Instead of sending bombs into Congress, the Tea Party sent something much worse: their candidates.
Guy Fawkes, a British revolutionary that became a popular American figure during the Bush administration, due in no small part to the film adaptation of V for Vendetta (quotes from the film have been memorized by comic nerds and activists alike), celebrates his big day today.
The Remember, remember the 5th of November quote is yabbered by Brits all day, while Americans struggle to comprehend how an individual would actually wheel a bunch of explosives into a government building in an attempt to blow it up and put an end the government.
This idea to do so didn’t occur to the Tea Party, as the collective has come to an arguably more powerful conclusion: instead of setting the government on fire, they’ll freeze it.
The torrent of articles stating the difficulties that lie ahead for the GOP, who still face a Democratic majority in the Senate and a liberal President with veto power, has been dizzying. Even the Wall Street Journal has begun commenting on the impending government sclerosis, after their “good-times” editorial of the previous three days.
John Boehner declined to associate himself with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s mission to ensure Obama is a one-term president, as defunding major aspects of Obamacare in 2012 will still be possible, whereas a 2016 repeal would be far more difficult, though not unfeasible.
A kind of Guy Fawkes Day in 2010 just occurred this week. It’s not a conspiracy, since Republicans are character assassinating Obama out in the open, alongside his agenda. But don’t expect the “One Term Presidency” to be a mere provocation; it is a rule. Whether that is good for Americans or not will remain to be seen, but if unemployment remains high Obama will go the way of Jimmy Carter. This is music to the GOP’s ears.
Let’s hope we don’t end up with a new American mantra: Remember, remember the 2nd of November. Doesn’t have quite the same ring as November 5th, though.
November 05, 2010 at 9:46 pm, Englishman said:
Just felt I needed to post a message here in regards to your 'celebrates his big day today' comment… We aren't celebrating Guy Fawkes! We annually (since 1605!) celebrate the fact his terrorist plot to blow up the King and the Houses of Parliament failed!
Effigies of him, often known as 'Guys', are thrown on to bonfires all across the country in organised 'Bonfire Night' (as we usually call it) fireworks displays.
If you want to see what it is all about, you need to visit the UK over 5th November. I recommend Lewes near Brighton on the south coast for the full experience
I appreciate this isn't what your article is really about, but I just thought it was worth pointing out
November 06, 2010 at 11:39 pm, Zippo said:
You do realize Guy Fawkes was no libertarian, right? He only wanted to destroy Parliament because it was overtly Protestant. He wanted to restore a Catholic monarchy; he wanted a strong state telling people what to do, so he tried to blow up ministers of a government with which he disagreed. Not an opponent of government, just government with which he disagreed.
November 19, 2010 at 6:31 pm, WWJD? Support Health Care Reform, Apparently | Death and Taxes said:
[...] think I just heard a Tea Partier throw up on Mitt [...]
November 22, 2010 at 11:05 am, Lessons From The Public Domain: ‘It’s A Joke, Son’ | Death and Taxes said:
[...] That campaign, too, acts as a commentary, one that reflects poorly on the Tea Party. [...]
March 09, 2012 at 4:03 am, Terang Benderang said:
waw.