Posted on 04/05/2010 5:36:26 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
They heeded a pamphleteer's call for "manly opposition to the machinations of tyranny" — the 60 American colonists who stormed Griffin's Wharf and emptied 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor. And with that, a revolution brewed.
Now, more than two centuries later, come the angry throngs of the modern-day tea party. They've gotten the nation's attention. Can they foment their own revolution?
Not yet.
The Associated Press reviewed tea party operations in almost every state, interviewing dozens of local organizers as well as Democratic and Republican strategists to produce a portrait of the movement to date — and its prospects for tilting this November's elections.
The bottom line:
Though amplifying widespread voter anger at the political establishment, the tea party movement is unlikely to dramatically affect the congressional elections — unless their local affiliates forge alliances with Republican candidates. And how likely is that? Republican operatives look at the possibility of GOP-tea party collaborations with some anxiety, and many tea party activists frankly don't want to see them.
Born of protest and populism, the United States is a nation of movements — people galvanized by causes, summoned with the latest technologies. But none of those causes — not abolition, women's votes, civil rights or anti-war — was certain to succeed in its first fateful steps, or even to leave a lasting mark.(continued)
(Excerpt) Read more at google.com ...
Absolutely. A normal function of the FBI is to infiltrate politically ascendant groups that aren't controlled by the republicrat lackies of the international financial oligarchy. Members of "dangerous" groups are then enticed to commit violent acts so that the FBI can come down on all the group members with trumped up conspiracy charge. Any Tea Partier who counsels any illegal acts is most likely an FBI plant.
The local GOP in NJ CD-12 actually turned its back on the tea party candidate — Mike Halfacre — and went with the money man — Scott Sipprelle.
Unfortunately, that decision will cost them the election in November.
It’s not the “muscle” that’s lacking right now.
It’s the will and the “trigger”.
I believe most folks are willing to hold out on responding to the intolerable acts of despotism until after the Nov 2010 election.
“Shenanigans” in November could very well be the “trigger”.
How do you tell who the FBI agent is at the militia meeting?
He's the guy calling for the violent overthrow of the government.
I have no doubt this is what happened to those dumbasses up in Michigan.
You’re wong on one thing: It’s a hard 32, not 20.
Would you vote for McCain, AGAIN?
I wouldn’t... At some point you have to draw a line, McCain, Snow, Gramnasty, and a few others are on the other side of that line.
If the repubs, teaparty or anybody else wants my vote, they better vote conservative, you can either support a conservative with YOUR vote, and join my vote or go it alone with your Rino. And based on your post, I’ll bet you really think a Rino is the best candidate....
Here Here!! It is really this simple. The Patriots that come out in droves are right,and everyone knows it that has an ounce of common sense. So aligning with what is right will be key to the success of all candidates. The Patriots have the truth and common sense on their side and it is easy to see the sincerity or lack thereof of those seeking their votes. Folks will be looking for character in November not “Huff And Puff” and slogans. Candidate will have to listen and respond to these Patriots or else suffer the consequences which will be great. Some folks that think they have a very safe seats are going to be dispatched because they ignored these Patriots. I for one cannot wait til November.
so... unless one is willing to do violence, then one’s message is somehow unworthy????
the colonists were talking about a shooting war... is this guy suggesting that the tea partiers do the same?
sounds like he’s trying to steer them off a PR cliff.
The dichotomy is simply -
who makes the decisions, the individual or the “elite”?
Probably the best “cipher” for exposing their viewpoint would be their attitude toward individual gun rights.
When they do that they need to lose. You also have to expect the quizzling idiots around here to say “see your conservative principles caused us to lose”.
There are some people on this forum that would vote for Obama if he had and R next to his name.
when in the course of human events...
it is their right and their duty...
The elections in past have failed, as have the candidates from both parties, precisely because, as Ronald Reagan said, “Government is not a solution to our problem, government is the problem.”
The national government has grown beyond control or governance. Large parts of it are rogue and unresponsive.
Fortunately, the founding fathers were wise enough to foresee this, as a likely possibility, so they created a constitutional system to reform the government. A constitutional convention of the individual States.
The current constitution is a masterwork of balance. Most people know that the three branches of government, the executive, legislative and judicial branches, are supposed to balance each other.
But likewise, there is supposed to be balance between the States with large populations, and the States with small populations. This is why we have “The People’s House”, the House of Representatives, based on the “enumerated census”, favoring those States with more people; and the US senate, with all States having just two senators, which favors the less populated States.
Two houses of congress, not just one.
And yet a third measure of balance is supposed to exist, between the national government, the individual State governments, and the people themselves.
As was originally intended, US senators were *not* supposed to be popularly elected, but appointed by each State. This was done to give the individual States a say, and a veto, in what the national government did.
But this was foolishly changed in 1913, when States were stripped of this right. From that time, US senators have been popularly elected.
To make matters much worse, again in 1913, another Amendment created the Income Tax. Before that time, if the national government wanted to directly interfere with the people, it had to go *through* the States to do so. The States acted as a shield against national power.
But the Income Tax gave the government power to interfere in anything and everything the people do as individual citizens.
So what do the people, the Tea Party, do to put the house of government in order?
Actually, it’s not our job to do anything directly, other than to *not* be co-opted by either of the political parties, or allow ourselves to be labeled as “anti-government”, or “radical”, by those opposed to government reform.
Instead, we must talk to, and encourage our State governments to begin the process for reform, in a real, and tangible manner. They must begin to discuss it among themselves, and States must send delegations to visit other States, so they might divine how best to go about reforming our national government.
Truly, there should be no enemies here, other than those of total self interest, who would seek to profit from the collapse of our nation.
Because if our national government is restored to order, it will function better. Our elected leaders will again be in control, instead of in contention with institutional inertia and bureaucratic duplicity.
Our nation will no longer be spending itself into chaos, and will likely choose to default on our impossible debt and future promises. This will force a balanced budget and fiscal restraint, as well as a contraction of taken authority, resulting in greater efficiency.
All of this is what is behind the Tea Parties. And while far fewer people know potential solutions right now, they are well aware of the problems that need solving.
So the Tea Parties are neither Republican nor Democrat. We support our individual States, that they may find unity of purpose, and restore our national government to a framework of laws.
You know, after the Revolutionary War, they rounded up the people loyal to King George and put them on ships and told them to never come back.
Just saying that, you know, it can be done.
try and elect candidates who advocate revolution. I agree with your sentiments, but we haven’t exhausted the ballot box yet. violence ought to be the absoulte last resort.
I worry about those who think it should be the first.
The direction of our country is directly proportional to how engaged these Patriots remain in expressing this “Common Sense Truth til November and thereafter. The political elite class will have to come to us for advice consent and approval to govern, and they hate that. It is my view that they will have to get used to it especially after November. It would be better for some if they learn it earlier cuz these Patriot and not fooling nor will they be fooled any longer.
Though amplifying widespread voter anger at the political establishment, the tea party movement is unlikely to dramatically affect the congressional elections — unless their local affiliates forge alliances with Republican candidates. And how likely is that? Republican operatives look at the possibility of GOP-tea party collaborations with some anxiety, and many tea party activists frankly don’t want to see them.
I agree, which is why I wrote a book showing how we can contol the Republican Party (and Republican candidates) without becomming their puppets (in fact, we’ll make them our puppets).
It’s up on Amazon.com: The Conservative Hand - A Manifesto to Achieve Coservative Political Goals. Do a searh on “The Conservative Hand,” it’s the red and white strriped book.
I told myself I wasn’t going to push this book here, but I get frustrated seeing threads like this that proclaim there isn’t anything we can do when there is. I’ve figured out a new system (by applying ideas from economics and business to politics) to bend the Republican Party to our will. It will work.
Oh, absolutely.
The “cartridge box of liberty” should be the last one opened, and only after it is plain that all the other boxes have been closed.
If the left closes the ballot box this fall, though, it’s all we have left.
I’m not talking about them “cancelling the elections”, they wouldn’t do that. But they have been making them more and more meaningless.
I believe GOP candidates and incumbents need to NOT get too involved with the TEA party movement...For a few reasons...
#1 Because this is the proper direction of focus the candidates and incumbents need to honor...They need to watch very closely what is being said, and not cloud over the TEA Parties message by riding the coat-tails and spinning it to anyones advantage...This is about what the people want, not as a platform or opportunity for a campaign to get their message out, to somehow believe this is going to be cheap publicity mechanism...
#2 The TEA Party movement WILL speak to those who are not as politically involved all on their own, it is evident everyday how people who are not involved as much get caught up and attend these events...This is a great thing, and elected officials need to stay away, and let the people decide who is worthy, and who have proven themselves virtuous people who hold the principles and values to hold public office...If you fit those (and many other traits) you will be noticed in due time...
#3 We need to dedicate ourselves to maintaining the momentum and positive outlook on this next election...The opposition WILL pull out all the stops and will (and have already begun) begin to demonize and ostrasize the movement to take the momentum out of the people and reduce the turnout in November...This cannot be allowed to happen...
All I have to say in conclusion...
I do not want to hear any whining or griping on that Wednesday morning after the election is tallied...We had better get it done this time, and for those in the districts where there is going to be a battle, you guys had better get it done, and that means turnout!!!
We have them extreme worried, and they need to be kept back on their heels at every step till that day comes...Drive it home, keep the momentum up!!!
If any candidate or elected officials uses this movement for their gain, let it be the people in the movement to do so, not because they (candidate or elected official) see it as a poitical stump...Let the people decide who is worthy to be supported...This is not your mechanism to exploit!!!
There needs to be a real humble approach, an appreciation of the people finally waking up and joining together to get the message to our government...
Benjamin Franklin said “Politics is the art of persuasion.”, but I say it is more than that and a lot simpler these days...
Politics is the proof of personal conviction and values that a virtuous and conservative person has that serve the people, not the other way around...
Principled Representation has been lost for much too long in our country, and we need to return it to Washington D.C. and our State Capitols...
And those seeking office had better humble themselves and be very appreciative of that the people still have the desire and ability to speak up, because governemtn has gotten wayyyyyy too big for it’s britches, and we need to put it on a crash diet...Right now!
Because if the people lose their voice, then you do not want the alternative...Nobody wins that battle...
Just my opinion...
quizzling = Quisling? (after Vidkun Quisling, a collaborationist Norwegian Prime Minister from the WW2 era)
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