“Progressive Groups We Need to Be Aware of...”
Who Watches the TParty Watchmen?
You Do!
Apparently concerned TParty members can participate in this special form of activism and "service to the cause." The “Watchmen” are tasked with message board ranting, newspaper editorial writing, participating in rallies and “reporting back” what said Watchmen have discovered. To a casual on-looker, it seems bonus points are awarded for home made signs featured at rallies; bonus points are not deducted for spelling or grammatical errors. (…or misrepresenting facts – but you knew that already)
In short, the Watchmen are watching “us” – “us”, to be clear, is everyone who is not an active, rabid member of the TParty.
Yes, I know, rightwingwatch.org is out there, too. It pales in comparison. It is fact-based and offers data to support why an organization or individual is on the site. It is not based on innuendo and witch-hunting. It brings to our attention intolerance. In contrast, the TParty list targets groups who promote....tolerance, justice, equality, human rights, and - *gasp* peace.
After reading through the list, it was surprising the local garden club and my aunt’s quilting guild didn’t make the list – nearly every other group you can name did.
Here’s a little sampling of who the “Watchdog for Tactics of the Left”/ "Progressive Groups We Need to be Aware of” list. If you visit the site, you can click on any of these “Organizations Arranged by Purpose” and get a specific list of the Progressive Bogeymen.
The list is vast. The number of sub-groups is mind-boggling. If you’re in the mood for gallows humor – it is sadly illuminating. Make no mistake – the TParty faithful are not freedom-lovin' patriots. Yeah, I said it. About damn time more of us did.
To be crystal clear, the TParty does not believe in civil liberties or fundamental fairness; they do not believe in the social contract, they do not believe in one America – they only believe in RWNJ America. TParty America is a warped place where “I” am more important that “We”; where “liberty” has been bastardized into a 2011 version of the Wild West. TParty America screams about rights and ignores responsibilities; it is a place of “us” and “them”; it is a place where fear reigns supreme.
Do not discount them; do not ignore them; we must, together, bring these fringe fanatics to light for what they are. In the words of Justice Louis Brandeis:
“Sunshine is the greatest disinfectant”
Government Accountability Groups
Sunlight Foundation
Uses cutting-edge technology and ideas to make government transparent, accountable, and more meaningfully accessible to citizens.
Because Gom’int Transparency and Accessibility are Unpatriotic! Ideas? Overrated
Veterans Peace Groups
Veterans for Peace (VFP)
Drawing on their personal experiences and perspectives gained as veterans, they work to raise public awareness of the true costs and consequences of militarism and war — and to seek peaceful, effective alternatives.
Demonize Vets and thumb your nose at peace – true American Values…
International Human Rights Groups
Physicians for Human Rights
Mobilizes health professionals, with their specialized skills, ethical duties, and credible voices, to advance health, dignity, and justice and promotes the right to health for all.
Because Doctors are all lefty pinko commies; only real A-mer-i-kins deserve dignity; and then only if they are one of us. Sadly, they missed Doctors Without Borders who don’t ask and don’t tell the religion or ethnicity of their patients. [Side plug, please consider supporting them http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/]
Anti-Corporate Domination Groups
Center for Corporate Policy
Works to curb corporate abuses and make corporations publicly accountable.
Corporate Abuse is just another word for Capitalism, my friend; to suggest otherwise is Socialist, or Communist, or Facist or somethin’ like that. Power to the Corporations.
Electronic Privacy Groups
Privacy Rights Clearinghouse (PRC)
Works to raise consumers’ awareness of how technology affects personal privacy, responds to specific privacy-related complaints from consumers, and advocates for consumers’ privacy rights in local, state, and federal public policy proceedings. ‘Cause if you ain’t doing anything wrong, why do you care if they’re lookin’ in on ya?
Elder Advocacy Groups
AARP Public Policy Institute
Researches and advocates on a wide variety of issues related to aging especially health and long-term care, economic security, independent living, and consumer issues.
Dammit Granny, stop suckin up all them Medicare and Social Security dollars; git to gittin’ back on the farm and pull your weight. AARP means Almost Already Radical Progressives.
Humane Treatment of Animals Groups
Humane Society of the United States
Promotes the protection of all animals and works to create a world where humans relate to animals with compassion.
Hell, we love animals; we’re members of PETA – People Eatin’ Tasty Animals. I’ll git you my pretty and your little dog, too. Who is the hell is against the Humane Society? Progressive Voter Engagement Groups
League of Women Voters (LWV)
Fights to improve our systems of government and to impact public policies through citizen education and advocacy.
The League of Women Voters??? What? That’s like putting the VFW or local Library Guild on the list – oh, wait, local the Library Guild should be – they support reading banned books!
Clearly, the TParty has uncovered a liberal in every closet. And speaking of closet – the TParty message on GLBT is as ridiculous as it is predictable – “You people, just stay in there, pretend to be straight, and stay out of politics or we are going to pray the gay away!” No personal freedoms or liberty for you, either. Log Cabin Republicans may apply for special dispensation on a case by case basis.
To further discuss the TParty’s disgusting schizophrenic dogma on people of color is a topic for another day. Just can't do it right now. Will end up tossing the computer out the window. It incites this practitioner of the path to very unskillful thoughts.
These people are not reasonable individuals. They cannot be compromised with. Their better angels have suffocated and died. They are Joe-from-Wisconsin’s progeny. They are developing their own “Lists” and you are probably on one. I hope I am.
When Joe-from-Wisconsin-McCarthy attacked President Eisenhower, American rose up against him. Edward R. Murrow stood up to him.
The TParty has relentlessly attacked President Obama. America – where is the outrage? Many good journalists, like Ed, stood up to the TParty.
America was too busy voting for the next American Idol.
Dammit America - WAKE UP and put on your big girl and big boy underpants. TParty Darlin' Bachmann just won the Iowa Straw Poll - you need a bigger hint that this is serious? Let's hear the sustained outrage Molly Ivins advocated.
Joseph N. Welch, Chief Attorney for the Army during the dark McCarthy days, shared his outrage then, and his words ring true today for the TParty leaders, men behind the curtain, and rabid supporters: "Until this moment... I think I never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness…You have done enough…Have you no sense of decency?"
They don't.
Time to take Action, time for We the People to stand up to these Tbaggers and say enough!
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