Hi Barbara – It’s always good to leave someone at home in case there’s bail to be raised, eh?

You’re right, the so-called major news networks didn’t quite know what to do with the phenomenon. Our local paper had a counterpoint in the editorial section citing similar impressions to those my friend Mary had, and your husband’s. At least they gave the author the space, but they couldn’t resist captioning the one photo by saying “several hundred” people took part. Estimates were in the neighborhood of 7,500. Is 75 the new “several”?

Compare and contrast the coverage on 100 – 200 protestors at the GOP convention. Well, to be fair, those protestors did break windows and damage property. I guess that’s more newsworthy. Thanks.

Oddly enough, not much was on the major networks about the tea parties, so I was happy to find Fox News on site sharing first hand what issues people were discussing. The tea parties were definitely not Obama bashes, but just everyday folk, having their say.

Barbara Swafford´s last blog post..Does An Ugly Blog(ger) Stand A Chance?

July 4th should be a huge gathering of TEA parties.

Debbie´s last blog post..Moral Muslims don’t want a memorial to the terrorists on the Flight 93 crash site – Blogburst

Then there was all the tittering from Rachel Maddow, Keith Olbermann, and others about “tea-bagging.” Evidently, it’s some kind of sexual double entendre mentioned in the Kama Sutra. I’m not sufficiently intellectual to grasp the nuance, except to wonder, “Is this journalism?”

The problem with the media taking any sort of supportive political position prior to an election survives that election. Then they necessarily become declared stakeholders and defenders, or else risk overt hypocrisy. It’s a pickle for a shill to be in, to be sure. I’ll bet it’s a somewhat different thrill running up Chris Matthew’s leg now, yes? Thanks for your comment.

The news coverage of these parties was atrocious. I’ve never like the mainstream media, but this coverage was beyond biased, it was strait up mean spirited and anti-free speech.

Kris´s last blog post..Budget Cut My Eye!

About the only thing that appears to make sense to me at this point is term limits. When politicking is no longer a life-long career, but rather temporary service to the nation, I think we’d be closer to what the Founding Fathers envisioned and lived.

Also, I thought of your remarks when I read this today: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124027091370936935.html

I want to thank you again for visiting. We don’t always talk politics here at PassingThru, but when we do, we’ve been gratified in the comment section. There has been passion, civility, respect and humor as we’ve discussed our country’s past, present and future. And we’re also grateful for friends with interesting and diverse views. We hope you’ll stick around.

Hi Kim – Well, it’s true! I go on and on – I’ve become my mother that way, and Pete’s the strong, silent type.

I want to thank you, too, for inviting Jim over. You know, we all make decisions based upon emotion, first. Then some of us move on to back up those feelings and reactions with facts that suit the decision. And you’re right – there is more alike with you and me than perhaps one might think – even though I’m perfectly elderly when compared with you! I hope you always feel welcome to comment, and I appreciate your introduction, too. Thanks again.

Hi Davina – Wow, thank you! I’m so glad you did stop by. I’m finding that one good thing about getting older is you can be more and more opinionated, and people tend to indulge you! Thanks.

Davina´s last blog post..Morning Muse — Flock of Thoughts

I’ve said before that it amazes me how alike we are and how completely different we are but maybe we aren’t so far apart either. I completely agree that our elected officials seem to forget that they work for us and are more beholden to corporate interests than those of the citizens.

Kim Woodbridge´s last blog post..(Anti) Social Personal Developments

Thanks for the response.

I appreciate both you and Pete taking the time to respond so thoughtfully.

I think if there’s one thing that we can agree on its that we as a country regardless of political party need to hold our politicians’ feet to the fire. Politicians are supposed to be working for us and I think our country has come to forget that. Without continually be reminded of that fact, politicians of either party will continue to take advantage of the system and of the people.

I won’t agree with everything you protest about but I want you to keep protesting. When Obama does something you disagree with, protest. And believe me, I will be voicing my disapproval of Obama when he deserves it just as I did with Bush before him and the next president who follows him.

I do think lot of people on the left got lazy after the election and are not holding Obama to account on a lot of issues. You mentioned the current administration being status quo on a lot of the same issues as Bush in regards to the constitution and civil liberties. This is inexcusable regardless of who got elected and being that Obama was a professor of constitutional law, it is even more shocking.

The points I was making with my Bush comments weren’t meant to drum up controversy or incite a left vs. right war and I’m glad you understood where I was coming from. All I really ask of the tea party protesters is not to forget that what they seem to be protesting right now is not an Obama specific issue and was there before him and will be there after him.

Again, I really appreciate the chance to talk with you and Pete. Its been great hearing your viewpoints.

Thanks,
Jim

Jim, while I understand your skepticism, I think it’s important to note that the movement really is bipartisan. This post contains very similar arguments to the valid points you make about spending prior to Obama’s election: http://reteaparty.com/2009/04/21/getting-our-own-house-in-order/ Maybe you’ve seen the response:

It’s time to open our minds to new possibilities, new ideas, and new candidates. If an Independent or Third Party candidate presents a more constitutionally sound alternative or a more fiscally conservative budget proposal, don’t waste your vote on the same old Democrat or Republican.

ReTeaParty is dedicated to becoming the most highly respected and independent-minded tea party organization in the nation. To the best of its ability, ReTeaParty will not tolerate the the poisons of partisan politics, nor will it become a tool of opportunistic media. Though mistakes will be made along the way, ReTeaParty will do its best to uphold the integrity of the Constitution and to encourage thoughtful discussion from all political persuasions.

So, while nothing is perfect, and it’s understandable to be skeptical, I’m glad you’re keeping an open mind. This post wasn’t intended to limit criticism to President Obama, although we could certainly respond to anti-Bush rhetoric in tit-for-tat fashion all day long – there’s plenty of material to go around! Instead, it appears that, to paraphrase Stephen Stills, there’s really “somethin’ happenin’ here.” And it’s due to the fact that a lot of change looks like more of the same on steroids.

Like you, I believe society has an obligation to care for its most vulnerable members, and that government spending on infrastructure and veterans is imperative. But I also believe that it is incumbent upon our representatives to know what they’re voting for – no one read that stimulus bill, yet it absolutely had to be voted upon in the middle of the night. It was so urgent that it sits on the President’s desk while he takes a three-day weekend in Chicago?

I believe mentioning civil liberties, Gitmo, the suspension of habeas corpus, and waterboarding would first of all be remiss without including current Administration policy, which appears pretty status quo. It’s one thing to campaign, and evidently it’s quite another when the buck is now stopping at your desk. But these issues are non sequiturs to this particular discussion.

We elect folks to work with the people in mind, not themselves. I’ve recently written our Senator and our Representative, and I posted the response I got from one here on the blog. All I can say is, they should fire the individuals on their staff who crafted the smarmy canned platitudes I received. It seems as though they don’t think we can fire them – and they’d be justified, because we rarely do. We just keep electing the incumbents. It’s news when we don’t.

I will say I believe tax cuts encourage economic growth via job creation. Just because Bush didn’t veto spending, does not make the spree we’ve seen in the last 70 days (exceeding all government spending since there ever was any) appropriate. Adding incomprehensible levels of spending isn’t thoughtful or measured. It’s reactionary, whatever the reason. Cutting $100 million this week is somehow responsible after last week when $8 billion was inconsequential? Please. Even Gibbs had trouble with that one.

The people have had enough placation and insults to our intelligence. We’re the customer of government, and it’s high time for good service – which includes the truth, not just higher prices.

Jim, I want to thank you again. We’ve all got to find a way to put aside our differences. Honest dialogue is the way to clean up the mess. I know many voters thought they were doing just that in November’s election. The good news is that there’s nothing stronger than a bunch of ordinary Americans who feel called to purpose.