Tea partiers turn on GOP leadership

[MattusMaximus]

Looks like some chickens are coming home to roost for the Republican Party...

Tea partiers turn on GOP leadership

While the energy of the anti-tax and anti-Big Government tea party movement may yet haunt Democrats in 2010, the first order of business appears to be remaking the Republican Party.

Whether it’s the loose confederation of Washington-oriented groups that have played an organizational role or the state-level activists who are channeling grass-roots anger into action back home, tea party forces are confronting the Republican establishment by backing insurgent conservatives and generating their own candidates — even if it means taking on GOP incumbents.

This will definitely make the GOP primaries in the spring very interesting. Of course it makes sense why the establishment Republicans are worried: if they swing too far to the right to keep the Tea Party folks in check, they risk pissing off needed moderates & independents to win general elections; however, if they don't cater to the wingnut crowd, they risk getting their asses kicked in the primaries because many in the base have gotten too nutty.

One has to wonder what Ron Paul thinks of all this? One thing's for sure, it is truly entertaining

 

[Upchurch]

This will definitely make the GOP primaries in the spring very interesting. Of course it makes sense why the establishment Republicans are worried: if they swing too far to the right to keep the Tea Party folks in check, they risk pissing off needed moderates & independents to win general elections; however, if they don't cater to the wingnut crowd, they risk getting their asses kicked in the primaries because many in the base have gotten too nutty.

This is essentially what happened in 2008, before they had the "tea party" label (or maybe just as). If this "movement" is still relevant, Obama will have a familiar path back to the White House in 2012.

The problem is that it is hard to maintain that kind of energy for that long. Maybe they'll die down and ramp back up for the election. I dunno. They may be a factor in 2010, but probably not in 2012.

We'll see.

 

[leftysergeant]

I am seriously thinking of making a donation to Freedom Works to ensure that the whackadoodles get their candidates on the ticket, and then donating to the opposing Democrat inselected races.

I want 75 votes in the Senate.

 

[Achán hiNidráne]

Here's a line that has me very confused:

For some, supporting insurgent campaigns or waging primary bids just isn’t a strong enough signal to send to a Republican Party that has abandoned core conservative policies.

What??? For the last 8 years, the GOP has cut, started

Why is a Teabager/Birther/Deart coup on the GOP necessary WHEN THEY ALREADY CONTROL THE FRACKING PARTY???

Or is this another case of the racist, sexist, homophobic, theocratic, militaristic, corporatist Republican Pary not being right-wing enough for the America's Conservatives/Fascists.

 

[quixotecoyote]

It could be that as a major party of government, it's tough to keep the loyalty of an anti-government base.

 

[mhaze]

Here's a line that has me very confused:
.....
Or is this another case of the racist, sexist, homophobic, theocratic, militaristic, corporatist Republican Pary not being right-wing enough for the America's Conservatives/Fascists.

With this one minor change, they would likely agree with you.

Or is this another case of the racist, sexist, homophobic, theocratic, militaristic, corporatist, Fascist Republican Pary not being right-wing enough for the America's Conservatives.

You see, Fascists are totalitarianists, of the .... Socialist bent.

 

[MattusMaximus]

It could be that as a major party of government, it's tough to keep the loyalty of an anti-government base.

QC, I think you may have your finger right on the answer. Excellent point.

 

[MattusMaximus]

With this one minor change, they would likely agree with you.

Or is this another case of the racist, sexist, homophobic, theocratic, militaristic, corporatist, Fascist Republican Pary not being right-wing enough for the America's Conservatives.

You see, Fascists are totalitarianists, of the .... Socialist bent.

Mhaze, didn't you get the memo? August and September have come and gone

 

[MattusMaximus]

I am seriously thinking of making a donation to Freedom Works to ensure that the whackadoodles get their candidates on the ticket, and then donating to the opposing Democrat inselected races.

I've heard others on the left mention this strategy as well. No doubt if enough people did this, it would give the establishment Republicans absolute fits.

I want 75 votes in the Senate.

Not me, thanks. I like a bit more balance in my government.

 

[Achán hiNidráne]

Double post...

 

[Achán hiNidráne]

You see, Fascists are totalitarianists, of the .... Socialist bent.

Considering that your side of the spectrum can't tell the difference between an fascist and an atheist, your equivocation is meaningless.

 

[dudalb]

Considering that your side of the spectrum can't tell the difference between an fascist and an atheist, your equivocation is meaningless.

I thought you said you were going to work on be able to disagree with somebody about politics or religion without name calling or insults. You have quite a ways to go, kid.

 

[Achán hiNidráne]

I thought you said you were going to work on be able to disagree with somebody about politics or religion without name calling or insults.

I changed my mind.

There are people in this world who, because of their beliefs, need to be kicked around (both figuratively and literally) to keep them in check, lest they ruin civilization.

You have quite a ways to go, kid.

No. I found out that I should stay right where I am.

I like being "bipolar"--or whatever the hell my so-called problem is. Particularly when all the "normal" people are all to willing to tolerate stupidity in the name of "civility."

 

[GreNME]

Basically, the Ron Paul Party (which is what these Tea Party people really are) is going to wind up going the way of Perot's Reform Party, and by 2012 they'll be insignificant. In the meantime, if the Democratic Party keeps on appealing to their conventional supporters, they'll have a tough fight in 2010 but should remain at just about the same numbers (though a few Teabaggers will likely get some kind of office).

 

[SezMe]

I don't think this is a Republican phenomenon. Many lefties are talking about running primary opponents against Blue Dogs. I wouldn't be surprised to see a ragtag, ineffectual effort to oppose Obama in the 2012 primaries because he has not satisfied some lefties.

 

[Sporanox]

The OP is old news. Republicans have been dissatisfied with the Beltway attitude and spendthrift habits of the hierarchy for some time now.

 

[Dancing David]

This is just party politics, the spin is the usual, the comments are about the same. It is the current trend of the GOP to move from a 'big tent' to the 'core supporters'.

 

[Upchurch]

Not me, thanks. I like a bit more balance in my government.

Me too, but we're talking the Democrats here. They manage to balance themselves out.

eta: a better balance, imho, is a Republican Congress and Democratic President.

 

[WinstonCountyWildman]

the repubs dropped the ball when they allowed extremist "xtian" types to take over the party. They removed moderates like me from the party when they switched to these nutjobs and their ideals.

A perfect example of their mindset is the governor of alabama outlawing sex toys in the 21st damned century. With all the drugs and crime and poverty etc the best thing he could raise hell about and dwell on for over a year was whether or not grown adults could buy sex toys for their personal use without rotting in hell for it.

Selling a dildo or vibrator to an adult in Alabama will now cost you 10,000 dollars but you can sell a minor a gun and it will run you 500 bucks.

All because some "conservatives" are afraid their women will find a piece of plastic is more attractive to their wives than they are.

This kind of crap is why so many "normal" conservatives got tired of the party.

You cannot live like its 1809 when it is 2009

 

[Upchurch]

You cannot live like its 1809 when it is 2009

You can do it all you want. Just don't expect me to do it, too.