Early on, in the wake of the Bush's extravagant Iraq fiasco and bank bailouts, the Tea Partiers seemed to focus on a reduction in the U.S. national debt and federal budget deficit by shrinking government, cutting spending, and slashing taxes, a primarily libertarian agenda. In 1984, the Koch brothers had founded Citizens for a Sound Economy (CSE), "to fight for less government, lower taxes, and less regulation," Ron Paul appointed its first chairman. The CSE lobbied for policies favorable to corporate interests, particularly tobacco companies. Over the years, its focused agenda has metastasized into a potpourri of boilerplate rightist radicalism. As the Affordable Care Act has become the law of the land and gender equality in marriage law the norm, as popular support for comprehensive immigration reform increases and that in favour of background checks to keep firearms out of the hands of homicidal maniacs and criminals is overwhelming, as anthropogenic climate change is recognized as scientific reality and America's demographics portends diversity, the TPs have transformed into a cartoon version of Republicans, the GOP only more so, with bible-humpers abounding. Will the adults in the Party prevail or will the sputtering President-haters that fester in its ranks place their dogmatic righteousness above electability? Might a return-to-fiscal-matters libertarian spin-off arise that jettisons the pant load of social issue baggage the TPs have amassed? Something's got to give. Media entertainers get this crowd wee wee'd up, and pragmatic politicians are concerned.
Looks like forum Republicons aren't too enthused about this subject. Gee, I wonder why. Meanwhile, another main stream Republicon condemns the Tea Party for its constant yearning for other people's money: Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) on Saturday railed against Tea Party groups for hurting establishment candidates and incumbents just to fundraise. “That is a fact. It is not a conjecture, and so many of these groups it is basically donor capture. They are there to perpetuate themselves," he said at the Republican Leadership Conference in New Orleans, La., as recorded by The Daily Beast. Johnson explained that he feels that some Tea Party groups don't actually represent the grassroots Tea Party movement, with which he identifies. http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/ron-johnson-slams-tea-party-groups It's all about the money, not principle.
One can hope....that Sane Republicans don't prevail. That the GOP IS forced, as its Base wants, into becoming so Far Right and Theocratic they make the Revolutionary Party of Iran look like UC-Berkeley hippies. A combination of Neo-conservatism that Bill Kristol would call "pacifist" and Religious extremism that Pat Robertson would call "Universalist Unitarian". Sadly...and I'm sure SMW would agree....the RNC Masters won't allow it. They'll use money and Fox News (wholly owned GOP propaganda) to destroy any Fringe Candidates who get "too close" to whoever they anoint as the 2016 Nominee. - - - Updated - - - Come on, SMW....tell the Tea Partyers your opinion of their "power and influence" in the GOP. i.e. that they are the Republican Party's bi'ach.
Just ask uber-lobbyist Dick "TPs have been very, very good to me!" Armey: It's good that the Kochs and their ilk have plenty of bucks to squander.
My guess would be "no". They'd have to 1) FIND an adult and 2) find an adult capable of prevailing. Christine O'Donnell comes as close as any.
I disagree.....the RNC Big Boys are showing they're not going to let the rabid dogs stay off their leashs anymore. That's why there was the big push to stop TP primary challengers by the RNC, the NRSC, the Chamber of Commerce, Big Donors, etc. SMW is actually correct....though "oddly" the Right will only hate ME for saying it....the Tea Partyers are nothing but the loyal lap-dog of the Republican Party come Election Day. Rabid and out-of-control before the Primaries.....but NEUTERED by the Party afterwards.....with Reince Priebus wearing their figurative testicles around his neck as a trophy. The Establishment...will win.
I suppose you are right if you consider Jeb to be the adult in the family. I don't think he's mastered adolescence any better than Bro George has.
The big money Republican funderss are trying to win elections so they can move back to the Republican Party's primary goal which is making America safe for the rich.
Actually, SMW....aren't YOU the one who keeps saying the Republican Party will keep the Tea Party under its thumb? Seems Brat winning is a whole chicken-house of eggs on you.
I enjoyed how some GOP establishmentistas were quick to blame crossover Democrats voting for the TP victor, although the upset was clearly due to Cantor's smug complacency. Despite pro-immigration reform Lindsey Graham and most other traditional Republicans easily disposing of TP upstarts, I'm hoping the Brat Pack phenomenon has legs. The festering Party schism could easily give rise to an alienated, regional clan of estranged Angry White Guy "Dixiecans" amidst an increasing demographic diversity nationally. A bible humper offing the GOP's only Jewish congressional representative certainly doesn't improve their image nationally in that regard. Well, they've still got Senator Tom Scott (SC), appointed to be their only Black American in Congress, to demonstrate how well they reflect the nation's democratic heterogeneity. He better prove photogenic. .
Just checking in on how the TPs are doing in their War Against Turdblossom. Not so well. Boo Hoo McDaniel may be the current poster boy for TP tantrum throwers after his defeat in the Mississippi primary, but the Establishmentistas are routing the wacko birds in contest after contest. With control of the senate in serious jeopardy in November, Democrats were hoping for a series of GOP upsets by latter-day Angles, O'Donnells, Bucks, Mourdocks, and Akins, but Lindsey Graham's "angry white guys" have been given the bum's rush by Mr Rove again and again. .
Now that the SS controls the Democrat Party they have to whine constantly. Question: Would George Soros and David Koch be ilk?
If the TP had just refused to be distracted from it original libertarian low taxes, low government regulation message, it would not have been co-opted by the exact same coalition as the GOP base. It needed to say no to pro-lifers, say no to anti-immigration rhetoric, say no to the religious right, and refused to be dragged into stances on foreign policy. It lost its intrinsic legitimacy as a grass roots phenomena that was independent of the two parties dichodomy.
The TPs have been co-opted by both bible humpers and Koch heads, and Americans are tired of their sniveling.
Amen Sister! They are not honest enough or smart enough to realize the TP is a grassroots organization representing the Constitution and the needs of voters such as less taxes etc. Anybody should know that with the campaign laws as they are, BOTH parties are beholden to big money sources! Geeez!
The Tea Party was to be a grassroots revolution to fundamentally change how government operated. The Tea Party failed...the grassroots revolution NEVER materialized. Now the Tea Party revolution has stalled and has become one more footnote in American history of failed parties.
I respect your right to be wrong! We are out here in droves! Many of us are versatile in our beliefs, but firm in pushing the TP, patriotic principle when we can.
The Republican leadership is "Democrat Lite". Just look at our last couple of presidents. "No new taxes" and "DHS and no spending discipline". Dole, McCain, and Romney have been no better. The moderates are killing the TP and conservative base support. They need to quit going for the "middle 20%" and shore up the base. How many states did Reagan carry in 1984?
Is there a difference between 'sniveling' and 'mewling'? Because Americans are tired of their mewling as well.
