* Tea Party 2010: Revolution Brewing? Or Is That Some Weak Tea?

Pajamas Media ^ | Jan. 3 | Andrew Ian Dodge

[AJKauf]

As the nation and the tea party movement prepare for the new year, President Obama and the Democrats have been rushing forward legislation which will forever change the country and raise the deficit.

How far has the tea party movement come since the beginning of last year? A massive event occurred in Washington, D.C., on 9/12, and even greater numbers of people demonstrated all over the country to express their frustration. But ultimately, have they achieved any results? The bills have still gone through, and Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and Obama have shucked aside criticisms.

Ignoring the (majority) public outcry, some legislators have gone so far as to ban tea party members from their offices under penalty of arrest. Most of the MSM, excluding Fox, has carried the Democrats’ water, portraying tea parties as a fringe movement at best and domestic terror breeding at worst.

Fox has covered the tea parties, though selectively — driving the ratings of Beck and Hannity and legitimizing non-grassroots groups like FreedomWorks and Tea Party Express. Fox’s coverage assisted the left’s portrayal of the tea parties as astroturf, and the GOP-tied groups made it very hard to claim the movement is non-partisan.

So now what?....

[rightwingextremist1776]

OH...DON'T YOU WORRY NONE...THE TRAIN IS A COMMIN'...GONNA ROLL RIGHT OVER COMMIE A$$.

2010 will be as significant as 1776..... BYE BYE COMMIE 'RATS!

[izzatzo]

It seems to me that the Tea Parties ought to keep doing what they started doing-yes, the effort required and logistics involved to mount each TP campaign are formidable; but, don’t listen to pundits like the author, just do it. And, don’t plan the campaign to end in places like Florida(which the second one did)-they should all conclude in DC with Tea Partiers milling about the Capitol steps and the White House grounds, taking the campaign as far as it can go. Concluding in DC is what grabs the public’s attention.

[InterceptPoint]

I believe the Tea Party 2010 story will first be seen in the impact of the movement on the Republican primaries.

The Tea Party folks presumably will support Conservative candidates against incumbent RINOs and for potentially competitive open seats. How will they do? Will the Tea Party movement result in RINOs being replaced by more conservative Republicans? Will the more conservative Republicans win the majority of the primaries?

And then the story will move to November's elections to the House and Senate. Will the Tea Party endorsed Republicans win in the fall? Will we unseat Dems and replace them with conservative Republicans? Where's my crystal ball?

[MonicaG]

Getting stronger because even more people are waking up! I took the day off to attend the first Sacramento TEA party and since then, WAY more people have “woken up” even here in Northern California - especially those who voted for the big Commie O and subsequently lost their jobs and/or homes. Reality has even forced the eyes of one of my most flaming liberal friends open and she’s amazed that other friends can’t see Obama for the ttal fraud he is! I advised her to be patient and loving with them (and to refrain from arguing with the ones that won’t face the facts), even though they might not ever wake up... ;-D

[Balding_Eagle]

We desperately need ANOTHER third party, these 40 aren’t enough

Plus, look how well these guys did:

1. America's Independent Party (2008)

2. Socialist Equality Party (2008)

3. Independence Party of America (2007)

4. Modern Whig Party (2007)

5. Jefferson Republican Party (2006)

6. Moderate Party (2006)

7. Boston Tea Party (2006)

8. New American Independent Party (2004)

9. Party for Socialism and Liberation (2004)

10. Unity Party of America (2004)

11. American Patriot Party (2003)

12. Veterans Party (2003)

13. Populist Party of America (2002)

14. America First Party (2002)

15. Marijuana Party (2002)

16. American Heritage Party (2000)

17. Independent American Party (1998)

18. Working Families Party (1998)

19. American Reform Party (1997)

20. Libertarian National Socialist Green Party (1997)

21. Reform Party of the United States of America (1995) - currently divided - two factions both named "Reform Party"

22. Labor Party (1995)

23. American 3rd Party (1990's)

24. Freedom Road Socialist Organization (1986)

25. Socialist Alternative (1986)

26. Socialist Action (1983)

27. Expansionist Party of the United States (1977)

28. Revolutionary Communist Party, USA (1975)

29. National Socialist Movement (1974)

30. New Union Party (1974)

31. Socialist Party of the United States of America (1973)

32. American Party (1969)

33. Youth International Party (commonly known as the Yippies) (1967)

34. Freedom Socialist Party (1966)

36. Workers World Party (1959)

37. Workers Party, USA (1940)

38. Socialist Workers Party (1938)

39. Communist Party USA (1919)

40. World Socialist Party of the United States (1916)

41. Socialist Labor Party (1876)

42. Prohibition Party (1867)

“In the history of the United States, not a single third party has come close to winning the presidency,

only 7 3rd parties have even won a single state’s electoral votes and

only 5 third parties have won even 10% of the vote.”

There has been NO ACTUAL success of 3rd parties. Those who argue that the Republican party itself was a successful 3rd party movement, had best read the history of US political parties.

“The Whigs and Free-Soilers joined to form the Republican Party, which strongly supported the abolition of slavery.”

The Whig party, emerged out of the National Republican Party, and elected two presidents, William Henry Harrison (1840) and Zachary Taylor in (1848). Out of this base, the Free Soilers and the Know-Nothings, the new Republican Party was formed in 1854, and elected Lincoln (of course) in 1860.

http://www.edgate.com/elections/inactive/the_parties/

Thanks for the help SeattleBruce!

[lardog]

2010 will be as significant as 1776..... BYE BYE COMMIE 'RATS!

That is assuming there will be elections in November. My fear is there will be a terrorist attack or more likely the 0 administration will pull a "Reichstag" scenario that will allow these commie fascists to declare marshall law and cancel the elections. If the elections are not cancelled these crooks know they will lose their power. They will do anything to hold on to their power.

[UCFRoadWarrior]

Your rationale is the reason why the GOP continues to drift Liberal and Anti-American.

A real conservative Third Party is what Americans and Conservatives really need. People are tired of the GOP more interested in acquiesing to liberals than keeping their conservative base

I question the Conservatism and Patriotism of anyone who contends Conservative Americans should continue voting for the GOP....until the GOP goes conservative again. The GOP can no longer count on the ignorant and the two-digit IQs who think an “R” next to a name is automatically conservative

[Shady]

Agreed, besides, we want our GOP BACK from the Country Clubbers, the Professional Beltway Nanny Boobies and the media. THAT is what our task MUST be!

[Balding_Eagle]

The third party post to to inform readers of the success, or lack therof, of third parties.

In case you missed the last couple paragraphs, here they are again. Can you see anything in the following to indicate a third party would be successful?

---

In the history of the United States, not a single third party has come close to winning the presidency,

only 7 third parties have even won a single state’s electoral votes and

only 5 third parties have won even 10% of the vote.

---

There has been NO ACTUAL success of third parties. Those who argue that the Republican party itself was a successful third party movement, had best read the history of US political parties.

“The Whigs and Free-Soilers joined to form the Republican Party, which strongly supported the abolition of slavery.

The Whig party, emerged out of the National Republican Party, and elected two presidents, William Henry Harrison (1840) and Zachary Taylor in (1848).

Out of this base, the Free Soilers and the Know-Nothings, the new Republican Party was formed in 1854, and elected Lincoln in 1860.
http://www.edgate.com/elections/inactive/the_parties/

[UScbass]

You have expressed my predictions, exactly. THX.

That is assuming there will be elections in November. My fear is there will be a terrorist attack or more likely the 0 administration will pull a "Reichstag" scenario that will allow these commie fascists to declare marshall law and cancel the elections. If the elections are not cancelled these crooks know they will lose their power. They will do anything to hold on to their power.

[Betty Jane]

It would be good if Tea Partiers would also run in Dem primaries, especially against super liberal incumbents.

[Billg64]

The Tea Party folks presumably will support Conservative candidates against incumbent RINOs and for potentially competitive open seats. How will they do? Will the Tea Party movement result in RINOs being replaced by more conservative Republicans? Will the more conservative Republicans win the majority of the primaries?

Didn't happen here in Massachusetts. The tea partiers lined up right behind Scott Brown;, when you look in Merriam Websters under RINO, he and John McCain are pictured. They state just this time so we can defeat Coakley!

Yeah! That'l teach the GOP to run RINOs.

[Dewey Revoltnow]

I don’t see how a revolution can be avoided because I see hussein and the demwits doing something to cancel the coming 2010 election after which the people will forcibly remove them from office.

[ThePatriotsFlag]

There's an undercurrent in the article saying that the tea parties weren't "covered" that much so the affect maybe in doubt. I was at 9-12 (my pics here), and although we saw what we thought was a news helicopter fly over ... somehow, even after we got home and saw some of the news ... it wasn't about "coverage" ... it was about "being there" and being with 1,750,000 other souls of like mind. And I believe that is the key. That "feeling" will change the nation in 2010 but will have little effect on present legislation.

You look at Obama's polls dropping like a rock, you analyze why, (many have, I did here). The tea parties won't stop the Health Care Bill's passage. Health Care will be passed because the DEMs are in control and have the votes (not because the tea parties are ineffective). (and shame on the Republicans for letting this happen). The tea parties ARE working and you will see the final affect of them when the 2010 landslide rolls over this nation. People have HAD IT, and they reaffirm this, elbow to elbow, at tea parties. People are waking up, they are talking to each other, and they are getting angry ... and tea parties are the conduit.

---

The Patriot's Flag - Blank Screen Politics

[c-b 1]

Your rationale is the reason why the GOP continues to drift Liberal and Anti-American.

The GOP liberal drift is because too few "conservative activists," get involved in the Republican Party, at precinct, and county level. When we are successful at taking control of the party at county or state level, it is difficult to maintain control because there are too few of us. If those who believe that keyboard complaining is "conservative activism," would get up from their keyboard, and help, the Republican Party could be turned back to what it should be.

No I don't vote for someone because they have an R behind their name, if the R is a progressive, I vote Libertarian.

[bioqubit]

As a Tea Party kinda guy, we are out there doing the grassroots work of getting into the GOP. We have no illusions about a third party. It is about building effective teams that keep coordinated pressure on the bad guys.

The primaries are not going to be perfect. Some RINOs will survive. That’s OK, so long as we elect a group of people who respect the U.S. Constitution, and are deadly serious about cleaning up the crap in Washington - we are.

[rob777]

"But ultimately, have they achieved any results? The bills have still gone through, and Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and Obama have shucked aside criticisms."


Yes, they most certainly have! Given the size of the majorities the Democrats have in the House and Senate and the priority given to HC reform and cap & Trade, it is amazing that the bills were not run through long time ago. It is naive in the extreme to expect that they could have been stopped altogether. The Tea Parties were instrumental in gumming up the works long enough to get the light shined on just how destructive these bills are and how out of touch the left has become. This has laid the ground work for 2010. The question now is whether the momentum can be maintained.

[JSDude1]

I agree!

[M. Dodge Thomas]

I was really struck by this (in comment #69), in the comments section of that blog post:

"There (is) a wide spread feeling that our Republic had morphed into a system whereby insiders had gamed the system against the ordinary citizen. It was socialism and government largess for well connected insiders, and raw naked capitalism for the little guy. When the government demanded that the the little guy pay to bail out large financial institutions that should be allowed to fail, it was the last straw. The discipline of the market place would no long punish bad ideas or dysfunctional business models, the government (meaning us) would foot the bill.

Another problem that united most of the folks was the unseemly sense of entitlement that the political class exhibited. Democracy used to mean majority rule with protection of minority rights. Now the will of the people no longer seemed to count for anything. The political class seemed to go off to public office to feather their own nests and seek personal and family wealth, at the expense of the people. They lost all sense of who they were working for. That insensitivity and corruption was the rot that infected both political parties. Republicans will try to co-opt these feelings, because we all lean toward smaller government, lower taxes, less regulation, more personal liberty etc, but that is just the sweet music that Republicans have been playing to their base, a mere marketing technique, to get votes, and advance careers."