Based on her column ("Words we use really do matter...") MDJ columnist Laura Armstrong might benefit from some lessons in history, logic, and non-tea party wordsmith skills. She is short on historical facts and long on opinion with her assertion that ex-President Bill Clinton has been irrelevant during the brief history (five years) of her column. Either her memory is short, or clouded by the tea floating in the water.
At the request of President Bush 43 or President Obama, our 42nd president has participated in the following relevant efforts in the past five years either alone or with Bush 41 and 43.
* January 2005 - tsunami relief with Bush 41
* Late 2005 - Katrina relief with Bush 41 and formation of the Bush Clinton Katrina Fund
* August 2009 - travels to North Korea assisting in the release of journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee
* January 2010 - Haiti earthquake relief with Bush 43
* Ongoing - Clinton Global Initiative
The text of Clinton's speech to Center for American Progress never compared the tea party to Oklahoma City Bombers. Various conservative talk show hosts said it was so, but in reading the text it is never stated, nor inferred. He mentioned the "vast echo chamber" where words fall on the ears of the "serious and delirious, alike." I wonder if she read the full text of the speech or was parroting the tea party wordsmiths.
Historical knowledge would also help Ms. Armstrong realize Clinton's time in office resulted in the smallest government workforce since Eisenhower with four years of balanced budgets and surpluses, two items Armstrong acknowledges as top tea party planks.
Like Ms. Armstrong, I too am upset with the media coverage of the tea partiers. Why cover these small gatherings? There was a time when media coverage for "movements" was devoted to participant numbers in the tens of thousands or the arrest of key movement leaders. With so few numbers, and a message of hate versus solution, it's no wonder the posters of America's president with a Hitler mustache is the focus of the coverage.
Steve Nielsen
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and I seem to recall republicans losing that fight.
I'm happy to see both sides of an issue. But your follow up again is evidence that you aren't.
also, I was well aware of who you were being critical of. otherwise my criticism would make no sense.
I think perhaps there's confusion at play but, it's not over here.
P.S. I am also a Tea Partier!! Whoo Hoo!!
The article you commented on is, in fact, the other side of the story Joe. You're criticizing you.
What you want is agreement. Precisely the echo chamber Clinton referred to. And when you don't get it, you complain, as you have below.
And what makes this funny is you just don't see it and will complain yet again after this is posted.