The Tea Party, Mulvaney and the Narrative that Still Haunts Us

[Garrett78]

First, let's recall what sparked the Tea Party. Rick Santelli of CNBC advocated for a tea party after slamming Obama for wanting to bail out "losers" (i.e., victims of predatory lending and those who lost their jobs due to the recession). So, one month after the inauguration of the nation's first Black president, the Tea Party movement began. Birtherism played a huge role, and without Birtherism (and his speech about Mexicans being rapists and drug dealers), I don't think Trump would have ever won the Republican Party nomination.

Tea Partiers and Trump have been described, by the media and others, as populists. Well, let's see, populism is defined as, "a political approach that strives to appeal to ordinary people who feel that their concerns are disregarded by established elite groups." It was clear, though, that Tea Party "concerns" didn't have a damn thing to do with traditional populism.

Then, after the 2016 election, members of the media and people from all across the political spectrum (including leftists and moderate Democrats, from Bernie Sanders to Tim Ryan) insisted that Trump won due to "economic anxiety" (which, apparently, hardly any persons of color experience). I've been pushing back against that demonstrably false narrative for nearly 3 years and touched on it again in this recent post: https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212599797.

Now, let's consider a certain former member of the Tea Party Caucus in Congress. This swamp creature vehemently opposes the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (and, naturally, was placed in charge of it for a while). You know, the agency that is looking out for the 'little guy' by making sure people are treated fairly by Big Finance. This swamp creature vehemently opposes Medicaid expansion. This swamp creature openly stated, when he was in Congress, that he only listened to lobbyists if they had given money to his congressional campaigns. This swamp creature committed campaign finance violations in his run for Congress. This swamp creature has profited off of shady land deals that have harmed South Carolina residents and small businesses. This swamp creature is currently Trump's Acting Chief of Staff.

The Tea Party types who supposedly want to "drain the swamp" absolutely adore the swamp creatures. They aren't populists in any meaningful sense. If anything, they're anti-populists. They're racist, sexist, xenophobic, conspiracy theorist assholes who despise government by and for the people. They're the people who still "strongly approve" of Trump (the 28% or so who are unreachable). Screw 'em and screw anyone who still pushes the narrative about why they vote the way they do. I have no patience for that shit.

[5X]

1. Thats why he doesn't lose his base, he is still racist and so are they.

k&r

[kentuck]

2. The Swamp Creatures?

For sure.

[Garrett78]

3. The swamp creatures could teach a master class in projection. In fact, that's a good idea for SNL.

I don't know if you've seen those commercials on YouTube, but celebrities apparently teach a "Master Class" in their area of expertise (writing, acting, cooking, whatever). SNL could have swamp creatures talking about their "Master Class" in projecting onto opponents that which they themselves do.

[kentuck]

10. A great idea!

[bronxiteforever]

4. Kick and recommend. Excellent analysis!

[Garrett78]

13. Thanks.

[Evolve Dammit]

5. They just want to blow up all gov't. institutions, make racism OK and have no idea what to do next.

Blowing things up is easy. Putting back any semblance of a functional society not so much. Especially when your Ann Rand model puts us back to about 1870. Welcome back to the oligarchs. I guess that's what they want. One percent controls everything and indentured servitude for the rest. They need some much deeper thought about where they are taking us, because they are along for the ride.

[Garrett78]

7. I'd say that's certainly true of Cult45, or that 28% I referenced. The ignorance is staggering.

As for the likes of Barr, Bannon, Mulvaney, Pompeo, McConnell, the Kochs and others, they've certainly got a plan and are playing the long game. They're true believers in a dastardly ideology. I wrote a bit about it here: https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212601796.

[Karadeniz]

6. Well done! Thanks!

[Garrett78]

11. Thank you.

[Pepsidog]

8. Absolutely on point. I was watching Santelli when he made his comments.You summarized the Tea Party

perfectly. Thank you.

[Garrett78]

12. Thanks.

[bucolic_frolic]

9. Rick Santelli is a special swamp monster

Wall Street has its radical right free-market types to plunder anything that will make them money. Deregulation types.