Why can't the left get some sort of tea party going

[quinnox]

It was insane how much media and importance the tea party got, so I'm wondering if the left side of the spectrum could get something like this going.

At least the tea party has now become unpopular, but for a time there the media was covering them 24/7 and they had influence on the national political conversation.

Its almost as if the left doesn't exist in todays America, as other Duers have made many posts about it. No representation.

[Arctic Dave]

1. They are occupying wall street right now but no one cares.

If two baggers did it they would be all over the news for a month.

[Atman]

8. Correction: The GOP-OWNED MEDIA wants to make sure we don't care.

Best approach...ignore it completely. We saw this with the anti-war protest marches before Bush lied us into war. A million people in the street wasn't enough to warrant news coverage (unless you were really following the ANSWER's "Free Mumia" campaign on CSPAN). Please don't say "No one cares." Many, many people would care if they knew it was happening. Which is why the media doesn't want us to know it's happening.

.

[Arctic Dave]

9. You are correct.

I should have been more clear in my statement.

[mopinko]

37. 20 million in the streets world wide.

crickets

[Exilednight]

15. I went down to the protests over the weekend. It was mostly comprised of

Paulites, Lyndon LaRouche choir, anarchists and a couple dozen tea partiers.

The LaRouche types are singing songs like god bless america.

The anarchists and Paulites are calling for the end of the Fed.

And the tea partiers are protesting the bank bailouts.

This is why nobody cares. A few hundred people with each group protesting different values. It's too convoluted and too small.

[HappyMe]

19. Agreed.

In WI, there was a clear message. I saw plenty of coverage of that protest.

[Arctic Dave]

28. I don't see how differing opinions matter.

Isn't that usully what any Movement consist of?

Seems we need to get Democrats down there also.

[Exilednight]

31. But there has to be one overarching theme. Take Egypt as an example, many

different points of view with many different ideas, but they one overarching theme: end the dictatorship and hold elections.

The protest was poorly organized, and only peaked at around 1,000 people. In a city of 8,000,000, a protest with any real steam should turn out at least 10,000 with a single unified message.

And to be perfectly honest, as a progressive I am not going to go join the ranks of tea partiers and pualites. I could handle the social anarchists, but there are a few hardcore types in the crowd, too.

[Arctic Dave]

42. The theme seems pretty easy, reign in wall street.

Your numbers seem low from a lot of the post that have been produced here.

If you believe this to be unorganized, how would you change that?


Edit:
When I was protesting the Iraq invasion and occupation there plenty of libertarians and other types there. Did they discredit the movement by being there?

[Exilednight]

44. That number is not low. Many in the media put the number at only half that. The message is not

"reign in Wall Street". The Paulites just want to end the fed, that's not reigning in wall street. The tea partiers just want to see an end to bailouts, but are perfectly fine with deregulation - that's not reigning in wall street. God only knows what the LaRouchites are doing there.

For better organization, find people with clout in the progressive movement that will speak. Center the message around holding Wall Street accountable and demanding those that break the law go to jail. Tap into the youth that are unemployed and can't find jobs.

"When I was protesting the Iraq invasion and occupation there plenty of libertarians and other types there. Did they discredit the movement by being there?"

No. The difference being is that you had one unifying message, end the war. The Pualites that are on Wall Street are not there to reign in Wall Street, they are there to eliminate government oversite. They're not there saying "regulate wall street". They're there saying "end government institutions".

[Arctic Dave]

61. Actually there several differing opinions on Iraq.

However, once again, everyone will have a differing degree of what needs to be done. It would seem ridiculous to brush off this just because deem it not organized enough for taste.

Do you a link to the media outlets that say it was only 250 people who showed up?

[Exilednight]

62. So let me get this straight, you're saying that there were protesters in your group that were

protesting for troops to stay in Iraq? Were there people who wanted the war expanded? Or was everyone there unified around the message of ending the war in Iraq?

http://storyful.com/stories/1000008166

Protests continue on Wall Street on Monday, though the number of people taking part in #occupywallstreet has dwindled with fewer than 200 holding out in their demonstration against the power of the financial sector. The protest began on Saturday with thousands of people gathering in the Wall Street area in New York city demanding change in how the financial sector is run.

This article says thousands at its peak, but the NYT had an article that estimated the peak size at right around 1,000. Still, in a city of 8,000,000, a protest of this type should draw at least 10,000 at a minimum.

[Arctic Dave]

64. Ther were Libertarians who thought the entire MIC needs to be disbanded,

there were people who thought Afghanistan was Ok, and there were people there who were there saying it was all a LIHOP event(9/11ers). You know differing opinions on what the entire outcome should be.

Edit:

Who is "storycom"

[Exilednight]

66. But the libertarians, in their need to end the MIC wanted the troops pulled out Iraq, correct? And

as you stated above, the protest was about Iraq, not Afghanistan.

http://storyful.com/about

[Arctic Dave]

68. They wanted all troops brought home from around the world.

So, are you going to organize something or are you going to sit back and throw stones while other people do the lifting? After all, this is supposed to be an ongiong event, correct? If this is not to your standards, why get your idea of what it should be going. I would think that the New York Democrats would be all over this to make it their issue. Wall St. regulation and oversight.

[Exilednight]

70. So basically the libertarians bought into your view of bringing home the troops.

NY Democrats aren't going to jump at this issue. To be perfectly honest, Schumer and Gillibrand aren't going to piss off their cash cows and will do everything they can to separate the party from any such demonstration.

As far as Democratic voters goes, they're not going to jeopardize their jobs on Wall Street.

The only real way to tap into the rage is to go through the universities and recent college grads who are jobless.

Sure, I'd love to organize something, are you going to be the one to front me the 100k to get it done?

[Arctic Dave]

73. If your answer is, no, just say so and go back to watching TV or something.

So in other words New York dems don't really care for cleaning up the mess that is Wal St. as long as they get their chunk of the scam? Gotcha.

[Exilednight]

75. I'll do it, if someone is ready to pony up the money. A proper demonstration in the US costs

big dollars.

[Coexist]

83. that wasn't at all the experience of my 2 kids who were there all 4 days

not at all.

[Exilednight]

84. Really? I wonder what protest they went to then.

Ron Paul supporters, supporters of Bradley Manning, members of the Socialist Party, self-described anarchists, Lyndon LaRouche supporters showed up, and were interviewed by a cameraman broadcasting on LiveStream.
http://idealab.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/09/protestors-and-hacktivists-of-all.php

NEW YORK, NY - At Liberty Plaza in NYC (known to others as Zuccotti Park), protesters awoke on day three tired, cold, and with a strong police presence, but they were still occupying Wall Street. They were able to march in the financial district, even attracting more people. The peaceful protests started on Saturday September 17, 2011 - a Day of Rage against corporations and banks. Operation Occupy Wall Street peaked around 1,000 people according to some reports, and the numbers since then have fluctuated.

In addition to Adbusters and Anonymous, Ron Paul supporters, supporters of Bradley Manning, members of the Socialist Party, self-described anarchists, and Lyndon LaRouche supporters are all being represented in the on-going demonstrations.
http://www.munciefreepress.com/node/24484

Throughout the afternoon hundreds of demonstrators gathered in parks and plazas in Lower Manhattan. They held teach-ins, engaged in discussion and debate and waved signs with messages like “Democracy Not Corporatization” or “Revoke Corporate Personhood.”

Organizers said the rally was meant to be diverse, and not all of the participants were on the left. Followers of the fringe political candidate Lyndon LaRouche formed a choir near Bowling Green and sang “The Star Spangled Banner” and “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Nearby, anarchists carried sleeping bags and tents.
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:qpUytatVp8oJ:cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/17/wall-street-protest-begins-with-demonstrators-blocked/+occupy+wall+street+nyt+larouche&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

[trueblue2007]

63. we have a COFFEE PARTY !!!!!!

[Coexist]

82. +1

[Enrique]

2. unions have been organizing protests

they were at Boehner's house, kicking on his door, and protested at his golf course. :thumbsup:

[The Wielding Truth]

77. Gee. I didn't see it on the news........ Did the Tea Party meet at the same time?

[Myrina]

3. BBC and Twitter ...

... report more of what the "left" is doing in America these days than our own 'media' does.

[Cirque du So-What]

4. The media would pay no mind to such an effort from the left

Besides, the teabaggers are far from an 'organic' movement; they're bankrolled by billionaires whose main concern is quashing the democratic process - NOT fostering it. You mention that it's 'almost as if the left doesn't exist in todays America' and that's no accident, thanks to the corporate media. I believe 'the left' can find better role models than the fucking teabaggers.

[Snotcicles]

5. First, You have to understand what role the Media played in the manufacturing of the Tea Party.

Then you can understand the marketing of it.

[TwilightGardener]

26. Right. Astroturf, and a few actual real people (Republican rank and file) who bought in because

they couldn't believe this commie muslin soshulist black guy was President, takin' away their guns and FREEDOM!

[Blue_Tires]

29. +1

[librechik]

85. and once you understand that, you will know why a fringe party on the left will never

be marketed, promoted, or even seen. No matter what their numbers might be.

[HappyMe]

6. Hmm...

To me, teabaggers = nutbars.


A bunch of nutbars bring craziness and negativity. :thumbsdown: Who wants that?

[Quantess]

72. But, why isn't there as much media attention to Wall Street protesters?

You know, those Banksters who ripped us all off? The Wall Street protesters had NO corporate funding, unlike the Teabaggers, who were completely funded by corporate interests.

[sinkingfeeling]

7. They're trying with the 'American Dream' movement, contract to 'Restore the American Dream', etc.

Problem is no body will cover these actions on the left. We'll see how great the turnout is Oct. 3-5.

[RC]

10. Have you ever tried to herd a bunch of cats in an open field?

Our strength is our Achilles heel.

[quinnox]

12. I was thinking the same

that maybe its because we, on the left, are intellectual and have strong opinions which may not always agree on things.

The tea party people are well suited to following orders and making a group where they all agree with each other.

[Quantess]

78. But, the tea baggers were all over the place!

What, exactly was their problem: B. Hussein OSama is a muslin commie? There is a N***** in the White House? Taxes are too stinkin' high? I love my own Medicare but I am against any socialised health care? "Life" begins at conception but let's bomb the Middle East? Gays are aligned with Satan.

Where is the cohesion in that?

[OHdem10]

11. The Left refuses to accept to play the game, therefore,

Righties win in almost every respect.

There is an old rule in life that the Left ignores
and Right use with a vengeance.

THE SQUEAKY WHEEL GETS the GREASE (OIL).

Compare the two groups. Tea Party when the first
appeared on the scene and the Wall ST Sit Ins.

TEA PARTY: Loud BOISTEROUS, ANGRY, Carrying Provative
Sings, some of which were outright racists, spitting
on passers by, some even showed up with guns.

DEMS on Wall St. Orderly, I think this time they
are least showing up for more than one day. In the
past, you might have large numbers in a peaceful march.
How nice.

I am not advocating anything. I am pointing out --Republicans
make things newsworthy.

Does anyone believe that in the 60s the Democrats would
have accomplished anything if they were as passive as
Democrats today. In the 60s it was Democrats who were
demanding intimidating and getting their issues covered.

[Atman]

14. Wrong.

It is the MEDIA. We turned out a million people to protest Bush's war, the media ignored us. It doesn't matter how loud we are, unless we start breaking windows and burning building -- which, to my knowledge the Tea Baggers have NOT been doing -- then the GOP/Corporate-owned media will not cover our protests. It's not in their interest to do so, because it will only incite more people to participate. They LIKE this when Tea Baggers do it, because they are rallying FOR the Oligarchy, so they have an incentive to promote their protests, and a disincentive to talk about the left's.

.

[OHdem10]

18. The Media has told us over and over and over that it is INTENSITY

that counts.

50 million peaceful marchers in the US does not move
issues.

EMOTION moves Issues. That rag tag band of Tea Partiers
were able to sway an election in 2010.

We have to admit the Right comes across as caring more
about their issues than the left.

[Atman]

23. "We have to admit the Right comes across as caring more.."

Actually, I don't have to admit that at all. Since when does being selfish, bullying pricks equate to caring more? It just means they're selfish, bullying pricks with the backing of a more selfish, bullying pricks who happen to own the media.

.

[JVS]

34. Not to mention the pigs who bust leftist protesters' skulls but watch passively as teabaggers...

brandish weapons.

[JVS]

33. WTO protests have been consistently intense and are politically dismissed.

You're going to have to go out of your comfort zone and stop automatically blaming the left.

[JVS]

32. It's also the party leadership.

Republican party leadership views extremists as affirmation that they must at least "stay the course" and not compromise with the democrats.

Democratic party leadership views any leftward deviation as a bunch of hippies to be mocked and/or ignored in order to play well with the center.

[marions ghost]

39. I think this is the biggest problem

the left has no leaders that can get anywhere near power. The left doesn't even have many leaders in any arena to rally behind. We DO have spokespersons like Olbermann, Maddow, Goodman, Michael Moore, Stewart and Colbert, etc etc in fact we have many-- but we don't have someone to LEAD us, politically speaking.

We all thought that person would be Obama, but clearly the leader we are talking about has to come from outside the beltway. The Obama story tells us that we can't ask for this mythical leader to be a presidential candidate. We are looking more for a MLK --someone who speaks truth to power--but nobody wants to be a martyr to a cause these days. I don't know how you get liberals to realize it's not just going to happen because others should play fair and give us equal time. We are dealing with people who have no sense of morality.

Who is willing to lead us out of the wilderness?

[EmeraldCityGrl]

41. Assuming there was someone, where do the billions of dollars

needed to launch an election come from? We all know smart, progressive people in our

everyday lives that are more qualified than the current crop of congress critters. But a

single TV ad can reach more people than a thousand campaigners hitting the pavement 24/7.

[marions ghost]

45. Money is needed...of course...but I'm not talking about funding a political leader,

ie. someone who takes office and tries to change things from within against all odds. I'm not talking about your typical political campaign per se. As with Obama you can get somewhat liberal people into office (with a whole lot of effort) but the system is so corrupt and the deck is so stacked against liberal thinking that one person can't do much. We all have the word "change" ringing in our ears since 2008. And yet we have seen just how rigid and dysfunctional the system has become. Change does not come this way.

I'm talking about a leader whose main purpose is to rally the people. A leader of a movement--who speaks to social values, to basic issues of justice and truth. Someone who can capture the hearts of ALL people and connect the various anti-corporatocracy elements of society. A leader who wants to fundamentally change how things operate in this country. A leader--teacher who can tell us what makes up a true democracy. There has certainly been enough abuse of The People in recent years for a strong leader to gain support. I have no idea what such a leader would look like or from what walk of life, but he/she would have to have the gift of speaking directly to the heart. The speaking doesn't have to be loud. It can be more subdued. But it has to be a direct line to the truth. And it has to be consistent. Liberal groups do need a leader (or maybe 2-3) to unite around. Someone to believe in. every successful movement of the past has had this.

Where's Braveheart?

[EmeraldCityGrl]

48. Well the person you describe sounds like

the man I voted for in 2010. Unfortunately I no longer trust my own

judgement in identifying our Braveheart. In the meantime I'm relying

great Progressives and Liberals like Krugman, Elizabeth Warren, Dr. Dean

to keep me informed and engaged as much as life allows.

[marions ghost]

53. Like I said, true liberal leaders are not the ones we elect to public office

because as soon as they're elected, they bow to pressure.

Yes, all we have right now are the voices of those who we know speak truth.

It's possible that nothing can be done--that all we can do is be witnesses to the decline and fall of the American Empire. Destined to throw roses on the grave of Democratic ideals.

I'm not sure we can stop the Train. Because Liberals don't lie, cheat and steal to succeed.

[CarmanK]

13. The KOCHROACHES paid and the MURDOGS spread the "lies"

The Tparty gained its prominence, because FOX propagandized their every word and gesture 24/7 especially in the summer of 2010. Now their real goals are surfacing for the nation and FOX is still in their corner, but the people have tuned them out. The TPARTY PATRIOTS want to restructure the US OF AMERICA from a democracy into an oligarchy, with the power at the top and the rules flowing downward. They want to restore mindless, ruthless SOCIAL DARWINISM, survival of the fittest, as societal norm. And they want to weaken federalism, and restore state's rights as supreme law of the land. The TPARTY wants the states to become little fiefdoms of "like minded individuals" as addressed by Rick Perry in his book FED UP. He really likes the people of TX but could not stomach the people of MA or their ilk. THE TPARTY NATION would allow corporate america freedom to exploit the american people and the world. NO RULES in TPARTY NATION for corporate america. But the "little people" will need govt intervention in their work lives, their bedrooms, their doctors' offices, in their schools. GOVT must keep the masses in line, while the kleptocrats ravage the land and destroy the economic future of the many. People are awakening to this threat. BENTON HARBOR, MI is the poster child for the fate of America if the people don't stop the WALL STREET HUSTLERS, the TBOTS AND GOPIMPS.

[OHdem10]

21. Until the Left is willing to get out of their comfort zone and go

spread the word, the Right with their Intensity will
rule.

There are many more Americans who on issue by issue
would agree with the Democratic Position. No one
is leading or going to them to bring them into the
fold.

[rsmith6621]

16. Join the Coffee Party Movement

http://www.facebook.com/coffeeparty

http://www.coffeepartyusa.com/

[Exilednight]

17. It all hs to do with organization. The Tea Party is not as organic as people believe. The

left doesn't have a leader who is willing to stand up and be the face and voice of the movement.

[liam_laddie]

20. Organizing the left?

A very difficult project. My personal opinion is that progressives (Dems, leftists, whatever you want to call us) are independent, critical thinkers who simply cannot be organized into a rigid ideology-based movement. The right is based on greed and a completely self-absorbed world-view. I believe that we still have a social conscience. I believe that we DO care for our brothers and sisters. I believe that we could not (as the baggers and R's in general have) be bought and controlled by Koch-Armey-Rove money and lies. I believe that we are truly better human beings than "them." And it is indeed warfare. The outcome remains uncertain.
This country is failing, the reasons traceable to the goals of the uber-rich, here and abroad. Beginning with their attempts to overthrow FDR in the early 1930's, through Reagan's war on the Commons, and continuing with Bush 43, they are, as many here have said, attempting a return to feudalism. It may get bloody; having lived and observed the situation for nearly 74 years, I am not optimistic. YMMV (I hope it does.)
A closing remark: I've never had a pair of rose-colored glasses; until we confront population growth and control, we are doomed, as is the environment, our species, this living planet.

[NNN0LHI]

22. We once had something much better and more effective at protecting workers than the baggers ever had

It was called unions.

But some assholes thought it would be better to not support those union jobs and here we are.

Morning in America.

Don

[UTUSN]

24. Because of the void of lacking a passionate central issue

For the 'Baggers, it is a Black family in the White House, with "the Constitution" and "taxes" being window dressing. Their hatred for undocumented immigrants is *not* window dressing, is related to the first item.


For the Left, the passion about Vietnam was THE DRAFT. Without a DRAFT, there was no passion about Iraq and the rest.


Sounds selfish, don't it.

[NNN0LHI]

27. But there was a draft before Iraq and there still is

An economic draft.

I have seen plenty of imported car driving bar flies encouraging their children to join the military to get them out of their hair so they can continue drinking beer and singing Karaoke at the local tavern.

It never occurs to these same parents why there are no jobs for their children either. It is a complete mystery to them.

Must be Obamas fault?

Don

[TheKentuckian]

25. 1. No bunch of billionaires are wanting to fund it No, make that

making sure they fund such a movement whether the movement exists or not.

2. Party insiders aren't willing to organize it. There will be no Democratic former speakers and an army of establishment strategist making certain the politics are impactive and a message is hammered out.

3. The corporate media will not sign up to promote it. You do understand that we on the left have rallies and protests that dwarf the dozens that show up for these media events that get as close to zero press as imaginable. There are people right here on DU who think there are and have been no protests and that if there was any activism beyond bitching online then the media who has wall to wall coverage of eight fuckwits wearing Revolutionary war period clothing and thousands of port a potties would have told them.

4. Such a movement is no benefit to the status quo, corporate profits, individual wealth, or establishment power. It would have fewer elite friends by orders of magnitude.


5. Logistical weakness. We don't have enough self funding folks with lots of spare time to create and maintain a presence across the country to off set the anti-interest of the corporate media.

6. Our establishment politicians will attack such a movement rather than cower to it or pretend to cower to it. Most establishment TeaPubliKlan pols have no issue with going further right, in fact they want to and push for room to go in that direction while most Democratic pols want to move right rather than left.
There is no TeaPubliKlan impetus to move to "the center" even after massive losses. They double down on the Reich Wingery.

7. Have you ever heard of Teabagger protesters getting arrested? Think about it.

The dynamics are almost utterly different. We are not on the same playing field.

[JVS]

30. We get attacked by our "moderates" without provocation. There is no way they'd put up with us....

making the kind of noise the tea baggers make.

[Whiskeytide]

35. What would we call ourselves...?

... The Party of a Reasoned, Considered and Rational Approach to Government? I don't see it getting much traction in today's political environment. Besides, didn't Jon Stewart and Comedy Central try something like that last year?

[Exilednight]

36. TEAM Party. Together, Everone Achieves More. n/t

[Quantess]

79. I don't like it, because it sounds like something from a corporate workplace.

[alc]

38. The left hates the Republican party. The tea party hates the Democrat AND Republican parties

The tea party said "we think we can get the 'right' R to win. If the attempt results in a D, then too bad but that's better than the wrong R."

The left is going to have to start being as hard on Ds as they are on Rs. And afraid of typical Ds rather than accepting them as "better than Rs"

[JVS]

55. The tea party doesn't hate the republican party. They just prefer to pretend to be outsiders.

[Vinca]

40. The left would have to do something REALLY outrageous in order to get MSM coverage.

Better costumes than the baggers, nastier signs and we would have to staple something onto our clothing more attention-getting than teabags. We would have to get lobotomies, too, so we could give stupid, uneducated answers to questions.

[librechik]

43. if we did, no one would pay any attention. The Tea Party gets covered becasue Republicans

own the news organizations, and they don't let their reporters cheer on the other side. Despite all the rhetoric about the liberal media.

[in_cog_ni_to]

46. We need LIBERALS/PROGRESSIVES to own the media. Then we'd have a chance in hell.

Not when the MSM controls the message and they're RW...except for MSNBC.

[mittysmom09]

47. They're left wing

if you're watching Rachel, Ed, Rev Al or Chris, but they're definitely aren't left on Morning Joe.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

49. How many people support and watch Gore's Current Network?

We get opportunities but for some reason we don't utilize them to their full potential,

continuing to rely on the old, stale tools they have always used to manipulate us.

The two parties are evolving into something different than we have become familiar

with. Just as the Dems and Repukes changed to polar opposites of how they were

perceived at the beginning of the last century. We either control that change to

our benefit or get lost in the shuffle.

[EstimatedProphet]

51. There's a lot of markets that don't even carry Current TV, let alone make it basic cable.

[in_cog_ni_to]

59. I don't know, but I watch it...now that I get the network and when Air America radio

was alive and well...I always listened to it....every day. It still died, but Rachel Maddow rose from that rubble. Sam Seder too. Ron Reagan had an Air America show and is a contributor on MSNBC. Thom Hartman is on satellite TV now...he should be on Current TV! He would be perfect.

Fox channel grew from NOTHING. All it takes is one HIT SHOW and you're on the radar. Current TV is heading in the right direction with Olberman and The Young Turks. It will take time, but it will be successful eventually.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

60. Air America was great. I listened everyday too. n/t

[Exilednight]

67. Fox used a different strategy when they started. They payed cable companies to carry

their channel on basic cable. They made money by selling ad time. They also started with unknowns working their shows. The biggest name they had was Bill O'Reilly who came from Entertainment Tonight, or some such show.

It didn't hurt that they had a billionaire doing the financial backing who was willing to take an initial loss for a few years.

[EstimatedProphet]

50. No, there's no way we can get one going, for a good reason

There is no real tea party.

What there is is a bunch of pissed off spoiled old people that think they are better than everyone else (American exceptionalism) and that everyone should suck up to them. They're a bunch of loud jerks, not a movement by any means. Fox News is the one claiming they are a legitimate political force, to the point that it makes everyone think they are powerful. We will never have anything of the sort, because we don't have Fox News forcing us on the national scene.

[Romulox]

52. What Party plank are we supposed to organize around? "Free trade"? Mandatory insurance? Bankster

bailouts? :shrug:

[Quantess]

76. Duh! How about the Biggest Heist in World History?

Called, saving the banks that are "too big to fail". Are you just not paying attention?

[leftstreet]

80. +1

[ecstatic]

54. Ha! The Tea Party is getting attention because themega corporations want

a republican to win next year. If the left formed an anti-Obama/anti-democratic group, that would get attention too.

[SidDithers]

56. Because the left doesn't have a "Fox News" on their side...nt

Sid

[Fire Walk With Me]

57. Because we're not naturally bullies; we're spending our time living our lives.

It takes a certain sort of person to stay in bully land all the time...

[Quantess]

69. No, it's because we have no finacial interests backing us.

[Fire Walk With Me]

88. So you're expecting donations to equate to protests and political action?

If that is the case, then we are already finished.

[chillspike]

58. There is The Coffee Party

[Quantess]

65. You don't get it? You can't figure out why not?

Okay, here's why:
The side of "the regular people" with real economical struggles...and I'm talking about reality here. The middle class and the lower income classes have ZERO influence on politics because we regular, sane people, have NO MONEY. We, who are interested in preserving our own skins and not having to live in poverty, don't have enough money collectively to influence media or politicians.

It's all about money and power. The sooner you figure that out, the sooner you understand all of human history. That is the only answer, almost all of the time!

Religion is no different. Religion is also based on power and money. How do we control the masses? By getting everyone on board with religion, and they take their complaints to their constructed "God".

Tea Party Movement was by no means grassroots, and as a matter of fact it has been proven to have been funded by the Koch Brothers, mainly.

No money = No representation

[Whisp]

71. because the CNNs do not support the left. that simple. n/t

[WCGreen]

74. Because they are an invention of the corporate "news" outlets....

Everyone reacts to Fox because Fox says everyone else is corrupt and in bed with the liberals.

[NYC_SKP]

81. I was going to say something similar. They get the exposure because of MSM bias toward...

...their message.

Our "tea party" equivalent would either be ignored or made to seem like terrorists, or worse.

:patriot:

[Rex]

86. We would need the backing of the Political Media and that will never happen.

Their paymasters (Rupert) only work with one party.

[crazyjoe]

87. this thread is the perfect answer to your question, we would rather make lame excuses

god, I hope DU isn't a real world example of how we organize and defeat the tea party.
"we can't because we don't have fox news and a billionaire to support us!"

[Fire Walk With Me]

89. The teabaggers probably don't spend time mocking their own. This might help.

[mdmc]

90. ..

[oldlib]

91. We already have.

The Democratic Party. If we hold this party together, and make our message clear, we can beat these people. The Republican party is controlled by the tea party. The present contenders for the presidency are competing to satisfy the tea party. They rise and fall in the polls, on what they say on social issues. If we Democrats stay on our principals, I believe that we can beat these bastards, because we will attract more moderate Republicans, who are turned off by the Tea party.

[spanone]

92. the media 'made' the teaparty....NEVER happen with the left...N E V E R

[Cal33]

93. We have something better. It's called "Occupy Wall Street." Only yesterday

i learned that it has already spread to a dozen other cities in America, and
several other nations are also doing the same. "Occupy Wall Street" was
started mainly by college students in NYC only a week ago, and it's already
become a movement - even an International Movement.

So many of us don't know it yet because the Main Street Media is not
broadcasting it. More people in foreign countries knew about "Occupy
Wall Street" before we did.

Main Street Media should be one of our main targets, too. If Wall Street
changes, so will their flunkies in the MSM.

Cheer up! America is fed up to the neck with Wall Street, and is finally
fighting backk. Let's give these college kids and other young people
all the help we can.

[oldlib]

94. I'm for it

if it will stop these tea party shitheads.