Much is being made in the mainstream media about a perceived schism in the Republican party due to the advancement of the TEA Party movement. With the primary victory of Christine O'Donnell, many in the so-called establishment fear that the TEA Party is causing more harm than good by advancing a candidate who is principled, though considered to be unelectable in a moderately blue state. So is this causing the GOP a schizophrenic breakdown, or are the voices inside their collective head nothing more than Jiminy Cricket? Also, is the GOP the only party plagued by internal divisions? Are the Democrats immune to internal strife or even mutiny?
Last year, I took the opportunity to attend my first local tea party. There were mostly good, old-fashioned people who were concerned about their country. But in a crowd of any size, you're seldom short of a minority of dubious types (i.e. the overweight gentleman in a Guy Fawkes costume). Generally, they have the same principles as most dinner-table Republicans have always had: pro-life, pro-gun, pro-family, anti-tax, anti-big government, etc. These values aren't unusual, they're not outside the mainstream, they're not extremist. In fact, you can find these same ideas in the Republican party platform. The TEA party is simply serving as the conscience of the GOP, a reminder to politicians of the principles they were sent to Washington to protect. And they are achieving results.
For the GOP, the TEA party is a correction of the course in the conservative movement. It's not a hijacking of right wing extremist loons, at least not yet. Indeed, I suppose there's always the possibility of that happening. But in some cases, I'm not exactly sure I would pass one of them up for a seasoned politician who votes in such a way that would nauseate me consistently.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - jeannie danna
Braden,
The Tea Party, is in fact, a group of anarchists who would destroy all that this country has accomplished for everyone. The blind leading the blind, can't see that THEY are everyone.
But hey, they are securing a second term...
JD
2 - pablo
Gee Jeannie I sure would like to hear what YOUR subjective definition is of anarchy. So I am politely asking for one.
3 - jeannie danna
Well, PABLO, I will politely decline giving YOU one.
:Q snark!
4 - jeannie danna
All one would have to do(if half a mind) would be to look at all of the American social programs that benefit us all directly and indirectly that are being systematically demonized to the point where, T people, would eliminate them altogether unmindful of who they would hurt.
IMO, the Tea Party is living in their own ethnocentric fog...
JD
5 - pablo
Not surprising Jeannnie, not surprising at all. I only asked because to equate the Tea Party as a group of anarchists shows just how shallow your political acumen really is dear. Thanks for showing your stuff though dear. :)
6 - jeannie danna
So, yes Pablo, the Teas are by the very fact that they wish to tear-down and destroy, rather than build, ANARCHISTS, in my opinion.
:D Does that clear it up for you?
7 - jeannie danna
You haven't read #6 yet. :D and stop calling me dear, I don't want your girlfriend to get jealous.
8 - Mark
Although jeannie's view of anarchists displays an ignorance of the principles of the movement and reflects the impact of ruling class ideology on her thoughts, I don't think that the use of anarchist to describe the tea party movement is that far fetched. It is a group of voluntary associations cooperating in the achievement of a goal.
9 - Clavos
Never thought I'd see the day I'd agree with Pablo, but he's right, Jeannie, the TEA party folks are anything but anarchists -- your opinion notwithstanding.
10 - Clavos
That's a hell of a stretch, Mark...
11 - Baronius
Mark - The Tea Party movement is an anarchy. They are not anarchists.
12 - Jordan Richardson
It is a group of voluntary associations cooperating in the achievement of a goal.
Well that narrows it down...
13 - jeannie danna
anarchists... What else would you call the deconstruction of our institutions(at least the ones not associated with war)?
14 - jeannie danna
Your on your own...any structure at all is looked on as, *The Man* oh, except for church and Fox News, they will survive, although I'm not sure in what order.
15 - Mark
Baronius, your distinction is well taken, however, having attended Parties in my home town and in Albuquerque, I can attest to the fact that there are indeed potential bomb throwers in the group.
Jordan and Clavos, I was looking for the big-tent definition.
16 - pablo
13 jeanna you said
"anarchists... What else would you call the deconstruction of our institutions(at least the ones not associated with war)?"
I would call that the deconstruction of our instituions, although I do not agree with that assessment of them either.
17 - jeannie danna
Definition of the Tea Party:
These people are being led by the nose toward one goal, that they themselves can't see, the destruction of our government. This most certainly is an anarchistic party of fools.
Conclusion: The Tea Party itself is anarchy, and anyone pledging allegiance to it is an Anti-American-Anarchist.
JD
18 - Baronius
I went to a couple of tea party sites to get an actual definition. The National Tea Party Coalition and the Tea Party Patriots had virtually the same slogan: limited government, fiscal responsibility, free markets.
You can't be an anarchist and support limited government.
19 - jeannie danna
Here is just one of the tea Party favorites:
"I dabbled into witchcraft. I never joined a coven," she said. " ... I hung around people who were doing these things. I'm not making this stuff up. I know what they told me they do," she said.
"... One of my first dates with a witch was on a satanic altar, and I didn't know it. I mean, there's little blood there and stuff like that," she said. "We went to a movie and then had a little midnight picnic on a satanic altar."- O'Donnell
I, don't care what this nut believes, however, the American public will know all of the facts about who they are holding up to us as the moral police (who are going to clean-up this secular country).
20 - jeannie danna
Baronius,
Did you think that they would call themselves by my-definition of them?
:D
21 - jeannie danna
The Tea Party is most-certainly anti-American. What would you call this lust for the dismantlement of our country? I call it anarchy.
JD
22 - Clavos
What would you call this lust for the dismantlement of our country?
Obviously you've never read any TEA party literature...
"Dismantling" the country is not their goal.
Dismantling the liberal infrastructure and agenda is.
23 - Dean Stephens
@#18 "You cant be anarchist and support limited Government"
Hold on I'm confused. The definition of Anarchy is an absence of government. Anarchist's are individuals who desire a return to the Hobbesian state of nature. So Teabaggers wanting to limit the power of the federal government and eliminate "entitlement programs", doesn't that constitute aspirations toward anarchy. Jeannie comments may be a bit of a hyperbole but she is right. Teabaggers could be viewed as being ever so slightly anarchist.
24 - Dean Stephens
And another thing. Is everyone in the political section of this site, a bunch of conservatives? I should start writing more political articles to balance out the crazy. The last BC needs is to become a part of the right wing media.
25 - jeannie danna
Please do, Dean, your voice is most welcome. Yes,this site is chock-full of GOPs/Conservatives/Libertarians/Democrats, and a few Liberals.
:D Thanks for your comments in regards to my definition.