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 ...
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.
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