Let's talk Tea Bag

[nemo137]

I've been arguing with my dad about this. I've been researching right-wing movements of the 1930's for my final seminar, and mentioned some similarities between them and current movements. He told me I wasn't being objective and needed to do more research. So, DU, what's your view on the Tea Baggers? Where should I look for information?

[XemaSab]

1. You should go to a meeting

What better place to get information?

[nemo137]

2. I'm not sure if that would profitably accomplish anything.

For one thing, it'd literally be a financial loss - all the area tea party groups like to hold seminars that they charge you to attend.

Edit: I should expand on this. The tea partiers get all kinds of favorable press here, at least 3 letters to the editor a week, and my dad is on many mailing lists associated with the movement. I also at least skim one or two of the rightist papers (AFP, usually at least) a week. I'm not sure what more information I could get.

[KonaKane]

3. Which is why their convention was a wash

Who the fuck wants to pay $349 a head just to listen to that Wassila Barbie talk out her ass? Well at least around 500 suckers did.

Good. I advocate the separation of fools and their money, with no regrets.

[Beartracks]

4. That's interesting.

Are they trying to weed out the people they consider "deadbeats"... i.e. the unemployed... i.e. Democrats? :eyes:

[nemo137]

5. I think it's a reflex, really.

"What should we do?" "Let's throw a pancake luncheon!" These are basically Midwestern Lutherans we're talking about here, not people given to great flights of imagination.

[Beartracks]

7. Well, okay. I was rather joking. So...

... you're thinking such funding must go to pay for the food and other resources? That makes sense when you're talking grassroots.

[nemo137]

9. That and it's the way things get organized around here.

I'm half-shocked they didn't throw a damn potluck.

[alfredo]

11. There is not one clear message because many different

groups want their agenda to be the THE agenda. One troubling sign was the sponsorship of CPAC by the John Birch Society. A lot of cross pollination between CPAC, JBS, and Tea Party.
Birchers are Teabaggers that try to present themselves as intellectuals. Same shit, different package.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Birch_Society

[nemo137]

6. The secondary reason for this post was if anyone knew any good resources

Tea bag news aggregators (teabaggregators?) things like that.

[Beartracks]

8. Someplace where you can read... tea leaves?

Okay, couldn't resist the punny stuff. But I don't know of any such site. But I've also never looked for one...

[The Wielding Truth]

10. Just look at what they are fed. Fear.

[parasim]

12. Just go to the alternative...

http://coffeepartyusa.com/

It's pretty much the polar opposite of the teabaggers. I think they lay out the differences pretty well.

[Emit]

13. Not sure what you're looking for but

this was an interesting read: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=7737812

[nemo137]

14. Thank you, I'll take a look at that.

[20score]

15. There are two movements, one in th 30's, one in the fifties that have very many parallels with

today's teabaggers. There are mountains of information about all three movements, but here are two small articles that should help. All three movements were/are being led by demagogues, have racists overtones and blame "others" for any problems people might be experiencing.
Plus there are many more aspects that are analogous with today's teabaggers. Hope it helps.

http://www.oercommons.org/libraries/the-second-greatest-teacher-of-all-time-father-coughlins-followers-fight-back

http://blogs.alternet.org/speakeasy/2010/02/25/glenn-beck-auditions-for-joe-mccarthys-job/

[nemo137]

16. I'm actually ass-deep in research of Fr. Coughlin

(which is how the rather loud discussion with my dad got started - he asked me how my research went today), and I've noticed the similarities.