Is the Tea Party Entitled to Some Credit for These Developments?
There seems to be some debate among conservatives whether the Tea Party movement hurt or helped Republicans at least in certain races. Some establishment GOP types argue that Tea Partyers hurt the cause. I disagree, but I'm really not trying to open that can of worms here.
I've also detected -- not that this takes refined powers of discernment -- that some of the establishment types have a condescending disdain for the TP in general and wish it would go away, even though they'll not admit it outright, anymore than liberal Democrats will admit they don't care about deficits.
As there is residual disdain for Tea Partyers among some on the right, I want to suggest that TPers are entitled to credit beyond their obvious effect on the elections. (I have been gratified that they have not chosen the Third Party route and have instead decided to act as watchdogs against profligate spending, among other things, from both parties.)
An example illustrating the watchdog effect is already bearing fruit can be seen in a story from "The Hill" today, indicating that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell will file a brief in a Florida court in support of a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Obamacare.
Let's get a show of hands from those who believe McConnell would be taking this proactive step if it were not for the Tea Partyers? Do you all remember Senator Cornyn talking about not repealing Obamacare shortly after it was signed?
Yes, this also wouldn't be occurring but for Rush, Mark, Sean, other conservative hosts, columnists, bloggers, Fox, etc., but the TPers add important enforcement teeth to the watchdog process. The GOP is finally acting as if it's truly on notice that it better not gravitate back toward Beltway squishiness.
I would go so far as to argue that the Tea Party movement, understood in the broad context I've just described it, might well save the GOP from itself. So when cynical, pessimistic, glass-half-empty types constantly approach me with their skepticism about the GOP doing the right thing following the elections, I point to the advent of the TP with some degree of "hope" -- please excuse my use of that term. As Obama famously said, "The difference between then and now is you've got me." Well, he was quite wrong -- at least in the way he meant it. By contrast, at least one difference between the last time the GOP regained appreciable power and today is that we've got the active vigilance of Tea Partyers. Surely we can agree that this is a good thing insofar as restraining potentially errant Republicans.
I know some will argue/have argued that the Tea Party phenomenon is not big enough to have made that much of a difference in the elections. But when I use the term, I don't mean to limit it to include just those who actually attended various protests. I use it loosely to describe those throughout the nation who are fed up with the assaults on liberty and the Constitution, the reckless spending, Obamacare, and the rest of the Obama insanity. For every protestor at various rallies, there are hundreds, if not thousands cheering them on. So before you misunderestimate the force and significance of the Tea Party movement, don't delude yourself into believing it is limited to those who directly participated in the protests.
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Re: Is the Tea Party Entitled to Some Credit for These Developments?
David, fantastic observation. I suspect that the actual protesters are the tip of the iceberg in this regard. I for one have spent the better part of the last 18 months hoping to find a rally with truck parking. In the meantime, our votes become our voice.
Sep '10
Re: Is the Tea Party Entitled to Some Credit for These Developments?
Spot on.
Without the TP, the disinformation of Obama and the Lame Stream Media would have be absorbed as part of our life. I think there's an egg and chicken relationship between the TP and journalism 2.0, because they fed each other.
Without the TP, the turnout for the election would have been business as usual. Sure, you can find people like Rove who point to O'Donnell and say we lost a seat because of the TP, but how many did we gain that were never in the offing?
Without the TP, there would have been lip service to rolling back Obamacare. It would have been highlighted on some campaign ads and promptly forgotten.
The TP is a force that was and is being felt everywhere, giving people the backbone to discuss there views and hey, maybe even make a few changes.
There's no going back. If the GOP think they can just send them to the back of the classroom, they are in for a rude awakening. First up is Michael Steele.
With the TP, it's a whole new ballgame.
Jul '10
Re: Is the Tea Party Entitled to Some Credit for These Developments?
My thoughts exactly Mr. Limbaugh.
We may not all be able to make it to D.C. on a given date, but We sure can make it to Our local polling place.
Re: Is the Tea Party Entitled to Some Credit for These Developments?
"I would go so far as to argue that the Tea Party movement, understood in the broad context I've just described it, might well save the GOP from itself."
"Might?" David, David. It already has.
Jul '10
Re: Is the Tea Party Entitled to Some Credit for These Developments?
24 Months ago the Republican Party was on its Death Bed and showing no signs of life whatsoever.
GOP Establishment Experts were proclaiming that the party was going to have to become Democrat Lite if it were to have any hope what so ever of reviving its chances in the nex 12 years.
24 Months later the party experiences a Resurection. Don't tell me the Tea Party had no effect.
And yet, the REAL effect of the Tea Party lies in the nearly 700 seats picked up by State Legislature. 11 States Gained. At the State Level the MSM was not as influential with the average voter as they were in Congressional and Senate Races.
What the GOP Establishment are resentful about is that this was not done Their Way. And they also don't like the fact that thier Coctail Party Schedule is going to suffer as a result of the Actions they will now be forced to take having been presented with positions of power AND responsibility.
Re: Is the Tea Party Entitled to Some Credit for These Developments?
Peter Robinson: "I would go so far as to argue that the Tea Party movement, understood in the broad context I've just described it, might well save the GOP from itself."
"Might?" David, David. It already has. · Nov 10 at 11:57am
Peter: How about "might well continue to save the GOP from itself?"
Sep '10
Re: Is the Tea Party Entitled to Some Credit for These Developments?
Absolutely. I am 100% behind the tea party movement, yet I never attended a rally and I know there are millions like me. Sometimes you find yourself right in the middle of the zeitgeist, what you think and feel is quite the same as millions of others. I certainly consider myself unique, but I also know that I am going to be a lot like millions of others, my opinions and perceptions are not exclusive to me.
Rush Limbaugh is sucessful because he listens, not just because he talks and is entertaining. I listen to talk radio to hear what is going on and I read comments at various sites. This is invaluable for ascertaining what is going on politically. I'm shocked (well, not really) that I, an outside the beltway non-pundit with no poli-sci degree, can predict outcomes and the reasons behind them more accurately than the professionals.
The GOP elites are trying to force their agenda from a top down model and try to dismiss grassroots eruptions. But this is the internet age, and top down models are failing. The big music labels, network news and newspapers and now heirarchical political parties are going down.
Edited on Nov 10, 2010 at 1:45pmOct '10
Re: Is the Tea Party Entitled to Some Credit for These Developments?
Ditto that. The real push back against the Feds can only effectively come from the States. McConnell can files briefs in support of Constitutional challenges all day long, but he has zero standing to bring suit himself.
"Residual disdain" seems a more apt description than actual "debate." It is an artifact of DC centered politics. It may be hard to calculate the exact size of the late great enthusiasm gap, but it's crystal clear that it didn't emanate from Washington. This is one time it seems entirely appropriate to observe that you'd think they'd be saying thank you.
Jul '10
Re: Is the Tea Party Entitled to Some Credit for These Developments?
David Limbaugh
Peter Robinson: "I would go so far as to argue that the Tea Party movement, understood in the broad context I've just described it, might well save the GOP from itself."
"Might?" David, David. It already has. · Nov 10 at 11:57am
Peter: How about "might well continue to save the GOP from itself?" · Nov 10 at 1:20pm
I think that James Poulos's article in Jonah Goldberg's compilation speaks well of the problem facing the TP: the professional conservative. To wit: National Review (the very definition of professional conservatives as defined by Poulos) endorsed Hensarling over Bachmann for the House Republican conference Chairman. They are very proud of this fact. This, despite Bachmann's efforts to educate and consolidate the incoming freshman class in the principles of Constitutional governance. One might say "because." It is not in the professional conservatives' best interests to have true conservatives be in positions of power within the Congress or Executive. It undermines their power.
Oct '10
Re: Is the Tea Party Entitled to Some Credit for These Developments?
Michael Tee
This, despite Bachmann's efforts to educate and consolidate the incoming freshman class in the principles of Constitutional governance.
How precisely does that qualify her to head up the House Republican Conference? Boehner & crew are all preparing to work with incoming freshman in unprecedented ways. What our new legislators need most of all is information on how actual governance works.
I've been tea partying from the outset, and I haven't liked watching Bachmann's attempt to co-opt and capitalize on that brand in Congress, one bit. In contrast, Palin and DeMint, among others have tread with considerable care in that regard. Bachmann may be great on the stump, but she's always been a loose canon too.