Tea Parties: The Biggest Mistake We Could Make in 2010
by Warner Todd HustonIt’s the end of 2009, the “aughts” are over, and we are about to embark on a new year — and what else are they but the “aughts”? Well, besides mostly a horrible and thankfully passed decade. In any case, we are at the end of the year and that means two things: lists about this year and predictions for the next. I’ve chosen the prognosticator’s art for this piece with the subject of what could be our biggest failure or mistake in 2010: the Tea Party movement.
We all know that just saying the words “Tea Party” is enough to raise American’s blood pressure. Some will become suspicious or even enraged by imagining I am about to attack the Tea Partiers, some on the left will be filled with disgust even thinking about the Tea Partiers at all, and still others will get their blood up thinking about why the Tea Party movement started in the first place. For 2009 “Tea” and “Party” were two words that raised American’s passions in a myriad of ways, for sure. That won’t change in 2010.
But with the Tea Party movement we are likely headed for a huge mistake in 2010, one that I fear will stretch into 2011 and one that has the potential to hurt us all, right, left and center — but especially right.
The nature of the Tea Party movement was unusual at the outset. Regardless of what the half-wits on the extreme left said about them — whackjobs like your Keith Olbermanns or Rachel Maddows — the Tea Party movement was not orchestrated behind the scenes by some grand, right-wing conspiracy. They happened spontaneously spearheaded by all sorts of different groups, hundreds of them in fact. And to use the hackneyed old expression, trying to organize them into a single, national power will be like herding cats.
And therein lies the soon to be revealed mistake. Unless we are able to foresee this limitation of the Tea Party movement and take concrete measures to prevent it we will see the passion and engagement of these millions of Americans frittered away until just cynicism is left.
Passion about politics is great and likely the fervor of Tea Party participants will help fuel a 2010 resurgence of Republicans in the midterm elections. But what after that? In fact, what during it?
Here’s the problem and, as I see it, it’s a problem that is actually sort of built right into the Tea Party movement from its inception. That would be its essentially leaderless nature. Certainly this leaderless nature has suited the tastes of those suspicious of government, tired of failed party machinations, and the preternaturally aloof folks that populated them. Perhaps the gatherings could have occurred no other way and are born of this peculiar instant of political sensibility. Nonetheless Tea Parties have been disparate, unfocused, leaderless, and might prove to be pointless in the end.
There was no unifying single goal of the Tea Partiers and no agency or party directing them. This means that the raw power behind them just might go untapped because there will be no way to translate the passion to power. Every transformative movement has been led by a single man and his small group of powerful adherents but the Tea Party movement has no such leader and might just find that its passion will dissipate until there is nothing left but disgruntled followers.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the passion and was thrilled by the hundreds of Tea Parties with their millions of participants as it happened across this land in 2009. I was heartened that so many Americans were standing up to the anti-American left like that. But how do we channel that passion into something that can lead to positive change?
Without question powerful change needs a leader. Unfortunately, unless a leader steps forward that can gather all those many Tea Party strings into a single strong rope, it is likely that the whole thing will just pass away and be left a footnote in history. And what will this do to those yearning for change? What else could it do but cause them to become even more cynical going out than when they came in, leaving them thinking that nothing can be done and that we are doomed? This could lead to even worse societal strife down the road as frustrations build.
The other thing change needs is funding. Let’s face it, change cannot come without money and while Tea Partiers have not yet been stingy with political donations, it has been like a scattergun as opposed to an aimed and powerful rifle shot. Whether we like it or not, money is and always has been the life’s blood of politics and we Tea Party goers must find a way to harness the interest we all have had in change and parlay that into political donations that will lead to a successful take over of our political scene. We can’t bend politics to our will without money. Reagan knew it, Richard Viguerie knew it, even Jerry Falwell and his Moral Majority knew it. These famous conservatives were able to channel political donations in the millions of dollars to the right places and conservatism became a powerful force because of it.
The closest the Tea Party folks have come to major change based on donations was with the recent candidacy of Doug Hoffman in New York’s 23rd and if you’ll remember it was a failed effort. It was, though, a small example of what might be done to good effect. It should also be noted that, in keeping with this nebulous nature I’ve mentioned, the Hoffman effort was wholly ad hoc and unfocused.
So, I see trouble brewing ahead for the Tea Party movement one that might lead to its being wasted and the frittering away of these potentially powerful passions will be the biggest mistake the right could make. Sadly, I can almost see no way to prevent it from happening.
So, Happy New Year, sure, but let’s keep all this in mind and find a way to weld the Tea Party passion into action.
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708 Comments
We have a branding problem, at the least, and need to define ourselves outside of the DC Network. If we must have TWO political parties may I humble suggest we name the Dems and Rinos (no difference) as the "Politician Party" and the Tea Partiers, Independents, and libertarians as the "Patriot Party" and then let's rumble.
Very correct. And we cannot afford to split the vote.
The republican party is what must be taken over and set straight, and a leader is needed.
At this time Palin is the best I see, and she should be supported.
The only problem is the movement was hijacked in many cases by the neocon chickenhawks preaching more war for Israel. Let's have some more "Levins" up there who never served saying we should all send our kids to die for Israel in the Middle East. No thanks. Neocons are just liberals advancing big government through war rather than domestic programs.
The Tea Party movement in and of itself will be ineffective if it is used as a third party. However, it can be effective at driving the Republican Party more conservative, mobilizing the conservative base and holding elected officals to their more conservative promises. Our elected officals (generally) are not responsive to the wishes of the electorate. People elected thanks to the efforts of a VERY vocal sector of their constituencies might be more responsive when voices are raised in opposition to left of center legislation.
I also hate to see the efforts of the Tea Partiers wasted.
Good post…it points to a serious problem. Reaction to the direction of government in the US is growing but is somewhat aimless. The problem is that all the Tea Partiers shared was that reaction; a desire for less government. But it's sort of a least common denominator and movements (at least peaceful ones) can't be driven by an amorphous, shared goal or an emotion reaction. When leaders speak and parties issue policy platforms, they must make more or less concrete statements about where things should be headed. Within the anti-government crowd there are all kinds of contradicting goals: some want clear separation of church and state, others see religion as playing a role in public policy. Some are pro-choice, some pro-life. Some favor interventionism to proactivly protect America, others are isolationist. These differences must be resolved (or at least ignored) in order to create a real movement; otherwise there won't be enough internal unity to sustain the drive towards the goal that motivated the movement in the first place.
Hate Jews? Watch out for those global bankers – they be coming to get you.
i dont know anyone who wants to stand up to the fiestorm the leftist medie will create,..
I couldn't agree more. No thanks to more republicrats, it solves nothing.
Palin is already being groomed to speak rogue but fit the model of a neocon. The fact that she teamed with McCain was bad enough, but given enough time Palin's handlers will have her converted into a establishment Republican with no independent thought.
"Let’s face it, change cannot come without money."
Here we see the little lie he wanted to bury in the words. People love to use phrases like "let's face it" and follow it up with some bilge they want to sell. What use is money? Only to purchase tv ads. But why do you need those? Only because most Americans are brain-dead and make stupid decisions based on what they see in those ads. Get these people to stop watching football and involved in the tea parties and the need for money dries up.
On the other side of the coin (ah hem) why do people OFFER money to politicians? To buy influence. If the politicians have no influence to purchase, again it dries up.
But playing THEIR game isn't going to get you what you want.
I've seen a big fall off in our local Tea Party base since early this past summer when it had held its own "Townhalls" which were attended by hundreds after the inaugural one. Hats were passed and thousands of dollars were raised to support activities.
However, the 9/11 Truther Ronulans were stealthily trying to take control and almost did. They ended up forming their own "Tea Party" group and set about hustling donations over the internet.
At our first large organization meetings is when there began to be some small power struggles for influence. The vast majority of the membership (several hundred active members) was looking for leaders to emerge and none really has. The second quarterly meeting was attended by just over a hundred.
Americans for Prosperity has grown since that time and many have switched over to that group.
I was among those dozen folks involved in the planning stages pre-April 15th demonstration which drew over 3,000 to our state capital steps. After being shut out from objecting to the Alex Jones followers attempted takeover in our legislative action committee, my support has fallen to zero.
Hate Truth? You do realize the Rothchilds really do exist, don't you?
It does no good to vote in more big government republicans in 2010. Continued loss of tax revenues and an increasingly educated population will do more good. Also, state nullification of federal law is starting to have an effect on bringing some change to the constitution bashers in Washington.
I attended three Tea Parties and found them invigorating to know that there where still people in this country that cherish freedom. That love of country as it was founded still runs deep in the souls of real productive America. But you are correct in one regard, we must reform the Republican Party through the primary process, run true conservatives, and once the primaries are over – - get behind the Republican Party. Ronald Reagan once said to paraphrase, “someone that agrees with me 80% of the time is my ally.” Though a third party sounds good we will get “Perot’ed,” again …not good.
Like it or not conservatives will not be culled in 2010. Do not expect blind devotion to the political parties next year. We want no more millionaire career politician lawyer candidates being foisted upon us by the political parties. We will vote our conscience and will vote for people of character and principle to lead us rather than rule us.
Well I agree that there are concerns regarding Palin I would not be so quick to give up on her.
But I repeat, she is the best I see out there.
Politics is a war of attrition. The "progressive" agenda has been on the march since Woodrow Wilson. Obama represents the latest wave of progressive statism. You think a few public meetings this year was an "effort" that should not be wasted.
You have a long fight.
I've been saying for months, if Sarah Palin is actually running for President in 2012, watch what she does with the Tea Partiers in 2010. In my eyes, she's the only big name in politics that the Tea Partiers in general have real resect for.
What Palin needs to do is visibly and vocally encourage the Tea Partiers to vote in the Republican Primaries in order to get real conservatives on the Republican ticket. If Palin is seen as having helped get true conservatives onto the major party ticket, and those candidates are able to win in the general election, she will undoubtably be seen as an effective leader of the Tea Party movement, and a very viable candidate for continued victories in 2012.
How about Jeb Bush as the leader?
Sarah, where are you…we need you're leadership! Rise up and "Just Do It", I'll send money!
Yes.
What most don' t realize is that many people want to be part of a tea 'party', but there are many more that are willing to be Minute Men.
This government WILL change, it's up to the government to decide if it'll be peaceful or not.
Exactly. Which is why I could care less if a third party gives the Dems another win. It's a dangerous place into which our national psyche is descending on both sides of the aisle.
If we must anoint our country for burial I'd at least like to be on the side of Right, not the side of Win.
The ultimate fate/result of the TEA movement is in the hands of the GOP non-leadership. Folks like Palin, DeMint, Pence, Michelle Bachmann get it and could save the Grand Ole Party- BUT if the establishment 'moderate' republicans (Frum, Brooks,McCain,Graham,Steele,McConnell ad nauseum) remain in power- ALL IS LOST.
Contrary to what the elites like to believe- TEA party folks are NOT STUPID, far more informed than any other group. WE WILL NOT FALL FOR BUSH-type BIG GOVERNMENT again.
It would be nice to see someone like Palin go against the grain of the Republican party like she did with backing Hoffman. I fear that her handlers will have her fully converted to an establishment republican. I aready hear her giving scripted responses on shows like Hannity that make me cringe.
One could say the same thing about the Iranian government, JBnID. Liberals will not relinquish their power easily.
First and formost, anybody that voted for this NO_BamaCare boondogle is out ! Secondly, anybody who voted for the TARP and other massive spending has to be tossed out on their ear. Thirdly, anyone who wants AlGore's cap and trade is out. Then we replace anybody who is for higer taxes, bigger government, less National Security, less privacy, smaller military and anti business.
Gee I dont see many (if any ) Dems or Republicans left to vote for, do you?
Sorry, but you are wrong.
The Tea-Party movement is NOT about taking control of the Republican Party; it is about taking BACK control of our COUNTRY, which means, if necessary, taking over, or destroying, BOTH PARTIES.
I am becoming ever-more-wary of Republicans in Tea-Party clothing!
I'm sure Jeb would have ran in 2008 if W would have done a good job. The cooling off period from W may last a long long time.
First, it is important to remember that it was the RNC and the Republican candidate that split the Conservative vote in NY-23 and elected a Democrat.
Going in to 2010, the TPM need to split the races, not the Conservative vote. Let the Republicans take on the Blue Dpgs, we Tea Party Independents can run and win in the North and East where the Republicans have shown they can't win. Not a 3rd party; in New England the Tea Party Movement would be the second party.
We need to focus on the House in 2010. We are working on this at http://www.firefifty.com/phpwiki/index.php .
People like you filled with hate and rage don't represent anything but the worst this world has to offer. Did your daddy diddle you when you were young?
Every time Obama or one of his liberal henchmen appear and speak in public should fan the flames of our passion for liberty and freedom and a return to small, uncorrupt government by the people. Focus on the fact that what we have now is an obvious disaster heading for a predictable and certain collapse of a once great country. Look into the faces of your children. Imagine them subjugated and destitute and the target of every take over murdering tin horn on the planet. If you choose to sit back down, do nothing, and stay the course; you will hasten the doom of your family. Get off your ass! This is a fight for our lives!
I think you've hit the nail on the head quite eloquently…
I concur. Stick with principles and not with more of the same.
The Third-Party Boogeyman doesn't scare me anymore, either. What is left for the Democrats or Republicans to tax and destroy? Which of them will give up their perqs and pensions for the good of their country?
The man with nothing left to lose cannot be held for ransom.
Dem's and Liberals' only hope is that we actually BREAK INTO A THIRD PARTY. This would be their ONLY salvation from being exterminated politically and another fatal political mistake (OUR first one was electing Obama into office last November). As we have experienced during his year in office political mistakes are paid at a very high price for our nation.
Let US NOT FALL INTO THAT TRAP! I have seen this happen in Venezuela's tyrannical regime. Its opposition's inability to unite and lead their disgruntled peoples has kept Hugo Chavez in power for over a decade despite of millions' protests. The same is happening to the Iranian people as we speak.
We Americans have to continue unifying over PRINCIPLES AND IDEALS and NOT DISSOLVE our power into third parties with inexistent political infrastructures. Instead, let us CLEAN UP the existing parties by voting them out of our political system for good. Let us, as a people, hold each and every politician accountable and show them they cannot just serve themselves instead of their constituents.
This is hard work for all of us but is the only way out of this mess. Let’s face it: they do it only because WE HAVE ALLOWED THEM TO. We, The People have sat idle hoping the next candidate will come and save OUR Republic, only to find that it does not work that way! Washington D.C. is filled with human garbage and we cannot expect someone else to do the cleaning for us. All of us need to elect PRINCIPLED candidates, patriots and individuals who are willing to SERVE their constituents for the god of all (rather than their own political pockets) and uphold our Constitution above all. It was created to give We, The People the power to decide. Let us NOT fall into political traps like third parties which have proven politically impotent ,unviable and would only serve to hand over more power to LIBERALS and America haters.
We have to vet well and look into every candidate in every district and State making sure their backgrounds and accomplishments (personal or professional) speak for their true agendas. Let us make sure we are not misguided by the media, advertising or Washington lobbyists. We are entrusting the wrong PEOPLE with our livelihoods and future. We need to roll up our selves and do our individual part, as small as it may seem, it adds up. A third party is not the answer.
Cleaning up the garbage in existing ones IS. Let us begin scrubbing and sweeping NOW!
The Tea Party Support Group is sponsoring the National Conservative Symposium in San Antonio Texas January 22-24. The speakers include Sarah Palin, Sean Hannity, Michelle Malkin and Laura Ingraham. There will be activist and candidate training as well. We look forward to seeing you there.
Mike
Palin can do it…she's NOT scared of the idiots!!!
YES!
You think taking money out of ANY politician's pocket is gonna be easy? The Pubbies are in it up to their necks as high as the Dems. Which is why necks are the only good place for a rope.
Thats the attitude you have to take.
The Republican party formed when the Whigs showed no stomic for containing slavery. The Republican have shown no stomic for containing spending. Both Bushes have been big spenders. I would love to see a "Black party" form. Commited to putting the government back in the Black.
But I honestly don't think the GOP is dead yet.
Good to see a lot of commenters who recognize that just putting "Republicans" back in power will change nothing. Going back to the big government establishment figures we had before is just playing the same old tune, the false paradigm of "left/right" and the further degenerating true conservatism. Mr. Huston gets a lot of things wrong in his article, though, and it smacks of the tired, crusty narrative that's thrust on us by MSM and talking heads.
No. He is still an "inside the beltway" guy.
I disagree strongly with the above article. I think the tea-partyers are more genuine than the Perote people because they have no leader and are organized around core principles and not a personality.
Tea Party folks vet their sources much better than journalists do. Which is why journalists don't like them.
Admittedly, succumbing to peer pressure, whether good, bad or indifferent, is part of being human it would seem. One could argue, that the conservatives of today, would have been considered liberals in the not to distant past. That being said, I believe Palin will break (not be in the politics) before she bends (compromises) to any great degree. I believe that is her reason for political existence.
Problem is we need people to run on local and state levels. I believe normal-joes, like Doug Hoffman, are afraid to run or are busy leading normal lives in this tough economy–they can't be about running all over their state tryig to garner votes. So, you get the people with $$$ running who can finance their own campaigns. Our founding fathers didn't intend for people to be career politicians. They were farmers, bankers, lawyers, with real jobs they needed to keep in order to support them. Now most of our politicians have never done a decent day's work for a decent day's pay. They rely on you and me to feed their families.
I think one problem with the electorate is that most of them vote on an uspoken assumption that a good representative or statesman must have master the intricacies of government, international relations, economics, jurisprudence etc. As a result, we find ourselves ruled by technocrats without principles. I think some degree of civic understanding is requisite, but a greater emphasis by voters needs to be placed on a candidate's adherence and advocacy of the priciples of a free-market, democratic republic. Keep in mind some of our greatest leaders were not philosophers or economists, but brewers and actors. What made them great was an understanding of what made a peaceful social order: protection of individual rights, private property and limited government.
The 'tea parties' are the best thing that has happened in this country in a very long time! It actually brought Republicans and Democrats together, in response to Obama's policies of a bigger more controlling government! That WAS NOT the ticket he ran on, and he proved himself to be a true socialist from day one!! The tea parties were about the American people wanting to keep our freedoms and our rights as citizens of this great land! We are NOT going to give them up without a fight!! Obama broke every 'promise' he made to the people within days…except for the one where he said ' We will fundamentally transform the United States of America"…people that were mesmerized by his flamboyant speeches were NOT paying attention to his words, nor taking them at face value!!! Something had to happen to wake up the sleeping giant, and it was the rage of the people who were thoughtful enough to put together the tea parties!!
This means we're "stuck" with name recognition to get into office. So far the big names, like Rudy Guliani, hair out in the big needed races. He's not the most "conservative", but in a state like NY, he'd have made progress for us. Incumbents get their public/party funds and the new guy on the block (read Hoffman-like people) have to make a name for themselves. Plus, I've noticed, when they get to DC, most of them get wooed to the dark side of fame and fortune; they don't keep their hometown integrity.
Tea parties were/are a way to inspire people to take on the established power. The only way we're going to take out this present establishment is to recruit decent people to run and then to hold them accountable. But, most of us are too busy raising our kids and doing our jobs (if we have them)–and don't want to get slaughtered by the MSM.
True Harry, Palin is the best out there right now. She needs to learn the Gipper model, say it like it is and ignore the jerks !
So, Why is it that these differences can't be settled by the obvious? Uniting behind our founding documents that have always been reliant on our defending them. Unite behind restoring the integrity the Constitution. We are failing our civic duties by not doing so. The faces and names are secondary.
woot.
go John Brown not John Gualt.
The Homeland Secretary warned us about you. I hope you have not been reselling any shoot guns.
I like Jeb, however, I think he is another RINO.
the beauty of this movement is that it's spontaneous, and not loyal to any party. i believe the minute we have a 'leader', is the minute that this fantastic movement will limit itself. push an agenda – not a person. as an active member of the movement, i don't give much of a damn about where my vote goes, although i can't see any democrat that would earn my vote at this time. the Republican party is a ready made 'vehicle' to push a Conservative agenda, and right now it's the best we've got. i've said it a number of times, that our first order of business must be to salvage our Constitution and country NOW. we don't have time to reinvent the political wheel. let's boot out the Lefties first, and start moving the agenda as far to the right as we can. when the course is set, we can then look a the luxury of another party, but now we gotta crash the Republican party.
We don't need a leader now. The strong man is a leftist requirement. Free people are their own leaders. I can find candidates to support in 2010 (Rubio, Brown in Mass., Bachmann). I don't need a leader. I can think on my own. For 2012 someone on the right will have to convince me that he or she is serious about moving the country toward conservative and libertarian principles. If they do that, they will get my support.
What would make you think the media doesn't already "hate your guts"?
The power-hungry dems and RINO's "hate your guts".
The specifics you mention have already been employed for years against us, witness the constant bashing of conservatives by the media and the pols.
Stop trying to make nice with this current most transparency corrupt sleaze government and the leadership of either party, repubs or dems.
Do you realize that hte last time we had a declaration of war was in 1941, and yet we have been fighting wars ever since? There is no point in talking about a return to constitutional government unless we are ready to declare war before committing troops. And I refuse to take any Tea Party candidate seriously, until he is willing to support Ron Paul for Secreatary of the Treasury.
http://www.downsizedc.org
I found this site when looking in to Shadegg's Enumerated Powers bill, which I believe is a sadly necessary bill to support to legislatively put teeth into the oaths of office. The site is informative and useful for many seperate issues that may be your passion. Give it a look.
Americans For Prosperity is also a very interesting group. They have seemingly orgainized effectively both on a national basis and within each state. I find myself very appreciative of their efforts when I'm focusing on state issues.
In agreement with this articles primary point that if the Tea Party movement rotts away, it will be seen as the failed last hope to millions. What I don't understand though is why this movement hasn't done the obvious. Make restoring integrity to our Constitution in whole it's primary focus. Faces and names being secondary.
This is the way for the energy of the movement to make a difference in short order. By taking over an existing infrastructure, we then have the force to promote real conservative candidates, as opposed to the same old same old.
Yes, and the make a delicious sugary treat.
We don't need no stinkin' leader. WE need to grow this massive movement to prod the idiot leaders we already have. More people, more people, more people… thats your leader. The mistake is depending on an individual to take the lead…. nonsense…. no matter who you pick to lead the tea party movement, they will ultimately fail if the main objective fails to change the morons we currently have in office. We need more bodies and vocal "everyday man" voices.
Warner,
For a "leaderless" grass-roots group, I'm amazed at just how much these Tea-Throwers have gotten done. Do they really need a leader, or just a lot of little groups, spread out across this great land, adding up to millions who are invigorated, active, and vote?
"But playing their game [by their rules] isn't going to get you what you want." Well said. What is it about the R's that don't get the Tea Party movement. I'm an Independent unaffiliated with either party. I don't have any desire to be used to build the R Party. Let the R's do it. We Tea Partiers want to own the middle by influencing leftie and rightie policies. The sooner you come to accept this diddy the sooner you R's will focus your energy on rebuilding your party. Leave those of us in the center alone!
This is a joke, right?
I think you got about 534 of them, and I'm not sure who the 1 is.
I agree that those who supported the Tea parties, need to be focused in order to assist with the changes planned for 2010. That does not mean "we" have to elect a leader, who then tells us what to do. We've had enough "top down" guidance from the RNC, thank you very much. In fact, just the opposite needs to take place.
Leaders need to state what they represent (e.g. Sarah Palin). We represent the votes. You can't buy us. We are going to flock to those leaders who represent what we want, then we'll vote them in. We're not perfect. We'll learn from NY-23. Just because you don't hear from us now, don't assume we've faded into the background. We are one spark away from rearing our heads again.
Realize that more has happened to our country since 4/15/09 and through the summer. The situation hasn't improved, in fact, the current administration has demonstrated that they are even more incapable of governing this country than we originally thought. More people are angrier now. We have even more reasons to become active.
Atlas will shrug.
And a win for the Republicans in that district would have meant something different ideologically?
Isn't it sad that our "leaders" do not follow the constitution? I wonder how great this country would be if they actually did their job.
we don't need parties. It is their way to control people.. their method to herding cats. Register independent and make them beg for your vote. It is destruction party system that scares them.
Well, i think it should be evolutionary, not revolutionary. We already have success with Doug Hoffman – get him to start proposing similar candidates that match the ideals of the Tea Party movement. It's been successful once before, so start from there…
May as well try to fix/rescind/abolish the Welfare State as ask ANY politician to give up their political advantage. They are a symbiotic entity: entitlement groups and their enablers. It's the system we have and to try and paint it up as something we want is to be in denial of the sheer numbers of people who procure from the common weal as opposed to those who supply to the common purse.
The "Party System" is sick beyond a cure. Best to put the Party down, like a once-faithful dog that has gone rabid with power. Our best and brightest in Newt Gingrinch, turned out to be a colossal disappointment filled with PC/bipartisan/unity tropes that sold us out. Sure, we had a majority and squandered it like a drunken sailor. Feh. A pox on both houses.
Good luck with Palin. She is a calculated idiot and you are a moron for suggesting that anyone should support her. Go back to sleep you dunce.
lmao.. you can't save the republicans.. you need more money than the chamber of commerce. Destroying party system will work and they can't stop it.
Typical leftest response….nothing to add except personal attacks…..Gotta love the libs.
save the republican's??????? they can't be saved.. register independent and lets destroy the party system.
The Republican party holds the same ideals as the Democrats – big spending big government. The success of Doug Hoffman should show you that. I agree that you should "clear house" with career politicians moving from one party to the next, but sometimes neither party represents your views. In that case, a third party is the obvious solution. Difficult? Yes. Potentially detrimental to a party more closely alligned with yours? Yes. But anything worth fighting for is worth the difficulty and hardship.
oh really just take it away from chamber commerce members good luck.. you want change things register independent. and take their power away.
Do you have more money than chamber commerce members???? Register independent and destroy the party system..
We are talking about Palin not McCain.
Remember Palin did not choose McCain, he chose her. Apparently about the only thing he did right. I don't think we need to fault her for being part of the campaign.
There are things to fault her with, but again, there is no one better for one thing and she is generally spot on in terms of policy and is very popular. She can succeed.
The fact that the left is so rabidly afraid of her is just another reason to put all our support behind her.
I think the nebulous nature of the Tea Party is exactly why it is successful. Both parties perceive it as a political threat. Remember the Republicans had their "listening tour"? It was a stunt to get out in front of the Tea Party and control the Issues. The Repubes looked lame and It faded away in a couple of days because they were rightly blamed for the state of affairs of our country. Then the Dems, called us Nazis, right wingers, homophobes, racists, etc. That didn't stick, so they sent out the SEIU goon squads.
We will coalesce around a candidate that is a patriot. The current Politicos are threatened by this because they have all benefited from the money stuffed in their pockets from the Special Interests. I'm glad Ben Nelson's popularity is down 30%.
Do this and the left will be in power forever. That's the fact jack.
What is more sacred to this country than the constitution?. .It’s called freedom. Men and women sacrifice their bodies and lives for it. Is it just all a lie or does it mean something. What is the promise of America? Who is being held accountable? How can a man be free when closes his eyes to corruption? Why do so many accept the lies of those that seek to take our freedom? The party system has enslaved your country and you still accept them????
This meme is getting old AND this is the second article this blogger has done attempting to persuade TPs to join the ranks of the R Party. Give it up. If this were to happen this Indy would no longer support it. Period.
What everyone fails to realize is the TP is the voice of the center NOT left or right BUT THE CENTER! We unaffiliated voters left respective parties for a reason…we grew tired of the same old elite telling us one thing while campaigning and doing another once they fell under the leadership of the private clubs. Well, we're sick of it. We're sick of the consultants who poll, poll, poll devise message and assist with strategy to win a seat. Well guess what, that is the old tired game where the majority who defines the game are men.
The Tea Party is not a 3rd party. It is the concept of a natural desire to return to freedom and a "fair is fair" attitude. It is the same natural desire seen in the original Revolution, seen again in Reagan, and potentially seen in Sarah. People saw these concepts in Obama, and have been disappointed. People saw these concepts in GWB and were disappointed. These concepts were never really seen in McCain, Kerry, or Gore. I could explain more about what needs to be done, but alas, I must go back to work and pay the onerous taxes.
JK, skepticism is justified, but you said it yourself, that she went against the status quo party line and did the right thing.
I take great offense to this author's statement that all great movements were lead by men. Right there, right in that very statement, this joker shows how clueless he is as to who the majority is of this bottom up grassroots movement. Big hint, we don't wear a noose around our necks everyday! What is about men like you who are given a platform in which to write to the public yet you dismiss and demean the very back bone of this movement?
I can assure you, with your kind of warped thinking the TP is a bigger threat to your loyalties than the R or D is to ours.
half the tea party movement is independent and will remain so.. destroying the party system is what the parties fear.. registering independent and voting for the person is all it will take to stop this insanity.
There are few things more sacred to a republic than representation. The one man one vote and all it’s citizens are represented equally promise. Why isn’t voter fraud hounded out of existence? Voter fraud is a direct assault on our republic, it can kill a nation. There is nothing more fraudulent than gerrymandering and it’s creation of an artificial majority based on party affiliation not representation to silence the dissention of we the people. It is one of the reason our congress does not listen to we the people. Gerrymandering is a creation of the government parties to protect their power and to turn representation into re-election.. The parties can not speak of freedom until districts are based on representation not party affiliation.
He may simply be a member of the military indicating his intention to live up to the oath he was required to take. Only makes sense, it would be immoral and unethical to accept payment for something and then not follow through.
BTW, that oath goes something like…
I ______ do solemnly swear to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America against all enemies foreign and domestic……"
There are few things more sacred to a republic than representation. The one man one vote and all it’s citizens are represented equally promise. Why isn’t voter fraud hounded out of existence? Voter fraud is a direct assault on our republic, it can kill a nation. There is nothing more fraudulent than gerrymandering and it’s creation of an artificial majority based on party affiliation not representation to silence the dissention of we the people. It is one of the reason our congress does not listen to we the people. Gerrymandering is a creation of the government parties to protect their power and to turn representation into re-election.. The parties can not speak of freedom until districts are based on representation not party affiliation.
Third party support will give power to the left. Period. I'm sorry but this is just the way it is.
Mike – this is awesome. Will you all be providing videostreaming or live blogging?
No, a win for the Conservative candidate, the Tea Party candidate, would have meant something.
Listen, the Republicans suck because they fail to live up to their ideals. The Democrats suck because they ARE living up their ideals. Fix the Republicans, fire the Democrats.
lmao…they have been in power for ever…There are few things more sacred to a republic than representation. The one man one vote and all it’s citizens are represented equally promise. Why isn’t voter fraud hounded out of existence? Voter fraud is a direct assault on our republic, it can kill a nation. There is nothing more fraudulent than gerrymandering and it’s creation of an artificial majority based on party affiliation not representation to silence the dissention of we the people. It is one of the reason our congress does not listen to we the people. Gerrymandering is a creation of the government parties to protect their power and to turn representation into re-election.. The parties can not speak of freedom until districts are based on representation not party affiliation.
Wow! I guess BG didn't appreciate my comment about the glaring mysoginy in this post. That's sad.
When a politician demonstrates not only his ignorance of the law but contempt for the will of the people by voting for legislation clearly unconstitutional when he/she has sworn an oath to protect and defend the same is blatant and criminal malfeasance. What the hell is going on when not only will they do that, but the people don't see that a crime has been commited.
This Republic will only survive atttempts to diminish it if we the people understand that WE are responsible for it's survival, not the congress. It's one thing to wave a flag or hold signs proclaiming this or that but true activism requires sacrifice and a willlingness to stand up to tryanny in it's nascent form a say, "That's not constitutional and I don't have to comply." But here's the catch; you have to know what the constitution says and be able to articulate to the people who's job it is to know the same constitution and demand they act pursuant to it or they'll be forced out., regardless of ideology or party affiliation. The founders of this nation, for all their faults, were intelligent and insightful and deemed that self-determination was the only true way to bestow the blessings of liberty and prosperity for all, as stated in the Declaration of Independence. Where we are now is evidence of not only how far we've strayed from those principles that made this nation exceptional but how we got here as well.
Until those waging war on it's citizens cease and desist and agree to abolish the double-standard, I withdraw my consent to be governed. I and the corrupt in the government will be 'enemies in war.' Time to eductae yourself, find your voice, speak out, and if necessary, act. This is not a spectator sport.
"I will not go silently into tyranny"
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