With all that tea in it, I bet the Genesee River tastes better today… but why don’t you try it first
The local Tea Party movement came a long way since we first began having some fun with them almost a month ago. Their so-so event on March grew into something of respectable size, if not content. Back then, we praised Bob Lonsberry for calling them idiots. Today, Lonsberry writes “I was wrong.” Perhaps the big turn-out, most of them probably his listeners, helped change his mind. On Wingnut day we’ll owe him a kick in the lonsberries.
As we predicted yesterday, the focus, was, well… uh…. okay, there was no single central theme. Channel 13 reported the purpose was “to protest the federal stimulus plan, as well as high taxes.” Channel 10 said the protest “brought together hundreds of people who say taxes are out of hand.” Democrat & Chronicle said the event tapped into “angst over the bad economy, government spending and bailouts.”
One of our regular readers and commenters, Publius, offered his observations yesterday:
There were about 400 tea baggers and lots and lots of flags. First, we sang “God Bless America”, then we sang “My country ’tis of Thee” and then there was a bagpipe and flag parade. (Yes, there’s nothing like a bagpipe, the traditional instrument of socialist European descent to stir the American soul!)
More flags and lots and lots of saluting.
More singing.
You know these people love their country, you can tell by all the flags and saluting and singing.
Yup, they love their country and don’t want to see it turned over it that socialist Obama.
Being a white guy I was able to easily fit in. In fairness and as a nod to political correctness they let the black guy who showed up speak. The black guy turned out to be a minister. He reminded us the Bible tells us that Jesus loves America too. He talked about how Ronald Reagan saved the economy, fought the abortionists and prevented homosexuals from overrunning the country.
OK, that’s not exactly accurate; he used right wing code speech. Y’know “traditional families” (wink, wink) stuff.
There were also signs that said Obama was a Marxist. So I asked a couple of people next to me, “So is do you think Obama is a more of a socialist or a Marxist?”
Gee whiz, neither of them knew the difference. They didn’t know philosophical or practical differences, but they knew he was one of…”them”
And then there were the guys who were letting the crowd know that the income tax was unconstitutional.
Yikes! Wait’ll the lawyers find out. Can you imagine? The income tax has been illegal since 1913 with the passage of the 16th Amendment but nobody has thought to file a lawsuit!
Then there was scary part, the bulges on the hip crowd that were ready to lead the revolution against the government to get back the country they love. As their signs said, “It’s 1776 all over again!”
Lots of yellow “Don’t tread on me” flags outdone in number only by the yellow “don’t tread on me” t-shirts.
“No Taxation without Representation” throw tea in the river; it’s time to revolution against the country I love!
You betcha!
Anybody else attend? Please comment and give us your take.
Oh, and nationally, there were more double entendre teabagging references on MSNBC. Keith Olbermann really went to town with his tongue in cheek remarks.
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Obama’s been in office for not quite 3 months and the country’s problems are all on his watch. Uh, if these people hate tyranny so much, where were they the previous 8 years? Funny how they think America is under attack only when Democrats are in the White House. As they see it: Clinton & Obama: America haters who are hell bent on taking away your rights. Bush & Cheney: True patriots. As I see it: a break from reality.
Translation to all this: we’re pissed that the democrats have taken over and we’re having a giant mass public shit fit. Or as little babies say everywhere: “goo goo, gah gah.”
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