FEAR & LOATHING IN TEABAGISTAN

Why does it matter that these crazed people spout their hate and warped rhetoric? It matters to me because I lived in Oklahoma City when the ultimate “teabagger” exhibited his hate for the government and destroyed life as we knew it. – Liberalchik

The window in my office rattled as I heard the explosion and I immediately went outside, looking south toward the airport, thinking a plane must have crashed. Then I looked to the east and saw black smoke rising from the downtown Oklahoma City area. I ran back inside and hurriedly turned on the tv to the local news. And there it was.

The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building had been bombed.

First reports were sketchy and reported few casualties, but those numbers didn’t hold up for long.

I worked at the Lions Club State Office in Oklahoma City and on that day, April 19, 1995, Timothy McVeigh took the lives of 168 men, women and children and seriously injured hundreds more. Yes children, as he so callously attacked a building which housed a day care center for the children of the men and women who worked there.

Donations from Lions Clubs all over the world began coming in and in the weeks and months following that day I busied myself with helping survivors, acting as liaison between my organization and the Red Cross. I attended meetings, visited the site, weeded through applications for assistance, dispursed funds. Even then, in my head I had not processed what had happened. I had not cried.

For almost a year, I was consumed with the aftermath and what we could do to help. Then we received a $50,000.00 donation from a club in Boston, Massachusetts, asking us to use the money to build a memorial playground in honor of the children who perished that day. I worked alongside other club members, volunteers and city workers to ready the playground for the one year anniversary. I still had not cried.

On April 19, 1996 we all gathered at the playground at Lake Hefner with some of the families of the children who fell victim one year earlier. As they unveiled the red granite stone, marking the dedication of the site to the children, I saw them; the tiny handprints engraved into the stone. Two perfect tiny handprints… and then I cried.

I cried a year’s worth of tears and felt a year’s worth of pain and anger. This man, who so brazenly acted so selfishly, so full of hate and vengeance, had taken the lives and hopes and dreams of 19 children that day. He took mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles and grandparents. He had broken the hearts of families and friends and even those who didn’t know them personally… like me.

And what did he accomplish? Nothing.

16 years later, I still think about those tiny handprints. And I still cry.

The Official Flag Of The Tea Party

People in Louisiana can bring guns to church now:"This pew is reserved for Smith & Wesson!"

World’s Dumbest Man Designs Own Shirt for Photo-Op at Connie Mack’s Press Conference at Sanibel

The Face of Dumb-Ass

Here’s Your Shirt!

People read "Atlas Shrugged" to feel better about being an asshole.

The book ‘Don’t Tread On US: Signs Of A 21st Century Political Awakening’ is basically a glossary of whitey.

By OTOOLEFAN
For many months now, every time a racist, Nazi or Hitler sign has appeared at a tea party rally, all we hear from the Right is that it’s a “Liberal Plant” or just a “Fringey Few” spoiling what Sarah Palin has called “A Beautiful Movement”. Well, in this case, I guess beauty really IS in the eye of the beholder.

At the bookstore today, displayed prominently, was an oversized pictorial book DON’T TREAD ON US: SIGNS OF A 21st CENTURY POLITICAL AWAKENING. As I looked at these sick photos, the only wakening I saw was White Hate. It didn’t take very long to see that this book was just a scrapbook of Jerry Springer’s old audience looking for a new thrill by rallying around the flag of phony victimhood.

This coffee table book of hate also features a stirring foreward by “great American” Chuck Norris. Surprise! Surprise!

Below are photos from this “Beautiful Movement” of Sarah’s. Or should I say, Hey Tea Party: Here’s Your Hate. Own it.

By the way, I went through every page and found only two black people in the whole book, if you don’t count Alan Keyes.

The tea party movement is not just a bunch of angry white people. Alan Keyes is a member too!

  1. January 16, 2012 at 8:11 am

    Tea Bagger “Movement?” Phony Populist. Reminds so much of Ronald Reagan’s phony (and also strongly right wing directed) populism. Follow the money, not the rhetoric.

    Another point- the claim that democracy is being thwarted by a bunch of fixers isn’t something to dismiss easily…even when it’s not being sincerely addressed as to causes. The right makes USE of the Tea Bagger’s, that much is evident, but it has no interest in their enthusiasms generally. Their support of this “movement” extends only so far as it can be brought into useful conformity with their objectives. Hence, Phony Populist.

  2. Zilla
    April 20, 2011 at 2:17 am

    There is absolutely no link between the abominable acts of Timothy McVeigh and his accomplice(s) and the Tea Party. You can dislike the Tea Party all you want, but to pick out the participants/signs that are extreme and claim they represent the views of everyone who has attended a Tea Party function is disingenuous. It’s just as ludicrous as someone claiming that the ELF was representative of all left-wing environmentalists.

    Attempting to link the Tea Party to the Oklahoma City bombing (without providing any support whatsoever for the claim) is hateful demagoguery. And for the record, I was in Oklahoma City that day, too…

  3. April 2, 2011 at 2:12 am

    If ever really studied how Hitler did it, this is how. Who ever is really in charge of the Tea Baggers has studied Hitler well and is following his exact formula for insighting people into violent and destructive action.

    They Fascists you catch phrases that are usually complete lies and repeat them over and over again in the media.

    Like saying people in Iraq that were upset with a U.S. invasion where insurgents.

    What if China invaded right now, would you go out and hug them or go get your gun?

    • BetNot
      April 19, 2011 at 1:39 pm

      Studied Hitler, they ARE Hitler! You are right, so right, the Dem’s were called insurgents in the election, for God’s sake! And, if you’re asking, the radical right hates the Chinese, that is why I don’t understand why they want to give them all our money all the time!

  4. March 31, 2011 at 10:38 pm

    I’m impressed by a description of the bombing by which 19 children were killed & its subsequent resentment and deep sorrow. so what kind of relation does this incident have to the books mentioned above in which Hitler and racism are implied? Does this mean such books produce follies and cruelties like this incident in the US? I sometimes wonder why there are only two parties in the U.S. and they are always fighting against each other. Is there any in-between? I’m wondering whether this condition tends to let people go from one extreme to another. (I may be wrong. I’m quite ignorant about anything in USA. It’s just my impression. )

  5. FlippinUid
    January 11, 2011 at 6:40 pm

    Try & take back America. About 10 years ago after Vermont passed the civil union law, there was a minority “Take Back Vermont” “movement. It failed miserably. You right wing hate mongers will be rejected by America. This country is a mix and it will always be that way.

  6. Francie Ryl
    January 11, 2011 at 6:20 pm

    I am so shocked,dismayed, horrified…guns in church,why on earth?!
    They hateful signs, language is just awful, heartbreaking to see children carrying
    these awful signs. Wake up, America. Violence has no place in our American Democracy!

  7. Scott Levison
    June 20, 2010 at 11:23 am

    So where were these teabaggers from 2001-2008 when Bush was shitting on us and wiping his ass with the Constitution?

  8. elsa corral
    June 19, 2010 at 4:57 pm

    This is not a “beautiful organic movement” for all the hate these people spew, it’s sckocking there hasn’t been a more dire movement towards POTUS, they’re inciting violence and hate that I’m truly afraid sets us back 50 years of civil rights. Timothy McVeigh was white, but I guess they’re all looking for the tree of liberty to be watered with the blood….I’m mexican american, in all my adult life, this is one of the first times i’ve been embarrassed by America. Now when asked, I say I’m Mexican, because the land of the free and the brave doesn’t seem so perfect anymore.

  9. Scott S. Cooper
    May 24, 2010 at 6:45 pm

    U seem to attract a lot of Blow Flies!UR doin’ something Right!Kick ’em in the Chones my Friend!

  10. Scott S. Cooper
    May 24, 2010 at 6:42 pm

    Absolutely terrific Site&Blog!UR a Master of Madness!I love UR work.Good on ya’ my Friend!

  11. martha walsh
    May 21, 2010 at 10:30 am

    They have name or label for everyone but not a shred of of logical argument among the whole bunch! The ignorance and hatred is staggering in it’s dimension. THESE ARE OUR FELLOW AMERICANS????

  12. May 16, 2010 at 1:55 pm

    This A Thing To Behold Huh?

    You Brainwashed Self Serving Liberals Label This As “White Hate”??

    If It Were “White America” Standing Up And Shouting,
    It’s About God Damned Time!!

    Use The Words “Black Hate”…

    Where Are Those Sentiments???
    Noooooo… That’s Racist!!! Back At Ya!!!

    You Democratic Dimwit Liberals Are Too Busy Hugging Trees,
    Freeing Willy, And Giving Our Jobs To Illegal Immigrants
    To Realize Your Rallying To Help The Socialists Sell Off What’s Left To Our Country..

    Your Too Damn Stupid And Blinded By Your Own Self Serving Agendas
    To Fathom That Your Causes Are Coming From Your OWN Pockets As Well As The Rest Of Ours…

    Like I Always Said,
    A “LIBERAL” Is A Liberal “UNTIL” A Crime Is Committed Against “THEM”,
    Or When They Realize The Govt. Is “TAXING THEM”….

    Wait Till Your Neighborhood Is Overrun With “Illegal Immigrants”,
    “Crime”, And You’ve “Lost Your Jobs & Homes”…
    “God Forbid” Your Child Is Molested By The Same Individual You Lobbied To Have A Second And Third Chance To Be “Rehabilitated”..

    We’ll Se How Fast You “ Cut Down That Tree For Heat”, “Kill That Whale To Feed Your Family” And Be The First In Line To Pull The Switch On The Pedophile”…

    Your All Sad Individuals, With Low Self Esteem, That Have Nothing Better To Do Than
    Lobby For Tax Dollars To Fund The Rest Of The World, And The Lazy Ignorant Wastes Of Our Own Country.

    YET, Arrogant And Ignorant Enough To Try Again Get More From The Rest Of Us,
    Then Label Us As “RACISTS” Or “HATE GROUPS” When We Refuse…

    Look Around You Panty Waists,
    There’s A Stink In The Air, Your Stink…
    And The Hard Working People Of America Are “SICK AND TIRED OF IT”!!

    Changes Are Coming,
    And It’s Starting In “ARIZONA”!!!

    Yeah,
    You Can Thank All Us “REAL AMERICANS” Later….

    That’s Is,
    If Your Not Thrown Out With The Rest Your Good Buddies For Waving A Foreign Flag
    On Home Soil While Our Boys Die In Foreign Lands…

    Your Everything That’s Been Wrong With Our Society And Country For Too Long Now..

    It’s Time “ TO TAKE BACK AMERICA”!!!

    • May 16, 2010 at 2:02 pm

      Don’t let a silly thing like spelling or punctuation or grammar get in the way of your message there, teabagger. Especially love the “random” use of “QUOTES and ALL CAPS” to make what I’m sure you think is a point.

      Who’s the one waiving the non-American flag again genius-boy? Yep, teabaggers and their “Don’t Treat on Me” flag. And what’s that about taxes? Oh, they’re the lowest since 1950? Huh. But please, don’t let that obscure your message. It’s just a silly fact. And the crime rate in Arizona? Actually DOWN over the last 4 years. Especially violent crime. But again, don’t let facts get in the way of your outrage and self-satisfying righteous anger. Know another word for self-satisfying there sparky? Masturbation. I’d say you were just mentally masturbating here for us all to see, but there was clearly so little brain involved, it’s hardly “mental” at all.

      I’d suggest you start with a remedial English course, since it’s clear that English is not your strong suit, but you really need to go a little further back than that.

    • May 23, 2010 at 6:30 pm

      Thanks for proving our point.

    • Scott S. Cooper
      May 24, 2010 at 6:53 pm

      UR an absolute Imbecile&if U think UR an American,get UR head outta’ UR Ass,U Lobotomized Theo-Fascist Idiot!America’s a Liberal Nation&not the Fascist Oligarchy U seem2 prefer!

      • John
        April 1, 2011 at 5:32 pm

        One problem I noticed with the Republican party is that they are either the very few rich capitalists / corporate whores or the uneducated brainwashed fools indoctrinated by opinionated news sources( I’m talking to you Faux News). If you really care I would like to point out that there are always two sides to a story and you should get your news information from several sources, ones that do provide conflicting opinions.

  13. May 15, 2010 at 12:22 pm

    Thanks @liberalchk for sharing your experience of that day. I was not there that day (though I clearly remember where I was and what I was doing!). I was there a year later. And I wrote this: http://blog.davidgs.com/?p=247 about it this year. The overpowering hatred of the right against this country when things aren’t going their way is sad, scary and pathetic. Unable to accept reality, they resort to extremism, hatred, bigotry and finally random and deadly violence to make their points, like the petulant and immature children that they are.

    Thanks.
    @davidgs

  14. May 15, 2010 at 12:13 pm

    FWIW: It’s foreword, not forward. Yes, I am one of those. And if you moderate comments, feel free to delete this one.

  15. May 15, 2010 at 12:51 am

    Author Comment
    Angie Lotto
    angelalotto@gmail.com
    24.63.158.138 2010/05/14 at 7:51 pm
    I was driving through Oklahoma City that morning on my way to a new job and life in California from the East Coast that day. Without knowing what that big boom was, I knew in my heart it wasn’t good. I remember stopping that night at a motel to get some rest, and watching newscast after newscast, unable to stop the tears coming from my eyes.

    RE: Tea Party Protesting – That particular sign – “Hang ‘em High”, is there a Clinton in Congress still? Are these people living in the year 2010 or 1809 ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Clinton_(congressman)) ? I am very very confused by the mentality of these people. Keep your hands off my medical, unless of course it’s Medicare/Medicaid? Less government, unless there is a national disaster, then get more people to come help us asap? Stop raising our taxes but yanno, we don’t have a clue that our tax burden is as low as it was when Truman was in office. Apparently – these “patriots” feel that they can rile up emotions to their own advantage, but God forbid we should ask of them the same patriotism that they demanded of us during the Bush years. Hypocrisy runs wild in today’s world. Every day I am more and more grateful that I left the GOP and am now independent, not following the pablum being spewed at me from the right anymore.

    I was driving through Oklahoma City that morning on my way to a new job and life in California from the East Coast that day. Without knowing what that big boom was, I knew in my heart it wasn’t good. I remember stopping that night at a motel to get some rest, and watching newscast after newscast, unable to stop the tears coming from my eyes.

    RE: Tea Party Protesting – That particular sign – “Hang ’em High”, is there a Clinton in Congress still? Are these people living in the year 2010 or 1809 ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Clinton_(congressman)) ? I am very very confused by the mentality of these people. Keep your hands off my medical, unless of course it’s Medicare/Medicaid? Less government, unless there is a national disaster, then get more people to come help us asap? Stop raising our taxes but yanno, we don’t have a clue that our tax burden is as low as it was when Truman was in office. Apparently – these “patriots” feel that they can rile up emotions to their own advantage, but God forbid we should ask of them the same patriotism that they demanded of us during the Bush years. Hypocrisy runs wild in today’s world. Every day I am more and more grateful that I left the GOP and am now independent, not following the pablum being spewed at me from the right anymore. angelalotto@gmail.comAngie Lotto1
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    Zen Shadow
    microzen.tumblr.com/
    zen.shadow@yahoo.com
    98.240.9.135 2010/04/19 at 10:08 pm
    Brilliant and touching @liberalchik. It’s me, @ZenShadow, showing some support and a virtual hug. We all recall that day, much like 9-11, it’s ingrained in our psyche. I like to think that when these terrible events happen – it has the opposite effect than the perps intended. Over time we all become better people from the experience;from the learning and sharing that naturally occurs. So, stay strong @liberalchik… and by extension… we all must stay strong against such horrors. And to those that think this ‘Tea Party Revolution’ is a fun thing or something that will effect true meaningful change: You’re wrong. Your little get-togethers are only giving cred to the TRUE Nutcakes that are often in attendance at your ‘harmless’ gatherings. McVeigh would be there, were he alive today, shouting his vile, poisonous message. This is the great danger that you ‘protesters with a bad poster’ fail to see. That what your ‘leaders’, such as Palin and Beck and Bachmann, are cynically and profitably spoon-feeding you IS Sedition. It IS the stuff of McVeigh. Own up to it. Oh, wait. No one from the Tea Party will read this. Why? Because it’s not in your comfort zone. It’s not on Faux News and it’s not on Limbaugh Propaganda Radio. It’s not your pablum. It’s “LibTard” Media, and thus can NOT be anything TRUE. Especially if it’s not wrapped in Red, White and Blue. The next militia bomber is in your midst. Do you recognize him?

    Brilliant and touching @liberalchik. It’s me, @ZenShadow, showing some support and a virtual hug. We all recall that day, much like 9-11, it’s ingrained in our psyche. I like to think that when these terrible events happen – it has the opposite effect than the perps intended. Over time we all become better people from the experience;from the learning and sharing that naturally occurs. So, stay strong @liberalchik… and by extension… we all must stay strong against such horrors. And to those that think this ‘Tea Party Revolution’ is a fun thing or something that will effect true meaningful change: You’re wrong. Your little get-togethers are only giving cred to the TRUE Nutcakes that are often in attendance at your ‘harmless’ gatherings. McVeigh would be there, were he alive today, shouting his vile, poisonous message. This is the great danger that you ‘protesters with a bad poster’ fail to see. That what your ‘leaders’, such as Palin and Beck and Bachmann, are cynically and profitably spoon-feeding you IS Sedition. It IS the stuff of McVeigh. Own up to it. Oh, wait. No one from the Tea Party will read this. Why? Because it’s not in your comfort zone. It’s not on Faux News and it’s not on Limbaugh Propaganda Radio. It’s not your pablum. It’s “LibTard” Media, and thus can NOT be anything TRUE. Especially if it’s not wrapped in Red, White and Blue. The next militia bomber is in your midst. Do you recognize him? zen.shadow@yahoo.comZen Shadowhttp://microzen.tumblr.com/1
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    Phillygirl1441
    blessed1441@yahoo.com
    24.30.40.116 2010/04/19 at 9:40 pm
    Thank you for sharing your story. Very moving and heartfelt.

    Thank you for sharing your story. Very moving and heartfelt. blessed1441@yahoo.comPhillygirl14411
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    oliviamagdelene
    oliviamagdelene.wordpress.com
    oliviamagdelene@gmail.com
    67.250.11.104 2010/04/19 at 9:03 am
    Thank you for sharing your story. I am a 9/11 survivor so I can relate to your words quite well. It angers me that lives can be taken so easily over slogans and policies that we have nothing to do with. Stay strong.

    Thank you for sharing your story. I am a 9/11 survivor so I can relate to your words quite well. It angers me that lives can be taken so easily over slogans and policies that we have nothing to do with. Stay strong. oliviamagdelene@gmail.comoliviamagdelenehttp://oliviamagdelene.wordpress.com1
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    KayInMaine
    whitenoiseinsanity.com
    KayZee333@gmail.com
    71.254.110.159 2010/04/19 at 8:35 am
    I remember being called a traitor and an America-hater BY THE ABOVE TEABAGGERS for protesting against George Bush and his policies and was told that I should love the president right or wrong to mark my sheer patriotism. Where’s their patriotism today? Aren’t they now the traitors and the America-haters?

    I remember being called a traitor and an America-hater BY THE ABOVE TEABAGGERS for protesting against George Bush and his policies and was told that I should love the president right or wrong to mark my sheer patriotism. Where’s their patriotism today? Aren’t they now the traitors and the America-haters? KayZee333@gmail.comKayInMainehttp://whitenoiseinsanity.com1
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    Marnus3
    jqfeller@gmail.com
    76.119.201.156 2010/04/19 at 8:26 am
    Thank you for sharing the emotion of that day, something simple reporting cannot capture. It’s caring people like you who help us all survive in this world.

    Thank you for sharing the emotion of that day, something simple reporting cannot capture. It’s caring people like you who help us all survive in this world. jqfeller@gmail.comMarnus31
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    Beth Janie
    Twitter/corvetteBeth
    princessbeth@staplesgroup.com
    166.205.136.76 2010/04/19 at 8:01 am
    Excellent writing and so moving. Thanks for having such a beautiful heart!

    Excellent writing and so moving. Thanks for having such a beautiful heart! princessbeth@staplesgroup.comBeth Janiehttp://Twitter/corvetteBeth1
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    Daniel Vergara (@DanVerg)
    Dvergara75@gmail.com
    166.137.8.77 2010/04/15 at 10:55 pm
    I wonder who this Clinton is, who’s in Congress and whom this gentleman wants to hang.

    I wonder who this Clinton is, who’s in Congress and whom this gentleman wants to hang. Dvergara75@gmail.comDaniel Vergara (@DanVerg)1
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    Dave von Ebers
    dpvonebers@comcast.net
    76.16.250.167 2010/04/15 at 10:05 pm
    It’s a veritable Children’s Treasury of Dimwits and Their Placards.

  1. May 15, 2010 at 1:31 pm

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