[Zakeet]

In related news, within 30 seconds of the announcement, a mushroom cloud and a foul odor were observed at the DNC headquarters in Washington.

[Salamander]

At least they didn’t say “confederation” and give them all a collective aneurysm.....:)

[ReneeLynn]

This is NOT good. Once you form the ‘federation’ you start appointing ‘leaders’. Not good at all. I hope no other Tea Party groups join this. They’ve got to remain independent.

[TomGuy]

In related news, within 30 seconds of the announcement, a mushroom cloud and a foul odor were observed at the DNC headquarters in Washington.

Or is this an attempt by the moderates to co-opt the movement for their own benefit?

McCain with Palin's help has been trying to do that in Arizona -- identify himself with the Tea Party movement.

Who, exactly are those who are 'federating' the movement?

[DallasDeb]

Good move.

[listenhillary]

I am the leader of the tea party.

We do not need a structure, we do not need candidates, we do not need leaders. The tea party is an idea that people believe in.

Taxed Enough Already

[riri]

Sorry but at this writing I see this as a good move. Only because it is becoming apparent the R Party is going to continue to be the progressive enabling party.

[onyx]

I *knew” Mark Shroder was dying to lead a third party from the very first time NormsRevenge posted an article about him, months ago.

He’s needs to be reminded that TEA PARTY(S) are a MOVEMENT not a third party.

[Uncle Miltie]

Nope. The Tea Party is a MOVEMENT not an ORGANIZATION.

Let the movement go where it will, by self-direction of individuals motivated by a common cause.

Let ORGANIZATIONS appeal to the MOVEMENT for support, and that support can be given my individuals.

The GOP is the collectivist of the conservative movement, an oxymoron if ever there was one, and is not terribly successful therefore.

Let’s not burden a MOVEMENT with an ORGANIZATION.

[Marty62]

Turn on Fox. Dan Quail is getting ready to compare TPM to Perot(sp ?) types.

There is a giant roar coming from the Rino class.

Why didn’t the TPM at least give us a heads up.

Megyn is saying that TPM is now a political PARTY. Whast is going on?

[jd777]

Time for a 3rd PARTY?

[listenhillary]

Mark Shroder does not speak for me.

[DTogo]

So long as it remains a loose-knit but well-coordinated "federation" without appointed (or self-appointed) leaders, formal memberships or a registered lobby group, etc, I don't see the problem.

Coordinating this grass roots movement, while allowing it to remain grass roots and independent, should be a good thing.

Divide and Conquer is the DNC/Obamulan trap we should avoid.

[ohioWfan]

But the conservative movement, which has prided itself on its refusal to formally merge with the Republican Party, refuted claims Thursday that the tea party seeks to form its own political party.

We will not be controlled by anyone, let alone self-proclaimed "leaders."

That's what makes the Tea Party movement unique and powerful.

NO one will be able to stop this truly grassroots movement.

[muddler]

The beauty of the tea party concept is leaderless resistance, Go ahead and give them targets and see what happens.

[WellyP]

Information and ideas must be exchanged. As long as this IS NOT an attempt to form a third party I think it is good.

[prairiebreeze]

Not good, IMO. Now there’s a representative organization / people for the left to target. And we need to see what happened in November before we go splitting off to a 3rd party.

IMO.

[JenB987]

Not good.

Once “leaders” get involved, the system perverts itself with power...

Don’t like this at all.

[Man50D]

The tea party doesn’t need to centralize. It has been growing steadily since February 2009 without any centralization. This is nothing more than an attempted hijack of the tea party movement.

[JenB987]

“Shroder said the federation will act as a “rapid response” to “misinformation” allegedly put forth by the “mainstream media.”

Maybe my bias against this idea is showing, but this sounds like something Obama would say, only with different enemies...

I’m just sayin’.

[Drango]

I don’t do federations. I will be attending a tea party protest on April 15th, but I don’t do federations.