Tea Party: Will you be drinking or dunking?
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/04/15/art.teaparty1.gi.jpg caption="Activists nationwide are holding gatherings on Tax Day, April 15."]WASHINGTON (CNN) – Finger sandwiches won't be served, but there will be a lot of frustration brewing about the current tax system at "Tea Parties" being held Wednesday across the nation.
Activists are holding these events on tax day to voice their opposition to the current tax system and the federal government's spending decisions, such as bailing out the banks and the auto industry.
So, what do you think? Have President Obama and Congress taken the right steps to help the ailing economy? Have Republicans been smart to oppose his fiscal policies? Does the tax code need an overhaul?
Tell us your thoughts in the comment section below.
Here are some CNN stories about the nationwide "Tax Day Tea Party":
Activists gear up for national 'Tax Day Tea Party'
GOP uses tax day to raise money
GOP encourages supporters to send virtual tea bags to top Dems
Listen: CNN Radio analyzes the politics of Tax Day
No Rob the dangerous ones are not coming from Mexico, they are coming from your own neighborhood armed with guns bought at the last gun show!
The right wingers are divided between true nut-jobs and dangerous race baitors, we regular people should be on alert.
I have been driving by them and laughing at them.I love it when they chase my car like dogs.
BEWARE - Newt Gingrich is in Richie Riche$ back pocket. F**k tax cuts for the rich... Cut my phone bill tax!
You all are going to need your tax cut for higher property taxes, state and local taxes and in the works is a cellphone tax, and enery tax.
This is not a dem. or rep. issue, i guess you would all rather have the goverment spend your money for you.
It is amazing how many statements are GENERAL and non specific to this issue.
I don't mean to sound as a conspiracy nut.
This is the INTERNET and COMPUTERS and you do realize using simple scripting and a text file .... well....
I've been using PCs since my Apple ][e and my TRS 80s and beyond. Hasn't anyone ever heard the phrase.
Don't believe every thing you read on the internet?
Why do I meet so many people under 30, or so, think they are the 'first' generation to know about computers and the internet?
I am amazed how many college kids I meet that don't know the difference between the world wide web and the internet is or how and why the internet was 'started' or even how old it is.
Just sayin' A lot of people posting on a workday and in many cases more than are even attending some of the smaller protests.
I just think that is ironic.
I am going to attend one later today with friends that voted for and against President Obama and... who would have guessed?
That those that voted for and against Obama can be friends?
That is the USA that 'I' love.
The name calling stereotyping, assuming, thugs (on both sides true but on one side much more (you know who you are))
Is a joke to me and my friend now and the same 'bush started this ....GOP are (insert nasty word) etc has become so much 'hot air'
Wow who would have guessed that would have happened?
GOOFY.
Economics 101 – you spend indiscriminately and irresponsibly, the bills will come in and they have to be paid.
I pay all my bills and all my taxes and have not contributed to this financial mess, but what will happen in the next few years?
My taxes will be raised to pay for the trillions spent today.
I doubt I will ever earn income in the 6-figure mark, but if did, it won't matter, because when all the money that was thrown to bail out banks, mortgages, auto companies and paid bonuses needs to be returned, it will come from my retirement, my children's taxes and my grandkid's taxes. Not a very bright future.
Obama is change we can't afford.
I find it ironic how these "protests" are occurring as Obama announces the implementation of the biggest tax cut in U.S. history. The tax cuts he promised during the campaign, that affect 95% of working Americans, took effect on April 1st (if you were wondering, as I was, why your paycheck was a bit larger, this is why) as part of the stimulus package. Additionally, there is a $2500 higher education credit and a one-time $8000 first-time homebuyer credit. This will all be in effect when you file taxes for 2009.
So, what is it, exactly, that all you nutjob "teabaggers" are "protesting"? I guess perhaps you make up the 2% of the most wealthy Americans that will see your taxes return to the Clinton era rates?
I just saw Anderson Cooper's "teabagging" comments. I expect that sort of obnoxious twelve-year old tee-heeing from the likes of Jon Stewart or the head trauma ward that is MSNBC, but I expect a little better from CNN. For shame.
Jon in CA April 15th, 2009 2:04 pm ET
Let's take a QUICK peek at past violent protests to see WHO is really unstable:
LA Riots
Anarchists protesting Global Economic Issues
Anarchists destroying crops/labs doing genetic research
PETA
Code Pink
Anti-War protestors 60's & 70s
Yep… all liberals.
Your peek was a little too quick.
Waco, Ruby Ridge, and Oklahoma City. – chock full of liberals, those events.
OK lets start weeding them out! The ones that support socialism!
Raise your hands if you work for the government or a company that the government buys goods & services from.
Raise your hands if you are not willing to give up Medicare for yourself or a member of your family.
Raise your hands if you plan on using public streets, police, fire, rescue or any public facility/parks.
Raise your hands if you get money from the state of Alaska for oil.
Raise your hands if you are not willing to pay back the money from your years at public school.
Is there anyone left??? I didn't think so 😉
Let's be honest....
If this was 2 years ago and the liberals were staging "TEA parties" in protest of GWBush's spending policies (who they're saying today is really responsible) you can be sure the parties would be viewed and reported very differently by them.
Sad.
jack and matt
Why wait 8 years after 4 americans will realize what how much BS Obama spews out of his mouth and how bad he hurt our country and how can this be a bush problem when the whole world is suffering
Looks like the only people that do not have a problem with Obama and Pelosi spending us into oblivion are the career freeloaders and illegals. Since they do not pay any taxes they think it is great. The government is way out of control with this taxing and spending garbage and are trying to turn us into socialist Europe. Take a look people, Europe is a lot worse off than we are.
Tea Party Sign I'd Like To See:
Where were the rest of you when
–> George W. Bush <–
was raising the National Debt
from $5 Trillion to over $10 Trillion?
Back Side:
Better Late Than Never??
I find it more amusing that FAUX NEWS and it's prime time loons have high jacked the Libertarian's idea.
It's obvious to me there are SOME people out there who don't believe in majority rule. Tough luck. Grow up or get out.
Where were all these bozos when Bush was squandering ten billions a month on a pointless war in Iraq...wasting both blood and lives?? Or when he doled out 350 BILLION before the end of his reign of terror in the TARP bailouts...with ZERO ACCOUNTABILITY???! Gimme an f'ing BREAK!
Obama's given 95% of Americans a small tax break, and these imbeciles are whining about a few lousy more bucks from the mega-rich!! LAME!!
Oh...and someone should tell them what "tea-bagging" really MEANS!!! They'd be embarassed...one would think!!
Sure...we ALL want lower taxes. But there are some problems right now that need to be handled, and President Obama is doing that. Go home...get off the street...and make yourself a nice cup of tea instead of dangling your foolishness in public.
This is such a waste of time. With all this energy and effort people put into this, they could've done something more constructive. Where was all this "outrage" the last 8 years? Taxes haven't gone up.
Folks, folks, folks... make no mistake... we "teabaggers" as you call us, we think the Republicans suck too!
In fact, as a conservative, I place MORE BLAME on Bush and Congressional Republicans than I do on Obama and Congressional Dems.
I mean, hey, liberals are who they are... they're liberals... I EXPECT them to spend in a manner that would embarrass drunken sailors. But republicans, they SHOULD KNOW BETTER than to spend like Democrats.
What's worse is that the RINOs voted right along with the liberals to approve this crap.
So don't think for a second that this is some "right wing conspiracy." My very liberal attorney wife did our taxes the other night, and she ended up madder than a wet hen. And yes, even SHE is going to the Tea party this afternoon. She agrees with me... we'd never run up thousands of dollars in credit card debt for our kids, so why would we support the 12 TRILLION DOLLAR mindset of Bailout Palooza?
These Tea parties are not about Rep/Dem ideas, Bush, Barack or even Darth Chaney for that matter. These demonstrations were created in all reality by the middle or Libertarians of this great union. I am dissapointed that Hannity and Fox, Olberman and MSNBC as well as you all at CNN still don't get the point. Normal citizens are fed up with everything the Rep and Dem government is doing and to conceal the truth about these Tea parties are about is irresponsible reporting. **** GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT****
HEY SA,
In regard to your comment:
"WE ALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO PROTEST!
Or has Obama change that too."
Just go back and look at how the protesters were treated at both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions....Now who is the one that would take away our right to protest? Would that be Satan? No I mean Bush?
@ Fair is Fair....I call it like I see it. Fair is fair....We have had presidents that completely screwed up and the GOP has never reacted so desperately before. There will always be a race card since there will always be hateful people in this country.
Franky- what "lots of things" do you speak about? Bailing out cronies from AIG and Goldman Sachs?
A diluted, disorganized, misrepresented protest. When a few lunatics and misinformed people protest something, it taints their message.
And whose bright idea was it to call it teabagging?? It was a failure before it even began.