Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Apparently, we no longer have a two-party system

Has anyone else noticed how, in the span of less than two years, this collection of ultra-right-wing morons calling themselves the "Tea Party" has actually become a party, at least in the MSM? These idiots are getting more and more attention as a legitimate third party, completely separate from the republicans (because, according to a report on NPR today, republicans aren't conservative enough).

Did Nader get this much attention in 2000 (at least before the election)? Hardly. Does any other party not calling itself Democratic or Republican get this much attention? Again, hardly.

The Green Party, the Progressives, the Libertarian Party--those are always treated as just fringe movements, never legit third party options; they're just random people stealing votes away from Dems or Repugs. But just today, I heard yet another report on NPR's "All Things Considered" about how all these "Tea Party candidates" are winning elections. Just look at NPR's Election 2010 page; there are three stories about Tea Party bullshit in Delaware, and only one about Democrats. (Republicans don't even rate the front page, not that I mind.)

So after all years and all this talk about how we'll never get true reform until we get more than a two-party system, etc. etc. etc. -- THIS is the party the media chooses to pay attention to and hence give some semblance of legitimacy to?

I have to ask, WHY? Why THIS 'party' that isn't even a party so much as a collection of Glenn Beck/Sarah Palin-worshipping idiots with overtly racist and classist talking points?

I'm sure it couldn't be the gazillions of dollars thrown into these races by people who made their gazillions by voting republican but who are now turning their backs on the republican party because King Georgie apparently didn't do enough to push us toward a dictatorship.

6 comments:

Dr. Monkey Von Monkerstein said...

Our corporate masters favor this system. So we're saddled with it.

Margaret Benbow said...

Thank you for a very thoughtful post. The tea partyers expose themselves with their extremist rants, and this will probably turn out to be a boon for the Democratic party; but it's so sad that even some Americans buy into their nonsense...

Johnson said...

A crazy third party could be good news for the US. The crazy, gun-totin', bible thumpin', fringe elements of the GOP could migrate toward the Tea Bagger Party (TBP?), leaving a more centrist Republican party that is actually fiscally conservative, not bat-shit crazy and insanely socially conservative.

Of course, I'm Canadian and find even your Democratic party too right of centre so what the hell do I know...

gmb said...

dguzman: This is not a bad thing. The teabaggers getting coverage scares some indifferent but sane people into paying attention. Apparently lots o' republicans in DE are going to vote for the democrat because they WILL NOT vote for the Virgin Christine. And maybe, now, the old chestnut that we can't have more than two parties is starting to fade? What we really need is a real progressive party, because the dems aren't it. Maybe the groundwork is being laid, ironically by these clueless assholes. Hey, you never know.

Mauigirl said...

I know, the media has been totally playing up this Tea Party thing ever since it started, which has given it whatever power it now apparently has to actually elect people. I'm hoping GMB is right and that the nuttiness of these people will drive independents and moderate Republicans to the Democrats. I also agree we need a Progressive party of our own. But if we reall did split up into four parties we might need an amendment to the Constitution allowing for a runoff election if too few people vote for any one party.

dguzman said...

Dr. Monkey--well, apparently they also want this "tea party" bullshit.

Margaret--it's mind-blowing; NPR has a story on them almost every day!

Johnson--intriguing... I can only hope you're right, that this will be good. Right now it seems that too many republicans are all too eager to embrace these freaks, usually just to get elected/re-elected.

GMB--that's a great way to look at it, and it makes sense; usually the pendulum has to swing waaaayy over to one side in order to swing back toward the middle between insanity and anarchy. We just have to hope.

Mauigirl--good point regarding the constitutional changes that would need to be made in case of no majority. But how can we get a true Progressive Party? Especially in this climate of ultra reich-wing control?