The Tea Party Panic (Panic on the Left, maybe)

The Claremont McKenna College Forum ^ | February 19, 2010 | Charlie Sprague

[2ndDivisionVet]

The “Tea Party Nation” held its first national convention on February 4. The enthusiasm surrounding and national media coverage of this event testified to the ever-increasing national strength of the Tea Party movement. This momentum should make the Republican Party very afraid. Similar to the Birther movement, this related manifestation of right-wing extremism represents a political fire that could seriously burn the GOP.

First of all, any movement that brings Sarah Palin back into the spotlight is bad for the Republicans. Although her speech to the Tea Party national convention has generated very different reactions, it is undeniable that the speech has brought her back into the limelight of national politics. Palin may inspire a dedicated base of followers, but the broad electorate’s lack of confidence in her was revealed in a recent Washington Post-ABC News poll found that 71% of Americans do not feel she is qualified to be president. Unfortunately for those wanting a Republican to win the White House in 2012, Nate Silver thinks Palin could win the Republican nomination for President. Given her performance in the 2008 campaign, President Obama must be praying for that outcome.

Another speaker at the Tea Party Nation convention is also toxic for the Republican brand: Tom Tancredo. The former Congressman from Colorado delivered an angry rant against immigrants. Bashing immigrants is not good for the Republican Party’s long-term political viability in a country with ever-increasing numbers of Latinos. If the Republicans want their relationship with the Latino community to resemble their relationship with the black community, Tancredo is the perfect man for the job.

Tea-partiers have already probably hurt the Republicans. They claim credit for forcing the moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava out of the race for New York’s 23rd congressional district last year, which then allowed a Democrat to win a normally very safe Republican seat. They may be overstating their role in this electoral failure, but the fact remains that their brand of right-wing populism is a major political liability for the Republican Party. Winning the center is essential in American politics, but this will be extremely difficult if they are closely associated with self-described rightist counter-revolutionaries.

The political damage could get even worse for the GOP. Tea Party activists are even talking about running their own candidates in congressional elections! Indeed, Tea Party activists are currently preparing to field their own candidate to do battle for Harry Reid’s Senate seat. Given that the overwhelming majority of Tea Party activists would vote for a Republican in a two-way race, this development can only be described as a gift for Democrats.

The Republican Party may be able to prevent this vote splitting if it can successfully incorporate the Tea Party into the fold. After all, absorption within one of the major two parties has been the fate of most third party movements in American history. This task will not be easy, however, as the Tea Party movement is highly critical of the Republican Party as a whole for participating in the expansion of Big Government. Already, activists are becoming dismayed by the prospect of Palin hijacking the Tea Party movement.

I find the bizarreness of the Tea Party phenomenon a bit creepy. The Republican establishment should be absolutely terrified.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Even the college newspapers got the Organizing for America memo to push that ABC/WaPo poll!! Wow! And if Governor Palin were truly toxic, why would every pundit from this kid to Richard Cohen and George Will be warning the GOP? Wouldn't they want the Republicans to nominate her in 2012?

[Nateman]

Typical liberal claptrap, giving out bad advice hoping the other side believes it. It’s going to be a sweep for Republicans if they continue to be conservative.

[Recon Dad]

The former Congressman from Colorado delivered an angry rant against immigrants. Bashing immigrants is not good for the Republican Party’s long-term political viability in a country with ever-increasing numbers of Latinos

Pure bullsh*t. Note they say bashing “immigrants” not illegals. Tencredo was great.

[pennyfarmer]

I believe she is perfectly qualified but I oppose her for sexist reasons. (at least that is what I am told)

[LZ_Bayonet]

"I find the bizarreness of the Tea Party phenomenon a bit creepy."

That's what psychiatrists are for; make an appointment.

[FastCoyote]

If things get any worse for the Tea Party activists, they may only take 400 seats in congress and 60 in the Senate.

[YHAOS]

The Media pukes are so frightened they are soiling their pants.

[Rembrandt]

“The Media pukes are so frightened they are soiling their pants.”

Oops! Spell checking your last: should be “panties,” as in Olbergirl soiled her panties.

[Hypo]

Keep getting the main platform of the Tea Party out there. The Economist poll linked below have some interesting results on how people view the movement. It is only the MSM that seems to want to marginalize the movement with accusations of extremism. What they fail to realize is that the majority of Americans also feel spending and budget deficits have gotten out of control.

Tea partiers see themselves as part of the country’s majority: 88% of them think most Americans have a favourable view of the movement. They are right, but it is close: among those who have heard of the movement, 53% have a favourable view of it, while 48% say unfavourable.

• Tea partiers are much more concerned about government spending than are other Americans. The budget deficit is their number two issue, behind only the economy (38% say the economy is their most important issue, 23% name the deficit). Forty percent of Americans overall cite the economy, 17% name health care (mentioned by only 11% of tea partiers), and only 8% say the deficit is the country’s most important issue.

http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2010/02/economistyougov_poll_0

[Nuc1]

I find the bizarreness of the Tea Party phenomenon a bit creepy. The Republican establishment should be absolutely terrified.

LOL What a wimp.

[TLI]

If things get any worse for the Tea Party activists, they may only take 400 seats in congress and 60 in the Senate.

Yea, what a let down, eh?

Darn it! :-)

[YHAOS]

"Oops! Spell checking your last: should be “panties,”"

You know that thought occurred to me. But, I decided that no, the point will be gotten anyway. ( ^: }

[Chances Are]

Gawd! This kid has swallowed the liberal pablum they throw at kids in college nowadays hook, line and sinker! These are classic liberal talking points enunciated to the point of simple, mindless regurgitation. It’s painfully obvious he is incapable of independent rational thought.

Say a prayer for him tonight, because in the post-apocalyptic world, he is going to need all the help he can get!

CA....

[patriot08]

.

Beware 'Tea Party Candidates'!

Debra Medina is running for GOVERNOR OF TEXAS. Medina is NOT representative of the Tea Party movement.

She USED them- latched herself on to them. She’s a hard core Libertarian who has realized that the Libertarian Party will never win anything and that the only possible way to get herself into office is to do what Ron Paul did and wrap herself in the Republican cloak in hopes that it will fool enough of the voters enough of the time.

This idea that Beck (or anybody else) sabotaged Medina is absurd. If you can’t answer “did the govt have anything to do with the 9/11 attacks?” you're not be fit to run for dogcatcher.

For God's sake, has anybody really looked into her platform- her background? Has this woman even been vetted?

She wants legalized drugs.

She backs gay marriage.

.

She has not spoken to her elderly parents for YEARS. They had to find out she was runing for governor of Texas by reading the newspaper!

http://www.statesman.com/news/texas-politics/medina-hailing-from-beeville-learned-political-skills-on-229907.html?srcTrk=RTR_95609 What does this say about this woman's character? And rumors are begin to surface about husband Noe's past associations.

Take a look at some of the statements she has made: "It’s a shame isn’t it, that Republicans continue to ignore Hispanics especially here in Texas?’

"Who is going to think more about Latino families? Rick Perry, Kay Bailey Hutchison or me, who has a Latino family?”

"Being married, however, to someone with a Mexican American heritage, I certainly embrace the culture.”

"I believe we too often get into race when it’s immaterial.” (Obummer, is that you?)

I don't believe for one minute Medina's propaganda about wanting to strengthen the border!

La Raza probably has her in their back pocket!

Glenn Beck has once again helped the tea-party stay in the Republican mainstreamby by weeding out dangerous fringe thinkers like Medina.

Thank God Glen Beck outed her in time.

Retrieve your sombrero from the ring and go home Senora Medina. You're Texas toast. . .