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This page is currently inactive and is retained for historical reference. Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the village pump. Discretionary sanctions for the Tea Party movement have been superseded by American politics 2.

This page is used for the focused discussion on improving the Tea Party movement article. Requests for minor edits, general discussion on sources, individual queries about the article which are not related to the focused discussion, etc, should take place on the main article talkpage. In order to maintain focus, the aim is to discuss one editing aspect at a time. Currently we are looking at trimming the article, and moving some of the material into sub-articles. Following a discussion there is a show of hands to establish there are no significant outstanding objections, and to establish consensus, and then the edit can be actioned. Commenting on the contributors is not allowed, and while up to now such comments have simply been hatted, from this point, anyone making a personal comment will be formally warned, and if necessary will be blocked. Anyone who has concerns about a comment that has been made, should not respond here, but leave a note for me either on my talkpage or by email. I am not able to carefully read this page every day, so patience and communication to me about concerns is needed. Progress is being made, and though there are sticky patches, the article is improving. SilkTork 09:32, 22 May 2013 (UTC) The article has been unlocked, so I have amended the above notice. And add here: If someone new to the article makes an inappropriate edit, inform them of this moderated discussion, and discuss the edit on this page. If someone who is already aware of the restrictions in place makes an inappropriate edit, inform me, and I will deal with it. SilkTork 14:03, 18 June 2013 (UTC)

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The Tea Party doesn't have a single uniform agenda. The decentralized character of the Tea Party, with its lack of formal structure or hierarchy, allows each autonomous group to set its own priorities and goals. Goals may conflict, and priorities will often differ between groups. Many Tea Party organizers see this as a strength rather than a weakness, as decentralization has helped to immunize the Tea Party against co-opting by outside entities and corruption from within.

The Tea Party has generally sought to avoid placing too much emphasis on traditional conservative social issues. National Tea Party organizations, such as the Tea Party Patriots and FreedomWorks, have expressed concern that engaging in social issues would be divisive. Instead, they have sought to have activists focus their efforts away from social issues and focus on economic and limited government issues. Still, many groups like Glenn Beck's 9/12 Tea Parties, TeaParty.org, the Iowa Tea Party and Delaware Patriot Organizations do act on social issues such as abortion, gun control, prayer in schools, and illegal immigration.

The Tea Party generally focuses on government reform. Among its goals are limiting the size of the federal government, reducing government spending, lowering the national debt and opposing tax increases. To this end, Tea Party groups have protested TARP, stimulus programs, cap and trade, health care reform and perceived attacks by the federal government on their 1st, 2nd, 4th and 10th Amendment rights. Tea Party groups have also voiced support for right to work legislation as well as tighter border security, and opposed amnesty for illegal immigrants. They have formed Super PACs to support candidates sympathetic to their goals and have opposed what they call the "Republican establishment" candidates. After setbacks in the 2012 elections, the movement again shifted its focus. With repeal off the table, the Tea party now leads efforts to nullify federal health care law. It has also mobilized locally against the United Nations Agenda 21. They have protested the IRS for controversial treatment of groups with "tea party" in their names.

Even though the groups have a wide range of different goals, the Tea Party places the Constitution at the center of its reform agenda. It urges the return of government as intended by the Founding Fathers. It also seeks to teach its view of the Constitution and other founding documents. Scholars have described its interpretation variously as originalist, popular, or a unique combination of the two. Reliance on the Constitution is selective and inconsistent. Adherents cite it, yet do so more as a cultural reference rather than out of commitment to the text, which they seek to alter. Several constitutional amendments have been targeted by some in the movement for full or partial repeal, including the 14th, 16th, and 17th. There has also been support for a proposed Repeal Amendment, which would enable a two-thirds majority of the states to repeal federal laws, and a Balanced Budget Amendment, which would limit deficit spending.

Unresolved concerns:

4) Introduce the pedestrian understanding of constitutional originalism by sociologists: Reliance on the Constitution is selective and inconsistent. Adherents cite it, yet do so as a cultural reference rather than out of commitment to the text, which they seek to alter.

• Oppose - You don't call a plumber to tell you why the furnace is acting up. †TE†Talk 21:25, 10 July 2013 (UTC)

Addendum: Malke and P&W's versions both have this sentence in their proposed paragraph on Contract from America, which I don't object to adding if we intend to scrap the present subsection on that same topic:

The top ten included "identify the constitutionality of every new law, reject cap and trade legislation, demand a balanced federal budget, simplify the tax code, assess constitutionality of federal agencies, limit growth in annual federal spending, repeal Obamacare, new energy policy that supports exploration, reduce earmarks, and reduce federal taxes."

Xenophrenic (talk) 10:25, 10 July 2013 (UTC)

I'd keep the list, but we do need a merge for reduced redundancy. †TE†Talk 21:30, 10 July 2013 (UTC)

Same answer as the previous 5 versions. Good enough to go in as a starting point for further work. With the understanding that it needs changes which we can handle then. (Including later fixing the travesty "Reliance on the Constitution is selective and inconsistent." If someone advocates blacks' right to vote and cites the constitution, but fails to advocate the right to bear arms in the same speech, do you put that "inconsistent" statement in their article?) Would not replace the subsections which would be handled separately. North8000 (talk) 13:41, 10 July 2013 (UTC)

re: Reliance on the Constitution is selective and inconsistent. Adherents cite it, yet do so as a cultural reference rather than out of commitment to the text, which they seek to alter.

Two objections have been raised about that text. The first, is that it is opinion, rather than reliably sourced fact. This is incorrect; the sources do not say they are opining, and the sources (the Oxford University published book, and the peer-reviewed academic paper) are indeed reliable. Also, equally reliable sources calling that text into question have not been produced. Further objections along those lines would be better handled at WP:RSN.

The second objection, as I understand it, is that the text is inaccurate or false. The "right to vote/right to bear arms" example doesn't exemplify the reasoning behind the "inconsistent" description being used here. Here is some of the source content supporting the proposed text:

It can further be found in the TPM’s recurring cultural theme of returning to the ideals of the Constitution. Like the Tea Party name, this theme is selectively nostalgic Support for Constitutional principles is not absolute. TPM supporters were twice as likely than others to favor a constitutional amendment banning flag burning; many also support efforts to overturn citizenship as defined by the Fourteenth Amendment. That TPM supporters simultaneously want to honor the founders’ Constitution and alter that same document highlights the political flexibility of the cultural symbols they draw on. The TPM supporters’ inconsistent views of the Constitution suggests that their nostalgic embrace of the document is animated more by a network of cultural associations than a thorough commitment to the original text. (Perrin, Pgs. 7-8)

They are doing what every political endeavor does: using history as a source of inspiration and social identity. Just like other political actors, past and present, Tea Partiers stretch the limits of the Constitution, use it selectively, and push for amendments. Tea Partiers have argued for measures such as restrictions on birthright citizenship, abridgements of freedom of religion for Muslim-Americans, and suspension of protections in the Bill of Rights for suspected terrorists. Some parts of the Constitution are lauded over others. (Skocpol/Williamson, Pgs. 50-51)

The "inconsistency" is not so much that they do advocate one part while not advocating another part of the Constitution (although they do that, too), but more that they advocate adherance to the constitution while at the same time advocating amending or repealing. Did I incorrectly word what the sources are saying, or is the contention that the sources are just wrong? Xenophrenic (talk) 19:59, 10 July 2013 (UTC) (I note that North8000 is travelling, and says we can fix this later, but I thought I'd at least try to get a clearer picture of the objection.) Xenophrenic (talk) 19:59, 10 July 2013 (UTC)

I'd call it misleading POV wording, including if a source said it. Again, we can fix this after it's in. North8000 (talk) 13:36, 11 July 2013 (UTC)

"A source" didn't say it, many sources have. Here's another one:

The Tea Partiers' view of the Constitution was commonly described as "originalism," a fidelity to the exact words of the document as they were written in 1787 that has adherents at major universities and, in Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas, on the U.S. Supreme Court. And some Tea Partiers' version of the Constitution sounded just like that. But many others were learning subjective interpretations of the Constitution that went beyond the primary source, and beyond what legal scholars or Americans would recognize—even using a dictionary—in reading the original document. (Zernike; Boiling Mad, Pgs. 67-68)

And another one in this academic, peer reviewed paper contrasting conservative originalism with progressive living constitutionalism (cited in no fewer than 33 academic journals and papers):

It serves as a critical counterweight to the distorted history pedaled by many conservative politicians and activists, including the members of the Tea Party. These activists seek to portray themselves as the true defenders of the Constitution, but they are selective in their defense and in their vision. They incorrectly portray the powers of the federal government established by the original Constitution as exceedingly limited, which ignores both the language of the Constitution and the crucial fact that it was adopted in response to the flawed Articles of Confederation, which failed to establish a strong national government. In addition to distorting the original Constitution, Tea Partiers often pretend as if the Constitution were never amended and therefore simply ignore the expansion of individual rights and federal power accomplished by those amendments. When selective amnesia fails, they call for jettisoning portions of the Constitution they dislike, including the guarantee of citizenship in the Fourteenth Amendment to all who are born in the United States. Indeed, Justice Scalia jumped on the Tea Party bandwagon last year in suggesting that the Seventeenth Amendment was a bad idea, which is simultaneously remarkable and somewhat beside the point for a sitting Justice, whose oath is to defend the Constitution—even the parts he may not like. Put simply, the rise of the Tea Party has led to a national debate over the meaning of the Constitution, which has recently focused on the constitutionality of health care reform. The distortions, selective reading of the Constitution, and calls for constitutional amendments by Tea Partiers demand a response from progressives, and Amar‘s work outlines a devastating one. But there is a further lesson in here for progressives who remain uncertain about the wisdom of embracing the Constitution. If the Tea Partiers have to fiddle so much with the actual Constitution in order to claim that it supports their positions, doesn‘t that in itself constitute excellent proof that the real Constitution is not nearly as conservative as the Tea Partiers would like? (James E. Ryan; Virginia Law Review, Pgs. 19-20)

Another highly regarded source published by Johns Hopkins University Press makes this observation in his book specifically about the Tea Party movement:

The federal government, especially Congress, must be held to a strict interpretation of the Constitution. Like other Americans, however, Tea Party supporters are selective about which passages to ignore and which to revere. (Formisano; Pg. 52)

So, to recap, here's the proposed text based on many reliable sources: "Reliance on the Constitution is selective and inconsistent. Adherents cite it, yet do so more as a cultural reference rather than out of commitment to the text, which they seek to alter." That accurately conveys what the multiple reliable sources say, without being misleading. Are there other concerns?

Xenophrenic (talk) 05:44, 21 July 2013 (UTC)

Getting back to work

Suggestions on what to work on next

It might be a good idea to open a section addressing the specific government programs the TP opposes and include the Social Security and Medicare programs which TP members depend on. Tea Party members and their supporters don't seem to be against them, yet these programs represent the same kind of huge government programs they are opposed to.

Malke 2010 (talk) 15:17, 12 June 2013 (UTC)

That would prove difficult. How do we delve into the complexity of Medicare which older Americans paid into their entire lives only to see cut for another entitlement (Obamacare), and social security which is backed by IOU's the federal government can only pay back with increased taxes or borrowing? Even saying they oppose these programs is troublesome. Opposition is more to the administration of such programs. †TE†Talk 15:31, 12 June 2013 (UTC)

I thought it was an interesting dichotomy. Look at the demographic. They're all headed for retirement and will need these programs. I've mentioned this several times back in 2010 but nobody ever wanted to do it. Malke 2010 (talk) 16:23, 12 June 2013 (UTC)

• Malke, please feel free to write a couple of paragraphs on that topic and post them here for approval. If there's a reliable source which specifically addresses that "interesting dichotomy," it should be identified and cited like this:

Joe Blow, a political science professor at Wassamatta U., has examined the "paradox" created by the Tea Party movement's support for reform of Social Security and Medicare. Blow observes this support is not in the self-interest of many Tea Party members, since they tend to be over 50 years old and will be relying on these programs in a few years.

• There are three steps I'd like to take right away:

1. One thing I think we should take action on immediately is adding the word "grass-roots" (with the Wikilink) to the lede sentence. We were discussing it just before the moderated discussion started. I felt we had consensus for it, since there were so many reliable sources to support it. The allegations about Astroturfing have one or two sources, and are clearly a minority opinion per WP:WEIGHT.
2. Another thing we should consider immediately is removing the Other events section. The removal of the "On issues of race, bigotry and public perception" section has kind of orphaned THIS section. I suggest we cut the length of the paragraph about the gas grill in half, and add both events to the list of bulleted incidents at the end of Perceptions of the Tea Party movement, in chronological order.
3. Also, there's a subsection at the beginning of the "History" section called Commentaries on origin. Nothing there is notable enough to remain in this top-level article. It should be moved to the spin-off article, Perceptions of the Tea Party movement, after the bulleted list of incidents.

• Strongly support. Now that the "On issues of race, bigotry and public perception" roadblock has finally been removed, we can move forward with several other items that have been waiting patiently. The "grass-roots" edit, for example, has been waiting for two months. Let's get these three items done and move on. regards .... Phoenix and Winslow (talk) 03:26, 13 June 2013 (UTC)

• Oppose First, I believe that we are to be focusing on one item at a time, not multiple items in a haphazard manner.--Ubikwit_{見学/迷惑} 06:12, 13 June 2013 (UTC)

(A) There's nothing "haphazard" about it, and we have previously discussed more than one edit at a time — usually removal of the "On issues of race, bigotry and public perception" section, plus some other edit. (B) I don't see any substantive objection, just a procedural one, which has just been addressed — see (A). Phoenix and Winslow (talk) 12:02, 13 June 2013 (UTC)

I didn't have a chance to get back yesterday, but I realized the first goal here is to reduce content. I will postpone the Soc Sec issue until the reductions have been completed. My suggestion for further reducing content that might take the tension off from that last edit, is to reduce the protest/rally sections. We already have Tea Party protests and the content could easily be transferred there. My suggestion for a remaining para, with a link to the main, is focus on the beginnings and then mention the spread to national, without too much detail. Just generalized. I'd be happy to write up a sample para if anybody is interested.

On the grassroots bit, because there's so much controversy about it (with editors), it is something that needs to be addressed here. We do have to take things one at a time. I just thought something easy, like reducing the protests section, might be something that is easy and could help foster a more collegial atmosphere. The race/bigotry section was stressful for all. (And I agree about the History section with it's "commentaries" subsection. I also agree with transferring the "Other events" section the subarticle.)

Malke 2010 (talk) 13:16, 13 June 2013 (UTC)

Yeah, maybe leave "grass roots" for later. North8000 (talk) 14:01, 13 June 2013 (UTC)

I think that possibly the most messed up section in the article is the "polling of supporters". It's a wp:synth wp:or fest, about the worst abuse of primary sources I've ever seen, uses hostile op-ed pieces as a "source" of polling data, and has misleading or inaccurate summaries. Many "gems" in there. For example "predominantly white" (any group representative of US polulaiotn is going to be "predominantly white") A good candidate to take a close look at. North8000 (talk) 11:32, 14 June 2013 (UTC)

This article was loaded with gems like that when we started. It was like the home of a hoarder. Now that responsible Wikipedians have taken charge of the situation and we're trying to clean it up, we're going to be hauling rubbish out of here for weeks. Every time we open the door to a new section, there's going to be a little avalanche of garbage falling out. regards ... Phoenix and Winslow (talk) 16:19, 14 June 2013 (UTC)

Let's get back to work

I think we should get back to work. The article has been substantially improved, but we still have a lot of work to do. SilkTork has left us since he's traveling during the next week and won't have Internet access. The ArbCom case has started up again, so I'm sure we'll all be on our best behavior, and we have a rough framework of rules for future procedure proposed by North8000.

The race/bigotry section and the agenda section were very difficult and stressful for everyone. It seems to me that to a very substantial extent, they are done. There may be some follow-up work to do with the agenda sub-sections, and some tweaking of the language we've already added/changed in that section (including refcites — ). But I think the big problems have been resolved, and we can go forward with some less challenging portions of the article.

Let's get on the stick.

My proposal for three minor improvements will be slightly modified as described below. This is to make it more attractive to those who may have been opposed to the original proposal. Modified portions and some explanation and argument have been added in italics and strikethrough.

1. One thing I think we should take action on immediately is adding the word "grass-roots" (with the Wikilink) to the lede sentence. We were discussing it just before the moderated discussion started. I felt we had consensus for it, since there were so many reliable sources to support it. The allegations about Astroturfing have one or two sources, and are clearly a minority opinion per WP:WEIGHT. Astroturfing allegations have already been presented in the body of the article. If necessary, these can be expanded upon, particularly with footnoted blockquotes from Formisano and Skocpol.
2. Another thing we should consider immediately is removing the Other events section. The removal of the "On issues of race, bigotry and public perception" section has kind of orphaned THIS section. I suggest we cut the length of the paragraph about the gas grill in half, and add both events to the list of bulleted incidents at the end of Perceptions of the Tea Party movement, in chronological order.
3. Also, there's a subsection at the beginning of the "History" section called Commentaries on origin. Nothing there is notable enough to remain in this top-level article. It should be moved to the spin-off article, Perceptions of the Tea Party movement, after the bulleted list of incidents. I think it's important to identify this as "criticism and commentaries," since that's what it is, and identify critics as progressives and anti-tobacco activists, since their motives in raising these criticisms are most likely partisan.

• Strongly support. Now that the "On issues of race, bigotry and public perception" roadblock and the agenda roadblock has have finally been removed, we can move forward with several other items that have been waiting patiently. The "grass-roots" edit, for example, has been waiting for two three months. Let's get these three items done and move on. regards .... Phoenix and Winslow (talk) 13:45, 6 July 2013 (UTC)

• Comment The addition of grass roots was opposed P&W and you continue to confuse voting with consensus. Otherwise I really don't see the point until the Arbcom position is settled. It ha gone back there because this approach did not work. ----Snowded 04:50, 7 July 2013 (UTC)

There's no confusion on my part, Snowded. The TPm is a grass-roots movement; this is the majority position per WP:WEIGHT. The example that I used in previous incarnations of this thread was the Waterboarding article. Even though a minority of reliable sources, including (at that time) the Vice President of the United States, the Attorney General, and two Deputy Attorneys General were of the opinion that in some cases waterboarding was not torture, a majority of sources stated that it was torture. Accordingly, the first six words of the Waterboarding article are, "Waterboarding is a form of torture" In previous incarnations of this discussion thread over the past six months, I've linked at least 18 reliable sources stating that the TPm is a grass-roots movement. These included both peer-reviewed academic and fact-checked news organization sources. Those editors who opposed the edit cited two sources: one by Ron Formisano, who claims that a few groups associated with TPm are engaged in Astroturfing, and one by Theda Skocpol, who observes that the TPm is neither grass-roots nor Astroturf, but something in between. Even if we count both of these sources as sharing the same minority opinion, it's eighteen to two — clearly a majority opinion and a minority opinion per WP:WEIGHT.

But it isn't even that good for those who oppose the edit, Snowded. It's eighteen for the majority opinion, one for a minority opinion, and one for a different minority opinion, because Formisano and Skocpol don't share the same opinion. Clearly, the authors of the Waterboarding article have shown us how to handle this situation. Review the archives of that article's Talk page. Those who opposed that edit were very determined, but they lost the content dispute. Here, we also see support for treating obvious minority opinions as something other than the minority. This is a policy based argument, Snowded. Policy based arguments, not votes, determine consensus per WP:CLOSE and WP:CONSENSUS. You see, there's no confusion on my part about what constitutes consensus at Misplaced Pages. Do you have a policy based argument?

Next, let's examine your desire to wait until the ArbCom decision. Are you waiting for ArbCom to issue topic bans for one side in the content dispute, and then the other side can have its way? ArbCom doesn't decide content disputes. Policy decides content disputes and here, the policy is WP:WEIGHT. Also, you claim that "this approach did not work." It wasn't allowed to work. The first time, we had consensus and SilkTork shut down the discussion to steer us into "On issues of race, bigotry and public perception." The second time, SilkTork shut down the discussion to steer us into the "Agenda" section. Let's get an admin from WP:AN to close this, and provide him with links to the previous two discussions. Phoenix and Winslow (talk) 05:39, 7 July 2013 (UTC)

That response illustrates why the Arbcom resolution is needed before progress can be made ----Snowded 09:46, 7 July 2013 (UTC)

Now you are back here - your !vote is solicited above in Lis alibi pendens. Collect (talk) 11:58, 7 July 2013 (UTC)

A month block for a problematic editor on various Philosophy articles has given me some time Collect but I'm not 100% on my continued participation. I'm waiting to see what comes out of the Arbcom ruling. However I have responded to your request and personal hat tip to you by the way. We've had our disagreements over the years but you do seem to be trying to make some progress here. ----Snowded 13:56, 7 July 2013 (UTC)

• That response illustrates why the Arbcom resolution is needed before progress can be made Perhaps you'd care to explain, Snowded. I politely provided a fairly thorough policy based argument. Do you have a policy based argument that explains why the edit shouldn't be actioned? If not, why shouldn't the edit be actioned? Phoenix and Winslow (talk) 15:36, 7 July 2013 (UTC)

I and other editors have explained the issue elsewhere P&W, this is just another manifestation, counting votes, repeating your arguments as if they were uncontroversial conclusions and at length. Sorry been here too many times to go through it all again ----Snowded 02:13, 8 July 2013 (UTC)

I agree that a persuasive argument has yet to be made, and the past discussions are being misrepresented here as an "18 sources versus just 2 sources" weight discussion, which simply isn't the situation. To use a clearer analogy, if Blitzo Motor Company makes a hybrid car (gas/electric), we don't put a sentence in our article lead about that car saying simply "this car is gasoline-powered". Sure, you can come up with 18 sources that say it runs on gas, and it does, but that isn't the whole truth. It also runs on electricity, and that isn't a "minority opinion", it's a fact - and it remains a fact regardless of how many sources are produced saying so. Xenophrenic (talk) 17:59, 9 July 2013 (UTC)

Once again, it's being claimed that a source must also say "There is no part of TPm that is Astroturfed" in order for that source to be counted as a "TPm is grass-roots" source. When a source says "TPm is grass-roots," that necessarily contains the implicit statement, "There is no part of TPm that is Astroturfed." See my previous analogy about the Elephant article. If several reliable sources state, "The elephant is an animal," necessarily implicit in that statement is, "The elephant is not a plant." Finding reliable sources which describe elephant ears as plants, and then trying to insert the statement, "Many scholarly sources have indicated that extensive portions of the elephant are a plant" in the Elephant article, and keep the statement, "The elephant is an animal" out of the lede, is analogous to this effort to describe TPm in this article as Astroturfed. Phoenix and Winslow (talk) 15:14, 10 July 2013 (UTC)

I don't see where that claim is being made. Reliable sources say there are many grassroots activists in the movement, which has been significantly astroturfed. Are you claiming, against reliable sources, that there has been no astroturfing of the movement, or are you only claiming that we shouldn't mention that fact in the lead of the article? Xenophrenic (talk) 16:01, 10 July 2013 (UTC)

Note: The new posited rules disallow such colloquy - I suggest we start now with not mentioning any editors by name in any post, not even using "you." Collect (talk) 10:47, 8 July 2013 (UTC)

• The "explanation" I recall was to focus on Formisano and Skocpol, over and over again, in infinite detail; to dismiss such eminently reliable fact-checked news organizations as The New York Times, Politico and The Washington Post as birdcage liner and fish wrap, compared to the founts of wisdom contained in the pages of a book by a history professor at the University of Kentucky; and to pretend that Elizabeth Price Foley (for example) wasn't at least as reliable, and at least as notable as Ronald P. Formisano. In other words, to claim that seventeen WP:NEWSORG sources (yes, seventeen) plus one WP:SCHOLARSHIP source (Foley) saying

TPm = G

are somehow outweighed by one WP:SCHOLARSHIP source (Formisano) saying

TPm = (1⁄2 G) + (1⁄2 A)

and one WP:SCHOLARSHIP source (Skocpol) saying

TPm = D

(neither A nor G, but something in between). If anyone's recollection of the opposing arguments is any different — or if you have some other, more convincing argument besides

1 + 1 > 18

then please post it, and enlighten me. Because perhaps I'm just too stupid, but I really don't understand why the policy based argument I've just posted is NOT an uncontroversial conclusion. regards ... Phoenix and Winslow (talk) 13:52, 8 July 2013 (UTC)

• Regarding the removal of the Other events section, and putting that material in the bulleted list of incidents at the end of the Perceptions spin-off article, in chronological order: this is the top-level article in a series on a complex subject, which has at least three satellite articles. Please see WP:N and the notability guideline on WP:EVENT. The vandalism of someone's gas grill, for example, fails notability on several counts for a top-level article. These events clearly belong in the "Perceptions" spin-off article, not this top-level article.

• Regarding removal of the Commentaries on origin subsection and its placement in the "Perceptions" spin-off article, again this fails notability requirements for a top-level article in a series. These are minority opinions at best, and fringe theories at worst. The article in Tobacco Control magazine, especially, has been carefully ignored by mainstream news organizations, and there are well-grounded questions regarding its political motivations. WP:N, WP:WEIGHT and WP:FRINGE all indicate that the spin-off article is where these commentaries belong.

• Again, if anyone would like to offer a policy based argument against any of these three proposed edits, I look forward to your response. regards ... Phoenix and Winslow (talk) 14:52, 8 July 2013 (UTC)

Just a quick note, P&W: The guidelines you linked above (WP:N and WP:EVENT) apply to notability of an "article", and not to notability of content within an existing article, which is what we are discussing. I made that same mistake years ago, and was corrected by a couple helpful editors. WP:WEIGHT is the applicable guideline here. You should also be aware that content determined to be inappropriate for our main article due to policy reasons is equally inappropriate for a spinoff article. Material is moved to spinoff articles only because it has grown too lengthy or detailed, not because the content "fails notability", "is minority opinion" or "is fringe". Moving it for those reasons means you are trying to create a POV-FORK, and that's against policy. Xenophrenic (talk) 17:59, 9 July 2013 (UTC)

• The material does fail notability for the top-level article in a series. See WP:SUMMARY and WP:SPLIT for the official Misplaced Pages guideline. Perhaps the most directly on-point WP policy/guideline is not WP:N, but a section of WP:SUMMARY called WP:DETAIL:

Summary style is based on the premise that information about a topic should not all be contained in a single article since different readers have different needs ... The parent article should have general summary information and the more detailed summaries of each subtopic should be in child articles and in articles on specific subjects.

• Particularly since the list of alleged racist incidents has been moved to the spin-off article, the "Other events" section has been orphaned and should be moved as well. See also WP:SCOPE. Personal opinions held by notable, but partisan individuals about the origins of the Tea Party are beyond the topical scope of this article. The Perceptions article is a more appropriate place for them. Phoenix and Winslow (talk) 15:32, 10 July 2013 (UTC)

• The material does fail notability for the top-level article in a series. --P&W

There is no "notability" requirement for content, but there are several guidelines on whether content is appropriate for a Misplaced Pages article. However, if content is not policy-compliant for the main article, it is also inappropriate for subarticles. See WP:NNC. Regarding the origins of the movement, that kind of content is definitely within the scope of the main article. The brief paragraph you refer to as commentary actually appears to be a mix of commentary and fact, and should instead be re-written. re: the "Other events" section (that header, frankly, sucks), are you now claiming it is too detailed or long (per WP:DETAIL)? Xenophrenic (talk) 16:55, 10 July 2013 (UTC)

• The brief paragraph you refer to as commentary actually appears to be a mix of commentary and fact ... There are no "facts" here at Misplaced Pages, because it doesn't matter whether we as editors believe a statement is true. There are only viewpoints expressed by (and verifiable in) reliable sources — and, when we find enough reliable sources expressing the same viewpoint, it's the majority viewpoint and we are required to treat it as the majority viewpoint. Here, the majority viewpoint per WP:WEIGHT is that the TPm is a grass-roots movement, period, full stop. The Waterboarding article tells us how we should state this majority viewpoint:

"Waterboarding is a form of torture ..."

"The Tea Party movement is an American grass-roots political movement that advocates ..."

• There is no "notability" requirement for content ... WP:SUMMARY, particularly WP:DETAIL, requires that the Perceptions of the Tea Party section must be written as "general summary information" regarding the topical scope of the Perceptions of the Tea Party movement sub-article, which is about allegations of "racism, bigotry and intolerance." It's that "intolerance" bit at the end that steers this discussion. It was alleged that some TPm people in Maryland were "intolerant" of a congressman who voted i favor of the Affordable Care Act, and gave Tea Party members directions to what they thought was that congressman's house as an expression of this "intolerance." These allegations, and the related vandalism of a gas grill at that house in Maryland don't belong in the "general summary information" in the parent article. They belong in the spin-off article. The relevant sections of Misplaced Pages policy/guidelines that govern this are WP:DETAIL and WP:SCOPE. Phoenix and Winslow (talk) 18:39, 10 July 2013 (UTC)

You are still arguing to mention grassroots in the lead? As noted several times before, there isn't any real opposition to that (correct me if I'm wrong). The objection is to your suggestion that we cover "grassroots" without also covering "astroturf" in the lead. The prominence of both descriptions, in reliable sources that cover them, requires that we not mention just one of the descriptions, per WP:WEIGHT. That would be misleading to the readers. Xenophrenic (talk) 20:27, 10 July 2013 (UTC)

No it wouldn't mislead readers. Look at the lede to the Waterboarding article. It doesn't mention the viewpoint of several reliable sources that waterboarding, in some circumstances, is not torture but a "harsh interrogation" technique. Do you feel that its failure to mention the minority viewpoint in the article lede is misleading to readers? Phoenix and Winslow (talk) 20:53, 10 July 2013 (UTC)

Yes, it would mislead readers. Look closely at what you just said: "is not torture but a 'harsh interrogation' technique..." -- that is an either/or logic statement, which is a completely different situation. With the Tea Party, the reliable sources say we have an "and" situation ("grassroots activists AND astroturf influence"). And I still don't know what "minority viewpoint" you are talking about. The astroturf aspect of the movement is a fact; minority and majority quantifiers only apply to competing viewpoints. Xenophrenic (talk) 00:58, 13 July 2013 (UTC)

Responding to Snowded, it would take quite an effort and major course change by Arbcom to help this, because the case was so badly sent off on a tangent from the start. We need to and should keep trying here.

I am down to a few minutes per day on Misplaced Pages this week and in-depth analysis in beyond me this week. But P & W's ideas look good. I'm not big on worrying about vague characterizations like "grass roots" and no movement is without some purposeful organization / support, but if there ever was a movement where this term applies, TPM is it. North8000 (talk) 16:15, 8 July 2013 (UTC)

In addition to questioning the reliability and bias of the Tobacco Control article, it does not say anything in regard Grassroots v. AstroTurfed. At the most generous interpretation that they know what they're talking about, it says that one TPm organization was funded by (some of the) same people as the anti-anti-tobacco organizations. — Arthur Rubin (talk) 16:20, 8 July 2013 (UTC)

Request for closure

I am about to file a Request for Closure at WP:AN. Accordingly, I've reopened the collapsed subsection that had our mid-June discussion of these three minor improvements. The only objection at that time was Ubikwit saying we should only work on one thing at a time (the agenda section). Now that the agenda section has been substantially improved, we can get back to these three minor issues and get them resolved. Previous discussion at great length may be found here, here and here, during most of the month of April. The closer is asked to review all these discussions over the past three months, and indicate whether we have consensus for each of these three edits. Policy based arguments, not votes, determine consensus per WP:CLOSE and WP:CONSENSUS. regards ... Phoenix and Winslow (talk) 13:41, 9 July 2013 (UTC)

Regarding the minor issue of whether we should mention the Grassroot & AstroTurf aspects of the movement in the lead, or just mention one of those aspects in the lead to the exclusion of the other, it would be informative to note that a similar discussion was had in this mediation. The consensus was that if both descriptions are to appear in the lead, both would appear together. I don't see a change in that consensus, nor a valid argument to the contrary. As for your 2nd and 3rd minor issues, have those been discussed yet in any detail? Xenophrenic (talk) 17:59, 9 July 2013 (UTC)

That mediation was almost three years ago. One of the most active advocates for "Astroturfing" and opponents of "grass-roots" left Misplaced Pages a month later. And a large number of reliable sources, both WP:NEWSORG and WP:SCHOLARSHIP varieties, have been published since then. Regarding the other two proposed edits, there have been abundant opportunities to express concerns and no concerns were expressed, except Ubikwit saying we should only work on one thing at a time. The "one thing" we were working on has now been substantially completed. This has been discussed and tabled off and on for three months. It's time to turn it over to a closing admin and let him (or her) sort it out. Phoenix and Winslow (talk) 18:22, 9 July 2013 (UTC)

The other 2 issues haven't been discussed because an editor (and also our Moderator) said we were to work on something else first, and you say the next step is to turn the issues over to an admin? Wouldn't the next step be to begin discussions it first (so the Admin will have something to "sort out")? As for the Grassroots/Astroturf descriptions matter, yes, other sources have been published since then -- and still the facts haven't changed. There are just more sources. Xenophrenic (talk) 18:33, 9 July 2013 (UTC)

On the mediation page we find an enormous number of additional sources (notably The Economist) to join the overwhelming number of reliable sources stating that it's a grass-roots movement. Thanks for providing the link to that wealth of additional reliable sources for the majority opinion per WP:WEIGHT. For the other two proposed edits, the material fails WP:N at for the top-level article in a series, but would be fine for a spin-off article. If there really is a policy based argument against them that has been withheld until now, when a closer has already been requested at WP:AN, please post it immediately rather than just talking about it. Phoenix and Winslow (talk) 18:42, 9 July 2013 (UTC)

Incorrect. WP:N applies to articles, not content within an article. To quote: The notability guideline does not determine the content of articles, but only whether the topic should have its own article. And as noted above, per policy, if it is against policy in a main article, it is against policy in a sub article. I'm sure a knowledgable "closer" will confirm that for you. Regarding the Grassroots & Astroturfed nature of the movement, neither of those descriptions is "opinion", majority or otherwise (even though the Lexington piece in the Economist is an opinion piece), they are reliably sourced facts. Xenophrenic (talk) 19:39, 9 July 2013 (UTC)

WP:WEIGHT describes them as "viewpoints," not "facts." My mistake, I should have called them "viewpoints," rather than "opinions." One viewpoint — that the TPm is a grass-roots movement, and the fact that some components have accepted corporate donations does not compromise its essentially grass-roots nature — is clearly supported by a majority of the reliable sources, including Elizabeth Price Foley in her peer-reviewed works, The New York Times, The Washington Post, CBS News, National Public Radio and many other fact-checked news organizations. The other viewpoints are each supported by a small minority of the reliable sources. Regarding WP:N, that policy directs editors to several guidelines, one of which is WP:EVENT. There are various subsections within that guidelines such as WP:EFFECT, WP:INDEPTH, and WP:GEOSCOPE which provide clear guidance in demoting such events as the vandalism of someone's gas grill in Maryland to the spin-off article. Phoenix and Winslow (talk) 20:38, 9 July 2013 (UTC)

To be more specific about what the reliable sources convey, the TPm consists of both grassroots activists as well as big-monied players and professional politicos, thinktanks and conservative elites that have sought to direct, fund, coordinate and use these "grassroots" efforts. And this fact is neither minority nor majority viewpoint. What "other" viewpoints are you speaking of? Regarding your alphabet-soup of policy links, please simply quote the section of the policy you are acting under, and the content you are applying it to, and let's discuss it. All the ones you linked do not apply here. They apply to the creation of Misplaced Pages articles. Xenophrenic (talk) 20:56, 9 July 2013 (UTC)

The fact that some RS support "A + G" while others support "G" does not negate the fact that the ones supporting "G" vastly outnumber the ones supporting "A + G" and are therefore the majority per WP:WEIGHT. Is there any argument in favor of treating "Astroturfed plus grass-roots" as the majority viewpoint? How many reliable sources support this viewpoint? We've been over this exhaustively. Many of the sources just don't support "Astroturfed plus grass-roots." Some, such as NPR ask the question "Is TPm Astroturfed plus grass-roots?" but do not answer "yes." Phoenix and Winslow (talk) 22:04, 9 July 2013 (UTC)

The fact that the movement has genuine grassroots activists in it is a majority viewpoint (as contrasted with not having grassroots activists in it), not the majority viewpoint. It is also a "majority viewpoint" that the movement has been extensively astroturfed, is conservative, takes stances on fiscal issues, had influence in the 2010 elections, etc. Minority viewpoints, for example, would be the ones saying there are no grassroots activists in the movement, or there is no astroturf influencing of the movement, or that the movement had no influence on the 2010 elections. The fact that RS saying the TP movement is concervative vastly outnumber the ones mentioning grassroots doesn't mean the grassroots description is a minority viewpoint. Xenophrenic (talk) 10:25, 10 July 2013 (UTC)

Extended discussion of grass-roots and astroturf

• Please use colons to indent properly when responding per WP:TALK policy.

• It is also a "majority viewpoint" that the movement has been extensively astroturfed ... This is a false statement.

• Minority viewpoints, for example, would be the ones saying ... there is no astroturf influencing of the movement ... This is also a false statement. What makes these false statements is the overwhelming number of sources saying, "It's a grass-roots movement," without any hesitation or qualification (including not only both peer-reviewed academic and fact-checked news organization sources, but also the Tea Party groups themselves, which must be considered reliable in this limited context under WP:SELFSOURCE), compared to the ones like Formisano saying, "It's partially Astroturfed." The ratio is at least 3-to-1 and may be as high as 10-to-1.

• Most of the sources presented in this three-year discussion, which were claimed by some editors to say, "It's partially Astroturfed," turned out after investigation to be either (A) not actually saying that or (B) the opinion of some notable, but highly partisan opponent of the Tea Party, such as Nancy Pelosi or Paul Krugman. These minority opinions are already properly attributed and quoted farther down in the article, and no one is suggesting they should be removed.

• Now then, if there is a genuinely policy based argument to be made against any of these three edits, please post it. "It's partially Astroturfed" is obviously a minority viewpoint per WP:WEIGHT. Phoenix and Winslow (talk) 11:22, 10 July 2013 (UTC)

Colons were used to indent properly (check the edit history); that the movement has an astroturfed component is the majority viewpoint, and trying to say it has absolutely no astroturfing involved is the minority viewpoint; Pelosi and Krugman are being cited for their opinions only; can't comment on the other two edits, as they haven't really been discussed. Xenophrenic (talk) 16:01, 10 July 2013 (UTC)

• that the movement has an astroturfed component is the majority viewpoint ... This is a false statement. We've been over all these sources with a fine-toothed comb. Out of all the claims that this is the majority viewpoint, here is the single grain of truth: Formisano says that the Institute For Liberty (IFL) is an Astroturfed TPm component. However, IFL doesn't identify itself as part of the TPm, and I've never seen any other source identify IFL as part of the TPm.

• There is no valid policy based argument opposing any of these three edits. From WP:CLOSE: "The closer is there to judge the consensus of the community, after discarding irrelevant arguments: those that flatly contradict established policy, those based on personal opinion only, those that are logically fallacious, those that show no understanding of the matter of issue. ... He (or she) is not expected to decide the issue, just to judge the result of the debate, and is expected to know policy sufficiently enough to know what arguments are to be excluded as irrelevant." Phoenix and Winslow (talk) 03:37, 11 July 2013 (UTC)

Adding an unqualified statement, such as "The Tea Party is a grassroots movement.", to the lede would not satisfy WP:NPOV anymore than using "astroturf" in lede would.

Considered in its entirety, the Tea Party is neither a top-down creation nor a bottom-up explosion. This remarkable political outpouring is best understood as a combination of three intertwined forces. Each force is important in its own right, and their interaction is what gives the Tea Party its dynamism, drama, and wallop. ...snip... Grassroots activists, roving billionaire advocates, and right-wing media purveyors—these three forces, together, create the Tea Party...
— Skocpol, T.; Williamson, V. (2012). The Tea Party and the Remaking of Republican Conservatism. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199832637.

More weight is accorded to sources that actually discuss the meaning of "grassroots" as it applies to the Tea Party movement. — ArtifexMayhem (talk) 07:25, 11 July 2013 (UTC)

I would hardly call it "unqualified". But, if I'm to read your comment correctly -- You feel the use of grassroots ought not be construed as all-encompassing.

My solution: The Tea Party is a political movement primarily based in grassroots activism. †TE†Talk 14:22, 11 July 2013 (UTC)

• More weight is accorded to sources that actually discuss the meaning of "grassroots" as it applies to the Tea Party movement. YES. EXACTLY. I simply could not agree with you more on this point. After an insightful observation like that one, you could be my new best friend.

• Generally speaking, those sources that have endeavored to define TPm as "Astroturfed" or "partially Astroturfed" have consistently attempted to redefine the word "Astroturfed" in a much more expansive manner. The expanded definition is intended by these sources to include activities that were never perceived as Astroturfing before. The term was first coined in the 1980s and 1990s, when paid political and corporate operatives were each pretending to be several ordinary people at once, writing letters to congressmen, senators, and the editors of major newspapers and news magazines, artificially manufacturing the appearance of a grass-roots movement, or popular support or opposition to a particular thing, where there was none.

• This term was and continues to be a well-recognized and well-understood term in the political science lexicon. Its meaning has never actually changed, unless you can demonstrate a consensus across all of political science, discussing all movements and all activities by political and corporate operatives, that supports such a change in the definition. The meaning is limited to the activities I've described: pretending to be the elements of a grass-roots movement where no such elements exist.

• In this case, not even Ronald P. Formisano has claimed that there are absolutely zero grass-roots elements in the Tea Party movement. The effect of corporate involvement, and involvement by established political parties (the Republican Party) and conservative leaning news media (Fox News, Daily Caller and the like) is only to amplify these grass-roots elements — elements that genuinely do exist.

• There was a video teleconference recorded and posted by The Huffington Post where political experts were discussing this effort to change and expand the definition of the term "Astroturfing." I've posted the link to it at least twice and will try to find it again, and post it again. But yes, my new best friend, more WP:WEIGHT is accorded to sources that actually discuss the meaning of "grass-roots" as it applies to TPm without attempting to change the meaning of that long-established term of art, to include activities that, had Barack Obama and Organizing for America engaged in them, would be cheerfully described by the very same sources as "community organizing."

• The difference here is that the community that's being organized is much more fiscally conservative. And that's really the biggest and most salient difference between the community organizing that's being done by the Koch Brothers, and the community organizing that was done by Barack Obama. Opponents and critics of the movement tend to focus instead on the fact that the Tea Party is mostly white. Considering that some of the most beloved candidates of the Tea Party have included Herman Cain, Mia Love, Allen West, Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, race is simply not the salient factor. Phoenix and Winslow (talk) 14:37, 11 July 2013 (UTC)

I'm going to skip past the new twists on old memes above ("It depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is." and "Some of my best friends are black.") and comment on these:

• You feel the use of grassroots ought not be construed as all-encompassing. My solution: The Tea Party is a political movement primarily based in grassroots activism. --TE

That's a tiny step in the right direction, but still leaves us saying that the hybrid car "runs primarily on gasoline" to the neglect of mentioning that it also runs on electricity. By "unqualified statement", I think the other editor is noting that most sources (and this is particularily true of news media sources) use words like 'grassroots', 'conservative', 'anti-tax movement', without qualification because they are convenient and true, but our article would be remiss and misleading if it mentioned taxes without also mentioning spending, or mentioned conservative without also mentioning libertarian, or mentioned grassroots without also mentioning astroturfed.

If we look at sources that actually discuss the meaning of "grassroots" as it applies to the Tea Party movement as suggested above, we see that the description is most frequently applied to the masses of Americans upset at proposed bailouts (activists), not a movement, which was actually developed by more than just grassroots activists.

• not even Ronald P. Formisano has claimed that there are absolutely zero grass-roots elements in the Tea Party movement --P&W

Nor have any Misplaced Pages editors, as far as I know. That's not where the disagreement is here. Xenophrenic (talk) 16:30, 11 July 2013 (UTC)

Why waste so much precious time on the trivial -- Are we still stuck in the past? Astroturfing allegations were fun while they lasted, but the world has moved on. Since mentioned above, I decided to do a count:
The Tea Party and the Remaking of Republican Conservatism
Vanessa Williamson, Theda Skocpol, and John Coggin

• Grassroots - 24 29 †TE†Talk 22:25, 11 July 2013 (UTC)
• Astroturf - 0

It's time to let go. †TE†Talk 19:37, 11 July 2013 (UTC)

Oooh, how very scientific! Your count is off, by the way. It's 29 to 0; but even at 29 the mentions of "grassroots" are still outnumbered by mentions of Elites and Funders of the movement. Not a single mention of a "grassroots movement", but plenty of references to activists, adherents and TPers that are one part of it. Oh, and did you realize several of those "grassroots" are mentions of other conservatives from the past, not TPers? Or is it at all important to you that most of those "grassroots" mentions actually are questioning or qualifying that term?

... has been beset with controversy about its grassroots authenticity ... These elites have long since developed a policymaking infrastructure in Washington, but had previously achieved only limited success in directly connecting themselves to an activist grassroots base ... and how grassroots undertakings relate to the Republican Party and to national organizations claiming to further Tea Party efforts ... (TPP), whose website was up and running within days of the original Santelli rant, has been more closely associated with grassroots activism than TPE ... TPP rhetoric and the group’s homespun website gives the impression of an entirely grassroots, volunteer-run organization ... dubs itself the “official grassroots American movement” ... not clear how much grassroots Tea Partiers know about the national advocacy and funding organizations promoting and trying to capitalize on their efforts ... a partnership formalizing long-time ties between the pro-business lobby and the conservative media’s grassroots mobilization efforts ... conservative media’s social coordination of willing local activists and participants, the anti-regulation big-business lobby could harness new grassroots networks to accompany their already powerful DC presence ... elite Tea Party funders and grassroots activists ...

But we wouldn't want to let a little thing like context get in the way. No one is arguing that there are not genuine grassroots activists in the movement; the disagreement with reliable sourcing only arises when a suggestion is made to describe the movement only as "grassroots". Sorry to see you move on, Xenophrenic (talk) 21:23, 11 July 2013 (UTC)

OR/SYN. Personal beliefs of what constitutes astroturf has no place in the mainspace. †TE†Talk 22:25, 11 July 2013 (UTC)

None were stated. The concern is over describing the movement as only grassroots. — ArtifexMayhem (talk) 03:36, 12 July 2013 (UTC)

I see nothing wrong with the reliable sources' research or synthesis, and it appears to be well-founded conclusion rather than "personal belief". Are we speaking of the same reliable sources? We can raise the issue at WP:RSN to verify if they have a place in mainspace, if needed. Xenophrenic (talk) 12:27, 12 July 2013 (UTC)

Just doing my best to abide by Rule 1. Unfortunately, I must break it to avoid further misunderstanding: "Your personal beliefs of what constitutes astroturf has no place in the mainspace."

It's quite clear that if the RS wanted to use the term "astroturf," they were free to do so. Elites and Funders, your personal opinions of what is established by their presence, has no bearing here. †TE†Talk 16:02, 12 July 2013 (UTC)

Of course Misplaced Pages editor opinions and beliefs have no place in mainspace; yours nor mine. I don't see why you feel compelled to state the obvious. We're discussing reliable sources, aren't we? Now returning to those, we see that funding sources and elite establishment influence are indeed important components when describing astroturf/grassroots. Skocpol, Williamson, Formisano and other reliable sources all clearly indicate that the TP movement cannot be described as wholly "grassroots". Our Misplaced Pages article shouldn't either, nor should it misleadingly imply it by inserting the unqualified 'grassroots' description in the lead to the exclusion of the other aspects. The RS does use the term astroturf (and "not grassroots" and "top-down" and "co-opted" and "faux-grassroots" ...) if you've examined their fuller work on the matter.

"Many supporters also proclaim the Tea Party to be purely a grassroots rebellion, a "mass movement of ... 'regular' Americans with real concerns about losing the right to live their lives as they choose." This view captures only a small part of the truth, ignoring the fact that Tea Party participants are in many respects even more ideologically extreme than other very conservative Republicans. Similarly, the ‘mass movement’ portrayal overlooks the fact that the Tea Party, understood in its entirety, includes media hosts and wealthy political action committees, plus national advocacy groups and self-proclaimed spokespersons – elites that wield many millions of dollars in political contributions and appear all over the media claiming to speak for grassroots activists who certainly have not elected them, and to whom they are not accountable. What kind of mass rebellion is funded by corporate billionaires, like the Koch brothers, led by over-the-hill former GOP kingpins like Dick Armey, and ceaselessly promoted by millionaires media celebrities like Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity?”

Xenophrenic (talk) 21:01, 12 July 2013 (UTC)

Finally, something we can agree on: "he TP movement cannot be described as wholly 'grassroots'." There's no such thing in this day and age that could gain a foothold in American politics. You need some muscle behind that hustle. The point of contention is erroneously throwing the term astroturf about as if it's suddenly been redefined. So and so says astroturf, I'm sure there's a place for it in this BLP, attributed, but would be a stretch to consider it lead-worthy. Weight and all. On "their fuller work," I'm of limited resources. I have overdue books, my google machine is the best I can do. But it's not all bad. For instance, by using parts of your excerpt, my google machine led me to the very text that completes said excerpt, for context:

The opposite illusion is also there among those who proclaim the Tea Party to be nothing more than an "astroturf" phenomenon, an illusion pushed by Fox News, or a "billionaire's tea party" in which "corporate America is faking a grassroots revolution." This take on the Tea Party as a kabuki dance entirely manipulated from above simply cannot do justice to the volunteer engagement of many thousands of men and women who travel to rallies with their homemade signs and, even more remarkably, have formed ongoing, regularly meeting local Tea Party groups. The citizens we have met, who spend hours meeting with one another, arguing with officials, and learning about the workings of local, state, and national government—these people do not fit the caricatures espoused by some on the left. They are unglamorous, mostly older middle-class Americans. Billionaire-funded political action committees and longtime free-market advocacy organizations are certainly doing all they can to leverage and benefit from Tea Party activism. But they did not create all that activism in the first place, nor do they entirely control the popular effervescence.

Hope this helps. †TE†Talk 22:31, 12 July 2013 (UTC)

I don't think we've ever disagreed on that part; the movement is neither wholly grassroots or astroturfed. I provided the paragraph that shows the movement isn't entirely grassroots, and you just added the paragraph that shows the movement isn't entirely astroturfed. (By the way, I have dead-tree copies of each of the above sources if Google's "preview" function fails you.) No one has "redefined" astroturf or grassroots here. Neither grassroots nor astroturf needs to be attributed to "so and so", unless you suggest we start citing opinion pieces, and I'd recommend against that. (Pssst ... by the way, this isn't a BLP.) See more of this same discussion below. Xenophrenic (talk) 00:58, 13 July 2013 (UTC)

What I posted, when the RS actually used the phrase astroturf, in parenthesis, shot it down with the quickness. And this is very much a BLP. †TE†Talk 02:02, 13 July 2013 (UTC)

By "in parenthesis", did you mean "in quotes"? If so, the only thing shot down was the notion that the movement is "nothing more than" or "entirely manipulated" or "entirely controlled" astroturf, and no one is suggesting it is. Like I said, we've never disagreed on that point. And no, Tea Party movement is not a Biography of a Living Person. Just go to WP:BLPN and search the archives for "tea party" and see for yourself, as that one has been tried a couple times before. If you meant that BLP rules still apply to living people regardless of what article they are mentioned in, then we agree. Xenophrenic (talk) 02:51, 13 July 2013 (UTC)

"Quotes" would be the safe assumption. But, I guess it's always good to ask so as to avoid any further misunderstanding. Those "quotes" have a funny way of surrounding what the RS finds to be fringe viewpoints. If you would like, I propose we use the RS as a counterpoint to the Pelosi/Krugman '09 astroturf allegations. In their same quotation form. †TE†Talk 03:16, 13 July 2013 (UTC)

• Please stop beating your dead horse. It's dead.

• It's 29 to 0; but even at 29 the mentions of "grassroots" are still outnumbered by mentions of Elites and Funders of the movement. "Elites and funders" do not equal "Astroturf," except in the opinion of Ron Formisano. None of these 29 sources describes the activities of these "elites and funders" as Astroturfing, nor does any of these 29 sources describe what they're doing as having a compromising or diluting effect on the essential grass-roots nature of the movement. All they're doing is amplifying the genuine grass-roots elements that are actually there. And as I said before, these very same activities would be described as "community organizing" without the slightest hesitation, rather than "Astroturfing," if it was Barack Obama and Organizing for America instead of conservatives with money. Phoenix and Winslow (talk) 04:08, 12 July 2013 (UTC)

29 sources? No, that is a single source, with 29 iterations of the word "grassroots" used to describe what is and is not grassroots, and yes they do describe the activities of the funders and established elites. Xenophrenic (talk) 21:01, 12 July 2013 (UTC)

• I agree: There is no source which calls the movement Astroturfed, which doesn't (1) redefine Astroturfed to include any corporate funding, nor (2) quotes political opponents of the movement. I could almost support a statement that it's a grass-roots movement said to be Astroturfed, but even that doesn't seem to be correct. — Arthur Rubin (talk) 10:12, 12 July 2013 (UTC)

It's true that (1) RS include funding sources in their definitions of grassroots and astroturfing (not "redefine", as funding sources have been part of the definition since the terms were created). (2) None of the sources we're presently discussing "quotes political opponents of the movement", so perhaps Arthur Rubin would be so kind as to indicate which sources he's talking about. Even our Misplaced Pages article notes that "grassroots" implies that the creation of the movement and the group supporting it are natural and spontaneous, highlighting the differences between this and a movement that is orchestrated by traditional power structures. While the reliable sources note there are grassroots activists, they also note the "movement" is controlled, directed and funded by traditional special interests. Why all the aversion to conveying what the reliable sources actually say? Xenophrenic (talk) 12:27, 12 July 2013 (UTC)

• (not "redefine", as funding sources have been part of the definition since the terms were created) There are other essential elements of the definition of "Astroturfing," and they've been essential elements of the definition since the term was created in the '80s. Not just (A) corporate and PAC money, but also (B) a genuine Astroturfing operation conceals the source of the money, and (C) one political or corporate operative pretends to be several people at once — and the people he's pretending to be have no connection to the source of the money. Is there any evidence of anything like either (B) or (C) going on here? Both are essential elements of the political science term "Astroturfing."
• If the TPm does not have both (B) and (C), then what's happening here is called "community organizing." Rich, powerful people are simply providing funds to make sure that all of the very real, grass-roots people who share their beliefs show up at the next protest, or the next election. And without (B) and (C), individuals like Ronald P. Formisano are most certainly trying to redefine "Astroturfing" to include activities that would have made Barack Obama one of the most notorious Astroturfers in the history of politics.
• Here's the link to that Huffington Post video of a discussion about the definition of Astroturfing. According to my new best friend ArtifexMayhem, this source deserves more weight than Formisano because it actually discusses the definition of the word it's using. This is a 30-minute video but it's worth a very careful review. Watch for the comments by Edward Walker, the guy with eyeglasses who had to connect to the discussion via telephone, and John Hawkins, the guy wearing the headset. They're the ones who, in my opinion, really hit all the points we've been talking about. Phoenix and Winslow (talk) 13:40, 12 July 2013 (UTC)

I'm the last person to break up a beautiful friendship, but AM said nothing specifically about that video clip and I think you may have missed his/her point. What was said is, "More weight is accorded to sources that actually discuss the meaning of 'grassroots' as it applies to the Tea Party movement." This video clip source is indeed more weighty than one of the many news reports that merely stick in the word "grassroots" by rote when reporting about a protest or activist, etc., (you are up to 18 now, you said?). But that puts it on par with Formisano's The Tea Party: A Brief History, which goes to great lengths to discuss the grassroots and astroturfed aspects as they apply to the Tea Party. Same with Skocpol & Williamson's The Tea Party and the Remaking of Republican Conservatism. Starting at 26:30, Walker gives an accurate popular astroturf versus grassroots description, which doesn't contradict what reliable sources have been saying. He admits he is "unclear" about co-opting, and who co-opted whom, but he does acknowledge the grassroots activists, although he gets the timeline wrong about involvement in the movement. Walker is one of the lead proponents of the line of thought that (and I quote him) "The dividing line between “grassroots” and “Astroturf” may be more of a political Rorschach test than a precisely measurable concept. But, in any case, changing relationships between companies and the public—especially in the health domain—are leading more and more industries to institute grassroots mobilization programs." (See the "grassroots lobbying" form of astroturfing.)

• And as I said before... --P&W

Repeated time and again, yes, without much change in the discussion. Instead of continuing to spin our wheels, how about we try to move the discussion forward? Maybe if we first developed this topic better in the body of the article, then summarize that content in the lead? Xenophrenic (talk) 21:01, 12 July 2013 (UTC)

Yes, it has been repeated — and no argument has been presented for inclusion of "astroturf". But perhaps we should concentrate on other matters. — Arthur Rubin (talk) 23:02, 12 July 2013 (UTC)

Except for the arguments that have been presented for inclusion of astroturf, but you would not be expected to know about those. Xenophrenic (talk) 00:58, 13 July 2013 (UTC)

"(See the "grassroots lobbying" form of astroturfing.)" - Xenophrenic

All I've seen was not one mention of astroturfing. OR/SYN has no place in the mainspace. †TE†Talk 02:09, 13 July 2013 (UTC)

I see nothing wrong with the reliable sources' research or synthesis, and it appears to be well-founded conclusion rather than "personal belief". Xenophrenic (talk) 02:51, 13 July 2013 (UTC)

Just doing my best to abide by Rule 1. Unfortunately, I must break it to avoid further misunderstanding: "Your OR/SYN has no place in the mainspace." †TE†Talk 03:07, 13 July 2013 (UTC)

Of course Misplaced Pages editor opinions and beliefs have no place in mainspace; yours nor mine. I don't see why you feel compelled to state the obvious. We're discussing reliable sources, aren't we? I don't see where I've placed "OR/SYN" in mainspace, or even made a proposal that we do so. Maybe some other editor? Xenophrenic (talk) 03:26, 13 July 2013 (UTC)

"rassroots mobilization programs being referred to are astroturf" - Xenophrenic

Well, definitely not in the source provided. Which is why I sometimes feel compelled to state, and restate the obvious. †TE†Talk 03:33, 13 July 2013 (UTC)

• I'm the last person to break up a beautiful friendship, but AM said nothing specifically about that video clip ... Specifically, AM said, "More weight is accorded to sources that actually discuss the meaning of 'grassroots' as it applies to the Tea Party movement." He did not include Formisano specifically, but the HuffPo video clip is included by definition because it actually discusses the meaning of that word. Formisano does discuss the grass-roots aspects, and what he's trying to redefine as "astroturfed" aspects of TPm. But he never really talks about what Astroturf means, let alone admit that he's trying to expand the definition by leaps and bounds. The multiple experts in the HuffPo clip do talk about what the word means. And it does not mean merely donating money to a Tea Party group. So no, according to AM, the HuffPo video clip deserves more weight than Formisano's book.

• "... are leading more and more industries to institute grassroots mobilization programs." Right. "GRASSROOTS mobilization programs." Community organizing. Not Astroturf. I think it's important to make it very clear how few of these sources actually say, "The Tea Party movement is partially Astroturfed." Skocpol doesn't say it, for example. Phoenix and Winslow (talk) 02:31, 13 July 2013 (UTC)

• Except for the arguments that have been presented for inclusion of astroturf ... References to Astroturf are already included down in the body of the article, where minority opinions belong. Nobody is suggesting that they should be removed. What should be changing is the article's treatment of the word "grass-roots." That word goes into the lede sentence, where the majority opinion belongs. Phoenix and Winslow (talk) 02:31, 13 July 2013 (UTC)

No, I really don't think AM indicated that your video clip is weight-ier than Formisano or Skocpol. Let's see if he'll clarify for us. And yes, the grassroots mobilization programs being referred to are astroturf; it's the new grassroots lobbying. As for Skocpol not being quoted as saying the TP movement is partially Astroturfed, how would you propose to convey what she did say? Xenophrenic (talk) 02:51, 13 July 2013 (UTC)

Correct, I did not "indicated that video clip is weight-ier than Formisano or Skocpol." Per WP:RS, "When available, academic and peer-reviewed publications, scholarly monographs, and textbooks are usually the most reliable sources." I.e., Formisano and Skocpol are the types of sources we should prefer. — ArtifexMayhem (talk) 06:23, 13 July 2013 (UTC)

Quote her directly. At one point she says that the TPm is a grass-roots movement, supported by deep-pockets money like the Koch Brothers and "amplified" by conservative media such as Fox News and Breitbart. That is what she actually said: her own opinion, in her own words, which didn't include the use of the word "Astroturf." Quote that paragraph of her book. Phoenix and Winslow (talk) 17:07, 13 July 2013 (UTC)

Quote "her" directly? Don't you mean "them"? Neither Skocpol nor Williamson mention a "grassroots movement". They do mention grassroots activists-people-enthusiasts-adherents-protesters ... you know, the individuals who are genuinely grassroots but only part of the movement. One component of the movement out of three. Perhaps that is part of the misunderstanding here. You make a big deal out of the fact that the word "astroturf" is rarely used by Skocpol, yet she nonetheless writes a lot about astroturfing. She explains how the movement is neither wholly grassroots or astroturfed. It isn't necessary to repeatedly spell out a-s-t-r-o-t-u-r-f to discuss "top-down" organizing, or "supposedly" grassroots activity, or "elitist" co-opting and control or "the super rich fat-cats who have manipulated Tea Party activism with such glee". It is still astroturf she is describing. Formisano spells it out as well: So what is the answer to the question posed at the beginning of this chapter: "Astroturf or Grassroots Populism?" The simple answer is that the Tea Parties have been created by both kinds of populism, in part by the few -- the corporate lobbyists from above--but also from the passionate many expressing real grassroots populism. Or The Tea Partiers, finally, are routinely referred to in the media as conservatives. But their blend of astroturf and grassroots populism is more accurately labeled right-wing or reactionary populism. You claimed above that if pro-Obama groups were to do what FreedomWorks, Americans for Prosperity, etc., were doing, it would be called "community organizing". No, it wouldn't. It would (and has) been called what it is:

More recent advocacy events have likewise shown an apparent lack of spontaneous organization, most notably some of the early “Tea Party” protests. Following CNBC pundit Rick Santelli’s call, in February 2009, for a “‘Chicago Tea Party’” to oppose President Obama’s mortgage bailout plan, numerous websites dedicated to the cause sprang to life, each supposedly part of a national grassroots Internet protest and each tied to the Sam Adams Alliance advocacy group. This group in turn enjoyed substantial financial support from the Koch family, multibillionaire owners of one of the largest privately-held corporations in the United States, and FreedomWorks, a public relations firm with former House Majority leader Dick Armey as its chairman, and which the Kochs have funded. The above examples highlight a phenomenon more widely known as “Astroturfing,” or fake grassroots advocacy, a practice that has become popular among particular groups and individuals. Connecticut Law Review

This has been acknowledged as astroturf activity for decades. If you insist on having such nuanced subject matter appear in the lead of the article, we could say something similar to:

The Tea Party movement is an American political movement that advocates reducing the U.S. national debt and federal budget deficit by reducing U.S. government spending and taxes. The movement comprises both grassroots and astroturf components, including passionate activists, wealthy political action committees and national advocacy groups, establishment elites and conservative media outlets. The movement has been called partly conservative, partly libertarian, and partly populist. It has sponsored protests and supported political candidates since 2009.

What are your thoughts? Xenophrenic (talk) 00:50, 14 July 2013 (UTC)

The video teleconference posted by The Huffington Post interviewed four different academics simultaneously. It deserves at least as much weight. And as you said, the four academics do actually discuss the meaning of the words they're using, so unless I'm mistaken about what you said, or you've suddenly changed your mind, that source deserves even more weight than Formisano or Skocpol. Phoenix and Winslow (talk) 17:07, 13 July 2013 (UTC)

Four different academics? Walker was the only academic in that group, and there were two Tea Partiers and an executive from "Yes! magazine". Information from Walker can be considered, although he admits he is "unclear" about the co-opting of the Tea Party. Formisano and Skocpol do indeed discuss how the TP is grassroots and astroturfed, so it appears that you are mistaken about what was said. Hopefully that helps. Xenophrenic (talk) 00:50, 14 July 2013 (UTC)

• And yes, the grassroots mobilization programs being referred to are astroturf ... According to who? A pseudonymous Misplaced Pages editor's WP:OR? One history professor at the University of Kentucky? Or a demonstrated consensus across the entire profession of political science, supporting that redefinition of the term "Astroturf" by that history professor from the University of Kentucky? Because only the third one will be sufficient to support that statement. Phoenix and Winslow (talk) 05:31, 13 July 2013 (UTC)

You lost me with the U-of-Kentucky reference ... name? I'm also not citing any Misplaced Pages editors. As for your characterization that astroturfing has been redefined, I'd like to see what source you are citing that to, because that's news to me. I do see that there are newer terms like "grassroots lobbying", "astroturf lobbying" and "grassroots mobilization" being introduced over the past decade, but I am unaware of any actual redefining of astroturfing. Xenophrenic (talk) 00:50, 14 July 2013 (UTC)

I caught the "history professor at the University of Kentucky" reference right away, and that's even without previously bragging about owning his book. †TE†Talk 07:36, 14 July 2013 (UTC)

I wish I was as quick on the uptake; you are both speaking of Formisano? I do have the book (borrowed, not owned), and nowhere in it does it mention him as a professor at UofK. He's been referred to simply as "Formisano" in these discussions, so the new referense threw me. I've just Google'd him - looks like an impressive fellow. Xenophrenic (talk) 17:33, 14 July 2013 (UTC)

Opponents of the proposed edit adding the word "grass-roots" to the lede have cited three sources, generally referred to here as "Skocpol," "Formisano," and "Zellner." Skocpol doesn't support use of the term "Astroturfing." Formisano does, but is trying to expand the definition of "Astroturfing" in doing so. Here's a link to an op-ed column by Formisano: Here's another: Formisano clearly likes Barack Obama very, very much and his bias most likely seeps into his writing about TPm. Zellner, while focusing his article on Astroturfed lobbying efforts, decided to do a drive-by on the Tea Party. He not only supports the expanded definition of "Astroturfing," but he relies exclusively on sources that Misplaced Pages would not consider reliable sources: an AlterNet article, and the partisan Paul Krugman op-ed column. (Check his footnotes.) Furthermore, at the time he wrote the article in November 2010, he was not a professor. He has never been a professor. He was a law student at the time, seeking to obtain a JD the following spring. This is not an academic, certainly not of the same caliber as Elizabeth Price Foley, and should not be presented as one.

Meanwhile here is a sampling of the reliable, neutral sources supporting a description of TPm as "grass-roots," period, full stop: three from the New York Times, two from the Washington Post, one from Reuters, one from National Public Radio, one from Huffington Post of all places, a very interesting 30-minute webcam round-table discussion hosted by the Huffington Post, one from the Chicago Tribune, and a Harvard PDF in which Theda Skocpol, of all people, says that "Thus the grassroots Tea Party phenomenon is real ..."

The 30-minute webcam round table hosted by HuffPo, in a very interesting exchange of ideas, explores what is actually meant by the term "Astroturfing." The mere addition of money, even from people like the Koch Brothers, does not negate the grass-roots nature of the movement. Only if the money is being used to pretend that there is genuine grass-roots support for a particular position where no grass-roots support actually exists can it legitimately be called Astroturfing. It is painfully obvious that the majority viewpoint, per WP:WEIGHT, is that TPm is a grass-roots movement, even if we don't count the Tea Party's self-serving claims — which we should count under WP:SELFSOURCE. Accordingly, using the Waterboarding article as an example, this majority viewpoint should be stated in the lede sentence.

Regarding the "Other events" section, it was orphaned by removal of the "On issues of race, bigotry and public perception" section, and should accompany that section in the spin-off article. These "other events" are not notable enough to be included in a top-level article written in summary style.

Regarding the "Commentaries on origins," they're partisan and, for the most part, not notable enough to be included in a top-level article written in summary style. The Tobacco Control article never should have been mentioned in this article's mainspace. Here's a harsh analysis of that Tobacco Control study. And in their grant proposal to obtain public funding from NIH, the authors of the study basically admitted that they had a political agenda in seeking this funding: the anti-smoking lobby "requires understanding how the tobacco industry maintains a favorable social and policy environment" As the contributor at Huffington Post sarcastically observed, it's hard to tell the difference between this stated objective, and political opposition research. Also, here's an examination of the chief author of the study, Stanton Glantz, and his research:

• It isn't necessary to repeatedly spell out a-s-t-r-o-t-u-r-f to discuss "top-down" organizing ... Yes, it is necessary to say it at least once: "These activities by this Tea Party group were Astroturfing." To establish a different standard violates WP:SYNTH. Astroturfing has a very specific meaning, and the activities described by Formisano and Zellner do not satisfy that definition. The term has very negative connotations, indicating that something fraudulent (or at least very dishonest) is going on, which is why the TPm's political enemies have been trying so hard for so many years to hang that word around the Tea Party's neck. We've officially discussed this to death. Phoenix and Winslow (talk) 01:51, 15 July 2013 (UTC)

Why argue against "Opponents of the proposed edit adding the word 'grass-roots' to the lede"? That's why this conversation keeps repeating itself, because of mis-framing of the discussion. I have no problem with "grassroots" being in the lead, as long as the astroturfed aspect of the movement is also added according to reliable sources. Here is a proposed sentence for the lede that addresses your request to mention "grassroots" in the lead, while also sticking to what reliable sources say:

The movement comprises both grassroots and astroturf components, including passionate activists, wealthy political action committees and national advocacy groups, establishment elites and conservative media outlets.

We can add Formisano, Skocpol and Zellner cites at the end of the sentence, along with any of the dozen cites you've linked above. I've looked at each of those sources and not a single one refutes the astroturf aspect of the movement. In fact, your two NPR sources confirm the heterogeneous nature of the movement. (On one end, it very much is a grassroots movement ... But then on the other hand, you have sort of an establishment that is somewhat preexisting. And these are the folks who have come to the game with a great deal of money, if not a great deal of energy ... So you have two things going on at once here, is what you're saying ... there is also this political structure and corporate structure that's driving them a little bit.) Your NYT source also confirms the heterogeneous nature of the movement. (This anti-government, grass-roots Republican offshoot has rattled the party establishment ... Some of the money behind the Tea Party movement or its offshoots has little in common with grass-roots populism.) Harvard's Skocpol confirms the heterogeneous nature of the movement. (Many supporters also proclaim the Tea Party to be purely a grassroots rebellion ... overlooks the fact that the Tea Party, understood in its entirety, includes media hosts and wealthy political action committees, plus national advocacy groups and self-proclaimed spokespersons – elites that wield many millions of dollars in political contributions and appear all over the media claiming to speak for grassroots activists ... Considered in its entirety, the Tea Party is neither a top-down creation nor a bottom-up explosion. Each force is important in its own right, and their interaction is what gives the Tea Party its dynamism, drama, and wallop. ... Grassroots activists, roving billionaire advocates, and right-wing media purveyors—these three forces, together, create the Tea Party...)

• None of your sources refute the astroturf component of the movement; they only confirm the grassroots component.
• Your personal opinions about what constitutes "astroturf" (i.e.; Only if the money is being used to pretend that there is genuine grass-roots support for a particular position where no grass-roots support actually exists can it legitimately be called Astroturfing) are trumped by what reliable sources say constitutes astroturf.
• Your personal opinions about the reliability of academic sources ("he likes Obama"; "he uses sources we wouldn't use"; etc.) aren't convincing. Try WP:RSN?
• Your personal opinion that it's not "Astroturf" if it is instead called "fake grassroots", "top-down manipulation", "artifical grassroots lobbying", etc., isn't really applicable in this discussion.

Xenophrenic (talk) 07:52, 15 July 2013 (UTC)

Actually, it is within our remit as editors to consider the context and determine how much weight to give to a particular source once it has satisfied basic WP:RS requirements. Let's walk through the rules on that. Rule 1 is we're supposed to give greater weight to both peer-reviewed academic sources and fact-checked news organizations. However, Rule 2 says Formisano's track record as a fawning op-ed writer for Team Obama weakens his status as a reliable, neutral source, and the weight we should give that source. From WP:RS — context matters very, very much: "The reliability of a source depends on context. Each source must be carefully weighed to judge whether it is reliable for the statement being made and is an appropriate source for that content." Rule 3 specifically addresses biased or opinionated sources and advises caution: "Misplaced Pages articles are required to present a neutral point of view. However, reliable sources are not required to be neutral, unbiased, or objective. Common sources of bias include political, financial, religious, philosophical, or other beliefs." In this case, Formisano's expressed political beliefs reduce the weight that should be given to his opinion.

That brings us to Zellner, the law student. Sorry, he's not an academic like the other authors described here, such as Elizabeth Price Foley. He's graduated from law school now, and he's practicing law in Connecticut. His weakened status as a source is confirmed by the weak, heavily biased sources that he chose to rely upon. Remember, context matters. Phoenix and Winslow (talk) 14:05, 17 July 2013 (UTC)

reliable sources are not required to be neutral, unbiased, or objective.

Each source must be carefully weighed to judge whether it is reliable for the statement being made and is an appropriate source for that content.

Either we are in agreement, P&W, or the policies you cite don't say what you think they do. (I'm guessing the latter.) Since you, me, and Policy, all appear to agree, any further concerns you have with the above named sources should be raised at WP:RSN. I'll be happy to meet you there, and I'll allow you the benefit of phrasing and framing the initial argument. Xenophrenic (talk) 17:47, 17 July 2013 (UTC)

• I have no problem with "grassroots" being in the lead, as long as the astroturfed aspect of the movement is also added according to reliable sources It's too bad that the sources supporting "TPm is partially Astroturfed" are such a tiny minority according to WP:WEIGHT. For that policy based reason, the word "Astroturf" belongs down in the body of the article where it currently resides, but the word "grass-roots" belongs in the lede sentence. We can modify it the way Skocpol did, "supported by deep pocket donors and amplified by conservative media," but the word "Astroturfing" does not belong in the lede because it's a minority viewpoint.

• Your personal opinion that it's not "Astroturf" if it is instead called "fake grassroots", "top-down manipulation", "artifical grassroots lobbying", etc., isn't really applicable in this discussion. It isn't a personal opinion. It's Misplaced Pages policy: WP:SYNTH. Also, I haven't seen a source describing it as "fake grassroots," or "artificial grassroots lobbying." The sources that allegedly support "TPm is partially Astroturfed," for the most part, do not say what's being claimed.

• I've looked at each of those sources and not a single one refutes the astroturf aspect of the movement. Refutation of that alleged aspect is implicit in the statement, "TPm is a grass-roots movement," just as refutation of "Substantial portions of the elephant are plant-like material" is implicit in the statement, "The elephant is an animal." The mere addition of deep pockets money does not compromise the grass-roots nature of the movement. Phoenix and Winslow (talk) 11:38, 15 July 2013 (UTC)

• The sources supporting TPm is partially Astroturfed are such a tiny minority? Incorrect; you have produced zero sources refuting that fact, which makes it not only a majority, but an overwhelming unanimous majority.
• It isn't a personal opinion, it's Misplaced Pages policy: WP:SYNTH? Incorrect, not when reliable sources are doing the sysnthesis. WP:SYNTH applies to Misplaced Pages editors, not expert sources researching the matter.
• Refutation of astroturf aspects is implicit in the grassroots statement? Incorrect; reliable sources explain that genuinely grassroots activists can be manipulated and co-opted by astroturfing groups. (And it's a good thing, too, else a bunch of citizens upset at bailouts never would have been organized and channeled into a 'movement', according to sources.) The fact that a hybrid vehicle can run on gasoline does not refute the fact that it also runs on electricity. Why argue to mention gas in the lead, without mentioning electricity? Xenophrenic (talk) 17:04, 15 July 2013 (UTC)

I consider these vague terms to be a waste of time. But "astroturf" as an overall characterization of the movement is beyond fringe. And so trying to maneuver that in is a complete wp:snow waste of time. And the TPM is about as grassroots as any large movement has been or can be. As far as overall characterizations by sources, I think "grassroots" has about a 30:1 advantage over "astroturf" with the "1" going to zero if you limit it to impartial sources. I even consider spending much time arguing for "grass roots" to be a waste of time even thought it is appropriate. North8000 (talk) 11:50, 15 July 2013 (UTC)

I don't think I've seen reliable sources showing astroturf as an "overall characteristic", but rather just one component of the whole. Attempting to describe the movement as overall astroturfed would indeed be fringe, but no one is doing that. Reliable sources have explained the astroturf aspect in detail, and there has been zero refutation of it, so the only "maneuvering" appears to be avoid acknowledging it. Your apples to oranges numeric comparison doesn't apply here, unless you would equally argue that "since 30:1 overall sources characterize the movement as 'conservative' over 'grassroots', we shouldn't mention grassroots". Make that 100:1 sources that avoid mentioning 'grassroots' at all when describing the movement.

The uncontested fact is that the movement comprises both astroturf and grassroots aspects. Our article should convey what reliable sources convey; it's policy. The "astroturf" part of the description does indeed carry with it negative connotations, so I can understand the impetus to avoid mentioning it. I'm not oblivious to the shotgun-arguments attempt to that end:

— try to deny the reliability of the sources ("not impartial"; "likes Obama!"; "that award-winning source is a student, not a professor!")

— try to set up a false equivalency ("more sources say grassroots than astroturf!")

— try to deny standard definitions and applications of the word "astroturfing" ("that reliable source is redefining astroturf!")

— try to misapply WP:WEIGHT and WP:V ("you are only citing 3 reliable sources that say astroturf is part of the movement!")

I agree with you that it's a time sink, but I think that's because circular argumentation is being used to try to convey something other than what reliable sources convey. Xenophrenic (talk) 17:04, 15 July 2013 (UTC)

I guess the only reason for coupling the two terms in discussions is that they are sort of opposites of each other. One additional note: Between the two terms, we must recognize that astroturf is a more extreme one (being an outright direct pejorative) than "grass roots" and inherently an argument for an extreme term is much more likely to fall short than an argument for a more moderate term. My main point is that I consider both words to be vague and a waste of time, but (regarding overall characterization) the case for "grass roots" is about 30 times stronger than "astroturf" and the grass roots aspects are immensely more prevalent the astroturf aspects. North8000 (talk) 17:24, 15 July 2013 (UTC)

Technically, they aren't really opposites; in the most common usage, they are quite similar with the defining difference being that one is inauthentic (fake, manufactured, not genuine, contrived, bogus, etc.). The words can be used as both nouns and adjectives, which adds to the confusion. As for being pejorative, even that is changing, as the lines between astroturfing and legitimate advocacy mobilization are being blurred. If you can get a copy of New Technology, Organizational Change and Governance by Emmanuelle Avril & Christine Zumello, you can find an excellent explanation of astroturf organizations which

turn upside down the definition and spontaneity of grassroots mobilization since they help materialize an inverted movement. They, in essence, groom the potential roots of a movement; they try to locate the potential defenders of a cause in order to aggregate them through a digital network and mobilization that appears to be spontaneous, but is not.

Sound familiar? The "case for" grassroots and astroturf are identical (as in, both factual ... there is no such thing as a "stronger" fact, something either is or isn't factual). The fact that you see "grassroots" more often in news reports about TP activists or TP protest groups are because that's what those news reporters are focusing on in their report: the activists, the protesters and their message ... not the movement or the astroturfed part of it. You keep tossing around the number "30" as if you think WP:WEIGHT refers to prominence/prevalence OF sources, rather than IN sources. In every reliable source that looks at the grassroots and astroturf aspects of the movement, you'll find both aspects to be equally prominent. Xenophrenic (talk) 20:02, 15 July 2013 (UTC)

We're talking about two different things here. I've have been talking about characterizations of the (overall) movement, and, with respect to astroturfing (which would certainly leave out astroturfed, and almost certainly include grassroots) and you are basically talking about existence (to some extent) of elements of each. The former is more appropriate to a lead sentence, the latter is more appropriate for elements (major or minor) in the body of the article. And I consider both terms to be vague = uninformative = a waste of time. Sincerely, North8000 (talk) 20:31, 15 July 2013 (UTC)

We are all talking about the characterizations of the movement as a whole, as are the reliable sources I've cited. (Those sources include Skocpol, Formisano, Zellner and the two NPR and a NYT source from P&W's list.) Xenophrenic (talk) 09:20, 16 July 2013 (UTC)

Well,at least we have that clarity going forward. But that somewhat refutes some of your previous points, which essentially implied that the mere existence of a astroturf component (however small) is relevant to the conversation. Second, by "reliable" to you mean actually reliable or meeting the "floor" of wp:rs? Highly biased unreliable writers often meet the meet the "floor" of wp:rs and should be used in that context (attributed etc.) Finally there is the question of which used which words as an overall characterization of the movement. North8000 (talk) 12:40, 16 July 2013 (UTC)

That wasn't my point at all. My point, explicitly stated, is that reliable sources very clearly convey that the "movement" consists of both grassroots components and astroturf components. It is not wholly one or the other, but a combination of both. By "reliable sources", I mean Reliable Sources as defined by Misplaced Pages policy, nothing more, nothing less. If you feel a cited reliable source is not suitable for supporting the assertion of fact (that means stated in Misplaced Pages's voice without the need for attribution), then let's bring that source and the relevant supported text to WP:RSN for a thorough airing. To your final point, what does Skocpol's "Considered in its entirety, the Tea Party is neither a top-down creation, nor a bottom-up explosion", mean to you? That's "overall". Xenophrenic (talk) 17:48, 17 July 2013 (UTC)

Proposal

Ok. In the last week or so, I went through this enormous discussion. I reread some sections at times to get a better idea of this discussion. Forgive me if I missed anything as I am working through a lot of comments in my head as I write this. It would seem that editors in this discussion page are divided about how to describe this movement. I have a proposed statement, that may be reworded accordingly to fit the article structure, that may appease both sides of the discussion without misleading or POVing the article.

The Tea Party movement is generally viewed as a grass-roots movement, with occasional views of it being astroturfed.

or

The Tea Party movement is mostly viewed as a grass-roots movement with some viewing it as an astroturf.

Something along those lines. Any thoughts?—cyberpower _Online 17:40, 18 July 2013 (UTC)

Thank you for taking a look at the discussion(s). It is indeed rather lengthy, and has been a point of contention since the Tea Party first appeared. Since you asked, here are my initial thoughts on the wording you have proposed:

1) The division between editors falls into two sides: those who want to mention "grassroots" in the lead without mentioning "astroturf", and those who want to mention both grassroots and astroturf in the lead.

2) I don't think I've seen any reliable sources that declare the "movement" (the subject of our article) is wholly astroturfed, so both of the above proposed sentences might be hard to support with reliable sources. Reliable sources are always careful to note that the movement is only partially astroturfed while also having a large grassroots component.

3) Wording such as "some viewing it as" or "occassional views of it being" give the impression to the reader that the "astroturf" aspect of the movement is just an opinion. Just to clarify, is that what you were intending to convey to the reader?

4) It would probably be beneficial if we noted which sources we are to cite for this (or any other) proposed wording, as there also seems to be some disagreement among editors as to which sources are suitable.

Xenophrenic (talk) 18:13, 18 July 2013 (UTC)

Try:

The Tea Party movement is generally viewed as a grass-roots movement, with some pointing out partial funding from corporations and wealthy donors

Avoiding the quite problematic neologism "astroturf". And quite neutral in tone, as well as being easily sourced. Collect (talk) 18:42, 18 July 2013 (UTC)

This is a compromise version I've previously mentioned, slightly modified below, easily sourced in the works of Skocpol et al.:

The Tea Party movement is generally viewed as a grass-roots movement, with some noting that conservative news media amplify the movement's message, and corporations and wealthy donors provide some of its funding.

The word "amplified" is used by Theda Skocpol, a political science professor at Harvard, and the most reliable source provided by the tiny "partially Astroturfed" crowd, so this may work. But Misplaced Pages articles do not elevate small minority viewpoints to appear in the lede like that, as I've repeatedly demonstrated with reference to the lede of the Waterboarding article. There are many, many other Misplaced Pages articles I could link that discuss small minority viewpoints down in the body of the article but do not mention them in the lede. The lede is for unchallenged facts and, where viewpoints on the evidence differ, the lede is also for majority viewpoints. Not minority viewpoints. So this is a dead end, and has always been a dead end. An overwhelming majority of reliable sources — including peer-reviewed academics, fact-checked news organizations, and the Tea Party groups themselves, whose self-published websites we're required to treat as reliable sources, see WP:SELFSOURCE — describe the TPm unequivocally, without reservation, as a "grass-roots movement" or its members as "grass-roots activists." Period. Full stop.

Essentially, you are asking us to concede and let Xenophrenic have his way, when the overwhelming majority of sources, comparable Misplaced Pages articles, and Misplaced Pages policy say that it is Xenophrenic who should be conceding. Phoenix and Winslow (talk) 19:03, 18 July 2013 (UTC)

"with some pointing out" is problematic in that it still insinuates opinion as a vague attribution, and begs the question: who says so? (And that would result in the citing of a great many sources, not just the three mentioned above.) Neutral in tone would be to use "some view" to go with "some point out", but I prefer to leave the word "some" out completely. I think the most straight-forward way to convey what reliable sources say is "The movement comprises both this and that" or "consists of" or "is made up of". Working with your (Collect's) wording as a base, how would you feel about:

The Tea Party movement is generally viewed as partially grassroots and partially funded and directed by corporations and wealthy individuals ...

(I should note that the last part, if we really follow reliable sources, should also say advocacy groups and political elites, but in the interest of brevity and compromise that can be relegated to the body of the article.) Xenophrenic (talk) 19:34, 18 July 2013 (UTC)

@P&W: The fact that the movement has an astroturfed component, along with the more visible (and therefore more mentioned) grassroots component, is not a "small minority viewpoint". I would discuss further your misunderstanding of that applicable policy, but I am pressed for time at the moment, so I'll settle for saying there you go again. Xenophrenic (talk) 19:43, 18 July 2013 (UTC)

I proposed a compromise - I suggest your ultimata are not going to get others to move past my suggestion by even a millimeter -- in fact I think I am pushing as far towards your POV as is possible with any prospect of reaching consensus. Cheers - but trying to get me to move further towards your wording is not gonna happen. Collect (talk) 21:05, 18 July 2013 (UTC)

Your attempt to push toward the POV of the reliable sources is noted, but I contend that merely moving closer to what sources say is insufficient; we should be saying what the reliable sources say. But this appears moot, as suggestions from both you and me have been shot down by others. Xenophrenic (talk) 21:35, 20 July 2013 (UTC)

• Then here is what I suggest. Everyone here will propose what to add to the article. "Nothing" is an acceptable option. If it's already proposed, then don't propose it again. Then we will remove the least favored ones until we have a result. I think this might be the only way to get this to have a fixed outcome.—cyberpower _Online 13:02, 21 July 2013 (UTC)

  Is there a list of proposed additions, already, or should we start over? — Arthur Rubin (talk) 15:27, 21 July 2013 (UTC)

  We should start over.—cyberpower _Online 19:22, 21 July 2013 (UTC)

New Start

Proposal 1

Then let's start over. My proposal is to simply add the word "grass-roots" to the lede sentence as follows: "The Tea Party movement is an American grass-roots political movement that advocates ..." The policy-based arguments supporting this have already been posted at length. To make a long story short, there are 20+ reliable sources stating that it's a "grass-roots movement," period, full stop. And there are three sources that say something else: one of which is most likely biased, one of which was written by a law student rather than a professor (and relies on sources Misplaced Pages doesn't consider reliable), and no two of which say the same thing on this subject. WP:WEIGHT is clear about this. Phoenix and Winslow (talk) 14:11, 22 July 2013 (UTC)

• This is one proposal. Others may now support or oppose this proposal and throw in their own proposal to be handled the same way.—cyberpower _Online 15:30, 22 July 2013 (UTC)
• Oppose for the reasons already exhaustively discussed. Inserting just "grassroots", when countless reliable sources indicate that the movement is not completely grassroots, would be a gross violation of Misplaced Pages policy -- WP:NPOV in particular. The false argument that there are only 3 reliable sources refuting your personal opinion has been disproven; there are many, not just 3. The false argument that those sources are unsuitable due to bias or sourcing issues has been disproven; they are highly reliable. The false argument that those particular 3 sources don't all, in unison, say that the TP movement is not 100% grassroots has been disproven; they all state that. Xenophrenic (talk) 16:47, 22 July 2013 (UTC)
• Support as going in the right direction. It's a grass-roots political movement. Period. That some corporate or "right-wing news media" support the movement does not make it other than grass-roots. I would not object to a neutral expression of that fact in the lead, but using the term "astroturf" is WP:OR or, to be more precise, an original definition of "astroturf". — Arthur Rubin (talk) 20:20, 23 July 2013 (UTC)

It's a grass-roots political movement. Period.

Really? So when Zeitlow, whom we have no problem quoting elsewhere, says, "The degree to which the Tea Party movement is a grassroots movement is debatable. Tea Party organizers have received extensive financial support from prominent conservative think-tanks and financiers", we can simply cite you to end that debate? Or do you have a source that Misplaced Pages would actually consider reliable instead? When several professors are published by Oxford University Press and say, "The defining feature of astroturf groups is that they are generated by an industry, think tank, or front group, but designed to appear as a spontaneous, popular 'grassroots' effort. Especially important are the roles played by the Koch-funded Americans for Prosperity and FreedomWorks front groups in generating a significant portion of the 'Tea Party'...", should I inform them that they are conducting original research? Xenophrenic (talk) 21:21, 23 July 2013 (UTC)

The defining feature of astroturf groups is that they are generated by an industry, think tank, or front group, but designed to appear as a spontaneous, popular 'grassroots' effort. OK, but Especially important are the roles played by the Koch-funded Americans for Prosperity and FreedomWorks front groups in generating a significant portion of the 'Tea Party' is the only mention of Tea Party in that book, and seems to be a fringe position, even among the sources that you have been claimed to support the "astroturf" position; not even their sources agree. — Arthur Rubin (talk) 00:26, 24 July 2013 (UTC)

Incorrect; there are at least a few mentions of the Tea Party, FreedomWorks and Americans for Prosperity. And the cited sources agree, and I think you know that, because you would have quickly cited the actual discrepency if there really was one. If I understand you correctly, you are saying that all of the highly reliable sources that say the movement is not 100% grassroots are espousing a "fringe theory", correct? If so, I plan to raise your concern and your specific argument at WP:FTN (and I'll be sure to credit you). Xenophrenic (talk) 06:58, 24 July 2013 (UTC)

Okay, since you haven't objected, I'll raise your "fringe position" concern at WP:FTN this evening. Hopefully, we can get it resolved. Xenophrenic (talk) 21:12, 25 July 2013 (UTC)

• Oppose per Xenophrenic's reasons. —wing gundam 21:34, 7 August 2013 (UTC)

Proposal 2

Add to the lede: "The movement comprises both grassroots and astroturf components, including concerned citizen activists, wealthy political action committees and national advocacy groups, establishment elites and conservative media outlets. The policy-based arguments supporting this have already been exhaustively discussed. There are 20+ reliable sources stating that the TPm is not completely grassroots. There are zero reliable sources that refute the astroturfed components of the movement. Some editors are promoting their personal opinion that the "TPm is 100% grass-roots", in violation of WP:WEIGHT. Xenophrenic (talk) 16:47, 22 July 2013 (UTC)

• Oppose as not even going the right direction. There is one reliable source which uses the term "astroturf" to apply to the TPm, and he redefines it. The list of supporting organization types might belong in the lead. I might support the edit if it were rewritten as "the movement as a grass-roots movement, supported by . — Arthur Rubin (talk) 20:17, 23 July 2013 (UTC)

Please cite this "one reliable source" that redefines "astroturf", and cite that redefinition, please, so we can all review it. Is this the redefinition of which you speak? "The Astroturf Metaphor asserts that conservative leadership organizations provided resources, direction, and standardized messages that were crucial in instigating Tea Party protests." Please direct me to the source you are using that says that is a "redfinition", please. Just so we're all on the same page. Xenophrenic (talk) 21:21, 23 July 2013 (UTC)

"Component" is a very low bar and certainly is not enough to qualify for being a characterization. North8000 (talk) 23:59, 23 July 2013 (UTC)

"Component" is my word. What word do you think would more accurately convey what the reliable sources convey? Actually, we can remove that word completely without disrupting the meaning. Would that suffice? Xenophrenic (talk) 06:58, 24 July 2013 (UTC)

(Actually, that's not the source I had in mind which redefined "astroturf". It's still a different definition, though.) Well, I can't prove it's a redefinition, only that it's different than any other definition proposed, including the one in our article astroturfing. If it weren't a redefinition, it could appear in this article, but with "grass-roots" linked (because it does match our definition) and astroturfing not linked. — Arthur Rubin (talk) 00:14, 24 July 2013 (UTC)

It's not a different definition. And linking to "grassroots" means it would have to comply with "the creation of the movement and the group supporting it are natural and spontaneous, highlighting the differences between this and a movement that is orchestrated by traditional power structures", which isn't wholly true. Xenophrenic (talk) 07:01, 24 July 2013 (UTC)

• Oppose for the reasons I've already stated. The majority viewpoint per WP:WEIGHT, supported by at least one peer-reviewed academic source, 18 fact-checked news organization sources, and five WP:SELFPUB sources, is "The Tea Party movement is a grass-roots movement," period, full stop. WP:WEIGHT will not allow us to elevate a minority viewpoint to be stated as a fact in the lede.

• Inserting just "grassroots", when countless reliable sources indicate that the movement is not completely grassroots ... "Countless"? Try "three," and no two of them say the same thing.
• The false argument that there are only 3 reliable sources refuting your personal opinion has been disproven; there are many, not just 3. This is a false statement. There are three, and no two of them say the same thing.
• The false argument that those sources are unsuitable due to bias or sourcing issues has been disproven; they are highly reliable. This is also a false statement. It has not been disproven. You suggested taking this to WP:RSN but you didn't do it. WP:RS allows us, as editors, to consider both context and potential bias in determining how much weight should be given to a particular source. Clearly, the consensus of editors here is that these sources don't merit enough weight to outweigh 24+ reliable sources that say, "The Tea Party is a grass-roots movement," period, full stop.
• The false argument that those particular 3 sources don't all, in unison, say that the TP movement is not 100% grassroots has been disproven; they all state that. This is a statement based on a false premise. The false premise is that they represent one unified viewpoint. They don't. While all three say that the Tea Party movement is not 100% grassroots, there the resemblance ends. Two of them are in very, very roughly the same "part grassroots, part astroturf" time zone (not the same ballpark, not even the same zip code, but the same time zone). The third says that the Tea Party is neither grassroots nor astroturf, but something else that's in between.
• So when Zeitlow, whom we have no problem quoting elsewhere, says, "The degree to which the Tea Party movement is a grassroots movement is debatable. Tea Party organizers have received extensive financial support from prominent conservative think-tanks and financiers" ... Nowhere in that quotation, or even in the entire article, can I find the word "astroturf." Zietlow supports neither your proposal nor mine. She says it's "debatable." Phoenix and Winslow (talk) 03:06, 24 July 2013 (UTC)

• The majority viewpoint per WP:WEIGHT... --P&W

...doesn't say anything like that. Please quit misquoting and misapplying the policy.

• Try "three," and no two of them say the same thing. --P&W

Please learn to count. Which "three" are you speaking of this time? And so far, at least 7 of them say the very same thing. Have you even read them?

• You suggested taking this to WP:RSN but you didn't do it.

Correct. I suggested that you should take your challenge to RSN, and you haven't done it. If you'd like me to take your challenge there for you, I will. Which specific reliable source shall we start with, and what is your specific challenge to its suitability as a reliable source? We can work our way through each of them in turn.

• WP:RS allows us, as editors, to consider both context and potential bias in determining how much weight should be given to a particular source.

You are making stuff up about policy again; please stop. "how much weight should be given to a particular source", thanks for the levity.

• the consensus of editors here is that these sources don't merit enough weight to outweigh 24+ reliable sources

Please don't libel the other editors here. I'm fairly certain that most of them have been around long enough to know that number of sources saying something has nothing to do with WP:WEIGHT. I note that your proposal has zero reference citations; would you mind choosing 2 or 3 from your ever-changing number of sources and append them to your proposed text?

• While all three say that the Tea Party movement is not 100% grassroots, there the resemblance ends.

Again, which three sources, exactly, are you speaking of? And you are correct that reliable sources agree that the Tea Party movement is not 100% grassroots, so why should we mislead our readers to believe otherwise?

• The degree to which the Tea Party movement is a grassroots movement is debatable ... She says it's "debatable."

Yet you say there is no debate, according to what you have written above. Why should we mislead readers to believe that? Xenophrenic (talk) 06:58, 24 July 2013 (UTC)

Proposal 3

Do nothing and leave it alone for 6 months. (This is not what I think should be a course of action. I'm just throwing this out there for consideration.)—cyberpower _Offline 05:47, 24 July 2013 (UTC)

We've already done nothing for three years. Count the number of reliable sources supporting one proposal. Count the number of reliable sources supporting the other proposal. And then please make a decision per WP:WEIGHT. Phoenix and Winslow (talk) 12:15, 24 July 2013 (UTC)

Yes, please count the number of reliable sources (many) refuting the "100% grassroots" proposal. Now count the number of reliable sources (zero) refuting the "grassroots+astroturf" proposal. Then make a decision based on actual applicable Misplaced Pages policy, not a misunderstanding of one. Xenophrenic (talk) 21:08, 25 July 2013 (UTC)

Proposal 4

Take the existing reliable sources and develop encyclopedic content about the matter in the body of the article first. Then summarize that content in the WP:LEDE, which is how most content in the lede is created. Xenophrenic (talk) 21:08, 25 July 2013 (UTC)

End of the process — or a fresh start

We can not, as I see it, continue when any editor decides that the posited rules that six editors accepted should now be discussed at length - the idea that such a devotion to process, which would surely take weeks at the least, needs to be done when a single editor dislikes the ground rules is clearly going to make any solutions here totally impossible. My goal in proposing such rules was to prevent the absurd wikilawyering found in all too many discussions, and that any editor would desire to promote such behavior I find distressing. My hands are in the bowl of water, and unless everyone actually decides to work on the article instead of on arguing about process, there is no way in (insert expletive) that this can ever be resolved. Will some admin please lock this puppy down? Cheers. Collect (talk) 22:54, 8 July 2013 (UTC)

Your extensive concern about process is noted, but most of us here would just like to be productive with regard to the Tea Party movement and related articles. P&W has reiterated a few content concerns he'd like to see addressed, and I have some as well. By "please lock this puppy down", are you suggesting that we no longer try to improve the article, or is this just a "venue" concern? Xenophrenic (talk) 23:41, 8 July 2013 (UTC)

• As some of you are aware, I have volunteered to be the moderator of this page per a request at AN. No one has yet opposed me being moderator so I have accepted the offer. As I settle in as moderator, and getting to know my role, a helping hand at knowing my limits as moderator is appreciated. If anybody objects to me being a moderator, please speak, or write that is, now.—cyberpower _Online 02:06, 13 July 2013 (UTC)

Welcome to party, Pal! ;-)

But on a serious note, we do appreciate anyone who's willing to help. Hopefully this proves to be a fruitful endeavor for you. †TE†Talk 02:16, 13 July 2013 (UTC)

Thank you for joining us, Cyberpower. Would you please review the discussion above, and tell us whether we have consensus for the three proposed edits? Phoenix and Winslow (talk) 04:04, 13 July 2013 (UTC)

Sure. If it's the multisection thread "Getting back to work" give me a few hours to read it through. :-)—cyberpower _Offline 11:37, 13 July 2013 (UTC)

• Just to let everyone know that I'm still here and that I am sifting through the above discussions and links. It might take me another day or two to reach the end and form a close statement.—cyberpower _Online 00:01, 15 July 2013 (UTC)

Withdrawing my participation @moderated discussion

Falling by the wayside. No parting shots, just regrets. Perhaps the future will bring about an environment more conducive to progress. Godspeed. †TE†Talk 13:50, 14 July 2013 (UTC)

Amok

The recent sequence of edits on the TPm appear to be essentially ignoring the concept of WP:Consensus here, and verge on disruption at that article. Collect (talk) 11:10, 16 July 2013 (UTC)

Reminder

It has been brought to my attention that major anti-consensus were being made and reverted, twice. The page has now been fully protected by SilkTork, the previous moderator. As I don't have any admin powers to reverse this, nor do I now see a reason for it to be reversed right now, I am respectfully asking Xenophrenic to be careful in the future, and restrain from editing that article, unless there's a clear consensus claimed for such edits.—cyberpower _Offline 11:33, 16 July 2013 (UTC)

I've made no anti-consensus edits. The recent good faith edits by me, ThinkEnemies, Collect and others, were not first subjected to consensus discussion. I've no problem refraining from editing the main article unless concensus is achieved first. That should apply to all involved editors, of course. The last consensus version is this one, implemented by our former Moderator, SilkTork. Xenophrenic (talk) 21:35, 20 July 2013 (UTC)

<redacted> As we're not allowed to comment on editors here. All I can say is that comment should not be part of any reasoned discussion, because it has little to do with reality. — Arthur Rubin (talk) 23:27, 20 July 2013 (UTC)

Still at it? Xenophrenic (talk) 05:44, 21 July 2013 (UTC)