The New Republic

“But it’s my guess that the ultimate outcome of these successful tea parties—and the prior ones: Alaska, Kentucky, Nevada, and Florida—will be very disappointing to those who are celebrating now. I always wondered why the tea partiers chose this particular nomenclature for their political effort since, in Massachusetts at least, the original label belonged to real revolutionaries.” I hope you are right. This movement is the most disappointing political event of the last couple of years. I noticed though that NPR has been trying to give some respectability now that some of their candidate won in the Republican primaries. This is a mistake. I think they chose the name for one reasons only, TAXES. They are libertarians who hate paying taxes. This is all that the Original tea party in Massachusetts means to them. They offer us weak tea which is indigestible. Still, I have a hunch that we haven’t seen the last of them.

- jdyer

September 16, 2010 at 9:56am

yeah jackson, TEA stands for "Taxed Enough Already". NYT reporter Kate Zernike's book is titled “Boiling Mad: Inside Tea Party America,'' and the New Yorker's Jill Lepore had a thoughtful assessment in May 3 issue http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/05/03/100503fa_fact_lepore You have to look at the micro issues in New York. What unfettered Medicaid (according to NYT expose when Pataki was still governor) has done to property taxes outside NYC. What the mountains of debt that can never be paid by the Public Authorities created by Mario Cuomo mean. And, the very real perception that both parties have failed New York. Registered Democrats were given NO CHOICE in the candidate for governor. Prince Andrew was handed a cleared field since he was handed the Dem nomination for AG in 2006. (Assemblyman Jeffrey Klein was handed the 34th State Senate seat to keep him from challenging Andrew for AG in 2006). It is so hopeless that I can only vote in protest. I refuse to buy the claim that Andrew Cuomo is an 'outsider who will change Albany'. He is afraid to even have a debate with Paladino because it is "too unpredictable". What a wuss. I have no choice but to vote for Carl Paladino on November 2 as a 'last chance protest'. Whether the 50% of registered Democrats in New York who usually 'stay home in apathy protest' actually come out and vote in 'last chance protest' with me is a big question. The Board of Elections has done such a terrible job of the new voting system that it may not matter - no one will ever know if their vote was actually scanned or is a Potemkin system. Just do not lump all the 'wackos' together. New Yorkers know the state is totally dysfunctional. We were denied Tom Suozzi in 2006, and Steve Levy in 2010 by the respectively dysfunctional party machines. I heard Republicans call into WNYC who voted for Paladino because they could not vote for Steve Levy, blocked by those who had promised the nomination to Rick Lazio. And now nanny-Mayor Bloomberg is pushing through a ban on cigarette smoking in public today, with zero debate. THAT should hammer tourism. There is zero democracy in New York.

- K2K

September 16, 2010 at 10:25am

K2K Banning smoking could actually save state funds in medical expenses and street cleaning. Tourism and hospitality has not been affected by such a public ban where I live in Maryland, though a few old establishments did go under

- NR027810

September 16, 2010 at 12:25pm

Also, that Bloomberg could propose such a law could mean that more nefarious street crime is on decline and cops have time to enforce. Look on bright side

- NR027810

September 16, 2010 at 12:26pm

I sure hope reasonable people go out and vote. K2K, supporting a person who apparently has some racist overtones, from what I've been reading, isn't a good way to "protest." Is it? BTW my city is still on the map despite smoking bans. Amazingly, people still go to restaurants and bars and might even live longer (lightbulb!)

- Sophia

September 16, 2010 at 2:10pm

I don't know K2K, is NY really so bad as to vote for a complete whack job? I thought the crowd in 1994 was bad, but compared to this crowd they were positively enlightened, selling out on many issues (like term limits) and working with Clinton on others. I was hoping to move back to America in the none too distant future but I simply can't imaging living in a country where Sarah Palin is the likely Republican nominee for President. Mike Castle was the type of Republican I like.

- blackton

September 16, 2010 at 3:11pm

smoking has long been banned INSIDE NYC buildings, bars, restaurants. The new dictate is to ban smoking OUTSIDE, in parks, and plazas, and not sure what else because there are no hearings, just Bloomberg-Bonaparte having his way. $50 ticket for anyone lighting up in Times Square or Central Park. Stalin was more tolerant than Bloomberg. There is NO evidence that smokers cost more in medical than we pay in taxes now almost $10 per pack inside NYC. Dog poop and plastic bags dominate our streets, not cigarette butts. Sophia: I refuse to vote for Prince Andrew. I object to his immoral lifestyle, noted bad temper, and his public record. Since I always vote, I will vote for the Republican. Giuliani was a divisive 'whack-job' and NYC thrived (I was voting in Summit, NJ during the Giuliani years, having left NYC for my job, and worn out by the fear of the crack dealers crazed violence.) do not worry - I am in TNR-withdrawal while my subscription winds down and you will not have to deal with the lost Democrat much longer.

- K2K

September 16, 2010 at 8:50pm

As a Republican who voted for Bush 4 times, I see a lot in the Tea Party that is admirable. Yes they are crazies, but looking at Michigan's Congressional Delgation there are a few crazies there. Two of our House Reps have immediate family in Jail, Rep Conyers and Rep Kirkpatrick. John Dingell can barely breathe, let alone walk, and at 84 he's on the ballot again. Rep Stupak gave an inspirational speech and then sold out for an airport. And Fred Upton is a Chicago Cubs fan. We all have flaws, and Ms. O'Donnell's will certainly be well noted. But the Tea party Politicians are listening to the people they represent. A lot of the frustration in Middle America is that their government is not listening to them. And their criticism includes the mainstream media who has lost touch and corporations that are selling out. Ross Perot ran an inspiring campaign and really brought discussion back to American politics. His debate with Al Gore is a classic 18 years later. He really helped Bill Clinton connect with middle America. Not sure if any current politicians will effectively use the Tea Party as well as Clinton did with the Reform Party.

- CRS9TNR

September 16, 2010 at 10:32pm

as a corollary to CRS9TNR on Michigan, New York will have to deal with Charlie Rangel back on the ballot (symbolism does count). Interesting split in endorsements the day after the primary. Former Mayor Ed Koch slammed Paladino while endorsing GOP Donovan for AG. Why did Koch reject Schneiderman for AG? Maybe because Eric's rich father Irving is a major donor to J Street?, so Koch sends the 'coded message' to the Jews :) New York is more tribal than Pakistan! and not as liberal as people think. The congressional contests may just raise turnouts everywhere that is not so liberal - those CDs are so safe, and clustered in NYC, they have very low turnout. Eight NY House seats are considered in play, including CD13 in Staten Island and a bit of Brooklyn that is usually GOP. Both Schumer and Gillenbrand are on the ballot, and Schumer may be surprised to find he has a credible opponent.

- K2K

September 17, 2010 at 11:38am