This started as a comment to Indie's cut n paste of Matt Taibbi's fine article but it grew.

Taibbi's points are well taken but he really captures my teabag exhaustion with:

Not one has ever bothered to read an actual detailed study of what their taxes pay for. All they do is listen to one-liners doled out by tawdry Murdoch-hired mouthpieces like Michelle Malkin and then repeat them as if they’re their own opinions five seconds later. That’s what passes for political thought in this country.

In my mind, these sheep are the 20 percenters - Bush's fabled base. Is it surprising that 20-some per cent of Texans support cessation?

What's with these people?

Well, beyond the standard god/guns/gays platform, their causes are fragmented anti-this and anti-that without much understanding of how their gripes fit into a larger social construct - but, for sure, they are passionate, and angry, and easily led.

It doesn't take much to funnel all that emotion into demonstrations like the recent tea parties - Rush discovered that over a decade ago and the Murdoch machine has turned it into a major media circus.

As Taibbi suggests, anti-intellectualism is another characteristic of this group - although unthinking seems to be more descriptive.

These folks are noise-makers - and, without a substantive framework or agenda, they contribute little beyond some momentary humor. These 20 percenters are the reason VOA has been reduced to a Got'Cha site - they disruptively wag their teabags and mug for the camera rather than engaging in any meaningful discussion. Sad - pathetically so.

I'm reminded of the tale told by a close friend, a member of an old New England family. One of her ancestors captained one of the vessels involved in t-h-e Boston Tea Party. Seems the planned festivities for that eventful December night were the open secret of the day and, though his political sympathies are unknown, family legend has it that the savvy skipper unlocked his cargo hatches then took the majority of the crew ashore for the night!

Though this recent astroturf teabaggery besmirches that pivotal historical event, the captain's strategy is as sound today as it was in 1773 - Malkin, Rush, Beck, Hannity, Rove, et. al., notwithstanding!

Just move on! Kick back, chill out, enjoy some Burgundy, monitor the Obama administration and save your powder until it's officially open season on the 20 per-centers - that is unless you're into setting the record straight just for giggles and to get your toes stepped on! 

Those 20 per-centers just can't dance!