Posted on 03/28/2010 8:01:00 AM PDT by ejdrapes
Is the tea party movement being hoodwinked by the establishment? The one thing I take away from today's rally in Searchlight Nevada, is that the tea party is without question coalescing, and fiercely I might add, around a single Presidential candidate for 2012. . .Already. It's early in the game yet, and the whole idea behind the Tea Party movement was to objectively review all of our potential choices, so we would never be led down the path again. At least that's what I thought. After today, I'll never again look at the Tea Party movement as one made up of Constitutional Conservatives. They may be Conservative, but sadly, not my brand of Conservatism. Independent thinkers? I think not. Group thinkers? Indeed. After a rip-roaring reception for the Keynote Speaker, I was sadly disillusioned at the lack of criticism toward the former Alaska Governor and Republican Party "Cover Girl," Sarah Palin. Wasn't it just yesterday, she was in Arizona campaigning for the former "Maverick" suddenly turned rock-ribbed conservative "reach-across-the-isle" moderate "RINO" John McCain of McCain/Feingold, McCain/Kennedy fame? And who also voted for Amnesty for illegal aliens? That gang of 14 John McCain? The same John McCain who tenderly re-assured us during the 2008 campaign: "Barack Obama is a good man...If he's elected President you don't have anything to worry about." That John McCain? Yes, indeed Sarah Palin is supporting that same John McCain who sided with Bill Clinton against the Republicans and voted for the tobacco tax in the 90's that led to trial lawyers raking in millions at the expense of Americans. The same John McCain who voted in favor of campaign finance reform, and FDA regulation of vitamin supplements, the Patriot Act, and more. Sarah Palin spent Friday campaigning for John McCain against the true conservative and former Arizona Congressman J.D. Hayworth who has a true conservative record, and is campaigning on true constitutional values. Nothing conservative about that. Then she spent Saturday spouting conservative talking points like some kind of right wing warrior with Tea Partyers screaming like 12 year old girls at a Jonas Brothers concert. Nothing especially objective about that, or conservative as far as I'm concerned. I realized long ago that you can't listen to what politicians say, you have to watch what they do, and Sarah Palin's actions do not match her words. I never thought the Tea Party crowd could be so easily manipulated by the main-stream establishment machine. I only wish they would stick to true conservative values and consider the other candidates before they hitch their wagons to the apron strings of pretty ms. Palin. As I made my way through the crowd voicing my dis-approval of their irrational and exuberant support for Sarah Palin, I was yelled at and ridiculed by Tea Party attendees. I was subjected to near violence in one instance. I was told to "Get the hell out of here." and "You don't belong here boy." "Go back to Obama where you belong you commie." and other select less than flattering remarks about my looks and my political beliefs, and my sexual preferences. Striking behavior when you consider we are all conservative adults. The thought that was going through my head was: "Obama Zombies" only worse..."Palin Zombies!" It was the exact same group-think mentality with absolutey zero tolerance for my opinion. I was actually told that "I am the reason this country is so screwed up, and if I knew what was good for me I'd get the hell out of here..." I realized I was dealing with a group-think mentality who had already drunk the Koolaid. There was no reasoning with them. Apparently, Conservatives are so desperate for leadership, they'll line up behind the first pied-piper who comes along, regardless the consequences to the country. Sound at all familiar? The same machine that was behind the election of obama is hard at work drilling the brains of the Tea Partyers. Maybe not the exact same people, just the exact same political establishment machine... What did I take away from today's Tea Party rally in Searchlight? There's another "Hoodwink" coming in 2012 and it scares the hell out of me. Brian K. Shoemake
Brian Shoemake
Pahrump, NV
I do think Brian S. is trying too hard to sum up the movement in just a few paragraphs, and that he also wasn't very good at articulating his ideas to the people he spoke to there. People are angry out there and they should be angry. We have a runaway federal government that is going to trample us if we don't rein them in. It takes a little adrenalin to do what it takes to stop a stampede, and the emotion of fear tends to drive our response in situations where our self-preservation is at stake.
Just who is this Brian Shoemake(r?) anyway? Does he even have the credentials to be self-critiquing the movement, or is he a mole?
McCain was eclipsed by Sarah Palin in Arizona. She made him look small and almost secondary by comparison. When Juan loses to J.D., she'll support Hayworth much more vigorously than what she showed for Juan in the election that really matters.
The author is having a whine just because he didn't see the Tea Partiers at the rally trashing Sarah Palin. That's stupid. This rally was about taking out Harry Reid in November. Why the heck would any Tea Partier go to an anti-Harry Reid, anti-0bamcare rally, just so they can trash Palin? That will be like defeating the entire purpose of the rally and handing the Democrats and Reid enough talking points to last them to November.
The problem is the nation is in crisis and people instinctively know it. They are scared and anxious for things to get back to "normal". The herd mentality usually follows conditions like these. Proper vetting isn't done with emotions, it's done with thorough research. Rhambo Emanuel isn't the only politician that understands the power and advantage of crisis. The key is to hook your wagon to the right horse. I'm not saying who that horse is, just beware that there will be a lot of swaybacked nags presenting themselves as thoroughbreds over the next few months....
So be sure and be a purist. That will help soooo much.
Vote in the primaries. Get behind candidates you agree with. If they let you down vote them out.
But for Lord’s sake quit whining.....’I’ve been let down....” Since when is a politician expected to a) tell the truth? or b) do what you want them to??? Politicians are whores or the worst sort. They want power and money and will sell your soul to get it (check out Bart Stooopidak).
There is not ONE candidate that will fit your perfection bill. I’ll take 70 to 80 percent of the time as long as it is on the IMPORTANT issues
This guy is a liar and a drama queen. And certainly not a conservative.
Nonsense.
Conservatives should have issues with anyone who helps McCain get re-elected.
It really is interesting how many self-described conservatives have this weird personal problem with Sarah. Sort of a messy mix of McCain hatred and ignorance about political reality. Beneath it all I really think most Palin-hate is adolescent sour grapes from knowing they will never have a shot at anyone like her.
If a genie gave Obama three wishes he’d make two wishes that Palin would be the GOP nominee in 2012. The third wish would be that she’d continue to generate all that heat she’s generating to the detriment of really viable candidates.
Yep. I remember voting twice for a candidate who was a “compassionate conservative”. I also remember many folks around here saying Scott Brown should be our next president. I’m not trashing Sarah - I’m saying we should not be so narrow-minded about her. She has flaws, as does everyone else - we need to be VERY careful about whose wagon we hitch to next time.
Maybe she is just fulfilling a promise made to McCain. Time will tell. That’s all I’m saying. Time will tell.
Jumping on people here that disagree with Sarah on this is revealing a lot of people on FreeRepublic that don’t seem to be thinking rationally. The name-calling, the hyper-hysterics - is this really productive? Can’t people express their own opinions on this subject here? It’s getting kind of scary - this group-think thing.
Some Tea Partyers are being hoodwinked, some aren’t.
If the stage is owned and operated by Republican hacks they are. They’re back to their long-time role as useful dupes for the GOP.
The organizers of Showdown in Searchlight should not have invited Palin, because she had already announced her support for McCain.
Inviting her anyway created the appearance that they were willing to compromise their principles to gain the big money draw of Sarah Palin speaking at the event.
Well, there are a lot of people wishing for Sarah Palin to be trashed and a lot of people who suddenly don't like Palin because she's been so supportive of McCain. A lot of them have tried to trash Sarah, but she keeps coming out on top and usually leaving whoever is doing the trashing looking like a boneheaded idiot. Rush has a unique ability to do that, too.
I take from the article that the author is concerned that we might be headed for another Perot moment. The conditions certainly are ripe for it.
I don’t think Sarah Palin should run for president. I think her quitting the governorship of Alaska was a big mistake. Her support of McCain is a complete head scratcher for me.
That said, I think she is a wonderful asset for conservatism. Can you name another credible national candidate who is a stronger conservative? Who actually draws and motivates a crowd?
I was there yesterday. Where were all the big name rinos?
I am a conservative and have been on the local REC for 12 years. Last year I started the 9/12teapartycommittee in florida.We have vetted many candidates running for congress.We do not endorse and will not allow any candidtes to speak at our protests.Today is a sad day in the movement Mr.Rubio has hyjacked the tea party he was named by Wallace at fox as the TEA PART CANDIDATE!!! We have met him twice and submitted the questions numerous times. He wrote a book called 100 Ideas For Florida where he supports Public Private partnerships and other sustainable american policy. No one has asked him any questions on this subject. Jeb Bush who has been sitting as chair for Immigration reform at the Council Of Foreign Affairs and who supports AMNESTY is supporting Rubio. He helped raise 100 thousand will this make a difference for Rubio when comes to immigration reform?I do not support Crist but if we do not know who these candidates really are what is the movement really about!!We just had a vote for Sun Rail in Florida which is nothing more then the getting us to move towards Non Motorized state.The liveabilty policy is nothing more then to take our land and move us toward the urban boundary.Does Rubio support these ideas? Palin should be asked the same questions!
Right here, and I quote:
“After a rip-roaring reception for the Keynote Speaker, I was sadly disillusioned at the lack of criticism toward the former Alaska Governor and Republican Party “Cover Girl,” Sarah Palin.”
“I'm not suggesting Palin should be trashed, but I don't agree with the Obama-like idol worship either”
This is a political rally to help defeat Harry Reid in November. Political rallys are full of cheering and hollering, if you've been to any before. Nothing “worshiping” about that.
“Anyone else supporting McCain would be ripped to shreads on FR. Palin’s support gets excused away.”
Because no one else has ever been McCain’s VP candidate apart from Sarah Palin. If you can produce another human, who's ever been McCain's VP candidate before, I promise not to attack them if they support McCain. Deal?
My concern is many on the Right seem to be treating Palin the same way the Left treated Obama. That scares me.
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