Tea Party Dilemma: Honey, I Shrunk the Party
by Patrick Tuohey
A national coalition of Tea Party activists called Thursday for rallies in several states to announce their dissatisfaction with the Grand Old Party. In an October 22 press release they state:
We are extremely disappointed that the Republican Party (and leaders like Newt Gingrich) has missed the message of the Tea Parties and continues to take conservative voters for granted. We applaud all courageous statesmen (Fred Thompson, Michelle Bachmann, and Dick Armey) and call on other GOP officials to put America’s values over traditional, often corrupt and morally bankrupt, power structures.
This is nothing new, and it is certainly nothing good. I am no partisan apologist, mind you, and would not support Ms. Scozzafava. My first significant political activity was on behalf of Pat Buchanan in the 1992 Republican primary in New Hampshire against a sitting Republican president. You may remember how that ended: Buchanan lost the primary, and President Bush lost the general election.
That election saw another significant split among conservatives. Ross Perot earned the votes of one-fifth of the electorate. While he did less well in 1996 (8%), he significantly split fiscal conservatives from Republicans. Bill Clinton never achieved 50% of the vote in either election–but took office nonetheless. (This didn’t seem to bother Al Gore at the time.) Perot’s organization eventually collapsed amid its own internecine struggles.
Grover Norquist, in remarks to the 2009 Conservative Heartland Leadership Conference, offered this about working together:
[The Right] should work to nominate and elect the most Reaganite Republican we can in any given district or state. Now, we need to understand that that’s going to be a little bit different in Maine than Texas, and so it’s like grading on a curve. I want the two Republicans out of Maine. They are much better than the D’s we would have had out of Maine. Okay? We’ve been disappointed in their votes from time to time. There are two teams, there are two major Parties in the United States. They are heading in completely different directions.
By picking a fight within the GOP and calling for an inquisition against RINOs, Tea Party activists are sowing the seeds of all our defeat. There are plenty of people within the Republican Party with whom we disagree. But reducing our current 218 members in the US House and Senate to a more pure 200 or 190 is no victory at all.
Chris Wilson of Wilson Research Strategies–and a fellow brigand from that 1992 Buchanan campaign–published a similar concern:
I don’t necessarily disagree with how the Tea Party members are expressing their anger and backing a candidate they believe in; however, their work will split the Republican vote and give NY CD23 to the Democrats.
The reason I believe the Republican and Conservative party candidates will fail is because they draw support from the same vote base. If you split the conservative and moderate Republicans in just about any race in the nation, the base erodes and the candidate will lose.
I understand the urge to clean one’s own house, but as I learned from Morton Blackwell, “don’t make the good the enemy of the perfect.” The issue in New York’s 23rd may very well be resolved due to pressure from national conservatives, but a campaign of eating our own is not something we should relish.
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[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Susan Bickford and susan blackburn, Big Government. Big Government said: Tea Party Dilema: Honey, I Shrunk the Party: A national coalition of Tea Party activists called Thursday for r.. http://bit.ly/2KMf62 [...]
ARTICLE QUOTE, "By picking a fight within the GOP and calling for an inquisition against RINOs, Tea Party activists are sowing the seeds of all our defeat. There are plenty of people within the Republican Party with whom we disagree. But reducing our current 218 members in the US House and Senate to a more pure 200 or 190 is no victory at all."
Then obviously the GOP better get their head out of the sand! What part of the constitution and common sense don't they understand?
The N.Y. 23 is a far cry from presidential politics !
Yes, fringe candidates have ALWAYS done the opposite of what those voting for that person, truly wishes; helped the one candidate whom they least wanted to win. OTOH, the idiot power that be who places the worse than a RINO , Mrs. S., in this position, need a severe wake-up call ! Hopefully, this will rattle a bunch of cages.
Should Hoffman not win, it really won't matter, in the scheme of things, which of the two far lefties win; they are cones of each other, with Mrs. Scozzafava being even worse than the Dem candidate.
That's nice and all, but someone needs to tell them we're sick and tired of people who pretend to be "right" but really are not. I'm sick of the two party system yet as long as the democrats stick together like they do it's difficult to do anything else. People should just stop endorsing RINOs and consistently stay on the GOP's butt about it. Every time they do something ignorant remind me of how crazy it is. Don't give them the chance to endorse a whacked out leftist.
Oh , I almost forgot. If the GOP POLITICIANS do not get their act together I will vote for the available independent or write in my own candidate. It's really that simple now this time.
NOTE TO GOP, Purge your party of corrupt, self interest politicians that put special interest groups ahead of common sense and the back home constituents.
Wrong.
There is barely a single word in this article that I can agree with.
I long ago stopped contributing to the RNC. When they call, I tell them that when Republicans start acting like conservatives, then they'll get my money again. Until then I will donate only to real conservatives. They keep telling me how bad Obama and the Dems are and I respond that the current GOP is no better.
Look, I understand that in order to be a majority party, we will have to elect some candidates that I would have to hold my nose, at best, to vote for.
But, when the direction of the party is the same direction as the Democrats, the party has become useless.
Dede shows that the GOP leadership still doesn't understand that, or understand conservatism.
"Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost." — John Quincy Adams
"But reducing our current 218 members in the US House and Senate to a more pure 200 or 190 is no victory at all."
I have to disagree. We are in deep, deep trouble as a nation. You've heard the cliche, and I think it is a true one, that the Republicans are walking us off a cliff, and the Democrats are driving us off one. We need to change how our government THINKS, not simply modify how quickly it is going to kill us. Give us some leaders who really think about what the role of government should be, and keep that consideration always in the mind of their constituents. Give us some leaders who, when an interest group asks them for some help, is willing to say "that isn't my job. Vote me out if you have a problem with that." Give us some leaders who believe in the intelligence of the American people, and who will try to explain the actions of the government too them rather than pacifying them with happy cliches.
Give me people like that, and I'll be happy to give up 3 or 4 "Republicans" for every 1 of them.
Thank for saying what I could not seem to say after reading this drivel of an article.
So instead of getting the idjuts in the national party to QUIT backing RINO's, we're suppose to just KEEP letting them push more RINO's on us that will keep voting and supporting Dimocrats bills? Isn't that what got us into this current problem in the first place with McCain?
I'm going to have you put you right up there with the RINO's leading the national party – you don't get it either. These small house races is where we have to START backing Conservatives and getting them in.
What direction the Republican party goes is still in the elitist hands. What direction Tea Party folks go is their constitutional right. Independents will choose based on creditability. Currently my bet is on Tea Party. Remember NY-23.
So if a GOP politician is corrupt we should support them anyway? Don't think so. Does the name Arlen Specter ring any bells? Don't think we should support turncoats. The GOP left me, not the other way around. Get back to fundamental principles and we'll get along fine. I don't want socialism, either by the slow road (RINO/current GOP leadership way) or by the fast way (Democrat Party). Both political parties have abandoned the best interests of a majority of Americans – they ignore the Constitution, they won't deal with illegal immigration, spend more than they should and create bigger government with more regulations. The GOP has the opportunity (and during it's best times) to pick up the standard for liberty (again). If it won't millions of Americans who refuse to become the tax serfs of the self-appointed elites will find another party. We'll find a way to get to a majority and electoral power with the GOP or without. Or we'll repeat 1776, your choice GOP.
I would hate to know my party's main selling point is "We're not them."
Well, guess what? Republicans are, to some degree, Democrats. President John McCain would be doing 60 percent of what President Barack Obama is doing.
That is unacceptable. I don't have a solution, but I can damned well tell you, THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.
Every one of us knows, without a degree in political science or economics, that John McCain (great American though he is) would've been a terrible president.
I'm ready to let the idiots rule, if we can't do any better than John McCain. SCREW THIS BUSINESS OF CAPITULATION AND COMPROMISE!!!
I completely, utterly disagree with the premise that all we need are more (R)'s. Scuzzy is NOT an (R). I, too, am only contributing directly to the campaigns who truly reflect Conservative platforms (as I did with Hoffman). No more money to the RNC. Newt and Steele need to remember, there weren't 1,000,000 (R)'s in DC on 9/12, there were 1,000,000 that no longer will support the status quo. And that includes Scuzzy.
i hate to tell you this, but average americans are fed up. it has boiled down to a match like a car chase of "chicken" full steam ahead… people with virtue and values are tired of putting up with crap from liars and cheats. i see the value and practicality in "one step at a time " without slitting your own throats" but the masses are fed up…….. and i cant blame them. i think we may be at a point of just stepping out in faith. like a david and goliath situation. you cannot ask people to compromise their values anymore for the sake of liars and cheats. i see an epic battle for power looming….. not fought with weapons and blood, but right vs- wrong. and really, standing up for what is right has never been the easy, or even the comfortable thing to do, ever.
besides, when will a good time to be to get rid of the bad seeds? there is going to be pain involved no matter when it is done, might as well be now… get it over with, purge the corruption, refine the vision and move forward from there. if your "body" is sick you cant tolerate being "partly" sick the rest of your days, you want to get over it… so lets get over it… and be healthy again.
Wait I'm confused.. The Leaders of the Tea Party movement want to tell the GOP to show the RINOs the door and this is a bad thing? If we told the party to shove it and voted for Constitutionalists regardless of party affiliation then how do we lose again? We get Constitutionalists in office and the current corruption is thrown out. Sure the "GOP" may not be in power but who cares as long as there are solid Constitutionalists in Congress.
I agree that we are moving towards a trend that will likely see Republicans lose because the base will be split. The Republicans need to be aware of that NOW and champion people who are true conservatives before the 2010 congressional elections are underway. If they're so concerned about the New York race, perhaps the Republicans can get Scozzofava to drop out and throw her votes to Hoffman. Scozzofava is as liberal a candidate as the Democrat, so nobody loses in this one. Republicans should view this New York race as a wave of the future and get their act together ASAP. However, I don't expect it.
I just love it when people on the right do their best to doom all of one area like say New England with socialists in Republican clothing. Surely conservatives and non-socialists in NE deserve a voice? Or do Republicans in the rest of the not give a damn about NE anymore?
HA! There hasn't been one comment in favor of the views expressed in this post.
We're really not asking for all that much here, just to be represented. It's been a LONG TIME since that's been the case.
Oh so the R party gives us "Democrat lite" and we're supposed to just go along? Maybe 8 years to totalitarianism instead of 4 and that makes a difference? I don't think so. If the Republicans stand for nothing more than "we're not them" as HPJr said above, they are worse than useless, they are a distraction from the business of taking back our country. They are in fact a functional unit of "them", a smoke-and-mirrors act. Either they follow the lead of the tea parties, or they go belly up, we don't care.
I agree voting, with BigGovernment Republicans is wrong that is how we got into this mess.
This is an all or nothing game. We will live by small government or die by Big Government (Rep/Dem knife or gun your choice) .
Why vote for Scozzofava when you have the real thing to vote for in the Demorcrat.
I will not submit.
The fringe candidate in this race really should drop out, permitting a true choice between liberal Democrat and conservative.
We should all call on Ms. Scuzzyfella to leave the race.
A fair point. I think I tend to agree more than most of the commenters preceding me. There are times on here I want to say that we need to put out the fire before we can worry about reclaiming ownership of the property and talk about how we will rebuild. And if that means settling for a vote you can count on 60% of the time, as opposed to 10%, then settle you must. And for most of us here, that choice is more often than not going to be someone who is running as a Republican.
However, since you point out NY-23, it appears that Hoffman is quite electable, and is what many envision as a good Republican candidate. Since the Party chose to snub the conservative base, what reason is there to show any loyalty to the Party? In essence, the Party put this seat in jeopardy, not the conservatives (or the Conservatives). As the larger group, doesn't the GOP have the obligation to shore up its base? Or are they too worried about rewarding a long-time member who really stands for nothing Republican?
The obligation to work together cuts both ways. And there is far more lecturing to Tea-Partiers going on than there is to the GOP. Some of us are old enough to remember Jim Buckley. The GOP forgets him at their expense.
The GOP should have thought of this before they tried to shove the closet Democrats onto us. This time i wont vote for party.
Oh, and dilemma has two m's! (Fix headline.)
I agree with you, Lauren. I was one of those on the 'just vote for the GOP' side for too long. What's going on in this country will not be fixed by putting more and more fiscally challenged Republicans in office. They only get worse and worse and, eventually, become democrats. They do NOT become more responsible, or more likely to take their positions as public servants as seriously as is necessary.
We can't keep going down this road. The GOP establishment seems hellbent for destruction. And they want our money to help them take us down too. We have to push back. NY-23 is an excellent place to do it.
Sorry about that, but none of us in the rest of the Country can (legally) vote for anyone up there. The New England states keep putting up RINO's – so what else are we to think. (Not that other states haven't put them up either – just saying – but the proportions from those states that keep "crossing the aisle" is where you get the reputation.)
And we do care – check with the Hoffman's people and see how much he's getting from all over the country like Joe Wilson is.
I agree with the author. It would be a travesty for the vote to be split and give the W to the Dem.
Dede should resign her campaign immediately and throw her support behind Hoffman. See how easy that is!
As for me, I will vote against any RINO even if it means that the Democrat wins. 2 reasons:
1.) A liberal is a liberal. I don't care what letter is beside their name. It gives the false pretense of bipartisanship when they vote with the liberal democrats. (i.e. Lindsey Graham pairing up w/ John Kerry)
2.) I sadly recognize that politicians feed on power despite the desires of their constituency. If the quest for power moves them in the conservative direction, then that is acceptable. However, it is wrong to reward them with power when they are not representing the conservatives in the nation.
3.) If voting against RINOs results in the country moving left faster, then so be it. The faster we break the country, the faster we can get to the point of agreeing on the founding principles of this great nation.
We may wind up with the Dems in control for a cycle longer, but this is too important to fall for the tired argument that a RINO is better than a Dem. If the Republicans want support from the conservative base they had better start fielding conservative candidates.
Bullsh!t, let the party come to the people, not the people to the party.
I wonder if people who voted for Barack Obama felt they were hurting their party's strength by voting for him.
Sure, if the voters in the area are moderates and a strict conservative or liberal would not fly, you go with the compromise position then you go out and try to cultivate better candidates. BUT once you go down the road of marginalizing your values what do you have left? If there is a candidate that is honest (cough), give a rip about those they might serve and know themselves well enough to abide by their convictions… convictions you share… you vote for him. If not, then you might as well just close up shop and take a dirt nap.
leaders with no power who can enact 0% of your agenda. perfect.
and when because of your actions, Nancy Pelosi gets one more vote for speaker, one more vote to help charlie rangel stay at ways and means, one more vote for barney frank, one more vote for a public option, one more vote for cap and tax, one more vote for the entire democrat agenda — you will feel fine because your heart is pure. Well good for you and BAD for America.
You don't get it.
I pay taxes so Democrats and Republicans can buy votes. Karl Rove and Bush restored agricultural subsidies, started up drug subsidies and started sending federal money to churches. The two Bush Administrations are excellent reasons for starting a new Conservative party.
The country must energize conservatives, not dispirit us like the Bushes. What are we going to do in 2012? Elect Jeb Bush? Please.
"First dismantle the Good Ole Boys network, then get back to me and see what I think. And if you can't do that, STOP F_CKING CALLING ME."
When a Republican crosses the line to a point it exceeds ideology of a nominal Democrat, conservatives are correct to call them on it. NY 23 is more a special case where the official Republican is more "Progressive" than the Democrat. In a three way split, and the Democrat around 33% in a recent poll conservatives and traditional Republicans can team up with the independent. It could land up 40 Independent, 37 Democrat, and 23 Republican in this case.
Best case Scozzafava drops out of the race, she is simply unelectable.
Let’s see, we can vote for “Ms. Bean-shuffler” and have a socialist in that seat, or not do so and have a socialist in that seat, but one that’s not ours. What’s not to like? And Hoffman actually has a chance of winning. I thought we were supposed to vote for the candidate whose views come closest to our own. The only problem with the Tea-partiers is that they aren’t effectively agitating for better DEMOCRAT candidates, so the center can be pushed Rightwards. BOTH parties need to be utterly destroyed, and we need free, fair and open elections in the US.
It may be a travesty to split the vote, but if it takes two election cycles for the GOP to come back to the people, then so be it.
As was posted earlier by Paul Trammell
"Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost." — John Quincy Adams
The reason I changed my voter registration to independent was to send a clear signal to both parties they can't just count my vote anymore. I have persuaded at least ten people to do the same. The GOP can see the numbers as DNC can too. Principles first!
we are fighting a closet Democrat in my state also, so dont think only NE is the only one, an we will fight our own fight.
Hey if you want to be one more vote for Arlen Specter because he had a R, or a Dede with an R, that is what America is about, Free Will and Liberty at least for a few more years.
My sympathies, but many of us have our own socialists to deal with to spend too much time worrying about NE. And while I don't think you should be condemned to them, I recognize that the initial responsibility of ridding NE of them belongs to, well, NE. When someone of national prominence emerges from the area who is not a socialist, then perhaps we won't think of the area that way. (And Romney doesn't count, he isn't FROM NE.)
I'm sorry, Mr. Tuohey, but you don't get it. Once we cut the tumor of liberalism out of our party, the healthy body of the GOP will start to attract new voters.
So what if we lose a bit of weight getting rid of these RINOS? We'll gain it all back, and more, when we're a party that embraces and embodies conservative values.
Many yeas ago in Louisiana two unlikely candidates were up for the Govenor's election, David Duke (R-KKK-WTF?) and Edwin Edwards (D-Unconvicted crook, later to be convicted). Republicans had no choice but to throw our votes to a crook. I will never do this again, I will write in my candidate if ever faced with the same or similar circumstances rather than compromise principle.
The days of cultivating politicians is over.
Voting for a RINO is like giving your dog a treat because he only peed on the rug, instead of pooping on it.
Unfortunately the RINO's are a total discredit to the GOP. Some of them, incluing the GOP National Committee are more left than the blue dog liberals. This has been happening for a long time and we let it. The Trojan horse was let in and totally ignored for years. This is a huge dilemma but if we spilt up the party, then we are doomed and the liberals will win again. If we let the country move "left" faster, we will never recover from the chaos that Obama will inflict.____I think we should elect most GOP except for the obvious turncoats (like Spector, Biden and Scuzzyface)and then systematically get rid of the RINOs in the 2012 election. Dont' forget, the Dems are preparing a coalition bigger than in the last election. They will be out full force: corruption, voter fraud and intimidation because they know "we the people" are extrememly dissatisfied. We will have to put extreme pressure on the GOP to either **** or get off the pot. No more pussy-footing around. Our lives depend on it.
Politics is supposed to be the second-oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first. ~Ronald Reagan
Political parties are not guaranteed eternal life. The Whigs (remember them?) lost their base to the Republicans when its leadership could not agree on extending slavery to the territories.
Perhaps it is time for principled men and woman to pack up and move elsewhere.
By Marion Valentine Saturday, October 24, 2009
As I predicted—though I was unsure whether it would be the H1N1 virus or the collapse of the dollar—the Communist Puppet would use something to cement his total control over every aspect of our lives.
From the day he took office, Obama and his puppet masters have been building a shadow Government with all power vested in them. The Czars he has appointed, who were not vetted and approved by Congress nor elected, now have the authority to control every aspect of American commerce.
I challenge you to look at the Executive Orders that have been signed over the last 30 years and are still in place. Also carefully read the provisions of the Violent Crime Control Act. They are listed here America In Peril and I include a partial list below.
You will see that with the Executive Orders already in place, combined with the provisions of the Violent Crime Control Act, with the stroke of a pen Obama can suspend the Constitution, the Judiciary, Elections and in effect declare himself president for life.
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/1614...
If that works for you, fine. But recognize that in doing so, you then may have forfeited your ability to help select a general election candidate. As for me, I'd rather get involved in directing the party in the proper direction.
I'm no fan of RINOs, but the time to get rid of them is during the primary elections. Undercutting them in the general election is counterproductive, because it puts more Dems in Congress with whom I agree even less.
No $$$ to GOP. Time, talent and $$$ to conservative candidates, wherever they may be. Forget it GOP until you find us again. We are not hard to find. We are back at that place you were before you made that left turn.
Well, then the GOP RINOs had better straighten up and fly right.
That's exactly right. the GOP has abandoned it's core principles and now is only hungry for power by any means. Not too long ago, the talk was of spending their way to a permanent majority…see how well that turned out.
Rich Vail
http://thevailspot.blogspot.com
Mr. Touhey,
I just read another post you wrote:
"It remains to be seen if the political activity that this summer generated hundreds of Tea Party protests and capacity crowd town hall meetings turns into a lasting political force. Many will participate in one event and go back to the daily grind. A few will remain active, and some may even use their outrage to invest their time and treasure into political campaigns."
So, I'm confused – are you saying the tea party people should now just shut the hell up?
Spot On!
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I keep getting literature from the RNC asking for a donation. No way will they get any money from me until they start backing truly conservative values. This is the time to send a message to the republican party. I agree that the primaries is the place to elect the candidate that best reflects those values. I would gladly give to the RNC if they threw their support behind Marco Rubio here in Florida instead of Charlie Crist. The RNC and Michael Steele tell us that they are for conservative values. Put the money where your mouth is and show me that you are for conservative values.
I got the RNC questionnaire / request for money. It pissed me off!!
Half the questions where basically "how much do you hate the Dems." I refused to give any answer to those questions and asked what the GOP plan was. So far, it seems like their plan is to oppose the Dems. That is no plan.
I sent a reply that said I will unwaveringly vote against RINOs. A Republican voting liberal is no different than a Dem voting liberal to me. However, I am not going send a confusing message by voting for a RINO.
If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it.
Marcus Aurelius
Normally, I would agree with you, but the situation in NY-23 is absolutely egregious! As Mark Steyn notes, Dede Scazzafava is a DIABLO (Democrat in all but label only.) It would be one thing if she was pro-gay marriage, another if she was pro-choice, but this woman has voted for tax increases, unbalanced budgets and supports card-check. She is unbelievable. In this case, Hoffman needs support.
That's playing right into current GOP's plans. Dont be surprised if this is not coming game plan to come from the GOP, Save the party, we promise we'll change.
Why do you think the GOP has been so silent lately? They're letting Obama and party shoot themselves in the foot, then they're letting the tea party people run their course, then THEY think they will come in on white horses at the last minute to mop up the votes. Nah, that ain't gonna happen and ain't just me thinking it these day as you can see by the comments to this article. Best of luck
Time to purge Washington of all the corrupt democrats & republicans.,either that or a new 3rd party is required.
Hah! Tell em Laura!
There comes a time when you have to stand up for what you believe’
I am a Dem and if you think I will vote Dem think again.
I know there are a lot of Dems that will not vote Dem and independents,we are votes that will count we need a true conservative base and the GOP isn’t it’
We really need a third party and a true conservative one made up of Dems Repubs and independents’
You screwballs have got this is my team and the dems have their team.This is not a game this is real time business’ I am tired of the bull and I can tell you if they pass a Public Option in the bill and have death panels none of you will have to worry about Teaparties or elections and the Climate Bill has a Trojan Horse in it that will give our democracy away.
And the Dems are getting ready to pass a Bill where we will be in Territoy instead Of the United States we will be the North American Territory with Canada and Mexico we are looking for a Communisum World America get off your ass and on your feet if we do not defeat the Health Bill and the Global warming act you will not have democracy it only takes 2/3 of the Senate to vote your Democracy away you get no vote
Copperpeony said, "I think we should elect most GOP except for the obvious turncoats "
I agree. Vitter(r) my Senator has been working his butt of lately, ck on that vote. Landrieu (d) is a mushy democrat lapdog that has makes no commitments to issues until she has to.
Hard question must asked of all politicians as well as pressured applied at all times.
What shocked me more than anything when visiting DC was the outrageous number of special interest groups having offices there. Lobbying must be regulated as much as it can be according to the constitution.
They branded us "Generation X". They said we had no cause to fight for. They labeled us as lazy, and lost, all the while feeding us their rhetoric of "Equality". They drowned us in a sea of political correctness, while they continued on living contrary to their own words. They tried to use the Earth herself to enslave us. We grew up knowing that we could never trust them, but we never knew where to turn.
We remember the values of the founding fathers, and we know that our politicians are not up to par with them. Now is the time to show them that we not only know their game, but we are united in our cause to stop them. We must, or what will the following generations have to look up to?
Join MyFreePress, LibertyTreeRevolution, Oath Keepers, and other Generation Xers, and help us send the the world a message that Generation X is not going to let them destroy our Values, our Principles and our Liberty. Send us your pictures, so the politicians in Washington DC can see the faces of the people who are willing to stand up against the Tyranny, and Economic Irresponsibility that will destroy our nation.
If you are in Generation X or your children are, please visit this post to see how to submit your pictures.
http://myfreepress.net/2009/generation-x-we-decid...
Well then, maybe the GOP needs to lose some more elections until they get the message. The house will never be "clean" if we continue to be ok with that which is not.
Who cares whether the GOP gets a majority in either house of the congress; more important is that incumbents don't get reelected. The Tea Party may cause the GOP to lose seats, but it doesn't matter because they don't represent us anyway. We won't correct the problems in the congress in one election, be it NY 23 or Nov 2010. But we can send a strong message by not bringing back any incumbents. And then doing the same thing in 2012, and again in 2014, and again and again until THEY get it right. I am all for making sure that incumbents don't make it through the primaries next year, and we happen to have good conservative candidates then we of course should back them.
If the Democrat wins NY 23 it will have very little impact on what happens in the congress between now and Nov 2010. But if Doug Hoffman comes in second in the election, it will give the GOP a few months to decide whether THEY want to lose more seats in congress by backing more of their RINOs.
We can't run scared from these idiots. If we stick to our principles we will prevail, but we've got to be patient.
As Chef Emerill say, BAM!
I found this link on the Huffington Post; looks like the libs are starting to get concerned. http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2009/10...
Just need to get the GOP to start taking notice. Interesting to note that the article doesn't mention NY 23.
I appreciate your perspective. More importantly, I value your concern about the country moving irrecoverably left.
However, I don't think anything is beyond repair. Just look at how we were founded. My concern is a half-step to the right does not put us on the right path. We have been trying that for a while. Just look at how far Newt has moved from his Contract with America!
I think the GOP needs a radical wake up call and a strong and determined return to roots.
The GOP ignores good conservatives, ask Roseann Pulido of Chicago if the RNC even called her after she won the primary. There is also a race in the 10th district of California right now, the GOP candidate has gotten very very little support from the RNC. Where is his 6-digit ad buy and paid staffers?
The GOP has stepped on conservatives too many times. This is the last straw. The RINO's have split the party, let them pat themselves on their backs.
Just remember the TEA Party movement is not a partisan movement. Its not a Republican movement
that truly is the message
NOTE TO GOP, Purge your party of corrupt, self interest politicians that put special interest groups ahead of common sense and the back home constituents.
The intention may not lead to the results we want but it is time ALL politicians take notice. WE THE PEOPLE are fed up with the corruption on either side.
If the republican want to take a stand and stay "enough is enough" they will get the party back together, but I am not seeing the GOP doing that.
Thanks to our wonderful RINOs, the czars would be in place even if they had required Senate confirmation.
Compare the RINO GOP support for Scozzafava with the support they have given to the GOP candidate in the 10th district of California. One is leftist and one is conservative. Guess who gets the funds, attention and staffers?
That is why the TEA Party movement is not a Republican movement. RINO's do not help the conservative candidates within their own party, it is high time we stop funding and voting for the leftists in the party,
When you ask people to vote party over principle we get leftist idiots like Snowe, Collins, Spectre and Jeffords.
Say no.
I agree, but it is even more important to get rid of incumbents during the primaries, not just RINOs. The message must be sent, even if it takes out a few good people. As they say in the army, you've got to expect a few losses in a big operation
You wrote, “By picking a fight within the GOP and calling for an inquisition against RINOs, Tea Party activists are sowing the seeds of all our defeat. There are plenty of people within the Republican Party with whom we disagree. But reducing our current 218 members in the US House and Senate to a more pure 200 or 190 is no victory at all.”
I completely disagree with that statement! A so-called conservative party has no place for liberal congressional leaders or Republican Party support. If I were a liberal, I would want to infiltrate the GOP with liberals; in this case RINOs. Either the GOP needs to support its platform before its politician, or shove the platform up your ass!
True conservatives will not compromise certain conservative values. For all I care, you can call yourself the Christian party, but if your actions don’t reflect your platform/objective, don’t expect Christians to support you. Same with conservatives!
I would rather face the dissolution and demise of the U.S. Constitution today, than make my children and grandchildren have to fight the socialist/Marxist bastards 10 or 20 years from now. They need to see their parents stand up for their rights as guaranteed by our Constitution instead of worshipping another Messiah!
And let's not forget that there are Constitutionalists among independents and even a few democrats. (they just don't dare say so at the moment), speaking up in Washington is dangerous nowdays.
The Constitution way is the way to go, we need to polish this document and make it shine again, protect it and preserve it for generations to come. We are the last bastion of freedom let's not lose it for party sake.
I think what Rt was trying to relay is that you may not be able to vote for Conservatives in primaries. Depends on the State.
Don't you guys realize that you are the problem, you bunch of non-thinking, redneck rubes? I mean, come on! You should just submit to party leadership. They know what's best for you. Every time you begin thinking for yourselves you start mucking things up. Let the oligarchs at the head of the GOP make the decisions and just be good subjects/party members. They'll throw you a bone now and then, don't worry. And they sure aren't as bad as those evil Democrats.
NO, MR. TUOHEY, YOU ARE WRONG. YOU DON'T GET IT. YOUR KIND OF THINKING IS THE PROBLEM, NOT THE SOLUTION. WE WILL NOT BE TAKEN FOR GRANTED ANY LONGER. YOU WILL GOVERN CONSTITUTIONALLY OR YOU WILL NOT GET OUR VOTE. WE NO LONGER PONY UP FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT REPRESENT US.
Damn straight.
Ya wanna see what happens when you screw your base in an effort to curry favor with the left: Whitness the downfall of popular governor Charlie Crist. Once eyed for the VP slot under McCain, now he may not be the shoe in for the Senate position he is vying for. http://apnews.myway.com/article/20091025/D9BI3EJ8...
Agree with All.
You DC elitist folks don't get who the Tea Partiers are. I took my family to 9/12 DC to teach my family what PATRIOTS do when the country is under assault either foreign or DOMESTIC.
The truth be known – we HATE politics. We want to be left alone.
NY-23 is a battle. It may turn out like bunker hill – we might lose. However, in loss the early patriots shell shocked the Brits and taught themselves how to battle the oppressive Brits. Same deal in 2009. NY-23 is our Bunker Hill & we're playing to win. Virginia is our Trenton of 1776.
Guess what, we're going to win, options for the Republican establishment – this is not a crack-up this is a CRACK-DOWN. This is Patton unleashed in Europe. We're not stopping at Berlin either to let teh communists take it and divide Europe fpr generations. We're in this to win for generations. There will be no socialists left when this movement completes. We're not stopping at 2012 – we're going to remove socilists for teh next 10 cycles. Period.
That was an absolutely brilliant statement. A +1 for you!
Does the GOP really want to die on RINO hill?
What nearly everyone else said, with one caveat: "All politics is local" is an important point to keep in sight. Almost all US House & Senate candidates cut their teeth in state bodies, often after stints with municipal or other local boards and offices. We all need to pay attention to these elected fledglings, support and encourage the "good" ones and weed out the other kind before they head for D.C.
UHHH excuse me I think the costitution has already been broken the Dems locked the Repubs out of their meeting thats bi-partisian they are demanding we take flu shots and who the hell elected the Czars thats from Russia not here and my friend your kids won’t be fight this one we will be within a year do you honestly think this Communist faction is goin to give up power uhhhhhhh not unless we physically remove them and why has congress got a block on Obamas Birth Certificate if he were a real Citizen that shouldn’t be a problem the other presidents could and don’t give me that forged jive he showed the press show us the long form and how did he fly to Indoniesa what passport did he use because we had a no fly zone
Republicans need to get their act together. I had thought about an Independent Republican party, like Lieberman's ID, that could caucus with Reps. Then again, I would also like to see conventions as they used to be BUT that would exclude such IR candidates. Before we go supporting multiple candidates/parties remember how our second election in 1796 went. Electoral votes, 138 – each voting two choices:
John Adams……………71
Thomas Jefferson……68
Thomas Pinckney……59
Aaron Burr………………30
Scattering……………….48
Then again we don't want to repeat the mistakes of the 11th election:
James K. Polk, D….170
Henry Clay, Whig…..105
The Abolition Party cast a considerable vote, and as they were former Whigs, would have been enough to have elected Clay.
After these and the lessons of Clinton, Bush, Perot, Dole and the fact that we must overthrow a fascist regime, I'll stick with my first statement. Republicans need to get their act together.
The problem is NOT with the protesters. It is within the GOP leadership (an obvious contradiction in terms)
Exactly what have they been doing while Obama has been out playing thug in chief? Not a damned thing. There is a power vacuum on the right and the good old boys had better pull their heads out of their asses and stop telling us to sit down and shut up. They need us more than we need them and the sooner they acknowledge that, the better.
Another brilliant statement through quote! A +1 to you!
Another BRILLIANT statement! More +1 for you!
Huzzah!
If you are a conservative, and the middle wins, you've won nothing.
Patrick Tuohey:
Sir, you are receiving a notice.
For far too long, we have held our noses and pulled levers, pushed buttons, whatever, for politicians who stood just right of a leftist. We did that in the vain hope of protecting our rights and our property and our persons from further encroachment by government. We did this time after time after time…
Where are we now, sir? Have we moved right, or further left? Have you noticed the citizens here have written about a political "end of days", where the Obama Administration moves to a "National Emergency", to cement themselves to power for all time?
I am not an alarmist, sir, but even my eternal optimism has been given pause…
Who will stand against this tide, sir? McCain? Snowe? Collins? Specter? Even recently, McCain once more extended his "collegiate" bona fides to "work" with those who seek to chain up the Citizenry, a team of animals under one whip. Snowe dances on television and print, the center of attention, and waffles as well as a Kerry, to stand with before she stands opposed, (at least according to the devious MSM). Specter, a miracle of modern medical treatment, would he give up his plan to stand and be counted amongst us and our government sanctioned leeches, bloodletting, and trepanation?
The line is drawn, sir. We stand here, and no force in Heaven or on Earth will move us. We stand with Adams, Aurelius, Jefferson, Madison, Franklin, and a long line of others; even to Ronald Wilson Reagan.
We will no longer be counted amongst those who forge the chains that we will wear. We will be bloodied, but we will not submit. We will be beaten, but we will stand tall. We may even die for our principles, but we will live on forever in the hearts and minds of free men and women.
The line is drawn. This far. NO further. We will take our country back. It will once more belong to the PEOPLE.
Stand where you wish, sir. I stand with my fellows against tyranny, and oppression, and servitude to government.
I will stand for FREEDOM!
Well written and BRAVO! +
[...] The rest is here: Tea Party Dilemma: Honey, I Shrunk the Party [...]
Since at least 1996, The Republican leadership has lost all enthusiasm for everything except getting elected.
There were guys like Newt Gingrich, who promoted things like "The Contract with America" and then proceeded to wipe himself with it…
And then there was the braindead, bonehead "Thinking" that gave us presidential candidates like Bob Dole and John S. McCain…
There seems to be a wall between right-leaning voters and the leadership of the Republican party…
Mr. Tuohey, TEAR DOWN THIS WALL
HA-ha! I keep getting calls from Newt's office. I told them "no dice" unless he straightens up and represents true Conservatism as he once did. They don't call me anymore.
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