Posted on 12/15/2013 4:06:03 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
"Who’s on first?" "I don't know!" "Third base." It was a great Abbot and Costello skit, maybe their signature moment that younger generations may never have heard of. It was a skit about the players on a baseball team, and their unusual names. It was really funny. (America needs an Abbot and Costello now, a duo who can bring some humor from day to day life to a nation filled with disappointment.)
Well I ran into the same kind of skit when I tried to find out if there was a Tea Party organization in my local area. When I first inquired, I was directed to someone, and for a while communications occurred. But then they just kinda faded...like a spirit. So I contacted a friend who operated in political circles around the State of Texas and asked her if she knew anyone in the Tea Party. She pointed me back to a guy I had originally contacted in East Texas, who had pointed me to the ghost. And when I inquired if there was a state Tea Party organization I was informed no.
So, like Abbot and Costello, there is a team, but no one knows "who" is playing. I know ... first base.
Still the amorphous Tea Party is somewhere, and has some influence. A recent story indicates the U. S. Chamber of Commerce will challenge identified Tea Party candidates for Congress in Republican primaries. I would suggest that is the best example of neo - conservatives and "economy only" Republicans, possibly working in conjunction with the Democrats to divide the GOP. The Republican "big tent" is no longer big enough... the conservative base of the GOP is being assaulted every day by Washington insiders, and this most recent move by the Chamber of Commerce illustrates the rejection of regular Americans.
Where the Tea Party is failing America is that it exists as it does. It is not a political party, so it does not have a formal agenda, or platform, and does not have an organization and democratically elected leadership. It is impossible to know who’s in it, who’s behind it, or what its true purpose is.
America needs a new second party. The Republican Party is nothing but disappointment and has been since President Reagan, with the brief exception of Newt Gingrich's and his Contract with America. The Republican Party plays off the patriotism of people, but it is hardly patriotic. Its agenda is the New World Order...which by definition intends to surrender the sovereignty of the United States to a One World government. It manipulates and uses the Religious Right, but is atheist in its idolatry for capitalism. And in recent years the schism within the party is so pronounced as to clearly remove any hint of a unified opposition to socialism and globalism.
Because I do believe in the concept of a "ruling elite," I do believe that this elite is more savvy than Rush Limbaugh and other conservative thinkers seem to believe. I believe that the ruling elite is about ruling. And to do that, when you study history, you come to realize that the masses, though inconsistent, lazy in its vigilance of self-protection, and normally docile, can become agitated to the point of wild and energetic mood swings that can result in uncontrollable changes...like the American Revolution, and the Southern secession. In order to prevent historical incidentals like those, the ruling elite have learned to provide pressure release valves.
Rush Limbaugh and the conservative talk shows are some of those valves. They allow a sense of frustration, disappointment, anger to be harmlessly aired, vented. They appear to have some influence, such as when attempts at Immigration Reform failed, but really are non-consequential in terms of important issues like Obama Care, foreign policy, financial policy, and public education.
And I believe the Tea Party is also a release valve, albeit closer to the center of power that can provide an illusion of the people's reaction to adverse events or policies. It may even be that for short periods, the "Tea Party" is in minimal control and can alter reality.
When I listen to Rush, who I admire, trust in his sincerity, and believe he is attempting to do God's work, I often wish we could communicate. I believe his view of American politics is strategically flawed because he does not seem to see or understand the ruling elite. He sees our problems in Washington, with the elected officials. I believe the elected officials, like McConnell, Boehner, Pelosi, Obama are mere pawns of faceless controllers, the ruling elite. And it is these ruling elite that need to be identified and defined. They are the ones who motivate the changes we are enduring, it is their vision and their needs which are met by the actions of the powers - that - be in Washington.
Think of Washington as a stage, as a theatre. The players there are not the leaders. Most of them are not Sarah Palin or Ted Cruz types, they don’t have that kind of courage, character or faith in God. They are just puppets, just manikins. The dances they do, the speeches they give, the words they say are as a result of directions – guidance – objectives provided by some higher power, (not God, but someone or group here on earth with tons of money.) And Rush that’s the problem with capitalism, endless wealth, means endless power, endless ability to scheme and connive to alter good, to change the very foundation of the greatest nation that ever existed.
The extraordinarily wealthy of the world, (don’t make the mistake of thinking the ruling elite of America are all American – or have even visited here.) can and do manipulate events. For a period of modern history that wasn’t possible, because of the United States. Here, the American people had a role in governance. Here, God was omnipresent and a guide to our way of life and policy.
But that has changed. Vigilence by the people of their right to rule is fleeting, inconsisten, and evaporating, it is the weakest aspect of our democratic republic. Both the people and God have been ejected by the ruling elite. Despite super majorities of Americans in opposition, policies have been forced on us, usually by the black robes of the Supreme Court. Whether it’s Roe v. Wade, or Obama Care, it is the black robes, just five or six people who literally dictate America course. But again, the robes are NOT the ruling elite, just their players controlling the political game.
The Court could be the greatest threat to the idea of America on this planet. They have escaped their restraints, they now rule as monarchs, without any hesitancy to impose their will…regardless of previous Court decisions, regardless of the will of the people, regardless of the moral compass provided by God.
And the people see all of this. The people, busy as they are with their own lives, struggling as they do with just making ends meet, see it. Most turn away, not having the character or strength to ingest reality and watch the ship of state sink slowly like the Titanic.
But there are some who do have the character, some who know there is right, that the ship can be righted, that if God enters the game there is no power which can stand to His. And the ruling elite know that too. So … the Tea Party; a place where the people who know the right can go…but where little if anything happens. The Tea Party is not allowed to coalesce into America’s new Second party to replace the Republican.
And so, after all these words, I submit, the Tea Party is just a pressure release valve.
There is truth to the notion that involvement in Tea Party activism that “replaces” local GOP evolvement to the Rinos is a mistake. It gives them the entrenched vehicle without a fight.
“What do you think.”
I think perhaps he is being straight armed, possibly deemed as no asset to his Tea Party neighborhood.
Sounds like somebody wants an organization that can be targeted.
IMHO, the American electorate needs to come together, and "re-take" our country. This means, "old-time" Democrats who can't stand the way the "Progressives" are running things, and "old-time Republicans" who have to get out of the "country club" mentality, and Tea Party conservatives, who have to realize that too many people either don't understand their goals, or don't yet agree with their principles.
As the Bible says, "a house divided cannot stand"...and the Tea Party is not just a "pressure release valve", BUT, as loath as I am to say this, there must be some agreement on very basic issues (which will still inevitably involve "compromise"), and then the rest must be built from there.
Hopefully before it's too late. JMHO.
The author needs to do a bit more research before he writes:
(Lou Costello is considering becoming a ballplayer. Bud Abbott wants to make sure he knows what he’s getting into.)
Abbott: Strange as it may seem, they give ball players nowadays very peculiar names.
Costello: Funny names?
Abbott: Nicknames, nicknames. Now, on the St. Louis team we have Who’s on first, What’s on second, I Don’t Know is on third—
Costello: That’s what I want to find out. I want you to tell me the names of the fellows on the St. Louis team.
Abbott: I’m telling you. Who’s on first, What’s on second, I Don’t Know is on third—
Costello: You know the fellows’ names?
Abbott: Yes.
Costello: Well, then who’s playing first?
Abbott: Yes.
Costello: I mean the fellow’s name on first base.
Abbott: Who.
Costello: The fellow playin’ first base.
Abbott: Who.
Costello: The guy on first base.
Abbott: Who is on first.
Costello: Well, what are you askin’ me for?
Abbott: I’m not asking you—I’m telling you. Who is on first.
Costello: I’m asking you—who’s on first?
Abbott: That’s the man’s name.
Costello: That’s who’s name?
Abbott: Yes.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Costello: When you pay off the first baseman every month, who gets the money?
Abbott: Every dollar of it. And why not, the man’s entitled to it.
Costello: Who is?
Abbott: Yes.
Costello: So who gets it?
Abbott: Why shouldn’t he? Sometimes his wife comes down and collects it.
Costello: Who’s wife?
Abbott: Yes. After all, the man earns it.
Costello: Who does?
Abbott: Absolutely.
Costello: Well, all I’m trying to find out is what’s the guy’s name on first base?
Abbott: Oh, no, no. What is on second base.
Costello: I’m not asking you who’s on second.
Abbott: Who’s on first!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Costello: St. Louis has a good outfield?
Abbott: Oh, absolutely.
Costello: The left fielder’s name?
Abbott: Why.
Costello: I don’t know, I just thought I’d ask.
Abbott: Well, I just thought I’d tell you.
Costello: Then tell me who’s playing left field?
Abbott: Who’s playing first.
Costello: Stay out of the infield! The left fielder’s name?
Abbott: Why.
Costello: Because.
Abbott: Oh, he’s center field.
Costello: Wait a minute. You got a pitcher on this team?
Abbott: Wouldn’t this be a fine team w i t h o u t a pitcher?
Costello: Tell me the pitcher’s name.
Abbott: Tomorrow.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Costello: Now, when the guy at bat bunts the ball—me being a good catcher—I want to throw the guy out at first base, so I pick up the ball and throw it to who?
Abbott: Now, that’s he first thing you’ve said right.
Costello: I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT!
Abbott: Don’t get excited. Take it easy.
Costello: I throw the ball to first base, whoever it is grabs the ball, so the guy runs to second. Who picks up the ball and throws it to what. What throws it to I don’t know. I don’t know throws it back to tomorrow—a triple play.
Abbott: Yeah, it could be.
Costello: Another guy gets up and it’s a long ball to center.
Abbott: Because.
Costello: Why? I don’t know. And I don’t care.
Abbott: What was that?
Costello: I said, I DON’T CARE!
Abbott: Oh, that’s our shortstop!
This is the strength, not a failing.
The good thing about tea parties (plural) are ideals. The bad thing is that many that are organized tend to have big fish in small pond syndrome and it becomes ego, not ideas. As far as "democratically elected" leadership goes, that's for members of that party to decide, not you.
The Tea Party is not allowed to coalesce into America’s new Second party to replace the Republican.
Because VOTERS do not allow third parties to be anything but spoilers. Third parties always failed, fail now, and fail in the future.
there’s a group just up the road;
ramonatead.com
great group,meets once a month.
I know of ONE time in history when a third party became a major party. In the 1850s the Whig Party disintegrated, and the Free Soil Party absorbed enough Whigs and anti-slavery Democrats to take the place of the Whigs. At that point, its members felt it needed a new name, and because nobody else was calling themselves “Republican” at that point, they went with that. Therefore, in order for the Tea Party to succeed, either the Democrats or country-club Republicans have to go.
Sorry,
to answer the Question,
ain’t sure of the Question.
All I know is they ain’t shootin’
Why do people have such a problem understanding the Tea Party? We stand for:
* The Constitution AS WRITTEN (which includes Amendments, even dumb ones like the 16th and the 17th)
* Rule by and of law
* Separation of Powers
* Small Government
* Strong Borders
* Capitalism
* Keeping the treasure we earn
What sane person could be AGAINST these?
>>We know each other by name and have no need for leadership because we’re like minded local people who happen to meet for breakfast a couple times per month and chat about various issues and politicians.<<
Sounds a lot like a bunch of guys in the late 1700s who believed in a quaint concept called “liberty.”
Well, we all saw THAT idea would never take!
The freesoil party is a good analogy. They elected a fair number of congressmen but were most effective in attracting disaffected Whigs and Democrats into a new party (Republicans).
I think the idea that there is the ruling elite, the controllers, is a belief held quite firmly on the left, and is nearly ubiquitous among the Occupy types.
Ostensible conservatives also hold these beliefs, as does this writer.
But I think these are destructive beliefs to have on many levels. Conservatives should stay as far away as possible from these sort of self defeating and self constraining beliefs.
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.