The Tea Party - Visits Washington DC - Dismissed by Media, Carried by C-Span - image realhonestthinking.com
Of course, the Tea Party isn’t officially a political party yet – it is more of a loosely based, national movement, with a variety of spokespersons, most of whom are conservatives, some social, some fiscal, some both. As a group – they represent those that work for a living, pay taxes, and are as diverse a political movement as they come. Having looked at the Tea Party from its early stages, when a few hundred thousand people showed up at various locations across the nation to protest taxes – thus the moniker TEA Party (Taxed Enough Already), to the present stage of greater organization, and greater dismissal from the left and the right – they are often pronounced weakened, redundant, or simply non-existent by those who would like to see them simply go away. That includes the two major political parties. The Democrats, who are often the target due to massive spending (see Fiscal Conservatives), and cannot fathom a protest group, whose members, some of which might even be stay-at-home mom’s – have a better grasp of the Constitution than say – certain members of Congress. In 2010, the drubbing taken by the Democrats in Congress was largely at the hands of Tea Party candidates – who ran as “Republicans”.
The Republicans, on the other hand, are being co-opted, they more than the Democrats (as far as anyone knows) has a real beef, as the nervy Tea Party candidates, run as Republican’s and have a habit of running against their entrenched politicians. Sure they are Republicans, but they are in favor of spending, pork projects, and that does not fly with the Tea Party. Not unlike Libertarians, Tea Party candidates will run as Republican’s as it is a brand – that’s so far. In states where there may not be a large enough Republican Brand – they may even be running as Democrats. The point for the Tea Party - get elected to office and “fix” the legislature - One big point of order – they firmly believe in a limited government run by, no kidding, citizen legislatures - In other words, the original intent of the U.S. Constitution.
As of now, there are Tea Parties in every state and hamlet in this nation – with a few exceptions – to locate a Tea Party – See theteaparty.net/locate a tea party group, or www.teapartypatriots.org where one can “find a local group” by zip code from their home page. As of today, in both instances, there are 56 Tea Party Groups in Massachusetts.
Organizing the groups in 50 states as they group and coalesce could see a distinct third party develop, one with a strong local organizations, with candidates in place, including those elected to office as either Republicans or Democrats on a par with the other two main parties who now control the U.S. Government – within two to three years – and that’s a conservative estimate – no pun intended.
The best instance of denial: James Carville, pundit of the left, Democrat operative, and contributor on a cable news is suggesting that the “Tea Party is Over”. This is about a race in New York State, the 28th District, and Carvel wants that District firmly in Democrat hands - so he paints a picture in a fund-raising email the Democrat Candidate Louise Slaughter, basically stating the annoying Tea Party isn’t gone yet, and the Democrats need money to fight them – he goes on to suggest that they are aligned closely with Republicans and that “big money” is funding their election efforts. Nice Try. Maggie Brooks (www.maggiebrooks.com) is running against Louise, but on a platform that is decidedly fiscally conservative. She appears to be more Republican on the surface – yet, compared to Louise, www.votelouise.com Ms. Brooks does appear to be a rubber stamp politician, rather more of a citizen – the standard fare of issues (women’s rights, war in Afghanistan, and especially: Protecting America from the Republicans) , is decidedly partisan, and is exactly the type of politician that will go to Washington and be a rubber stamp. Which may be why the Democrats are a tad concerned about those “Tea Party” candidates taking away their ability to stonewall and spend.
On the flip side, Redstate.com, offers a look at a little watched primary in Oklahoma – the 1st district - A little known, underfunded, citizen runs against an entrenched Republican who is big on subsidies, somehow, to everyone’s surprise, upends the incumbent. The incumbent ran on farm subsidies, which, one would think would be huge in that district, however, the challenger, Tea, ran on conservative principles (getting the fiscal house in order, ending those subsidies and balanced budgets). Red State’s reporting suggests that even those who are receiving government benefits (subsidies), are willing to give them up to have someone in office that will work to get the Federal Deficit under control and limit government growth.
The Tea Party – members do not discriminate, be it a Republican or a Democrat, and once they are organized into wards and precincts, city by city, state by state, they will be, more than probably the most popular political party – despite the negatives in the Press, or perhaps because of them.
A Tea Party Meeting in Concord, NH - images muellerstuffblog
A Gallop Poll on Political Parties suggest that voters, in general, are sick of both major parties, and are registering as independents, in fact, independents (or non-affiliated, or unenrolled), are growing – in January of this year 40% considered themselves non-affiliated. . There exists a growing distaste for the two major political parties, and the time is right, from an historical perspective, for a new party to emerge. The Tea Party, at this point, is the strongest, best organized of the bunch of ideological parties (Libertarian, New Party (Communist), Socialist Party, Green Party to name a few) and as members of the aforementioned (obviously Communist and Socialist would not vest themselves in a Party that is for limited government growth), align with the Tea Party, adding disgruntled Republicans, and disgruntled moderate to conservative Democrats (they exist), as well as those who are tired of the two-party system (see 40%) this could be one heck of a party.
Which is not news to James Carville, or to those entrenched Beltway Republicans and Democrats who on the one hand dismiss and one the other, embrace tentatively – so far – simply because they are portrayed as Republican in nature. That is partly true, if the Republican Party was still Lincolns Party, but...that ship sailed a long time ago. They are who they are, and it is refreshing to see these “guerilla politico’s” taking on the establishment in true “revolutionary” style. This is going to be another one of “those” years, 2010 was just a warning shot (See Concord), 2012 will be Yorktown.
*Note: If one has never attended a “Tea Party Meeting” one might want to give it a try – especially if one is under the impression that it is a rather rag-tag bunch of crazy people (see press). The meeting might consist of educational sessions, speakers of noted pedigree lecturing on the economy, or perhaps a three part series on Communism and the development in the 1930’s, or perhaps a course on the Constitution. There may be local political activism, as in reviewing candidates for election, inviting them to speak, going over their issues. One might find discussions on growth and membership, as well as involvement in grassroots organizing, and charitable works on a very basic local level. It’s almost as if one has walked into an Urban “Grange” (if one is in a “City”). Members are from all political parties, but basically unenrolled (Massachusetts) - and all have a goal – to learn – to become active – from the least to the greatest.
Are there crazy people who populate the Tea Party – of course, but on the flip side, take a look at duly elected officials from both Major Political Parties and compare – or their supporters, even better, and it’s all fairly normal, more normal than either major Party would care to admit.
Tea Party Meeting and Recruitment in Brooklyn - image the midwoodblog
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