Posted on 05/22/2014 6:31:05 AM PDT by Moseley
Yes, you heard that right. The tea party is (still) winning, even during and after this year’s 2014 Republican primary season.
The tea party is not a political party. It never has been. The tea party never set as its goal defeating every single incumbent Republican officeholder. The fact that the tea party has taken the scalps of about 50 House Democrats in the 2010 election and several giants in the Republican establishment during 2010 and 2012 is a bonus. That is far in excess of what the tea party movement ever expected to accomplish.
The tea party movement was born in the Spring of 2009, out of Rick Santelli’s famous rant on CNBC on February 18, 2009, calling on citizens to gather and throw tea into Lake Michigan near Chicago as a tea party protest. A few activists claim credit for hatching precursor efforts earlier than that, mainly supporters of Ron Paul. But Rick Santelli’s nationwide television broadcast was the rocket’s blastoff.
The purpose of the tea party was to protest financial irresponsibility, excessive regulation strangling liberty and the economy, and business as usual in Washington (voting for bills no one has read, for example). The tea party was always about promoting issue positions for financial responsibility. The tea party was not primarily about running candidates.
The tea party continues to dominate the Republican Party. Although there are many enemies of the commonsense goals of the tea party, they mostly have to scheme behind closed doors. The few exceptions get pounded with criticism.
Yet in 2014, many candidates favored by the Republican establishment have survived primary challenges. Is this the test for whether the tea party is successful or is fading? No.
First, as Christine O’Donnell tweeted, the winners of these primary candidates are (more or less) conservative Republicans.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
Is that the start of the Tea Party?
I thought there were already people speaking of Tea Party things, when Palin was our VP candidate.
That was in 2008.
Despite the Men Seeking Men Media’s best efforts, the Jedi mind tricks are not working.
But Americans started talking about restraining and controlling government power around the 1760s or so.
If there is one politician who can legitimately make a foundational claim to the TP it is Sarah. Her vision, clarity, vigorous voice and maddeningly (to libs) upbeat attitude are the spirit of the TP.
“...The fact that the tea party has taken the scalps of about 50 House Democrats in the 2010 election and several giants in the Republican establishment during 2010 and 2012 is a bonus.”
Damn I just LOVE that wording... “Taken the scalps”.
More scalps to come, count on it.
Santelli’s broadcast rant started it off.
Santelli was for the modern American Tea Party what Captain John Parker at Lexington Green was for the Revolution; the kick-off.
Wish we had a video of her that was undoubtedly the beginning of ‘Taxed Enough Already’ citizens cry.
Yes indeed, brother.
(And that was an interesting movie, by the way...)
OK I’m finding a bit of additional information:
http://www.teapartyexpress.org/history
Our Country Deserves Better – Tea Party Express is considered the largest and most successful political action committee within the Tea Party movement. Tea Party Express began as Our Country Deserves Better Committee, which began its rise to prominence during the 2008 election cycle when John McCain tapped Sarah Palin as his vice president pick. OCDB aired hundreds of thousands of dollars in television advertisements for Governor Palin, including a “Thank You Sarah Palin” ad campaign to help promote her conservative voice in America.
This preceeds the “Tea Party”.
However it appears the 2009 time was also the actual “Tea Party” formation.
Of course readers might have additional/alternative information which may be better.
Obviously the best scenario is defeating every RINO, but in lieu of that if the fear of a Tea Party challenge forces these people to stay to the right and not go totally squishy, then that’s a victory in itself. The Tea Party is fading away? Hardly.
I don’t know.
Santelli was an important step, but I believe it was already percolating in a way before he “started” in 2009.
Not to take anything away from him. Just trying to clearly define the actual beginning.
They'll never keep conservatives together with backstabbing comments like that.
There are multiple claims as to the orgin of the TEA Party. The TEA Party Org
claims founding on Sept. 2, 2004. Here are some articles that discuss the various claims.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_Party_movement
http://www.teaparty.org/about-us/
http://www.businessinsider.com/rick-santelli-tea-party-rant-2014-2
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3158539/posts?page=38#38
Good post above.
Stay positive. Do not loop down on the Tea Party.
I believe it presents a real option go-forward.
Engage and influence it to be good.
Well, he gave a voice - and name - to vent the frustrations of the working stiff.
So, to my mind, he set it off in a more focused and directed way.
The tea parties are in this for the long term — as with Minnesota Fats in “The Hustler,” it’s over when they say it’s over.
I agree.
I am all for giving him a huge “say so” in credit, but I don’t want that just to be presented after Palin had already ran for Vice President in 2008 with half of America supporting here as an in-effect Tea Party candidate.
That is my point. 2008 was already a Tea Party race to me.
I’m sure I wan’t alone in that.
So sure his rant was a formative moment, but there were other earlier formative moments as well.
Including the entire 2008 Presidential race.
Not for McCain. For Palin.
I understand you, brother.
He just put the name to the existing energy, basically.
And it WAS an epic rant. I loved it...
McCain did one good thing, and that was to bring Sarah into the light. He also put her in crosshairs, but the left will always show you who threatens them most like that.
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