Glenn Beck and the Tea Party allstars

crabcakes_windermere · **Joined:** Thu Nov 26, 2009 1:56 pm **Posts:** 2083

I think most people outside fans of FOX "News" pretty much accept Glenn Beck is absolutely batshit insane. So what to people reckon to him and his chums in the Tea Party, and their rather odd no aims rally for vague unease?

My take is that although a lot of his stuff and the Tea Party stuff is absurdly ultra-right wing, and that he's clearly hoping for Palin to run for Prez so she can destroy the Earth with a load of missiles sponsored by Budweiser, they're actually a good thing. Not in themselves, obviously - given free rein, they'd probably make not owning an assault rifle a capital offence - but in the fact they do two things:

1. They split the US conservative vote, because they're way too hardcore/borderline racist for a lot of more moderate people. And in that group I include a lot of people who I'd consider very right wing.
2. They focus the opposition against them

There is also the added bonus that they unavoidably make the whole of the right look downright nasty. I'm sure they get bad press undeservedly sometimes. But I'm equally sure that some of the accusations of racism and homophobia are real.

The Red Arrow · **Posted:** Tue Aug 31, 2010 12:09 pm

All I can say is 'thank heavens' for Jon Stewart's' regular and much-needed piss-takes and putting right on his Daily Show. Beck and Palin have gone far beyond targets of ridicule, though. They're freaking dangerous. I wonder at an educational system that enables such people to be taken seriously by even a small proportion of the U.S. electorate. I lost a good American 'forum buddy' elsewhere by stating that the U.S. wouldn't think twice about invading a country if its' democratically elected government was usurped by a tea party type movement. Now before the requests about putting our own house in order come in, imagine a U.K with a Fox news type organisation where the BBC used to be. It's what some people want. Be afraid.

cycloon · **Joined:** Sun Jun 10, 2007 4:07 pm **Posts:** 3250

My dad was nearly thrown out of a house for comparing the Vietnam civil-war with the American civil-war.

You can see why he made the point, even if it's not directly analogous, and it's not tactful

Bones McCoy · **Joined:** Mon Aug 16, 2010 9:08 am **Posts:** 7342

I consider Vietnam war and American war of Independence to be better matched.

cycloon · **Joined:** Sun Jun 10, 2007 4:07 pm **Posts:** 3250

Wait, that's the one.

/stabsselfinfootforbeingsostupid.

daveinbrum · **Posted:** Sat Sep 25, 2010 4:08 pm

crabcakes_windermere wrote:

1. They split the US conservative vote, because they're way too hardcore/borderline racist for a lot of more moderate people. And in that group I include a lot of people who I'd consider very right wing.

Hmmm. Well, I hope you're right but I'm reminded of when the Republicans chose George W Bush as presidential candidate, everyone rejoiced that they'd picked such an idiot who could never possibly win, and then he did (I know there was the Florida controversy, but even so, it was a lot closer than many people would have expected). So do we want the Republicans to be dominated by right-wing nutters or moderates? Tricky one...

Lord Brett · **Posted:** Sun Sep 26, 2010 9:52 am

The Republicans also have a lot of previous when it comes to rigging election results outside of Florida, a situation Obama seems to have totally ignored (I've not kept up on this over the last 12 months, so I hope i'm wrong). The much-missed Ring of Fire radio show - it may still be about, but loast time I chedcked it was subscription only, which I wasn't keen on - covered this on some detail.

There's an interesting piece on the general subject here: http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/featu ... ing_rights

AnarchistLayabout · **Joined:** Tue Jul 13, 2010 3:33 pm **Posts:** 33

Remember:
Democracy/freedom/Yahweh-sucking Xtianity = your government taking money off you and giving it to rich people
Socialism/commie-ism/fascism/homosexuality/satanism = your government taking money off you and spending it on facilities & services which you can use

Simple.

Or "simples", as people who need smacking repeatedly with hammers would put it.

mattomac · **Posted:** Mon Oct 04, 2010 12:45 am

I have a feeling they may split the Republican vote if we avoid talking about Rigging elections. Saying all that I think the powerful American right would rig it against someone like Palin. Bush at least had some family legacy.

Samanfur · **Posted:** Mon Oct 04, 2010 5:37 pm

At least Christine O'Donnell shot herself in the foot by entirely their own standards with the whole witchcraft pallaver, removing the need for anyone to try making her a martyr by targeting her from the outside.

She's got such a juggernaur of support, though, it could be a close call.

Just how loopy do you have to be that even Karl "Turd blossom" Rove calls you an extremist?

EDIT: I saw the original article linked to in this a few weeks ago, and had to go away and dig a little to find it again.

mattomac · **Posted:** Mon Nov 01, 2010 9:05 pm

Just watched that BBC programme with Andrew Neil..... They scare me

Samanfur · **Posted:** Tue Nov 16, 2010 9:54 pm

It's a pity that this didn't get more publicity in the US, from what I understand.

Tubby Isaacs · **Posted:** Thu Nov 18, 2010 12:52 am

Lisa Murkowski beats Palin Tea Party clown:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/1 ... 84998.html

Someone's got to get the message Palin's a loser now, haven't they?

Samanfur · **Posted:** Thu Nov 18, 2010 1:04 am

You'd hope so, wouldn't you?

lord_kobel · **Posted:** Thu Nov 18, 2010 11:10 am

Anyone else know more about that story that she could never hold office as her husband is the leader of a seperatist movement?

Glenn Beck and the Tea Party allstars

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