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Conservatives Debate: Is 'Teabagger' Their 'N-Word'?

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In the latest issue of National Review, Jay Nordlinger details the history of 'teabagging' and reports on the conservative debate about what to do about it. But it's not what you think -- no, really, it's not what you think.

Nordlinger's article isn't about tea bagging in the fun sense, nor is it about the long-term effects on the GOP from teabagging in the tri-corn hat-and-time-on-your-hands sense. Rather, it's the story of how conservatives are trying to fix the mess they made when they first decided to call for the "teabagging" of Nancy Pelosi with a straight face.

The key moment in the early history of the tea party movement, described by Nordlinger in his article Rise of an Epithet:

The first big day for this movement was Tax Day, April 15. And organizers had a gimmick. They asked people to send a tea bag to the Oval Office. One of the exhortations was "Tea Bag the Fools in D.C." A protester was spotted with a sign saying, "Tea Bag the Liberal Dems Before They Tea Bag You." So, conservatives started it: started with this terminology. But others ran with it and ran with it.

The article then goes through the sophomoric early days of 'teabagging' among progressives -- the collective "Teabaggers, eh? Well, if you insist..." from knowledgeable snarkers on the left. The lesson: if you want serious coverage of your new political movement, it's probably best not to give your first call to action the same as a sex act. Don't expect that the press (or your opponents) will take the high road. By the end of that first era of the tea partier, Nordlinger writes, conservatives were embarrassed and liberals were still laughing:

Some on the right are using "teabagger," but mainly the word is a putdown from the left. Conservatives realize that nothing friendly is meant by it. You can tell by tone and context, for one thing.

You might think that would be the end -- it would be completely understandable if tea partiers just decided to pretend the whole "teabagging" thing never happened and never, ever discussed it again. Let's just call it a rookie mistake, right?

Nope.

As Nordlinger reports, conservatives are now debating whether to embrace the "teabagger" epithet as a kind of badge of honor, "like 'Christian'" or...well, how about we let him explain it:

When I was growing up, in Ann Arbor, Mich., there was a little debate: Should school officials try to prevent black students from using the N-word? I don't believe the issue was ever settled. And this brings up the question of whether "teabagger" could be kind of a conservative N-word: to be used in the family, but radioactive outside the family.

In the end, though, Nordlinger decides this is probably a bad idea -- or at least an unworkable one:

[I]t may well be too late to purge "teabagger" from our discourse, certainly from discourse controlled by liberals. But I'm for giving it a try: for running "teabagger" out of town, even at this late date. It is really a lowdown term. "Tea partier" is a neutral term. "Tea-party patriots" is a positive term, used by some of the protesters themselves. "Teabagger" -- not so positive, and not so neutral.

Late Update: Washington Independent's Dave Weigel fact-checks Nordlinger, and finds that his recollection of tea partier history is a bit off. The first mention of "teabagging" came on Feb. 27, Weigel writes, not on April 15.

Comments (130) | Join the Conversation!

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December 3, 2009 6:24 PM   

Drop "teabagger"? Sure, when I no longer see references to the "Democrat" Party. Or at least not the "DemocRAT" party.

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December 3, 2009 9:39 PM    in reply to ericf

It's such a great point about the "Democrat" party. These guys are all about namecalling and making up false attacks. Now their silly attempt to equate themselves with the likes of Paul Revere and Sam Adams has backfired. The Teabaggers used the term themselves -- first -- as Nordlinger acknowledged. It became a derisive term when they finally figured out what the term they chose meant. No, they can't put it back in the bottle -- they chose a foolish symbol for a foolish movement.

I've seen a few of the right wingers feign outrage when democratic pundits use the term -- "that's a rude term -- do you know that?" The answer to that question is simple: it describes the group's actual first activity, it is a term that they used themselves, and invite the right winger to describe what he now thinks the term the group origially embraced means.

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December 4, 2009 10:13 PM    in reply to Headlight

But their feelings are sssssoooooo hurt because the allegedly politically correct crowd is ridiculing their politically correct stupidity.

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slb

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December 4, 2009 1:43 AM    in reply to ericf

+1

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December 4, 2009 2:16 AM    in reply to ericf

And Republicans never, ever get called on their usage of 'Democrat.' It's all conservative code and it's ok with most media outlets. Why is that??

Tweety: "Well, uh, Senator Hatch, you know, it's called the Democratic party, right, Senator?"
Hatch: "Now Tweet...er, Chris, that'd be you know what they call themselves, but ya' know we got to get this healthcare bill on killing elderly fetuses killt..."

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December 4, 2009 3:27 PM    in reply to nowhereman

And this is why I refer to them as the Repukeliscum Party. If we get to choose the names for the opponent, I am gonna use a very offensive one, which is descriptively accurate.

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December 4, 2009 10:18 PM    in reply to Numbersguy

Republican'ts get it right.

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December 3, 2009 6:30 PM   

So if I'm a teabagger I can call conservatives teabaggers?

Hmm...will have to see what the wife says to that. It's for the greater good...

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December 3, 2009 7:57 PM    in reply to ohyeathatsright

Let me know how it goes. After you pry the waffle iron off your face, of course.

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December 4, 2009 12:23 AM    in reply to ohyeathatsright

For the greater good.

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December 3, 2009 6:46 PM   

Racist xenophobic assholes works for me.

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December 3, 2009 6:50 PM   

Teabaggers will have a very hard time convincing me not to call them teabaggers. It's just too satisfying to heap richly deserved insults on teabaggers. If teabaggers don't like it, teabaggers can insult me back.

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December 3, 2009 6:52 PM   

Hey, I'm so old, I can remember when I was shocked that my kids used the term "sucks". I use it myself now. Such as in, "Republicans really suck!" No offense meant, of course. Just being accurate. They really do suck.

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December 6, 2009 1:55 AM    in reply to sunnysteve

Same here: I remember when one could get one's mouth slapped (I didn't, and not because I ducked*) for uttering that which was viewed as an obscenity.
_____

*Because I was a saint, if you must know.
_____

I sometimes think the change in view sucks.

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December 3, 2009 6:53 PM   

That 'teabag' is already out of the box. You can't stop us now from calling them teabaggers. It's one of the few bits of relief that I can find in dealing with the nutwing crazies that at least they named themselves ironically something they don't even like. The freakin' teabaggers!

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December 3, 2009 7:00 PM    in reply to synchronicity

I also like the idea that I can use their own term 'teabaggers' to represent every other name I would like to call them

So for example teabaggers = racists, xenophobics, assholes, bigots, morons, anal retentives, demented, homophobics, pinheads, cretins, liars, religious opportunists, religious zealots, hypocrites, christian mafia members, etc.

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December 3, 2009 7:01 PM   

So, the teabaggers are the victims? Is that his point? Since when did these macho men become so sensitive? Gotta love it.

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December 3, 2009 7:05 PM   

They started it, let them wear it. That it now offends them is kind of like gravy if you ask me.

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December 3, 2009 9:49 PM    in reply to The Old Grouch

Exactly. This gift keeps giving.

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December 3, 2009 7:12 PM   

Idiots.

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December 3, 2009 7:14 PM   

*agger Please... This post' the Nat'l Review article or the discussion in general is...whack! This is like something from The Onion!

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jet

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December 3, 2009 7:31 PM    in reply to Odel Roo

Yes. But it's real... that's the funny part.

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December 3, 2009 7:17 PM   

Maybe Nordlinger is just making a clever allusion to this viral video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tqEBQjWRws

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December 3, 2009 7:36 PM   

I think he may have a point. The whole movement has gone down since this issue started slapping them in the face over and over again. They'd probably just want it to stop completely, but they can't seem to open their mouths without having to go another round.

On a more serious note, perhaps these... well... teabaggers will show some compassion the next time someone with a civil rights issue of a higher level than, "they're calling me names", is brought up. I wonder what they'd do when faced with systemic, long-term and often violent discrimination.

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December 3, 2009 7:59 PM    in reply to Jaycal

I wonder what they'd do when faced with systemic, long-term and often violent discrimination.

Here's hoping we have a chance to find out.

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December 3, 2009 7:48 PM   

This is another indication as to just how 'grass roots' the teabagger movement really is: not in the slightest.
Imagine if the African American community decided to get together and have this kind of bizarre conversation amongst themselves!

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December 3, 2009 7:50 PM   

Maybe they'll have a funeral for the word...

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December 3, 2009 8:07 PM   

[I]t may well be too late to purge "teabagger" from our discourse, certainly from discourse controlled by liberals.

I am an all-powerful liberal, and I control all discourse! Bow before me, teabaggers, and cower in fear!

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December 4, 2009 11:00 AM    in reply to commie atheist

That was my thought too. I am tickled to think that I could control the discourse, but somehow I have seen precious little evidence for the claim.

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December 3, 2009 8:27 PM   

Does this mean when I make tea every morning I'm now committing a hate crime?

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December 4, 2009 5:51 PM    in reply to Prudy

Unless you use elitist, libburul, sissyficated whole leaf!

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December 4, 2009 9:23 PM    in reply to Number6

...and you'll probably want to get loose-leaf white tea. Not that eco 'green' tea, and certainly not that black tea. ugh.

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December 3, 2009 8:41 PM   

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December 3, 2009 8:47 PM   

If they don't want to be called teabaggers, then I'll call them what they are--fascist peasants.

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December 3, 2009 8:48 PM   

Oh, now, now. Those TEA party patriots are certainly not a threat to you. So, there is no need to reach into that big liberal bag of viciousness.

In fact, pay them no mind at all.

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December 3, 2009 8:53 PM    in reply to Silence

Tell us how you really feel.

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December 4, 2009 1:01 AM    in reply to Silence

So, do you teabag silently?

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December 3, 2009 8:51 PM   

"And this brings up the question of whether "teabagger" could be kind of a conservative N-word: to be used in the family, but radioactive outside the family."

Yes, because nothing says "family" like the word "teabagger".

Also, for people who get a single-digit percentage of the black vote, Republicans sure do like to compare themselves to the civil rights movement a lot.

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December 3, 2009 9:07 PM   

Hey. So, when can we expect see all those jobs? A few million jobs shouldn't be a problem for a group of highly intelligent, well-educated libs.

I'll bet those dopey TEA party patriots could create a few jobs. That is, if they too weren't busy drinking tea, laughing and shrugging.

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December 3, 2009 9:25 PM    in reply to Silence

Weak. Next time you're really feeling the burn from being confronted by the impotent stupidity of your half-witted friends, and I'm sure it will happen again soon, try a simple "oh yeah?" It'll sound less pathetic.

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December 4, 2009 1:06 AM    in reply to The Commenter Formerly Known as NCSteve

Silence is so dumb, he probably thinks that a Cleveland Steamer is one of the rail projects funded by the stimulus.

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December 3, 2009 9:21 PM   

Don't those dirty, dirty Socio-Fasci-Marxi-Nazi-Communist Europeans sit around drinking tea?

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December 3, 2009 9:31 PM   

They will do ANYTHING to paint themselves the poor victim...

I'll stop calling them teabaggers when I stop getting referred to as a Communist, a Socialist, a Nazi, ETC.

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December 3, 2009 9:33 PM   

Do we have to type it t*******r from now on?

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December 3, 2009 9:35 PM   

I myself have enjoyed “calling out” opponents in debate — not on “teabagger” (no opportunity yet), but on other words. “Neocon,” for example. “What do you mean by ‘neocon’?” I’ll say. “What’s a ‘neocon’?” Also “Zionist”: “What do you mean by ‘Zionist’? What’s a Zionist, in your mind?” These words have real meanings, but often people don’t know them. They just mean them as putdowns.

Thanks, Jay, I'll have to remember that little technique the next time I'm engaging someone--say perhaps a writer for National Review--who calls the President a "socialist," a "communist," or a "fascist."

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December 3, 2009 9:38 PM   

"It is really a low down term." ???

The right wingers cannot seem to get anything right whether regarding sex or regarding African-Americans. I think Nordlinger really meant to say:

It is really a down-low term.

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December 3, 2009 11:09 PM    in reply to merlot

No, "It is really a lowdown term." I mean, when it's done right, it really is a lowdown act. At least one, and maybe both (all) are low down.

Actually, the whole 'teabagger' mistake by these folk shows how far removed from modern reality are the 23% that think W was the best thing since Jesus.

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December 3, 2009 9:47 PM   

Clearly, this is a slap in the face for the proud Tea Bag Patriots. And an undeserved slap, indeed, what with all the balls these proud Americans have in the air.

I mean, seriously, they have to worry about such in-your-face issues as the rise of taxation, the penetration of Islam into our midst, and the ever-present thrust of socialism into the very maw of American life?

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December 3, 2009 10:34 PM    in reply to West CoastNat

What a mess!

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December 3, 2009 11:12 PM    in reply to West CoastNat

Thanks, I needed that.

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December 4, 2009 12:34 AM    in reply to West CoastNat

It's really the dual threats of socialism and terrorism that will choke the life out of us. Let's get serious, these are really hairy problems that we are staring straight in the face.

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December 4, 2009 10:26 AM    in reply to Dorn76

Teabagger = rabid, right-wing nut-munching peasant

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December 3, 2009 10:34 PM   

Or in the way the wife and I call each other "honkey".

How out of touch of reality are these nuts?

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December 3, 2009 10:38 PM   

Yeah, reclaim that word, privileged white folk! Let the world know the liberals won't keep you down, even if you were the ones who went down to begin with.

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December 3, 2009 10:53 PM   

"Teabagger" is passee.

At a recent protest in California, a group of Tea Party Patriots threw lettuce and vegetables into the Bay to show their anger toward illegal immigration.

The are now demanding to be known as "salad tossers".

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December 3, 2009 11:00 PM    in reply to Prof Wagstaff

They kept talking about how they hated dirty Sanchez.

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December 3, 2009 11:11 PM    in reply to Jonathan Evans

You were listening to Stephanie Miller, weren't you? Chris is hysterical, especially when he's hysterical.

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December 4, 2009 1:04 AM    in reply to Cal Damage

never heard of her. is she good?

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December 4, 2009 7:02 AM    in reply to Jonathan Evans

But whenever they hear Rove on Fox, they say "I love hot Karl!"

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slb

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December 4, 2009 1:47 AM   

perhaps these... well... teabaggers will show some compassion the next time someone with a civil rights issue of a higher level than, "they're calling me names", is brought up.

Hah! Don't hold your breath.

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December 4, 2009 8:05 AM   

Correct me on this. Did Africans give themselves the name "Nigger"?

Teabaggers used the phrase "teabag" because they're idiots. Hence the insult. Africans, not so much.

Which makes this notion merely further proof of teabaggers' idiocy.

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December 4, 2009 8:06 AM   

Perhaps, time spent running down the TEA party patriots should be directed toward job creation. Creating new jobs is not the monumental task, as some(those who tout extraordinary IQ's)may believe.

Far from brilliant, I resigned myself to a position of simple working man. Yet, if so inclined, I could create several well-paying jobs, by the end of the day.

So, what is the hold up here? Certainly, brilliant, super educated elitists are more capable of creating jobs than simple, unremarkable entrepreneurs. Aren't they?

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December 4, 2009 8:59 AM    in reply to Silence

Certainly, brilliant, super educated elitists are more capable of creating jobs than simple, unremarkable entrepreneurs. Aren't they?

Sorry, I don't buy the premise. We actually need both the educated and the entrepreneur. Quite often, they are embodied in the same person.

You see, unlike conservatives, we mock and dismiss neither.

We do like to mock people who spout insanity and call themselves teabaggers, though.

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December 4, 2009 9:34 AM    in reply to howie

Oh, I think the left has done a remarkable job of demonizing those capable of creating jobs.

In fact, the assault has been so successful, the job creators have decided to leave it all to the "really smart" people. In the meantime, golf games are improving and TEA parties offer great entertainment.

Think of it this way. The job creators are on strike...poor working conditions.

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December 4, 2009 3:17 PM    in reply to Silence

Don't forget the Edict of St. Ronnie, feed the oats to the mouth, and the shit that comes out of the ass belongs to the masses. So, if you really are ignorant and uninformed enough to believe that the job-creators are on strike, then fear not, they got bailed out at Wall Street by enthusiastic dumbasses like you.

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December 4, 2009 4:47 PM    in reply to rbe1

WALL STREET creates jobs? LOL

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December 5, 2009 5:24 PM    in reply to Silence

You really are that simple, aren't you Silence?

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December 6, 2009 8:54 AM    in reply to cinesimon

Yes. I am. I have always created my own jobs. Wall street had nothing to do with it.

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December 4, 2009 9:23 AM    in reply to Silence

Uh, the unemployment rate *dropped* to 10 percent today. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125993225142676615.html

You were saying?
Thought so.

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December 4, 2009 9:36 AM    in reply to dswx

You're referring to the people still looking for work?

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December 4, 2009 10:05 AM    in reply to Silence

Nothing to see here....except for those nuts being lowered into your face!

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December 4, 2009 10:15 AM    in reply to Silence

Yet, if so inclined, I could create several well-paying jobs, by the end of the day.

But Silence, does getting some friends to help you sell your supply of Viagra on the black market, really count as job creation?

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December 4, 2009 5:56 PM    in reply to Silence

"Perhaps, time spent running down the TEA party patriots should be directed toward job creation."

It's troubling that others' exercise of their free speech rights upsets you so.

Why do you hate America?

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December 4, 2009 10:06 AM    in reply to Silence

Imagine John Stossel Teabagging!.

Oh the imagery!

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December 4, 2009 10:22 AM    in reply to Dorn76

Thanks a lot!
There goes any chance of me being able to eat lunch today.

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December 4, 2009 12:27 PM    in reply to Dorn76

His 'stache would really itch, but if he insists...

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December 4, 2009 1:24 PM    in reply to Dorn76

Or getting bitch-slapped again by a fake wrestler.

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December 4, 2009 3:22 PM    in reply to Silence

Oh the self-parody, the self-parody !

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December 4, 2009 8:51 AM   

Seems pretty reasonable to me. Somebodys gotta do it!

RT
www.be-invisible.ua.tc

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December 4, 2009 9:02 AM   

Cartoonish and overly excitable? Let them be tiggers.

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December 4, 2009 9:12 AM   

We all know that teabaggers are angry. But what's irritating *real* people? Teabaggers. Here's a video response

American Outrage

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December 4, 2009 10:00 AM   

I'm beginning to think that folks like Silence, Shooter and Inokeah or whatever are either fake trolls or are being paid by a GOP astroturf junket to troll liberal websites.

There is literally no variation in argument or sources. It's always Fox and Rasmussen in the rare occurrence that they cite a source. There are no shortage of conservative think tanks out there (ie Heritage Institute, American Enterprise Institute, Cato, et al). Why not get a different prospective other than Faux and Friends or a rigged pollster for once?

Hell, while I usually don't agree with most of the conservative think tanks' methodologies or conclusions (with the exception of Cato on social policy somewhat often) they do occasionally bring some thought provoking analysis's to the discussion. Why not give them a try for once?

It won't make you sound anymore like a bad, Mary Sue, 2D "conservative" caricature than you do now. At very least it would give you a bit more intellectual and personal breadth.

That being said, I don't think actually making a sound argument is why you are here, amirite?

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December 4, 2009 10:08 AM    in reply to the true enduring majority

They are here to Teabag. Whatever you do, don't lie down and close your eyes.

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December 4, 2009 3:13 PM    in reply to Dorn76

More like don't close your eyes and/or bend over.

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December 4, 2009 10:22 AM    in reply to the true enduring majority

I'd be more likely to believe they're doing it for class - here's a public example of a professor teaching "Intelligent Design" who requires students to troll as part of their grade:

http://www.designinference.com/teaching/teaching.htm

(yes, the markup is terrible. Apparently "Intelligent Design" doesn't include web design. Look for the phrase "hostile website" throughout.)

Finding other sources would imply that trolls can read more than just the "two minutes hate" version from Faux News; don't hold your breath on that one...

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December 4, 2009 2:56 PM    in reply to Matt Jones

Intelligent Design carries its own refutation. Examination of the written and spoken exhortation of ideas underlying intelligent design reveals that it requires that its advocates have evolved from lifeforms without brains, possibly slugs or some such creatures far enough down the ladder to possess only the most rudimentary stimulus-response nervous systems.

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December 4, 2009 10:30 AM    in reply to the true enduring majority

Paralysis by over-analysis.

Try Occam's razor.

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December 4, 2009 12:57 PM    in reply to Silence

I actually have to agree here. With the relatively few conservative fools who post here, there's just too many stupid people out there to assume that we have paid/trainee trollers here before people with an obsessive need to spread lunacy.

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December 4, 2009 2:39 PM    in reply to Silence

Analysis implies a modicum of intelligence. Big problem.

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December 4, 2009 10:24 AM   

Teabaggers love nuts; nuts love teabaggers.

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December 4, 2009 10:39 AM   

these people cant help themselves can they

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December 4, 2009 10:52 AM   

It's actually the new "M" word.

MORON

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December 4, 2009 11:18 AM    in reply to Hidden Oak

That's "MORAN" to you, bub. ;-)

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December 4, 2009 12:21 PM   

Quit using the contraction everyone.

The full word is hyphenated: "Teabagger-asshole".

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December 4, 2009 12:42 PM   

IDENTITY POLITICS MYAHMYAHMYAH POLITICAL CORRECTNESS RABBLERABBLE SPEECH CODES OH DEAR JESUS WE'RE ON A CRAPROCKET TO FASCISM

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December 4, 2009 1:20 PM   

Hey it's N***a, not N****r, for god's sake ! And as for our screwball friends on the republican right, I'd prefer TeaFucker, as it has a better intonation.

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December 4, 2009 1:59 PM   

The TEA party is not responsible for a failed stimulus, auto bailouts, bankster bonuses, skyrocketing deficits, high unemployment, climategate, a plummeting dollar, security breaches at the White House, communist Czars, the meltdown of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac or an escalating afghan war etc., etc., etc.

I understand your frustration.

The truth may hurt, but it can also set you free.

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December 4, 2009 2:26 PM    in reply to Silence

I lost you after "the Tea Party is not responsible....."

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December 4, 2009 2:42 PM    in reply to Dorn76

It's just the Fox News Talking Points For Idiots of the day. Take some stuff that Bush was actually responsible for, throw in a phony controversy or two, add a few totally made-up bullshit stories, and blame it all on Obama. I'm surprised he didn't include the Ft. Hood shootings and Tiger's extramarital woes.

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December 4, 2009 2:33 PM    in reply to Silence

No, but the TEA party is responsible for being a bunch of ignorant fuckers who choose their targets with much the same sophistication of thought that Dubya chose his, somewhere between children's books about farm animals and fart jokes during National Security council meetings.

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December 4, 2009 2:37 PM    in reply to Silence

Project much Silence?

The stimulus clearly is not failed, as evident by today's unemployment numbers and last quarters 3.5% GDP growth. It may not be big enough, but it clearly isn't a failure. Now the Bush tax cuts, that was a failure.

Those tax cuts, in combination with the elimination of the estate tax help explode deficits more than any other policy save for the misadventure in Iraq and the FUBARing of Afganistan. Ditto for the high unemployment, weamk dollar and Fannie and Freddie.

Last I checked, the trickle down economic nonsense were set in motion by St. Ronnie and ratcheted up 10 fold by Bush, directly leading to the recession. All of the economic failures happened under the GOP and subsequently YOUR watch. They were your policies. Ironically, George H W Bush was right in the 1980 GOP primaries. Supply side really is "voodoo economics".

The two wars YOUR side owns as well. We had no business going into Iraq, but Cheney invaded anyway, WMD or not. In the process, they abandoned Afganistan, which before we invaded Iraq was actually making some progress. Once again, if you want to blame anyone for this and the failed economic policies, you need to look in the mirror.

Nary a fucking peep out of you teabaggers for the last 8 years, until last November. And don't give me that "But we didn't like it when Bush did it either" bullshit. If you didn't like it so much than why didn't you actively oppose it? Oh, right I forgot. Rove didn't tell you too. Unlike now where the entire Repug leadership has you parroting the party line.

Yes, I said it. The teabagger parties are GOP controlled. Why else would Dick Armey be involved and FNC all but annointing them the new civil rights movement?

Because you and your fellow teabagging scum are fucking sheep. You can't think for yourself. You're right, the truth does hurt. But the only one who can't handle it is you.

Oh your BS about "czars, partygate and climategate"? Fluff manufactured outrage for consumption by the bottom half of the IQ bell curve in this country, (ie GOP+teabaggers). I won't even dignify that tripe with a rebuttal.

Regardless of what Rush Limpdick and his fellow travelers may say to you and your fellow zombies, the reality is that the country has soundly rejected your ideas, THREE FUCKING TIMES NOW. The first time in 06', the second time in 08' and the third time in the 23rd Congressional District, where Bill Owens became the first Democrat to represent that district since the Civil War, beating out the tea/carpetbagger wingnut who had the support of every conservative hero minus Newt Gingrich.

I'm going to bet in 2010 that the only lose a handful of seats in the House, while either holding or gaining in both the House and the Senate.

Your party has no ideas and cares only about regaining power, at any cost. They've contributed nothing and moved so far out of the mainstream that they aren't taken seriously anywhere but the south (big surprise). I know no one ever lost money underestimating the stupidity of the American public, and maybe I'm being optimistic, but I have a feeling that the average joe on the street isn't going to forget how badly the GOP fucked up or their ass backwards response anytime soon, even if the Dems are moving slower than they would like.

In short, enjoy Rush Limbawwwww, Glenn Beck and Rupert Murdochs ballsweat on your collective face. Try to think of it as the new Kool-Aid, it'll taste better.

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December 4, 2009 2:45 PM    in reply to the true enduring majority

That was a thing of beauty.

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December 4, 2009 3:11 PM    in reply to the true enduring majority

Well put.

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December 4, 2009 4:33 PM    in reply to the true enduring majority

Project much Silence?

The stimulus clearly is not failed, as evident by today's unemployment numbers and last quarters 3.5% GDP growth. It may not be big enough, but it clearly isn't a failure. Now the Bush tax cuts, that was a failure.

Those tax cuts, in combination with the elimination of the estate tax help explode deficits more than any other policy save for the misadventure in Iraq and the FUBARing of Afganistan. Ditto for the high unemployment, weamk dollar and Fannie and Freddie.

Last I checked, the trickle down economic nonsense were set in motion by St. Ronnie and ratcheted up 10 fold by Bush, directly leading to the recession. All of the economic failures happened under the GOP and subsequently YOUR watch. They were your policies. Ironically, George H W Bush was right in the 1980 GOP primaries. Supply side really is "voodoo economics".

The two wars YOUR side owns as well. We had no business going into Iraq, but Cheney invaded anyway, WMD or not. In the process, they abandoned Afganistan, which before we invaded Iraq was actually making some progress. Once again, if you want to blame anyone for this and the failed economic policies, you need to look in the mirror.

Nary a fucking peep out of you teabaggers for the last 8 years, until last November. And don't give me that "But we didn't like it when Bush did it either" bullshit. If you didn't like it so much than why didn't you actively oppose it? Oh, right I forgot. Rove didn't tell you too. Unlike now where the entire Repug leadership has you parroting the party line.

Yes, I said it. The teabagger parties are GOP controlled. Why else would Dick Armey be involved and FNC all but annointing them the new civil rights movement?

Because you and your fellow teabagging scum are fucking sheep. You can't think for yourself. You're right, the truth does hurt. But the only one who can't handle it is you.

Oh your BS about "czars, partygate and climategate"? Fluff manufactured outrage for consumption by the bottom half of the IQ bell curve in this country, (ie GOP+teabaggers). I won't even dignify that tripe with a rebuttal.

Regardless of what Rush Limpdick and his fellow travelers may say to you and your fellow zombies, the reality is that the country has soundly rejected your ideas, THREE FUCKING TIMES NOW. The first time in 06', the second time in 08' and the third time in the 23rd Congressional District, where Bill Owens became the first Democrat to represent that district since the Civil War, beating out the tea/carpetbagger wingnut who had the support of every conservative hero minus Newt Gingrich.

I'm going to bet in 2010 that the only lose a handful of seats in the House, while either holding or gaining in both the House and the Senate.

Your party has no ideas and cares only about regaining power, at any cost. They've contributed nothing and moved so far out of the mainstream that they aren't taken seriously anywhere but the south (big surprise). I know no one ever lost money underestimating the stupidity of the American public, and maybe I'm being optimistic, but I have a feeling that the average joe on the street isn't going to forget how badly the GOP fucked up or their ass backwards response anytime soon, even if the Dems are moving slower than they would like.

In short, enjoy Rush Limbawwwww, Glenn Beck and Rupert Murdochs ballsweat on your collective face. Try to think of it as the new Kool-Aid, it'll taste better.

_______________________________________________________________

Again, the TEA party was NOT responsible for any of this. So, why malign them? These poor folks are the ones stuck paying the bill for this irresponsible nonsense, from both parties.

They are fed up with it all and certainly have a right to be.

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December 5, 2009 2:37 AM    in reply to Silence

hey, you stole a few lines from previous posts that i made. tell me, when is it that hopey mcchange becomes responsible? heard him in july when the unemployment rate dropped to 8.4% taking credit, only to blame bush in august when they went back up. same thing this time.........you poor slob, you don't even know what is coming, do you? oh well, the light at the end of the tunnel is sometimes a train coming at you. don't steal any more lines from my posts.

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December 5, 2009 2:41 AM    in reply to jjdjjd

oh yeah, that 3.5 % gdp increase was revised to 2.8%. i got news for you, obama is cooking the books. you will see this in the future. remember where you heard it, and try not steal it.

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December 5, 2009 3:50 PM    in reply to jjdjjd

And your point is? Even if that is the case, that's still larger growth than anytime since at least September 2008.

Thanks for shredding your own argument. Now I don't have too.

Good try though. Come back when you finish middle school or learn some critical thinking skills.

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December 5, 2009 10:17 AM    in reply to the true enduring majority

Who could dispute any point raised here? Well said.

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December 4, 2009 4:28 PM    in reply to Silence

You're not using your mind, friend. This is just regurgitation of partisan talking points.

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December 4, 2009 10:21 PM    in reply to Silence

Teabaggers. It's your word. CHOKE on it.

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December 5, 2009 12:29 AM    in reply to Silence

You're not using your mind, friend. This is just regurgitation of partisan talking points.

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December 4, 2009 2:00 PM   

I have no problem calling a 'thing' what it is, and YES I do use this term, as both an insult and a label. IT IS GUARRANTED to evoke a negative response, many try to deny it, and I do not "JUST LET IT GO", I pound on the word like a drum.

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December 4, 2009 2:08 PM   

Go for it, teabaggers - you OWN that word....

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December 4, 2009 2:34 PM   

I think the Republics should change their name to the Teabagger Birther Party. Truth in advertising!

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December 4, 2009 3:55 PM   

our country is in turmoil, liberals,democrats, republicans, and conservatives are all in the 'teabaggers' movement. however, most of us are liberal on some issues and conservative on others. the problem is the whackadoo's on both ends require 100% adherence to their philosophy or else they will crucify you. 3% of blacks voted against obama, were labeled 'uncle toms' , 17% of registered republicans voted against mccain, were told they were traitors. lots of 'whackadoos' on this thread.

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December 6, 2009 2:00 AM    in reply to jjdjjd

"lots of 'whackadoos' on this thread."

And you have distinguished yourself by showing that you are indistinguishable from all the other far-right lunatic fringe supremacist "wackadoos".

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December 6, 2009 5:37 AM    in reply to JNagarya

you the one trolling for any of my posts, you the one with the mental problem. you the sick one. you the stalker.

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December 6, 2009 5:47 AM    in reply to jjdjjd

I respond to posts -- or not -- that show up in my dashboard.

Here's a question for you:

Are you qualified, to any degree, in any context, to diagnose the degree of mental health of others?

The answer is obvious: You are not.

IF you were -- and you are not -- you would be violating the basic requirements and ethics by attempting it.

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December 7, 2009 5:54 PM    in reply to JNagarya

well, you are the only one that i have made this diagnosis on. prove to me you are not a nut. you have proved that you are a stalker. there is something wrong with you, do something, anything,but if you continue like you are you will have a miserable life.

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December 8, 2009 12:19 PM    in reply to jjdjjd

You aren't qualified to "diagnose" in the first instance. Do you not understand that? Moreover, endeavoring to do so anyway is unethical.

Show us you know how to go away.

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December 9, 2009 4:56 AM    in reply to JNagarya

ohoh, he's a ethicist. how does one make a living doing that? you are already 'away'.

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December 10, 2009 3:57 PM    in reply to jjdjjd

I am an ethicist on two grounds: one, my profession requires it. Two, I have a set of ethics with which I comply.

You haven't even one set of ethics, else you wouldn't be prod to be a hypocrite.

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December 4, 2009 6:41 PM   

I can only be a moment before they bring out a line of hair gels called "Santorum", as they push back against negative word associations...(google it yourself, for the entertaining ordination results...)

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599

user-pic

December 4, 2009 10:42 PM   

Wow, I'm sure 'Teabag' has multiple meanings, from the context of the quote on the sign I can only infer one. Where I'm from, to 'Teabag' someone, is to droop your exposed scrotum on their face. I hope this was not too vulgar, but the expression is hard to describe without being at least somewhat.

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December 5, 2009 10:13 AM    in reply to 599

I have vowed to conjure the mental image of drooping scrotums over the faces of any conservatives self-identified as "teabaggers".

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December 5, 2009 4:03 PM   

I could have never found the more "perfect" term to be used to describe those that are opposing tax hikes that will not affect them. These self named "teabaggers" should wear it as a badge of honor, and I hope they can maintain their composure as they wipe the teabag residue from their lips.

All I have to ask is - one bag or two?

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January 22, 2010 5:04 AM   

I have one question for all you enlightened types on here.

Isn't calling someone a "Teabagger" a lot like calling them a "Cocksucker"? You wouldn't say "cocksucker" in polite company- and you'd call anyone who did a homophobe. So why are you so keen to adopt such a similar pejorative? It seems childish, impolite, crude, brainless and sad to me.

I'm not a conservative or a liberal. I see the ridiculousness of both sides. And the double standard here is disgusting. If Republicans were going around calling the "Earth First" movement the "Earth-Fisters" I think there'd be a lot of indignant outcry. You guys really don't practice what you preach.

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May 4, 2010 3:07 PM   

Tea-bagger = singular
Tea-sticles = plural
Tea-hadists = collective

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June 6, 2010 12:57 PM   

Certainly, brilliant, super educated elitists are more capable of creating jobs than simple, unremarkable entrepreneurs. Aren't they?

Sorry, I don't buy the premise. We actually need both the educated and the entrepreneur. Quite often, they are embodied in the same person.

You see, unlike conservatives, we mock and dismiss neither.

We do like to mock people who spout insanity and call themselves teabaggers, though.

m65 kamagra

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