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 ...
Did it ever occur to you we are being played for suckers by both sides? It is only a matter of degree.
most excellent point.
Who is “we”?
He didn't. Perot was no doubt a loose cannon. But that was not my point. Perot would have been a non issue if he had been handled correctly at the time. He should have been pointed out as the crackpot he was. Didn't happen.
I saw Dan’s son Ben on with Neil Cavuto the other afternoon
on FOX Ben Quayle is running for Congress in AZ. Sounded
like a person who may have a future.
A manner of speaking. Please don't nit pick. It isn't usefull.
Thank you.
Exactly!!!!
Why does the GOP believe that they can tell their base what to do? It is most certainly the other way around, and the quicker they realize that the quicker we can all get down to kicking butt. If the GOP continues to bark order to the base about who to support then they will be sorely mistaken.
I already voted Republican in the last election, look what it got me. If I would have voted 3rd party at least I could tell you who I voted for and feel good about it. Now if the rest of us did that then the GOP would be running as the third party.
HOWEVER, it is not the Tea Partiers who need to take his advice. It is the leadership of the GOP that must not veer off and take the party the way of GHW Bush.. into that go-along-to-get-along rut the GOP always gets pulled into. The Republicans should not be trying to compromise with the Democrats. They should be trying to defeat them and their agenda... and defeat them soundly.
The way to do this is to support the tea partiers and follow their lead. This will mean curtains for the Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe, Mitt Romney types. But it will elevate the Jim DeMint and John Kasich types who understand the US Constitution and strive to uphold it.
Bush41 and Quayle were a disaster for the
Republican party
Damned if we do and damned if we don't it seems to me. I wish I had the answer to all of this.
Not to mention McCain.
And Bob Dole (remember him?)
I am definitely ready for Sarah Palin.
Patty Murray is also a Senator...and a bag of rocks has more intellectual firepower.
In my own state, John McCain seems to have a fine resume, provided one doesn’t read too closely. While no where near as stupid as Murray, I wouldn’t take his advice on how to spit, which may be one of the few things he knows how to do well.
There are plenty of folks who get elected who couldn’t lead an angry cat out of a paper sack. How they get in Congress or any position of responsibility eludes me. Why anyone would consider ‘election’ as evidence of having opinions worth listening to eludes me as well...
Ever since 1988, the conservatives in the Republican party have been paid lip service, and betrayed time after time. If the Republicans truly want to be elected, they had better find some people with conservative records to run as candidates, or continue to be the minority party.
I am sick of voting for the lesser of 2 evils.
The threat of a third party can not and should not be removed or taken out of consideration especially not now. To do so gives the Green Light to RINO's who at this point need to be fearing for their seats and be sent back home to the private sector replaced by Conservatives and by Conservatives I mean better Conservatives than Rockefeller Republicans.
Business as usual can't continue for this nation. Business as usual can not continue in the GOP now either if it is to survive as a party. If the GOP like the DEMS continues to refuse to listen then yes it deserves to be replaced. Republicans replaced Whigs in short order remember?
Mr Quale you could have possibly been POTUS after Poppy's second term. Poppy Bush cost you that. If you can't see the policy blunders he made and admit to them as being the reason many voted Independent then you are part of the problem not the solution. It was Gerald Ford when talkng I think it was to George Bush JR about Conservatives said "Where else can they go?" Was Ford taking a long nap during the 1996 elections? They can and do go elsewhere. It is the job and duty of GOP leadership to change course and agenda so they don't. Making loyality demands on voters who have had enough especially when the favor was not returned in kind anytime after 1994 gets you and the GOP no where.
She is a breath of fresh air. Too bad she is associated with McCain. None the less I would give her a chance. But maybe it should go deeper than that. How about we distrust any "leader" other than ourselves. It just might work in the long run.
Their administration... I was hopeful at first...then I realized we didn’t have Reagan anymore... and then they went back on their word re: no new taxes.
..almost forgot... then there was that strange uncomfortable vision of the “new world order”.
McCain was never president.
he is one out of 100.
.....................
with that said,
I hope Mc looses in the primary
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.