What Now for the Tea Parties?
Scott Brown has managed to take Ted Kennedy’s former seat in Massachusetts and swing the independent voters from the Democrats to the GOP.
The right is pleased with itself, especially the tea party movement. They believe that by electing Brown, they have driven a stake through the heart of the health care vampire.
Unfortunately — like any horror story — the villain may yet live. Democrats had already begun drafting contingency plans for Brown’s election when things started looking bad. They will consider every possible trick in the book before considering the white flag.
Conservatives may in fact be better positioned should the Democrats continue their arrogant ways and push through health care (which will probably be the Senate plan now). If the president and his party ignore the overwhelming anger of the American people, it will be curtains for many Democrats.
Alas, political observers — including this one — think that the liberals who control the Democratic Party are so dedicated to the cause of universal health care that they will sacrifice as many seats as necessary. They have been waiting 30 or more years for the right opportunity to push their socialist agenda, and would rather go down in flames than step back.
The tea party movement now has a big problem. They have thrown their lot behind a RINO in the form of Scott Brown, a man who voted for RomneyCare. Brown leans further left than Dede Scozzafava. Now the RINOs will point to his victory and see it as a sign that their “moderate” ways are vote winners, and all the angst that should be directed at the RINOs — for helping get us in this mess in the first place — may dissipate. Will conservatives be able to make a case for primary challengers against the RINOs for 2010? Will their short-term pragmatism prove too clever by half in the long run? After all, Brown did not thank the tea party movement in his victory speech, despite the many tea partiers who helped him win.
This is a very poorly thought out question on your part.
You push to elect the best possible candidate that you can for each place on the map. There was no other possible #41 vote possible, so you take what you can get. But when you start looking at other places, where very close to perfect candidates can win, and in stead the GOP is pushing lefty RINO, you push for the most perfect and press the RINO out.
I have already determined that Scott Brown’s use will be completely over by November 2010 and at that point, I doubt he will get much support from the very conservative side of the Tea Party movement in his first re-election bid. Not that we could not use him there, but it is more likely Tea Partiers will try to get a more conservative person to challenge him in the primary.
It is likely that Brown is going to be a problem in the future for conservative libertarian ideals, but for the purpose of stopping a train wreck in progress, he is doing what we need now.
You’re saying that he’s a RINO because he’s six points to the left of perfect. The Tea Party crowd says he’s their guy ’cause he’s forty-six points to the right of Ted Kennedy, and thirty-six to the right of Coakley. I’d say that the Tea Party gets this one on points.
“Poorly thought out” (per “astonerii”) to say the least!
This writing is a confused grab-bag of gibberish from a “divide and conquer” mentality.
Not all conservatives are libertarians. I suspect Scott Brown will prove more conservative than many might think, if less than most conservatives would hope. At any rate he’s infinitely preferable to the alternative. When the remote possibility that any kind of republican had the remotest shot of taking that Senate seat most of the comments I read were glad of the opportunity to do battle with the left. Any chance to give progressives heartburn, to a point, is time and money well spent. That Mr. Brown actually won in the “Kennedy State” is at least for a time is an un-mitigated joy. The circular firing squads, doubts and recriminations and angst about policies, tactics and what “it all means” on the left is music to the soul.
“They have thrown their lot behind a RINO in the form of Scott Brown, a man who voted for RomneyCare. Brown leans further left than Dede Scozzafava.”
And Brown wasn’t running in NY-23, was he? Why does that not immediately leap out at you?
“When the Republican Party needed them, the tea party movement fell into line.”
Uh? What? How? The most plausibly conservative and electable candidate won. Where’s the problem? You point out what more conservative candidate who could be elected was not pushed on the Republicans. Per # 1, “This is a very poorly thought out question on your part.” –I am coming to expect that from Mr. Dodge.
“How can the movement proclaim its independence when it has just stumped for a Republican who is not even a conservative?”
Again why do you imagine Brown is not as conservative a person as who can be elected in Mass?
“This special election has been a gift to the Republicans in their quest to co-opt the tea party.”
You know, if the Repubs run a Dede Scozzafava or the like in a conservative district again, and the Tea Partiers do not reject the candidate and fail to support a 3rd party spoiler, then in that race you will point if you say the Tea Partiers are falling down on the job. And right now you don’t have a point.
“In victory, the tea party movement must continue to press its message of limited government, fiscal conservatism, and the free market.”
And you have yet to show how Brown’s election is any derogation of those goals. Brown bears watching. He will certainly always be in the leftmost 10% of elected Republicans, but if he is in the middle of the rightmost half of the Massachusettsans who elected him, that’s all we can ask from him. He is the best improvement we can expect to get, and a far cry improvement over the candidate who is in the middle of the leftmost half of the Massachusetts electorate.
“They need to quickly return to the task at hand.”
Rah. Rah. Cis boom bah. Have you heard of preaching to the choir?
“Scott Brown’s election does not render the April 15 rallies less important.”
Who said it did? Please keep in mind, politics is the art of the possible.
“— in the long quest to return the U.S. back to its constitutional roots of prudent governance.”
The way to do that is to make sure that every RINO who is uselessly RINO–further left than the need to be to stay in office–see a primary challenger in the Repub primary who is more conservative. Not more conservative than can be elected, but hopefully someone who can comfortably sit in the middle of the rightmost half of just better than the rightmost half of the electorate.
When the Repubs insist on ignoring the goal of running that middle of the rightmost half candidate, go 3rd party and run 3rd party that candidate. This will split the conservative vote and usually result in the election of a much farther left candidate. Pour encourage les autres, this is tolerable because it is necessary…
…But sometimes the Tea Partier will be elected. That will be excellent.
The goal of the Tea Party is the election of the rightmost candidate who can be elected, and this person will be a candidate in the middle of the rightmost half of the electorate in that district.
If you have an improvement to make in the wording or concept of that formula, please let us know. Unlike your post above, that would be useful.
Scott Brown is a fresh breath of stale air.
It was still a great day for America and Massachusetts,
and we should thank those independents that made it happen.
Compared to Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and Obamas teleprompter you take anything you can get.
I used to be a liberal democrat but when I saw the direction the idiots were leading us I turned into a Conservative democrat,
now, thanks to PJM and others
I am a Conservative closet democrat living with an independent tea party republican rash.
But Hey..
don’t worry about me,
I still believe in God,
carry a weapon,
and have an American flag hanging off the front porch,
when its not raining.
Being an old Vietnam Vet I don’t worry about conspiracy theory’s of ‘them’ coming to get us in our beds or homes.
An old Army combat sergeant used to tell us,
“Men this jungle is now your home and when the enemy comes to get you, kill as many of ‘them’ as you can and they will leave you alone.”
My motto.
Live free or die trying.
@1
This writer is being a numbnut. Scott Brown was the best we could get out of Mass. And his beloved Dede was certainly not the most conservative we could get out of NY 23.
This writer continues to push his meme that Dede is to the right of Scott Brown. LOL.. shaking head I realize that it is not just the far left who have no grasp of reality. Whoever wrote the above screed is off their meds.
Brown’s full liberalism is not apparent in the campaign he ran. He ran against big govt. spending, high taxes and nationalizing industries, including health care.
He ran a Reaganesque campaign and that’s why he won.
THe tea partiers will become more aware over time about Brown, but they will not regret their taking the seat from Dems. They will simply hold Brown to his campaign issue promises, and when he strays, they will oppose him.
I do not expect Brown to lead a conservative revolution, but I expect him to vote with conservatives on the more important issues. IF not, he will have his own problems at primary time……
tea parties forever!
“Scott Brown, a man who voted for RomneyCare. Brown leans further left than Dede Scozzafava.”
Now just wait a minute… that idea of Dede the ‘moderate’ keeps getting tossed out there as if it were common knowledge.
If she was a GOP ‘moderate’ why did Kos like her? Why did Acorn’s political arm endorse her?
Why was she ‘undecided’ on Card Check?
Why was she undecided on Carbon Tax?
Why doesnt the link on ‘leans farther left’ point to evidential writing?
Contrary to those evidently much more in tune with the political consensus than I apparently am, I think the Tea Party will continue to support him.
Oh, there will be some who have unreasonable expectations but I think the TP concensus is pretty much spot on.
You’re basing your analysis on the false assumption that the Tea Party concept taken as a whole is a conservative movement. I see it as closer to the center, even libertarian. And Scott Brown seems to match.
You have a pretty narrow view of who qualifies to be a Republican if you say that a man who campaigned on fiscal responsibility, opposition to a government takeover of medicine, and against coddling of terrorists is a RINO.
From what I see of tea party people, most are libertarian and have little time for social conservative issues. Right now, the danger to the country is economic and Brown seems solid there. The Massachusetts health plan was an experiment and the fact that it has not been much of a success added to Brown’s support. I have no objection to the “laboratory of democracy” role of states and this was one. I don’t know that I would call him a lefty RINO and Dede was far more cozy with ACORN and SEIU than he seems to be.
The Republicans have not co-opt the tea party’s, this was one race that needed to be won by Brown, sometimes we agree on the same candidate, dont read more into it than that, an Dede was more left than Brown.
I think you both miss the point by a wide mark. “Tea Party” people are not all the same. Regardless of region, they do seem to share the three general goals set out here: limited government, fiscal conservatism, and the free market. I would even throw in a 4th: strong national defense.
Scott Brown ran and won on those. What is it you want to add? Please tell me it isn’t social issues. If so, the northeastern and western independents will flee from our banner.
Leave it with the four items above, and there’s no region in the country where we can’t prevail.
I agree with astonerii. The assumption that there are but two grades of Pol is incorrect. A Scott Brown would not get elected in Texas except in possibly Austin. Nor could a Kay Bailey Hutchinson have a prayer in Mass and she’s a (R) moderate!
No the deep left in the Democratic caucus will not give up the mission. But just because 40-50 desire it in the House does not mean it will become fiat accompli. Marone has a piece up that has the number of safe seats at 100 out of 435. So the Center of the Democratic caucus cannot hold on health care or anything else the deep left wishes.
Conservatives should be wary of advice from libertarians who are as out of touch with political realities as leftists are with economic realities
As I understand it, no one is turned away and emergency health care is provided to everyone in need regardless of whether they have a plan. But even if libertarians like Doidge have no problems with people not being able to get preventative care and being wiped out financially because of an uncovered health care emergency most Americans don’t think that is right. So the issue of health care will fester.
Republicans should come up with their own plan and put the issue to rest. A health care plan should start with tort reform to put a cap on damages for pain and suffering and eliminate punitive damages except in the most egregious cases of intentional wrongdoing. And Medicare should be expanded to cover people who can’t reasonably afford insurance.
Brown and Romney are good people with solid conservative values. The fact they support a health care plan in their very liberal state does not mean they are not fiscal conservatives. Politics is the art of the possible. Tea partiers will continue to move the country right by supporting Republicans.
Aren’t you conflating socially conservative (GOP) with fiscally conservative (Tea Party, Sen. Scott Brown)?
‘Voters have very short memories’ Not anymore. This is 2010. Look what the Obama administration has done,Since the Mass. election. It’s like it never happened,with the exception of quickly ramming through their so called,’ health care bill ‘. They say the American people are too dumb to understand how good their program is and needs to explain/talk down to the people so they can,’See the Light’. No,this time,we will Not forget.
astoneril, your points are well taken. The Tea Party Movement must continue, in perpetuity, if neccessary, because government by its very nature always seeks to expand itself. Any conerned public, as best exemplified by the Tea Party, should keep a watchful eye to preclude or rein-in government activity etc. More then ever, when I use the word government, I include, local and State as well as federal Government.
What candidate that would not shed the label “democrat” could be trusted to do more than dicker for a better bribe in return for selling his constituents freedoms? How many of those now marching in lock step towards the democrat socialist agenda ran for office as a “traditional democrat” or “moderate democrat” who wouldn’t listen to the party bosses? Please, folks are not stupid and have just seen the effects of the radical left taking over the democrat party. We’ll take over the GOP and it will BE the Tea Party in all but name. We’re confronting a national disaster and there isn’t time to build a national party from the ground up. Worrying about whether or not it’s wise to be so closely associated with the means to the end sounds like more of the same divide and conquer approach that has helped to bring on this disaster.
The democrat party will never cease to be the party of slavery, secession, civil war, the KKK, Jim Crow laws, eugenics laws, filibustering of the Civil Rights Act, the destruction of the black middle class, valueless values, immoral morals, and the mass murder of unborn infants. Anyone who would not shed the label “democrat” in return for support would not shed their allegiance to the traditional democrat elitist worldview, either.
What candidate that who not eschew the label “democrat” could be trusted to do more than dicker for a better bribe in return for selling his constituents freedoms? How many of those now marching in lock step towards the democrat socialist agenda ran for office as a “traditional democrat” or “moderate democrat” who wouldn’t listen to the party bosses? Please, folks are not stupid and have just seen the effects of the radical left taking over the democrat party. We’ll take over the GOP and it will BE the Tea Party in all but name. We’re confronting a national disaster and there isn’t time to build a national party from the ground up. Worrying about whether or not it’s wise to be so closely associated with the means to the end sounds like more of the same divide and conquer approach that has helped to bring on this disaster.
The democrat party will never cease to be the party of slavery, secession, civil war, the KKK, Jim Crow laws, eugenics laws, filibustering of the Civil Rights Act, the destruction of the black middle class, valueless values, immoral morals, and the mass murder of unborn infants. Anyone who would not shed the label “democrat” in return for support would not shed their allegiance to the traditional democrat elitist worldview, either.
Ridding the GOP of the democrat fifth column and using it as a means to return the country to the Constitution is the first step. After that, we can worry about what party names should be and whether or not it’s reasonable to be a party less party in order to remain a pure as the wind driven snow.
Regards
The GOP has seen what the strenght of the Tea Party can do and knows,with it’s backing,it can move forth in the destruction of the socialist government we have at present. They Know,without the Tea party,they are Not strong enough.
I see a come together of the two parties,at each election this year. Sometimes leaning towards the GOP and sometimes towards the Tea Party…just to remove the Left Party.
Now the Left party will have you believe otherwise,trying to make themselves stronger to the sheep in their herd, so they can take the scare of the Mass. election from them. Good Luck with that Lefties!
If Massachusetts wants to try state-run health care (“RomneyCare”), I am fine with that. If, say, Texas doesn’t want state-run health care I am fine with that too. I believe in federalism and the principle of the states as being “laboratories for democracy”.
So If certain states want to elect RINOs, fine. But at a minimum tea partiers should only support candidates who believe in the principles of federalism. I have not heard if Scott Brown does or not.
But did the Tea Party movement come to the aid of the GOP, or did it come to the aid of a candidate the GOP had written off? I suggest that, far from subordinating itself to the GOP in this case, the Tea Party supplanted it. It’s the GOP that’s in trouble now.
I disagree. This analysis is spot on. What we are seeing is a coordinated effort to co-opt the Tea Parties into the GOP. The supposedly independent tea parties are advertising and encouraging members to take training for Precinct Chair positions. This is being done through the Raging Elephants. What, might I ask are precinct chair positions? The front-line foot soldiers of the party. Foot soldiers do not determine policy, and it would take years (if it happens at all) for any of these people to rise to the top. In the meantime, the Tea Parties are successfully re-integrated into the GOP.
In the Georgia 9th district, this effort has proved so successful, that two TP groups disbanded entirely. This cost the American Conservative Party’s candidate 30 volunteers, a huge blow given how hard it is for someone not of the two main parties just to get on the ballot.
I ask this: What has the GOP done to show it’s committed to the cause of conservatism? Proposed a tax cut? Proposed Medicare reform? Promised no more bailouts or porkulous bills? No. As I predicted a year ago, their sole platform is that they aren’t Obama and the Democrats.
Except they are. Remember who did the first bailout? Bush and the GOP. Remember how many of them defected and voted with the Dems to pass cap-n-trade in the House, the GIVE (your youth to us for indoctrination) Act? Remember the last time the Dems tried health care “reform?” We called it HillaryCare. And how did that go? Down in flames when Newt Gingrich showed that he “got it” and browbeat the rest of the party into signing on to the “Contract with America.” That lasted about two years, before they backslid into politics as usual, wasting $40 million on a pointless investigation and impeaching a president over a stained blue dress, instead of running the country.
This time they haven’t even bothered to make any promises…
astonerii …
I so glad to hear that we won’t need Mr. Brown after Nov. I was worried about a revival of cap n trade, card check, another stimulus and whatever crazy ideas Obama will try to pass next year. What a relief !!!
I’m sure Brown and any other future candidates supported by the Tea Partiers will really appreciate that sort of cynical attitude.
Talk about a movement full of itself …
The TP should support the more LIBERTARIAN candidate in the primaries and the GOP candidate in the general. Its not complicated.
Oh and the idea of running a more conservative candidate in Mass against Brown. How pray tell can you be more conservative than Brown ? Full tilt Anti-Abortion and full tilt Anti-Gay Marrige ? Yeah that will be a winner in Mass.
I’m a Tea Partier. What I saw in the movement was anger at BOTH PARTIES! Most of the People at the events, felt that both Parties had let us down.
The big story in this election is that Swing Voters, like Me, are now in control. Both Parties want to claim a mandate whenever the Swing Voters swing their way. If the GOP gets too cocky, then we’ll swing them right out of office just like the Dems.
The message we send to Both Parties is: Moderate!
What’s next for the Tea Parties? Can’t wait to throw Barbara Boxer OUT!
Brown is conservative enough where it really counts. My brother, who makes Barry Goldwater seem progressive, sent him 25 bucks. We really like the guy. He beat the machine. He has natural good political instincts, in tune with the people of his state, Good thing, cause He is walking through a minefield, already targeted by the media for the Palin treatment. That tells us a lot. Go Scott go. The Tea Party remains a voluntary association of free Americans. No one need tell us who to support. We can figure it out for ourselves.
This article is some of the most risible rubbish I’ve yet to read at this site. The author doesn’t seem to have a clue what makes up the Tea Party movement or its mentality, yet attributes to it all the motives and ignorance that the left has been trying to paint it with for a year.
- The tea party movement now has a big problem. They have thrown their lot behind a RINO in the form of Scott Brown, a man who voted for RomneyCare. Brown leans further left than Dede Scozzafava.
This is patent nonsense. Grass roots conservatives supported Brown for one reason: he represented 11th-hour resistance to the linchpin of the Socialists’ agenda – socialized medicine. Pretending that support for Brown – who is as conservative as one can expect in a State like MA – was based on a navel-gazing analysis of his record is nothing more than Rick-Moran-style fantasy, by way of an excuse to fill a column commitment. We’d be reading this identical drivel from both Dodge and Moran, with names edited appropriately, if McCain had actually mounted a campaign and won in 2008.
- Now the RINOs will point to his victory and see it as a sign that their “moderate” ways are vote winners…
Publicly, this may very well happen. In fact the GOP has already begun to broadcast this kind of propaganda to the email inboxes of its erstwhile base of former contributors. We’re not having any. There are no doubt some RINOs who are clueless enough to believe that this is what Brown’s victory signifies. But they’re in the minority.
The rest know exactly what the grass roots’ support of Brown meant, and they know that to misrepresent it in any way will be just as effective (read: not at all) as past demonization of town halls and Tea Party rallies by The Left Wing Media.
- …all the angst that should be directed at the RINOs — for helping get us in this mess in the first place — may dissipate.
Gee, and that would be different how, exactly, from every political cycle we’ve seen in the past 50-to-100 years? What a revelation. I’ve heard, also, that the oceans may rise 20 feet by the end of this century.
- Will conservatives be able to make a case for primary challengers against the RINOs for 2010?
The Tea Party’s reason for being is to end the fake ‘contest’ between the Socialists (Democrats) on the far-far-left and the RINOs(GOP) on the center-left. 75 years of compromise and outright complicity with socialist policies by the so-called “Republican” Party has brought the Republic to within a hair’s breadth of the cliff. Those drawn to the Tea Party movement recognize this. Their goal, ultimately, is not to ‘guide’ the Republican Party to do the right thing, but to replace it with leaders and representatives who WILL.
- Will their short-term pragmatism prove too clever by half in the long run?
And what made it only “pragmatism”? What were the other choices? Support for someone (Kennedy) guaranteed to lose? When you can come up with a rational alternative, perhaps this idiotic notion – and, in fact, all defeatist articles like this – might grow some teeth.
I guess Andrew and his ilk would have preferred “Marsha” Coakley be elected instead?!
“True believers”, those who would make the perfect the enemy of the good…
It’s my belief, that like other movements, the tea party needs a central singular core issue to rally behind.
I think that should be forcing the republican party to adopt a similarly singular policy of zero deficit spending. Remember that government spending is the wellspring from which stems all liberal agenda items!
I call it the PLEDGE. It should be the iron, inflexible rule that the republican party mandates that it’s elected officials, legislative and executive, live by.
The PLEDGE states that no elected republican official my engage in deficit spending in the legislature or allow any deficit spending to go unopposed. No republican executive may sign a bill containing deficit spending.
And what makes it work is the enforcement mechanism. Anyone who violates this rule is immediately expelled from the party with no chance of reinstatement.
Companies force employees to sign contracts guaranteeing employee conduct on and off the clock. There is NO REASON the republicans cannot do the same.
We cannot place out hope in politicians who claim they will do X,Y, and Z when elected, just because they say they will.
This policy, if adopted by the party will ensure the result that republican voters wish to see–balanced budgets and limited government.
For those realists out there that say that this is impossible I would like you to consider two cogent points.
First, a realist is simply a person who thinks that they are right.
Second, Massachusetts just elected a Republican to Ted Kennedy’s seat.
The flaw in your argument is not realizing the obvious fact that we are talking about TAXACHUSETTS here. Brown was a fantastic candidate and about the best that could be hoped in the bluest of blue states. But the situation will be different elsewhere. For instance, I will predict right now that if JD Hayworth runs against McCain for the Senate seat in Arizona, the tea party movement will back JD and not only that, back him to victory in the primary. Even with Palin helping him (she has to for loyalty reasons) McCain will be voted out. Each state will have its own situation and I believe the most fiscally conservative, strong-national-defense-and-borders candidate will get the backing of Tea Party folks.
I thought the tea party movement was about limited government, lower tax`s, and individual liberty. Those are the issues Scott Brown campaigned on and, by the way, the 41st vote. Now I find out that you can either march in lock step with Mr. Dodge`s brand of conservative/libertarianism or be labeled a RINO.
Will Sen. Brown be as conservative as, say, Sen. Demint? Probably not. Is he more liberal than Dede Scozzafava, as Mr. Dodge says? Not a chance.
I think the person the tea party movement should beware of is Andrew Ian Dodge not Scott Brown.
The other difference between Scozzafava and Brown is that Brown was chosen in a primary while Scozzafava was chosen by party bosses. Supporting Doug Hoffman was about sending a message to the New York GOP not to nominate candidates who are to the left of their constituents.
I also don’t buy the whole “to the left of Scozzafava” argument. We’ll see what he does as a Senator, of course, but I didn’t see anything in his campaign I didn’t like, and the fact that it won him office in Massachusetts is incredible. Sure, I would like him to be more socially conservative, particularly in the area of abortion, but if his election stops Obamacare than that is the only thing that’s important. It’s not like his lack of social conservatism is going to mean anything while we have a Democrat president, anyway.
RINOs and the people who love them remain a huge danger. But Scott Brown’s victory is much bigger than that: if he proves to be a RINO (and he might) it is still a very great thing that the did. He has rolled a fragrementation grenade into the Hell that we call Congress and the collateral damage there has still not been tallied.
The more disturbing development in the last couple of days is Sarah Palin’s endorsement of John McCain and also her appearance at that ill-conceived tea party event in Tennessee. I can understand her ‘loyalty’ to McCain for putting her on the map; and perhaps she doesn’t respect JD Hayworth. But if so then just remain politely quiet. I am beginning to worry about her. If she turns out to be fake then we are in for a really bad time.
Sarah, stay with us, babe. You’re our guy.
I think the writer mistakenly believes that the TP is a conservative, socially and fiscally, movement that exists solely to elect rabid conservative right wing people into any office they want. He is wrong. I have been to TP events and they are made up of many diverse people with diverse beliefs. Some are social cons and some are fiscal cons and some are both but they all have one thing in common and that is STOP THE SPENDING. HCR is a combination of that mantra plus GET OUT OF OUR PRIVATE LIVES. The best way to look at the TP is to think of it as a huge source of energy that can be turned to focus on any matter that it feels warrants it’s attention. The Mass. race is a good example because it was a matter that we all felt needed our support and money. I am sure that in the long run the TP will back more less-than-ideal candidates but the alternatives are worse. It’s like breeding horses, you keep breeding the horses with the MOST superior genetics but it takes years to get the PERFECT animal.
Actually, I am strongly encouraged by Scott Brown already. He has met with McCain and Kerry and pledged to work closely with them. He has vowed to fight for the environment and support health care reform and has changed his language from “crushing” victory over coakley to “s solid victory for independants”. And John Kerry has vowed to work closely with Brown “in a spirit of friendship and professionalism” for the people of their great state. As far as t-bag Palins and Bachmann.s go? well, all you can hope is that they took notes from one of their newest leaders and know that if they want to have any hope of winning in ’12 they better get on board, or fade away….I am sure they have no plans to fade easily, agreed?
I attended and supported tea parties and am also (currently) a rather big Scott Brown enthusiast.
His observations(on “the seat”, on terrorism & terrorist trials, on the debacle of healthcare, and more) were music to my ears, especially articulated clearly and unmistakably, even bluntly, as he did.
I’m not so interested in which group is which as I am in who articulates the values of the majority of Americans and, even more gravely, understands that the Constitution is under assault.
I don’t think “Brown leans further left than Dede Scozzafava.” Dede is a party hack, in the spirit of what Martha Coakley would have been as a Senator, a rubber stamp for Harry Reid’s agenda.
We need to quit making Brown the savior of american politics…
HOWEVER!! He is better than Teddy, Coakley ,Kerry etc..
We do not know what is in store, but it has to be better than what we would have had.
Lets just hope Brown’s not an Arlen Specter or Lieberman.
Right now…no opinion matters..it’s a wait and see situation.
Given the difficulties of establishing a viable third party in the US, the Tea Party in my area is focusing on pushing the Republican Party into a more conservative direction by encouraging members to join the local Republican Party. Just as Progressives have taken over the Democratic Party, a sufficiently motivated conservative base can influence the Republican Party.
Given the difficulties of establishing a viable third party in the US, the local Tea Party in my area is encouraging its members to join the local Republican Party and push it into a more conservative direction. This is not some kind of plot or scheme; it simply reflect what a sizable group of people want. Just as Progressives have taken over the Democratic Party, so can conservatives influence the Republican Party. To be sure, it will continue the polarization we’ve seen in recent years in American politics, but the Massachusetts election has caused me to believe that a lot of Americans do basically agree on certain constitutional principles. We are not as divided as a lot of us thought.
I’m glad to see the first comment nail this one on the head. You Libertarians, and yes, I mean that with a capital “L”, adore wallowing in your misery, and competing amongst each other for who is the more perfect Libertarian.
Scott Brown is a liberal to moderate Republican. But he’ll stop the health care runaway train, and buy us all time until November when we can really turn back the tide.
Sorry your first time candidate, Joe Kennedy, didn’t win, or even have a chance. Now go home and sulk and leave the serious planning and debating to those of us unaffiliated with the Libertarians.
#37
Harpo, I liked you better when you spoke plain straight librul bile. However, since you chose this new mild personna, I must tell you I’m sick and tired of all you jerks, from the Pres. on down to gutter snipe K. Untermann, using the filthy term teabagger on the fine citizens of both parties and independent status who participate in anti-socialist protests. It enrages me, get it? Why, because it is a practice shared by you and yours, but its fine when yours do it. Ask Uncle Barney and Andy Cooper.
But, PF, there is a game called bean bag, perhaps you’ve heard of it. Where I live the game is called cornhole. When I drive by the local office of our Dem congressman, I sometimes see his staff playing cornhole in the parking lot. From now on, for me, you guys are the cornhole party. When all y’all stop, I’ll stop. Understand, cornholer?
Cornholer, I mean you, Poor Folk, why do voters dislike the Obama/Reid/Pelosi trinity and all it’s works? They certainly want the sick care insurance destruction bill passed…NOT.
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/healthcare/january_2010/61_say_it_s_time_for_congress_to_drop_health_care
I apologize to those who may find my recent comments distasteful. I just don’t see why they should be able to do it, even on prime time TV, and then be protected by censors when the favor is returned unto them. If you prefer a higher level of discourse, I admire you. So do I. But, if a mutt is biting your ankle, you will have to get down to it’s level to make it stop.
For your next astute article, Mr Dodge, tell us what we really want to do.
As 3rd parties in the USA are nonviable, the Tea Party movement should and will remain that — a movement (and note, not a “revolution”). Thus the Tea Party movement will fight right down at the precinct level. The key focus for Tea Party folks is the PRIMARIES! It is there where we will make our influence felt, and over time it is there where we will shift the Republican party — from the bottom. The hell with the RNC.
In the case of Mass. going with Scott Brown was the best that could be done. Therefore that is where the energy went. To try and draw national conclusions about “RINOs” is stupid as others have pointed out.
31. baal:
I call it the PLEDGE.
Here’s an idea, how about you call it Promise Keepers or maybe Oath Keepers. That way you won’t disenfranchise lecherous conservative politicians or patriotic gun totin’ child rapists. Why reinvent the wheel of conservative hypocrisy when such strong mechanisms already exist? I say build on your strengths – perversion, violence, sexual repression, low self esteem, gullibility, self righteous indignation, incompetence, and that general gnawing sense of free floating anxiety.
Wait! I got it! Pledge Keepers! Woo hoo! You can have Sean Hannity wear your T-shirt when he’s getting waterboarded for charity. I hear that’s gonna happen any day now. And I’d approach Scott Brown’s daughters to see if they’d get a back tat of your logo. (I hear they’re available.) One last suggestion, offer a free smoke detector with every pledge.
There you go, a marketing plan tailor made for right wing extremists. No charge.
This issue has been thrashed about on more than one conservative site and I think that many miss the point. The subtitle asks “Scott Brown will no doubt disappoint some conservatives, but does the movement really want to associate itself so closely with the GOP?” Does it have a choice? Not really.
I know the thought of a third party excites some, but it would only guarantee liberal victory. Our nation is so divided between producers and leeches that there’s no room for a third party. The goals of probably 90 percent of teapartiers are the goals of Republicanism. Small government, individual freedom (within proper bounds), the right of the individual to succeed or fail on his or her own merits. If we stay energized for the next few two year election cycles I think we will see the issue of a conservative rank and file and RINO leaders correct itself as more and more true conservatives win elections.
Our Republican “big tent” will include the bulk of its members from the conservative red states and a few, enough to hold strong majorities in the house and senate, Scott Browns that will give us our governing majorities.
As far as Scott Brown, we can play what ifs all day long. Did a true conservative throw his or her hat in the ring against Brown to become the Republican nominee? In the end we had Scott Brown vs Coakley and we greatly preferred one over the other.
Quite frankly, I think that this article and similar ones are written by those that would prefer to see a third party, either for pure reasons or nefarious ones. I advocate that traditional Americans work to correct the wayward drift of the GOP and save it from itself.
#37 “As far as t-bag Palins and Bachmann.s go?”
Good for you Poor Folk. You get to use this dirty slur against the fine citizens who are protesting against socialism. I come up with something just like it to use against you and they rejected my submission. I guess you win this one:
(Sometimes some people won’t recognize who their friend are.)
The MA race broke all sorts of conventions – conservative, pro-life, etc. But the central issue was the immediacy of the healthcare threat, and the Obama threat in general. Rest assured, tea partiers will defect from the Pubs in a moment when it is advantageous to do so. And the movement isn’t monolithic, as we see in AZ.
Dodge just doesn’t get it. America is at war with the Democrats in Congress, and President Obama – all of whom want to destroy the Country of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.
To fight a war, the generals must prioritize. Scott Brown could just as well have been Bozo the Clown, but he had an “R” after his name. Electing him stopped the Health Care Bill dead in it’s tracks, which was the primary objective. Here’s what I wrote to a Libertarian member of our local tea party members who suggested that we remain totally non-partisan:
Anti abortion fanatics would be wise to align themselves with the rat statist party . Democrats will welcome them and dump the pro choice faction the day the numbers add up for them .
What a mess of an argument!
1. Most tea partiers are pragmatic – we know that there is not a one size fits all conservative, and that our approach has to be to back the best conservative candidate that can win in his/her state.
2. Most tea partiers are not stupid. We know that the MSM and the left have painted us as pariahs, and that it was not only reasonable for Brown to not allow them to paint him with that label, but it was mandatory if he was to win enough Independents and Democrats.
3. There may be a few people complaining about him not acknowledging or thanking tea partiers for helping him, but they are the exception, not the rule. Only the egotistical support candidates with an expectation of that.
4. I’m sick of people, some tea partiers included, constantly ruminating over what the we’re going to do next, who is going to lead us, etc. This is counter-productive. Supporting and promoting conservative candidates that can win in their home court is not rocket science, and that should be our only goal right now.
5. Ideas of creating a third party or insisting on ideological purity are recipes for disaster and failure. They will do nothing but garner more votes for the Democrats. People need to keep their egos in check and focus on the objective of electing conservative candidates.
Re:” #23. Paul C.:
But at a minimum tea partiers should only support candidates who believe in the principles of federalism. I have not heard if Scott Brown does or not.”
He does, he has said that the Romneycare was what Massachusetts has chosen for itself, but that a one size does not fit all. Along those lines.
#24 has a good point in that the GOP had written off Scott Brown long before, and it was the Tea Party people who chose him, the GOP came along for the ride in the last few days of the election, and even then did so silently.
#25 Precinct chairs get to pick who runs for office in their district, which means they get to choose people with ideals they like and not choose those they do not. “The 11 Republican County Chairs of New York’s 23rd Congressional district have selected Assemblywoman Diedre “Dede” Scozzafava to run on the Republican line in the the expected special election to replace Rep. John McHugh, who has been tapped by President Barack Obama to become the Secretary of the Army.”
As for that jerk #1 guy saying we will not need Brown after November, 2010, that is just me knowing that by November 2010, Scott Brown will no longer be vote #41, and his special position will be over. Keeping him in office will be great. Should he start working with democrats in a similar fashion that John McCain has in proposing very liberal legislation under guise of moderation and bipartisanship, such as the now proven unconstitutional McCain Fiengold anti speech legislation, or illegal immigrant to legal citizen reform, I will hope that the tea party immediately starts looking for a replacement, or even just allows him to lose to a democrat. Nothing has hurt the conservative/libertarian cause more than people like McCain and even Bush has. Bush pushed for the big spending, and McCain forced republicans to support liberal policies or enabled democrats to push succeed in passing liberal policies.
I will admit that the platform that Brown campaigned on is compelling and is conservative for certain, but the question remains on how he performs in office, what kinds of compromises he must effect in order to remain in office.
Oh God.
All these authors writing about Tea Party supporters need to stop acting like the Tea Party “movement” is a bunch of drones who demand “replicant” candidates across the nation.
We are not stupid. We realize this is Massachusetts, and before we can relocate the field, we first should try to move the goal-posts.
The goal right now, in my opinion, is the have Scott Brown types be the most liberal representatives in Washington.
The Tea Party needs to think of itself as a giant magnet that is turning Ted Kennedy seats into Scott Brown seats, and Evan Bayh seats into Mike Pence seats.
Stop worrying so much about “party”. The bottom line is that the movement towards limited government grow and grow, whether it’s from Tea Party’s, Libertarians, or other such aggregates.
Focus on limited government/fiscal responsibility. We want to get to a point where our biggest arguments are over Social issues. We are not even close to that point yet.
I think Scott Brown is more conservative than some people are crediting him with. The proof will be in his votes and we’re going to have to wait at least a few weeks for those to begin.
I’m far away from the southwest and I’m wondering how the tea party people feel about Sarah Palin planning on campaigning for John McCain in this year’s Senate race? For awhile it seemed that Sarah was at the heart of the Tea party movement. Wouldn’t this action place her in conflict with the movement? Is John McCain the best or only conservative candidate running for the Senate from Arizona?
This is absurd. Scott Brown is no RINO. He ran on lower taxes, the war on terrorism and killing the healthcare reform bill.
Is he pro-choice? Yeah. Did he vote for Romneycare? Yeah.
So what? Those are positions overwhelmingly-favored by Massachusetts voters. So, he listened to his contsituents and voted accordingly. If the Tea Party movement is about anything, it’s about demanding to be heard. Scott Brown doesn’t see himself as captive to some particular faction of the GOP, he sees his role as representing the people of his state.
When will the anti-abortion, anti-gay marriage fanatics finally get the fact that just because a Republican in a liberal state doesn’t bow to their obsessions doesn’t make him a RINO?
Health care is a state issue. Brown voted for it at the state level and is against it at the federal level.
Can’t ask for a more Conservative approach than that.
What did Scott Brown’s election do to ‘Tea Party’ credibility?
Well, for one thing it busted the shibboleth that the conservative last-ditchers wouldn’t support a candidate who wasn’t a ‘true conservative’.
Whatever that is. Brown had more money than his crew knew what to do with. The DoD couldn’t call up the Guard as fast as Brown’s volunteers fell in and dressed ranks, yet I’m betting that most of those volunteers could find something, somewhere in Brown’s policy positions they disliked.
I’m one of those Californians embedded in a district that voted 65% or so for Obama. Our representative is a junior Pelosi. Scott Brown looks pretty damn good from where I sit.
In the Fiorina vs DeVore vs Campbell race, I have my gripes with every one of them, but in the end we’ve got to pull together to unhorse Boxer.
Such drivel. It is MASSACHUSETTS for gawds sake and he did run to the right. So get real. Terrible article.
This is unbelievable, Dodge. You read a piece by a Univ of Chi Instructor named Boris who says Brown is to the left of Scozzafava and just accept what he says? You call him a RINO? On the basis of an allegation by one Lefty college Don? Is there a chance, any chance at all, now that he is elected, that Brown can be judged by his future work in the Senate, before he is condemned?
Meanwhile here is a good commenter of yours #48 who values pledges highly. His name is Scuzneck. (BTW, Scuzneck is certainly no RINO. He is more like a RNWNH [Republican No Way No How].) Here is a pledge I wrote for his consideration should he run for office.
“I, Wrinkles Scuzneck, solomonly declaritate that if I am electivated, I will personally increase your taxavestments faster than your incomings and spend them on inefficicantly-run government charities of my choice. Futhurmore, whence pontificationizing, I will foresworn the use of the telemapomption machine. I will not chaw it, I will instead eschaw it. Thank you. Now, please join me in co-croonimacating the immoral, erah, immortal tune, “Cornholidarity Forever”.
I want to point out the basic flaw in the article when it asserts Brown’s further left than Dede Scazzafava. She actively has voted for tax increases , actively supports abortion, received support from KOS, actively supports Card Check, and Threw her support behind her Democrat Opponent instead of the Conservative candidate when she stepped down. That flaw in the argument makes everything else Mister Dodge wrote questionable indeed.
We knew exactly what we were doing, we are thinking strategically.
We are going to take the House in 2010, even if that means supporting New England RINOs.
Excellent article.
I was laughing under my breathe last night listening to Mr. O’Reilly bloviating about the country moving to the Right.
Scott Brown is actually a liberal Republican, hardly a Right winger by any test. And I believe that is why and how he was elected in Mass. Proof positive was his statement about following John McCain’s example.
I really fear that many of these tea party patriots are far too naive, they have no idea what his election really means.
You pointed it out to us plain and simple, thank you for your spot on analysis.
45. Fred Beloit:
Gee, Fred, isn’t it obvious? Tea Baggers called themselves Tea Baggers. We didn’t start this silliness. You did. Of course, you want to disavow that truth now that you’re so overwrought by this colorful epithet. But what’s wrong with us using the name you call yourselves? Was it a gift to liberals who now seize the opportunity to use it against you? Sure was. Thanks.
For illustration by contrast – you dubbed Obama the Anointed One, the Messiah. Nobody on the left did that, you creeps did. So either way, you have no standing.
I suggest you set aside the petty bitterness and homophobia that rises like bile in your manly gullet when we call you a tea bagger. Instead, focus on what’s really important – Scott Brown – the White Jesus.
Thus endeth the lesson. No charge.
Skeeziks: go crawl back in your hole- no one wants to play with you . As a typical lib, you start name-calling and throwing a tantrum when you don’t get your way.You trolls are looking sad and lonely out there in the rain with your god “o”. I almost feel sorry for you-nah, I really don’t!
The tea party movement is made up of all kinds of people, which is a feature not a bug. It won’t be co-opted by anyone, they will support candidates that support smaller government and the areas those candidates run in will be taken into account. In the case of Brown, he was about as far right as you can get in Mass.
I don’t think it needs a single issue to rally around or a “leader” either. As a conservatives I don’t care about personalities or celebrity politicians. I care about my country and ideas. I don’t need the RNC or any pundits telling me what to do and who to vote for. I donate to individual candidates who I find worthy of my support, and of course they are Republicans but that isn’t the reason I am supporting them. I am all for primary challenges in the case of RINO’s like McCain. The Brown win will encourage that and it is all good.
This writer of this article is providing unsolicited and un-needed advice towards a movement he apparently doesn’t understand. The pundits should go back to their hole and let the people do what is required. We don’t need their advice.
I can’t believe I am agreeing with Skeezix about anything. He has a point about pledges (however I do not agree with the rest of his all too familiar BS rant against anyone who expresses dislike for Socialism). But I agree that “pledges” are stupid and off-putting to many who have the tea party spirit and I hope we don’t end up requiring them – or any tattoos or any oaths or handshakes for that matter.
The reason I never joined the Libertarian party is that they make you pledge as follows: “I certify that I do not advocate the initiation of force to achieve political or social goals.” Sounds innocuous enough but since the taxes required for even minimal basic government are not voluntary, right off the bat I am pledging to support some sort of unworkable chaos.
The way I look at it, the ideology of either party should not be considered when they happen to be in a majority. Our country’s “ideology” has been established by the Constitution and the enumerated powers. To add to the role of the federal government beyond that should have first passed a stern, un-biased, non-ideological assessment of the costs and benefits and should require support by an ultra majority of citizens and Congress. Certainly, the Executive branch should have no notions whatsoever of activism toward expanding government . . not their job. Just run the machinery that is already there, please. And, by the way, let’s elect people to that branch who have demonstrated executive skills – not hopeychanger ideologues.
Regarding Scott Brown’s views on federalism, I believe he’s gone on record describing himself as a federalist, though I don’t have the source handy at the moment. Paul C. makes a very good point about the states being laboratories for democracy; thats one of the best features of federal government.
The true lesson that should be taken away from this election is that the parties should act in a more federal fashion as well. Each state should be taken as its own entity. What gets someone elected in MA will not get them elected in SC, and vice versa.
Scott Brown ran on fiscal conservatism, smaller government, lower taxes, accountability to the people. That’s what counts. If he lives up to what got him elected, it doesn’t matter that he is a RINO or not a real, allround conservative.
A hardcore conservative would never have been elected in Massachusetts. The lesson is not that the Republican party should run on a wishy washy, Dem-lite, moderate platform; the GOP has to provide an alternative to socialism.
Again, Socialist Party of America presidential candidate Norman Thomas in 1948:
“The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism, but under the name of liberalism, they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program until one day America will be a socialist nation without ever knowing how it happened.”
Liberalism everywhere in the world means capitalism, except in America. Here it has become a euphemism for socialism, the forbidden s-word you can’t even mention in polite conversation.
The American electorate:
30% socialists/fake liberals
30% real liberals/libertarians
40% conservatives
As long as elections are defined as conservative vs liberal, the conservatives are still going to lose. The GOP can only win if it starts redefining itself as the liberty party, the alternative to the socialism of the Obamacrats. Scott Brown showed how.
Scott Brown ran on fiscal conservatism, smaller government, lower taxes, accountability to the people. That’s what counts. If he lives up to what got him elected, it doesn’t matter that he is a RINO or not a real, allround conservative.
A hardcore conservative would never have been elected in Massachusetts. The lesson is not that the Republican party should run on a wishy washy, Dem-lite, moderate platform; the GOP has to provide an alternative to socialism.
Again, Socialist Party of America presidential candidate Norman Thomas in 1948:
“The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism, but under the name of liberalism, they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program until one day America will be a socialist nation without ever knowing how it happened.”
Liberalism anywhere in the world means capitalism, except here. In America it has become a euphemism for socialism, the s-word you can’t even mention in polite conversation.
The American electorate:
30% socialists/fake liberals/progressives
30% real liberals/libertarians
40% conservatives
In an election between a conservative and a liberal, the conservative will still lose. The GOP can only win by redefining itself as the liberty party, the alternative to the socialism of the Obamacrats.
This idiotic post regurgitates all the MSM BS:
BROWN IS TO THE LEFT OF DED!?!?
BS.
Brown supports water-boarding and has said we should pay for weapons to kill the enemy and not for lawyers to defend them.
That puts him to the right of Cheney on the biggest issue of the day.
And on issue two: taxes???
He is A-OK.
48. skeeziks:
Thanks for your support!
Brown is up for re-election in three years, if (& when) he falls too far from his campaign “message tree”, than we can run a solid in the primaries against him. For now I say, lets ‘see what Brown can do…’, other than being simply #41. Life is full of risk, & we live in a political time where some strategic risk is needed.
The correct response to the epithet “Tea bagger” is the more apt epithet “Barack Sucker.”
DeD,was as far Left as you could get.As above support water-boarding a strong defence,lower taxs against Cap and Tax,stealing 50 billion dollar from medicare if he does as he said i have no proable with him.Partial birth abortion he against.I haven”t heard have he is on card check.But he is making Robo call for MCcain i heard their was a conversation running against McCain but Sarah is helping McCain maybe they can bring him over to our side.
I’m a conservative guy and I am sick and tired of the culture wars. I’d rather have someone like Scott Brown, who speaks to the issues I care about most (low taxes, small government, pro small business) than some phoney like Newt, John “Promise Keepers” Ensign or Larry “Footsie” Craig preaching to me.
He doesn’t look like a rino to me. However we’ll have to wait to see how well he’s grounded – can he be seduced by the reality distortion field that is D.C.? He’s a reservist, and got my vote the minute he said that our money needs to be spent on weapons to defeat our enemies, not lawyers to defend our enemies.
re:
http://brownforussenate.com/issues
Why I’m Running…
America is a great country but we also have some challenges that we need to solve if we’re going to remain the world’s superpower. The most important of our challenges is getting the U.S. economy moving again. People are hurting as they struggle to make ends meet. They’re worried about their future, and that of their children and grandchildren. I want to ensure that we leave them an America that is financially stronger and independent: minus a national debt that we can never repay.
Health Care
I believe that all Americans deserve health care coverage, but I am opposed to the health care legislation that is under consideration in Congress and will vote against it. It will raise taxes, increase government spending and lower the quality of care, especially for elders on Medicare. I support strengthening the existing private market system with policies that will drive down costs and make it easier for people to purchase affordable insurance. In Massachusetts, I support the 2006 healthcare law that was successful in expanding coverage, but I also recognize that the state must now turn its attention to controlling costs.
Economy
I am a free enterprise advocate who believes that lower taxes can encourage economic growth. Raising taxes stifles growth, weakens the economy and puts more people out of work. Our economy works best when individuals have more of their income to spend, and businesses have money to invest and add jobs. I have been a fiscal watchdog in the state legislature fighting bigger government, higher taxes and wasteful spending.
Energy and Environment
I support common-sense environment policy that will help to reduce pollution and preserve our precious open spaces. I realize that without action now, future generations will be left to clean up the mess we leave. In order to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, I support reasonable and appropriate development of alternative energy sources such as wind, solar, nuclear, geothermal and improved hydroelectric facilities. I oppose a national cap and trade program because of the higher costs that families and businesses would incur.
Education
I am passionate about improving the quality of our public schools. Accountability and high standards are paramount. I support choice through charter schools, as well as the MCAS exam as a graduation requirement. I have worked to ensure that all children have access to a quality education. I am a strong advocate for the METCO program, which provides lower income students with broader educational opportunities.
Immigration
I recognize that our strength as a nation is built on the immigrant experience in America. I welcome legal immigration to this country. However, we are also a nation of laws and government should not adopt policies that encourage illegal immigration. Providing driver’s licenses and in-state tuition to illegal immigrant families will act as a magnet in drawing more people here in violation of the law and it will impose new costs on taxpayers. I oppose amnesty, and I believe we ought to strengthen our border enforcement and institute an employment verification system with penalties for companies that hire illegal immigrants.
Veterans
As a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army National Guard, I am uniquely aware of the importance and sacrifice of our men and women serving in the military. I have been a vigorous supporter of legislation providing benefits to returning service members, as well as, benefits for the families of those killed in action. I believe we need to recognize the sacrifice of all of our servicemembers by keeping better track of returning military personnel so they get the services they deserve. That includes providing them with first-class medical care and other benefits to which they are entitled. I am known as a leader on veterans’ issues through my work on the Veterans and Federal Affairs Committee, the Hidden Wounds of War Commission, and the Governor’s Task Force on Returning Veterans.
Gun issues
I support the Second Amendment and believe that citizens have the right to keep and bear arms as a basic constitutional liberty. I support safe and responsible gun ownership.
Death penalty
I believe there are some crimes that are so heinous that they deserve capital punishment. Our Government should have the ability to impose the death penalty in cases where it is justified.
Abortion
While this decision should ultimately be made by the woman in consultation with her doctor, I believe we need to reduce the number of abortions in America. I believe government has the responsibility to regulate in this area and I support parental consent and notification requirements and I oppose partial birth abortion. I also believe there are people of good will on both sides of the issue and we ought to work together to support and promote adoption as an alternative to abortion.
Marriage
I believe marriage is between a man and a woman. States should be free to make their own laws in this area, so long as they reflect the people’s will as expressed through them directly, or as expressed through their elected representatives.
Israel
Israel has made enormous sacrifices in an attempt to secure peace – including unilateral withdrawal from Gaza. I support a two-state solution that reaffirms Israel’s right to exist and provides the Palestinians with a place of their own where both sides can live in peace and security. As our closest ally in the Middle East, Israel lives every day under the threat of terror yet shares with America a dedication to democratic ideals, a respect for faith, and a commitment to peace in the region. Until a lasting peace is achieved, I support the security barrier erected by Israel which has proven successful in protecting Israeli civilians from terrorist attacks.
Iran
I support the bi-partisan Iran sanctions bill and believe that until Ahmadinejad gives up his nuclear ambitions he should be isolated from the rest of the world. With its reckless pursuit of nuclear weapons, Iran represents the biggest threat to Israel. Ahmadinejad is a Holocaust denier who has threatened to wipe Israel off the map. Meeting with him confers legitimacy when the only correct response is to treat him as an outcast. A personal meeting with Ahmadinejad, as suggested by my opponent, would embolden him and be used as a propaganda tool to strengthen his position.
53. nat turner:
Anti abortion fanatics would be wise to align themselves with the rat statist party . Democrats will welcome them and dump the pro choice faction the day the numbers add up for them.
Good news VIVO! Your post is now only the second stupidest on this thread.
What Now for the Tea Parties?
Well for this partier there was the assembly when the state legislation opened up and there are a few more coming up in April, July and September. There may be even more then that before the big party in November.
Two events have dampened my hope over the Brown victory this week. The first is the universal media claim that “The Tea Party” is now a single unified political party. In fact the power of this movement is that there is no such thing as The Tea Party, but rather a loose association of patriots with the sole goal of preserving and protecting the Constitution. Once it becomes led by a media selected person or persons, instead of a belief, the false 2 party system will be victorious and the Constitution will die.
The Modern Political Reality – An activist Democrat is a Progressive (remember Clinton’s debate), a moderate Democrat is a socialist, while a Blue Dog just flips a coin. A liberal Republican is a Socialist, a moderate is a Progressive, and the remainder, like the Dems, sells out to the highest bidder. If anyone can offer up any real, not emotional partisan knee jerk, differences between the two please educate us.
We can use the power of coordinated patriotic beliefs to elect actual patriots, or continue filling the chambers with the above identified scum. The Tea Party Movement may be our final opportunity. What happened in Mass last week proved that miracles can happen when patriots are reawakened.
The most distressing event of the week was Palin campaigning for McCain. Above comments stated that this is just out of a sense of loyalty to her continuing detractors. For the first time since Ronald, I had allowed myself to believe that we had someone who could help keep the patriotic majority centered on the principles of the Founders rather than being splintered by the power mad party leaders.
After reading her biography, and talking to Alaskan relatives about her, she is considered a wonderful and honest person who is loyal to a fault. That is the big problem. She is 100 percent loyal to the Patriotic Conservative campaign image of John McCain. That fierce loyalty prevents her from accepting that reality ended years ago when he became a pragmatic Progressive. Wasilla is a long way from D.C. when trying to observe who these politicians really are. Campaigning for a Progressive candidate makes one a defacto Progressive. There is nothing more incompatible with the Tea Bag Founders’ Movement than Progressive supporters. The advisers in whom she placed her trust have probably destroyed her career and a lot of our hopes with it.
If you support a candidate who agrees with Obama 75 percent of the time, are you also not supporting Obama 75 percent of the time?
A far cry from what those 56 Founders swore their fortunes, honor, and very lives to preserve.
To 39, 43 and 44.
Scott Brown is the Savior of the Republican party. At least in the northeast. Just in case you did not notice.
For Fred Beloit: I did not realize that t-bag offended you so much. I typed it that way to save typing time as I was really trying to make another point. However, make no mistake, I used to have a degree of respect for the the t-party movement, but when they turned racist, I turned on them. I do not tolerate racism. Life is too short.
As a rule, I do not believe in name calling, and you can call me names (poor folk or whatever) as I am not that sensitive. Again, sorry for any misunderstanding. And if you are a t party person, at your next meeting could you please tell them to stop wearing so many of those 3 dollar wal mart flag shirts? Unless they are from Texas, they dont look…..dont you agree?
WRT RomneyCare. It is certainly objectionable, but it is an single state’s initiative. That is wholly different beast from a Federal program/mandate. One can still question the legality of a state requiring the purchase of a breathing license, but the Constitution does give plenary powers to the states that are off limits to the Feds.
There’s a great irony that Dodge and professional defeatists like Rick Moran have missed here – something that would have been far more interesting to write, and read about.
With the cheerful help of so-called “moderates”, the socialists have been subverting the Republic for decades in part by seeking out and corrupting RINOs and wannabe RINOs. They do this actively, through political bribes, and passively, through the fakery of ‘bipartisan’ politics. The latter is nothing short of outright compromise.
As should be crystal clear to everyone by now, [a]ny compromise between good and evil only hurts the good and helps the evil. That’s why, after 75 years of constant compromise with the nihilist left, America presently lives under the yoke of something much closer to totalitarian socialism than the Republican Form of Government guaranteed by the Constitution.
Brown’s election has very likely made it all but impossible for the Democrats (so-called) to force socialized medicine – the linchpin of the far-far-left agenda – down the throats of Americans. In order to push it through, the socialists must now resort to open disregard for the will of the American People in the face of far more pressing national issues, and fall back on the sort of blatant political deceit championed by trolls like skeeziks/Moho/Alice/Sybil.
If that turns out to be the case AND Brown does in fact turn out to be a functional RINO, then the constitutionally conservative grass roots will have succeeded in beating the socialists at their own game.
And best of all: that formula is reproducible.
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@83. Poor Citizen: – Scott Brown is the Savior of the Republican party.
Your desperate, brainwashed, wishful thinking will never succeed in making that statement true – at least not outside the fantasy world in your sawdust-filled skull.
74. baal:
Say what? you’ll have to speak a little louder. I can’t hear you from where you are back there in the dust.
The tea party movement should not aspire to become a new political party, nor should they blindly support the Republicans. First and foremost they should be an interest group like the NRA or AARP or the unions. They should make it clear that they will support whoever acts in their best interests regardless of party affiliation. This will get the attention of both the Democrats and the Republicans, and keep it.
The win was impressive for Brown and the Tea Party.
Helping Brown win ia MA. was a smart move by the tea party.
Breaking the Kennedy Machine was a huge victory in breaking up the strongholds of the ultra liberals. . Some may agree and some may not.
#1–There are no 100percent conservaties, they can work with each other, if they have to.
#2– There are 100 percent ultra liberals, they want everything their way or no way. They can’t even work with other liberals, except with bribes or threats.
Every liberal stronghold, the tea party can help break, is a victory for AMERICA.
I’ll welcome them to Ill. to help defeat the Corrupt Chicago Machine, and
TURBIN DURBIN.
GO TEA PARTY GO.
Skeeziks
66
For your info.
In a speech, (FAR–A–GOON) of the Black MUSLIM Nation, said OBAMA was the MESSIAH, and when he spoke, everyone would listen.
Rev. Wright, in a speech, called OBAMA, THE ANOINTED ONE.
Get your facts straight.
YOUR KIND IS A DYING BREED. GET A LIFE. NO MORE OBAMA MONEY.
One of our leading Rhinos Mitt Romeny also voted for RomneyCare in Mass. What do we make of that little bit of ammunition for the libs in the next election?
There are no perfect candidates out there folks–just real people. The tea party movement is a collection of diverse real americans. Last I heard there is no one to thank since there is no one who represents them. Duh!! Although there are many politicians who claim to.
Lets get real. In the primaries we need to fight for the most conservative real americans to get elected. Most likely that will be someone who is about 80% right on the real important issues not 100%. I can get OK with that. What I will not tolerate however is some FAT ASSED republican RHINO big government, big spender, in favor of illegal immigration, in favor of climate change taxes, in favor of Mc Cain Fiengold ant free speech trying to capitalize on a movement about personal freedom. Got it!!
So John McCain as one example needs to go. Sorry John boy but you have insulted us for the last time for reaching across the Isle and shaking hands with a socialist anti American spewing commie. Where has that got us? We need victory absolutely and literally to rip this country away from the hands of these “you know whats” who are trying to run our lives and steal our liberties when they are not bankrupting teh children of America with trillions of Dollars of debt. Time for real hope and change.
Tommy Gunn
the Juan McCains of the world are firmly in control of the GOP, until that changes the TEA Parties should keep some distance from the GOP and be careful to only speak out in favor of politicans who are proven opponents of Big Government, many GOP’ers (especially insiders) are dependent on and fully in favor of large, inefficent, overbearing Government.
Mitt Romney is a Big Government Repub. and will never have strong support amoung TEA Party ppl.
if the GOP nominates Romney they will lose again for the same reason McCain lost… the base will not enthusiastically support them.
there is one person out there that the base will support with energy… i don’t need to mention her name you all know it.
(if she doesn’t do an about face on her support of McCain’s Senate campaign she could lose that as well)
Brown just happened to be the best candidate to back for the situation. The Tea Party movement has not sacrificed its core values, but worked with the hand they were dealt.
The successful election of Senator Brown is just one battle of a long war to take back the party. Expect a very surprising election cycle in 2010. Many Dems and RINO’s will be replaced.
92. Then Huckabee can take up that mantle.
Thanks for all the comments. Huckster is another big government Republican as well, he is as statist as they come.