Don't Give GOP The Tea Party Anger

As much as I want to see the GOP do exceptionally well in 2010, simply allowing them to co-opt the Tea Party anger for political gain would be a big mistake. It's premature. Are they doing it because they've got the Tea Party spirit? Or only because it looks to be a prime source for votes? Frankly, what has changed as far as the GOP?

Republicans are looking to resurrect the angry town halls of August in the last few weeks of November.

Senate Republican Conference Chairman Lamar Alexander said Republicans are “quietly” planning some 50 in-person and telephone town hall gatherings over the next three weeks to drum up opposition to Democratic health care bills. Republicans believe this effort will pick up new urgency once Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) releases his long-awaited bill — possibly next week.

I'm not talking about every card carrying Republican. There are some great exceptions; however, as an organization we are looking at the same old GOP that fueled the Tea Party anger they now would like to capture. Make them earn it.

On whole, they have yet to get New Media, though it's been around for years. From the nomination processes that gave us Dede Scozzafava, to a ton of open primaries and including playing favorites, or hedging their bets, do they resemble a Tea Party party for now?

DeMint endorsed Marco Rubio, where do you think the rest of them will line up? And there's California and who knows where else. I'd be happy to see the Tea Party movement and the GOP team up to win big in 2010. But if all we're doing is supporting the same old GOP, we won't be accomplishing anything.

They have time to do it and I dearly hope they will. But, sorry, GOP. If you aren't willing to spring for the cost of a ticket, the way bloggers and Tea Party folks have put up so much of themselves to get America back on track, you don't get to come to the show.

The last thing the Tea Party movement needs right now is a political party that isn't a Tea Partier playing one on TV. Given all the time and effort Tea Party people have put in, it would be a tragedy if all it won was the same old thing.

Comments

[Peter]

"From the nomination processes that gave us Dede Scozzafava, to a ton of open primaries and including playing favorites, or hedging their bets, do they resemble a Tea Party party for now?"

Not just no, HELL NO. They're still the Stupid Party, believing they have to be me-too Democrats to win elections. Buying whatever advice they get from the state-run media and the likes of idiots such as David Frum, David Brooks and Kathleen Parker.

[The Worm]

Take a page out of the Newt Gingrich archives (back when he was a true Conservative) and have each Republican Congressperson sign a "Contract with the Real America."

Specifically, set a specific date for another "march" on Washington and have constituents meet with their representatives asking them to sign ON VIDEO. See who's grandstanding and who truly believes in conservative principles...then keep track of them individually on votes, actions, and words....
Cheers,
The Worm

[Pasadena Phil]

I will not be open to even thinking of helping the Republicans until they purge the leadership ranks of those who believe that "the only good Republican is a Democrat". I am talking about purging from the RNC down to the state level. I am not interested in a "born again" leadership that is going through a gallows conversion. I want them OUT! Go away now!

I am only interested in a party that embraces conservative principles and will not compromise for political expediency, not an unprincipled 3rd party like the GOP that lectures us for being so narrow-minded for even having principles.

The Tea Party movement is wildly popular because it presents an explicitly clear platform that appeals to the majority of Americans because they understand our message and it resonates across the political spectrum. We are Americans. Our one-party elites all fancy themselves as "world leaders". The GOP may have the "big tent" but the Tea Party has the constituencies. The Tea Party movement is a clear demonstration that not only is the Reagan coalition alive and well, it is bigger than ever. Too bad the GOP went Quisling/Marxist on us. We don't them THIS Republican Party any more than we need their sister party, the Democrats.

[Pasadena Phil]

Correction: We don't need THIS Republican Party any more than we need their sister party, the Democrats. (d'oh!)

[CHRI$ DODD]

Not a big fan of the teabaggers.

[Diogenes]

The Republican party is stuck in a zero-sum-game mindset; thinking that whatever's bad for the Democrats is good for them. They see the Town Hall/Tea Party/House Call anger as hurting the Dem's, therefore they immediately think that it belongs to them.

The implosion will continue until they get a clue. I'm not hopefull....

[Drider]

I have been a tool of the GOP in the past, it would be a huge mistake to so much as allow GOP involvement in the Tea party demonstrations, the entire reason that Tea Party people show up in such numbers, when usually they go about their daily work and lives is that the "government", which includes all D's and R's is out of control.
I could care less what people think of Tea Party people, couldn't care less if they feel many are too angry, may hurt the image of whatever political party or simply disagree with those who are pissed off that their Country is being severely damaged.

The GOP ran amok in spending, opened the door for a Marxist President to go full bore into this Socialist nightmare and now are powerless to stop them........even if they really want to.Fug em all.

The reality we face in the Country today is getting back to a check and counter check political system of which can only benefit the Republicans because if we don't get that, this Country is done and will be unrecognizable in the next ten years.We will be the first generation that failed to leave this Country better than we found it and as it is now, no politician deserves anything more than either being a temporary stop fix to stop the slide into oblivian or ridden out of town on a rail for their active participation in destroying all things logical,honorable and sensible, just to have their ideological wet dream of living in a hard core socialist society that most of the American people never wanted when they voted these clowns into office.

[Proud Liberal]

this is so freakin great. I love it. PURGE BABY PURGE. Oh, and those teabagger town halls actually helped Obama and health care. Look at all of the polls and you'll see the numbers go up for Obama after the teabaggers made fools of themselves all over the TV. Oh, I know it gets all you guys excited but you are a small percentage of the electorate and not growing. Louder yes, bigger no. So, lets have some more armed teabaggers carrying racists signs and screaming about Hitler. Please. Obama needs a boost about now and that should do that trick.

Viva Revolution Teabaggers

[North Dallas Thirty]

I do so love when the silly puppet Proud Liberal tries to scream about purges, given what it's supporting.

Again, do the math; the puppet is screaming about purges because a small number of liars like Scozzafava are being kicked out of the Republican Party, while it is systematically targeting anyone who dares to disagree with or criticize the Obamamessiah in its own party.

One lost House seat versus the forty-two House seats and multiple Senate seats that Proud Liberal and its ilk want purged of not-liberal-enough Obama Party members so that they can install true Marxists like themselves. We'll gladly take those odds.

[Proud Liberal]

I have no clue what ND30 is talking about. The Democratic party has been very inclusive in putting moderate Democrats up for election. Liberals like myself are not all that thrilled with Rahm Emanuel's strategy but it worked and the Dems have one in Red state districts as a result. To suggest that the Dem party is "purging" those that disagree with Obama is.. well.. just freaking moronic. Hell, Obama is courting Olympia Snow and moderate Republicans. Do you guys really listen to yourselves? You live in a bizarro alternative universe. It's quite fascinating.

[Proud Liberal]

of course that should be "won in Red State districts" I'm too fast with my spell check corrections.

[North Dallas Thirty]

"To suggest that the Dem party is "purging" those that disagree with Obama is.. well.. just freaking moronic."

Did you miss something, Proud Liar?

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1109/29385.html

"Other liberal groups are preparing to bring in the heavy artillery, launching advertising campaigns targeting Democrats for their ‘no’ votes. MoveOn.org has announced that it was launching a $500,000 TV campaign targeting six Democratic dissenters. On Tuesday, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee announced the launch of a “Hit the Blue Dogs” online ad campaign targeting 10 Democrats.

MoveOn.org Executive Director Justin Ruben said his organization — in addition to airing “thank you” ads aimed at the Democrats in competitive and marginal districts who took a tough vote in favor of the bill — planned to hold rallies this week in front of offices of Democratic and Republican members who voted against the bill."

So which is it, Proud Liberal; are you a liar, or just stupid?

[tickertype]

Give us a break! This anger has been building for decades. Finally, an organized national group allowed us to vent, with more than our friends and when a pressure cooker blows, it blows. Dont't worry, we'll calm down, but we now know there are a lot more of us out there and we are learning. We're not used to protesting.

[gary gulrud]

Palin/Bachmann in 2012!

[Proud Liberal]

"but we now know there are a lot more of us out there and we are learning. We're not used to protesting."

why is it that Hannity and Fox news have to show such disrespect for their own viewers by lying about the crowd that wacko Backman had in Washington DC? How do you guys feel about being lied to and propagandized? Liberals don't watch his show so its not like he is lying to us (which you would probably find acceptable in your revolutionary fervor) but he is lying to YOU. Don't you feel insulted to be manipulated in that way? I always find it amusing what little sheep the right has become. Limbaugh and Hannity play you so easily. It's embarrassing to watch actually.

[John Boy Walton]

I have one simple question for proud liberal. How do ones that are widely known as salad tossers, such as you and your fellow liberals, have the balls to denigrate someone else as a teabagger? Boy pot you really look hypocritical for calling the kettle black don't you. But then why should anyone be surprised by people that go out and call others sheep and all kinds of other names when they themselves don't even do anything without marching orders from their local demotard office. You and your ilk would almost be funny if you weren't so pathetic.

[North Dallas Thirty]

"why is it that Hannity and Fox news have to show such disrespect for their own viewers by lying about the crowd that wacko Backman had in Washington DC? "

If you can't even spell peoples' names correctly, it should be obvious that you have no idea about what they're saying.

The problem here is that liberals are simply ignorant. You would expect that, given that their party's idea of "education" is teaching children hymns to sing to Barack Obama. These Obama children aren't capable of reading or writing, but they can worship Obama -- and that's all you need to succeed as a liberal.