In the midst of all the "Tea Party" chatter these days, it is a tad surprising that the anniversary of another significant Boston event went largely unnoticed last week. It was, after all, 240 years ago on March 5, 1770, that the Boston Massacre took place.
And what was the "Boston Massacre," class?
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March 12, 2010
Have Gun, Will Latte
I've always been confused by Starbucks, the great American Institution and symbol of yuppies and carefree consumerism. This is the place where the smallest cup of coffee is called a "Tall." What's the biggest called, a "Giganto?" Depending on what you order, you can easily spend two or three dollars for a cup. They offer cappuccinos, tea, and scones. In other words, it's the sort of place with the kinds of products mocked by right wing opponents of vegetarians, elitism, and free-range chicken pot pies. That's why I was surprised to learn that some gun-toting, 2nd Amendment-loving customers were sitting in Starbucks, sipping green tea. So much for stereotypes.
At least 38 states allow people to walk around with unconcealed weapons. For the most part, those people I'm talking about have not qualified to get licenses to carry concealed weapons. These are people who actually have their guns visible in their holsters at some Starbucks, reminiscent of cowboys in Western movies sashaying into the town saloon.
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At least 38 states allow people to walk around with unconcealed weapons. For the most part, those people I'm talking about have not qualified to get licenses to carry concealed weapons. These are people who actually have their guns visible in their holsters at some Starbucks, reminiscent of cowboys in Western movies sashaying into the town saloon.
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March 10, 2010
You And What Armey?
Former House majority leader and presumed head of the Tea Party movement Dick Armey should perhaps be congratulated for excommunicating the anti-immigrant zealot Tom Tancredo. When I talked several weeks ago with Freedom Works, the group Armey leads that is behind much Tea Party activity, a representative authorized to speak for Armey expressed similar sentiments, telling me that they were "worried about Tom Tancredo" who could alienate the "libertarian branch" of the movement.
The spokesman contrasted the failed candidacy of the (very) culturally conservative gubernatorial candidate Ken Blackwell in Ohio in 2006 to the surging (by his account) campaign of the (very, like eliminate the state income tax) fiscally conservative John Kasich. The implication is that Tea Party candidates will succeed if they can focus attention on so-called pocketbook issues, such as cap-and-trade, the stimulus package, and earmarks. But if attention turns to divisive cultural issues, of which immigration is presumed to be one, the Tea Party will shatter like so many delicate teacups.
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The spokesman contrasted the failed candidacy of the (very) culturally conservative gubernatorial candidate Ken Blackwell in Ohio in 2006 to the surging (by his account) campaign of the (very, like eliminate the state income tax) fiscally conservative John Kasich. The implication is that Tea Party candidates will succeed if they can focus attention on so-called pocketbook issues, such as cap-and-trade, the stimulus package, and earmarks. But if attention turns to divisive cultural issues, of which immigration is presumed to be one, the Tea Party will shatter like so many delicate teacups.
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March 8, 2010
Jon Scott Ashjian, Harry Reid’s Tea Party Challenger, Owes More Than $200,000 in Back Taxes
The chips may already be stacked against Jon Scott Ashjian, the man who recently filed as a Tea Party candidate for Harry Reid's Nevada Senate seat.
A report last week uncovered that the successful business owner owes more than $200,000 in back taxes. On top of that, recent polls appear to confirm Republican worries that a Tea Party candidate might skim enough conservative votes to change the election in the Democrats favor.
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A report last week uncovered that the successful business owner owes more than $200,000 in back taxes. On top of that, recent polls appear to confirm Republican worries that a Tea Party candidate might skim enough conservative votes to change the election in the Democrats favor.
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March 6, 2010
My Oscar Picks: Win Your Office Pool!
Ok, I WON"T guarantee that you'll win your office pool. My track record is spotty -- especially during years when I passionately love a movie. (Never bet on your favorite team; you never bet smart.) But I've spoken to friends in Hollywood who attend the screenings, studied the tea leaves and here are my picks for the winners, along with info on close races if you want to ignore my advice.
And when people tell you, "But it's been 60 years since a movie grossed so little money and won Best Picture" or "no movie that has been nominated for Best Director AND won Best Editing has ever...." Yep, all those trends are good to keep note of. But Academy voters don't vote that way. They (or their sister or their assistant) vote spontaneously from their heart. Assuming they themselves aren't on the ballot.
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And when people tell you, "But it's been 60 years since a movie grossed so little money and won Best Picture" or "no movie that has been nominated for Best Director AND won Best Editing has ever...." Yep, all those trends are good to keep note of. But Academy voters don't vote that way. They (or their sister or their assistant) vote spontaneously from their heart. Assuming they themselves aren't on the ballot.
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March 5, 2010
“Mexicans Are Filthy Stinking Animals”- Teabaggers: That’s Really Not Racism
Mainstream media has time and again given the Tea Party and teabaggers a free pass and the benefit of the doubt when it comes to their use of racism to recruit and engage followers.
If they use bigoted, discriminatory language, it's really purely as a matter of argument. If they spew spiteful rhetoric at their rallies, it's really only one portion of the group - not everyone. If Tom Tancredo advocates for a literacy test to be eligible to vote, it's really just a way of saying that we must all come together under one nation. If they call us - Mexicans - filthy stinking animals, well they were only referring to the illegal ones anyhow.
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If they use bigoted, discriminatory language, it's really purely as a matter of argument. If they spew spiteful rhetoric at their rallies, it's really only one portion of the group - not everyone. If Tom Tancredo advocates for a literacy test to be eligible to vote, it's really just a way of saying that we must all come together under one nation. If they call us - Mexicans - filthy stinking animals, well they were only referring to the illegal ones anyhow.
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March 4, 2010
Tea Party Patriots Get iPhone App
Those who dismiss the Tea Party movement as a bunch of rednecks may be interested to know that the Tea Party Patriots now have their very first iPhone app.
The application, "Tea Party Finder", was created by Ryan Ninneman and is available as a free download from the iPhone store.
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The application, "Tea Party Finder", was created by Ryan Ninneman and is available as a free download from the iPhone store.
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What Progressives Can Learn From the Tea Partiers
As a political phenomenon, the Tea Partiers are more colorful than mysterious. They are not really a new or post-party phenomenon, but are the latest incarnation of the populist conservative wing of the Republican Party, the political descendants of Richard Nixon's Silent Majority or the angry white men who catapulted Newt Gingrich and the Republican Party into control of the Congress in 1994. Tea Partiers will vote overwhelmingly for the Republican Party in November, or they will stay home. Very few will vote Democratic; and third party rumblings that have not yet died away, will do so in the next months.
The most interesting, and probably important, impact the Tea Partiers will have will be in the Republican primaries. As the more radical wing of the party demands more radical and ideologically rigid nominees, the party will have to either accede to these demands and risk nominating less electable candidates, or risk losing the energy and enthusiasm of the Tea Partiers. While the power of the ideological base of both parties can be overstated, parties also overlook these voters at their own peril.
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The most interesting, and probably important, impact the Tea Partiers will have will be in the Republican primaries. As the more radical wing of the party demands more radical and ideologically rigid nominees, the party will have to either accede to these demands and risk nominating less electable candidates, or risk losing the energy and enthusiasm of the Tea Partiers. While the power of the ideological base of both parties can be overstated, parties also overlook these voters at their own peril.
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March 3, 2010
New Populist Heroine Sparks a Movement (VIDEO)
The New York Times and the Washington Post both recently reported on young women who have lit grassroots fires: Keli Carender, who hosted the first Tea Party, and Annabel Park, who launched the Coffee Party.
Well, here's my nominee for new populist heroine: Jessica Sharp, a young mom from Maryland who is the subject of a video profile I just produced for the coalition FreeSpeechforPeople.org. If you're looking for a glimmer of hope in these dark political days, please watch the video Making a Movement.
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Well, here's my nominee for new populist heroine: Jessica Sharp, a young mom from Maryland who is the subject of a video profile I just produced for the coalition FreeSpeechforPeople.org. If you're looking for a glimmer of hope in these dark political days, please watch the video Making a Movement.
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March 2, 2010
Dylan Ratigan Goes Off On Tea Party Guest, Kicks Him Off Show: ‘You’re Offensive’ (VIDEO)
On Tuesday afternoon, MSNBC host Dylan Ratigan got so upset with one of his guests, "Tea Party" leader Mark Williams, that he cut off his mic mid-interview, dispatching him off the air prematurely. Williams was on MSNBC talking about his upcoming Tea Party Express nationwide bus tour culminating in Washington, DC on tax day, and the conversation heated up almost as soon as the segment began.
Ratigan began the segment by asking Williams how he draws the line between the "admirable and understandable" principles advocated by many in the Tea Party, and the radical and racist views of some "hiding" under the Tea Party umbrella.
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Ratigan began the segment by asking Williams how he draws the line between the "admirable and understandable" principles advocated by many in the Tea Party, and the radical and racist views of some "hiding" under the Tea Party umbrella.
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