Sarah Palin will headline first-ever Tea Party Convention

Christian Science Monitor ^ | 01-06-10 | Patrik Jonsson

[euram]

Almost 1-1/2 years since she shook up American politics with her acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention, former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is set to headline another landmark political event: the first-ever Tea Party Convention next month in Nashville, Tenn.

On its face, the gig would seem a step down for Ms. Palin, one of conservative America’s most popular and polarizing figures (not to mention major thorn in the side of the Obama White House).

But with an NBC/Wall Street Journal poll ranking a generic “Tea Party” as more popular than either Democrats or Republicans, and Palin herself rivaling the charming Mr. Obama in poll popularity, many experts see the Tea Party event as a potential milestone for a mounting, even transformational, force in US politics.

[tioga]

have fun!

[SandRat]

rules...

[GnuHere]

“a step down...”
Newsflash to CSM: there is not a competing Republican National Convention at the same time.

[Mamzelle]

What’s the date?

[NormsRevenge]

Tea Party Nation

http://www.teapartynation.com/

—

First National Tea Party Convention

http://www.nationalteapartyconvention.com/

—

Bring a snow shovel.

It is Al Gore’s home state, yaknow. ;-)

[NormsRevenge]

First National Tea Party Convention

February 4-6, 2010

Opryland Hotel Nashville, TN

[BunnySlippers]

The Dems would salivate if this was to break off from the Republicans. I would stop supporting Sarah if she backed something like that.

I don’t think she will.

[hinckley buzzard]

Thirtyfive years ago the Christian Science Monitor was the premier national daily newspaper in the United States, probably the world. It is now a skeletal parody of its former self.

[genetic homophobe]

I would stop supporting Sarah if she backed something like that.

you better support her no matter where she goes. She's your only hope.

[BunnySlippers]

No. I will not support a third party. I hope she is not that dumb.

[BunnySlippers]

Really, I’m 61 and have always been a news freak. I love the CSM ... but it’s never been a leader. At least not in revenue stream. And it is not widely available.

You must be using a very limited scale.

[budwiesest]

What's funny is, guys are switching parties and bailing on re-election bids as we speak. Could this be a Palin 'coat tail' effect? You betcha!

And, she's not even in office. It'll be fun watching those headed for the locker room as '010 heats up. Somebody please keep score.

Or is it perhaps the Gingrich/Romney effect? Huckleberry effect? Mickey Mouse effect? There's something going on that has pols dropping in the polls and I'm not sure what it is-- I'm fairly certain what it is. ;^)

[research99]

How can anyone be sure, that the results of a Tea Party Convention would actually represent the interests of activists at the local Tea Party level?

How can Tea Party credentials be enforced, when there isn’t a single Tea Party candidate or organization recognized by any Secretary of State anywhere?

What parliamentary rules can be enforced, when a rule book for a convention has to be made up from scratch?

What’s to prevent a convention being taken over and run by activists or self-serving consultants (from either of the existing major parties)?

[Wonder Warthog]

"How can anyone be sure, that the results of a Tea Party Convention would actually represent the interests of activists at the local Tea Party level? How can Tea Party credentials be enforced, when there isn’t a single Tea Party candidate or organization recognized by any Secretary of State anywhere?"

Ah, yes, however did those grossly disorganized "Committees of Correspondence" ever manage to foment a Revolution without a "dear leader" to "enforce their credentials"?

Yet somehow they managed it. I suspect that the Tea Party grassroots will manage also.

[txhurl]

Bump.

Rogue bttt.

[genetic homophobe]

No. I will not support a third party. I hope she is not that dumb.

You just answered your own question (she's not very dumb). If you've ever supported a Bush, you'd better damn well make ammends. Sarah is your earthly redemption. Lesser of two evils will never get it again. If she goes third party (she won't) and you support a RINO, you're probably going to hell. Was I too dogmatic?

Happy New Year!

[chemicalman]

Any plans to combine it with a Super Bowl party?

[BunnySlippers]

She is dumb if she supports a third party. I think she knows it will doom her and what she is trying to accomplish. she’ll support the lesser.

Was I too dogmatic?

[free me]

Indeed, the Nashville event is not about chartering a new political party to represent conservative ideals like low taxes and states’ rights, but more about unifying to take on “Obama, Pelosi and Reid this year,” writes Judson Phillips, head of Tea Party Nation, one of many Tea Party groups and the lead sponsor of a convention that will feature conservative firebrands such as Rep. Michele Bachmann (R) of Minnesota.