“Fine, but I gave you an accurate breakdown of TP political affiliations. Given that 15 of 33 registered republicans are TP supporters, that means about half of the GOP is in the TP camp, and you can start from there.
But there are 8 of 36 dems and 23 of 31 independents that claim to support the TP movement. To ask them to change affiliation is a harder sell than to ask them to continue supporting the TP movement.”
8 of 36 dems - you and I both know the chances that a RAT is not lying and is actually a TP supporter is close to zero. Now the independents are another matter - those folks we need to really reach out to, and your approach may be a good one. Who knows, there may be a time coming with a RAT will actually be called a Democrat TP - but that day is not today, imho. For today, all RATs I’m aware of are either overtly lying, or they are lying to themselves (perhaps that makes them nuerotic or psychotic - but is that any better?)
“It would be analogous to organizing a union within both parties”
I take it that each candidate would ID themselves as TP affiliated - because for the time being, I can’t see those kinds of designations actually on ballots or voter’s guides - but private voter’s guides and TP websites could have them.
Again, there are a couple exceptions where TPs have endorsed Democrats (I think one is in ID), but by and large the chances of the RATS currently supporting TP are about nuthin’.
So Indies would basically have a choice of R-TP and R and perhaps I-TP - like Doug Hoffman out in NY-23.
Best.
Yes it would not appear on ballots but it would be a membership and candidates would have to be invited or apply, not merely claim. Otherwise popularity of the TP among the electorate would attract a lot of fair weather members.
And yes, it is the independents that are crucial. The I-TP members together with R-TP/D-TP members should be a force that checks the 2-parties from colluding, and may possibly start changing the culture inside the beltway that is at present a “what’s in it for me?” environment for both parties.
The next step would be to find a good law firm to represent the TP as a political union for organizing and managing members and dues. The TP fund could among other things provide support to TP members who are ignored by their party leadership, for example DeVore in California who has been dissed by the NRSC.
I know it borders on 3rd party but I think it is a safe bet that a few successful outcomes to challenges from the 2-party establishment will make those leaders see things the TP way. But I do expect challenges and dirty tricks, the idea of a quasi-3rd party with popular support and funds will shake them up and cause them to circle the wagons.
One insider I met a few years back described the 2-party system as 2 mafia families that negotiate their racketeering territories periodically, but when any external force threatens their hold on the purse strings they band together as if they were one mafia family. At the time of that description i didn’t like the characterization ‘mafia’ very much but it seems to fit in the present times. I think many of the lawmakers are themselves criminals.