as in so many young people unable to afford college - but in a psychological way.

trauma has to be processed and this takes time. I don't know that we ever processed the sixties as a nation - it has always just hung in the air in some ways - and now we have so much more to process.

If we don't get healed as a nation, we will not have the judgement or reason to move forward in ways that are healthy for our planet.

Anyhoo, i digress. But if any teabaggers bother you or you girls, PM me lol

No, really. I mean it :)

[walldude]

21. They are as relevant as you make them...

I have a friend, he's not into politics. He cares not for who is in office and pays no attention to any of it. He's the happiest, nicest, most well adjusted, person I know.

[Politicalboi]

22. My brother is a "tea bagger"

He hates that term. I laughed the other day when he told me they are called the "tea party". He said calling them "tea baggers" is like calling me a dyke or equivalent to the n word. I told him I never told people to call me a dyke. He said Obama was a Communist, and a Marxist. My brother is nuts. He said he would vote Sarah in the WH. It could be worse, he could be your children's uncle. LOL!

[HopeHoops]

25. Who? Never heard of them.

[CanonRay]

26. This is a whole new animal

The country was divided then, but just over the war. I thought I'd never again see the country so divided after Nixon resigned. Boy, was I wrong. The media then was at least neutral, so that's vastly different. And, sorry to say, I think people are just stupider and ill-informed today. Much more so. Also, religion is out on everyone's sleve today. When I grew up, I didn't even know what religion my freinds were...we just didn't give a crap.

[RKP5637]

27. Your post is right on target IMO, especially about "people are just stupider and ill-informed

today. Much more so." I find the gullibility and ignorance today simply appalling. How anyone can listen to and believe some of the RW and religious fools of today is stunning. Additionally, the media is doing a grave disservice to this country and IMO will assist in the ruination of America. It is so sad to see unfolding.

[CanonRay]

29. I neglected to add; we were divided over race, as well.

That, at least, might be somewhat better. Although Arizona makes me wonder.

[Rex]

28. Well, they will be the death of the GOP eventually so some good

will comes out of this. Dick/Bush was the precursor and hopefully the Baggers are the nails in the coffin.

[skip fox]

30. I'm an old guy from the 60s and it was plenty crazy and polarized then.

What is different is that one entire party was not in lockstep denial. The protest, however, were more violent. And I'm primarily speaking of the attacks on peaceful protesters as well as hardhat protests which remind me of the teabaggers.

We need another show like Archie Bunker!!!! That's the answer. "Laugh them all to rags," like Ed Dorn said.

[reflection]

31. Thanks to everyone for your insight.

It helps me to put these people in perspective. They are a grotesque bunch.

(edited for typo)