I think many “Tea Party” supporters are regular everyday folks who have sincere political differences with Democrats in general and President Obama in particular. I respect anyone who has the courage to stand up for his or her convictions.

But as Bennett’s cartoon suggests, those regular people are supporting the billionaire Koch Brother’s moneymaking scheme to eliminate oil industry regulations. There’s a new term for Kochs and those of their ilk: Pollutocrats.

From New Hampshire yesterday (2-25-11) Brad Smith filed this report:

“Fueled by the carbon pollution giant Koch Industries, Tea Party Republicans in New Hampshire are attempting to scuttle the state’s involvement in the region’s successful climate program. Robocalls from Koch’s Americans for Prosperity group flooded the state over the weekend in support of a bill that would repeal participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which has cut greenhouse and other pollution and created 1,130 jobs as a result of energy efficiency benefits.

“On Wednesday, the state’s overwhelmingly Republican House of Representatives voted to support HB 519 by a nearly party-line vote of 246 to 104...”

Since I can’t believe that anyone would knowingly be pro-pollution I have to conclude that some of these well-meaning “Tea Party” activists have been duped.

Of course some of these same well-meaning people still insist that someone who quit in the middle of their first term as Governor of Alaska because, in part, of overwhelming media scrutiny, has the temperament to handle the Presidency.

I'm so glad that you chose to post a little background info; no wonder you're such a great writer! And it's nice to have a face to go with those well articulated thoughts of yours. Based on your username I was, however, imaging some very mysterious paramilitary past. The tattoos and scars must be hidden by the jersey:-)

I always enjoy reading your posts. I appreciate your careful research, your candor, and your optimism. I often learn a lot from them; thanks!

BTW; I am green with envy over the balloon-piloting . I've only been a passenger a couple of times, but it was the most amazing experience! What a great hobby!

That's a pretty hot new avatar!

Blackwater the site rocks now it is rolling like a Bart train going to the East Bay.

That's a cool avatar that you got. I Blackwater might use a lighthouse from the Maine coastline as my avatar but will most likely toy around with it to see what i like.

I love this new system with out a doubt plus over all it is a vast improvement to the site.

~~~~~ Cheer's ~~~~~

I wonder how many people know where that avatar came from. I am old enough to remember.

When the going gets tough, the weird turn pro !

I have to admit. I like your photo of Alex DeLarge. It fits you profile name perfectly. "No time for the old in-out, Blackwater, I've just come to read the meter." :-)

I saw 2001 in the theater on a double date. That girl didn't go out with me again. About half the people left at intermission (remember when movies had intermission?). We went to Shoney's after the movie and ate strawberry pie and tried to figure out what the movie was trying to say. I saw Clockwork Orange at the theater on a date with the woman who is now my wife.

The Sarah Palin speech she did in Nashville TN was a hung dooser pal. Sarah stuck her foot in her mouth by saying that the GOP as a whole should became the tea party. Its on C-span and you should check it out blackwater for all it's worth. The speech is about a hour long with a question and answering period after the 40 min gibberish of Sarah.

What has the 2 party system come to my friend will it get any better by 2012.

Oops, too late! I just got home and checked the TFP comment board; trburrows' insane tirade against you and harp was the first thing I saw. I instinctively jumped to the defense; not so smart. You're right of course, but mothers always remain protective. We just can't help ourselves, even when we know someone is perfectly capable of doing it for themselves. Thanks for trying to warn me, though. Burrows definitely sounds disturbed.

I enjoyed your nice note about Michael Moore, but I've had a busy week, too, and haven't had a chance to respond. When I'm not so tired I do want to get back to you with a couple of thoughts related to that speech.

I'm sorry to hear that your mother-in-law is having problems. She's very lucky to have you so close. I can tell that you're a very caring person. Hang in there and hopefully things will normalize for all of you soon.

Hello Blackwater, I decided not to post to today's cartoon. The resultant catastrophe in Japan is not (in my opinion) a place to bicker about ideology. However, It is obvious by responses to yours, and others posts, that incessant right wing propaganda has had an effect beyond what the purveyors ever dreamed. I think it was you that told me "Arguing with Francis (or his clones)is like arguing with a jar of mayonnaise." Their inability to actually research a given subject, with an immediate turn to anger and personal attack is stark evidence of intellectual laziness. It is these types that you need to be careful of. They are automatons and can be very dangerous. This was plainly illustrated in a threat posted...hmm yesterday I think.

It's a helluva lotta fun though ain't it!? Keep up the good work.

The Tea Party are the new Nazi's in America. Now got that out my system as for animals that we like in common sir i happen to love manatees they are so cute and simple.

Hey Blackwater do you like sloths by any chance ?

They are one of one of my all time favorite's in the animal kingdom and wish to own one someday.

Oh Blackwater my friend,

You missed an opportunity to hammer the Seamonkey yesterday (March 27th) into the ground like John Henry drove RR spikes.
You pointed out the assertion from his March 27, 2011 at 11:41 post: "obama did not go to congress.....before invading Libya." Ask him, just when exactly did when did we ‘invade’ Libya.

Also; Please commend (or not) Seamonkey for his astute observation that Bush went to Congress & the UN, but with a briefcase so full of bullcookies we’ll never be able to wipe it all off. This criminal fraudulence resulted in the death of thousands of American soldiers and upward of perhaps hundreds of thousands of Iraqis. Not to mention the 1 billion per week costs.

Hell, I don’t have to tell you this. I just thought you might like a fresh supply of spikes for your hammer.

Limric

It sounds like you live in a beautiful place Blackwater48. I've tried my hand at writing but still haven't finished the book yet, maybe one day. Anywho just wanted to say "Hi" because I really enjoy your posts and look forward to reading more!

From Thursday April 7th cartoon: Tea Party.

Fun fun fun,

From those loudest to proclaim liberty and freedom, comes the loudest disdain for freedom of speech.
Libertarians4Freedom said... More crap from commie Clay. Hey Clay, Chattanooga isn't a concentration camp, if you like the Democrats so much why not get a job with the LA Times, the Chicago Tribune or even the Atlanta Journal Constitution?

Rivieravol said... Hey Bennett, I noticed the Tea Party is having a gathering on April 15th, why don't you come and call some of the members to their face what you have in your cartoon, you Keyboard coward.

Notice the use of weasel words.

Or this jewel: Libertarians4Freedom said... Admit it, Obama-lovers, you wish the clowns at MSNBC got half the ratings Beck gets. Pssst.
Glenn Beck got sacked.

And the foot in mouth of the month award goes to bookieturnersghost, who said... Go ahead libs, attack another group of people by using mockery and epithets simply because they are different than you. Then, imagine how Martin Luther King would think about your behavior.

And this is 50% (or more) of our populace. I should stand on the podium of righteousness. I speculated years ago that there was a determined, calculated effort to dumb down this country. The fruits of that effort are dropping like the wastes of a huge flock of Seagulls near a landfill.

I like watching you hammer their hypocrisy. Keep it up.

Working on the Arts Council eh. A hotbed of intellectual...ism. Seditious and, very dangerous.

My second wife is a fine artist (as was my dad, my mom, my brother is, my son is etc) and a fine arts teacher here in central Florida. Funding has been of course gutted over the years and the comments from the school boards and even some parents were breathtaking in their in their ignorance.

I realize I am preaching to the choir, but I don’t know how many times I (and others) have tried to impress upon these cretins that the arts ARE THE BASIS of almost everything you see around you and as much an integral part of education as the three R’s.

Continued attempts at enlightenment, and or independent thinking always results in a visit to room 101. Resistance is futile.

As I was saying:

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/04/11

Well Blackwater Obama did it or did he piss the killer bee hive off some more.

This better better not be a huge hoax to inflate Obama's poll rating's up for the up coming election in 2012. What if this was so that he can appeal to voting base he had in 2008 and win relection back on the hill.

Hmmm.....lol....been tripping on some of the stuff that Alex Jones be saying on his zany radio show inforwars.

Check it out and tell what you think if this loon.

www.alexjones.com

www.inforwars.com

You can also check him out on Facebook as well.

Where are you, Blackwater48? You need to report. Francis is gone, but new pods have taken his place. BigRidgePatriot does nothing but whine day after day about Bennett’s cartoons. The Ayn Rander boys are in frenzy and running amok. Harp3339 appears to be channeling one of the Koch Brothers. Your expertise is needed. . . . Sincerely, MountainLaurel.

Good to hear from you, Blackwater48.

Indeed, the north Georgia mountains are beautiful. The area around Tallulah Gorge has aways held a particular appeal for me. You can connect to the Blue Ridge Parkway somewhere in the area and drive into Ashville, N.C., which is another beautiful spot. The scenry and “silence” on the BRP route is awesome, and I highly recommend it if you haven’t seen this stretch.

So sorry to hear of the family crisis, Blackwater48. I’m sure politics will be the last thing on your mind for awhile. . . . Just remember to take care of yourself. . . . Sometimes we sort of forget to do this, particularly when there is family crisis going on. . . . The rest of us will continue to stand by Bennett, and do our best to keep at least a few facts out there – not that any of TFP’s hyperactive wingnuts, “moaning myrtles” and Koch-a-teels will ever acknowledge a fact, but what the heck. What's to lose, but a little time.

I will be taking a little R & R trip myself within the next few days. But unlike you I’ve been really longing for some salt air, sand between my toes, and a good cup of clam chowder. Hopefully, the weather will be pleasant and hurricane free. I'm looking forward to doing nothing much of anything except a little beach combing. Well, I might also check-in and try to “commune” with a few sea turtles to see how life has been treating them since the big BP oil spill.

Again, you take care, Blackwater48. . . Till later, Mountainlaurel

Here you go evil Blackwater. Enjoy.

http://www.markfiore.com/political-cartoons/watch-dogboy-mr-dan-debt-ceiling-debate-animated-video-mark-fiore-animation

Hello Blackwater, I come bearing a gift. Use it when necessary. It should be especially useful hammering the Tasmanian Devil of this blog - Seamonkey, or others of his ilk. Don't forget to set him up first.

House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) often expresses concern for how Obama policies are supposedly a “grave danger to America’s prosperity.” Well, well, well - I found a Wall Street Journal blurb that finds Cantor actually invests in an exchange-traded fund that “takes a short position in long-dated government bonds” — effectively betting against the U.S. Treasury bonds that the government uses to fund its operations:

If Cantor truly cares about “America’s prosperity,” one would have to wonder why he is literally betting against its financial future.

Does this means he'll gain if he can shut the government down? Will Cantor gain if the GOP manages to ruin the recovery? I’d say YES. Traitorous isn’t it?

Here's the link.

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2010/06/18/eric-cantors-investment/?mod=e2tw

Not at all! I love your posts, and I see we think alike! I am glad I took 6 weeks off this blog, but I am having fun now that I am back. Although the stoopid can be a little discouraging at times...

You need to see this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndkRgj6j-Pg

I command you to see this clip**. It’s Dylan Ratigan raving. His rant is neither left or right. He may have lost his cool, but he’s EXACTLY RIGHT. This is could just as easily be me arguing with friends and co-workers. Maybe if enough people see this and think a little bit, we might be able to avoid the fascism looming on the horizon.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/09/dylan-ratigan-rant-debt-negotiations_n_922855.html

Please see my November 17, 2011 4:34 p.m. post referencing Clay's November 16th cartoon "Occupy / Stupefy. I couldn't help myself. Tally Ho !