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Tea Party ‘Is Dead’: How the Movement Fizzled in 2012’s GOP Primaries (Barf!)
The Daily Beast ^ | February 6, 2012 | Patricia Murphy

Posted on 02/06/2012 12:49:33 PM PST by rightwingintelligentsia

It was the great wildcard going into the 2012 election cycle. Republican Party insiders openly worried the Tea Party might knock off the establishment presidential candidate, just as it knocked out establishment picks in the chaotic 2010 congressional races. Party heavyweights wondered whom the upstart movement would get behind and whether Mitt Romney could even get through the early states, given the once-raging Tea Party elements in Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina.

But after months of wondering how the Tea Party would change the primary game, leaders inside the movement admit they never came in off the sidelines. For the Tea Party movement, the 2012 presidential primaries have been a bust.

“The Tea Party movement is dead. It’s gone,” says Chris Littleton, the cofounder of the Ohio Liberty Council, a statewide coalition of Tea Party groups in Ohio. “I think largely the Tea Party is irrelevant in the primaries. They aren’t passionate about any of the candidates, and if they are passionate, they’re for Ron Paul.”

(Excerpt) Read more at thedailybeast.com ...


TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2012gopprimary; primaries; teaparty
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

The Tea Party had success when it focused on issues. When the primary season began everyone seemed to focus on personalities with “cults” of personality forming around several candidates, and non-candidates.. Now, conservative issues are ground into the dirt by the nastiness of the candidates supporters. I would suspect a very low turnout unless something changes.


21 posted on 02/06/2012 1:12:42 PM PST by Prokopton
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To: rightwingintelligentsia
“The Tea Party movement is dead. It’s gone”

"You'd like to THINK that, wouldn't you?"

22 posted on 02/06/2012 1:15:20 PM PST by Old Sarge (RIP FReeper Skyraider (1930-2011) - You Are Missed)
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

The Tea Party people haven’t gone anywhere. We’re just waiting patiently for November to vote the marxist out of office. Do they think the tea party members just disappeared or changed their political views? More like they are choosing to lay low rather than take the crap the media throws at it. We’ll be there when it counts. Bet on it.


23 posted on 02/06/2012 1:16:09 PM PST by jersey117 (Perry 2012)
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

When Sarah Palin decided not to run after saying she would if a better conservative didnt get in the race, ...it hurt us bad. Thats the truth. I wish it wasn’t reality, but it is.

If we lose in November or if Romney simply gets the nomination, some of the blame needs to aimed north and west


24 posted on 02/06/2012 1:20:05 PM PST by se_ohio_young_conservative (u)
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To: Prokopton

You pegged that one to a T.

It is all more bizarre than the last election. The cults could well have kept good candidates featuring issues and results from entering. Many probably didn’t want to waste their time going up against cult personalities.


25 posted on 02/06/2012 1:21:23 PM PST by dforest
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To: bimboeruption
Where was the tea party during the repeal of SB5 in Ohio? There wasn't much action from the tea party all last fall. Pretty quiet as a matter of fact.

I don't think the tea part is dead. And to a point it will never be because there are those who are by nature a tea party type personality. But I think it peaked in '10.

26 posted on 02/06/2012 1:23:01 PM PST by joesbucks
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To: jersey117
We’re just waiting patiently for November to vote the marxist out of office.

Why the hell would you do that? There are elections and caucuses going on almost every week.

If you're "Taxed Enough Already" and want to "vote the marxist out of office"...why would you settle for a Massachusetts liberal in November?

27 posted on 02/06/2012 1:29:24 PM PST by ROCKLOBSTER ( Celebrate Republicans Freed the Slaves Month.)
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

The Tea Party groups I am involved with have gone completely grass roots and are effecting races from the bottom up starting with school boards, state reps, congressmen, etc. We have learned that we never had the organization required to affect a national race and we need to build one from the ground up. If this disappoints people who were hoping for magic, well, sorry.

Nobody ever said we could change everything in one election. If you are not in the fight for the long term, you are not in the fight.


28 posted on 02/06/2012 1:31:02 PM PST by Da Bilge Troll (Defeatism is not a winning strategy!)
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To: joesbucks

SB 5 was so poorly written, even I voted against it.

If it would have been written the same as the Wisconsin bill, it would have passed.


29 posted on 02/06/2012 1:32:35 PM PST by bimboeruption (Clinging to my Bible and my HK.)
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To: Sybeck1

The tea party (and I use lower case intentially) was formed on December 16, 1773, and it is always there. It is the militia. It is the spirit of patriotism. It’s the spirit we saw as recently as 9-11—that spirit didn’t just disappear. It’s among us, trying to find a voice. In 2002 and 2004 we said “We Gave Peace A Chance, We Got 9-11” Now we need a new rallying cry that says something like “We Gave The Libs A Chance, We Got B-H-O”.


30 posted on 02/06/2012 1:34:25 PM PST by ichabod1 (Mr. Gingrich)
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To: ROCKLOBSTER

New Jersey doesn’t have its say until June.


31 posted on 02/06/2012 1:34:36 PM PST by jersey117 (Perry 2012)
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To: jersey117
The Tea Party people haven’t gone anywhere. We’re just waiting patiently for November to vote the marxist out of office.

Really? All I seem to read on this forum are people posting that they plan on either staying home or voting for a write-in candidate come November.

32 posted on 02/06/2012 1:36:28 PM PST by Drew68
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To: bimboeruption
Major difference was safety forces and first responders were not included in Wisconsin. Yet safety forces and first responders are among the most generous pay and benefit recipients in public employment.

But even SB 5 was a start and instead of modifying it, there was little if any pushback from tea party groups this past fall, and the baby was thrown out with the bath water.

33 posted on 02/06/2012 1:36:45 PM PST by joesbucks
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To: Drew68

By the time the primaries get to my state, it’s usually a done deal. If Newt or Santorum is still in it by then, I will vote for whichever one looks to have the best shot. If neither of them is standing, I will reluctantly cast my vote for the romney. ABO.


34 posted on 02/06/2012 1:40:39 PM PST by jersey117 (Perry 2012)
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

Thanks for this thread.

__________________

Ode to the Grand Olde Party, and their BFF, the Obamanator.

When Newt, Santorum or Paul rocks the GOP Establishment Boat,
The GOP Oarsmen pull knives from their boots.
The hacking and slashing puts extreme fighting to shame,
Never, no NEVER rock the GOP Establishment Boat!
The GOP cannot win elections, by choice of their suits,
A RINO Nominee is a Democrat, - - - - one and the same.

Two Party as One Party is what they adore.
“Never give voters a choice,” ( or politicians
Are out of life-time jobs, - - forever more).

As we pay our bills holding our noses as we vote,
The Obamanator holds his cold, steel knife
To America’s throat - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - .

_________

BTW Patricia Murphy, perhaps I should have used the gender-neutral term “Oarsperson” instead of “Oarsmen.” We are not fooled by who the two/one political party chooses.


35 posted on 02/06/2012 1:42:18 PM PST by Graewoulf (( obama"care" violates the 1890 Sherman Anti-Trust Law, AND is illegal by the U.S. Constitution.))
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To: joesbucks

The stop obamacare bill passed overwhelmingly.


36 posted on 02/06/2012 1:45:48 PM PST by bimboeruption (Clinging to my Bible and my HK.)
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To: RC2

YEP....and working, like someone else said. Some are getting paid...lol...others are working in the background educating citizens....We will see how the “tea party” is doing....later.


37 posted on 02/06/2012 1:48:08 PM PST by goodnesswins (2012..."We mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our Sacred Honor")
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To: SMARTY

Pulling on trouble’s braids


38 posted on 02/06/2012 1:49:39 PM PST by lonevoice (Klepto Baracka Marxo, impeach we much.)
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To: Mr. K

how about a TEA Party movement march to the media?
Protest outside of NY Times, LA Times, MSLSD, ABC,CBS, yada yada

I for one would participate even in front our local news or newspapers. TEA Party members protesting propaganda and biased and untruthful reporting.


39 posted on 02/06/2012 1:57:37 PM PST by patriotsoul
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To: Sybeck1
There is no Tea Party candidate, how could there be when the movement is barely two years old?

The political stature required to run for Pres. takes longer than that to build.

I only know this; we better get behind whoever the GOP nominates or this country is screwed

40 posted on 02/06/2012 1:58:24 PM PST by Pietro
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