Rubber Stamp This

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Nonsense, Mr. Kendall. There are many more. And the point of course, is that the tea party is a highly influential minority. Moreover, the Republicans NEED the tea-party types to win in many races because the more independent center cannot be counted on by Republicans to give them consistent support based on their more moderate views.

There are clear reasons why folks like Sarah Palin and Michelle Bachman play 'both sides' of the coin between the established Republican party and the Tea Party. It is a strategy, not just 'something that happens'.

"Seems to me a majority of Republicans, did at least count, support the goals and objectives of the Tea Party, Mr. Kendall."

What I like about this is this group you are referring to would equal a minority in Wood County and WV at large,

"It certainly isn't very racially and culturally diverse, by national standards in any case."

I never understood why ppl have this incorrect idea that a physically diverse population equals diversity. In my experience, a very diverse population can cling onto racial oriented hate quite easily.

Our region might not have a high diverse population by %, but it does believe in diversity. You have not shown otherwise.

A poll reported September, 29, 2010 ( article from digital.journal.c o m):

"A new poll released by Wall Street Journal and NBC News demonstrated the Tea Party's support among Republican voters. 71 percent of Republicans support the ideals expressed by the Tea Party, a significant majority that shows the Tea Party “isn’t a small little segment, but it is a huge part of what’s driving 2010,”

Seems to me a majority of Republicans, did at least count, support the goals and objectives of the Tea Party, Mr. Kendall.

I would beg to disagree, Mr. Kendall, at least based on my own experience growing up in the area (which admittedly was many years ago).

At that time, the Parkersburg area was not on the forefront of embracing differences and tolerance; hence I chose to use the descriptor "repressive".

Perhaps a better choice might have been 'limited tolerance for diversity'.

That said, I stand by my point until I am convinced otherwise.

I can't speak to your data about the homosexual population. I am curious about your source for that information, however. It certainly isn't very racially and culturally diverse, by national standards in any case.

Back on the Tea Party...it's still not fair to use the Tea Party against them.

I'll give you this, if a Republican Congressperson had openly kissed up to the Tea Party...then yes, I can see that person having to justify themselves.

But, to use the Tea Party as a millstone to tie to the ankle of all Republicans...that isn't fair because I doubt even the majority of Republicans have a favorable view of the Tea Party.

"in a community that is traditionally repressive (such as the MOV), and where Christianity is overwhelmingly predominant,"

Well thats a narrowminded view of our area. Repressive? I guess you are not aware of our region having one of the (in not highest east of the Miss. River) highest % of homosexuals in the nation. If we were so "repressive", why would they be here?

What does Christianity have to do with it? I haven't seen any Christian rallies going door to door to beat down on the opposition. Heck, beyond comments in the N&S...the Christian majority doesn't do anything to hinder a person's right to live their lives as they want to.

And you completely miss the point about my comments regarding a gay atheist as a spokesperson for the liberal viewpoint.

I personally are not at all concerned about the fact that Mr. Estep is gay and atheist. However, in a community that is traditionally repressive (such as the MOV), and where Christianity is overwhelmingly predominant, it 'loads the dice' against anything this fellow might say, even if he is right or making sense.

In that way, it MAY be somewhat cynical move by the deeply conservative PBN&S.

I would like it MORE perhaps if they also put an ordained lay minister, with a backwoods accent, who married a 17-year old when he was 51, and who thinks that homosexuality is a sin condemning one to h*ll as their only representative of the conservative point of view here.

You ask 'Would it be fair to use Code Pink against liberals'.

Well, I don't know, but I do know this: Code Pink doesn't really influence much policy and there are no candidates that ran as the "Code Pink faction" of the Democratic party.

But in fact, "Tea Party" candidates DID RUN FOR A NUMBER OF HIGH-PROFILE POSITIONS as Republicans in 2010.

I also know that Newt Gingrich (considered a potential candidate for President as a Republican), and John Boehner, to be Speaker of the House, paid MULTIPLE VISITS to tea party rallies.

Now, is not that a very real difference, Mr. Kendall?

That's WHY using the Tea Party 'against' Republicans has legitimacy: they are in part REPRESENTED BY that same Tea Party.

That, is a difference that makes a difference, dear fellow.

"But Kendall, why NOT use the Tea Party as a 'weapon' against conservatives?"

Would it be fair to use Code Pink against Liberals? Would it be fair to use Mr. Estep's views against Liberals?

Lily...you are too funny and silly. Just because the Tea Party has conservative views on some things, that does not mean they speak for all conservatives or that conservatives should feel like they have to defend them or answer questions that revolve around the Tea Party.

"Why has the PBN&S chosen to put a GAY guy who is also an ATHEIST here to represent the LIBERALs?"

Why not? Isn't he liberal enough for you? Gasp, could it be that they hired him to be a liberal voice because he is liberal? Duh.

Did the liberals like Obama because he was liberal or because he was black? Come on Lily...you are better than this (or so I thought).

Oh great..Lily discovered the Blogs and is complainign about everyone. How not interesting.

Lily hun...what is common sense shouldn't have to be broken down even further. If one cannot understand it already, I doubt further explanation is required. You do it all the time on the forum threads, making up stuff with no facts.

will clarify later (if asked).

One last question here:

No offense, Mr. Estep, I am sure you are a very decent fellow & I probably agree with most of your views, but I have to wonder:

Why has the PBN&S chosen to put a GAY guy who is also an ATHEIST here to represent the LIBERALs?

This reminds me of an old Fox-News trick.

Of course, Gays and Atheists will be more likely to be liberal as modern Republicans & conservatives abandoned their traditional conservative values of

'leaving people alone'

to instead adopt the values of:

'America-as-JESUS-THE-BANKER land' and

'MY values should be LAW in YOUR bedroom'...

But isn't it like 'loading the dice' to put forward a gay atheist as the spokesperson for liberal values?

Why not a gay Muslim part-time atheist?

Fact is, Catholics and monotheists ALSO have liberal values (e.g. Catholic social teaching). But MOST monotheists distrust, dislike, and misrepresent atheists (although they shouldn't).

I hope folks get the point. If not I

Sorry, I left out a negation in the last sentence of my single post here. Should be:

It seems to me you AREN'T being a 'good righty', and standing up for what you believe (whatever that is)...

Hmmm, I see Kendall takes a rather arrogant tone in this discussion, with comments such as:

"If it has to be explained to you, you will never get it."

(meaning, of course, he won't back up what he claims), or

"Now be a good leftist and find something new to try and poke fun at. Your old shtick with using the Tea Party as a weapon against conservatives is very tired.."

But Kendall, why NOT use the Tea Party as a 'weapon' against conservatives? After all, they claim to be holding up conservative VALUES and mainstream conservatives ARE NOT speaking out against THEM, are they?

So what's your beef, dude?

It seems to me you are being a 'good righty', and standing up for what you believe (whatever that is)...

Pburgresident- If it has to be explained to you, you will never get it.

But on the "white" part of the topic, it might surprise you to know that politics tend to rate voting blocs by racial types.

Raese just wanted a bully pulpit to RAPE WV. Like his company has done for years.

I always scratch my head over "typical liberal" remarks. Like "typical conservative" isn't an epithet, too?

As for the person who put forth the costs associated with keeping up kittens and blankets for orphans (jokingly or not, it's difficult to tell), I've found the typical position of people who truly think this is the reason to not support "kittens and blankets" is that they don't believe they or anyone they care about will ever be in a position to need a kitten OR a blanket. They work too hard and would never lose THEIR kittens or blankets to lack of income or higher feed/detergent prices.

Kendall78...I'm interested in knowing what characteristics an average middle class white person possesses. Can you tell me? What type of wage or salary does one make, that is if they are currently employed? Does this average middle class white person have health care? What if that average middle class person were black, Hispanic, or Asian? I guess they wouldn't count in your world and couldn't possibly be considered an average middle class person. Why couldn't you have stated it as an average middle class AMERICAN or is it that any person of color could not be considered average or middle class? Regardless, imo, the middle class is now nearly non-existent. Or, are you actually referring to Tea Party members or conservatives as your average middle class white folks?

@pburghike- Might surprise you but the Tea Party has nothing to do with any of this. Heck...even in the blog the Tea Party isn't mentioned. Now be a good leftist and find something new to try and poke fun at. Your old shtick with using the Tea Party as a weapon against conservatives is very tired at best.

Uh-oh! Looks like you've rattled some of the "tea party" nuts. Raese is 100% for Raese and couldn't care less about any other person. So he would be a scary costume...I think I'm going as Tea Party Security...lets see...silly hat...billy-bob teeth...beer gut..."dress" jeans n' boots with a mannequin head attached to the bottom!

You should realize with 2.8 million orphans in the US providing blankets and kittens would amount to 350 million with blankets @ 25.00 adopting kittens @100.00 (spayed or neutered). How will all those poor orphans feed their kittens or wash the blankets. Typical liberal idea that sounds and feels good but with no thought as to cost or who will pay for the unintended expense ( other than the US taxpayer).

Typical liberal