The so-called ‘tea-parties’ were staged events designed and promoted by FOX News.  That’s why they have failed to spark.  They were phony and came off as such.

This fake concern over a ‘rampant government’ after the stony silence of the past 8 years hasn’t gone unnoticed either.

Lee_USA, I happen to know some of the local tea party organizers.  This isn’t Faux News’ latest & greatest stunt, dude.  This is people fired up by CNBC’s Rick Santelli, the Founding Fathers and the debt of W and Obama.

Skagitonian, why weren’t they raging about the “debt of W” for all those LONG 8 years?  I get where Lee is coming from.  We’ve been through a terrible 8 years as a country, led by an idiotic administration into a huge recession, and these tea-partiers are going to get their dander up NOW?  Tea or not, there coming a bit late to the party.

*shrug*

Well, I would really tone it down a bit.

A lot of this is Obama just pushed too far, too soon, too fast.  The anger really started in Sept. of 2006 when guys like Joe Scarborough tried to warn America’s political chattering class.

We may be a bit late, but intend to make up for lack of speed.

What I’m seeing is that you would “tone it down a bit” when the party you affiliate yourself with is at fault, but once you can point the finger somewhere else, down come all those ‘noble’ restraints.

I suppose it’s really nothing new, and all sides are guilty of the same, but that doesn’t mean we can’t call you on it.

The way I see it, we gave W a pretty dang long ‘honeymoon’ period, and I would expect his party to give the same to the new guy.  Obama hasn’t had much time to do a lot yet, and I’m witholding judgement until I see real results from what he’s trying to do, good or bad.  And can we all please stop with the inane “NObama”, “Yobama” and other such meaningless insults?  You want to be mad at the president for something, you go right ahead, but do it in a mature way and for a real reason please.

*shrug* I agree we need to be civil.  A real reason to be mad at Obama is rushing to raise the national debt to continue the corporate GOP’s bailouts of GM, Wall Street and Freddie Mac.  Another real reason - more gov’t in health care.  Another real reason - Obama has no debt reduction plan and doesn’t realize the train wreck coming like Joe Scarborough did in 2006.  Like before Senator Obama ran for President.

Skagitonian, I’m not really thrilled with the government spending either.  I’d really love to see us balance the budget and work on reducing that debt, but I also can’t blame Obama for spending money on our country when W spent so much on fighting other countries.

As far as health care goes, it needs whatever make-over it can get, in whatever form it can get.  Unless you’re covered by the military, you understand how bad this situation has gotten.  People with EXCELLENT health coverage are still charged with insanely inflated fees, and heaven forbid you’re diagnosed with cancer or some other serious affliction that requires long term care.  Health care needs help, and it doesn’t bother me one bit if the government steps in and actually FIXES it.

That said, I agree with you that spending should be moderate and only where needed.  I am waiting to see where we’ll be once the man’s been in office for more than half a year, though.

*shrug*

a) I agree, I think Bush should have gotten the tea party treatment last September.  Too many hoped for the fiscal conservative guy McCain to win.

b) I have an ear problem at the moment.  Trying to cure it w/o going to doctor as last year at this time cost me absurd amount to have nurse flush the ear on 2nd visit.  But I don’t want Canada’s wait list system - I want efficiency in ours and I want an explanation why things cost so much for basic services.

c) Either we protest now or it gets worse.  Exhibit A: A great protest on April 15th forced Olympia to take state tax increases off the table.

Instead of arguing back and forth about the evils of this party or that, why not throw your name on a ballot, as an independant. I plan to do it when I’m old enough. I think you have to be thirty five so I have eight years to go. you guys sound older than me so get on it. some one needs to show the people that any one can run for office. our first president was a farmer and a soldier for pete’s sake. and personally I’m tired of a bunch of over educated morons making my decisions for me. I say, save the country, elect a farmer.

Norseman, not a bad idea.  Looks like I’ve got awhile to wait before I could go that route, though.  I must sound older than I think I do!  Don’t know if that’s a good thing or not.  XD

My personal favorite president has always been Andrew Jackson.  He just seemed like a real down-to-earth guy who wasn’t afraid of the sociopolitical expectations.  I wouldn’t mind another candidate like him.  Besides, he had cool hair.  :)

Seriously, though, you’re never going to break into the stranglehold the Republican and Democratic parties have on this country.  My suggestion?  Abolish the party system.  Make the voters educate themselves on a candidate rather than reaching for the “R” or “D” or even “I” on the ballot.  The party system may have served its purpose long ago, but we’ve outgrown it to an embarrassing degree, and it’s time we tried something new.  What do you think about that idea?