Bonlender has it right, the very ignoble thing for Teabaggers is an education. They definitely don’t want anybody thinking. Winkenwerder and Bonlender give nice balance to what democrats think and want for the people. You can see them on Channel 21. Find the schedule there or call YPAC.
Having slipped into one of the teabaggers meetings at the Convention Center, I was alarmed at the war-worshipping themes…the America right-or-wrong themes. I liken this to “my mother, drunk or sober.”
Whoop, the task of defining the teabaggers has to first start with looking at their “base”; that average Joe or Josephine 12-pack person carrying a Don’t Tread On Me placard will usually be happy to tell you why they are there, but can’t give you a lot of details beyond that. They may like Palin for her “values”, but cannot recite what they are. They may tell you that Glenn Beck stands for America, but will not be able to confirm what that really means, a very ambiguous “I don’t know, he just seems like a real patriot to me.” might be the response. I noticed that when I went to the protest in Mt. Vernon, where Sinclair Lewis’ famous quote was very clear, at least to those of us who read. Serving after heaping serving of Stars ‘n’ Stripes ‘n’ Jesus, followed by the main course of hatred, intolerance and fascism (often on the same banner). One woman I talked to said that she feared socialism, but she couldn’t tell me what socialism is (“…pretty much the same as communism, and since Obama is a Communist, that’s probably where we’re headed”- OK, she got an F in civics). And a man told me the republicans have never made us pay for anything without letting us vote on it first. That was on the teabagger side of the street. There was very little open display of flags and such on the progressive side, but the message was much more “American”- Protect all Americans- protect the Constitution. Hate is not a Skagit County Value. One woman had a shirt that read “My Father did NOT die on the beach at Normandy so Beck can push fear and hatred here in this country.” The event was genuine democracy in action, which was very refreshing to see for once in this country.
I’m glad you were able to report on that Drew. I had not seen your entry until this late date. Wish I had been there too. I have no problem with ‘cans as long as they are constructive and sensible. But, what I see is a lot of hate, never-been-out-of-the-backyard kind of people, who are parroting everything they hear and see and thinking it is political savvy. Johnson is nothing to write home about, but Strobel, when asked if we should be in this endless war, said, “…there are people smarter than me who can figure that out.” She is running on looks and evangelism, and that sours my milk.
Great quote about Glenn Beck and Normandy. Yeah!