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.

