Did the Tea Party make the right decision?
@thegreatdebater (7316)
United States
November 3, 2010 11:51am CST
When the Tea Party made the decision to join the Republican party they made a historic decision. Instead of waking up to a Republican controlled house, and major gains by the party. You would have questioned it's future, and the countries need for the GOP. This was not a republican win, it was a Tea Party win, but you never would have known it if you watch any of the coverage. Not only that, but most of the leadership position in the house are already being given to top Republicans, totally ignoring the Tea Party candidates that brought them to power. Do you think the Tea Party candidates deserve leadership positions in the house? And, do you think that the Tea Party made the right decision?
3 responses
@xfahctor (14118)
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
3 Nov 10
"Do you think the Tea Party candidates deserve leadership positions in the house" Yep. But not likely to happen unfortunately. I think the speaker position should go to someone of Ron Paul's stature rather then the teetotaler I saw slurring his way through a victory speech last night (disgraceful).
"do you think that the Tea Party made the right decision?"
In retrospect...perhaps. I know I have said this before, but I would have loved to see the libertarian party jump on their bandwagon early on. But either way, the groups that weren't co-opted turned things and did the co-opting themselves. while everyone was focused on the commercial tea party candidates that were making the news...nearly 30 other tea party inspired candidates snuck in under the radar.
1 person likes this
@xfahctor (14118)
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
4 Nov 10
"Wouldn't you be upset if you voted for the Tea Party and got rank and file republicans instead?"
Yep, but they can be fired just as easy as the last batch, there are plenty of people in line behind them who want the job.
"You mean the tannest man in Ohio"
Again, yep. I would swear on the Rede that man was blithering drunk when he gave that speech.
@thegreatdebater (7316)
• United States
4 Nov 10
Wouldn't you be upset if you voted for the Tea Party and got rank and file republicans instead? I agree it won't happen, and this morning the leadership barely mentioned the Tea Party, and surely didn't mention one Tea Party name when it came to chairman of the committees.
You mean the tannest man in Ohio (well, from Ohio in words only, he spends most of his time as far from Ohio as possible)? I agree, this guy was part of the old republican party that created this mess, and is everything that the Tea Party is against.
I personally think that this was the best opportunity to challenge the norm in Washington, and could have changed the country. But, every person has a price, and both parties have enough money to buy anyone they want. If Ron Paul would have stood up and headed up the Tea Party today would be an entirely different day. It is sad that he still continues to fight a losing battle, when he could win the war so easily. The country is dying for new leadership, but the leaders have to show us they are willing to go after the establishment.
@gewcew23 (8007)
• United States
3 Nov 10
I have to question your opinion that this was a tea party victory. I cannot think of one self described tea party candidate that won outside of a conservative state or a conservative district. When ever a tea party candidate did run in a bluesh state or district they lost. In my opinion last night was actually a defeat of the tea party because they could not demonstrate that they had across the board appeal. Fine you won in districts that McCain carried in 08, knocking off a bunch of blue dog Democrats. Paul and Rubio were not even gain. Johnson and Coats were but if they go as far to the right as the tea party in 2016 at lest Johnson will be back to his old job. Boozman never once champaign or associated himself as a tea party candidate.
As to the GOP leadership controlling the GOP might I say that they are doing this because they don't trust these new freshmen. The GOP doesn't want to lose control of the House in 2012 and I promise you if those new tea drinking freshmen had their way in 2012 the trend will reverse.
@thegreatdebater (7316)
• United States
4 Nov 10
Gew, I agree that they didn't do very well in contested areas, but they did defeat republican candidates in primaries in these contested areas. I agree that they don't trust any of the Tea Party candidates, and they only supported them because they bashed Obama, and they could use them to take control back from democrats.
@gitfiddleplayer (10362)
• United States
4 Nov 10
I had a whole response typed up but something went wrong. No, the Tea Party consists of people who wanted change in their government, they didn't make the decision for any voter, that should not be swayed by any party, money contribution or intimidation. Those that didn't win are not banished to obscurity, they will rise again when the time is right.
