Everyone knows about all the incoherent, vaguely libertarian teabagging parties that went on across the country April 15. My state was no different. According to friends (I suggested to one that she ought to start panhandling just to make things interesting), one was held down in Portland with a number of signs insisting no one tread on any of the protesters. I suspect they enjoyed the ease of walking on their publicly funded roads amidst all the publicly funded statures as their children went by on the buses heading to the publicly funded schools. Another was held in Augusta. My favorite part was this quote from one of the speakers:
Pete Harring of Maine Refounders, one of two Maine Tea Party groups, said the movement has more than 1,000 members in Maine. He noted that this year’s event was much larger than a similar gathering held a year ago.
“If we were all a bunch of liberals, we could have filled the whole park, ’cause none of them have any jobs,” he said.
What makes this hilarious is local knowledge. A huge number of people attending the rally weren’t educated, job-holding conservatives. They were the scummy leaches of Augusta, Maine who get $674 a month in Social Security “disability”; their ‘income’ goes largely to alcohol and drugs, and the only reason they attended the tax day get-together was that it had “party” in the title and they thought it would be a good excuse to imbibe their various intoxicants. Honestly. There’s no real parking near where the event was held – and that was fine. None of these people have cars, and they are actually commonly seen strolling the streets of Augusta (of course, mostly around the 1st of the month when the government sends them their checks).
And the thing is, the fact that these people have no idea what the rally is about doesn’t separate them very much from everyone else. The major problem the teabaggers have had is articulating what makes them angry. They’ve heard a lot of rhetoric from FOX Noise, but they don’t have much grasp on what’s actually going on and how government actually affects them.
I like that this video identifies these are Republican protesters. As much as the teabaggers want to deny it, they’re just the more radical wing of the Republican party (which is a feat in its own right).
Filed under: News, Politics and Social | Tagged: Maine Refounders, Pete Harring, Tea Party, Teabaggers |
For the Sake of Science 
Teabuggers are mostly a collection of racist, bigoted, homophobic, xenophobic ignorant morons. If you try having a conversation with many of them, it quickly becomes apparent that they don’t even understand the issues and they are against things that they benefit from.
I feel sorry for these people, just as I pity a 60yo fundie Christian. No chance of them ever seeing things without a filter that they’ll never be rid of.
Take a look at how pissy the teaparty members are and tell me that ignorance is bliss. hahahaha
Your spelling is perfect?
On Thursday, April 15th 2010, I met some Tea Partiers in front of San Diego’s main post office. The people I met were friendly, courteous, and had a sense of humor. There was one person there with a sign saying the moon landings were hoaxed, but he was accompanied by others with signs pointing out that he was a plant.
The people there were not happy with how the government was handling things. Being a victim of government assistance myself, I can sympathize with them. No minorities, no self avowed homosexuals, though in the latter case I don’t think a fellow’s preferences are any of my business.
Gents, I’ll agree that things like defense and roads are vital, but how much beyond that, really? Do you really need to have your flu shots paid for by tax payers?
And NewEnglandBob, your kindness, generosity, and tolerance serve as an example to all and sundry. Were it not for people like you we would all be cruel, heartless creatures ever ready to inflict pain upon those different from us. Thank you for inspiring kindness in others, though it be in reaction to your short-sighted bigotry.
Nothing you characterize about me, Kellogg is ever worth reading. You anecdotes are specious, as usual.
Chew on these people that yuo are defending, Kellogg, These are the real teabaggers:
http://scienceblogs.com/mikethemadbiologist/2010/04/the_april_14th_tea_party_rally.php
http://scienceblogs.com/mikethemadbiologist/2010/04/everything_i_learned_about_mov_1.php
http://scienceblogs.com/mikethemadbiologist/2010/04/a_few_observations_about_the_n.php
The vague libertarian ideology of the teabaggers is just an excuse for greed.
NewEnglandBob: I can trust your sources?
Hawkins: You know this how?
By following their incoherent positions to their logical conclusions.
Because pure libertarianism is articulated greed?
The only pure thing in their party is the idiocy.
Not only is pure libertarianism articulated greed, but it is a call for anarchy.