Over at the Washington Examiner, Glenn Reynolds of Instapundit fame has a contributing editorial on the growing influence of the Tea Party movement. As is often the case, Glenn makes a few points with simple clarity.
Democratic and Republican politicians alike fear it, and increasing numbers of Americans (including, in recent months, increasing numbers of African-Americans according to a PJTV Tea Party tracking poll) identify with the Tea Party movement and say they are more likely to vote for candidates it supports, and less likely to vote for candidates it opposes.You'll note that the slur "teabagger" has fallen out of fashion. Attempts to marginalize the movement have died down as leadership on both sides have begun to realize just how much momentum it has.
Both political parties are out of touch, and ordinary Americans are very unhappy about it, as they watch the Treasury being looted, the economy sink, and the political, journalistic, and financial ruling-class figures escaping the consequences of their ham-handed and self-serving actions.He ends with a warning to the current GOP leadership.But while ordinary Americans are mad as hell, this time they really don't have to take it any more. Institutions have failed them, but Internet tools like blogs, Twitter, and Facebook, and personal tools -- like the cheap handheld video cameras that beat back bogus charges of Tea Party racism again and again -- mean that they don't have to rely on failing institutions.
But those establishment GOP figures who think that they'll cruise to victory and a return to the pocket-stuffing business-as-usual that marked the prior GOP majority need to think again. This election cycle is, in a very real sense, a last chance for the Republicans. If they blow it, we're likely to see third-party challenges in 2012, not only at the Presidential level but in numerous Congressional races as well.I couldn't agree more. As Glenn would say himself, read the whole thing.For the national GOP, it's do-or-die time. So guys, you'd better perform -- unless you want me to be writing another "I told you so" column in 2013. And trust me, you don't.



Comments (13)
With the democratization of... (Below threshold)1. Posted by BlueNight | October 3, 2010 2:43 PM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
With the democratization of information distribution (free journalism) comes a decreasing reliance on the institutions that once were required to survive as an ideology.
The Republican Party should be the ones celebrating YouTUBE: the free market of ideas is now open for business!
1. Posted by BlueNight | October 3, 2010 2:43 PM |
Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
Posted on October 3, 2010 14:43
2. Posted by Stan | October 3, 2010 3:29 PM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
There are a few die hard leftists out there that still use the "Teabagger" term and those are getting pushed aside. They are also the most ardent "Walks On Water" supporters too. They also hate Fox News and still haven't got the message that Barry was the one that pushed Porkulous and ObamaCare and is trying to make Cap and Tax a reality. They also think that Bush is the cause of all of the country's woes.
2. Posted by Stan | October 3, 2010 3:29 PM |
Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
Posted on October 3, 2010 15:29
3. Posted by Dane | October 3, 2010 4:12 PM | Score: -6 (10 votes cast)
"You'll note that the slur "teabagger" has fallen out of fashion. Attempts to marginalize the movement have died down as leadership on both sides have begun to realize just how much momentum it has."
Just for the record, ---
[Ed: Whoops, Dane inadvertently used a slur directed against the author. I tried to just delete the slur, but I must have hit the wrong key and the rest of Dane's comment seems to have been "inadvertently" deleted.]
3. Posted by Dane | October 3, 2010 4:12 PM |
Score: -6 (10 votes cast)
Posted on October 3, 2010 16:12
4. Posted by SER | October 3, 2010 4:28 PM | Score: 11 (11 votes cast)
Dane,
You forgot to call us "tea baggers," as well. I'm trying to get your point. Are you saying that you are against government spending like the Medicare prescription drug program? Are you saying that you like government spending, but only when the democrats do it? We have said it before, but you don't listen. Would you like a list of government spending cuts? Start with the Department of Education. The whole Department. All of it. Gone. Poof. Last year it spend $46.2 billion. All of it wasted. If you would like more examples, let us know. Just don't say we don't have examples of cuts.
4. Posted by SER | October 3, 2010 4:28 PM |
Score: 11 (11 votes cast)
Posted on October 3, 2010 16:28
5. Posted by sam | October 3, 2010 4:40 PM | Score: 8 (8 votes cast)
Well, the good thing is, after January 2011, the Democrats will not be making any decisions. Obama will be lucky to be pushing school uniforms and midnight basketball.
5. Posted by sam | October 3, 2010 4:40 PM |
Score: 8 (8 votes cast)
Posted on October 3, 2010 16:40
6. Posted by iwogisdead | October 3, 2010 4:53 PM | Score: 7 (9 votes cast)
Diane wrote:
And those circles are the Latin Club, Study Hall, and Lunch Period.
6. Posted by iwogisdead | October 3, 2010 4:53 PM |
Score: 7 (9 votes cast)
Posted on October 3, 2010 16:53
7. Posted by 914 | October 3, 2010 5:50 PM | Score: 6 (6 votes cast)
In 2012 rinos need not apply. Or assclowns named dane.
7. Posted by 914 | October 3, 2010 5:50 PM |
Score: 6 (6 votes cast)
Posted on October 3, 2010 17:50
8. Posted by GianiD | October 3, 2010 7:41 PM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
The only true teabagger involevd in politics is Bawney Fwank. Something tells me the unhinged left would be up in arm if anyone of prominence on the right called Bawney a teabagger(I think tea baggee is more appropriate)
8. Posted by GianiD | October 3, 2010 7:41 PM |
Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
Posted on October 3, 2010 19:41
9. Posted by DaveD | October 3, 2010 8:53 PM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
Dane, thanks once again for stopping by and letting us know it's all about you. I know your feelings are hurt, the whole rejection thing here. However, we are focusing on the survival of the Republic right now so if you could just show a little patience, maybe step outside and have a cigarette, we can discuss your issues at a more opportune time.
9. Posted by DaveD | October 3, 2010 8:53 PM |
Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
Posted on October 3, 2010 20:53
10. Posted by Brian Richard Allen | October 4, 2010 9:47 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
.... we watch the Treasury being looted by career politician, by their monetary-manipulative, elitist ruling-class thugees and lock-stepping Goebbelsesque commentaireatte - while all of them use the machinery of gummint to provide cover and to ensure their evasion of the well-deserved consequences of their corrupt and self-serving activities ....
All of that, except one tiny part, being absolutely true.
The one tiny part being the bit about We, The People, having watched "the Treasury being looted."
That's not true.
Its vaults' shelves piled high with naught but IOUs, Treasury has long had nothing left to loot.
For as has been and is every "Democratic" potty-activist-stacked feral gummint department, bureau, secretariat, office and agency, Treasury has long long long been but a "Democratic" potty branch-office.
And that recidivist, treasonous, lying, looting, thieving, war-profiteering RICO-racketeering gang decades ago got done looting it.
And, like most everything it has ever done, by night, insidiously -- when no-one watched.
10. Posted by Brian Richard Allen | October 4, 2010 9:47 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on October 4, 2010 09:47
11. Posted by dunce | October 4, 2010 2:47 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
It may be that the term "teabagger" is inside the bathhouse gay talk that normal people are stangers to,the understandable english would be scotum sucking. They are reluctent to day that in the msm.
11. Posted by dunce | October 4, 2010 2:47 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on October 4, 2010 14:47
12. Posted by John S | October 4, 2010 3:10 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
The Tea Party will elect the next president. Consider the situation in January: Republicans control the House, Democrats lose about six seats but still marginally control the Senate. Republicans will submit a budget and policies that could turn the economy around in 10 months, but their efforts will die in the Senate. Obama will begin the 2012 campaign November 3, but otherwise do nothing in the next two years. And in this stalemate between the two parties, the economy will crash. In the midst of soaring inflation and 25 percent (U6) unemployment, voters will abandon both the red and the blue team. It will be the Tea Party's turn.
12. Posted by John S | October 4, 2010 3:10 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on October 4, 2010 15:10
13. Posted by Brian Richard Allen | October 4, 2010 11:35 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
.... This election cycle is ... a last chance for career "Republicans" and when they blow it We, The People, will challenge them in 2012, not only at the Presidential level but in EVERY Congressional race, as well ....
Let's get this Right.
This is not a drill.
The Second American War of Independence is under way and EVERY un-and-anti-Constitutionalist is in our sights.
Unctuous compromisers and pragmatists need not apply and those other members of the Permanently-Parasitical Classless who have for so long besquatted and bemanured our halls of power, bureaucracies and fiat benches should know they will be voted out of office, fired and/or impeached.
(Are you listening, Mz Ginsberg? Ninth Circuit? Mz Sotomayor? Mr Holder? Mz Kagan?)
13. Posted by Brian Richard Allen | October 4, 2010 11:35 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on October 4, 2010 23:35