Christopher Hitchens on the Tea Party

[@LARRYLONGSTRETH]

I miss this guy's brilliance so much.

[@GODTHESOOTHSAYER1]

Haphazardly, I had found Christopher accidentally a few days ago, not knowing who he was. Since then, I can't get enough of his most eloquent interpretations on life and religion. A brilliant man and philosopher in every sense of the word. I am immensely grieved by his passing and feel a deep kinship with him. It's almost as if I knew him well, very well for years. Astonished most assuredly by his death.

[@turpinforpresident]

I know first hand how insane the tea party is. Recently, my close friend's mother told her that i was not allowed to spend time with her because i am liberal and atheist, and very open to expressing my views. This woman herself is a radical christian tea party member. Her daughter (my friend whom has confided in me through many difficult situations) was absolutely devastated, yet the mother felt no twangs of real guilt. This story, i believe, epitomizes the true spirit of the tea party.

[@spregged7231]

I’m gonna resurrect this thread out of curiosity, do you think they’re now in the more populist Trump camp of politics?

[@whatthecello42]

Hitchens nails it.

[@davidsteel7588]

I love the Tea Party. I love every time they open their ignorant, racist mouths, and even more so when they put their irrational ideas in print. They are in fact the most trememdous force for the Democratic Party ever conceived.

[@edwise4543]

Sadly, they're the ones laughing now: Bannon and his minions now dictate government policy. Stupid sells better than reason.

[@SL-pg4dh]

The republicans are now saying the same thing about the SJW, and socialists leftists. I will be back to this comment when it backfires on them too. Both parties while in power tend to drown in their own arrogance.

[@dkupke]

The Tea Partiers so deeply resented the charge of racism and insisted they were about “Small gubbmint, deregulation, low taxes etc.”. But you cannot tell me it is a coincidence that they were dead silent during the George Dubyah years, and are dead silent again now with Trump-yet the instant a black man took the oath, the collectively lost their shit.

[@MonsieurWambo]

Despite his passing, your questions can still be answered, as it is abundantly clear that Hitchens was actually very well versed in American history.

[@Shadoestar]

Christopher Hitchens: "I've seldom seen in my longish life grown ups behaving as stupidly, as immaturely, in an election as in the last cycle in this country." Donald Trump: "Hold my beer."

[@AceofDlamonds]

Lmao so true

[@adenizenabroad9593]

Jesus imagine if he was around to see that tea party mutate into the maga/qanon crowd

[@AceofDlamonds]

Exactly. He'd explode if he saw what that movement mutated into

[@karenryder6317]

What he said about adults behaving like children made me think of MTG!

[@qwerty00101]

I hope America appreciates how much we miss him in England.

[@keithrose4227]

Hitchens had morals and principles far beyond any religious person I have ever known. OF COURSE we should all strive to be like him.

[@andrewmeiklem5098]

2021: Here! Hold my beer

[@-xirx-]

He called it. Many, many years before

[@Tom-nw7px]

2009: "I've never seen adults act so stupidly as the last election cycle" If Hitchens could see the state of politics in 2023: "Perhaps death has some upside after all..."

[@mario81988]

Perhaps death has an upside as well 🤣🤣🤣😆😆😆

[@googlymoogly64]

Great comment. Although few have his talents of perception, and fewer still his talents of articulation. But still, one in a billion. It was an immense privilege to see his life, and a great sadness to witness his death. We are all less for his absence, but greater for his existence.

[@olanordmann7836]

They want freedom. What is silly about that?

[@grazio599]

The immensely silly if it was not so dangerous thing Ola is that they don't want freedom. Quite the contrary. They want authority and control; over all lives and manner of living they don't approve of. And they wish to seize the power of the state to get it. That is the very definition of fascism.

[@olanordmann7836]

grazio599 Emm, no. Capitalism is about the government NOT telling us what to do, think and say.

[@TheRev1269]

Ola Nordmann Not to the degree that they wish it to be. Even Adam Smith argued that government intervention in some markets was absolutely necessary, to prevent monopolies and protect private property etc... and it is. Absolute free market enterprise would be a nightmare to say the least.

[@olanordmann7836]

***** There are no monopolies in a free market, just name ONE.

[@TheRev1269]

Ola Nordmann Correct, that's because we have laws preventing them lol. And if we didn't have antitrust laws, oligopolies would be colluding to drive up price and they would basically be acting as a monopoly.

[@adnyc82]

It’s amazing how astute he was in observing what lay at the heart of the Tea Party movement. He could easily have predicted the rise of Trump, Christian Nationalism, etc.

[@DuckReach432]

Interesting about his comments about how dumbed gown US politics was over a decade ago. Today I saw a 'rap performance' with Marjorie Taylor-Greene seated on a golden throne. In the clip, the singer called her "our most MVP" whilst bodyguards pushed back men in suits meant to represent Democrats. A five-year-old could do better, but this is the new normal.

[@AceofDlamonds]

0:29 the silliest of which is the Tea Party. post-Trump GOP: "Hold my beer"

[@chrisose]

Christopher's brilliance will always be appreciated and is sorely missed.

[@mtlson]

Absolutely spot on, Hitch, as you often are.

[@rainmon]

thank you Mr. Hitchens, you will be missed...

[@PinkYui16]

Rest in peace Christopher Hitchens.

[@tamerphd]

RIP Christopher Hitchens. Rational people have lost a good warrior.

[@BlogBust3rs]

I'm Christian and liked christopher hitchens. A very intelligent and funny man who now has all the questions he spent his life asking, answered. Rest in peace Sir.

[@Verschrankung]

One of the last great free thinkers of our time. Disagreed with a lot of what he said, but I respected how he refused to be swayed by political groupthink.

[@IstahilIB]

Thank you Hitchens for stating the obvious.

[@Em183]

He was so intelligent, witty, rational, articulate...such a rare person to find these days!!! makes me sad.

[@OtherTwin]

bless you chris you were and are in a better place than we are we are all one

[@shaindaman13]

I agree with almost nothing Hitchens ever said. Having said that, I believe he made his point eloquently and very straight forward. His honesty and his reasoning for his ideology are worthy of note. I can think of no other person to whom I've listened to so much that I disagreed with. He just had an amazing ability of making you want to know what he was about to say next.

[@vanseventy]

@macarion I never talked about religion. The founders taught seperation from all other countries.But not isolate,remain courteous but have no allies. If you are refering to seperation of church and state,it is a letter taken out of context by jefferson,he was talking to the danbury baptist church,stating the state is to stay out of the churches affairs,and if anyone wants to reply to this,read the letter,and no it is nowhere in the constitution.

[@dloloa]

@AndyAce83 The other thing to remember is; "They're only theories, if you inhibit yourself from researching and establishing for YOURSELF whether or not they are "just theories".

[@hhn1000]

There is much mischaracterization about the Tea Parties. I'm not a member but they list their issues as these: Eliminate Excessive Taxes Eliminate the National Debt Eliminate Deficit Spending Protect Free Markets Abide by the Constitution of the United States (esp. they state provisions protective of individual liberties. Promote Civic Responsibility Reduce the Overall Size of Government Believe in the People Avoid the Pitfalls of Politics Maintain Local Independence

[@dvmovie]

@galenmark - Did you watch that clip? Please watch it. And I would like to see those 512 references. Would you point me to those, please? Thank you.

[@joshgodawful]

@preemptivestrike20 Just to be clear, Hitchens is from the U.K.

[@grazio599]

Sure he did. Hitchens nailed it. And if he didn't, if there is another version of the tea party out there that is different than the one he speaks about, I haven't seen it and I doubt anyone else has either...

[@Roflcopter4b]

@back2backband1 That's exactly why it's ridiculous. Smaller government is what caused this problem. Reaganomics are largely to blame here. Not Democrats.

[@uniIdan]

Hitchens is a great intellectual, period. He has always thrived to expose the truth, and that is what admire about him. He is (was) one of the only "real" journalists in todays world.He supports what he thinks is right (not a political agenda), even if it is unpopular with most of his colleagues (his view on iraq). He exposed the truth about those usually regarded as "saints" (mother teresa, the dali lama, those are just 2 examples). Hitchens made a positive difference to todays world.

[@ohkay9201]

It might also help to know that Hitchens was a free-market loyalist who subscribed to quite a few conservative principles. His political views evolved just like they do for anyone struggling to think for themselves. But on a side note: I'll bet that if the entire electorate were comprised of constitutional scholars, we'd still be just as partisan and slow to warm to each other as we are now. Our arguments would be a lot more specific, but we'd still war. And just imagine: a nation of lawyers.

[@Mikelovision]

Well said, my friend. I couldn't agree more. Thanks for taking the time to clear that up.

[@BlackMambakins]

On a side note: I love how you start off by going to the lowest denominator of calling others names... the irony of that statement was so SPECIAL!

[@AstralFrost]

I think he nailed it. I never supported the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but I am no isolationist. I think the Tea Party crowd is a terrible blight on America. They have some legitimate grievances, but there is just far too much insanity to justify tolerating them and giving them a voice.

[@quesondriac]

Hitch pissed off a lot of people. He was rude. Pure and simple. But he frequently spoke the truth.

[@hobbit2245]

Taxation is theft, and to compare it to a payment rendered for services is frankly the greatest example of Doublethink I can think of.

[@Danwood2007]

He tried to help the world by promoting the importance of critical thinking and reasoning rather than blind ideology based on emotion.

[@JEFF9K]

We will miss a great thinker like Christopher Hitchens. My plan is to read the rest of his books, and those by people he admired, such as George Orwell.

[@Nathanianianiel]

On the contrary my good fellow. I spelled it precisely as I meant to. The extra "h" represents how I revelled in mirth.

[@keithwhite6176]

No, the steaks aren't free. The restaurant gets paid and not by the taxpayer. The government also gets taxes on it. If it is a meeting the cost of the taxes can be written off as a business expense. This means that whatever the company made that year minus business expenses are what they pay as taxable income. Secondly, there is nothing wrong with offshore accounts, but if you don't pay taxes on the money it's illegal and the IRS is watching.

[@PoliticsStudent]

@Leinster4life13 Hispanic means mix between Spanish and South/Central American, so it's not the same as a Spanish person. There are way more Hispanics than Spanish people in America, so I imagine any person speaking Spanish is assumed to be Hispanic.

[@acinodras]

"stupid" and "immature" describes the Tea Party perfectly.

[@curiousted]

The Tea Party IS the silliest of political movements. Hitch was right about that.

[@TheSmittel]

I agree, Hitchens is now an establishment "GO TO'' guy since the Democrat party clearly is the media establishment since they had to fall in line after 9/11. People cannot see past left/right paradigm and Hitchens showed exactly who he was campaigning for in this interview

[@hobbit2245]

How is taxation not theft? It's the coercive extractive of wealth by physical force or the threats thereof. That definition is pretty damn close to what we define as theft.

[@AndyAce83]

@duaneburnett Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper.

[@omnisc253]

He was an American citizen and he's talking about the Tea Party, not the US in general.

[@UnforgivingDemon]

Today's tea party is not the GOP of Reagan that I thought I joined, the teabaggers have no interest compromise or bipartisanship. What would any moderate republican support, tax cuts for the rich or essential funding for our military? I know what I'll pick.

[@varangian1081]

The problem with being an isolationist is that you may wish to leave 'them' alone, but 'they' do not want to leave you alone. If America somehow retreated to within its own shores the conflict would inevitably migrate there. I do however agree with and understand much of what isolationism seeks to achieve.

[@PhlyPhisher]

Well, it certainly isn't abundantly clear from this particular video. Perhaps you could point us to some link that would make this abundantly clear so that people can re-evaluate their opinions.

[@varangian1081]

A grudge? Please explain. I've always understood the genesis of the American revolutionary spirit to be the profit motive. The Boston 'tea party' was a demostration against the fixed upper price of tea within the Empire. The Boston merchants wanted to squeeze a bigger profit from their assets and couldn't.

[@LudwigsBoneCollection]

I wish Hitchens was still around so he could compare this view of the Tea Party with his view of the Occupy Wallstreet crowd. "I've never seen adults act more stupidly and irrationally in my life", this man had simply not lived long enough.

[@superclaydude]

@Jakexx01 Funny thing, though, most all the Tea Partiers I've had contact with conform to his description. And here's the saddening bit--even those not in the Tea Party share some of the views Hitchens mentions.

[@eventhisidistaken]

The problem with Hitchens' conclusion, is that the beginnings of the Tea Party started in the 70s, long before Obama was elected, and long before white people might have begun to feel fearful about losing majority status. It's an offshoot of the libertarian movement. It's true that some segment of the Tea Party has joined for racial reasons, just as some segment has joined for religious reasons, but the movement itself grew out of reaction to Vietnam.

[@eastjones]

@RightWinger1776 all valid points, but then stick to one argument, if congress is responsible for budget, stop criticizing Obama for spending. can't have it both ways. We have to spend money to jump-start the economy due to Bush's recession & deficit. Despite Rep claims, GDP was -4% when Bush left office, after stimulus it's 1.5% so stimulus worked. Jobs were -600,000/month, now we have positive #s. Balance budget = cut spending AND raise revenue. end subsidies , restore tax rates

[@hhn1000]

@wwww2001 I wish you would give us more detail because I am very dubious about that.

[@PoetlaureateNFDL]

This is genius. Hitchens is one of the smartest people in the world.

[@BrianYoderMrSubtle]

As for the "Constitutional principle of equality", as you probably define it there is no such principle. The Constitution doesn't guarantee equality, it guarantees equal treatment under the law. That's a completely different thing.

[@BrianYoderMrSubtle]

Tea Partiers presumably. Who else might you have meant?

[@massey904]

No I do not know the answer, some atheists believe a Jesus lived and some atheists claim to believe Jesus never existed.

[@MonsieurWambo]

Just check out his body of work. He's done a lot of interviews and lectures on the topic, and he's written two books revolving around the founding fathers of this country.

[@icemachine79]

@shatwood Yep, the Tea Party managed to make Congress even more dysfunctional which was an amazing achievement.

[@VincenzoPentangeli]

It's so sad that an intelligent person doesn't get the Tea Party. Less government oppression, Less spending, and Less taxes. No true Teapartier cares what race you are if you embrace these principals. I can't say I'll miss anyone who can't embrace this, no matter how "intellectual" they are.

[@ruffhouse00x]

The man was a FUCKING LEGEND!!!!!!!!!

[@ohkay9201]

So much for generalities. My point was that citizenship IS / CAN BE stratified by gender and race. Which, Constitutionally, is illegal. Now you tell me: Why would it be illegal if all this "race and sex talk" were just a distraction? These are real issues affecting real people. And the number is not even CLOSE to zero.

[@Neutraliable]

Thumbs up if you never knew Bruce Willis was so knowledgeable!

[@justinlynch8168]

Exactly, my dad works for Boeing, when the taxes that pay for the space program get cut, all of a sudden he's going to feel it in his wallet.

[@beanie928]

No, I'm embarrassed by the GOP who actually believe they're a force for anything good in this country.

[@AlkisGD]

@ptbwf I have found no reason to care whether races stay pure or interbreed wildly. Do you have one to share?

[@RightWinger1776]

@PiotrThePrimate I tend to keep in mind the Constitution which requires Congress to coin money. They delegated that to the Fed Res. But it is still a federal responsibility. I believe Friedman was trying to maintain Constitutional fidelity, and resolve the issue of the Fed Res. His plan for instance to have congress act and Increases the reserve ratio on private banks to 100% was one of the ways to do that. The Mises institutes ideas are great, but would require a Constitutional Amendment.

[@dalhar20]

When people think of rulers of society they think of the government heads. The politicians, the presidents, and kings. I feel that even without this position , pr that of a supreme title, one can make massive waves in the make up of society. These people are capable of being charasmatic, intellectual, articulate, and extremly loud.

[@RaabBlog]

@Caniewaak no. i didnt compare the two. in fact, i said IM NOT COMPARING. i was just saying that fringe elements can be brought to the forefront of a movement.

[@gocar1962]

I too liked Christopher Hitchens but I don't understand why you mean by his being off the mark on this one. Could you explain?

[@LexeconKiddo]

Thank you, Mr. Hitchens.

[@hynterd]

DAMN! GOT THEM!. Always good to see conservatives winning

[@BigDaddy1957One]

This man is one in a billion. Strive to be like him and see as clearly as he did. I do try, every day I try to see the universe as it really is. This man saw it, crystal clear. I can only have hope that one day everybody will have this clear vision or at least like myself try to have that clear a vision. Because if we continue to embrace ignorance, man will no longer exist. Man will become extinct through self-destruction because of his/her ignorance.

[@biscayne63]

Tea party has nothing to do with race. It's about being American and the protection of the American constitution.

[@acrovader]

If you voted for the current president because you wanted to show that you aren't a racist, vote for someone else in 2012 to show you are not an idiot.

[@corposant]

@PiotrThePrimate The Patriot Act has never been proven to have compromised anyone's civil rights and for all of Bush's many flaws, he kept us safe after 9/11. And no, Bush was not a conservative. I am completely and utterly against TARP, so don't lay that at my doorstep. The war on drugs is a dismal failure, I'd be the first to admit that fact. However, drugs are a horrible blight upon society and I'm not sure what should be done in that matter.

[@AroundSun]

Uhmm..the country remained in depressed conditions for 12 years, from 1929 to 1941..From 1945 to 1948 federal spending was cut year to year, by 40%, 38%, and 14%. This amounts to a total reduction of 102 percent. As a percentage of GDP, federal spending was reduced from 42 to 9 percent. Just as the economy rebounded strongly..

[@fornever5656]

The only thing that has "deconstructed" the terms hope, love, and faith. Is your god, your christ and your religion.

[@312Hunter]

Seeing this makes me realize that Hitchens has no idea what the Tea Party is. I thought he was more educated than this. The Tea Party wants the constitution to be followed and the budget to be balanced. That is it. Someone calling Obama names has nothing to do with it.

[@tattyboo83]

Hitch, we are so much worse off without your wisdom, we need you to bring the common sense to the party

[@GriffGriffin]

Holy fuck. I'm only just seeing it now...Christopher Hitchens looks like the father of Bruce Willis!

[@hjrhoades6053]

Hitchens isn't missed by me. I feel sorry for his family, because I'm sure they were endeared to him and miss him greatly. But I don't miss him in the least.

[@thelowly1]

Please people you are taking an excerpt of a full interview and assuming to know the whole story, if you are going to accuse the man of not having all the facts than please have them as well. Also, even thought the the Tea party do have good intentions for fixing the symptoms, they should really listen to his previous arguments on fixing the causes (i.e. crony capitalism.)

[@pdoylemi]

"the Kochs and tobacco-backed CSE designed and made public the first Tea Party Movement website under the web address usteaparty[dot]com." ... "Published in the peer-reviewed academic journal, Tobacco Control, the study titled, 'To quarterback behind the scenes, third party efforts': the tobacco industry and the Tea Party," "Freedomworks and Americans for Prosperity were once a single organization called Citizens for a Sound Economy (CSE). CSE was founded in 1984 by the infamous Koch Brothers"

[@AndyAce83]

Thanks for joining in darkknight302. Now please define, then tell me where I use scare tactics. If not I will acuse you of being a bully (since we can just accuse who we want for what we want ;-)

[@Mikelovision]

The KKK challenges the government and voice their opinions every year, too. That doesn't make them right. What is wrong with using logic and calm speaking style to present a constructive opinion? That's how EVERY opinion should be presented. Not in an angry illogical and angry speaking style. Hes not the final authority, you are right, but he was a great mind and a very rational human being. That's why we listen.

[@TheSmittel]

I agree, his main appeal was and always will be his pomousness and generalized way of thinking that maligns entire people and cultures instead of what the foul leaders have done in the average civilian's name

[@gh3ttoduCanada]

Hitchens looks like Bruce Willis and Michael Kane did a fusion dance. RIP, sir.

[@wggmn3]

@onefodderunit George W also lived in the 18th century....& we were quite isolated at that time...& we weren't meddling (politically, militarily, etc) in the affairs of those who weren't meddling w/ us...times have changed since the 1700's & so have we...

[@AndyAce83]

@dloloa No, but I am fascinated by conspiracy theories so I have read some articles and viewed some videos on youtube about the subject. Is it just me or do we get fewer signs on this video?