Only idiots worry about a fringe group thats ten percent who will divide the GOP, they are not going to recruit even a conservative democrat unless they really never were.
Some independents but their going to come back to left center with the GOP ready to fight tooth and nail against real banking and financial reform. 77% of all American want that reform and are really angry about CEO compensation.

I.m more afriad of ticks with lyme than tea bagging morons

Moron. That's a nice word. Now for some substance. There is no reason to be afraid of the "Picnic Club" known as the Tea Party. They want their point of view heard, and you are afraid of their point of view. Their platform is about government spending, despite their stupid name of "Tea Party". I don't like the name, but could you get less fear-inspiring than a tea party? It sounds like some one's niece is having a sleep-over, with pillow fights, then a "tea party" with little tiny cups. They should have called it the "anit-racist, anti-spending, pro-independence party", because that is their point of view.

That's right! Anti-racist. Wow, so I think the Tea Party is anti-racist? What the hell? Oh, maybe it's because I've heard their point of view, not just sit on my ass and let the news hypnotize me into their point-of-view. You know, just call them morons if you like, it's a lot easier than going through the thinking process, the evidence gathering, and creating a good arguement.

"In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shank from this responsibility - I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavour will light our country and all who serve it -- and the glow from that fire can truly light the world.

And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country. "

See, substance, not just, "morons".

This is a good point in my opinion. I know there has to be financial regulation, but it's corporations that have become "too big to fail" that you should be complaining about as they CONTROL our country in every single respect, and these megalomaniacal company's execs are playing you like a fiddle. They want the country divided, and you to think it's a fight between left and right, not right and wrong. They have succeeded, people don't protest in front of Walmart. If they did, they probably wouldn't get to shop there.

For many people, if they weren't allowed to shop at Walmart, they wouldn't be able to live normally. Why? It's because they wouldn't have any place to go. What? No place else to go? Hmm, is it because they are a LEGAL monopoly? Try to find something made in America in Walmart. I think just the orange juice is made here. They are one example.

But wait, there's more! The most powerful aren't just forcing you to buy imports, but they are invested heavily in foreign companies. So, now when the stock market goes up, it means more money for everyone but us. That's right, jobs aren't created by the wealthy here, unless you are going to run out and give Mr. Made-off a fresh towel and a tequilla sunrise. We don't get to do "industry" anymore. We are exclusively service jobs for kissing the fat asses of the rich. Welcome to America, can we file your callouses?

The Tea Party gatherings are like picnics. They have wonderful times watching the media take pictures of left-wing plants that try to make them look bad. It may have happened twice, but look at every other protest you've ever seen - that's when you get cars tipped over, police hit with rocks instead of a little spittle. The reason Sean Hannity looks so bad to you is because you don't watch his show. He shows pictures and video of the tea party gatherings, they look like concerts. They say things, they offend liberals, then they clean up and go home.

John Stewart has a different audience, and he makes them happy with showing the most "red-necky" people they can find in the crowd. Watch a tea party video instead of the eigth of a second they show on the normal news. You won't see much. It's usually just somebody trying to convince everyone to give them money like all other potential politicians, and eating.

If the left and the right got together for a charity telethon, they could make enough money to cure stupidity, if there is a cure.

It's natural that each side hates the other's views, but we all eat cheeseburgers and pizza, watch tv and go shopping. If that changes, then there will be hell to pay!

Wow you made a lot of assumptions about what I did not say--and completely missed what I actually did say.

Whether or not I actually watch Mr. Hannity's show or The Daily Show is not relevant to the discussion.

I will give you the point that the media outside of FOX news coverage and especially on the comedy circuit--does tend to only emphasize the negative and most inflammatory aspects of the Tea Party gatherings--and that in some ways the tea party benefits from that because be it good or bad publicity--its still publicity.

But my point is that Sarah Palin and Michelle Bachmann and some of the more fringe members of the tea party are indeed radical and are starting to act out--there are documented instances of "tea partiers" spitting on and using hateful derogatory language to describe members of Congress as well as advocating violence against those members of Congress who supported health care reform -- and they have begun giving a microphone and 15 minutes of air time to some really radical speakers who have made no bones about the idea they are for, and would support, taking up weapons against the government. They have also begun actively encouraging their members to resist what they perceive as restrictions on their "freedom" coming from government sources by "any means possible"--and they have continued to act out in this way regardless of whether they make the "news" on FOX or on MSNBC or on Comedy Central. So that is why--in my opinion--FOX is backing away from the tea party--its not that they don't believe most of what the tea party stands for--its just FOX the corporation is the ones with the deepest pockets that can be mined, if you will, in a civil lawsuit once the radical fringe actually steps over the line into treason or sedition or assault or even killing someone. I would also guess that the FCC as well as most of their bigger corporate advertisers would not look favorably on FOX news if their "reporters" such as Mr. Hannity--as opposed to their "commentators" like Mr. Beck-- were directly linked to people who were charged with or found guilty of actually committing treason or sedition.

Well written piece, thought out and consice, the warning has already been called domestic terrorism may be as big a danger as Islamic terror on U.S. soil. I have blogged about paid mercenaries before. What if some of these so called professional soldiers decide to join the tea party and actually forment domestic terror to further their own gains as quote unquote security specialist with the hope that they could be employed by our government for domestic security. It would not be the first time one organization used another subversivly to do just this. Not here but abroad. But it can happen here, its just as easy as joining being vocal and getting these clowns to follow you over the edge. Boom

Did you miss the proliferation of militias, one of which was recently busted? How about the guy who flew his plane into IRS offices in Austin, or the guy who tried to shoot up the Pentagon? It's too late: people have already DIED as a result of the rabble-rousing.

Even with the disclaimer of "we're not advocating violence" (after Palin put up a map with bulls-eyes on it), the nut-jobs have been riled up by the likes of Palin, as if her freedom of speech includes freedom to incite violence. Sorry, Sarah, it does NOT.

In fact, there are laws that say anyone who DOES incite violent overthrow of the government (Alaska Independence Party, Sarah?) is not ALLOWED to seek high office. It was an attempt by prior generations of legislators to preclude a hate-spewing candidate to rile a crowd into action (however lovely her gambs may be).

Didn't add all that I'm glad you did ++

You are wrong. The Austin guy was a self-avowed communist - leftist! It wasn't mentioned in the news you watch becuase you are easily convinced by such credible sources. The honorable men that write your news don't want you to know those details.

Obama called for a militia. The tea-people just want to have a gun, not use it. They use their bibles. Are bibles dangerous? The idea that Palin is violent is blind to the left's strongest supporter, HOLLYWOOD! Oh, don't offend master Cameron, they know how military people are, they know what you want, and you worship them like I believe in God.

Advocation is recomendation, only those who hate Bush actually recomend killing some one, OH, Al Queda recomends killing, outright, say something about those who actually say "Kill them". You, and your analogs, are the only REAL advocates of violence. Go back to playing GTA, it's fun, and it's not real violence. Now say something stupid.

The Austin guy was a nut-case, pure and simple. He seemed fired up by a mixture of ideologies, spanning the globe from the extremist beliefs of 9/11 to the Tea Potters. Deciphering his roots is fascinating, perhaps for a forensic psychologist, but pointless otherwise. He was stoopid (sic). He committed murder-suicide, so there's one less fruit from the evolutionary idiot tree.

It's funny you mention James Cameron, the director of 'Avatar'. I heard some guy calling Hannity to complain about 'Avatar' a few weeks ago, launching into the usual tirade about how "Hollywood elite" were trying to cram their left-wing liberal ecological agenda down the countries throat. The caller was suggesting organizing a boycott.

Hannity mildly agreed on the Hollywood agenda, tap-danced a bit, but then moved onto the next caller without picking up the boycott idea. Why not?

Uh, could it be because Avatar was released and distributed thru 20th Century Entertainment Group, the same corporation controlled and owned by Murdoch's News Corp? Obviously you wouldn't want to boycott your Bosses other business interests, right? That means the gay-themed "Choir" (described as "High School Musical" with a gay slant) won't be bashed, either.

Dude, you're nuts if you think Fox or the others actually BELIEVE the crap they spew over their airwaves, political or not; it's ALL about profits and ratings for them, attracting a crowd. THAT'S always been the point of yellow journalism: say anything, do anything, to attract the eyes of the public. Give the public what they want.

So, what should we replace profits with? I believe the more people you have the power to reach, the more that power is limited by your affiliation with the power that put you there. If you created the phone lines, telephone poles, and infrastructure, you are going to try to control the media that runs through them to some degree. I'm not a supporter of any rich people. They have employed me before, but then they left to China. I believe most people stop caring, and don't learn much more once they get rich. Most.

It's Catch 22, so I believe that political parties should only have the presidency once, then they should be disqualified to run until another party has it for four, or even eight years. My opinion just barely matters to Fox, or CBS, or anyone with more than a million dollars in the bank. Almost everyone is a sell out, but not everyone.

I'm not, and I believe Sean Hannity tries not to be, but he knows the "fun" part is over for him, as he knows the "fun" part for Obama is over - just like Tiger. For me, the fun is still to come!

The tea-people just want to have a gun, not use it. They use their bibles. Are bibles dangerous? What is the point of having a gun if you aren't going to use it even if it is in defense of something? Also yes--actually the bible is an extremely dangerous weapon when used by religious zealots--a fact that Jesus pointed out on a regular basis to all the religious fringe people in his day--and a fact playing out right now in Nigeria since American "pastors" went to Nigeria and told them the bible said if you can't cure AIDS with religious beliefs you can and should imprison or execute those who are gay and lesbian and anybody who doesn't report them.

But super religious nut jobs who held a bible (or any other religious text) in one hand and a weapon in the other are pretty much responsible for every hate filled war mongering/militia type of group mankind has ever fought from the crusades to the witch burning to the Phelps family to the KKK and the Nazi's to the current incarnations of the Taliban and Al-Queida. -- then there's also Waco, Jim Jones, and Charles Manson who pretty much convince their followers that the bible advocates killing people and or yourself if you are challenged for your ideas or crazy religious beliefs.

So maybe you want to re-think your point? (or actually begin to think) Or consider finding or exploring other sources for your news besides FOX news or a wiki page.

The Austin guy was a self-avowed communist - leftist (isn't that a bit of a oxymoron since he was from the capitol of Texas where over half the population including the governor and the former President are gun toting right wing tea sippers?)

So thanks for clearing things up for me because I thought he was pissed off and became a suicide bomber because he had to pay taxes and deal WITH the government and deal with an agency he thought was illegal and unfairly trying to take his money and redistribute it to others--but now I know he was a closeted communist leftist living in Texas and thus was subject to the Texas version of the DADT policy as it applies to anybody who is not a conservative Republican.

Poor me and my stupid thinking rational brain--I thought communists and socialists and leftists were in FAVOR (at least in theory) of redistributing the wealth and paying taxes if it meant community improvements and better schools and paying people a "living wage" and providing communities with firemen and policemen when they needed them-- and I thought the Tea Party was formed to protest paying taxes and the election of an "foreign born" black President and advocating overthrowing the entire government because in a little over a year the democratically elected--instead of Supreme Court majority appointed-- President has of course morphed into Hitler and started taking us down a slippery slope toward socialism and "progressivism" because he simply started advocating for a better life for anyone besides old white men--my bad.

Yes, we should worry about the potential violence, but that potential is tiny compared to terrorists, but everyone likes terrorists who actually do recruit Americans to commit violent acts. Oh, they don't like them? It's hard to tell when you aim your sights at Americans who have actual concerns, instead of SCREAMING AT THE TOP OF YOUR LUNGS, "I HATE TERROISTS, THEY WANT VIOLENCE!"

No, let's get on our assigned sides of the arguement, and see if being nice will get our points across. Violence may erupt, but it would probably come from some one from the left shooting Sean Hannity. Why? Too many people here have said more incendiary things about him directly than saying, "I don't like Sean's point of view, but I don't think we should build up too much hate", because at least one of us (out of all of us) will go "wacko" since he/she will believe everyone here would be happy if Sean was dead.

she does have lovely gambs

Violence may erupt, but it would probably come from some one from the left shooting Sean Hannity. Why? Too many people here have said more incendiary things about him directly than saying, "I don't like Sean's point of view, but I don't think we should build up too much hate", because at least one of us (out of all of us) will go "wacko" since he/she will believe everyone here would be happy if Sean was dead.

(said only half sarcastically)--no someone on the "left" is more likely shoot to Glenn Beck or Bill O'Reilly before they shoot Sean Hannity--and maybe that's FOX secret agenda--let the real radical commentators within their organization take a bullet and keep their moderate reporters safe--its like a twisted form of keeping their network fair and balanced.

But in all honesty--your statement and logic makes a great deal more sense if you substitute President Obama for Sean -- and if you substitute extremist militia member or extremist tea party member for "left"

I mean come on now--the top story right now on Current asks if President Obama is mentally ill--he has been compared to Hitler on a regular basis. No matter what he says or what policy he proposes the Republicans say NO and begin a media firestorm to attack his policies and call him names--even if its a policy THEY have endorsed for at least a decade or more. The Secret Service said they have been dealing with the largest number of death threats against a President in their history of providing protective details. And its been repeatedly documented that the extremist members of the Tea Party and several members of extremists groups/militias who are aligned with the Republican Party are indeed advocating violence and walking a very fine line between what constitutes freedom of speech and what constitutes treason and/or sedition and openly advocating for overthrowing the government.--And its also documented that several of these extremist groups have been carrying concealed - loaded guns to various state capitols and now are planning to be just over the line in Virginia from DC for an armed march because "that the closest they can legally get with a loaded weapon to Washington DC.

So ask yourself--which side is advocating violence and sedition and carrying concealed weapons to political rallies and constantly having to apologize or retract their incendiary, racist, hateful, stereotypical statements by saying they were just "misunderstood" or "taken out of context" when President Obama has only been in office a little over a year--and which side chose to talk rationally and peacefully and essentially "played nice" and used non-violent means to discuss politics and political ideas and then finally exercised their right to vote "for change" after 8 years of George W.?

TANSTAASFL after all, it's not worth it to even bother to show up in such places unless he gets paid.

As the famous bumper sticker says "Gas, grass or ass, nobody rides for free"

Hannity is an idiot, but Fox is a private corporation, they can censor anything they want, Hannity never had any free speech rights.

Yeah, Hannity knows enough about his constitutional rights to know that free speech isn't absolute: it says "CONGRESS shall pass no laws". Fox passed no laws, Fox isn't a government organization, and he has no right to free speech on the airwaves if the puppet masters decide they don't like his spiel.

If Hannity detests Fox controlling where he speaks, he can always exercise his right to walk (freedom of association; that is, if he's not locked into a contractual obligation). He's not going to do it: he probably enjoys the spotlight and fat paycheck too much.

Perhaps I was unclear. I did not mean to imply that Hannity had grounds for a first amendment lawsuit against Fox. I meant that he had every right to jump up and down screaming that Fox was attempting to interfere with his right to speak freely. He had two options, in my opinion. He could have resigned and spoken freely or he could have spoken freely and dared Fox to fire him. Had they done so, he may have had grounds for a wrongful termination suit. He did neither. If the reason he did neither was because he signed a contract with Fox in which he signed away his first amendment rights...well, then we are back to that whole hypocrite thing, aren't we?

And how long before YOU get fired for publicly complaining about YOUR boss? You think he goes on the air and rails against the man, and they're NOT going to pull the plug on his show? "Sorry, Sean, but we've decided to go in a different direction, so thanks for all your services, but we'll no longer need you. Clear out your desk."

Worse, they could keep him on salary, but not let him speak on the air. For a radio personality (editorializer, opinionator, non-journalist), that's worse torture than water-boarding.

Wrongful discharge lawsuit or not, Hannity is NOT an idiot: he knows what side his bread is buttered on, and knows his reputation as a rancorous rabble-rousing "Great American"™ is only valued to garner ratings, only as long as the rabble is not directed against HIS bosses, or HIS advertisers. Black-balling radio personalities in radio is still very much alive and well....

And how long before YOU get fired for publicly complaining about YOUR boss? You think he goes on the air and rails against the man, and they're NOT going to pull the plug on his show? "Sorry, Sean, but we've decided to go in a different direction, so thanks for all your services, but we'll no longer need you. Clear out your desk."

Exactly--because Mr. Hannity is pretty much the Conan O'Brien to Mr. Beck's Jay Leno in this arrangement.

If they speak loud enough, they won't need the two party monopoly of our government to be heard. We'll see how loud they speak in November.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qv7R19xL9Is

We'll see in November but I wouldn't hold your breath on it. You wouldn't be able to get any odds in Vegas on it having any favorable impact and it certainly looks like Murdoch and Hannity are hedging their bets against it.

I'd like to see an Integral Politics start a 3rd party that has 10% of the population at the Turquoise level of development also but I wouldn't bet on that having an impact on elections either for quite some time.

I'm not going to be holding my breath, but I'm not going to bet against the American people. There may yet be some fight in them.

What no lemon zinger or orange twist?

oohh Earl Grey---rent a Star Trek The Next Generation movie and we can worship at the altar of the true diplomat and leader who understood the power of tea--Captain Picard.

Cut spending and abide by the Constitution. You're right, that's just crazy talk, we can't do that!

Should we cut the defense spending that takes 53 percent and screw our troops?
Should we cut social security so old people can switch from wet cat food to dry?
Should we cut medicare so our elders can just drop dead?
Lets cut welfare and have riots in the urban cities, that a great idea!!
Time to Increase taxes big time on the rich, a large increase on the semi rich
moderate on the upper middle class
minimum on the middle class
none for the rest
then we can balance the budget, start to draw down the deficit
otherwise your just full of manure

Yes, that IS crazy talk. It's infantile foolishness.

Only a crazy person would think "cut spending" means anything, since there are countless government programs and what one person thinks is fat another thinks is critical.

Only a crazy person would think we are NOT abiding by the constitution. Again, it is absolutely foolish to think "abide by the constitution" means anything. The whole role of the Supreme Court is to make sure laws reflect the constitution, and even they can't agree on everything. The only document more vague and open to interpretation is the Bible.

The crazy is thinking that empty sound bites and no real solid stand on any issues is just fine, as long as you hold up signs and scream a lot.

It's probably that Fox is selling short on the Tea Party for more profits since the market is tapped out

Naa man they are going to do something to get more media attention. I don't know how lame it will be or who is going to lead off but they will find a way. Just like them folks at the CrAzY Westboro Baptist Church. Just about the time you think they have gone the lowest they pull a turd out the air.

They're gonna starve em' for attention until they do something drastic to get national attention, i.e. blow something up.

My FB friend has a hunch it will happen this month, due to the parallels of national tragedies happening in April. I got 5:1 odds of it happening after the last stop on the tea-bagger tour.

I agree !

I hear they got free parking.

He has a radio show I think....

Only what the media tells them.