Posted on 01/23/2012 11:25:30 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
So long as the Washington establishment continues to underestimate - and even misunderstand - the Tea Party, insiders will continue to be pummeled by the grass-roots giant that no longer sleeps. Democrats dismissed the Tea Party in 2010 and took a historic shellacking. Republicans would be wise to learn from their mistake.
First, let’s remind ourselves, the Tea Party is not a formal political party or even an advocacy group, but rather a state of mind. If you believe in constitutional fidelity, limited government and the free market, then you don’t need your name on some official roster or even to have attended a rally to be part of the Tea Party movement. You simply need to use your vote and your effort to demand that our leaders embrace these principles as well.
The Tea Party plays chess, not checkers. The nascent movement demonstrated remarkable maturity in 2010, for example, by resisting the temptation to form a third party. Memories still loom large of the 2000 presidential race when Green Party candidate Ralph Nader took just enough votes from Democrat Al Gore in Florida to tip the balance and award the White House to Republican George W. Bush. So the Tea Party wisely exercises a disciplined loyalty, if not to the Republican Party, then at least to the William F. Buckley Jr. rule of supporting the most conservative candidate who can be elected.
In truth, the Tea Party has been far more loyal to the GOP than the GOP has been to the Tea Party. While the establishment abandoned and even openly sabotaged Tea Party Senate candidates such as Nevada’s Sharron Angle, the Tea Party still delivered a historic victory to Republicans that captured the House....
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
So long as the Washington establishment continues to underestimate - and even misunderstand the Tea Party...
Ah yes...You Betcha! For goodness sakes, don’t awaken the sleeping giant (aholes)... The less the know and understand, the better.
Swansong for Versailles on the Potomac.
Actually, we were thinking more of Clinton/Perot, but you'e close.
The...
T axed
E nough
A lready
Party.
It is within this framework that Mr. Gingrich’s rise and the Tea Party’s embrace of him should be viewed. The conservative movement deserves an unapologetic, full-throated Great Communicator once again. Few can articulate conservatism as effectively as the former speaker. Plus, Mr. Gingrich wisely recognizes that the mainstream media are complicit with Democrats in general and with President Obama in particular. He openly refers to them as his “secondary opponent,” and he refuses to fall prey to their duplicity. What’s more, he has demonstrated amazing resilience in the face of an onslaught. He can take a punch, and Team Obama and its media allies will certainly throw plenty.
This piece was written by Barack Obama's cousin.
Great article- especially coming from Obama’s cousin.
How about this one:
Today I became a sleeping giant!
(And now I am fully awake.)
Have you and any who read this thread seen the gigantic surge in the FL primary polls for NEWT?
It is the most amazing resurgence of Conservatism since Ronald Reagan slew the peanut farmer.
Quite so!
I think we were all waiting to see who would be the anti-Romney guy.
I prefer Santorum, but I’ll support Gingrich to keep Romney out.
I will support Newt because the is the only fighter we have, the rest of the contenders can go to Hades.
The Tea Party is everything OWS is not.
Put down the bong, Ann and lay off the Kool Aid!
Tea Party is flying below the radar and the Beltway elites are too full of themselves to see it.
Has anyone got in contact yet with the French? We should at least be pencilling in an availability with Madame Guillotine, assuming she's not otherwise engaged.
Wishful thinking on the part of the media, democrats as well as Republican elites.
Course no one told the rubes in South Carolina that the Tea Party is dead.
If by “Tea Party uprising” the Media means a grossroots uprising that wants the voters to select their candidate rather than the establishment, then yes, Newt appears to have that wind at his back. If the Media means, “those racist, nutjob hicks we have been telling you all about and attacking for the last year,” then no. Clearly, the MSM means the latter and are setting up their meme for the general election of labelling the “not Romney” as a far right whacko.
Having Tea Party backing is a lot like having a ‘pet’ lion.
Very good article on the TEA Party & Newt!
Absolutelly True!!
I was never comfortable at a demonstration; and I will never...........ever participate in chanting inane slogan.
But I haven't gone ANYWHERE! And I've been kept aware here at FR.
Yeah, I guess I should get rid of my Tea Party hat since we don’t exist anymore.
Newt can be brilliant but consistency is not a strength of his.
I just wonder if there are T partiers and Republicans out there who just want a candidate that won't be portrayed by the press as dumb.
He was a radio talker and was there because of a local radio talker but he clearly energized the crowd.
We had a huge success in the fall of 2010 and taken our lumps since then, but when I go and visit with a couple of the local "rednecks with guns and Bibles" {I'm meeting 5 of them for lunch today, there will be at least 6 pistols at that lunch} we haven't lost our enthusiasm.
I've got bad news for the DC elite, "We're still here and if you can't hear us, JUST WAIT".
Thank you for posting this link. Unemployed Hispanic guy paid to show up wearing a Romney T-shirt and says his pick is Newt?.......Priceless.
Yep, some crap never changes. Now, since the establishment choice Mitt is losing to the Tea Party choice Newt, well, we are all hearing talk of a brokered convention to instill a candidate who couldn't be bothered to go through the primary process, such as Daniels or Barbour or Jeb.
Conservatives are tired of one-way party loyalty.
"Republicans would be wise to learn from their mistake."Isn't that an oxymoron?
Well said!
No doubt. Many want someone who can beat Obama in debate. For success in the election, but also just to see Obama take some licks for all the misery he's created.
You know so little of what you are talking about! Become a tea party member and then come back in 6 months and report.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.