Have you ever had one of those days that is totally surreal? You know where things are slightly off kilter and you just can't seem to determine where imagination ends and reality begins?Well that is the kind of day I had today.
I had to work and missed part of the Anchorage teabagging extravaganza, but from what I was able to observe in the half hour or so that I was there for, it was attended by about five hundred or so fired up anti-tax protesters. The signs ranged from the sublime to the ridiculous. One said "Obama: Chains you can believe in". Another was emblazoned with "Can you read my lipstick now?", all in bright red coloring. And yet another said "Honk Komrade" except the "K" in Komrade was backwards which I guess was meant to suggest that we are a communist or socialist country now. (Or perhaps he was just trying to identify the number of communist commuters that were on the road today.)
And speaking of honking, there was plenty of that. From pickup trucks and mini-vans, to SUV's and hybrid cars, the honks were loud and constant, a sad reminder that despite a Democrat in the Senate Alaska is still perhaps the reddest state in the union.
It did not take long for me to stumble upon my good friend AKMuckraker who had already been there for a while and had just about had enough of the crazy. Together we stood there amazed at the anger we saw directed at our new President and the complete lack of realization that the blame for our current financial crisis rested firmly on the shoulders of Republican George W. Bush.
But not in the minds of the frenzied throng before us. In their minds all things bad had to be the fault of the Democrats, and especially that "probable Muslim" Barack Obama.
I did ask a few questions of the some of the protesters and came away thinking that they were not terribly informed or cognizant of why they were rallying, but somebody suggested it and so here they were.
Eventually we drifted away as the group before us started to dissipate. I felt somewhat numb and a little nauseous, and to be honest more than a little sad.
AKM and went to a nearby restaurant and just kind of decompressed. (AKM took some great pictures and I will "borrow" some of them later for a follow up post.)
Our conversation centered mostly on how hypocritical it was that these people were so easily inflamed with a Democrat in the White house talking about increasing our debt and yet did not say anything when George Bush was borrowing billions of dollars from China to finance his illegal war and plunge our country into an endless vortex of debt. I volunteered that it was clear that the Republicans have a much easier time getting their people riled up and out on the streets because it seems they do not know what to think until somebody tells them, and then they simply follow that persons lead.
The leader in this case was local misogynist and talk radio douchebag Eddie Burke, and still he managed to gather a substantive crowd of sheeple. I find myself amazed that people would follow this guy across the street much less come out and protest due to his endorsement of the event.
I guess I owe Mr. Burke and his fellow "Teabaggers" a debt of gratitude for reminding me that I still live in Alaska, that the conservative mind is slow to change, and that we still have much work to do.
"The woods are lovely, dark, and deep.
But I have promises to keep.
And miles to go before I sleep.
Miles to go before I sleep."
"it was clear that the Republicans have a much easier time getting their people riled up and out on the streets"
ReplyDeleteAnti-war protests were much larger than these protests.
And regardless of how many people the rightwing can get on the street, we get more people into the voting booths where it really counts.
Ah Gryphen,
ReplyDeleteI share your frustration, your pain, and your sadness.
Reading you blog, which I do daily, is usually a cheering experience for me, because the larger problem can be best described here:
climateprogress.org
I urge you, and your readers, to broaden your dismay at Alaskan politics as wrecked by oil-owned Sara Palin, and take a little time to learn about the larger picture.
This is so important. We are all connected, on the same ark.
Thank you for your honest reportage.
Witsend in NJ.
The constant fear-mongering on the right since the election is very disturbing and I often am stunned at the educated, rational, nice people who are falling for it. Are we even on the same planet? Did their lives change after the inaugaration? No, they did not. Do their reading and listening and viewing habits instill a steady diet of fear and hatred? Yes, they do. It's sad and I don't know the answer.
ReplyDeletePart of me wants to see TX or AK secede and then these folks would wake up and realize that they actually benefit from paying taxes. I mean, how much $$ cash would AK forfeit if it seceded? And how would it defend itself from Russia and control its' borders and airspace? and how quickly would the natural resources of the state be devoured?
Sigh.
Gryphen- The contemplative way you ended this post reflected my feelings. Although they would disagree, I wouldn't necessarily classify these types of people as true conservatives. They hijacked the term to justify hate, anger and ignorance, the same way many of these same people try to redefine the phrase "evangelical Christian" to include beliefs that little resemble true Christ-like teachings.
ReplyDeletePeople who bought the idea of Sarah Palin were looking for something that didn't exist- a justification for bigotry and selfishness. They cheered Joe the Plumber and the Republican Party who seemed to suddenly speak for them.
They sainted both Reagan and Rush. They became pawns of Fox News that stirred up the base with what they know best- their version of big guns,a vengeful, hateful white God and an American way the that existed only in 50's movies. All this anger was chewed up and spewed out on pre-defined slogans to fit tee shirts, bumper stickers and viral e-mails. Ratings based on hate rose. And the sheep continued to bleat.
Public gatherings to promote or protest causes can be good. They should be based on some knowledge though. Them vs. Us isn't a very sound political philosophy, regardless of where one is on the political spectrum. Like you, I thought the irony in this particular event was both hilarious and very, very sad. It is these types of people who may never change. If they do find out the truth, they will just find someone else to hate and blame for their own unhappiness.
Don't know if Frost had a poem for that.
Chalk the backwards "K" to a confused baseball fan -- maybe -- it signifies a called strike three in a strikeout, "caught looking" where the hitter doesn't take the bat off his shoulders; a stat for the pitcher.
ReplyDeleteHOWEVER! The Urban Dictionary, which already provided Rachel Maddow and the rest of us with the definition of the word "teabagging", says this about the backward "K":
"Backwards K" is used to describe catching a bittie looking at you who wants your manhood.....and a "bittie" is a "scene wannabe" of the type you see, say, in Texas, with Big Hair, raccoon eyeliner, glossy lipstick, too-short top, ripped jeans and either f-m heels or platforms.
I checked out the Wasilla tea party (It was huge by valley standards) and thought I should move to Anchorage. Now I see it's not any better. I hope this too shall pass. Alaska is behind the times by about a year - so we need to just hang on even though it's hard.
ReplyDeleteI guess I can be happy about "peaceful" turnout as I had visions yesterday of gun wielding crazy right wingers causing all sorts of trouble and I saw ourselves heading into a new civil war! I guess our teabag in Wasilla, (big surprise there :-) had lots of dudes with guns on their hips lookin' all "second amendmendty". Guess Phil Munger has a good bit on that on Progressive Alaska. Going to read now.
ReplyDeleteFunniest thing I've read about the teabagging is regarding the Wash. DC event; peeps didn't have permits in order and the entire thing was basically a non-event.
Such interesting behavior by the people who are getting a tax break from Obama. I saw some pix that Celtic Diva posted; these folks are middle-class and working-class. Their taxes just went down.
ReplyDeleteOnce again the republican's response to a loss of power (and money) is to play on people's fears of losing (or not achieving) the "American Dream." Too bad the republicans don't have something more positive to offer the people of this country.
None of the protesters mentioned that offshore corporate tax havens cost the U.S. about $100 billion per year. Wonder why shouldering the corporate tax burden doesn't bother them?
ReplyDeleteGreat post. Another "wish I could have been there but had to work".
ReplyDeleteMuch work to do...boggles the mind and is so overwhelming at times......
I assume the backwards-K guy was trying unsuccessfully to write in faux Cyrillic, but he's so ignorant he doesn't realize that the Russian alphabet has letters that look like a backwards R and N(both available in "Honk Komrade") but not a backwards K.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.washingtonsblog.com/2009/04/dont-fall-for-old-divide-and-conquer.html
ReplyDeletethe tea party is a grassroot movement for all.
the above link will describe the event and how others discount it and how the media got involved to destroy it. Thus the meaning is lost in the confusion of all. The meaning for me is this:Freedom from tryanny. To those who do not research for themselves what is really going on in America: Depression, looting our paychecks, taxing at a whim, and endless wars of terror on other nations. Think about it, before you deny others in their protests, for they are people just like you, that want their freedoms and hope to have change in their pockets.
It's not "Teabagging". They were "Tea Parties." Perhaps you have heard about the Boston Tea Party. (Perhaps not.) People get so upset because they'll have to pay $10 in tax on $100 at the store. But there would be no income tax. It's a Fair Tax. Try a little research.
ReplyDelete