Posted on 04/01/2010 11:32:59 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Like many influential causes before it, the "tea party" movement appeared on the scene uninvited by the political establishment. Democrats in the White House and in Congress recognize it for what it is -- a spontaneous and pointed response to the Obama agenda -- but some Republican leaders still aren't sure what to make of it, as tea partiers have risen on their own and stirred up trouble in GOP primaries.
Sometimes in politics it's easier to recognize foes than friends, and this may be why Democrats have been quicker to figure out the movement's potential. They know that in November's midterm elections, Republicans will gain mightily from a growing discontent with the administration, which has disappointed the independent voters who made the difference for Barack Obama in 2008.
A close look at the tea party membership will find many of those independents who went for Obama but now regret it. After sweeping into power, Democrats assumed they had redrawn the political map forever, and they took this as a mandate to remake the federal government forever. To the surprise of millions of their supporters, they plowed ahead with federal control over health care and new spending financed by a decade of trillion-dollar deficits. Along the way, they have tried to brush off the Republican congressional minority as little more than spectators to one-party rule.
But across America, millions of people decided not to be silent. Prompted only by their convictions, they united against the unjustifiable expansion of federal power. So successful is the tea party movement that there is speculation it might launch a political party. Though nearly three-quarters of tea party supporters identify themselves as Republicans, according to a recent Quinnipiac University poll, 40 percent of them are open to voting for a third-party candidate of their own.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Agreed:
Dump the RINOs - Crist, McCIn, Bennett, Graham-nesty and the rest. They are all Dem Trojan horses and McCain is probably worse than Arlen Specter.
Ping to some good comments by former VP Quayle.
Hey Dan, the Tea Parties have sprung up because the entire frickin’ Republican Party has gone Perot!
Well put.
He had me until he praised Romney.
We won’t. We’ll take over the GOP.
Vice President Quayle is the scion of one of the oldest leading Indiana families and worth hundreds of millions. Did you expect him to support Governor Palin? LOL
Yeah, I don't get that. It goes against all of the other things he says.
Maybe he'll figure out that tea party conservatives don't WANT Romney.
He’s right? The T%ea Party is going to run candidates against the dims and pubbies?
lol...Advice from Dan Quayle?
Where is this membership list that Mr. Quayle speaks of?
Hate to be this way, but here it is: Dan Quayle was a United States Senator and Vice President. What have you done that compares?
Is Dan Quayle still in government?
Retired?
Right answer.
I believe he's referencing a recent Quinnipac University poll that purports to show the makeup of the Tea Party Movement.
Dan, do us all a favor and recognize, if you will that a significant number of the people at TEA party gatherings are people who have tired of being shat upon by the GOP they have supported decade after decade, hoping it would see the error of its ways and quit compromising its way into liberal territory.
John F. Kennedy, the quintessential Democrat, could run to the right of many in the GOP if he was still alive.
The ball is in the Republican Party Court, so to speak.
If the Republican Party fails to recognize that the most energized of its former base now wear TEA party T-shirts and wave flags and posters and signs at such rallies, than the Republican Party will go the way of the Whigs.
God help the Republic if that happens, but there are a lot of eggshells on the way to an omlette.
If the Republican Party fails to run candidates who will fight the encroaching socialist juggernaut which is already strangling our economy and destroying our industry, things will get very ugly before (if ever) the Republic is restored.
You strike me as a man who loves this country, its traditional values, and its Constitution. I, for one recognize the Alinsky-style tactics which the media used to marginalize you as a serious political force, and now, I think millions more will also.
If you love this Republic as we do, do not ask us to compromise our principles, but help us restore it by insisting the GOP run the most conservative candidates the districts will elect. There is no time like the present, with an overwhelming majority of Americans disgusted with the current administration and its policies.
Hate to do this, but lets start with:
What did he do besides get himself elected?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.