Shannon Travis, a “CNN Political Producer,” has done a story with the headline: Disgruntled Democrats join the Tea Party. It reads, in part:
They are not typical Tea Party activists: A woman who voted for President Obama and believes he’s a “phenomenal speaker.” Another who said she was a “knee-jerk, bleeding heart liberal.”
These two women are not alone.
Some Americans who say they have been sympathetic to Democratic causes in the past — some even voted for Democratic candidates — are angry with President Obama and his party. They say they are now supporting the Tea Party — a movement that champions less government, lower taxes and the defeat of Democrats even though it’s not formally aligned with the Republican Party. [...]
As I’ve written, there are many, many disgruntled Democrats and Independents, but they are not joining the Tea Party in any numbers. Trying to concoct a story that says otherwise through a silly and hyperbolic headline and an interview with a couple of people strains credulity. Remarkably, inside the article itself it says that only 4% of Tea Party members are Democrats, the rest Republicans, though I even find that number high. What about Independents?
Which brings me to another issue, wondering when traditional media and others are going to give full voice to Independents? This is especially important since their numbers are growing faster than both Dems and Republicans.
And by the way, even those people who are infuriated, including dozens who have emailed me, none have said they wish they’d voted for McCain-Palin. So, the one person in the CNN piece who said she “regrets voting for Barack Obama,” well, she’s in a class all her own; one that rekindles the unhinged fringe brand from 2008.
UPDATE: Well, that didn’t take long. Soon after I wrote this post a response was posted on my Facebook page. Puma didn’t die, they’re “morphing.”
“we never passed away, we’re just morphing. some to tea party’s, some waiting for the democrats to be the party they once were, some independent until further notice.” – Amy Michelle Petunia
I guess after the militia raid the word went out to siften the teabaggers image from the raging pshycos that they really, really are.
So we get this utter crap about disgruntled Dems who are allegedly joining the teabaggers.
BULLSHIT!
This story from CNN is laughable.
Again, is Dem enthusiasm down? Yes.
Are Dems & Indies disappointed? Yes.
Are women furious? Yes.
Do Dems have to worry about GOTV on all of the above in 2010? To quote the woman lefties love to hate, “You betcha!”
But are these disaffected joining up with Tea Partiers? There is no evidence of any numbers, only anecdotal stories of the unhinged fringe.
Do dissatisfied Dems and furious women, as well as disgruntled Indies, wish they’d voted McCain-Palin? Fughettaboutit.
Why on earth would you think it’s mostly Republicans? From everything I’ve read or heard about the, most tea party activists would call themselves INDEPENDENTS. They don’t like the Republican Party any more than they do the Democratic Party.
This has been in the news for a couple of weeks, Noogan.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0310/34913.html
While tea party activists have described themselves as political free agents disgusted with both parties, a new poll by Quinnipiac University shows that a majority have a close connection to the GOP.
Almost three quarters of those who identified themselves as part of the tea party movement – 74 percent – also identified themselves as Republicans or independents who lean Republican, according to the poll. Only 16 percent of tea partiers said they are Democrats or Democratic-leaning independents.
http://blogs.mcclatchydc.com/washington/2010/03/poll-yields-new-details-about-tea-party-movement.html
A new survey suggests that Americans drawn to the Tea Party movement are largely white, Republican voters who are in many ways similar to the overall voting population but disproportionately dissatisfied with the direction of the country.
“Noogan says:
03 April 2010 at 5:52 pm
Why on earth would you think it’s mostly Republicans? From everything I’ve read or heard about the, most tea party activists would call themselves INDEPENDENTS. They don’t like the Republican Party any more than they do the Democratic Party.”
You must only read the sludge report and limpwithnoballs pathetic attempt at a news letter.
Have YOU joined the teabaggers?
Lots of people are unhappy because they’re listening to the worst tsunami of PROPAGANDA and lies since socialist Germany.
Dr. Cassel – the guy with the sign telling Obama voters to go elsewhere for medical help – is a perfect example. In an interview with Alan Colmes, he admitted he didn’t know a damned thing about what was in the bill. His biggest complaint was the removal of funds for nursing homes. When Colmes pointed out what he was actually talking about was eliminating a ‘double dip’ in that area – a cheat – and the National Association of Home Care and Hospice actually praised the bill, Cassel fell apart.
This picture says it all:
http://www.lbfitness.com/noidea.jpg
WOW! What a surprise, a repugnantklaner upset his personal little rip off was eliminated. Sure hope the folks who oversee medicaid fraud were tuned in!
Taylor~
I feel like I have to speak up on something. I am a daily reader of the Confluence.
I really don’t know the cronology of the PUMA movement because I stopped reading their sites when I decided I had to support Obama.Even though I agreed with all their objections to Obama’s candidacy and the way Hillary was treated in the media and by her own party.Many of the main posters on the Confluence consider themselves the original PUMAs and feel that the label was co-opted by crazy others.
I don’t think you mean this group of mainly women when you refer to the unhinged fringe.They are all very intelligent liberals who write on many of the same topics you write on and more often than not you are in agreement.One of them dankinikat is an economics professor at the U of LA,she has really helped me understand what is going on in the economy.Another,Bostonboomer is around my age and teaches paychology at a college in Boston. An angry young chemist named Riverdaughter was the founder.
Their community of commenters reminds me the most of this community. All liberal, thoughtful, well informed and funny. Wonk the Vote who visited here not long ago is a frequent commenter there.
They really don’t like Obama and they feel like they saw through him all along but they are not obsessed.
I’ve seen you over there, LL. I’ve read a few of your comments. I read many blogs but this is the only one I care to comment on.
Always enjoy seeing you in the comments, Lynnette.
Pmichel, you are correct. People are facing a tsunami of misinformation & lies. But there is nothing to countervail it.
As a matter of fact, the Republicans are out to destroy, Obama, while he insists on being constructive. In spite of all that has happened he STILL insists on talking about bipartisanship.
What is truth nowadays? Republicans understand the game. We Democrats are amateurs. Perception is truth.
According to Quinnipiac, Obama’s job approval rating among Republicans is 9 percent. Yet he continues his appeasement.
The more he curries their favor the weaker they perceive him to be and the more contempt they have for him. Is he so arrogant that he genuinely believes that he can in fact change the implicit nature of these people? Actually convert them through his charm? Or his good works?
These are people who are either at your knees or at your throat — they understand only strength and power. Force. They want an authority figure. And the more he seeks to placate them, tossing aside the progressive principles he claimed to hold, the lower the esteem in which he is held.
The Republicans hate him; his base does not trust him and the independents are moving away.
He screwed ALL those who worked hardest for him. In other words, the closer (needier) people are to him the less he likes them, and the wider the circle of his acquaintance the more obliging he is to the members on its remoter fringes.
Simply great analysis, Ramsgate, absolutely some of the best stuff you’ve written.
Everyone should read this and digest it fully, because you nailed it.
Truth has a particularly beautiful or rancid smell depending on the circumstances dosnit?
They really don’t like Obama and they feel like they saw through him all along but they are not obsessed. Lake Lady
I hope you’re aren’t offended by my injecting myself into your thoughts, Lake Lady – but what I have witnessed in the last two years is simply astounding. There was SO MUCH Anger in this country we were ready for the most *extreme* ‘change’ we could find. That ‘extreme change’ narrowed down to a ‘woman’ and a ‘Black’ man (Edwards never had a chance). I find it oddly revealing that our culture is still so ‘male’ based, the ‘choice’ turned out to be a terribly inexperienced – though highly intelligent – ‘male’ over the woman I felt *should* have been the choice over Kerry in 2004. (Taylor disagreed at the time)
But with that huge ‘swing’ came a price. It released the most extreme on the other side as well. I never thought I’d see an extreme KKK leader running for office again – but it’s there (Glenn Miller – Missouri). And the *expectations* now given to Obama are simply mind-boggling. Not only is his election ‘racially’ historical? – but he gets handed the worst disaster (to fix) in decades. (Gee, thanks)
So excuse me if I look at the plate this man has been handed – while he gets all this on-the-job training – and frankly wonder why he hasn’t gone berzerko with all the pressures and challenges.
Considering all this, I happen to think he’s doing pretty well, so far. Is he perfect? Of course not. But given the things stacked against him? – I am *impressed*. That’s my “reality” – subject to change.
though there are those who would like to claim THEY deal in reality and I don’t. LOL
Hillary Rodham Clinton was never an option in 2004 race. Not ever.
The job of president is the one Mr. Obama signed up for, so this “it’s so hard” bs is just lame.
What Ramsgate wrote above is dead on.
“In other words, the closer (needier) people are to him the less he likes them” Ramsgate
If you think this is “dead on”, Taylor ?
I’m speechless.
‘Cuz if I express myself as to how utterly without a clue this is, you’ll ban me again.
What would YOU call it pmichael? He had 70 fu*kin% of the populice WANTED THE PUBLIC OPTION but the repugs didn’t so under da bus. Women’s reproductive rights? UNDER DA BUS! Gays and Lesbians in the military? UNDER DA BUS!
He STILL has a majority in the Senate AND the House and is he ramming through the agenda he was elected to institute? All you hopey changey younguns UNDER DA BUS!
Come election time it’s gonna be an empty bus except for Obama and a bunch of soon to be unemployed Dems.
The whole of Ramsgate’s comment is dead on, pm.
It’s your embarrassment that you have decided to become an unbiased cheer leader. Don’t blame others for your choice.
We all have supported Obama, most having voted for him. In fact, as I’ve written, many, many will “come home” to him again in 2012. But your uncritical assessment these days is just embarrassing at times.
Anyone who gets banned earns it after warnings, so you’ll have to look to yourself to what happened years ago. To reply to your bold, that is an utterly scurrilous thing to posit, pm. Ask Imhotep.
My husband would agree with you about 2004.
Your husband is a very intelligent gentleman, lynnette.
*L*
Which is probably a good example of the new definition for “intelligent” – *LOL* – which all too often is; “someone who agrees with me” !
And of course, anyone who has the audacity to disagree with me is just plain stupid.
Yes. I even catch myself guilty of that occasionally.
Well, he’s an Independent with democratic leanings, although he liked Ross Perot. Me – I’m just a good ‘ole Democrat, but as I get older, I think I’m getting more liberal.
You have to be kidding? Worse disaster handed to him? LOL. This was all known. EVERYBODY knew what a mess George W. Bush left. It was NO secret. The fact that Obama isn’t up to the job is one of the reasons I think he should never have run for President.
pmichael~ I have a lot of respect for you and I love your contributions to this site. We just disagree on the kind of job Obama is doing.I really do think his instincts are conservative and he is siding with the interests of money over the interests of the people.I have not seen him do anyting to prove me wrong.
I agree with you that he was handed a real mess. I also believe that he was handed a real opportunity to make meaningful change,the country was ready for it,the media loved him and the people who worked to put him in office had his back. He has disappointed many of us,not just me.
I am not going to write a litney of all the disappointments but they have been many. Now I am nervous about who he will replace Justice Kennedy with,who will he try to please? He really does not seem interested in throwing any of us dirty hippy liberals a bone.
I will never vote Republican under any circumstances but I think Obama is turning the Party into something I don’t recognize and can’t support.
Lake Lady,
You and pmichael both make some good points. I kind of feel like a combination of what both of you think, if that’s possible.
BTW~ I too am agast at the level of recism that has reared it’s ugly head in the country and embarrassed if some KKK yahoo from MO is running for office, I don’t know about that and will have to research it. I am not doubting you just pleading ignorance. The racism frightens me to death and I worry not only for Obama’s safety but the safety of other AA leaders as well.
I am agast but NOT surprised. Several people I work with who are Dems have said they couldn’t vote for McCain but WOULDN’T vote for Obama because he was Black, and BLACK was NOT the word they used so they didn’t vote for President.
Oddly enough for the first time in my voting LIFE(I’ve been voting since they gave 18 year olds the vote) I TOO didn’t vote for President. I COULN’T vote for McCain Palin and I WOULDN’T vote for Obama after the bottom scrapping primary ran against HRC by his minions with help from the “progressives” and Liberals” in the party.
I just looked up Glen Miller he is a nutcase running as a write in for Senate.He is obsessed with both black and Jewish hatred.There is a picture of he and his wife and five children. I feel so sorry for his children.
Well I was watching Bill O’Reilly and he put up a poll that said “Will Sarah Palin run as on the tea party ticket” I don’t think the numbers from the poll have been shown yet, but I am thinking could Sarah Palin break from the republican party and make the tea party a third party. That poll just had me thinking, because I would think if someone sortof knew what Sarah Palin was up too or something it would be someone from FOX.Sarah Palin has not been traveling to the early battleground states like Iowa and New Hamsphire like the other possible candidates are so I am thinking she is going to skip the primary states and go straight to the general election,where she can slip under the radar and keep taking as many votes as possible and become another Ross Perot. Anyway, this Shannon Travis sounds like she is from FOX news I am sure they will offer her a contract anyday !! LOL !! The tea party also gets most of the headlines on tv and in newspapers and the internet so I would not be surprised if people started joining them because they have think they have no where to go in either party.
fairminded, you have hit upon the exact reason I recently stated the right-wing would “never be in power again” (and leftwing worries about November are unfounded). There is a ‘division’ happening here that is indeed quite similar to the Ross Perot take-down. Our nation is sort of ‘growing’ in two respects: 1st, it is becoming far more ‘minority’ based (as the homogenization of mankind continues) and 2nd; ‘ignorance’ is seeing its last days. By ‘ignorance’, I am referring to those who think the Flintstones cartoons are based on fact (see Sarah Palin) or the belief in the ‘End of Days’ regarding Israel.
While this segment of our population exists – to separate them into another ‘Party’ or ‘block’ means the death (by division) of the right wing. McCain’s current battle in Arizona is a primary example (pun intended
Oh JEEEEEEBUS CRISPIES onna popcicle stick with pins through hands and FEET I hope you’re right derangedliberal!!!!!
WOW! You sure do love you some faux notnews doncha! Check out sludge, blech, hamdjobity and limpwithnoballs much?
I always look forward to your…I can’t really call them comments, let’s call them spewings, because they kinda remind us all just how pathetically brain dead the right is.
pmicheal – The sad truth is that in Europe and other places there are growing right-wing parties. They hold seats in parliament and it could happen here too. Look what happened in Switzerland, which is a very liberal country. The people held a referendum to ban minarets. In France, they want to ban Islamic veils in pubic places. These are pretty left countries. So just because your left does not mean you accept change. Just because there are a growing minorities does not mean they are going to vote left. There is a large group of Hispanic Americans who are conserative. So are some Asians Americans and other minority groups. I am moderate to liberal on issues. I don’t want a one-party system because we need check and balance in government. So when you say the right-wing will never be in power again, I think thats wishful thinking. I do wish for a multi-party system. its needed badly in this country.
“They hold seats in parliament and it could happen here too.”
Don’t know if you noticed dimbulb but the repugnantklan actually HOLD SEATS IN THE SENATE AND HOUSE!!! Even GOVERNORSHIPS!!!!
” These are pretty left countries.”
Spoken like a true repugnantklaner teabagger.
” There is a large group of Hispanic Americans who are conserative.”
That’s why the Hispanic vote went OVERWHELMINGLY repug huh?
Are you as clueless as you type?
” So are some Asians Americans and other minority groups.”
YEAH, even all them NONWHITES are seeing the light huh?
You sound dumber with every key stroke.
“I am moderate to liberal on issues. ”
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Did you actually type that with a straight face?!?!
Yeah, but right-wing in other parts of world (Europe, Canada) is well left of right-wing in U.S.
…Which brings me to another issue, wondering when traditional media and others are going to give full voice to Independents?
So true.
39% Independent
32% Democrat
28% Republican
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2010-03-31-1Apoll_N.htm
The media, Democrats and Republicans are so caught up in the Democratic/Republican smack down, that the Independents will be ignored until the eve of the mid-term elections, when the exit polls come in. Just like the Virginia, New Jersey governor races, and the Mass. senate race.
Bingo.
It’s why Mr. Obama is tying himself up in knots to sound (ahem) “moderate.”
I don’t know how anybody assesses where to go with Independents.I think there is a growing number of liberal Independents were historically they have leaned more to the right. I would like to see some up to date polling in this area.
About the only thing you accomplish by reregistering as an independent, depending on what state you live in, is guarantee you CAN’T vote in the primary.
If you’re a “left/liberal “independent” do you REALLY think you’re going to vote for some shit house rat crazy repugnantklaner or TOTAL nutjob teabagger?
Secular you know I’m not ever going to vote for a Republican. In MO they don’t check your party registration for primaries,they just ask which ballot you want.
I don’t know any other way to send a message to the Dems.
As for this current Democratic/Republican smack down another poll, this time from Gallup:
Blame Spread Around for Post-Healthcare Vandalism, Threats
Republicans mainly blame the actions of Democratic leaders while, in equal measure, Democrats mainly blame the rhetoric of conservative commentators and Republican leaders. Political …INDEPENDENTS… are somewhat more likely to attribute responsibility to Democratic leaders’ actions than to Republican leaders’ words.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/127052/Blame-Spread-Around-Post-Healthcare-Vandalism-Threats.aspx
Recently the TEA Party agreed that thier name does not reflect thier roots enough. They would like people to know where they are coming from and who they are. So I have proposed a name change from Taxed Enough Already to
White American Christians Killing Taxes
Or just plain wackt for short
I’m a lefty democrat who supported Hillary and then voted for Obama in the general and I am not at all happy with Obama forsaking everything he said he stood for when he was running against McCain. That said, I would not join the tea party given I don’t agree with them on 99% of issues. So these folks who are supposedly progressives, liberals or whatever and who are joining up with the tea party- I’m not really sure I get that. I understand the frustration but I don’t understand why liberals would run to the tea party.
I still continue to be stunned that despite having both houses of Congress, the WH and being brought in on a mandate for CHANGE, I turn on the news to hear Obama trying to coax some Republicans on board with his plan for domestic drilling. Did he learn ANYTHING over the past year? It was really nice he wanted to be the first post-partisan President but clearly people don’t want that- they seem to need something to oppose more than they need/want something to support. The GOP has already announced they will filibuster whoever Obama’s SCOTUS nominee is going to be when John Paul Stevens steps down even though they have no effing idea who Obama will pick. Kind of like they opposed health reform before they even saw it. Kind of like they oppose everything. And yet Obama still thinks if he reaches out to them while slapping the people that elected him in the face they’ll start playing nice with him? Hardly.
With each passing day Obama moves farther and farther away from what he said he stood for during the general election. Then, when we speak up and demand to know why he’s abandoned his stated agenda, his chief of staff refers to use as “retards”- we’re retards for expecting them to at least TRY and do what they said they were going to do? Talk about being taken for granted!
Heya SectCB. It’s called moving the Dem Party rightward. You said it all, sister.
SectCB,
I feel like you do. Sometimes I wonder where the Democratic party has gone. I try to keep optimistic, but I don’t know.
Lynnette- I feel like I always get more optimistic around a Presidential election when a Dem wins only to find out that it’s right back to the same old, same old.
On a bit of a side-note I’m rather ticked off right now about how Obama seems to be letting the military undermine his quasi-efforts to get rid of that ridiculous DADT policy. It was great to see Gates and Adm. Mullen go before the Grumpy Old Men in the Senate and defend it’s repeal, but I sense a lot of foot-dragging and some top brass are openly rebelling which just shouldn’t be tolerated. Most American think it’s a stupid policy so who gives a damn what McCain and Lindsey Graham think? I’m tired of Obama’s soaring rhetoric and lofty speeches- I want him to commit to something and actually do it without watering it down and backtracking and lowering the bar- something he’s become quit adept at doing.
Red Sox 9
Yankees 7
What a wonderful opening night !