Mr. Wexler,

As a way of answering your question—I sent the link to a friend who sometimes edits my work.  He replied:

very nice. now, ahem, the idea is to write it using such a method, but not to actually post it until soberly edited.
the piece is good & remember, you owe it the best you can give. respect the work. it is good work from a good writer.
really.

So, you see, it seems you and a person who’s been reading my work for twenty years reached similar conclusions. At any rate, thank you.

SENOR ZING: ZAP POW WOW LAUGHING OUT LOUD!!
     
    SISTER L: The “drug war” is a travesty. It was used to neutralize the so called “left” and to attack and destroy our Constitution and civil rights. It is a profit maker for prison industrialist and gives local police and the legal community a good living. It was the first strap up on the booted thugs that gave us Cheney and Bush.

    Can anyone believe that at least some of the cash profits of that trillion dollar industry don’t make their way back to Washington. It’s political to the core. So many lives destroyed or lost outright. I hope you’re correct. VOTE YOUR HEART!!

      I thought the “baggers” were a front group for the Koch brothers and some other corporate thugs. Isn’t that why the press spins’em. Wer’nt they turned out by big business to shout down discussion of healthcare at Town Halls. I can imagine the national press respose to a “green group” showing up to a meeting packing weapons. Aren’t they the new Brown Shirts?? Hell, maybe they are a wild card—-I hope Robinson is right.

      Remember, we’ve flipped D.C. twice now. We can do it again. If you ain’t mad—you ain’t right.

D. R. Zing,

Love the post for content & style.  It takes me back 40 years.  Were you high when you wrote it? (I respect your right to ignore the question even though it was asked with happy memories back to a happier time).

Wichitan…

Exactly.  That’s exactly what I’ve been trying to get out of my head but you said it. Thanks.

Let me tell you a little story.  Back in the 1950s there was a starving ricky ticky tac poet named Jack Kerouac who wrote a suicidal book called On the Road.  The book itself was not suicidal but the method employed for writing books in six weeks almost like they were long never ending sentences issuing from a Benzedrine dream was deadly; it didn’t matter because at the time one knew how the Kerouac tale would end.

The story goes the New York Times gave On the Road a full page raving review and a once obscure poet awoke to find himself a millionaire with a bunch parasites in his front yard demanding a dollop of flesh and a quote of blood.

Well it didn’t matter because the parasites spread to the realm of Ken Kesey and Allen Ginsburg and Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Robert Creeley and Gary Snyder and Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter and Bob Dylan and Tom Wolf, not necessarily in that order and not necessarily all hanging out at the same coffee shop, nor even all wielding the same pen mightier than the same hordes.

But the press opened a door for them shined a light led to the world stage where William Burroughs said he was a little ahead of schedule with his magazine clippings; Snyder said to keep the blood off the crotch of his tree and we got Kerouac’s tripping On the Road and Ginsberg Howling while his chestnuts roasted in a social fire and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest with a ratchet wench and the eternal stilted question “what is emptiness for?” accompanied by the mystical pissed assurance “It’s easy to see without looking too far that not much is really sacred.” And didn’t it all make us feel like Truckin with our chips cashed in?

But now the media don’t bring to fame merry pranksters and manic writers and insane poets and stuttering poets and mystics and song writers set on changing the world or at least re-doing the carpet in the room they’re in.  Nope that’s dangerous.  Free thinkers, now known as progressives are only allowed on prime time if they mind their manners. Come here puppy. You can be on my show as soon as you’re neutered. And don’t make a fuss or I’ll smack you with the Wall Street Journal.

But now it’s okay to cover Tea Party tea baggin because no matter what’s slapping against whose chin it’s all being paid for by big money and besides we got that hot stupid selfish superstitious hypocritical bullheaded dunderhead cheerleader who looks good on camera but who probably would be about as much fun as a skunk in a sack.

It doesn’t matter, see?  It makes great news.  They raise hell. They interrupt town hall meetings. They sabotage candid discussions. They endorse stupidity thinly veiled racism and a fetish love for war that shows it does not make you go blind but it does make you go insane.

But the media does not care. The media covers the tea parties. Remember what a pain in the ass John Lennon was? He and Yoko hanging “The War Is Over If You Want It” signs over military recruiting stations?  That’s what happens if you give press coverage to smart people who give a shit about the world: They use it for good, they make things change, they help end wars, they get shit done.

So focus on the bozos. They make good video. They make good copy. They got a hot moron for a team leader. Who cares if they could evolve into the American Nazi Party. Better to shine the spotlight on the homicidal idiots than the suicidal intellectuals, because you know intellectuals actually have workable ideas that would force us to proactively change our lifestyles before the bad moon rises.

The tea party on the other hand is much more assuring. They whine paranoid delusions of losing their guns while following politicians in a direction that can force all of us to lose our rights. Never mind “I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness starving hysterical naked ....” Well, I must admit that describe a few tea baggers.  What’s in the water fellas?  Good luck.

And just to be clear on my position, ff you are a ‘liberal’ and you think that the tea party or the democratic party leadership represents your interests, good luck in your downward spiral.

And maybe one should understand what the original tea party was all about. It wasn’t about giving power to the powerless, the regular people. It was about one part of the upper class wanting more power from the controlling class. Remember, our forefathers, in their wisdom, only allowed white landholding males to vote.

so it goes…

“When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in a flag and carrying a cross.”—Sinclair Lewis, 1935

The enemy of my enemy is not necessarily my friend. Many times they are worse than my original ‘enemy.’ 

A victory for the tea party is not a victory for progressive values. The Tea Party is just another corporate front using slogans and emotions to rile up their ‘supporters’ while working for the corporate elite who want less regulations, more profit, and the hell with the people and environment that are being destroyed in their pursuit of the almighty dollar.

If you are a ‘liberal’ and you think that the tea party represents your interests, good luck in your downward spiral.

I’m looking for movements that are inclusive, not exclusive. That work for the people, and not profits.

PS - If you are interested in Jack Kerouac check out
http://www.DHARMAbeat.com

Liberals - Embrace your inner Libertarian. Republicans want to take your personal freedom, and democrats want to take your economic freedom. Once liberals realize the oppressive nature of Keynesian economics and realize that the freedom to own property, and enter into private contract are basic human rights, they will begin to understand the theory behind Austrian economics. Socialism is about control. Control of the economy, control of prices, production, distribution of wealth, wages and property. Do you really want the government to control what you earn, what you spend, where you live, and what you invest in? Do you really trust the government to make these decisions for you - given their track record? I know the thought of the government not being there to hold your hand is a bit scary. Sort of like that first day you got on the school bus without your Mother there with you. But it doesn’t have to be like that. Think of it more like the first time you drove your very first car, or the very first day you spent in the college dorms. You are in control of your own destiny, and no one, or no government should be allowed to take that away from you. Your life is yours to keep or yours to give away. Coercion is evil, regardless of intent.

Let me tell you a little story.  Back in the 1950s there was a starving ricky ticky tacky poet name Jack Kerouac who wrote a suicidal book called On the Road.  The book itself was not suicidal but the method employed for writing books in six weeks almost like they were long never ending sentences issuing from a Benzedrine dream—that method was deadly; it didn’t matter because at the time one knew how the Kerouac tale would end.

The story goes the New York Times gave On the Road a full page raving review and a once obscure poet awoke to find himself a millionaire with a bunch parasites in his front yard demanding a dollop of flesh and a quote of blood.

Well it didn’t matter because the parasites spread to the realm of Ken Kesey and Allen Ginsburg and Lawerence Ferlinghetti and Robert Creeley and Gary Snyder and Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter and Bob Dylan and Tom Wolf, not necessarily in that order and not necessarily all hanging out at the same coffee shop, nor even all wielding the same pen mighter than the same hordes. 

But the press opened a door for them shined a light led to the world stage where William Burroughs said he was a little ahead of schedule with his magazine clippings; Snyder said to keep the blood off the crotch of his tree and we got Kerouac’s tripping On the Road and Ginsberg Howling while his chestnuts roasted in a social fire and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest with a ratchet wench and the eternal stilted question “what is emptiness for?” accompanied by the mystical pissed assurance “It’s easy to see without looking too far that not much is really sacred.” And didn’t it all make us feel like Truckin with our chips cashed in?

But now the media don’t bring to fame marry pranksters and manic writers and insane poets and stuttering poets and mystics and song writers set on changing the world or at least re-doing the carpet in the room they’re in.  Nope that’s dangerous.  Free thinkers, now known as progressives are only allowed on prime time if they mind their manners. Come her puppy. You can be on my show as soon as your neutered. And don’t make a fuss or I’ll smack you with the Wall Street Journal.

But now it’s okay to cover Tea Party tea baggin beause no matter what’s slapping against whose chin it’s all being paid for by big money and besides we got that hot stupid selfish superstitious hypocritical bullheaded dunderhead cheerleader who looks good on camera but who probably would be about as much fun as a skunk in a sack.

It doesn’t matter, see?  It makes great news.  They raise hell. They interrupt town hall meetings. They sabotage candid discussions. They endorse stupidity thinly veiled racism and a fetish love for war that show it does not make you go blind but it does make you go insane. 

But the media does not care. The media covers the tea parties. Remember what a pain in the ass John Lennon was? He and Yoko hangng “The War Is Over If You Want It” signs over military recruiting stations.  That’s what happens if you give press coverage to smart people who give a shit about the world: They use it for good, they make things change, they help end wars, they get shit done

So focus on the bozos. They make good video. They make good copy. They got a hot moron for a team leader. Who cares if they could evolve into the American Nazi Party. Better to shine the spotlight on the homicidal idiots than the suicidal intellectuals, because you know intellectuals actually have workable ideas that would force us to proactively change our lifestyles before the bad moon rises.

The tea party on the other hand is much more assuring. They whine paranoid delusions of losing their guns while following politicians in a direction that can force all of us to lose our rights. Never mind “I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness starving hysterical naked ....” Well, I must admit that describe a few tea baggers.  What’s in the water fellas?  Good luck.

I’m a little tired of tea party = libertarian. Let’s see, the Maine GOP platform adopted at their recent convention includes the end of motor-voter registration and the demand for photo ID to be presented when voting. In Maine, this is equivalent to Big Brother. We still have same-day voting registration and the motor-voter bill has at least some relevance to our fairly large voting turnouts.

I don’t see these people as libertarian at all, because I will not insult libertarians by saying that their outlook consists of “The law is for you, I can do whatever the hell I want.” This is definitely the attitude of all tea party people I have come across.

Well, I enjoyed this article quite a lot.  I forgive you, Mr. Robinson, for the disgusting articles you’ve written in the past about the sex lives of celebrities and politicians. 

I do think progressives have some things in common with libertarians.  I just can’t remember what they are at the moment. 

I heard an interview on NPR this morning with Arkansas Lt. Governor Bill Halter. He was pointing out his opponent Lincoln created the problems before she cast votes to help solve the problems.  Not to say Halter won’t do the same thing.  But if he can get elected in Arkansas bashing an opponent who was dilatory on health care, well, I’m all for it. 

As for Rand Paul, hmm, how to say it?  I tend to think libertarians are a bit dim, like maybe they don’t quite recognize the planet where they live.  But who’s to say? If Rand Paul is willing to stop our perpetual war machines and curb shitbirds at the IMF and World Bank—I say, get down with your libertarian self. Maybe I’m the idiot. Never overlook that possibility (hee-hee I can hear the libertarian affirmations now; sorry guys—my libertarian friends—kick was cheap; kick back as necessary). 

As for Sister Lauren’s free-our-pot statement. I agree the drug war is stupid and wrong and bad, terribly destructive and motivating many people who wouldn’t otherwise give a shit to get politically active. I just can’t smoke the medicine these days.  Too strong for too long.

Wexler, I voted for Nader in 2000. Regretted it for a while but now I’m quite proud of it.  I think the Tea Party movement is a bubbling crock of shit helped more by unwarranted media stewing than anything else. But I do think a third party is in order, particularly for progressives.

Progressives were right about Vietnam.

They were right about Nixon.

They were right when they said funding the mujaheddin in Afghanistan in the 1980s was a mistake because those same holy warriors would take our money, guns and training and use them to kill us someday.

They were right when they said it was wrong to blow Allende’s head off and support that bastard Pinochet.

They were right when they said it was wrong to overthrow “Mo-sa-dek” in Iran in the 1950s (sorry about the phonetic spelling). 

They were right when we said we shouldn’t be supporting Saddam Hussein in the 1980s.

They are were right when they said Reagan was an addled lunatic whose economic and foreign policies would eventually debilitate our country.

They were right when they said we should do everything we can to stop the international sale of landmines, assault rifles, surface to air missiles, attack helicopters, tanks, fighter jets.

They were right when they said we were killing the very ecosystem that allows human beings to thrive.

They were right every damn time.

What did they get for being right?  Diddly squat. 

Here’s to hoping someone with some charisma, brains and money can be the nominee of The Green Party in 2012. I’ll vote for him or her or it.

I have heard the argument that the TeaBaggers refuse to become a wholly-owned subsidiary of the GOP before.  There is a small part of the teabaggers to whom this applies; but if you were to pull the GOP out of the TeaBaggers right now, today, the movement would quickly deflate.

I believe that we will see just that, and probably in a big hurry.  I think Robinson’s assertion that there is general blowback against incumbents stoked by right wing media and GOP loudmouths is right on.  Expect to see the FNC hype of TeaBaggers drop this summer; they have realized that this trick worked OK in the short term to ruin health care reform but since the GOP really is the Party of Nothing even the TeaBaggers realize that voting GOP is not going to get them anywhere.

As someone commented earlier, liberals find themselves in the same place.  None-of-the-above is the only logical choice.  Finally, maybe some of them will realize that Ralph Nader actually was the right vote to cast.

-Wexler

Perhaps one reason for such a party to become popular is because there is no real alternative to the Republicans and Democrats.
You should really try a Socialist type party, that is if you can get it past the media hype, et al, whose harmful discrediting would surely follow (the facts will not be allowed to enter into any discussion).
It was not too long ago, in the decades following the turn of the last century up to the second World war, that progressive parties had a chance of being influential.
Nowadays, elections are run by big business and vested interests, with very large injections of dollars to ensure that the right sort of politician is elected.
Still, it is worth a trial run to see what working peoples really think about being given the chance to take control of their Country!If they were able to elect truly representative politicians, they definitely couldn’t do a worse job of running the Country against what’s happening at the present time!

I seldom find agreement with Mr. Robinson’s constant booster-ism of Democratic Party positions but here I think him on the side of accuracy:

http://www.thenation.com/blog/feeling-randy?rel=emailNation

Meanwhile, back at the glam Tea Party that is Rand Paul’s Kentucky, the national media had barely a word to say about those Democratic primaries. But guess what? Not only did the more progressive Democrat, Jack Conway, beat the more centrist Dem, Dan Mongiardo, but the number of Democratic voters Tuesday night dwarfed Republican turnout, 453,520 to 331,522. Mongiardo might have lost, but he actually pulled in more votes than the mighty Paul, at 224,989 to 206,812. 
As TPM’s Evan McMorris-Santoro notes,“Nowhere else will the battle between the progressive left and the hard-core tea party right be clearer than” in the Conway/Paul race. As attorney general, Conway refused under great pressure to sue the federal government over Obamacare, while the anti-mandate Libertarian Paul campaigned saying it’s unconstitutional. In the general election, his extreme positions—like coming out against of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as well as calling for the dismantling of the departments of agriculture and education—might confirm the growing public perception of theTea Party as ridiculous, and maybe even scary. (For scary, see Rachel Maddow’s Wednesday night interview with Paul.)