It's not hard to accept that Obama isn't the *change* that Tea Partiers wanted. The Tea Partiers voted for McCain. It's not hard to accept, it's completely unremarkable.

Most reporters evidently had trouble reading the signs being held up at the protests because they told their viewers the focus of the tea parties was on paying taxes.

Gee, I wonder where people got that idea...

Since so many in the media missed the point of the tea party protests, or intentionally misled their viewers and readers about them, or (like the New York Times) tried to pretend they didn't take place, I'll explain what they meant and what we should have learned from them.

Just because the perfesser's readers say something, doesn't make it so:

Tax Day Is Met With Tea Parties

Anyway, thank you for disabusing us of the notion that the Tax Day tea parties, with all the signs about taxes, like the "Taxed Enough Already" signs and t-shirts, were not about taxes at all, and anyone who says so is a big mean liberal.

And please, please, please, keep up the protests. Standing in public and yelling always leads to success in achieving your goals, and never ever makes you look crazy to ordinary folks. Just ask the anti-war movement. Look at how well they've done! Oh wait...

Don't you realize that gives you zero credibility? If you have enough facts on your side to make a coherent argument, then why resort to nasty name calling?

-Lorie Byrd

(Where did my previous brilliant comment go?)

The Tax Day Tea Parties inspired and energized conservatives across the country last week, but the response to the events from the media and Democrat partisans was perhaps the most interesting thing to watch.

And they amused an entertained normal people around the globe.

Hey Adrian,

Glad to see you stick your pointy little head in on this thread.

I'm still waiting for the link to the "real" psychiatrist that you quoted here:

http://wizbangblog.com/content/2009/04/16/the-response-to-thetea-party-protests-or-liberals-great-fox-mind-control-theory.php#comment-895951

Also, I'm still waiting for the links to the "real" headlines you quoted here:

http://wizbangblog.com/content/2009/04/13/if-this-had-happened-six-months-ago.php#comment-895288

I know that I have already asked you here:

http://wizbangblog.com/content/2009/04/16/the-response-to-thetea-party-protests-or-liberals-great-fox-mind-control-theory.php#comment-896028

And here:

http://wizbangblog.com/content/2009/04/13/if-this-had-happened-six-months-ago.php#comment-895382

Please forgive me for asking again but, by golly, if you're going to be posting here and expect anyone to take you seriously you should at least have some semblance of fact on your side.

I look forward to the citations.

Of course you could always openly admit that you're talking out of your ass.

We all know that it's true anyway.

#5:

For one and three: I can't provide a link to my private email.

For two and four: The whole thread was about make-believe headlines. And I did answer -- I said it was fake.

Ah, another post about how the left is flummoxed and bewildered by protests from the right. And to substantiate this point, Lorie calls the left "smelly". How can one argue with such solid logic, especially when one is reduced to a state of bewilderment?

Hmm, I sense a pattern here. Palin, tea party, tea party. Palin, tea party, tea party. I think we're due for another post on how the left is terrified of Palin. OMG, imagine if Palin attended a tea party!! Aaiiiieeee!!!!11!!

For one and three: I can't provide a link to my private email.

Oh, now I understand.

This "real" psychiatrist sent you your very own personal explanation regarding the tea parties by e-mail.

OK...that's cool with me.

I get e-mails from Santa and the Easter Bunny all the time...so believing your story is not a problem.

Not a problem at all.

Yeah.

On second thought, how about an address and phone number for this "real" psychiatrist?

I'd love to have a phone conversation with him.

For two and four: The whole thread was about make-believe headlines. And I did answer -- I said it was fake.

Uh...no, you didn't.

What you said was that the headlines you noted were "real":

Oh, sorry . . . those were real headlines.

I challenged you on that and you responded that they were "real" but not true:

I said it was a "headline;" I didn't say it was the truth. And, as everyone knows, there is no law that says "headlines" or the "news" has to be true.

Never once did you say that the headlines were fake, at least not until right now, on this thread.

Talkin' out yo' azz....

"The Tea Partiers voted for McCain."

And you know that for a FACT, Adrian? ALL of them?

#8:
On second thought, how about an address and phone number for this "real" psychiatrist?

Use the Google. I don't feel comfortable giving you any of Dan's personal information -- you can give me your phone number and address and I'll pass it along to him.

Again, I didn't feel the need to indicate that the headline I was posting wasn't real because the whole thread was asking for fake headlines but I understand that's not what you mean. I said it was "real" and, at any rate, I'm sure you can Google it and find plenty of real headlines that say "I can see Russia from my house."

9:
McCain + Ron Paul, Bob Barr, and probably some Lyndon LaRouche voters too but I didn't mention them because they're statistically not significant.

Lori is right on. The Tea Parties were the beginning of the "silent majority" beginning to express concern for our Constitution and American culture. Lori covered it all. There was another theme that she missed, however. The 10th Amendment and its enforcement is the key to de-centralizing an ever growing and intrusive centralized Federal government. Liberals/statists/Marxists/socialists/democratsare scared to death of the 2nd and 10th Amendments.

Wow - adrian and the rest of the barista brigade must be feeling a little nervous. The media tried to keep a lid on the protests, but couldn't do it - and the rest of the nation is slowly beginning to question The Won and Congress deficit spending $10T.

They're beginning to understand our kids and grandkids will be on the hook for it. That's what the protests were about.

adrian prolly has enough problems making customer change for those grande latte's; no prayer there for understanding what will happen by nearly doubling the national debt in only 10 years.

C'mon clowns - please tell me about The Won halving the deficit...

Must have hit a nerve Lorie. Any troll that IS a troll came flocking to comment. LOLOL

PLEASE just dismiss the teabag party folks. Oh PRETTY PLEASE.

mantis - "Gee, I wonder where people got that idea... "

You link to a search of the "right-leaning" site Town Hall and that supports what?

That all reporters Lorie Byrd refers to read that site and were influenced to come to the conclusion "the focus of the tea parties was on paying taxes."

Even for you, that's a specious (not to mention ignorant as hell) argument.

brian - "Lorie calls the left "smelly".

Funny I didn't read that, but I did read the headline: "Media Struggle to Understand Non-Violent, Non-Smelly Protesters"

hmmm... "Non-Smelly Protesters?" That could mean Code Pink that regardless of their opinion I doubt smell any worse than your average citizen.

It could mean PETA.

Or it could mean brain is scrapping the bottom of the barrel.

You link to a search of the "right-leaning" site Town Hall and that supports what?

It was pretty obvious to the rest of us, marc. But if you want to be stubborn, then try going back to where Lorie tells us to "read a few of the signs", or where other Wizbang authors write about the tea parties protesting taxes.

hmmm... "Non-Smelly Protesters?" That could mean Code Pink

Oh yes, marc. I'm sure that's what Lorie meant. I must have missed Code Pink and PETA at the tea parties. You are so perceptive, and uniquely able to extract the true meaning of Lorie's headlines. Keep up the good work.

You link to a search of the "right-leaning" site Town Hall and that supports what?

That the people participating in and supporting the Tea Party protests referred to the name as meaning "Taxed Enough Already." I decided to show her that the meaning was clear even on the website she writes for, since she is now denying that the protests were about taxes (I could have also sent photos of anti-tax signs from the Chicago Tea Party that I took, but this was easier).

Not a specious argument at all, just one that you completely missed. It's ok, you're just not very bright.

brian - "Oh yes, marc. I'm sure that's what Lorie meant. I must have missed Code Pink and PETA at the tea parties. You are so perceptive, and uniquely able to extract the true meaning of Lorie's headlines."

I'm no more perceptive than you, and that's the point. Neither of us can read her mind, yet you made a valiant attempt at it by plainly saying it was a ref to the left.

If I had made the attempt I would have suggested she was making a historical ref to the 70's and so called "smelly hippie" protesters. But I didn't, there was no need to.

The ref to Code Pink and PETA obviously, to some not to include you, were two groups of protesters that could be classified as "non-smelly."

marc, you're going through so many hoops to make yourself look clever, you don't realize how foolish you're looking. I don't understand why you feel it important to contort Lorie's obvious meaning just to discredit my comment, but you've now gone past the point of coherency.

So the only true protestors (according to the media) are those who break things and use patchouli to hide the fact they haven't showered in a month...

Figures - that's about the depth of what passes for analysis with journalists these days.

mantis - "Not a specious argument at all, just one that you completely missed. It's ok, you're just not very bright."

Thanks for the confirmation of my intelligence level, however it's not of much use coming from someone who has bought the MSM line of tripe hook, line and sinker.

Not surprising, you're among the group that still denies the Iraq war had more than one reason for it just because of the "selling job" that was done.

Because the MSM latched onto the taxes portion of the protests to the exclusion of all other reasons doesn't mean there weren't other valid concerns expressed.

brian - "marc, you're going through so many hoops to make yourself look clever, you don't realize how foolish you're looking."

So that means what? You can read minds?

What else is she thinking? Hell, what's obama thinking about now?

Not surprising, you're among the group that still denies the Iraq war had more than one reason for it just because of the "selling job" that was done.

No, I'm not. But you're still stupid.

Because the MSM latched onto the taxes portion of the protests to the exclusion of all other reasons doesn't mean there weren't other valid concerns expressed.

I never said it did. Besides, I know that there were plenty of other valid concerns expressed, as I witnessed their expression in person. The multitude of valid concerns, in addition to the many anti-tax signs, included: Obama is a fascist, Obama is a socialist, Obama is Hitler, Obama is the next Hitler, Obama is worse than Hitler, Obama is a Kenyan usurper, Obama is a Muslim, Obama is a terrorist, Obama will enslave us all, one-term limits for municipal dog catchers, Bill Ayers!!!!1!!1, Obama/Reid/Pelosi should move to Europe, "try to take my guns," say no to B.O., and I'm Going Galt. But the fact remains that many if not most of the organizers adopted the anti-tax TEA acronym. Want to buy a T-Shirt?

Anyway, when you're done having imaginary arguments with me, let me know.

mantis - "That the people participating in and supporting the Tea Party protests referred to the name as meaning "Taxed Enough Already." I decided to show her that the meaning was clear even on the website she writes for,"

Oops, nice diversion, that wasn't what you refered to.

You quoted Lori as saying "Most reporters evidently had trouble reading the signs being held up at the protests because they told their viewers the focus of the tea parties was on paying taxes."

To counter that quote you linked to a Town Hall search for "taxed enough already."

So the question is how many of the reporters Lori refers to do you believe did the same search and had the results influence their reporting?

mantis - "in addition to the many anti-tax signs, included: Obama is a fascist, Obama is a socialist, Obama is Hitler, Obama is the next Hitler, Obama is worse than Hitler, Obama is a Kenyan usurper, Obama is a Muslim, Obama is a terrorist, Obama will enslave us all, one-term limits for municipal dog catchers, Bill Ayers!!!!1!!1, Obama/Reid/Pelosi should move to Europe, "try to take my guns," say no to B.O., and I'm Going Galt."

Ok Ms ""on scene Chicago reporter" what percentage of the total signs on display contained the above slogans/messages?

So the question is how many of the reporters Lori refers to do you believe did the same search and had the results influence their reporting?

All right moron, I'll explain this to you and then I'm done, because speaking to a void is a waste of time. The "Taxed Enough Already" name was widespread throughout the movement. I linked to a search of the Townhall site to demonstrate that Lorie knew this very well, unless she was under a rock and doesn't bother to read anything on the site she writes for.

So that means what? You can read minds?

No, but I can read words.

adrian

"It's not hard to accept that Obama isn't the *change* that Tea Partiers wanted. The Tea Partiers voted for McCain. It's not hard to accept, it's completely unremarkable.'

a. THe only reason most of us voted for McCain was that he was slightly more palatable than Obama which isnt saying much.

b. McCain was picked by democrats in states like FLorida where they primaries were open.

c. You are a nitwit. But no suprise there.

Mantis

mantis - "in addition to the many anti-tax signs, included: Obama is a fascist, Obama is a socialist, Obama is Hitler, Obama is the next Hitler, Obama is worse than Hitler, Obama is a Kenyan usurper, Obama is a Muslim, Obama is a terrorist, Obama will enslave us all, one-term limits for municipal dog catchers, Bill Ayers!!!!1!!1, Obama/Reid/Pelosi should move to Europe, "try to take my guns," say no to B.O., and I'm Going Galt."

Replace Obama with Bush and you would come close to your average typical leftist rally. But you would have to throw in a few burning in effigies, hanging in effigy, some nutcases from various socialist, and communist parties, some code pink wackos and a few people that think like your self to make it an average typical leftist rally.

mantis - "All right moron, I'll explain this to you and then I'm done"

Well we know that's a lie. You're never done, and that's particularly true when tossing around uncalled for invective and unsubstantiated bullshit.

P.S. What were those percentages I requested?

Replace Obama with Bush and you would come close to your average typical leftist rally. But you would have to throw in a few burning in effigies, hanging in effigy, some nutcases from various socialist, and communist parties, some code pink wackos and a few people that think like your self to make it an average typical leftist rally.

And don't forget: giant, paper mache' puppet heads. If there isn't an abundance of giant, paper mache' puppet heads, it isn't a proper lefty protest rally.

"If there isn't an abundance of giant, paper mache' puppet heads, it isn't a proper lefty protest rally."

And battering rams, baseball bats and cement blocks to smash out the windows and doors of innocent shopkeepers.

Replace Obama with Bush and you would come close to your average typical leftist rally.

Indeed, and look how well it all worked for them. Lefty protesters have been successful at stopping the Iraq War, impeaching Bush, stopping whatever they want the IMF and the World Bank to stop doing, and on and on. The list of successes of left-wing protest marchers is virtually endless! I can see why the right has adopted the practice.

Then again, you guys are going to have to get pushing if you want to reach the demonstration levels the left has achieved in recent years. The immigration rally in Chicago in 2006 drew as many if not more protesters than all the Tea Parties combined.

@marc said: "And battering rams, baseball bats and cement blocks to smash out the windows and doors of innocent shopkeepers."

Sorry, did those damn hippies sign a protest rule that I haven't heard about?

Is marc just a really clever caricature?

You want to know why many of us "struggle to understand"? It's quite simple and oft repeated: Most of these protesters had NO problem when Bush was doing the spending. These protesters at least those from the Right (which is a majority, clearly), apparently, don't see any problem with disappearing citizens and others, then torturing them, but call a 3% tax hike for the rich "tyranny".

It's because we don't understand the hypocrisy or the outrage that so many of us are saying "huh??"

But hey, what do I know, right? I'm just a violent commie liberal smelly whackjob.

So because we didn't bitch when Obama had the deficit at $300 bil, we aren't allowed to bitch at $3 tril?

Damn, who died and made YOU arbiter of what everyone should be pissed off about, Jake?