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<BODY bgColor=#ffffff>Here is a slightly different view than yours Roger, albeit
one from a person not nearly as well-known or as rational as you.
<H2 class=kicker> </H2>
<H2 class=kicker> </H2>
<H2 class=kicker>TEA PARTIERS</H2>
<H1 class=storyHeadline>A cognitive disconnect</H1>
<DIV id=storyRail></DIV><!-- end story-rail -->
<H3 class=byline>By LEONARD PITTS JR.</H3><!-- begin /production/story/credit_line_format.comp -->
<H3 class=credit_line><A
href="mailto:lpitts@MiamiHerald.com">lpitts@MiamiHerald.com</A></H3><!-- end /production/story/credit_line_format.comp -->
<DIV id=storyBodyContent>
<P><SPAN class=dropcap-large>`A</SPAN>t some point, you have to use the word
`crazy.' ''</P>
<P>It will not surprise you to hear that the speaker is referring to extremists
within the tea party movement. What might surprise you is that the speaker is
Erick Erickson, editor-in-chief of RedState, a prominent conservative blog.</P>
<P>Erickson was recently quoted on Politico in a report about how he and other
conservatives are attempting to distance their ideology and the Republican Party
from the paranoid theorizing and loud, incoherent screaming that have recently
passed for discourse on the political right. And of course, the darkly comic
thing about it is that, less than a year ago, some conservatives were
<I>exulting</I> over the tea parties, believing they brought needed energy to a
movement demoralized by its 2008 shellacking at the polls. ``The Republican
comeback has begun,'' declared GOP chief Michael Steele. </P>
<P>What a difference a year makes. Or not.</P>
<P>Some of us after all, have argued all along that the tea parties were about
as ``conservative'' -- insofar as that term has traditionally been understood --
as ladies night in a Castro Street bar. Indeed, some of us made the same point
about George W. Bush, the putatively conservative president who nevertheless
presided over an expansion of the federal government and of a federal
entitlement program (Medicare), a costly war of choice in Iraq founded on a
shifting rationale, and financial mismanagement that turned surplus into deficit
seemingly overnight.</P>
<P>For at least the last decade, then, conservatism has not seemed particularly
conservative -- a disconnect many of the ideology's adherents managed to ignore
so long as it was useful to do so, i.e., so long as it played well at the ballot
box. ``Just win, baby'' was their mantra; intellectual honesty, their casualty;
and as a result, their ideology slid into -- here's that word again --
incoherence, taking American political discourse with it.</P>
<P>But in the tea party movement, some conservatives finally meet a cognitive
disconnect they simply cannot bridge.</P>
<P>A recent New York Times profile found the tea party movement to be amorphous
and largely without an organizing principle other than its anger toward
government and fear of a supposedly imminent dictatorship. Beyond that, tea
partiers are an unwieldy amalgam of tax haters, global warming holdouts, illegal
immigration protesters, secessionists, gun rights advocates, white supremacists,
militia types and conspiracy theorists, all banging their gongs at the same
time.</P>
<P>Like the liberal noisemakers who follow the World Trade Organization around,
their lack of message discipline renders them -- that word, yet again --
incoherent. Like them, they have yet to figure out that to protest everything is
to protest nothing.</P>
<P>Make no mistake: Every movement or marginalized people has its fringe
extremists who threaten to define the whole. Thus, moderate American Muslims are
periodically required to rebuke Islamic terrorists, environmentalists are
obligated to rebuff eco-terrorists and moderate African Americans are expected
to reprove Louis Farrakhan.</P>
<P>But conservatives, outside of a few integrity-driven souls over the years,
have not rushed to repudiate the crazies among them, even as the crazies have
grown crazier and threatened to engulf the whole.</P>
<P>So it is welcome, albeit belated, news to hear Ned Ryun of American Majority
telling Politico the right needs to stop providing a platform to its extremists,
and to read columnist Michael Gerson speaking of the need to shove them to the
margins, and to learn that Erickson has banned birthers -- i.e., people who
persist in the asinine belief that President Obama was not born in the U.S.A. --
from his website.</P>
<P>``At some point, you have to use the word `crazy,' '' he says. And he's
right, of course.</P>
<P>But that point came a long time ago. </P></DIV></FONT>
<DIV></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=lfalen@turbonet.com href="mailto:lfalen@turbonet.com">lfalen</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=v2020@ssl.fastmail.fm
href="mailto:v2020@ssl.fastmail.fm">Saundra Lund</A> ; <A
title=starbliss@gmail.com href="mailto:starbliss@gmail.com">'Ted Moffett'</A>
; <A title=v2020@ssl.fastmail.fm href="mailto:v2020@ssl.fastmail.fm">'Saundra
Lund'</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Cc:</B> <A title=vision2020@moscow.com
href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Monday, March 08, 2010 10:23
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Vision2020] Imagine That,
Butch - Politics Is a Rough 'Sport'</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>Saundra<BR>There are undoubtedly some wingnuts in the Tea Party
as there is in most organizations. The bulk of them however are for smaller
government, freemarkets, and adhering to the Constitution. There main emphasis
is not social issues. They are Libertarians to the extent that most support
individual rights. There are a few that buy into conspiracy theories. most do
not. You can go to the internet and download "The Articles of Freedom"
Produced by The Continental Congress 2009. This will give you a good idea of
where the majority of them stand. The Tea Party is being labeled as truthers
and birthers. There are a few that may buy into this. As far as truther
go that is something that was put forward by that left wing digbat Michael
Moore.<BR>Roger<BR><BR>-----Original message-----<BR>From: "Saundra Lund" <A
href="mailto:v2020@ssl.fastmail.fm">v2020@ssl.fastmail.fm</A><BR>Date: Sat, 06
Mar 2010 00:59:07 -0800<BR>To: "'lfalen'" <A
href="mailto:lfalen@turbonet.com">lfalen@turbonet.com</A>, "'Ted Moffett'" <A
href="mailto:starbliss@gmail.com">starbliss@gmail.com</A>, "'Saundra Lund'" <A
href="mailto:v2020@ssl.fastmail.fm">v2020@ssl.fastmail.fm</A><BR>Subject: RE:
[Vision2020] Imagine That, Butch - Politics Is a Rough 'Sport'<BR><BR>> Hi
Roger,<BR>> <BR>> With respect to Tea Baggers, you wrote:<BR>> "They
may support a third alternative only if nether of the main parties have a
candidate that is for limited government, individual rights and sticks to the
Constitution."<BR>> <BR>> I wish that were true. Unfortunately,
the initial Tea Bagger movement has been co-opted, and a great many of the tea
baggers I've spoken with -- including those who attended the "rally" in Asotin
County -- are simply wingnuts who believe all kinds of crazy conspiracy
theories with palpable racist overtones and absolutely no understanding of
what the Constitution *really* says. It's quite sad, actually
:-(<BR>> <BR>> I got a call from the DNC recently trying to raise money
for our state DINO Walt Minnick, and they got an earful from me
:-) I probably most identify with the libertarian notion, but in Idaho,
that doesn't mean anything at all with respect to parties, and certainly not
the GOP. In Idaho, we can't blame the pathetic state of affairs --
including HCR 44 & SB 1353 as well as the gutting of education-- on any
party BUT the GOP.<BR>> <BR>> So, how do you, Roger, reconcile your
continued support?<BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> Saundra Lund<BR>>
Moscow, ID<BR>> <BR>> The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil
is for good people to do nothing.<BR>> ~ Edmund Burke<BR>> <BR>>
***** Original material contained herein is Copyright 2010 through life plus
70 years, Saundra Lund. Do not copy, forward, excerpt, or reproduce
outside the Vision 2020 forum without the express written permission of the
author.*****<BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>>
<BR>> -----Original Message-----<BR>> From: lfalen
[mailto:lfalen@turbonet.com] <BR>> Sent: Friday, March 05, 2010 10:38
AM<BR>> To: Ted Moffett; Saundra Lund<BR>> Cc: <A
href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</A><BR>> Subject:
Re: [Vision2020] Imagine That, Butch - Politics Is a Rough 'Sport'<BR>>
<BR>> Don't count on the Tea Party supporting a third party. they will
support individual candidates regardless of which party they belong to. They
may support a third alternative only if nether of the main parties have a
candidate that is for limited government, individual rights and sticks to the
Constitution.<BR>> Roger<BR>> -----Original message-----<BR>> From:
Ted Moffett <A
href="mailto:starbliss@gmail.com">starbliss@gmail.com</A><BR>> Date: Thu,
04 Mar 2010 23:45:36 -0800<BR>> To: Saundra Lund <A
href="mailto:v2020@ssl.fastmail.fm">v2020@ssl.fastmail.fm</A><BR>> Subject:
Re: [Vision2020] Imagine That, Butch - Politics Is a Rough 'Sport'<BR>>
<BR>> > Otter will likely be re-elected. Current political Madison
Avenue<BR>> > advertising/propaganda trends indicate Democrats are
successfully being<BR>> > blamed for the economic problems the US faces,
which of course are to a<BR>> > great extent the result of past public
and private sector decisions, not<BR>> > current Democratic economic
policy. And if the US economy does not<BR>> > substantially lower
the unemployment rate by 2012, Obama may find he will<BR>> > serve only
one term, assuming he will run again, regardless of whether the<BR>> >
economic problems are due to his failures or not. Of course, the Tea
Party<BR>> > independents may split the Republican vote, if they succeed
in promoting a<BR>> > third candidate, so Obama may still have a chance,
even if the economy does<BR>> > not rebound by 2012. But Otter can
attract both Tea Party independents and<BR>> > more traditional
Republicans... In a political cultural landscape where<BR>> > Sarah
Palin receives a huge amount of media attention as a potential<BR>> >
political candidate, we can assume that rational decision making in the
body<BR>> > politic is in serious jeopardy. I suppose this has
always been the case...<BR>> >
-----------------------------------------<BR>> > Vision2020 Post: Ted
Moffett<BR>> > <BR>> > <BR>> > On 3/4/10, Saundra Lund
<<A href="mailto:v2020@ssl.fastmail.fm">v2020@ssl.fastmail.fm</A>>
wrote:<BR>> > ><BR>> > > Ken wrote:<BR>> > > "Otter
may find he will share with Governor Samuelson another<BR>> > >
characteristic<BR>> > > -- serving only one term in office."<BR>>
> ><BR>> > > >From your fingertips to the will of the
voters :-)<BR>> > ><BR>> > ><BR>> > > Saundra
Lund<BR>> > > Moscow, ID<BR>> > ><BR>> > > The only
thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do<BR>> >
> nothing.<BR>> > > ~ Edmund Burke<BR>> > ><BR>> >
><BR>> > > -----Original Message-----<BR>> > > From: <A
href="mailto:vision2020-bounces@moscow.com">vision2020-bounces@moscow.com</A>
[mailto:vision2020-bounces@moscow.com]<BR>> > > On Behalf Of Kenneth
Marcy<BR>> > > Sent: Thursday, March 04, 2010 8:38 AM<BR>> >
> To: <A
href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</A><BR>> >
> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Imagine That, Butch - Politics Is a Rough
'Sport'<BR>> > ><BR>> > > On Tuesday 02 March 2010 06:06:14
Tom Hansen relayed to V2020:<BR>> > ><BR>> > > > Imagine
that, Butch - politics is a rough 'sport'<BR>> > > > Sandra Kelly,
for the [MPDN] editorial board [2 March 2010]<BR>> > > ><BR>>
> > > Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter isn't having fun in Boise. He's
been<BR>> > > > bombarded by newspapers throughout the state for
some of his<BR>> > > > budgetary decisions, and it's been hard on
him.<BR>> > > <[snip]><BR>> > > > Otter has said
repeatedly that he won't raise taxes. That's a great<BR>> > > >
sound bite, and almost a sure-fire way to get re-elected, but it<BR>> >
> > may not be in the best interest of Idaho.<BR>> > >
><BR>> > > > No one wants to pay more taxes, but it's certainly
something that<BR>> > > > should be looked at. It's not popular,
and the Legislature will<BR>> > > > take some heat for it, but at
least looking into it is the right<BR>> > > > thing to do.<BR>>
> > <[snip]><BR>> > ><BR>> > > It used to be
said that it took a hard-line anti-Communist Republican<BR>> > > such
as Richard Nixon to open foreign relations with Communist Red<BR>> >
> China. Analogously, it was said that it took a tax-and-spend
liberal<BR>> > > Democrat such as Bill Clinton to reform the welfare
system. Both of<BR>> > > these Presidents enjoyed some relative
success for these efforts.<BR>> > ><BR>> > > Butch Otter
does not, thus far, at least, seem to have an analogous<BR>> > >
combination of domestic acuity and political maneuverability to<BR>> >
> recognize the extant condition of his constituency and to act
with<BR>> > > appropriate governance in the better interests of the
electorate.<BR>> > ><BR>> > > To date Otter's insistent
resistance even to considering reasonable<BR>> > > measures to steer
Idaho's budget boat toward some semblance of the<BR>> > > status quo,
rather than meekly and weakly allowing the craft to be<BR>> > >
washed down the economic stream, rudderless, controlled by the<BR>> >
> vagaries of the current rather than experienced helmsmanship,
does<BR>> > > not suggest any historical greatness for his
governorship.<BR>> > ><BR>> > > One is reminded, instead, of
an earlier Idaho governor who had<BR>> > > difficulty expressing
leadership vision -- Donald Samuelson. Governor<BR>> > > Otter may
find he will share with Governor Samuelson another<BR>> > >
characteristic -- serving only one term in office.<BR>> > ><BR>>
> ><BR>> > > Ken<BR>> > ><BR>> > >
=======================================================<BR>> > > List
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communities of the Palouse since 1994.<BR>> >
>
<A href="http://www.fsr.net">http://www.fsr.net</A><BR>> >
> <A
href="mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com">mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com</A><BR>>
> > =======================================================<BR>> >
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services made available by First Step Internet,<BR>> > > serving the
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> <A
href="mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com">mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com</A><BR>>
> > =======================================================<BR>> >
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