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 was there yesterday. Where were all the big name rinos?”
Exactly! As Lincoln said about General Grant: “I like him; he fights.”
Ant THAT is what I like about Sarah: She fights!
Well, he is wrong. The Tea Parties have never been about any one person. The Tea Parties were not founded by any one person. It was a spontaneous grassroots movement that sprang up as a reaction to 0bama’s out of control government spending and his Marxist takeover of the American economy. There is no “Messiah” in the Tea parties. “Messiahs” are the very antithesis of what the Tea parties are about.
This guy is creating his own bogyman then attacking it. He is addressing a problem that doesn't exist in an attempt to attack Sarah Palin.
I aqttended yesterday's Showndown in Searchlight and felt for myself the way folks feel toward our current government.
I've also attended Tea Parties locally. It crosses all political parties.
It is disgusting to witness Palin stumping for McCain. She needs to come clean, since she can’t have it both ways.
She needs to distance herself from johnny rino reach around, ahh, reach across, post haste. If she doesn’t, how can she be trusted?
You are making too much sense - there is an element of people here that will never go along with that. You are going to be pilloried, called vile names and accused of being a democrat or worse.
Apparently, the author of this article - and the Freeper that posted it - has no dag-blamed business expressing his own opinions on the subject. This will not be tolerated!
Republicans are unable to provide a candidate that will cater to the celebrity loving voters of this country. The MSM built
a campaign that guaranteed celebrity status for Obama and in so doing assured his election to the Presidency. We don’t have a President, we have a celebrity. Unfortunately he is a celebrity much like Paris Hilton all style and no talent. If the Republicans want the Presidency they better get a celebrity that has talent and can appeal to the American voter.
If he’s wrong, then that’s good. Does that mean that people can make criticisms of any of Sarah Palin’s decisions or policies, as they would of any politician, without being shouted down as “haters” and without people taking it personally? I understand the barrage of criticism from the left is to be dismissed, they criticise the wrong things for the wrong reasons, but there are legitimate areas of disagreement that people can have with Sarah Palin without being “haters”-as with any politician.
Having said that, I don't like one-issue thinkers and the author seems to want a candidate who thinks his thoughts 100% of the time. Not gonna happen!
Are you contending that this organization exists without soliciting money? They’ve got some huge expenses for their events. How does that work without revenue of some sort?
Much more important question: Do you believe that this organization should be inviting anyone to speak who has endorsed McCain?
Follow up: If you do, then are you a McCain supporter?
Anyone can criticize anyone. But then that right extends to everyone else too. When you attack Sarah Palin here, don't be surprised to get attacked by other people, who back Sarah Palin expressing their point of view which is contrary to yours.
The trouble with the left in this country is, they spew out attacks against conservatives, but then whine when they are attacked right back.
So attack away..and you will be attacked right back. Fair is fair.
Horsepucky. If and when another personage comes forward with the charisma, attitude, political philosophy and courage of Sarah Palin, that personage would get every bit as warm as reception as Palin. No doubt.
And that could be Paul Ryan, Jim DeMint, and maybe some others. Tea Partiers hold these folks in very high regard - both good presidential candidates. So let them put themselves out there a la Palin, and let the bread break as it will.
Right now, she’s the only game in town, and it’s a pretty good game.
So, what’s your problem?
I think the article was a little heavy handed. The idiots still defending McCain or pushing this loyalty thing are fools.
Note: I am not a Romney bot, Sarah hater, etc etc. I like her. She gets energy, she gets people motivated, she talks the reagan talk etc.
People, including people here, have no clue the damage John McCain has caused. We may lose our country because of the actions of John McCain.
From National Review:
“That is what Senator Graham did in 2005. Along with Sen. John McCain and other grandstanding Republicans, he gave cover to the Left’s “torture” demagoguery by spearheading enactment of the McCain Amendment. Under the rubric of “cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment,” that provision vested alien enemies held overseas with constitutional rights against coercive interrogation.”
1. McCain helped give islamic terrorists Constitutional rights.
2. He has pushed amnesty which would steal the wealth of Americans. Your wealth, your savings, your future.
3. He has backed Obama.
4. He stabs conservatives in the back on a regular basis.
5. He works closely with Obama, never questions him, makes excuses for him.
6. His family is pro-gay marriage and pro-gays in the military.
7. He passed a law that was illegal and gave the Democrats control of your country and you may end up losing your country. The chances are better than 50/50. Not only will you lose your country but you may lose your life savings and your ability to make a living.
Do you people want to really keep pushing this “loyalty” arguement? I like Sarah, she is great but she needs to get away from McCain. If she cannot see the evil he has done then I question her judgement.
I already know Romney is an idiot for supporting McCain. ditto Huckerbie, Newt and a bunch of other RINOs supporting McCain. We are running out of time folks.
Sarah is defining Sarah by associating with McCain. She needs to decide. McCain has caused as much damage as Obama.
From National Review:
“That is what Senator Graham did in 2005. Along with Sen. John McCain and other grandstanding Republicans, he gave cover to the Left’s “torture” demagoguery by spearheading enactment of the McCain Amendment. Under the rubric of “cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment,” that provision vested alien enemies held overseas with constitutional rights against coercive interrogation.”
I haven’t “attacked” Sarah Palin anywhere, in fact I haven’t yet expressed my disagreement with anything she’s done, on Free Republic. I don’t see how “attacking” (disagreeing with a policy) would leave me open to being personally attacked though. If I disagree with a policy expressed by, for instance, Paul Ryan, does that leave me personally open to “attack”?
B.S.
First of all, integrity has a LOT to do with the reasons why Sarah chose to campaign for John McCain. I’m sure she promised John that she’d stick by him regardless, come 2010. Being a person of integrity, and grateful for the fact that he presented her on the world stage, she kept her promise. Why is that so hard to understand? The PEOPLE will decide if John is worthy or not, and Sarah knows this. She probably goes to bed at night with a clear conscience, and to her, that’s what matters most.
As for ALL of the PEOPLE worshipping Sarah and whomever the Tea Party seems to get behind - NO WAY. My husband and I were watching several reporters talking with Tea Partiers in Arizona, before and after the John & Sarah show, and nearly EVERYONE interviewed said they came to see SARAH. Most told the reporters that they couldn’t give a rat’s ass about McCain, and they were NOT voting for him; they were voting for JD because he was MORE conservative.
So just stop acting like a troll, telling us we are all mindless zombies. Tea Partiers want a major conservative shift in American politics, and we are all the wiser for having fallen for the McCain, Hutchison RINO sellout candidates one too many times.
I don’t think it is a coincidence that a lot of this frenzy is in the Southern population. Post-bellum history was replete with demagogues who would whip up public anger as a way to gain complete power over the state.
In Alabama we had Wallace. In Louisiana they had Huey Long. South Carolina had Tillman and Blease. Georgia had the Talmadges. Arkansas had Jeff Davis and Orval Faubus. Mississippi had Vardaman and Bilbo. Texas had the Fergusons.
There is something in the Southern character that predisposes us towards it. After all the hoo-ha of the 60s there was a period up until about a few years ago where reason and order ran the day.
Wallace and Edwards ran their states as dictators but by the 70s Wallace did it through his control of the political machine, not public hysteria and Edwards did it primarily through control of the political machine and ethnic loyalty from his base. Huckabee’s survival in Arkansas was based solely on Baptist Democrats crossing over to vote for him.
I’m concerned that we’re moving back into one of those periods where hysteria is gonna hold the day. Political rallies shouldn’t be drawing crowds that can close down whole neighborhoods. That’s a bad sign.
Not normal fare is it? Perhaps he really believes this stuff. Can't see the American Thinker not spotting a leftist troll. Any photo of him around? The "men" who are alarmed by Palin often look alike if you get my drift....
Here's a thought. Perhaps the Tea Party People are coalescing around Palin because they have decided she is right. That she is the only politician talking about cutting the size and power of government and the only one who has a history of doing it. She is the only politician who has a history of locking her own party slimes up when they are breaking the law.
Just perhaps, you have cause and effect backward. Folks show up where she is and like what she says.
Folks who just say.. its not right that people like her, lets pick someone who can't win and won't make a difference are a bore to those folks that have a life and need to keep it going too.. not just spit in the wind.
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