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Has the Tea Party’s Power Peaked?
Time ^ | 08/23/2011 | Adam Sorensen

Posted on 08/23/2011 12:05:34 PM PDT by SeekAndFind

Host to one of the purest strains of conservatism in the nation (ranked only behind Mississippi and Wyoming by Gallup), Utah is the perfect Tea Party test tube. Its primary system, which relies on a nominating convention where party delegates get a say before candidates go to a popular vote, distills the purest form of activist sentiment.

The state was the site of the first Republican incumbent defeat in 2010, when the brewsters toppled three-term Senator Bob Bennett, a watershed moment in an election cycle that saw not only Mike Lee claim victory over the establishment, but Rand Paul, Sharron Angle, Christine O’Donnell, Carl Paladino, Ken Buck and Joe Miller as well. Utah was ground zero for the whole thing. But on Monday, something surprising happened.

Jason Chaffetz, the Tea-infused two-term Rep. who won his seat in Congress in 2008 by running to the right of incumbent Chris Cannon (endorsed by no less than George W. Bush himself) and who championed the conservative Cut, Cap & Balance fantasy budget, announced he will not challenge veteran Republican Senator Orrin Hatch in a primary next year.

Citing a desire to avoid a “multimillion-dollar bloodbath,” Chaffetz broke widely held expectations with his decision not to pursue Hatch. While it’s true that the 77-year-old entrenched Senator has spent the better part of a year scrambling right — he seemed to take note of Bennett’s downfall — and filling a formidable campaign warchest, the nominating convention would have given Chaffetz a decent shot at taking down his opponent without ever facing voters. Chaffetz’s decision to pass on a Senate run may be a leading indicator that the Tea Party’s most powerful tool isn’t as sharp as it once was.

(Excerpt) Read more at swampland.time.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: teaparty
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1 posted on 08/23/2011 12:05:43 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

You wish, Mr. Time magazine liberal, you wish.

But I’ll tell ya what has peaked: 0, liberalism, socialism, and leftist news magazines.


2 posted on 08/23/2011 12:08:20 PM PDT by mojito
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To: SeekAndFind
Has the Tea Party’s Power Peaked?

Not bloody likely. No, were back at work taking care of our responsibilities. But make no mistake; just because the TEA Party is not directly in front of you, TIME, does not mean we are not pulling an echelon right to your flank.

3 posted on 08/23/2011 12:08:43 PM PDT by Michael Barnes (Obamaa+ Downgrade)
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To: SeekAndFind

No, because the ideas behind the movement aren’t going to go away simply because a few elections don’t go our way.


4 posted on 08/23/2011 12:09:38 PM PDT by skr (May God confound the enemy)
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To: SeekAndFind

2012 can’t get here too soon!!

Obama and Co. are about to be tossed out on their Keynesian keisters!!

Rebellion is brewing!!


5 posted on 08/23/2011 12:10:06 PM PDT by Jim Robinson (Rebellion is brewing!! Impeach the corrupt Marxist bastard!!)
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To: SeekAndFind
...just waiting for my marching orders, SIR!

(From you-know-who!)

6 posted on 08/23/2011 12:10:14 PM PDT by TexasCajun
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To: SeekAndFind

Yup, we’ve peaked. You all go right on thinking that/(smirking).


7 posted on 08/23/2011 12:10:19 PM PDT by Pat4ever (NO MORE!)
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To: SeekAndFind
Utah is still a weird place.

Take Orrin Hatch, please.

8 posted on 08/23/2011 12:10:41 PM PDT by Paladin2
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To: SeekAndFind
Has the Tea Party’s Power Peaked?

This will make a good re-read along about the second week of November next year.

9 posted on 08/23/2011 12:10:58 PM PDT by skimbell
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To: SeekAndFind

I can see November 2012 from here!


10 posted on 08/23/2011 12:12:17 PM PDT by Gaffer
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To: SeekAndFind
Has the Tea Party’s Power Peaked?

Uhhhhh....NO!

11 posted on 08/23/2011 12:15:22 PM PDT by BreezyDog
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To: SeekAndFind

Is Time magazine relevant? Does anbody GAS what is spewed from that rag?


12 posted on 08/23/2011 12:17:20 PM PDT by HerrBlucher ("It is terrible to contemplate how few politicians are hanged." G.K. Chesterton)
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To: SeekAndFind
Just wait.

I predict the largest 3-day money-bomb in history once the TEA Party candidate of choice makes her entry.

13 posted on 08/23/2011 12:17:20 PM PDT by TexasCajun
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To: SeekAndFind

Hey Time - Nope. It’s just starting to swell, you dipsticks.


14 posted on 08/23/2011 12:18:04 PM PDT by b4its2late ("Pray for Obama. Psalm 109:8")
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To: SeekAndFind
Is there anything sadder than a weekly news magazine in the internet age?

ML/NJ

15 posted on 08/23/2011 12:18:53 PM PDT by ml/nj
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To: SeekAndFind
It is....at least....a debatable question.

Proof will be found in two important statistics and at one very important time.

Time: Election Day, November 2012
Stat 1: exactly who got elected, and
Stat 2. What was the turnout of registered rino/repub/conserv/tparty and independent voters as compared to the enemy?

Debate from this time until then......until your tongue cleaves to the roof of your mouth...and your pen runs dry of ink.

Know that the absolute proof....the final answer to that question.... will be known at the end off that day....and not one moment before.

The enemy understands this completely. Real question is: do we?

16 posted on 08/23/2011 12:22:29 PM PDT by Logic n' Reason (The stain must be REMOVED (ERADICATED)....NOW!!)
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To: SeekAndFind

Only Tuesday, and we already have this week’s first “Has The TEA Party Lost its Edge” story.


17 posted on 08/23/2011 12:23:01 PM PDT by Steely Tom (Obama goes on long after the thrill of Obama is gone)
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To: SeekAndFind

There they go again.


18 posted on 08/23/2011 12:23:11 PM PDT by dainbramaged (I lost my mantra around 1969.)
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To: SeekAndFind

A lot of Rhinos are surging to the right because of the tea party....we may not get rid of them but we sure as hell got their attention. They know their just one election away from involuntary retirement!!!


19 posted on 08/23/2011 12:25:26 PM PDT by ontap
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To: SeekAndFind

The Tea Party has peaked, Sarah Palin isn’t running and we can spend our way to prosperity if we tax the rich.

Yeah, and they call us delusional.


20 posted on 08/23/2011 12:28:23 PM PDT by DaxtonBrown (HARRY: Money Mob & Influence (See my Expose on Reid on amazon.com written by me!))
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