Is the Tea Party Over?
By Ward Smythe | Wednesday, November 30th, 2011 | Politics
From U.S. News and World Report: The Decline and Fade of the Tea Party
Remember the Tea Party? It was all the rage back in ’10, inspiring fear in establishment Republicans and loathing in Democrats. The movement became the conservative face of voter anger, taking down incumbents and party favorites in primary after primary.
And, quotes of note…
Indeed, experience with the Tea Party has turned voters off. Jennifer Duffy, a senior editor at the Cook Political Report, argues that a large number of Republicans who cast anti-establishment, Tea Party votes regret their decision, thanks to the likes of Christine O’Donnell and, one supposes, the debt ceiling fiasco. That kind of hindsight is one reason for the Tea Party’s diminished status.
Closer home…
Even in places like Virginia and Texas, where the movement has lined up behind single candidates, they face tough sledding. Virginia Tea Party activist Jamie Radtke is getting little traction against George Allen, a former governor and senator.
Is it lights out for the Tea Party? When here at home they’re spending time fighting with Richmond City Council that may be a legitimate question.
Seriously, where are the recent Tea Party victories? Jamie Radtke spends every waking moment attacking George Allen and gets no traction. In fact, Allen recently released a list of his own Tea Party supporters.
I might add that we pointed some of this out to you back in March.
Maybe the Tea Party isn’t over. Maybe it’s just resting.
Or maybe, just maybe, it’s gone the way we prefer our tea here in the South…Iced.
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Ward Smythe is a pseudonymous aspiring freelance writer from Central Virginia. Until late 2007 Ward blogged at the now defunct "Ward View" and was active in Virginia and national politics. Ward's signature style of snarkery gained him a unique following that he hopes to regain here at Bearing Drift. Ward uses humor, satire and sometimes photoshop to make his point. Ward is proud to be an equal opportunity offender.
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12 Responses to "Is the Tea Party Over?"
The problem is the Republican Party of Virginia has been much more conservative than most state parties in the country. Look at 2010 . . . Hurt and Rigell were the establishment . . . the only place that the tea party had a victory is in Northern Virginia, where the base is actually more conservative than most of the state.
The “establishment” are people like George Allen, Bill Howell, and Bob McDonnell . . . while in Northern Virginia the “establishment” are true moderates like Tom Davis and Pat Herrity. I mean, you drop Robert Hurt in 49 other states and he’s a right-winger. In Virginia?
So the state just has a different dynamic.
I know their counter-productive behavior in conservative localities has alienated me. Attacking pro-business, low-tax officials in localities has really left a bad taste in my mouth.
Here we go again. The Tea Party is not a party despite party being the second word. The Tea Party movement or whatever had the, I guess, incidental effect of making the Repubs the majority party (they are a party) for the first time since the 20s. If the Tea Party movement (or whatever) is iced then I simply ask why do Repubs think they will remain the majority party? Which votes do they expect to get to make up for Tea Party movement voters (or whatever) staying home or voting third party? I don’t ask that waspishly, I’m just curious. I also tend to agree with Chris that the dynamics are different in VA than in many other states.
As for your question “where are the Tea Party (movement) victories?” I hope they are occurring in the heads of Republican politicians. If not then I’m really curious about my question above.
THERE WOULD BE NO NEED FOR A TEA PARTY -IF the Republicans took their RPV creed seriously. And gave it backbone with a Republican oath/affirmation that merged of the oath of citizenship with the law required oath of office and respects their duty under that law as it actually is NOW? WHY NOT THIS:
=====================================================
I, _______, as a Republican, Believe:
1) That the free enterprise system is the most productive supplier of human needs and economic justice, That all individuals are entitled to equal rights, justice, and opportunities and should assume their responsibilities as citizens in a free society, (Tea Party Free Markets core value)
2) That fiscal responsibility and budgetary restraints must be exercised at all levels of government, (Tea Party fiscal responsibility core value)
3) That the Federal Government must preserve individual liberty by observing Constitutional limitations, (Tea Party Constitutionally Limited Government core value)
4) That peace is best preserved through a strong national defense,
5) That faith in God, as recognized by our Founding Fathers is essential to the moral fiber of the Nation.
I, _______________, as citizen and voter (, also candidate and officer if elected), affirm that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of the United States, and Virginia; and to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend said constitutions against all enemies, foreign and domestic;
I will bear arms or perform noncombatant service on behalf of the United States and State when required by the duly authorized law.
I will diligently perform my duty defined in The Code of the United States of America 18USC4 Misprision of Felony ; such that crimes arising from alienation shall become scarce, particularly, that felony against MY Constitution and its duly authorized law known as US Frauds & Swindles; effected by “Resisting the execution of the laws under the color of its authority”, defined as “Virginia Statutory Treason” and “Virginia Statutory Embezzlement”.
I affirm this duty freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of citizen, voter and candidate; and trusting with firm reliance on the Providence, Witness and Counsel of “The Laws of Nature and Nature’s God” pledge my life, my fortune and my sacred honor.”
I, _______, as a Republican, Believe:
1) That the free enterprise system is the most productive supplier of human needs and economic justice, That all individuals are entitled to equal rights, justice, and opportunities and should assume their responsibilities as citizens in a free society, (Tea Party Free Markets core value)
2) That fiscal responsibility and budgetary restraints must be exercised at all levels of government, (Tea Party fiscal responsibility core value)
3) That the Federal Government must preserve individual liberty by observing Constitutional limitations, (Tea Party Constitutionally Limited Government core value)
4) That peace is best preserved through a strong national defense,
5) That faith in God, as recognized by our Founding Fathers is essential to the moral fiber of the Nation.
I, _______________, as citizen and voter (, also candidate and officer if elected), affirm that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of the United States, and Virginia; and to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend said constitutions against all enemies, foreign and domestic;
I will bear arms or perform noncombatant service on behalf of the United States and State when required by the duly authorized law.
I will diligently perform my duty defined in The Code of the United States of America 18USC4 Misprision of Felony ; such that crimes arising from alienation shall become scarce, particularly, that felony against MY Constitution and its duly authorized law known as US Frauds & Swindles; effected by “Resisting the execution of the laws under the color of its authority”, defined as “Virginia Statutory Treason” and “Virginia Statutory Embezzlement”.
I affirm this duty freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of citizen, voter and candidate; and trusting with firm reliance on the Providence, Witness and Counsel of “The Laws of Nature and Nature’s God” pledge my life, my fortune and my sacred honor.”
Be Honorable Republicans! No more cause for serious division. VIRGINIA, SAVE THE REPUBLIC while you still can!
Using Virginia as a Tea Party frame isn’t fair. The RPV is a good, conservative state party. I think it’s fair to say that a good deal of Tea Partiers in the state support George Allen. Virginia has solid conservatives like Governor McDonnell and AG Cuccinelli. There hasn’t been a need for a “throw the bums out” mentality here.
If I may. I entered the SAR (Sons of the American Revolution) under an obscure person named Paul Hatch, who, according to the Hatch family in the 1930s, was a real member of the of the real Boston Tea Party, and was an apprentice of Paul Revere. I will never be able to prove that because (1) the papers of Paul Revere are not extant and (2) there are no known records of who actually participated in the Boston Tea Party.
Be that as it may, I was able to prove that young Paul Hatch did serve in the Revolution, and that he was indeed my ancestor. He was also styled as a Goldsmith in deeds when he moved from Massachussetts to Maine soon after the RW.
I could have gone into the SAR under any number of Virginia ancestors, and much more easily–but they really didn’t do anything except claim reimbursement under the Publick Claims Act (i.e. the Fed took impressed some cows). So, I chose to honor this particular ancestor and him enrolled in logs of the SAR.
I take great offense at this so-called modern “Tea Party” crowd usurping this very real group of young men and making it their own band of “patriots” when they spoon up the likes of Michelle Bachmann and Herman Cain and Rick Perry as “their own.”
Kilby
Is the tea party dead? By what metric? Is it ONLY the installation of fully-identified tea party candidates? Is that the metric?
Does the author remember Bill Stanley and Bryce Reeves? You know….waaaaay back earlier this month?
I bet the author isn’t aware of the FLOOD of tea party leaders & members that won local races ALL OVER Virginia. Like Susan Lascolette (Richmond Tea Party board member and founder of Goochland Tea Party) that won her race for Goochland Board of Supervisors…removing a 40-year incumbent?
And I know that the state tea party federation just welcomed three newly formed tea parties into the group.
Yes, sounds dead to me.
It’s awesome when folks that have no idea what they’re talking about….decide to talk about it. But hey, I guess I’m nuts for asking for accuracy.
Ward,
While the Tea Party, and even spin offs, are fighting for the rights to farm our own land or expose the hypocrisy in Richmond, you engage in typical soap opera politics,
While the Democrats are organizing, using tactics like neighborhood watch and other community organizing techniques. Along with our local government practicing fascism through public-private partnerships as they pursue their quest to destroy the small business,
You take an Alinsky stance for politics, moving change even closer…one Hegelian move at a time. Your designation of removing the “don’t” is exactly what your advocating, tread on you. As this may be your aspiration, it is not mine. Instead of helping the Tea Party secure your rights…you are attacking it even though objective reporting is the claim.
Within the article referenced, there wasn’t one mentioning of Reese choking in WV, the other loses by established Republicans throughout the nation or the fact that Barrack Obama was campaigning for most of the candidates in possible loses whereas Democrats knew the Senate was at stake. …and they knew they could not lose the Senate for Barrack Obama would be tasked to sign legislation and go on record for stances. But they secured the Senate through pep rallies and typical Republican imploding.
As the article you reference is propaganda.
…so you bite. Congratulations on your Pulitzer Prize.
VA Patriot, what frustrates many gop operatives, activists and junkies is not having a clue as to the free wheeling nature of tea party movement organizations. Tea groups are run by patriotic people that do not take cues from an elite monolithic structure with top down organizational mandates that come from bureaucrats who are presumed to care more and know better what you need. These “crats” are in it for money, power and all too often greed and yes people voted them into office. People are fed up and chose tobecome part of the movement and the door is open for anyone to rise because people within the movement seek better representatives who work for them, not the monied interests that behind the scenes dominate monolithic party structures.
Get your facts, Craig. The people who are tired of the BS have every right to call tp their own and tp have every right to accept or reject. No offense intended to your ancestors bud..
The Dems and too many EstablishmentRepublicans can go on dreaming. The Tea Party will see y’all in 2012, you can bet on it.
Tea Party is over? Yeah, keep on polishing your dolphin.. http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/12/george-allen-campaign-touts-phantom-tea-party-support.php
Rick are you still having those bad dreams about losing your last race ? The one that the Lynchburg Tea party was suppose to deliver a win for you.
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