Tea Parties as Resurrective Ideology

In a series of earlier articles, I have discussed the concepts of "collective trauma"--the shattering of our shared illusions of grandiose invincibility--and "resurrective ideology"--the efforts to bring back to life the illusions that have been lost. I have also characterized the current economic collapse as a collective trauma, both in its own right and insofar as it reanimates the feelings of vulnerability, anxiety, and powerlessness that were wrought by the terrorist attack of 9/11.

The so-called "tea parties" being promulgated by the Republican right are rather pathetic examples of what I mean by resurrective ideology. In the wake of the the trauma of economic collapse, these Republicans are reviving imagery derived from our glorious revolutionary history. By basking in the rhetoric of the Boston tea party, they cover up the disastrous economic consequences of the policies of the Bush administration and blame their woes on the new "red coats"--President Obama and his administration--who are in fact trying valiantly to fix what Bush and his collaborators have destroyed.

Speaking of tyranny and taxation without representation, how many Americans did King George Bush end up actually representing?

Comments

[MerhabaAbi]

It's kinda crazy isn't it. They let Bush destroy regulatory agencies and blame the results on Obama.

[poorpearl]

Of the many things Republicans are learning about themselves through this tea-bagging fiasco, where should I begin?

1. They have no coherent message: they tried, but it deteriorated rapidly into anti-socialist attacks, racist attacks, violent tirades, etc.
2. They have no knowledge of culture or subtext, because if they did they would have known that the use of teabags would make for a months-long joke at their and FOX's expense, not just on MSNBC, but also Youtube, daily show, etc.
3. The attempt at "grass roots" fervor which when Obama supporters did it led to crowds of many thousands, hundreds of thousands, when the Republicans do it leads to crowds of 100s, overall measly showings. Similarly the energy of the piles of shoes left at the white house by dems transformed into Republican tea-bagging fails miserably: sometimes it turns to violence or threats of violence as in signs advocating "tar and feathers" or hanging members of congress, or maybe just a failure to get the appropriate permit so that the "dumping" happens in a building or in a river--really nice to the environment there, buckos. Who's laughing at community organizers now?

to the point made by veggieveal: hard to see Obama as batting zero: he has given the order to close Gitmo, banned the use of torture, given a tax cut to 95% of Americans. It is true he has been less successful than he might have been were it not for Republican obstructionism.

[Kaves]

How is the most expensive and widely publicized campaign in American history a grassroots movement? Becuase they say so? I could have never imagined a more widely promoted campaign than Obama's. Funded by Wall St and all kinds of other Rockefellers and Morgans, too. How is that grassroots? Just rewatch that disgusting little propaganda piece he played during the superbowl. A 30 minute Obama commercial! What other candidate does that?
Oh right, the ones who make and break promises to stick to campaign finance rules.

I supported the guy at first until he started breaking campaign promises before even getting elected. We are going to get new taxes from the new programs and he is just moving the Gitmo prisoners to other offshore prisons. What about Republican obstructionism? Theres a democrat majority in both the house and senate! He passed his stimulus without ONE Republican vote.

[VeggieVeal]

Before we wax rhapsodic about Obama and his new "redcoats", let's see if he can accomplish anything. He is rapidly approaching 3 months on the job, the end of the grace period employers give new workers to see if they can fill the bill. So far he is batting zero..

[TC4S]

I can understand those who want to maintain a watchful eye on the president and hold him accountable. I can even understand those who wish to counter the great deal of praise some heap on the president. That said, what I do not understand is this sort of pessimism. To suggest that Obama is "batting zero" within his first 100 days in office is just hyperbolic.

[VeggieVeal]

Hyperbolic? How so, TC4S? What has he really done beside ponder and pontificate, while following (reluctantly, I admit) his predescessor's game plans?