Posted on 05/29/2011 7:20:12 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Lake of the Ozarks, Mo. — In a recent online op-ed piece by a former official in the George W. Bush White House, he claimed the Tea Party movement was splitting the Republican Party. He went on to surmise it didn’t matter, because at the end of the day they would vote Republican. He was wrong on both assertions.
Two and a half years ago, the Camdenton Tea Party and other Tea Party movements were formed across this land and stepped out from their perspective political parties to tell our elected officials we are TEA (Taxed Enough Already) and the out of control spending has got to stop. It was a moment in history not seen since the civil rights era when one people joined for one purpose.
Grassroots every day Americans who had never cared about politics, some never voted, became engaged in the political process and decided it was time to make a difference.
The Republican Party at first deeply embraced the Tea Party movement as they perceived it as a strong repudiation of President Barack Obama and the Democrat-controlled Congress and as a way to usher in a Republican Congress and president in 2010 and 2012, respectively. They however; grossly underestimated the Constitutional principles of which the Tea Party movement was seeking from both political parties.
The Tea Party movement began to insist both parties adhere to Constitutionally conservative principles, the Republican Party in particular. We demanded they begin to endorse such candidates. It was not long thereafter the establishment Republicans, who had dictated who would be the candidate of their choosing all of these years, were being challenged by a group of everyday people who may not have Harvard degree, but knew how to run a household budget. We were honest and forthright enough to say both Republicans and Democrats wasted and squandered our hard earned taxpayer money that in many instances was utilized to win favor in their next election instead of the public good.
The tension began to grow deeper as now Republican presidential candidate, Newt Gingrich endorsed a very liberal Republican in the infamous NY 23 Senate race over a conservative Independent candidate. This was the first crack in the ice as Gingrich chose party over principle. To the credit of many of those Republicans in NY 23, many did cross party lines and vote for the conservative Independent, just not enough with the courage and honor to do so.
The divide grew on a local level when those in leadership of the local Republican Club attempted to persuade members of the Camdenton Tea Party to support the establishment Republican, Roy Blunt over Tea Party conservative Chuck Purgason during the primary. Purgason has always been consistent on conservative fiscal spending and this fiscal conservatism was what the Tea Party movement was seeking in a candidate. Blunt’s vote on the$ 600 billion Medicare Prescription drug plan in 2003 was a big concern to conservatives along with his vote on the bailout and cash for clunkers. Senator Purgason spoke at several Tea Parties before it became politically expedient to do so and it wasn’t known if Blunt had ever attended a Tea Party event, much less spoke at one. Purgason challenged then Blunt to debates numerous times, but he refused. Several of the local Republican establishment types began to fall away from the Camdenton Tea Party when it became clear we would support the true fiscal conservative candidate and not just party. Purgason lost not because he wasn’t the better candidate, but because he wasn’t the establishment Republican’s choice, and they chose party over principle.
The battle lines were drawn over fiscal conservatism versus Republicanism. It became more evident as election night 2010 when less then an hour after Tea Party candidate Christine O’ Donnell won and establishment Republicans Dana Perino and Karl Rove vilifying O’Donnell on Fox News over a fair election that was decided by the voters of Delaware. It didn’t matter she beat out a liberal Republican incumbent, but she wasn’t the pre-ordained Republican nominee. Their words demonstrated a sense of arrogance and shamefulness. Equally distasteful was Fox News reporting the same night the Republican Senatorial committee would not support O’ Donnell, only for the RSC to retract that statement the next morning.
Following the loss of Tea Party candidate, Sharon Angle in Nevada, we learned of recordings of Angle’s concerns and frustration of GOP obstructionism in her Senate race.
The 2010 elections ushered in a clear mandate to the Republican Party and the efforts of the Tea Party movement were undoubtedly successful, to cut spending and restore fiscal discipline. We were vindicated that night and it was clear something great had been achieved.
So far the response to that mandate has been a colossal failure by the Republican controlled Congress. They still don’t get it. Congresswoman Hartzler and Congressman Luetkemeyer, are you listening to “We The People?” One of the first acts of the 111th Congress was to stand on the floor of the people’s House and recite the Constitution. Turned out to be a dog an pony show. It is a true travesty they have not voted Constitutionally. Remember, the $100 billion in cuts in the “Pledge To America?” Then within their own party could only get to $61 billion, and settled for only $38 billion, then according to the CBO was only $359 million, That’s million with an M. The American people can respect them losing on principle, but are sick and tired of compromise and excuses.
The Tea Party movement endured numerous false attacks on the local and federal level as racist, bigoted, and hateful. Truth is, Tea Partiers love their country and they admire such black conservative politicians as Florida US Congressman Allen West and Presidential hopeful and black businessman, Herman Cain. Mr. Cain has spoken at more than 50 Tea Parties. Tea partiers had pure motives to restore fiscal discipline and that was the sole reason the GOP couldn’t control them. So where does the Tea Party movement locally and nationally go from here? There are two choices. Either to form a third party or restore the GOP (Grand Old Party)
The GOP continues to court the same old candidates with the same old message and they have become the (Grand Older Party). They have failed to realize Americans want honesty, true integrity, and fiscal discipline. The GOP more importantly, has failed to get the youth vote as well.
The 2012 GOP Presidential candidate hopefuls are pathetic at best. Polls suggest people are still searching for the right candidate. Many support issues that are constitutionally flawed or not conservative. Whatever you think of Ron Paul on some issues, he consistently energizes the youth. Two years in a row he has won the straw poll at the C-Pac Convention. He is known as Dr. No, because he is consistent in his voting on fiscal matters involving spending. Herman Cain is another potential Presidential candidate and Tea Party favorite who is a great businessman with great ideas, but is ignored by the Republican establishment. He is also the only candidate to say he will abolish the IRS and establish the Fair Tax. Not surprising he won hands down by South Carolina Republicans voters in a post debate poll. Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann is another Tea Party favorite. She has been consistent in her voting on fiscal conservatism, voting against the Continuing Resolutions and on the record she will vote against raising the debt ceiling. She is definitely not a GOP favorite taking on Speaker John Boehner.
Instead, they lean to those who are loyal to the “R” And most have voted for big spending and bills that are un-Constitutional. Newt Gingrich, supporter of Climate Change with Nancy Pelosi and critical of Paul Ryan’s budget on health care calling it right wing socialism. Rick Santorum, voted in favor of an unconstitutional 600 Billion Medicare Prescription drug plan in 2003 that by the way was unaffordable and they knew it when they passed it. Santorum slighted Sara Palin accusing her of not going to C-Pac because she had more lucrative offers, claimed radical feminism caused women to leave home and go to work. (Sexist comments? You decide.) Tim Pawlenty, on the record in favor of climate change and sounding like a “canned “ politician with talking points., Mitt Romney signed Romney Care into law in Massachusetts and lost decisively in the 2008 Republican Primary. The aforementioned votes by these politicians are not based on conservative ideology. These are not mistakes as they claim, but reveal a deeper problem. A lack of conservative principles and Constitutionality.
The Tea Party movement needs to continue to be engaged and get the vote out for Constitutionally Conservatives to win the primary that is not just one with an “R” after its name, but one that will bring real conservative fiscal discipline and defeat Barack Obama.
It is very disheartening to hear older folks say where are the youth. I tell you where they are. They are smart and know what is wrong with our political parties. They have grown up listening and watching politician after politican lie and manuever for their own selfish gain, and have distanced themselves from such behavior. Who can blame them?
The GOP establishment would be wise to remember the Tea Party movement initially was born in large part over dissatisfied Republicans from within the Republican Party, who stepped up and out and said, enough is enough. The Lake Area Conservative Club was born over dissatisfaction with Republican politics on the local level. The LACC members are more conservative than Republican, but most of all we are those with principle. We also welcome all those from different parties who are conservative, be it Republican, Democrat, or Independent.
The Constitution, our framework, was constructed with divine guidance from God as as our forefathers prayed for such wisdom. The Constitution is as relevant today as it was on the date it was signed by our forefathers. After leaving a tyrannical Monarchy in England, our forefathers so understood how precious freedom is, which granted them wisdom to create such a document to ensure freedom from an overbearing government. Our 4th President, James Madison said, “I go on the principle that a public debt is a public curse, and in a Republican government a greater curse than any other.” How true President Madison, how true.
We are at a point in time when too many Americans choose to sit on the sidelines and not engage in this battle for our Country. The Tea Party movement fired the first shot with the elections in 2010. The debt, will turn this nation into an ash heap of mediocrity and will be a tragic legacy for our kids and grand kids, or an historic time when everyday people rose to the occassion with pure motives to reverse course . Your time and your vote will make the difference. What will you do?
The Tea Party movement will either transform the Republican party back to the party of Reagan and Constitutionally conservative values, or the GOP will inevitably face a third party movement that will quickly consume the Republican party into a party of inconsequence. Either way, it will be a party with conservative principles and beliefs. Please come check out a clear alternative to politics as usual, the Lake Area Conservative Club. For more information, You can go to LakeAreaConservativeClub.org, or CamdentonTeaParty.org
God Bless you and thanks for taking the time to read this.
Sounds like they really want us to split the party because it’s the only way the RINOs and Democrats can win; especially since they are on the same side.
Screw the GOP establishment.
I’m voting the most conservative candidate and I don’t care about the party label anymore.
This certainly did portray the essence of the TEA party in the way that got me from Texas to Washington DC to be a part of the more than a million people who gathered there.
I hope we never lose what we accomplished that day.
I will vote GOP in all down ticket races unless they too are RINO/"Mainstream".
The GOP better be hearing this.
I have voted GOP in EVERY election from my first primary in 1976 (Reagan) until now. I don't think I've even missed a local school board special election.
And, I've given several thousands of dollars.
If the GOP cannot, will not be a truly conservative party...I will help kill it. I will encourage everyone I know to help kill it.
The GOP disgusts me. I can’t wait till they have been purged of Dems in GOP clothing. I am tired of their talk and no action. I will vote for country over party any day be that Dem, GOP, or third party. I say screw rove or any other party hack who votes for party over principal.
He’s a fool that cannot undestand that we want to get the Republican Party to again stand for what it stood for, for many decades. Smaller government and less control over the people.
A dear friend of mine, once said that he could identify with many libertarian principles except he didn't believe that he'd force an Amish community to tolerate a porno shop as a way to preserve "freedom."
It also has a big part in the REPRESENTATION!
We're not gonna vote for Bwarney Fwank just because he changed his name, and has an R behind it!
If you think the Republican Party ever stood for a smaller federal government and less control over people, you are the fool.
The Republican Party is the "Party of Nice People." It is repelled by people who are not "nice," or use "rough tactics." IMHBOWO, it is dominated by a sort of "Church Lady" ethos, that apparently is designed to seek to seek the approval of suburban Junior League clubwomen of the 1950's. They are terminally "nice." "O this McCain/Obama thing is just so nasty, I can't decide whom to vote for. I just will stay home this time."
The RNC and the higher decision making reaches of the GOP have a "nice" Mexican caring for the lawn and don't really see what all the fuss is about on immigration. Michael Steele? "A nicely dressed, well spoken Negro, isn't he,dear?" GHWB led around by the nose by Barbara.
Top Republicans always remind me of those guys who are afraid of what their wives, or what their wives' friends might say. So they don't "look for trouble." "Don't Rock the Boat." "We can do business with 'those people," "Of course, they'll get the big contract, but there's plenty left for us,by jingo." Hello? May I speak with John Boehner?
Hard to believe this is the party that started with a religious mission to free the slaves and took a half-million casualties to do it. Maybe all the Republicans with cojones were wiped out in the effort and only the wimp country-club bar genes survived.
The Republican Party had a glorious birth. A robust adolescence, a middle age that made this great nation an international economic powerhouse, but has now entered a pathetic, confused senility. The party is in its messy, smelly, unmanageable death throes. All it can do is prevent and sabotage its children, the Tea Party, from inheriting, because, they are not as "nice" as they should be and too confrontational.
In practical terms this means the Democrats, having gathered up all the not-so-nice people in the country, many of whom don't legally belong here, will stand poised for a very very long run, only intermittently interrupted by by impotent opposition.
There is a chance. The Tea Party has to actually take over the GOP. I just hope that's OK with all the "nice": ladies at my wife's bridge club. And if it is not OK, with them and the GOP, they had all better bend over and kiss their asses goodbye. The GOP "nice people" will be the first casualties in the class warfare the Democrat Party has wished upon America.
You said it. The Republicans left me I didn’t leave them. As the great Ronaldus Maximus said about the Demowads.
I think the tea party ultimately must take over the republican party...then people like John McCain can be left in the background...only voting for common agreements. I just don’t want the left of republican party in leadership roles.
I am totally against a third party, but if we cannot get the RINO’s, the Leftist’s the “H” out of the leadership of the Republican Party, then we aren’t going to win back this government any faster than it would take to secure the people’s confidence in a third party.
I’m tired of voting for the candidate that is the most likely to not vote against my values. I want to vote for someone that is FOR my values.
I agree with you.
Most conservatives keep falling for the GOP Pap.
You got that right.
Won’t happen until after the upcoming debacle in 2012 and the following collapse.
I'm afraid that's what it's going to take.
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