What if the tea party decides to walk away from the GOP in 2016? It could happen.

The Washington Post's The Fix ^ | April 25, 2014 | Chris Cillizza

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Clinton would not have won without Perot. That's why Perot was there.

Never heard from Ross in the political arena after that, did we?

[dfwgator]

And Perot wouldn’t have ran if Bush not fouled up.

[Alberta's Child]

Your scenario is a good illustration of what may unfold in 2016, but the biggest problem with it is that more and more principled conservatives see a Hillary Clinton victory in 2016 as potentially only marginally worse than a GOP victory.

We can lay all of this at the feet of the Bush Administration -- mainly during that period from 2001-2006. That whole thing demonstrated that one-party rule in Washington is an unmitigated disaster no matter which party is in control. Look at the size of the Federal budget in 2001, compare it to the size of the Federal budget in 2006, and ask yourself what the hell the purpose of the Republican Party really is.

[dfwgator]

And Bush ran his campaign like a guy who didn’t care if he won or lost.

[Gay State Conservative]

Romney wasn’t even Bob Dole.

Romney was/is better...far,far,*far* better...than was/is Osama Obama.And that comment isn't meant as praise for Romney,it's meant as an indication of just how far down the toilet....just how utterly amoral (look it up,it means something far different than "immoral")...Osama Obama is.

[dfwgator]

Also says something about the state of the electorate in the country.

And what I fear the most, is that isn’t fixable.

[Covenantor]

In 1992, Bill Clinton got only 43% of the popular vote, Bush 41 had 38%, and Ross Perot got 19%.

Ahh, the oft quote 1992 presidential election results.

So how old we you at the time? If you were sentient and paying attention you might have noticed, even from California that Ross Perot had no local ground game, zip, zero, nada. It was Ross Perot and only Ross Perot and he self destructed in public big time. Yet for all that he still managed to get 19%of the vote

Your homework assignment, if you chose to accept it, is to compare and contrast the grass roots based based TEA Party and Perot's lack of local election supporting base

Daddy Bush didn't exactly run an effective game against his "like another son to me" opponent Billy Jefferson Blythe Clinton

Now is perhaps the best time ever to run a national third party challenge, because if the unitard party wins again, with the current state of the nation there may be the necessity for CWII and no sane person desires that.

No RSVP required. Paid my two cents and I'm out on the hustings in enemy territory.

"Men are ruled...by liars who refuse them news, and by fools who cannot govern." G.K. Chesterton

[FatherofFive]

I am ready to vote Tea Party.

Here in Tulsa, we dumped the RINO John Sullivan and elected Tea Party Jim Bridenstein on the Republican Ticket. Next, we will elect Senator TW Shannon, a Black/Indian to replace Tom Coburn. Cruz/Palin/Mike Lee were in T-Town for a rally for Shannon.

The tea party is taking over the Republican party. This is the way to do it. We vote Tea Party candidates to replace RINOs. We just need better candidates.

[dfwgator]

Bushes and Clintons are two sides of the same coin.

[joethedrummer]

I hear ya, but I must point out that this is no longer 1992.

A LOT has happened since then.

The Republican Party, run by who it’s being run by, has no more concern for us than the Democrats. And most people know it.

Should Cruz and Palin ORGANIZE together with other ‘Tea Party’ folks early enough, I think they could get more vote percentage than the RINO ticket.

But just like you, this is only my opinion. ;-)

[morphing libertarian]

Since Perot was ahead when he self destructed it pretty much puts to lie the old line that a third party can’t win.

The key to this is to make the GOP the third party.

[amnestynone]

“The relationship (or lack thereof) between the mainstream of the Republican party and the tea party”

I thought the mainstream of the Republican party is the tea party.

[amnestynone]

If the tea party walks away from the GOP then the Dems win with a big majority to do incredibile damage to this country.

[freedomfiter2]

The GOPe is perfectly happy with the Democrat policies.

[grania]

I would say pass amnesty and nominate Jeb or Crispy. That should do it

How about Jeb and Crispy as a ticket? That would really do it.

[McGavin999]

Well it doesn’t really matter. With the leadership we have in there now it really doesn’t matter. Remember when we had a republican senate and a republican house? We got the prescription drug benefit pushed through and higher spending then we had up to that point.

[dfwgator]

As if the Republicans haven’t done tremendous damage as well?

[OldPossum]

Re your post 30, no, they never get the message. For at least six months I have continually told their telephone solicitors that I will never ever again give money to an organization I now despise (and I use that word) but they keep on calling. I got a call yesterday.

And the mailed solicitations, same thing.

[SaxxonWoods]

What we are seeing is an attempt to overthrow entrenched politicos who work only for themselves.

The road back to freedom may be long but it must be taken. Voting for most current Republicans won’t help. Those people are responsible for our current situation, which is untenable.

And the Stockholm syndrome of voting for the GOP because Democrats are worse is losing its appeal.

The betrayal and abuse of conservatives has backfired.

[ArtDodger]

The RNC would rather have a minority position in a socialist regime than share power with conservatives. With that in mind, they will actively undermine all conservatives running to the point of endorsing the dem candidate running against them and joining in the media's propaganda against them.
My dream: Palin gets in and her first act in office is an executive order to force ALL current and retired politicians and government workers on obamacare. That will bring in quick revenues as their accounts can be docked, and suddenly, the liberals will be screaming for a fix.