Tea Party: What is it/what does it stand for

As an avid Ron Paul fan I remember the movement starting during Ron Pauls campaign for the presidency, somehow Sarah Palin has usurped it. I do not remember Dr. Paul passing the baton to anyone or the movement itself dumping him. I think Sarah Palin as well as others are truly Republicans rather than conservatives. As I see it she has done two things, jumped on someone elses bandwagon to look popular and second to bring the rebellious back into line with Republican party interests, pulling the disenfranchised back into the fold. If you remember she campaigned on McCains behalf against a tea party candidate. The movement has been usurped and set back for years to come. Unfortunately that leaves us with the usual bought and paid for candidates left and right.

At one time the tea party could have cleaned house in the Republican party and that would have been a good thing for all Americans.


They say that power corrupts, not really, its just that the corrupted are drawn to it, the honest have no need for it.

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Originally Posted by mhailey

Are you saying that the corporations started it? corporations hijacked a non-corporate movement. could you please cite where you get the information that the Tea Party is corporate funded. From what i can tell it is a grass-roots movement that was born out of the people, and the frustration caused by a government that completely disregards the will of the people, and that disgregards limitations imposed upon the government by the people.

I would agree that Palin and Glenn Beck are the personalities that embody the tea party movement.

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The movement has always been funded by the likes of Koch Industries, Freedomworks, and AFP. These industries and groups pump millions of dollars into backing candidates and staging protests with paid participants. Politics as usual and I'm certainly not saying that they're unique, just that it's far from grassroots.

I disagree with much of what Beck and Palin represent.

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Originally Posted by commiecat

The movement has always been funded by the likes of Koch Industries, Freedomworks, and AFP. These industries and groups pump millions of dollars into backing candidates and staging protests with paid participants.

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Oh man, some people owe me some money then... that check had better be in the mail you greedy jerks! :soapbox:

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Originally Posted by nun2sharp

As an avid Ron Paul fan I remember the movement starting during Ron Pauls campaign for the presidency, somehow Sarah Palin has usurped it. I do not remember Dr. Paul passing the baton to anyone or the movement itself dumping him. I think Sarah Palin as well as others are truly Republicans rather than conservatives. As I see it she has done two things, jumped on someone elses bandwagon to look popular and second to bring the rebellious back into line with Republican party interests, pulling the disenfranchised back into the fold. If you remember she campaigned on McCains behalf against a tea party candidate. The movement has been usurped and set back for years to come. Unfortunately that leaves us with the usual bought and paid for candidates left and right.

At one time the tea party could have cleaned house in the Republican party and that would have been a good thing for all Americans.


They say that power corrupts, not really, its just that the corrupted are drawn to it, the honest have no need for it.

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Hear Hear!!

I am confused. The tea party movement is being interpreted Palin and Beck, and anything else you can think of, they do not define it. I want the Constitution upheld, fiscal spending realistically applied, and our borders secured for starters.

How can anyone watch Pelosi stand on a podium and tell the American people that a bill that will change America has to be passed before it can be read by the American people? How can a congressman be asked if something is within the rules of congress and reply "We are making the rules as we go along, we don't old outdated congressional rules"?

The tea party members are disliked by both Republicans and Democrats alike, that says a lot to me. It was Republican Dole that said that the news members coming in will have to be taught a thing or two to make sure that bend to the old war horses in the party. He and the rest of the old guard will hopefully be gone soon. Democrats that think that they can enslave, tax and spend our grand children's future are being tested.

I don't know how the upcoming election will come out but I have hope that there will be a loud roar that gets the point across that we are tired of politicians treating us like idiots. We are not a stupid inferior lot!


Later,
Richard

Well, I voted the option with stuffed animals :)
Because that is the most accurate one for me. My duaghter loves making play doh cookies for tea.

But as for the US tea party thing. Not sure how it will pan out.
I think the concept of going back to small, fiscally responsible government is admirable. However, I am wondering if they can make a break from the default republican positions on e.g. gay marriage, religion, and related issues.

If they can, then imo they have a good chance of getting acceptance from disenfranchised and moderate members of the other 2 parties and gain traction on a national level. And it would be great to see a 3 party congrress, because they'd have to form a concensus instead of defaulting to dogmatic party line.

If they can't, then they'll just be the disgruntled republican party and fade away, next time the republicans win.

EDIT: I don't know the exact relation between Sarah Palin and the tea party, but I do hope for their sake that they don't use her as their face / spokes person.

Wow.. That poll isnt putting words in peoples mouths. Either you think they are Super Patriots or racists eh?

No agenda here at all.....

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Originally Posted by Slartibartfast

Wow.. That poll isnt putting words in peoples mouths. Either you think they are Super Patriots or racists eh?

No agenda here at all.....

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As you have just demonstrated, you have free reign to voice (type) your own thoughts/opinions/ideas. If you disagree with the poll, then don't vote in it and post your own thoughts.

Edit: And, it seems as though that those that disagree with the Tea Party rely upon the "racist/Bigot" & "hate monger" name calling to try and discredit the Tea Party, and do not debate the issues. (Please see MSNBC, NAACP, ... ) This is why the "racist" selection is in the poll. That's seems to be the main argument (if you can call it that) against the Tea Party.

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Originally Posted by Bruno

...But as for the US tea party thing. Not sure how it will pan out. I think the concept of going back to small, fiscally responsible government is admirable. .......

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I don't know about admirable but necessary. I have been reading the papers lately and a couple of instances come to mind. France is burning, and the UK is laying off 500,000 government workers. The Dutch can't afford the welfare system that they have. The European model that the progressive left wants for this country is not what the American people by a majority of 75%. The problem is that both parties are just interested in power and being elected to a cush job. Some of these folks have been there for 40 years and never worked up a callous on their hands or ran a business with "real" employees.

I find it refreshing that at least there is still "hope" in America. God knows a lot of the people throughout the world have really just given up. The except taxes and soft tyranny without a whimper. People that accept, nay demand, other peoples' money obtained by the sweat of their brow are morally bankrupt. I, for one, hope it works out for the American people because the price of inaction can be seen in the grotesque events that are evolving, even as we speak, on the European continent. I certainly wish them well because they have a lot of very hard choices to make...... all of them very painful!


Take care,
Richard

All of the above needs to be an option. The Tea Party (like any other group of people) is pretty non-homogenous. They are not all patriots and they are not all racists, I suspect there are some of both.

In a like fashion, not all Republicans are Rush Limbaugh or Fred Phelps.
Not all Democrats are Nancy Pelosi or Micheal Moore.
Not all Libertarians are Ron Paul or Micheal Badnarik.

What all these political parties have in common:
they are wrong. Any vote not for Chuck Norris is a vote that hates liberty and freedom.