Why are modern conservatives/The Tea Party obsessed with communism?

[LBJ Revivalist]

I really feel like we're in a new Red Scare, and the Tea Party seems more and more to be a revival of the John Birch Party under a new name; The John Birch Party itself was a co-sponsor at this year's CPAC; Also, one of the Tea Party's leaders, Glenn Beck, is a devotee of Skousen, who was a very nutty Bircher who believed there was a grand overeaching communist conspiracy. Skousen was like McCarthy mixed with Truthers.

How and why did this new Red Scare start? Why are conservatives and the GOP so fixated on communism as if it were 1963 still?

[memphis]

Because OMGZ the president is a secret African Muslim didn't work. They're going back to the old tried and true.

[Citizen (The) Doctor]

Because apparently everything left of far-right is damn communist.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Why does the left no longer care about Communism at all? Just because the USSR is gone, doesn't mean that Communism is.

[Zarn]

Socialism is the word I'm seeing, and I see a lot of progressives openly embracing the term, too.

[Sewer]

Socialism is the word I'm seeing, and I see a lot of progressives openly embracing the term, too.

If they embrace socialism then aren't they socialists instead of progressives?

[tpfkaw]

I don't know, but it sure is very concerning, isn't it?

[Zarn]

Socialism is the word I'm seeing, and I see a lot of progressives openly embracing the term, too.

If they embrace socialism then aren't they socialists instead of progressives?

They call themselves both. These are the people that the certain conservatives are concerned about and quote to no end to make a point that socialism is real.

Really, I don't care what they are called. I just call them wrong.

[Sewer]

They call themselves both. These are the people that the certain conservatives are concerned about and quote to no end to make a point that socialism is real.

Why be concerned with people that have no power and likely never will?

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Why does the left no longer care about Communism at all? Just because the USSR is gone, doesn't mean that Communism is.

Please tell me that you're trolling.

[angus]

Why does the left no longer care about Communism at all? Just because the USSR is gone, doesn't mean that Communism is.

Please tell me that you're trolling.

Oh, c'mon Al, even you think communism is scary.  This is one thing that the libertarian right and the bleeding-heart socialist/Christian left have in common.  Well, that and we both say "bath."

[Vepres]

It's not like the right monopolizes this. The left uses words like theocrat and fascist all the time.

Why does the left no longer care about Communism at all? Just because the USSR is gone, doesn't mean that Communism is.

Please tell me that you're trolling.

He's referring to the ideology, not actual governments.

[Sewer]

Why does the left no longer care about Communism at all? Just because the USSR is gone, doesn't mean that Communism is.

Please tell me that you're trolling.

He's referring to the ideology, not actual governments.

Yes, but:

Why be concerned with people that have no power and never will?

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Why does the left no longer care about Communism at all? Just because the USSR is gone, doesn't mean that Communism is.

Please tell me that you're trolling.

Nice framing of options. Its neither trolling nor overtop. Its a statement of what I feel is an adequate state of things on the left. Its an important question, that I think needs answering. Communism is still a threat to Western society.

I don't care very much about this labeling between the far right and far left of commie versus Nazi and all that. I care about America and making sure that America is safe, and I see too many on left that don't seem to care anymore that if communism were to gain momentum that it be opposed. I am sure you disagree with me both about the danger of communism and the need to decry it for what it is. Don't get me wrong, I am not elavating it above the number of pressing foreign policy concerns that take precendence, but is still important to keep an eye on the remaining Communist regimes especially when they make deals with other rogue regimes like Iran for whatever reason.

[Zarn]

Why does the left no longer care about Communism at all? Just because the USSR is gone, doesn't mean that Communism is.

Please tell me that you're trolling.

He's referring to the ideology, not actual governments.

Yes, but:

Why be concerned with people that have no power and never will?

They do have some power. You see it with the type of legislation we have been getting.

[angus]

I don't care very much about this labeling between the far right and far left of commie versus Nazi and all that.

It's a good thing.  Not to interrupt your love-fest, but we learned here that a good many of us--more that I'd have originally thought--don't buy into that analysis anyway.

still important to keep an eye on the remaining Communist regimes especially when they make deals with other rogue regimes like Iran for whatever reason.

Fucking neocon.  Jeezus, you guys are as bad about spending money as the Democrats.  Ah, at least it's for a good cause. 

[Sewer]

Why does the left no longer care about Communism at all? Just because the USSR is gone, doesn't mean that Communism is.

Please tell me that you're trolling.

He's referring to the ideology, not actual governments.

Yes, but:

Why be concerned with people that have no power and never will?

They do have some power. You see it with the type of legislation we have been getting.

No, just no.

Name one communist legislation.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

I don't care very much about this labeling between the far right and far left of commie versus Nazi and all that.

It's a good thing.  Not to interrupt your love-fest, but we learned here that a good many of us--more that I'd have originally thought--don't buy into that analysis anyway.

still important to keep an eye on the remaining Communist regimes especially when they make deals with other rogue regimes like Iran for whatever reason.

Fucking neocon.  Jeezus, you guys are as bad about spending money as the Democrats.  Ah, at least it's for a good cause. 

Thats not Neocon


"Lets blow them up before they can blow us up"

That's neocon, by your defination of neocon which is slightly incorrect, of course.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

It's not like the right monopolizes this. The left uses words like theocrat and fascist all the time.

Why does the left no longer care about Communism at all? Just because the USSR is gone, doesn't mean that Communism is.

Please tell me that you're trolling.

He's referring to the ideology, not actual governments.

Well I am concerned about Cuba, and North Korea, for anyone to not be, they would have to be completely in denial. Whether they technically still are Communism or not is a debate for another topic.

Yes, I am also concerned about Communism as an ideology because I am capitalist and I think that capitalism has done far more for the world then Communism ever did and has made possible whatever progress has been made as a society. Thus I think Communist have both a distorted world view and a distorted view of history. Is communism on the march in the US, no it's not. Is socialism or social democracy, maybe but it would be decades before we got to anything close to that type of situation. I however will not just brush off troubling signs like the radicalization of the labor movement which has become more accepting of marxists, whereas previously they had taken very extensive efforts to keep them out. I am worried about some of the far extreme environmentalists and the anti-Western, anti-capitalist, who use the the environmental movement to cover their extremism. I think anyone should be concerned about extremism in all directions. And I see all this focus on extremism on the right yet, most of it on the left is glossed over.

[angus]

slightly incorrect

yeah, probably. 

I've heard many definitions.  One of the funniest I ever heard was from William Kristol, a talking head on the Fox News Channel, who said one of his friends called him a neoconservative beause he was both Jewish and a Republican, i.e., Neo+Con.  Ah, I guess you had to be there.

Anyway, I wasn't trying to demean your original point.  I'm with you.  North Korea, and for that matter, China (which is both venally capitalist and decidedly communist).  I'm actually married to a communist.  Well, she's not a party member, but she is a citizen of the PRC, and her mother is a fairly high-ranking member of the Communist Party.  We discuss capital-C Communism often, and she's convinced her situation was improved when her mother became a party member way back in the early 70s.  And, of course, she's right.  I don't know how often you have a Republican married to a Communist, but apparently it isn't unheard-of.  Anyway, you make a good point.  Just don't get carried away with it.  We're in no danger of being overrun by communists.  Our son appears to be quite the Lockean Individualist, for what it's worth.  (At least he constantly thinks that he thinks he's over-regulated.)  So, apparently, the offspring of a Republican and a Communist can be a Libertarian.

[Zarn]

Why does the left no longer care about Communism at all? Just because the USSR is gone, doesn't mean that Communism is.

Please tell me that you're trolling.

He's referring to the ideology, not actual governments.

Yes, but:

Why be concerned with people that have no power and never will?

They do have some power. You see it with the type of legislation we have been getting.

No, just no.

Name one communist legislation.

Socialist not communist...

[Sewer]

Why does the left no longer care about Communism at all? Just because the USSR is gone, doesn't mean that Communism is.

Please tell me that you're trolling.

He's referring to the ideology, not actual governments.

Yes, but:

Why be concerned with people that have no power and never will?

They do have some power. You see it with the type of legislation we have been getting.

No, just no.

Name one communist legislation.

Socialist not communist...

Then name one socialist legislation.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Why does the left no longer care about Communism at all? Just because the USSR is gone, doesn't mean that Communism is.

Please tell me that you're trolling.

He's referring to the ideology, not actual governments.

Yes, but:

Why be concerned with people that have no power and never will?

They do have some power. You see it with the type of legislation we have been getting.

No, just no.

Name one communist legislation.

Socialist not communist...

Then name one socialist legislation.

Well the student loan program changes would in my opinion classify as such.

slightly incorrect

yeah, probably. 

I've heard many definitions.  One of the funniest I ever heard was from William Kristol, a talking head on the Fox News Channel, who said one of his friends called him a neoconservative beause he was both Jewish and a Republican, i.e., Neo+Con.  Ah, I guess you had to be there.

Anyway, I wasn't trying to demean your original point.  I'm with you.  North Korea, and for that matter, China (which is both venally capitalist and decidedly communist).  I'm actually married to a communist.  Well, she's not a party member, but she is a citizen of the PRC, and her mother is a fairly high-ranking member of the Communist Party.  We discuss capital-C Communism often, and she's convinced her situation was improved when her mother became a party member way back in the early 70s.  And, of course, she's right.  I don't know how often you have a Republican married to a Communist, but apparently it isn't unheard-of.  Anyway, you make a good point.  Just don't get carried away with it.  We're in no danger of being overrun by communists.  Our son appears to be quite the Lockean Individualist, for what it's worth.  (At least he constantly thinks that he thinks he's over-regulated.)  So, apparently, the offspring of a Republican and a Communist can be a Libertarian.

I have no problem with someone who is openly communist and expressing his/her viewpoints. The only concern I have is when they hide it and try to pass themselves off as mainstream within the various component parts of the Progressive movement. Thats how Glenn Beck and othes get so hysterical is because they are shielding their extremism, he thus finds it more threatening and thus goes hyper and rants about George Soros for several hours. I don't see the need to get so worried and hyped up because the groups they are hiding in are of limited influence or most American's don't share their assessment of them as "mainstream", ironically. The greatest opponent of the communist, is his own excesses or misinterpretation of their support.

[anvi]

slightly incorrect

yeah, probably. 

I've heard many definitions.  One of the funniest I ever heard was from William Kristol, a talking head on the Fox News Channel, who said one of his friends called him a neoconservative beause he was both Jewish and a Republican, i.e., Neo+Con.  Ah, I guess you had to be there.

Anyway, I wasn't trying to demean your original point.  I'm with you.  North Korea, and for that matter, China (which is both venally capitalist and decidedly communist).  I'm actually married to a communist.  Well, she's not a party member, but she is a citizen of the PRC, and her mother is a fairly high-ranking member of the Communist Party.  We discuss capital-C Communism often, and she's convinced her situation was improved when her mother became a party member way back in the early 70s.  And, of course, she's right.  I don't know how often you have a Republican married to a Communist, but apparently it isn't unheard-of.  Anyway, you make a good point.  Just don't get carried away with it.  We're in no danger of being overrun by communists.  Our son appears to be quite the Lockean Individualist, for what it's worth.  (At least he constantly thinks that he thinks he's over-regulated.)  So, apparently, the offspring of a Republican and a Communist can be a Libertarian.

In the early 70's, China's social and political organization was still mostly communist, and I have no trouble at all believing that a your wife's position improved during the Cultural Revolution when her mom joined the communist party.  But, the so-called Communist Party in China now is communist in name only, though they are still quite authoritarian.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Nice framing of options. Its neither trolling nor overtop. Its a statement of what I feel is an adequate state of things on the left. Its an important question, that I think needs answering.

Why? Communism, as the term was understood in the twentieth century, has been dead for over twenty years. The Cold War ended before you were born.

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HAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA... oh good lord... I mean, either you are trolling or you've completely cracked. There's really no other explanation. Amazing.