Voters are evenly divided when asked whether they agree more politically with President Obama or with the average member of the Tea Party. But an enormous partisan gap colors virtually all opinions of the Tea Party.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 42% of Likely U.S. Voters think the president’s views are closest to their own when it comes to the major issues facing the country. But just as many (42%) say their views come closest to those of the average Tea Party member instead. Sixteen per cent (16%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
90% of the 42% of Tea Party supporters probably reckon that the Earth is less than 10 thousand years old too ......sigh.
Posted by: Arthur Dent | October 30, 2013 at 11:18 AM
90% of the 42% of Obama supporters probably reckon that Obamacare works really well...
Posted by: Account Deleted | October 30, 2013 at 11:31 AM
The vilification of the Tea Party is a result of vested interests in old politics. Why is it extremist to suggest that even the USA has to live within its means? The extremists are those who would wait for the US to become another Greece before it considers spending its own money and not money borrowed from the rest of the world.
Better to cut borrowing and the size of government now. When the Chinese call in their loans, the game will be over.
Posted by: Terry | October 30, 2013 at 11:52 AM
Would you agree that at least it's possible to have a rational debate about Obamacare.
Creationism?
Posted by: Arthur Dent | October 30, 2013 at 07:09 PM
Sounds like you'd benefit from a visit to this place:
http://www.vice.com/read/i-went-to-the-california-creationist-museum-and-it-was-really
Posted by: dB | October 30, 2013 at 07:25 PM
Nothing radical about living within one's means, upholding the constitution, a return to the gold standard, individual responsibility, the continued right to keep and bear arms. This is what the ABC will never explain to you about the Tea Party instead you will hear that they are a bunch of flat earthers or dinosaurs walked the earth only 6000 years ago.
We need an Australian Tea Party.
Posted by: Adrian | October 30, 2013 at 07:43 PM
We need an Australian Tea Party.
Or better yet, get involved with your local LNP branch, get pre-selected, and do to the LNP what the Tea Party have done to the Republicans.
Posted by: dB | October 30, 2013 at 08:24 PM
We definitely need a well led party that is more conservative than those we have. Even the Libs. are happy to centralize control as much as they can get away with in accordance with UN Agenda 21.
Posted by: Jim Witt | October 30, 2013 at 08:27 PM
How old do you recon the world is?
Posted by: Anton | October 30, 2013 at 10:20 PM
yes it worked for your idiot mates Okeshott and windsor
Posted by: oldskool | October 30, 2013 at 11:52 PM
"Would you agree that at least it's possible to have a rational debate about Obamacare."
Pretty hard to have a rational debate about something the President has no trouble in lying through his teeth about.
http://catallaxyfiles.com/2013/10/30/there-will-be-no-loss-of-health-cover-under-a-government-i-lead/
The Left-home of the handout mentality.
Posted by: kraka | October 31, 2013 at 05:19 PM
Was that a rhetorical question Anton?
Earth - 4.5 billion years
Universe - 13.8 billion years
I managed to catch a Lawrence Krauss talk earlier in the year. A very enthusiastic speaker.
Posted by: Arthur Dent | October 31, 2013 at 06:57 PM
Ok, if you want to count a ball of lava with no moon and different in mass, orbit and length of day as earth.
Why would 90% of tea party members disagree with you?
Their membership is heavily skewed towards middle class professionals such as engineers and professional tradespeople, and heavily skewed away from public servants, lawyers and humanities academics.
Posted by: Anton | October 31, 2013 at 07:27 PM
Prove it Arty.
Hawking is still looking for the Unified theory.
Science still disputes the Big Bang Theory. ( I accept it, but do not demand others believe it)
Is the Universe curved?
Why are the Galaxies defying the Law of Gravity (by receding), the Foundation of Astronomy.
Give us the answers, Arthur. You profess to be the fount of all wisdom.
By the way - the answer is NOT 42.
Posted by: Peter Simmons | October 31, 2013 at 09:53 PM
Thank you Terry. We also believe in in our beloved fraternal republic's Rule of Law and especially in the United States Constitution and the limitations it places on those who, only with our consent, serve We The (Sovereign American) People. And we are of every imaginable color and creed and religious and/or political persuasion. And/or of none.
And, to paraphrase R Emmet (Bob) Tyrrel, in "The Death of Liberalism" We are encouraged that in the soon to be utterly failed and collapsed power-grab over-reach called "Obamacare," the self-destructiveness of the pernicious and meretricious ideology: "Tax and Spend Liberalism," is finally overtaking its obsessive utopian addicts. Like those writhing in agony in Australia as Labor and the Greens are consigned to history's dust bin!
Posted by: Brian Richard Allen (@Brian_R_Allen) | November 1, 2013 at 08:50 AM
fount of all wisdom. ?
I think you're getting me mixed up with Anton the Oracle.
Re your questions - should we bore everyone with talk of doppler effect, red shift, standard candles and dark energy ?
Posted by: Arthur Dent | November 1, 2013 at 09:49 AM
The biggest problem in USA is the high population of hard working people whose full time wage still has them around the poverty level. Most of these people work in jobs that do not provide medical insurance as part of their employment as many professional, all union, all military and most government jobs do. These people, along with the many who are not employed, and the unionist all tend to vote for the party with the most socialist agenda as they see it is the one to best advantage them. Obamacare and it's requirement that all must have their own medical insurance has the possibility to upset this apple cart big time. Many of these people can barely feed themselves and pay rent now, paying for medical insurance as well is out of the question.
Posted by: Jim Witt | November 1, 2013 at 10:19 AM
No Arthur.
Just tell me what caused the Big Bang.
Posted by: Peter Simmons | November 1, 2013 at 07:15 PM
I reckon (cliché alert) the jury is still out on that, Peter.
But, would I be irrational in suggesting that all possible physical causes for the universe should be explored before resorting to the supernatural ?
Believing that this universe was created by the violent , vindictive maniac of the OLD Testament (with us in mind) is only one hypothesis.
Another is that the total energy in the universe is zero, as in nothing - and NOTHING, is unstable.
Hmmmm.
Posted by: Arthur Dent | November 1, 2013 at 08:32 PM
.... do to the (Coalition) what the Tea Party (Movement has) done to the Republicans ....
We're not done, yet.
And all we're doing, in case you're as ill-informed as to what we're doing as are 95% - maybe more - of Australians, is returning ownership, operation and control of the GOP to its RIGHTful owners: We, The (Sovereign American) People.
And restoring the American republic. Which restoration includes that the feral gummint's power, authority, rights and responsibilities be absolutely limited to those enumerated to it by America's Founding Law!
Posted by: Brian Richard Allen (@Brian_R_Allen) | November 1, 2013 at 09:35 PM
Ok, if you want to count a ball of lava with no moon and different in mass, orbit and length of day as earth.
Is that okay ?
Analogous to calling a blastocyst a human.
Re the "membership" - can't be too many of those professionals at the rallies. Have you seen some of the placards ?
Posted by: Arthur Dent | November 2, 2013 at 08:23 AM
A Rasmussen survey?
Didn't Rasmussen (and Gallup) predict a Romney win?
Posted by: AlterEgo | November 2, 2013 at 01:27 PM
In other words, Arty, you know as much about this as you know about most of the subjects you comment on -
SFA
Posted by: Peter Simmons | November 2, 2013 at 06:34 PM
I come here to learn from The Elite, Peter.
Posted by: Arthur Dent | November 2, 2013 at 10:36 PM