The Wingnut Revolution

After nearly three decades of Reaganomics in which the wealthiest two percent have grown exponentially wealthier while middle class wages have remained stagnant, a growing faction of super rich Americans is seriously pissed off -- and their Wingnut Revolution is upon us.

Sure, the interests and influence of the wealthiest two percent make them more responsible than most for the free market policies that created this current economic crisis. But if there's one thing we've learned about those responsible for this recession, it's that the concept of accountability is about as foreign as their live-in au pairs. Instead, they're trying to pin this on Barney Frank and a legion of "losers" (read that: working class minorities) even though Ben Bernanke himself has debunked this myth.

But accountability (a "day of reckoning" as President Obama called it) is underway in the form of the president's housing proposal, his healthcare plan and, naturally, the recovery act. At the end of the day, ninety-five percent of Americans will benefit from what amounts to the largest tax cut in American history, along with increased access to affordable healthcare and millions of new jobs.

Though, alas, the super rich will have to pay slightly more in taxes.

Yeah, that's a shame.

So they're gathering in their secret war rooms in the Orange County underground and on the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, grinding the tips of their Salvatore Ferragamo Pregiato Moccasins into razor-sharp spears and fashioning their Bentley key fobs into makeshift nunchucks in preparation for a supremely ridiculous rebellion led by a cast of far-right characters more freakish than the acid trip monsters from Yo Gabba Gabba.

At the vanguard of this Wingnut Revolution is CNBC's Rick Santelli. You've probably seen the video of his public conniption fit already, so we'll skip right to another example of Santelli's economic prowess.

Remember back in September when John McCain famously doomed his campaign by suggesting that the "fundamentals of the economy of the economy are strong?" Well, several days earlier, Santelli told his CNBC audience, "I think the economy is healthy." This was September 2. Fourteen day later, Lehman Brothers collapsed.

I'm beginning to think John McCain got a bum rap. He wasn't alone. It turns out that one of the spazziest of the spazzy white guys from the financial cable shows was suggesting the exact same nonsense. In fact, here's a convenient chart of the Dow proving why Rick Santelli is nothing more than 2009's answer to the Star Wars Kid:

That's one healthy-looking economy. Now, economists will tell you that the Dow isn't totally indicative of the broader economy, so just to be fair to Santelli, here's a chart documenting job losses during various recessions with Santelli's quote marked accordingly:

If Santelli and his fake lightsaber of economic awesomeness is the loudest voice of the revolution, then the foot soldiers in the coming revolt are being mustered by Michelle Malkin and Joe the Plumber. The Pajamas Media people have organized something called The American Tea Party. This is absolutely real:

America is on the brink of another revolution. In a new American Tea Party, citizens across the USA are beginning to protest giant government programs that reach deep into their pockets.

Did you notice their slogan? "Uncle Sam - Get out of my wallet!" Get out of our wallets and pockets, Uncle Sam, and crawl into our wombs, where you belong.

The Pajamas TV team including Michelle Malkin, Glenn Reynolds, and Joe Wurzelbacher (aka Joe the Plumber) - are mobilized to help cover this new and evolving revolution.

Evolving? With Joe the Plumber (aka Cartoonish Prop) involved, they're clearly starting at a hairless proto-wingnut stage of evolution.

Yes, the original Sons of Liberty risked their lives in order to protest against monarchical tyranny. The Pajamas Media revolutionaries on the other hand...

You will need to determine from local authorities if a permit is needed for your particular event.

Revolution! But get a permit first. You know: a permit for the revolution.

Then there's Glenn Beck who devoted an entire show to gaming out how exactly a revolution would take place here. He dubbed the special episode the "War Room" and it involved in-depth analysis from a team of experts who agreed that an army of survivalist "bubbas" might take up arms against the "communist" Obama government.

Now, before any cable news conservatives fire off angry missives to the Huffington Post editors, allow me to underscore that I'm not exaggerating Beck's communist accusations here. For the last year or so, Glenn Beck has been attempting to peg Barack Obama and the Democrats as actual communists, and now he's going all out with, quite literally, a red scare segment on his show -- festooning his set with Soviet flag graphics, a "Comrade Update" logo and a Russian language crawl in the lower-third of the screen.

I never thought someone would materialize on FOX News Channel who could actually make Ann Coulter and Bill O'Reilly seem reasoned and rational, but Glenn Beck has done it. To eleven. Watching this "Comrade Update" video, I'm beginning to think that Rick Santelli and Michelle Malkin are on the very serious end of the wingnut spectrum with Beck and, perhaps, Michele Bachmann on the opposite crazy flank -- jars of their own urine lined up along the wall as they assemble enemies lists while reviewing moon landing footage frame-by-frame to see if they can spot a boom mic.

But all of this silliness tends to overshadow the very basic fact that these self-anointed revolutionaries have all along sought to derail and defeat the largest tax cut in American history; going so far as to define the recovery act containing this historical tax cut as socialism and "porkulus."

What this far-right movement appears to suggest is that middle class tax cuts, job creation and affordable healthcare -- ideas that are supported by 82 percent of Americans, by the way -- are criminal acts of tyranny, and an eventual tax increase to the tune of pennies on the dollar for the wealthiest two-percent is worthy of opposition by revolutionary means.

Okay, well. Good luck with that, wingnuts. But don't forget your permits.

BobCesca.com

Comments

[whatsthisthen]

Is this what America is about? The "poor losers" helping the rich get richer? It's as if the GOP kids want to give daddy a bigger stick to whomp them with.

What do GOP supporters want? Do they really want us to turn into Mexico where the few super-rich elites trample the multitudes of the dirt-poor? (When we talk about immigration it is hard not to notice how Mexican society is never to blame.)

GOP supporters -- those working and middle-class people who hate Obama -- don't know what is good for them. The would rather back GOP governments that lies to them than back a Dem president that wants to make the playing field more level. And now they are forming grass-roots groups to protest Obama as he tries to dig us out of the hole the Bush II created? Where were they during the Bush admin's growth of government and doubling of the national debt? Why do they want a government that sends money to the top and tells the bottom they should be thankful? WHY?

Help us, Jeebis!

[Bush-Rolled]

Nutty as they are, please don't "misunderestimate" the ability of these wackos to "shape" and frame an issue. Remember how the Brooks Brothers "revolutionaries" stormed the Dade County, FL vote recount and created images of chaos that eventually led to shrub's coup. These greedy sobs have no understanding of the real harships faced by the thousands of people losing their jobs and their homes.

[livesinreality]

Talk about wingnuts..A police officer who allegedly once claimed to have seen a demon in police headquarters is suing the NYPD, saying brass stripped him of his badge and gun because he's too religious. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,504090,00.html

No wonder the wingnuts only believe in the 2nd amendment ! They want to give psycho's guns !!

[alanearth]

There will not be a giant in your toilet tank, the revolution will not be televised.

[indy100]

Great bring on the revolution!!!

[Roberto31]

MY FEAR IS THAT ALL THE ECONOMISTS THAT SAY THE OBAMA PLAN WILL NEVER WORK ARE RIGHT. IF SO THE NATION IS IN A MESS. CALIFORNIA HAS PROVED THAT YOU CAN TAX THE RICH TO THE POINT THEY JUST PICK UP THEIR TENT AND MOVE. HUNDREDS ARE BAILING OUT OF CALIFORNIA. IF THAT HAPPENS IN US WHO WILL PROVIDE THE FUNDS FOR THE 80% OF AMERICANS WHO MUST DEPEND ON THESE RICH TO GIVE THEM A JOB? IF THEY DO AS RICH IN ENGLAND HAVE DONE AND ALL JUST GO TO ASCOT TO EAT STRAWBERRIES AND CREAM AND CRUISE THE MED IN THE HOT SUMMER AND SCREW THE WORKING CLASS THE WORKING CLASS ARE IN ONE HELL OF A MESS. WE WILL HAVE KILLED THE GOLDEN GOOSE AT A TIME WHEN WORKING CLASS FOLKS DESPEARATELY NEED LOTS OF GOLDEN GOOSES AROUND.

[indy100]

Cool. So when the ultra rich have to pay the same higher taxes no matter where they live in the uS where will they be moving to? Saudi Arabia? Afghanistan? Or some commie country like Canada, Britain or Germany where they have socialized medicine?
We'll miss them when they go.................

[Medusah]

Robert, those Californians picked up and moved up to Idaho. Get a grip. It's a Right to Work state, and everyone has a gun, a chainsaw, a giant pickup, and an ATV. They'll be right at home spotlighting deer and tossing their beer cans along the forest roads with the locals. And FYI, there's no golden goose--never was, never will be. The little guy has always been hosed, only now you're old enough to feel it.

[swkidder]

Roberto: The point is not where the rich choose to live, i.e. which of their 5-7 homes they decide to declare as their primary residence, but rather where their money lives. If we can move on from the first phase of reforming the banking system to beginning to take on "tax havens" like Luxembourg and the Caymans & assorted other island paradises ... then we can begin to implement a fair and just system of taxation. It is unconscionable that Warren Buffet pays a lower tax rate than does his secretary ... and, to his eternal credit, he agrees.
We have work to do, but at least we can take comfort in the fact that the work has visibly begun.

[whatsthisthen]

Roberto, you really don't have to type in all caps.

[rosecat]

Republicans' statements of late have grown more and more out of touch with the reality of what actual Americans are living through. It's like they're in an alternate universe. Maybe Rush should stop sharing his meds with all his friends!

[mikeinwaco]

When Congressional leaders and other personalities within the Republican fold withhold condemnation and, in many cases, cheerlead and applaud the strident, extreme right-wing views of the Rush Limbaughs of this country, we know they have become, not the loyal opposition, but a dangerous, negative, demagogic force at a time when the nation is at one of its most critical turning points in its history. When one takes into account the multiplicity of great problems facing the U.S. today, he has to conclude that collectively, they rank up there with great threats faced at other critical times. If Obama is allowed to fail because of partisan, Conservative machinations, the U.S. government could suffer a complete loss of confidence by the populous resulting in total financial collapse, terrible social upheaval, anarchy, and, in a worst case scenario, rebirth as a totalitarian state. Scoff if you like, but we weren't too far from such a scenario in 1930-32. It was the hope and confidence generated by FDR's leadership that prevented disaster. His experimentation may not have totally cured the Depression, but it provided enough confidence and hope to overcome the Conservatives of his day while corrections were instituted.

[CaptainStormfield]

Fake grassroots oposition movements. Seems so Republican.
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Tea_Party_protests_sees_as_corporate_0301.html
"Now fresh revelations suggest that the skepticism may be well-placed. Mark Ames and Yasha Levine allege in their blog at Playboy.com that the protests were planned well in advance, coordinated by old-line anti-tax organizations, and funded by right-wing corporate interests." "What hasn’t been reported until now is evidence linking Santelli’s 'tea party' rant with some very familiar names in the Republican rightwing machine," they write, "from PR operatives who specialize in imitation-­grassroots PR campaigns (called 'astroturfing') to bigwig politicians and notorious billionaire funders. As veteran Russia reporters, both of us spent years watching the Kremlin use fake grassroots movements to influence and control the political landscape. To us, the uncanny speed and direction the movement took and the players involved in promoting it had a strangely forced quality to it. If it seemed scripted, that's because it was."

[LuckyBlessed]

Excellent insight, it would explain BigHat's lame response to my healthcare black and white blood money stats. They want people to think there is an enemy to protect their blood money, and they have a lot of blood money to protect and to buy bloggers.

[bighat]

The dems still do not care about the average american. If they did why did they change the alternative income tax. No this would not tax the super wealthy but it would hit the upper middle class.

Congress only hits those of us who have neither the time or the money to fight back.

Some of it is our own fault. We keep re-electing the same people. Maybe if they were voted out each election over the next 12 years we might get people who care for America and its citizens.

Congress even admits it. How many of us heard that it takes X number of dollars to run a re-election campaign.

maybe it is time for govt funded elections. I suggest 1 dollar for each constitutent in their district be it representatives, senators, or presidents

[OptimisticMF]

BigHat, no cattle...Or, I should say, no cohesive thought process.

Have a nice day, Troll.

[Gidster]

Seems that the Republicans voted to reduce spending on education, welfare, and veterans benefits also are against unions and universal health care, things that would benefit the average American very much.

They seem to be for corporate welfare, Tax cuts for the rich, did you know that 5% of Americans own 90% of it's wealth? They still want to pay 5% of America's taxes though.

I agree with your last statement, vote all of Congress out and start from scratch. They have been bought and paid for by corporate interests!

[ChelseaC]

Would someone PLEASE define what the hell "Affordable Health Care" is?

I pay nearly 400.00 per month in insurance premiums.
Does that mean under Obama's "affordable health care"
plan I will pay, 25% less, 50%
Can I pay 150.00 on my premium instead?

I keep hearing "affordable health care" but the whole thing makes
me uneasy--yes, I'm a progressive Dem too.
I would rather hear about HR-676--a real solution instead of this subjective
"affordable" business.

Other than this "affordable health care" point, I found this article to
be spot on--Thanks Bob!

[Roberto31]

wHY CANNOT DEMS SUPPORT JUST LETTING AMERICANS TAKE A TAX CREDIT FOR WHATEVER THE COSTOF THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE? IS IT BECAUSE THEY CANNOT CONTROL YOU IF YOU ARE DOING YOUR OWN THING?? AS A DEMOCRAT I AM GETTING ALARMED AT THE CONTROL FREAKS WHO ARE RUNNING THE PARTY NOW. REPUBLICANS SAY LEAVE PEOPLE ALONE AND LET THEM KEEP THEIR OWN MONEY TO DO WHAT THEY NEED. MAY BE THE WAVE OF THE FUTURE AFTER LISTENING TO ALL THESE OBAMA LOBBYISTS HE HAS PUT IN CHARGE. SAME OLD BUNCH OF LOBBYISTS GEORGE BUSH HAD IN CHARGE.

[Roberto31]

YOU ARE SO RIGHT. WE NEED TERM LIMITS BADLY IN US. BARNEY FRANK WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN CHAIRMAN OF A FINANCE COMMITTEE TO SHOVE ALL THOSE BAD LOANS DOWN THE BANKS THROATS IF WE HAD TERM LIMITS. GET THESE GUYS OUT BEFORE THEY COZY UP WITH EVERY LOBBYIST IN DC. LOBBYISTS ARE NOW RUNNING THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION CONTRARY TO WHAT HE SAID. IF ONLY OBAMA HAD DONE WHAT HE SAID HE WAS GOING TO DO. I AM ONE DISENCHANTED OBAMA VOTER. NEVER WILL VOTE FOR A PROFESSIONAL POLITICAL HACK AGAIN. GIVE ME A SMART BUSINESS WOMAN OR MAN AS A CANDIDATE WHO WILL RUN DC LIKE A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS.

[Roberto31]

YOU ARE RIGHT. DEMS DONT GIVE A DAMN ABOUT THE AVERAGE AMERICAN. IF THEY DID THEY WOULD NOT ALL PUT THEIR KIDS IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND THEN TELL THE POOR THEY CANNOT GET A VOUCHER TO PUT THEIR POOR KIDS INTO A GOOD PRIVATE SCHOOL. WHEN WILL AFRICAN AMERICANS EVER FIGURE THIS OUT ABOUT DEMOCRATS. GOP AS LEAST SUPPORTS VOUCHERS AS A MEANS FOR GETTING THE POOR THE EDUCATION TO GET THEM OUT OF POVERTY. DEMS SEEM TO WANT TO KEEP LOTS OF FOLKS IN POVERTY SO THEY CAN CONTROL THEM WITH SOME IDIOT FEDERAL PROGRAM. SICK

[prd mom to 4]

You know what? Maybe more politicians should put their kids in private schools so that the public schools won't be so overcrowded! Anyway, private schools don't guarantee a better education. I went to both and there was no difference, except that the kids in the private school did the same drugs and had the same teen pregnancies, but it was swept under the rug because their parents had money. Maybe you should get to know some of us before you assume that we're all just ignorant brown people who affiliate with a party without reading researching the issues. Granted, there are some, but that's the same with both parties.

[bighat]

There is only one way to tax the rich. That is to raise FICA to all incomes. Not stop at 100k. It is simply written and can be only taken one way even with the best of tax lawyers

[Tkevan]

You might want to catch up. That is in Obama's plan. With a donut hole between $100k and $250k.

[bighat]

Am I the only one that realizes no matter how much you raise taxes from 35% to 90%. The rich, Warren Buffets, JoHn Kerry or his wife, Steve Jobs, Tom Cruise will always find a way around the tax code. Buffett and John Kerry pay a total of 15% of their total income. Buffett's secretary pays 35%.

We always talk about taxing the rich. But unless the tax code is rewritten in simple terms without room for intrepation the rich will never pay as much of the percentage of their income as the middle class.

Even the most liberal among us (Hollywood) only pay 15%. if that. Does anyone realize the hit movie Forest Gump has yet to make a nicket of profit. Just ask the author of the book Forest Gump. He had a 3% royalty on the profits of this movie and has yet to see a check

[Harbinger08]

That's funny, as you can see here< http://www.swivel.com/data_columns/show/1331871?value=Forrest+Gump+> Forrest Gump had posted profits of over $284,000,000 back in 2006. Make up facts much, fella?

[Tkevan]

That's gross profits. I think the OP was talking net profits, which Hollywood never allows. They would have to pay taxes on that, so the paperwork never shows a net profit. It's a way to get around the tax law.

[wolfgangmo]

Good point.

We need to reinstate the capital gains tax to 1982 levels. Let's have a return to the time of Reagan, only without the Reagan part, just the tax rate part.

No less than Warren Buffet himself has suggested this.

[LeLoup]

I smell despair, fear and chaos among the wingnut ranks.

For the rest of us, the majority of the American people, this is nothing less than the smell of...VICTORY!

[dst1]

On to VICTORY!! For us little Americans.

[rgblue]

This is precious. The graphs are especially delightful. Please send it to that genius Santelli. And to his boss!

[johndab]

REAGONOMICS WAS AN IDEA THAT WAS NEVER MADE TO LAST. IT GREW THE WEALTH AND POWER OF A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF AMERICANS. HOWEVER, TRICKLE DOWN ECONOMICS WORKS ONLY WHEN THE TOP CONTINUES TO LET THE TRICKLE CONTINUE. UNFORTUNATELY GREED AND THE SEDUCTION OF POWER [CAPTAINS OF INDUSTRY MOVING MANUFACTURING AND SERVICES OVERSEAS TO INCREASE PROFITS ] SHUT THE TRICKLE DOWN TO DROPLETS.

THE FACT IS CORPORATIONS CARE NOTHING ABOUT YOU OR YOUR FAMILIES....THEY ONLY HAVE TO ANSWER TO THEIR STOCKHOLDERS AND WHEN NOBODY IS WATCHING, THEY'LL DO SOME UNSCRUPULOUS THINGS.

[Rgo]

The fact is a lot of corportations only pretend to care about their shareholders.

[Gidster]

Kaiser Permanente comes to mind!

[WalkingMouth]

And the caps lock key was an idea that was made for people writing headlines or titles on a document...not an entire blog post.

[returnofthejedi]

They will do the same things while everyone is watching too, as long as the neo cons run the show. The bank bailout is a perfect example.

[ChelseaC]

Well said Jedi.