Jacob Heilbrunn: Will The Tea Party Movement Sink Or Save The Republican Party?

Los Angeles Times:

Republican electoral prospects may be looking up with the retirement of Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) and with a host of other Democratic seats up for grabs, but the statement, which appeared on the eve of the annual Conservative Political Action Conference, suggests that the establishment right is shivering -- not so much because of the unusually frosty Washington winter but because of the potential threat posed to the GOP by the insurgent "tea party" movement. As a result, conservatives are going into overdrive to attempt to co-opt it.

Read the whole story: Los Angeles Times

Comments

[AnnC0725]

07:36 AM on 02/26/2010

One thing is for sure, they will sink the Democratic Party..already have in NJ, VA and MAss.

[JohnSawyer]

10:49 PM on 02/27/2010

If you call that sinking, which nobody else does.

[KindOne]

10:38 AM on 02/22/2010

" Republican National Committee Chairman Michael S. Steele has been playing footsie with the tea partyers, discussing the November election with about 30 of their leaders Tuesday.

Whether the GOP can permanently harness the energies of the tea party, however, is another matter. The insurgent party may well drive the GOP so far to the right that it proves something of an albatross in November. It's also hard to see how the GOP could deliver on the tea party's demand for cutting federal entitlement programs, which is political suicide. "

I have some basic disagreements with this assessment.

I think the demand for cutting federal entitlement programs is a product of the infiltration of neo-cons trying to take over the TEA Party movement. Now after months of Glenn Beck propaganda the issue is hopelessly confused. Oh gee, who could have seen that coming?

I also think the media portray the TEA Party as "on the right" because they deliberately ignore all of it's leftist messages.

My other point is a question really, why aren't the Democrats courting the TEA Party movement? Do they want to commit political suicide?

[LiberalUnderYourBed]

11:02 AM on 02/22/2010

"My other point is a question really, why aren't the Democrats courting the TEA Party movement? Do they want to commit political suicide?"

Perhaps our scruples, self-esteem and the fact that the tea baggers are being played by their corporate masters? You want ME to court THAT!!?? Go find another sucker.

[JohnSawyer]

10:57 PM on 02/27/2010

Courting the Tea Party movement would be suicide for the Democratic Party. One of the central tenets of the Tea Party movement is that the federal government is of little use, except for maintaining the military. This is a fictional interpretation of the Constitution that they try to promote.

[Gabrielle]

09:51 AM on 02/22/2010

SINK..

[suzc]

09:23 AM on 02/22/2010

It's no longer the Republican Party.

[RSKaz]

08:32 AM on 02/22/2010

The Tea Bag Movement has no more political clout than the Octomom, Jon & Kate, Tiger, and any other sociopath who fuels the media voyeurism. We all watch in gleeful anticipation of not what the 'baggers can do for the country, but rather what self destructive act they will undoubtedly inflect upon themselves. Were it not for the endless hours of schadenfreude they proved, the 'baggers would serve no purpose.

[OhgReaTone]

07:57 AM on 02/22/2010

The Tea Party reminds me of my neighbor who is frustrated with his boss - he comes home and kicks the family dog. The Tea Party movement is an example of misdirected frustration and anger. .........

http://thefiresidepost.com/2010/02/17/angry-electorate-kicks-the-family-dog/

[suzc]

09:24 AM on 02/22/2010

And, like the Tea Partiers, the neighbor isn't arrested for animal abuse.

[1088]

07:26 AM on 02/22/2010

Yes, the tea party are a treat to society! Next they will be hanging minorities in every Neighborhood, and the Republican party would go right along to insure a vote.

[prettyinpink]

07:03 AM on 02/22/2010

Witness the growth of the Patriot Tea Party movement. People are waking up and saying enough is enough. They want America returned to its founding principles.

Even those who voted for him are now finding themselves opposed to Obama's "change." They are saying no to government-run health care, cap-and-trade energy taxes, "card check" unionization schemes, wasteful spending, bailouts, back room deals, illegal immigrant amnesty and other proposals contrary to our Constitution.

We of the tea parties are fighting back.

Beginning with rallies and town hall meetings, we are asking our elected officials: "Can you hear us now?" Elections in Virginia, New Jersey and Massachusetts found actions were even louder than words.

We know limited government and a free market economy makes America work. We see Obama's policies as an impediment to America's future success.

Every day, more people are waking up to this truth. We cannot and will not allow our children to be denied the American Dream while simultaneously being burdened with staggering debt.

http://www.nationalcenter.org/P21NVMcClendonTeaParty90210.html

[jaschrod]

07:27 AM on 02/22/2010

The Tea Party, and the rest of the right wing people want to say no, but they do not offer any answers to how they would handle problems. Let's just take one, or two problems. What do we do to help family's that lose a wage earner such as a father to accident, or war? What do we do for the Downs Syndrome person when the parents die, who takes care of them? How do we help the people suffering from crippling diseases, that are incapable of earning a living.These are just a few problems that need to be taken care of, there are thousands just like this. Do we just shove them into the street, then scoop them up when they die. Who is going to pay for the mass burials, and pay the people who bury them, or the gas it will take to burn their bodies? The Tea Party, and the rest of the right wing people never provide any answers, they only worry about their little corner of the world, and how they are going to protect their assets.We live in a community whether they like it, or not, and if the community is sick, the community will die, one way, or the other.

[Nominal]

09:14 AM on 02/22/2010

I like your post - no offense to "prettyinpink" - but he/she quoted vague talking points and philosophy . Faved.

[Nominal]

08:58 AM on 02/22/2010

"Can you hear us now?"

We hear you loud and clear. We just don't know what your message is.

[LiberalUnderYourBed]

09:34 AM on 02/22/2010

Indeed, these 'patriotz' haven't offered one godd@mned solution except for the same old lame talking points.
Quitcherbitchen and stop being part of the problem. Perhaps then your 'grassroots' jive might be taken seriously.

[Margo Arrowsmith]

05:19 AM on 02/22/2010

Yes, the Tea People are a threat.

Yes, the Tea People have always been a threat to the Pubs. They aren't really controllable, even with their for profit conferences. That is why Rush Limbaugh, who has always been against bipartisanship AND a third party ordered Sarah Palin to go to the Tea People and tell them to be loyal Republicans, That order is why she went against the one real value she used to have.

[prettyinpink]

07:04 AM on 02/22/2010

Source? Link?

Lie.

[Janicot]

08:53 PM on 02/22/2010

HYPOCRITE! Why don't you ever ask Limbaugh or Beck or Palin for their sources? I'm thrilled that all you D-Baggers are so smug and self-assured, because the self-reflection you'll endure once you realize the extent to which you've been played by the Republican Party and their corporate paymasters will be painful. Revolutions are started by the young, and the young aren't buying your cr@p. Try self-immolation, you might get more empathy.

[MarkBoston]

04:22 AM on 02/22/2010

Tea Klux Klan some old Klan just repackaged

[azdirk]

04:20 AM on 02/22/2010

The Tea Partiers are like the SDS of the 60's. They want to tear down the current political structure and simply assume that what comes after will be better. I am amazed that they are angry at the huge profits of banks yet demand a weaker government. Who do they think will regulate these banks, Santa Claus. As for those who are older, they have a cat in this fight. They are afraid of losing social security and medicare, without realizing that the only was to save those programs is to increase funding. Hence, they need both higher taxes and a more diversified service population to be successful.

[wfglaser]

04:55 AM on 02/22/2010

"The Tea Partiers are like the SDS of the 60's." Huh? Who told you that? Glenn Beck?

Making a statement doesn't mean it's true. Turn off Fox and read some books or something.

[MeloMelo66]

05:14 AM on 02/22/2010

good points

[wfglaser]

03:45 AM on 02/22/2010

"...conservatives are going into overdrive to attempt to co-opt it."
Instead of trying to stomp out the fire, they are simultaneously pouring gas on it AND shouting "Fire!"
Seems a little bit too much like Italy in 1920s.

[wfglaser]

03:33 AM on 02/22/2010

LaRouche zombies, John Birchers, David Duke supporters, Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin, Limbaugh, etc., all funded and backed by "mainstream" GOP types like Ed Messe, Dick Armey, Newt Gingrich, etc. OMFG!!!

Freaking too much.

[myblueohio]

02:26 AM on 02/22/2010

I'm late to the site tonight, so don't have much time, as I have to "work" in the morning. But I do have one question before I head off to bed:

What Republican Party?

[loki]

02:02 AM on 02/22/2010

I find it very interesting, very telling, how dumb the tea baggers are. They started out against both parties and now that the rich elitist have taken control of the party, the masses in the tea party all of the sudden have turned into frothing at the mouth rethuglicans.

Also, on a trip to southern Illinois last week I was traveling 64 east and was following a nice large yacht being trucked down the highway. The name on the yacht was " Tea Party 1" Kind of telling when you see a million dollar yacht baring the name of the tea bag elitist party.

[KindOne]

10:21 AM on 02/22/2010

Would it surprise you to know the TEA Party was my idea?

I have been arguing that we need a third party to legalize marijuana. What better place to smoke pot than on a boat, it think the joke was on you.