Several months ago the folks at MSNBC was telling us that the Tea Party was an astroturf movement. This month the New Right (Tea Party) is the bogeyman. Also that Alex Jones guy is like Fox Mulder of the X-Files. "The truth is out there!"

I think the documentary could have gone father. The "tea party" members are not freightened . . . they're angry that an smart capable BLACK man is running what they consider a white country. If the militias, and tea party members, and birthers were Black, would they still be getting new coverage and espcially permission to continue? I KNOW not. I am a child of the 60s and I know that if a group of Black men with automatic weapons and military gear were in the woods spouting hatred for a white Adminstration, they would be dead - killed by US government - or at the least, in prison. I know it, Chris Matthews knows it, and anyone reading this knows it. Call it what it is. WHITE AMERICAN protesting the legitimate overwhelming victory of Barack HUSSEIN Obama's presidency.

As a professor I would think you should seek another vocation! If this is old news it certainly need to be heard. When Fox News, other media and public figures plant the seed of revolution in the minds of the citizens something is very wrong. We only need to look at Oklahoma City some 15 years ago. Foreign terrorist do not bother me as much as this group. One could almost justify lock and load to prepare oneself against these people!

so true. Which is it? Are they a useless, shiftless bunch of idiots, or are they a dangerous group who will soon take over our country? Get with the program MSNBC!!!!!

I thought a good analysis was performed of the movement; however, I would liked to see have seen a qualitative comparison between Timothy McVeigh's political views and the current Tea Party members opinion of him. In addition, no mention was made of the Texas man that flew his plane into the IRS building.
I was happy to see Matthews call out Glenn Beck's divisive comments, and I was alarmed to see the most sensible of the interviewees claim that he held Beck's beliefs. While no one likes being taxed, and few of us want a giant government, I would like to have heard of what, if anything, the interviewees thought taxes should pay for, such as schools, roads, and libraries. I still do not know, beyond the fear of the government, and dislike for our president, that the Tea Party movement believes: do they think the poor should have no safety net? Do they think Federal Student loans are waste? I am also interested to know why the right claims a monopoly on patriotism, while at the same time, aligning themselves with people viewing our government as a foreign occupier.

I totally disagree with you. I'm glad that you're a former reporter and anchor and that you teach poli-sci, but I wonder how much time you spend on politcal forums. I spend a good amount of time on them. Everything from the Politico which adheres to pretty strict guidlines, to some of the more unbridled wide open uncensored commentary I've ever seen. One forum in particular which calls itself the "Liberal Forum" which has a no holds barred section dominated by right wingers that has reached the point of blatent racism, calls for lynchings and instructions on bomb makings and targeting officials including death threats against the president. Praising Timothy McVeigh and James Earl Ray as true American hero's. This forum has even gotten the attention of the FBI and the Secret Service. You may consider this old stuff, but I can assure you that some people are taking it quite seriously. Look for yourself at the pure hatred pouring through on these forums and you might think twice about just how far out and insane this this is getting.

The passion hasn't "passed". Sure, try to ignore the facts that populist, conservatism emodied by the tea party activists getting involved in electing conservative candidates has seen many successes...not only Scott Brown in MA, but the governorship of VA, and most recently the win of Gov. Chris Christie in NJ..not even $120 million dollars of Corzine's own money could buy him the votes. The people of the "new right" have spoken and continue to do so. That's apparently what Chris Matthews and his 46 viewers cannot stand.

I disagree and as an African American man I lost all respect for Chirs Matthews for putting that garbage on TV. I will never watch Hardball again and I'm going to start a blog against the show how was it helpful and makes me question him as a man. All these people who claim to be this and that are cowards this is not the 50s or 60s.

Thanks for an outstanding documentary - about a serious problem in our country - the out of control emotions of the low information voters. I was very young during the McCarthy period, but I recall that my parents (school teachers) knew that he had gone too far. Our "low information" voters legitimate fears from our economic problems (caused of course by the Republicans) are being stoked by the rightwing talkers and Fox. Thanks to MSNBC and what's left of Air America to get some truth out there. I hope the more intelligent will be able to see the tea baggers' extremism (Rand Paul, Sharron Angle, etc.) - and of course fielding Tea Bag candidates will split the Republican vote and help the democrats retain their legislative control. A tea bag candidate is running in the Senate race here in Washington state - where Patty Murray faces a strong candidate who gave our governor a close race the last two times - and would have a good shot in defeating Murray - but now the tea party candidate will probably drain off enough of the "low information" voters that would normally vote Republican - that she will probably be re-elected. I'm suprised that the Democrats didn't ensure that there wasn't a "tea party" candidate registered in every race. It wouldn't even make any difference who the person was or what there policies were - since the "low information" voters would just vote for them on the basis of the tea party designation by their name - and against the candidates of the major parties - in a demonstration of anti-government power on their part. Peace

I agree: After watching the documentary, all I could think of was WHY?...what a waste of time! With so many problems facing America today that could have been explored, what was the value of this re-airing of hateful speech and images already seen and heard? It only served to further promote the Tea Party movement. To be fair, MSNBC should devote an hour to all President Obama and his administration has accomplished for the good of America, in spite of an all-out effort by conservatives to cause him to fail.

I think this article was very biased. Chris I think you need to take a step back and look at the situation. It seems you may have gone to the left so much you are a fringe person on that side. It looks like you need to get a grip.

Tea Party People are not uniformed voters. I am 72 years old and have voted in all elections since I was entitled to do so. I am neither republican or democrat I vote for the best person for the job. The program was from a far left point of view and did not represent the actual tea party people. MSNBC on all its programs have showed a man just with weapons. A body shot saying he was at a tea party rally weapon in tow. If you were to ask to see the full picture you would find out he was a police officer at a police station not at a tea party event. Yellow journalism at its best. Tea party people are just average people worried about our country . We will take our case to the ballot box. No violence.

To the black American male and the Latina woman.........REALLY????????????

When was the last time you went to a store not to be followed around or try to enter a prestiges country club. I live in a white and am a white female in my 50's, believe me I have seen and heard more racist comments about both of your kind then I care to mention.

As for the documetary unfortunatly you were RIGHT ON. By the way I have voted republican twice, I am ASHAMED TO SAY.

I used to like Chris Matthews. As I watched this presentation I kept waiting for the views of the mainstream right in the Tea Party but all I seen was the radical side. I too am upset and often sickened by actions and sometimes inactions of our congress. They should be jailed for their taking of bribes (campaign contributions) for their votes for special interests. I submit that most "Tea Partyers" are sick of these issues also and are not the radicals portrayed in this documentory. Chris, try watching the Dylan Radigan show and you will see what the mainstream is about and upset with. By the way he's on MSNBC.

Gary hit the nail on the head !!!

The Rise of the New Right was very educational and extemely well produced. Chris could not have done a better job giving the viewers an actual depiction of the thinking processes of individuals attached to the tea party. There are implications for widespread danger to our elected officials and our country in general if this tea party movement continues. I often wonder if it is wise to give the leaders, i.e., Palin, Limbaugh, Beck, etc. as much media attention as they often get. The more attention they get, the more the flames of anger and talk of violence spreads across the US. Before we know it, some idiot is trying to mow down people in NY or some other city with a firearm or bomb. I know that we must keep track of what the leaders in this movement are saying, thinking and planning in order to intervene and prevent undue harm to the public. Therefore, it is difficult if not impossible to ignore them.

have you asked sioux man what he thinks of your political science? how about a cherokee, or menominee, or seminole, or miwok?

i'm still pretty sure that the majority of those fat european babies screaming on the tv don't know where their food comes from or care how the gasoline got in that pump hose, just so long as it's there

if they were home using a hammer and a shovel to make their house better for their children they might sleep better at night

These militias are a joke. They hear how the founding fathers and their militiamen took on and defeated the greatest military power in the world, and in their infantile minds, think they are capable of duplicating that feat. I'd just like to point out that the Redcoats didn't have radios and cell phones to ask for tank support or call in air strikes and so on. I bet an old vet like me leading F Troop would take these clowns out in about five minutes armed with nothing but paint guns.

well, its obvious which way chris matthews leans. he takes american voters who are angry about the way our government is being run and turns them into gun toting militias. we are angry, we are not all gun toting, but lots of us do believe in the second amendment. we simply expect our laws to be enforced, our borders to be closed, and our tax money to be used frugally. (wisely for the liberals in the crowd). just because the tea party is quiet now does not mean we have gone away. its too bad chris matthews won't be quiet and go away.

Timing couldn't have been worse! All the leaders of the Tea Party sheepel, I mean Republicrats in Tea Bag clothing....went out on the air and commited suicide. Backing a Foreign Super Corp against the "small people" in Southern America? A Democrat from one of those States should have gotten up and punched him in the face. He would have been a Southern hero and re-elected!

If Democrats don't sieze this moment....I'll hate them forever. The GOP's butt is hangin naked for the boot.....kick it already???

Tea Baggers will be exposed for the traitors they really are....but nobody will tell the truth and call them out.

Should have had this........

Nope! They don't get to say that they espouse the beliefs of the founding fathers! George Washington was a founding father and he said " This is not a tax created by a King, but by the Representive Government in Virginia " It is the law of the land " ! His answer to Jeffersons letter that had the "tree of liberty" quote that they like to use as well)

Where by he put down the fake Tea Party slogan bearers rebellion ( The Whiskey Rebellion ) by using the Militia from another State ( Which the President is the head of..all militia's)

by point of bayonnet and canonball! So no, you are not Patriots doing what the founding fathers wanted. You are Traiterous, hate propogating, skum. Non Americans bearing false witness against your neighbors....who elected President Obama with a popular majority.

NO YOU CANNOT CLAIM THE WORDS FROM THE BOSTON TEA PARTY....NO YOU CAN'T CLAIM THE WORDS OF PATRIOTS….NO YOU ARE NOT FOLLOWING THE WISHES OF THE FOUNDING FATHERS.....THEY WOULD NOT SHOUT DOWN DEBATE IN A PUBLIC MEETING....THEY WOULD NOT SCARE WOMEN AND CHILDREN WITH A PATHETIC SHOW OF ARMS IN PUBLIC!

REAL MEN ACT REALLY THOUGHTFULL! YOU ARE NEITHER! REAL MEN, OUR FOUNDING FATHERS, ACTED REALLY THOUGHTFULL! YOU ARE NEITHER!

END THIS PATHETIC TREASON! Debate your issues, win over my mind and I will vote for you....try to force your veiws only makes it clear that you are wrong! I will never join a t-baggers mob!

WHY IS IT THAT YOU ONLY HAVE PATHETIC LIARS SPEAK AT YOUR MOB GATHERINGS.....AFRAID OF THE TRUTH?

PALINS AFRAID, BOCKMAN'S AFRAID, BECK'S AFRAID, LIMPBALLS IS AFRAID......AFRAID OF THE TRUTH SO THEY NEVER DEBATE.....THEY WOULD BE FOUND OUT FOR THE PROPOAGANDISTS, SELF SERVING, MONEY RUTTING, ANTI AMERICAN, ANTI JESUS FOOLS THAT THEY ARE!

DEBATE OR DIE! TEA BUMS

the only cure for dumbass unintelligent,Republicrats ... was invented by Progressive scientists....in the 17th Century.

Public Dunking was a very popular penalty for numbnuts like fake Tea baggers. All anti American Speech is not wrong, but hate mongering, racist speech is! So get ready were building the dunking machines and bringing them to the next town hall meeting where you hope to shout Grandma down when she tries to speak! Men don't have to shout...they kick ass!

Let me write, produce and edit your second docuementary!

I am a film producer and writer

And use an A.C.E. editor....they know how to develop story thread that comes full circle....this one didn't ...it was like a Eisensteinian Montage of what we have already seen ad naseaum. Could have been used as background to new footage....would have been much better.

Yes, replay of old news for those paying attention but an important reminder about how people can lose a grip on reality. It is a dilemma. Alex Jones is a frighting person. Now more know about him. That's both good news and bad.

We ignored the anger after the Branch Davidian incident and look what happened at Oklahoma City. With the amplifier of the Internet and Fox, I fear that the cycle from anger to crazy action has been shortened. People are being manipulated by others with a different agenda than the likely sincere people who are also involved in the Tea Party Movement. Check out what people like Dick Armey have done and have to gain. What does Sister Sarah really all about? I think she found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. She is generally ignorant but it all sounds good unless you try to diagram one of her circular statements and realize she's saying nothing and just fanning flames. I'm not fooled by Glenn Beck's phony sincerity but many are. Even Bill O'Riely gets the hypocrisy and empty rhetoric -- unless of course he's the originator and then he's clueless. And I could go on.

While there are sincere people worried about the growing deficit who are part of this group, generally they seem unaware of the hypocricy of the movement. They weren't upset when we were given tax cuts not paid for, benefits to special interest groups who vote (seniors) unpaid for, wars unpaid for, military programs not needed or even wanted, energy policy that punishes our irreplaceable environment, perverse and unpaid for incentives to energy companies and multinationals that ship jobs offshore, and I could go on. The movement is being led and egged on by people who have one focus: defeat the first black president. He's a minority and a democrat. That's enough to be a target for those who are using this movement. Yes, people need to vote, but they also need to know who they are voting for. Democracy has rules: You accept the results of the vote without threat of violence. Period. End of story. That's what the Constitution is all about.

Term limits and public financing of campaigns is the way to go. So is vetting the people who run and educating voters that they actually need to know who they are voting for.

Also, anyone who wants to close the deficit has to answer these questions: What am I willing to give up from government and what are the consequences (savings, benefits and pains) 1, 5, 10 or 20 years down the road? (Ed dept, foreign aid, etc., won't do it so you got to dig deeper.) What am I willing to pay to close the deficit so my children and grandchildren have a lesser burden?

One more important perspective I had wanted to share: As people yell about government encroaching on their freedoms, they should ask some key questions:

- Can I really hold large institutions accountable without the government being on my side? Look what happens when government is corrupt and absent as in case of MMS.

- Do I really want to have government stop what I'm upset about or do it better? If so, am I willing to give government service respect to give incentives to talented, good people to take on these challenges and make a real difference by producing results that are a return on our investment of our taxes.

- As much as one hates what government is doing, do you really want totally unaccountable multinationals to determine your fate? How do you vote them out of office if you don't have effective government to fight your battles?

- Am I willing to stay involved and focused to hold people accountable for solving real problems with real solutions, or just expect them to toe the same political line? If you do, you are part of the problem.

I like Chris Matthews and give him credit for being very balanced in his reporting and critiques - the documentary felt a bit like "Fisher Price's 'my first right extremist documentary'", in that if you had no idea who or what the far right is, you were given a fairly good synopsis. if you have been paying attention every day, it felt a bit like rehashed information. i know that being judgemental probably wouldn't be part of a documentary but i would have like to have seen interviews with Dick Armey (the greatest name ever) and others and for them to be put on the defensive about what they are doing and their thought processes.

i asked my 13 year son who watched it with me if he had ever seen a 6 foot tall pile of crap before, and when he said "no", i pointed to Dick Armey and said "there's one right there".

The extreme right are retarded, individually as well as a group. retarded in terms that their attitudes and theories on how the world and how our country should be reminds me of people with a deficiency in their brains that makes them that way - i am not saying that to speak badly of people that are retarded because it wasn't their choice to be that way, they just simply were born with a problem - these people were not only born with a problem, but make it their choice as well.. that is worse.

from Michelle Bachman to Sarah Palin to Dr. Paul - all of the GOP for that matter; it becomes obvious at least to me that they envision a country that, if fully realized in their way, would be a far uglier place to live.

it was nice to watch a Chris Matthews broadcast without seeing him step over and interrupt the person he is interviewing, for once - i really like him but he has got to learn to allow the person he asked the question of to respond, and then jump on their point.

I disagree. I thought the special report was excellent, and a must-see for every American (unfortunately, the ones that most need to see it probably won’t). Of course, any special report is going to “rehash” some “old news,” but it also can go into greater depth of analysis, as Matthews did. One small point I would make is that I would have just called the report “Return of the Right” since the “New Right” actually has more in common with the “Old Right” of the John Birch Society. Read more about that on my own blog comment (in verse) at http://newsericks.com/rise-of-the-old-right.

Well Professor----your students SHOULD be more aware of political processes than we uneducated sort are----that IS your job---------it was informative for the rest of the great non-elitist unwashed.-------------and if they were disappointed in the content--------YOU coulda made the intelligent educational notation of the various levels on Political interest/knowledgecare the non-student body has---------------and how much more astute your students are------------------.

This was the biggest piece of trash I have ever watched. I have completely lost all respect for Chris Matthews. Even though I am a Fox guy, I liked watching him. Since Obama got elected, he has abandoned all pretense of being objective, and never misses an opportunity to ass lather Obama. If he was a chick Id say he had a giant crush on him---thrill up the leg---Oh Boy......

This was a spin and a half doc-u-opinion riddled with gaping falshoods and outright lies. This is nothing more than a blatent open attack on "Teapartiers" in an attempt to marginilize them and brand them "gun nuts" before the November elections. It makes me sick to see him just give up the ghost and jump in the tank--------

It was so poorly researched and full of made up statements used in conjunction with photographs that could have any meaning placed on them. In fact it was funny that at one point he was expressing how Obama was a "Harvard Constitutional Law Professor" and showed a photo of him working a diagram on a blackboard as if he was a hard working hands on professor teaching Constitutional Law. But if you look at what Obama is ACTUALLY writing on the board, he is diagraming how Cloward and Piven's plan to collaspe the economy actually works!!!!!!!!

This just shows me that MSNBC is in the bag for the Democrats, and no longer can be considered an actual source of information. This piece of trash will be the finish of Chris "thrill up the leg" Matthews....

you will see posts that claim to be minority tea party folk. a ruse. if out of a hundred thousand tea baggers you can find 6 minority faces, that makes minority representation 0%. the tea baggers are wealthy disgruntled racists draping themselves in the flag and trying to sell a convoluted self preserving version of the constitution.

tea bagger ideology is bunk. did you see the "brazilian" tea bagger mom? does she live in one of the new millionaire subdivisions in northern virginia? the new defense contractor millionaire clubs? the same bunch of billionaire tax skimming private companies who are crying foul?

tea baggers for bp. you're being duped morons.

sorry that this is in a reply, but I am new here and could not figure out how to post my own comment.

The last page of the article says an awful lot about this group:

"Yucca Valley, a desert town of about 20,000, survives because of the places surrounding it, the people they draw and the trickle-down jobs they create. There are new installations going up at the Marine base in nearby Twentynine Palms; Joshua Tree National Park, and the visitors it draws; houses that went up over the years for retirees and those who live in Yucca Valley but work elsewhere.

"Bill Warner came to this place as a young man of 26, with his wife, Pat, and a 9-month-old daughter. Fresh out of the Navy, he went to work for a civil engineering firm, purchased a house on the GI bill and then bought the engineering business and built it into a solid venture."

This town is depends entirely on government spending, from the jobs that trickle down from Twentynine Palms and Joshua Tree National Park. Bill Warner left the Navy, worked for a civil engineering firm (dependent on government contracts), bought a house on the GI bill, etc. I am sure that his engineering business could not have survived without government contracts. My conservative friends are exactly like this. One couple has 3 family members who have been extremely ill and need round the clock care for many years. There is no way that they are not receiving government help. They both have college degrees (all higher ed is heavily subsidized) in technical fields, and the wife received hers from a state university when the federal government was throwing money at women to get engineering and science degrees. They have worked as contractors for defense companies for thirty years (as far as I am concerned, they are government employees). All this has allowed them to afford a very lovely lifestyle and an $800K home. And yet they want the government out of their lives. Great. Don't use the internet, electricity (thank the government for all transmission lines), roads(Truman build the federal highway system). Don't use GPS. Don't use computers, since the government built the first one. Don't use any health care advance that exists because of government funded research. Leaves more for the rest of us.

And I love when they claim that foreigners come here for health care. I've been in the hospital plenty of times for myself and others, I have to go to the doctor regularly for tests, and NOT once have I heard a foreign accent or seen foreigners wandering the halls. When I describe how the French health care system works, they don't believe me.Why? Because it doesn't fit their provincial little world.

And this laughable notion that we are a bunch of rugged individuals is a ridiculous myth. Try crossing the border in a desert with no water and temperatures over 100 degrees simply because you want a job so that you can send money to your family so that they can eat. And that doesn't even include the vigilantes that want to use you for target practice (even though they need you to mow their lawn first ). That will build a little character! The fact of the illegal immigration issue is that conservatives love illegal immigration. They need the immigrants and they need them to be illegal. Keeps labor costs down, after all. Make 'em legal and they cost more!

We are not a free market economy. The only free markets that we have are illegal drugs, illegal aliens, and (in most states) prostitution.

I am not saying that government is perfect - far from it. But the so called tea party folks refuse to acknowledge how much the government has done right and how much it has done for them.

Slanted to the left? In what way? All Matthews did was recap where the Tea Tards are and how they got there. They are basically racist traitors.

How racist?

How about the signs they use? The blatant racism on popular right wing sites such as Malkins, Hotair, Freerepublic, WorldNutdaily. It is all there for everyone to see, hell go to an anti Obama facebook page and you will see the racist photos and comments. Not all of them are racist but until they pure the racists from the ranks, they will continually be dogged by the racists in their midst.

I agree, RKader. This definitely belongs on Comedy Central. Of course, most of us already knew this was going to be a left-wing propaganda piece. As a Tea Party Member, a Conservative and an American (who happens to be black), I am offended by so many people making accusations of racism towards a group they know nothing about. In fact, I would counter that I have heard far more offensive, racially motivated, ignorant and intolerant comments from those OUTSIDE of the Tea Party than those within.

That is an easy mask to hide behind. And one they seem to be Ginning up. You are against every thing because you are a Racist.

This is a PC cop out for bad legislation and weak actions. Very easy to throw up before negative comments.

uh, yeah rkader, letting tea baggers speak for themselves is "slanted left". next thing you know, you'll be accusing the left for saying "mission accomplished".

They are the majority party...exactly for that reason.

dialog...not diatribe!

debate the truth!

try new idea's if the old ones arn't working.

republican party is extinct if they keep going with the hard right pretend christian mob!....thats a fact. they lost the minority vote. lost the spanish vote forever!

lost white middle class vote by backing big oil against americans...this will not be forgiven in ohio!

november is toast month for republicrats!

old timer 39,

Despite being characterized as the right wing of the Republican party by Matthews and the rest of the leftist elite, the Tea Party is actually technically nonpartison and includes not only Republicans, but also Democrats and Independents. It is something even Matthews once was willing to state and reported on. Why it is now so easy for leftists to claim the Tea Party are Republicans is because Republicans took the Tea Party seriously and was willing to listen and open their tent to them, while the Democrats refused to listen and only wanted to demonize. If the Tea Party has become a Republican movement, it is because of the Democrats. What the Tea Party was intended to be was an American movement.

The brilliance built into the American system by our founding fathers is that no one group can hold power very long. Obama knows this and is why there is such a hard push for a power grab in his first two years. By all accounts, The Democrats are going to, at the very least, lose the House in November, and Obama needs to ensure that his Progressive revolution and takeover of the American system is in place before those elections.

And you sir are a very small minority. You may rattle your sabers but sooner or later your views and actions will become abhorent to most Americans just like it has in the past.

It's sad to see the white minorty of this country using to terorrism to keep their back-water views that have, is, and continue to ruin this great country since the 1980's just to keep it (WHITE OR AMERICAN) and how they need to take it back Just to give it to the small and large businesses of america. while using the fear of big goverment to control their base, i can say that the right (and or conseveritives) have made it so that big businesses have far more power in this country than the goverment. the question i have for them is how do you get your country back from the most powerful companies from around the world that their sole job is to make AS MUCH MONEY AS POSSIBLE in the name of founding fathers, god, and the future of our kids. we must stop these people from continu the destruction of the our country in the name of a idealogy that dose not work.

You aren't the silent minority - you're the minority who won't shut up!

Why because he's black. Or to be more accurate half black. Remember his mom was white, but I guess that it's true if you have one drop of black blood running through your veins then you're considered a black man or woman. So sad.

Tochia--This documentary is very shocking and almost ridiculous that you have people who have this state of mind.***Yes, I feel the same about Chris and the left.

I find it odd that you have come to those conclusions. I don't think you have a sniff. I don't align myself with the tea party, because I am anti-war, especially the preemptive 'wars' that the U.S. government has involved us in. I am also not a big fan of Glen Beck or Sarah Palin. As a conservative and a Christian, I have had a paradigm shift in every area, but especially politically. Nonetheless, I agree with many aspects of the tea party movement. Since 1973, presidents have launched wars without the authorization of Congress, and have done so, not just in violation of the Constitution, but also in violation of the War Powers Act, a law written in reaction to President Richard Nixon's abuses of power and passed over his veto. Additionally, there had been 322 pre-Bush signing statements addressing 600 provisions of law. Rivaling that total of all his 42 predecessors, Bush Jr's 161 signing statements challenged over 1,100 provisions of law, effectively announcing his intention to violate those sections of those laws. Obama ran and successfully won on promises to reverse the effects of the Bush era tyranny. Some of the travesties, and therefore the call to return to Constitutional law, are The Military Commissions Act, the bailouts, or the "Paulson Plunder," the power of Treaty and Appointment and voluntary impotence of Congress etc. Maybe you should check into the FEMA camps that have been set up, stocked and manned all over this country. You have no idea what you are talking about when you make a comment like, "When I listen to these people, I only hear ignorance and control. I have a message for those in the tea party... Shut Up! If I wanted to here (hear) racist remarks, I would listen to Limbaugh." What makes you think that people who want to return to Constitutional government are racist?

"racist"? This hispanic conservative doesn't agree with the radical, progressive agenda no matter the color, or ethnicity of the peddlers of such, including Barack Hussein Obama, Rahm Emmanuel, Andy Stern, Nancy Pelosi, Barney Franck, Van Jones, etc.

Please do your homework about Mark Potok, he's amassed a personal fortune by using "racism" as a fundraising tool for his organization. He is a peddler of hate...he profits from it. Potok doesn't want to put real racists like the New Black Panters, Louis Farrakhan, Jeremiah Wright out of business because he makes money from it.

If this shocks you, you obviously don't know much.

Where were you and other suburban moms during the Bush administration? NOW you feel compelled to take your country back? Weren't the rights of Americans stripped under the last administration?

Do you not recall the Enron incident that wiped out the retirement funds of millions of Americans and how closely tied the Bush administration was to that company. What about the ensuing debacles related to the market which revealed major flaws in our financial system and eventually cost Americans billions? No need to rally then, huh? How about the Iraq war waged by the last administration (although how many of the 9/11 terrorists were Saudis)? Considering the cost (human and financial), you didn't feel the need to take your country back then? No need to rally when the deficit was doubled under the last administration? You weren't outraged enough to rally the troops during the 1st bail-out?

Also, the Republican party of yester-year (19th century) is not the Republican party of today (Joe Wilson and Rand Paul are a testament to that). It's not that we have short memories, just that we've studied US history.

Time to gather facts and make informed decisions. Obama, a former Constitutional law professor has no respect for the Constitution? Spare us. The real travesty is that millions have embraced this anti-intellectual sensation sweeping this nation. Tea Party "patriots" & other like-minded individuals (such as those that voted for Bush twice, count 'em, twice) embrace idiocracy, not democracy.

You ask very good questions SIGH. Your analysis seem sound as well.

Amen.. You are absolutely right where were all these people during Bush's administration?

Just as an FYI. Both administrations have stomped all over the constitution. I could give many examples from each. But to answer your questions about the guns.... The only reason so many people have shown guns to President Obama, is due to the fact the Obama's voting history and stance on guns, has always been one of banning rather than gun owners rights. That is the ONLY reason for all the guns at rallys, and the major increase in gun sales over the last year+

The gun issue is so bogus. You cannot show me one case where the US government has done anything in the last 10 years to curtail gun ownership.

Hutchings, For your information, no one has ever been assaulted, shot or even had a gun pointed at them at any of the rallies where people were packing guns. Bush agreed that we have a right to bear arms, where Obama doesn't. So carrying guns was a message to Obama and the left, don't mess with my 2d amendment rights. DforDemocracy, the gun issue is not bogus. The past 10 yrs the Republicans were in control and they believe in the 2d amendment. Obama does not, and most of those on the left agree with gun control. Most laws that have curtailed gun ownership have been state and local laws. Remember it was Washington D.C.s law that was overturned by the Supreme Court.

What are you talking about? Why should we follow that train of thought? What does the color of Obama's skin have to do with anything, it is his policies that people are opposed to, his violation of Constitutional law. Matthews claims that 'we the people' don't have the right to oppose tyrannical federal government. Read the Constitution, the separation of power was very important to the founders. You, sir, are part of the problem!

I agree with you Hutch. I'm an independent as well, and I just want no part of these nutjobs. "The muslims are taking over". "Obama isn't a Christian, he's a muslim....and a liar". These people are so far gone that nothing can bring them back to rationality.

Here we have the right wing which has always been known for it's conservative views on race, with people like Strom Thurmond, Jesse Helms and so many other conservatives that fought against integration and Civil Rights, and we just happen to have the first African-American president. It's not a coincidence that all of this is happening now. Most of these people simply can't handle having a black president.

You are frightened of suburban moms who are getting involved in local politics? Surely, you must get some professional help.

To Wise Latina

Nope---just frightened of suburban moms who were not interested in getting involved in local politics while the republicans destroyed the majority of America on several levels-----frightened of suburban moms who only woke up to get involved and take up arms the minute a part black man was elected by the majority as President and mandated to save us from the disasterous road Bush and Company put us on.

Gun rights have INCREASED under Obama, those are the facts and you cannot deny them.

enemy2k, Gun rights have increased because of the supreme court ruling, which Obama opposed, and because of local and state laws, which Obama also opposed when he was in the Illinois legislature. So, yes I can deny that Obama had anything to do with more gun rights. I can further state that he will in time try and take away those rights.

Tom I bet your students are disappointed every time you talk.

Hahahahahaha! Amen, Freesoul!!!!

"... a passion that has passed"? I don't think so. Their astroturf masters of NO are just waiting for the next issue they can get them whipped up about.

Chris Matthews is a very good narrator in this documentary.****His voice had a little tremor when he was talking about the Communists--don't worry Chris--your buddies are still out there--just waiting...

@ICBM--you are such a f**cking idiot! You still want to create a communist bogey man when there never was one to begin with. Calling someone a Commie really gets you off doesn't it? Mighty McCarthy of you.

It says the government is founded to promote the general welfare

However it does NOT say, provide welfare.

Just in case you Liberal Progressives forgot, your own boy Grover Cleveland, who launched the Progressive Era stated,,,,

,,,to the end that the lesson should be constantly enforced that though the people support the Government the Government should not support the people.

I understand how confusing this must be for all of you. You have been manipulated by your own party to believe what they want you to believe rather than what you were supposed to believe. Just as most of you don't think that American history occurred prior to 2000. You know what I mean,,,"Bush did it",,,"those last 8 years",,,"what I inherited",,,,"the previous administration blah blah blah blah". Perhaps if you stopped sniffing Obama all day or licking Matthews, Olderman's, Schultz's and Madcow's boots you might actually learn some real American history.

But then again, it's not in Obama's agenda is it?

D you need to research the federal reserve. And just look around a bit.

http://educate-yourself.org/cn/communistmanifestortenplanks12sep06.shtml

USARogue, others alike that are so critical of the doc, Mathews, and Dems, it is suppose to be for the people by the people, and you are telling me no one is your family has ever received a government hand out? How about during the great depression? A lot of people during that period received food stamps and government aid. As it should be there for those in need through their taxpayer dollars. Not everyone that receives aid is lazy. You apparently don’t understand stand how it is suppose to work. Do I want to support people all their lives? No, but we should have fair wages in this country enough to support a family on and to provide basic needs.

As another poster commented my father worked for under two dollars an hour and was able to buy his first home with $500.00 down and raised five of us very comfortably I might add. Do some research the working class man is not paid his fair share, that was only 35 years ago my father did that. The first weeks check is suppose to pay for rent as a rule of thumb use to go, second week utilities and notes, and the rest to provide for their families. A person making $10.00 an hour makes $20,000 a year before taxes. Now by estimation that is barely enough to pay the mortgage or rent. And let me just say not everyone aspires to want more and we want those check out people at the service counter that are willing to work for less, but don’t tell me that they should have to work two or three jobs just to keep a roof over their head! As President Bush and I quote told a 68 year old woman that said she worked three jobs “Only in America” as if it was a good thing!

By helping others get to a point to be on their feet so they too can pay taxes and contribute to society. Reform we need yes, not allowing those that are not here legally to get services that Americans can’t get. But I know how this works; I have worked since I was 12 years old in a family restaurant. I got divorced and needed assistance because my ex wasn’t paying child support, I was told to sell my car it was considered to be an asset, to take the bus, the problem was the bus didn’t stop at the daycare and wait for me to drop off and pick up my child. This was crazy I thought, here I am trying to do well worked hard all my life and no help from all the taxes I have paid into the system? So needless to say I never collected, but I would have even been willing to pay it back, I have integrity. So not all people who need assistance from time to time are looking hand outs, just a hand up in a time of need. Isn't that what Americans are suppose to be about? I don’t begrudge anyone for getting help they need and I can certainly see why it makes some stay on the system longer than necessary cause God forbid you make a dollar too much and have a little extra to take your child to a movie or buy a decent pair of shoes, they rip the support right from your hands.

The system as its set up is set up for failure, to keep them in poverty, to keep them needy, this is not what a real humanitarian would support. We need major changes and that means cleaning house and making sure everyone abides to rules and has an overseer or Watchdog holding them accountable, because not all people are inherently good! Greed corrupts. I am sick of people complaining about giving and spreading the wealth to help their neighbor. I want to know how many of them have a sick child in the family that has received public aid or denied under a private sector insurance plan, parents collecting social security and Medicare, had FEMA assistance during the disasters. Let us work on making this country a better place for everyone, uplifting them and stop stomping on people when they are down. Most of these people call themselves Christians, Is that Jesus taught? I myself am not a Christian nor do I believe in some fairy tale God, but I do believe in Jesus words and I do believe he preached to feed and clothe the poor not kick ‘em when they’re down! .

Should we take away Vet's medical? Should all our soldiers refuse to die for a country that is so selfish and greedy! I am a free thinker not influenced other than by what I see and study! There are many changes needed in our current system, but I have to support a government, pay their salaries and not expect them to be there for me and others in times of need, Ah, I do believe that is partial benefit to having to pay my taxes. Oh and one last note on health care, if you people who are against it then why aren’t you ranting and raving about all the free medical that we all support for the prisoners? Huh? Because Florida spent something like over 4 million last year just in medical for prisoners and I do believe it is one reason Cali is in debt.

You know us Democrats a majority of us, that believe in helping thy neighbor we are just too passive. We should have been up in arms over the Iraq War, waving our guns, because guess what I believe second amendment as many do I just want tougher laws to keep them out of the hands of the enemy. I knew that war was a mistake from the get go. And I was called unpatriotic and told I was a supporter of the troops because I was against the war, well my father, uncles, cousins have fought in wars and my nephew is in Afghanistan as we speak, he should fight for your and the Tea Party’s carrying guns as if they are Hitler Freaks! Secondly, we teach that as civilized society we can’t have an “eye for an eye” justice system, yet we sent our troops over and caused more collateral damage then we suffered here in the US, killing something like over 700,000 civilians and now were at a loss of 10,000 of our men. We arm them, we give them money to kill our own, and we have lost more life than what was lost to 911. How would we feel if we were invaded? Look there is a lot to fix, but you can tell the right wingers from the left just by the post here. We are passive and unobtrusive; you all have to use profanity and are rude. You can’t have your cake and eat it too, you want this so called freedom but freedom comes at a cost.

And everyone stop preaching about the constitution, these guys are dead, they said plain and clear it belongs to the living generation. And the debt was also supposed to be wiped clean every generation! We need to work on fixing the policies that are in place and stop this back and forth crap. We need to look at things logically and fix our problems there are so many more than worrying about a birth certificate and saving lives with a health care bill. If you’re not part of the solution part of the problem, we don’t need more problems. So if your not gona help and you’re not happy move to the jungles of south America who needs ya and start your own country and leave the rest of us to be the Real Americans we Are! And don’t come beggin for our help when your people turn their backs on your in your time of need!

I bet you had no problems with the right wing smear documentaries on Faux Noise huh?

Yep, those lefties, Commies, etc. need to go.

checking the facts scares you no wonder you watch chriss he never checks the facts he only distorts them and that is why the tea party will get even stronger. The more you offend americans the more will join the tea party and you lefties will have to read what it really means to be an American

Please, supply a credible link to all the lies that Matthews has told. We would love to see it.

Let me guess, Don Lovelell (there's irony in your last name), you are a white guy..who apparently needs some education in grammar and spelling! Now why am I not surprised?

They can't, trm. Because Chris like Rachel Maddow and Keith Olbermann, whenever he is proven that he made a mistake apologizes. Often before some of us even knew he made the mistake, also like Rachel and Keith, Chris Matthews has employed people to *gasp* fact check his stories BEFORE he goes on the air!

For instance, every night, on Chris's Hardball show, a woman asserts, "Our President is a liar." It strikes chills in my body and soul every time I hear that disrespectful, misinformed, and ultimately racist statement.***Not sure how you can make that racist--but as a lefty, you'll do it. Now--did you feelthe same way when the same things were said about Bush--or was it okay for folks to be disrespectful, etc. to Bush--because--well, he was a cowboy.

@ICBM--it is very easy to make this an issue of race. Where was this anti-govt outrage before Obama got elected by a convincing margin? When has a candidate for President ever been questioned on their citizenship? Having observed Tea Tard rallies either in person or on video these people are clearly racist in nature. How about you ICBM? Come on, come out of your closet of hatred.

alex jones has been around for more than 15 years. Ron paul has crusading against the federal reserve from more than 20 years.

the right is right and the leftest chris and others try to ignor them but now america is rising and they smer the truth, its the way they push their lies. I would like for people to under stand that most tea party movements are not left or right they are america. You cant fool a tea party they will show you at the ballot box. Now call us affro turf

I would like for people to under stand that most tea party movements are not left or right they are america.

BS flag on that one. I joined one of the on line tea party groups, and they are as right wing as they come. I only joined so I could be better informed of their ideas etc. No big surprise to me that it isn't at all nonpartisan.

Again, with your writing, Don Lovelell. Please, look into writing classes. Wow!

Tell me who buses people to protest?

Freedom works maybe?

http://cloudfront.mediamatters.org/static/images/item/fox-20090408-opposition2.jpg

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/03/21/tea-party-leader-condemns-racial-slurs-hurled-black-lawmakers/

Dale Robertson, founder of tea party org. These two links speak for themselves.

http://www.teaparty.org/aboutus.html

http://www.indecisionforever.com/files/2010/01/dale-robertson-sign-big.jpg

Who bussed them to washington, who broke windows out, and shot windows out when healthcare passed. Who SCREAMS liar and un american, Socialist, communist, hitler, nazi. Who spat, and slung slurs at senators leaving after the vote.

*hint* TP

we want our country/government/constitution back....

menominee, hopi, arapaho, cherokee, seminole, paiute, apache, crow, sioux, miwok, lakota, kickapoo, montauk, cree, narragansett, blackfoot, salish....

do these words mean anything to anybody, has anyone asked them how they feel about this?!

when i see these fat well fed european babies screaming on the tv like someone took their sugartit away all because a "black" man was elected i wonder if any of them know how to run a hammer or a shovel, if they know where their food and their fuel comes from

how did they get there, did they fall from the sky? if they'd had to walk they'd be too tired to yell, who's feeding them, where do they sleep, where do they buy all those silly tea bags ???

http://www.buzzfeed.com/awesomer/the-tea-party-the-circus

Either lies or misinformation.

I'm actually speechless at the lameness of your post--I'm sure you live in the "real-world" and make a whole lot of contributions to this country.

I hope you take as much time thanking those troops everyday for your right and the freedom to speak your mind without fear of prosecution as you do complaining about the benefits they receive for laying thier lives on the line for yours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I thank the troops for my right to speak my mind and dont forget, they work for thier meager benefits, many other social programs are given without any requirement of service! Thats whats wrong with social programs!

Caity---thank you---I never hear this pointed out because of fear of being anti-troops. I was particularly angry listening to McCain during the elections, knowing that for generations his entire family has lived completely off taxpayer moneys.

Is that why they only endorse Republican candidates , and white ones ??

No one is fooled , except maybe you.

yea yea thats right everyone who disagrees with you is a rasest ignorance is bliss

Please provide a link for the tea parties from 4 years ago.

So true about ol Chris. People are starting to see through some of his ego-driven soap box antics. His recent "Obama is weak" tirades, I'm sure, lost him alot of veiwers in the black community that tolerate him inspite of his hypocritical winking at such hack-hate perveyors such as Pat Buchannon and that red-neck racist Mike Pence. Would some one please tell the self appointed

Yeah, i feel the same way about that poor mis understood millionare Glen Beck. Or that destitute blow hard former drug addict Rush Limbaugh. They're not pushing an agenda, and thank goodness they keep their ego's in check.

Don't forget George Soros, Al Gore, Bill Clinton, Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Ried...I believe they are millionaires as well, OH MY they are of the active progressive party in power. If money is so corrupting how can these people be followed.

Sorry, I almost forgot. Former Puppet Bush, and my newest an latest entry. Sen. Blarton, and all the other republicans out there flaunting their support for BP. I'd post the full list, but someone else already has. Im sorry if i left "your" favorites out. But it was my post, and, I was actually pointing out their bloated ego's and their agenda. Not their bank roll. But, again, another republican, reading and hearing only what they choose to believe.

Sen. Barton yeah you are correct...he almost got away with speaking honestly what he thought. But they beat him down good. Cause they forced him to wear sackcloth and withdraw his works. reminds me of what the left attempting to do to the Tea Parties.

Now that BP has been berated, who are leading protest against BP Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson are who I understand. Is it a TP protest?

Mark my words the cost of making a claim and administering it will "necessarily skyrocket", a whole new level(s) were added to what could be simple processing.

cherry picked comments do not reflect the tea party stop watching tv and do some reserch please

I'll be sad when Rush or Beck unknowlingly talk someone into killing someone else. I dont believe anything was meant to shock you, but hopefully it helped some people realize what a dangerous area we are in, and we need to be careful when choosing our words

I wish he would have spent some time looking at how many on the right twist the facts to suit their beliefs. We all do this to an extent, but these guys have raised it to an art form. A comment appeared earlier about no proof of right-wing involvement in the Oklahoma City bombing. ???????????????? Excuse me, do you know who Timothy McVeigh was? How about a show featuring someone running around Las Vegas or Disneyland searching for the high speed train the right complained about over and over again. How about a show connecting the dots of who we should really be afraid of: corporations.

They are not inherently evil, they just act in their own interest and we need someone to promote the common good. Southwest Airlines is fined for not maintaining its planes; a company ships salmonella laced peanut paste and people die; a Continental plane that wasn't controlled by Continental crashes with pilots making not much more than minimum wage at the controls and people die; State Farm warns the feds about Toyota and yet more people die; and now we have BP.

The only institution that can step in is the government but unfortunately the government is broken. What's the point of tougher regulations when the regulators don't regulate? We should all be focusing on fixing the government, not destroying it.

If it wasn't for corporations you wouldn't be posting on the internet and you would not have a lot of the comforts that you are now able to enjoy. The Toyota problem, the BP crisis are on Obama's watch. It was Obama's appointment to MMS that failed to perform their duties. As for McVeigh, he was a outcast nut, but not a right wing nut.

What? The corporations didn't make the internet, that was the US government with DARPA.

I never even heard of chris untill he made the news about smerring the right I dont and wont watch his show anymore as he is the spin zone

You have the right to bash the government. Other people have the right to bash the tea party, don't they?

But trm! Of course we don't. They are Already Taxed Enough to the point that we can't possibly bash them, they are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO overburdened. Can't uyoou see it bowing their backs? Do you not see how skinny and underfed they are?! Can you not see how their clothes are mere rags and they waver with hunger on their feet! The government has absolutely destroyed them. See how filthy they are from being homeless? Look at their teeth and do you not see their suppurating sores?!!!! That's the government's fault. And why is it? Well, the government let them eat bad and wormy meat, so they got ill, and they government wouldn't allow them to stay in the county hospital without insurance so they were turned away. They got even more ill and the government said, sorry you aren't medically disabled, so they lost their jobs. Of course what that happened, they weren't able to apply for governmental assistance through SSI. Then of course, once they sold their car, they could afford a doctor but not the medicine and we all know there is no governmental assistance for medicines, don't ya know. Yep, sure you betcha. Then of course in despair, they lost their house and we kicked out on the street. All this time through every transaction, they were FORCED to pay a 3000% TAX!!!! How horrid! Then to top it off, they started to lose thier teeth and they couldn't find help at a government shelter because well the government just hates them for being republican or white or angry at the government. So now it's all the government's fault and they are these emaciated and brutally put upon people who are screaming about they want their government back to take care of them.

See, trm, they have been so abused so it's wrong to bash em, let's not kick em while they are down.

::rolling eyes:: Or that's how they perceive themselves!!! Lord and Lady, give me strength.