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What do you all think of the Tea Party?

Posted by OH45458 12 years, 5 months ago to Politics
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As far as I can see, the liberals in the Democrat Party, and the spineless progressives in the Republican Party are leading this country down the economic road to oblivion. That being said, I am open to a new party that more closely matches my philosophy and desires, and will promote policies that will serve society rather than enslave it.

While I am not a member of the Tea Party movement, I sympathize with their intent, at least with what I perceive as their intent: that being smaller, less intrusive government, and a return to the founder's original intentions in this regard. However, my understanding is that this movement is just grass roots, with no real central national platform, and certainly with no vetting process for the candidates that it backs.

Can this movement be successful without organizing at the national level?

Is this movement viable? Will it become, like the GOP did just prior to the Civil War, the dominant party of the country?

Just interested in opinions...

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  • Posted by OH45458 12 years, 5 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I'm a Catholic by baptism and upbringing, but think of myself more accurately described as a deist as well. I guess AR would likely call us mystics. I just can't get over my belief that there is an intelligence beyond our own at work behind the scenes of our existence. I'm also a believer in the Big Bang theory, but believe that the universe and God are codependent, and each cannot exist without the other, but I guess this type of conversation is best left to another forum...
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  • Posted by OH45458 12 years, 5 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I've thought of joining the Libertarian party, but just can't get beyond what I perceive to be the isolationist aspect of it. While I don't agree with all aspects of the reasons used for our nation's most recent conflicts overseas, I do believe in muscular defense, and that at times the best defense is an aggressive offense. That having been said, I believe that it is naive to believe you can spread western style Democracy in the Muslim world, and foolish to even try.
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  • Posted by gblaze47 12 years, 5 months ago in reply to this comment.
    The TEA party isn't a group, it's run by one person, the TEA party activist. Each person has their own likes and dislikes, some may be more for the constitution than they are for Capitalism and vice-a-verse, the movement is like water, they come together when we need to on major issues.
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  • Posted by DragonLady 12 years, 5 months ago
    As a deist, I was not welcome at any of the groups I contacted, so although I personally don't have any issues with their religious beliefs apparently they had some with mine. I do have to giggle, however, whenever I see them carrying signs quoting AR, who was an atheist....


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  • Posted by WWJGD 12 years, 5 months ago
    I think they were great. They managed to make a few changes -- for ONE election.

    But that was then and this is now. Forget about trying to save the country; it's too late for that. There are more takers than makers now and that's just the way it is. Concentrate on saving YOURSELF.
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  • Posted by khalling 12 years, 5 months ago in reply to this comment.
    My only concern is that it has subtlety changed from the beginning. In the beginning it was so exhilarating to see people coming together to protest what I would call fiscal issues. You can attract the most attendees if remaining focused on that. It has evolved to be less inclusive of libertarians-or maybe fewer libertarians attend rallies now then they did(this of course is anecdotal from my attending rallies in Colorado). Also, I think the movement had some hiccups over candidates they supported on a national level. I don't like the concept of "vote for the tea party candidate." I think it will continue to evolve and finesse, but what I really will miss is the beginning.
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  • Posted by jerryconn 12 years, 5 months ago
    I also am a Tea Party supporter/participant. Like the Libertarian Party, the Tea Party is being marginalized at present by both parties. There are groups that are vetting candidates, but not all candidates, for example Libertarian candidates were not vetted. GOOH (stands for Get Out Of Our House) is another group I am interested in. They "qualify" candidates but only as to whether they are already part of the mainstream political system.
    The general thinking now, or at least was prior to the election was the Tea Party would become a controlling force within the Republican Party. The intent and purpose was to keep the Tea Party a Grassroots system and not turn it into a disconnected political party.
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  • Posted by gblaze47 12 years, 5 months ago
    As a supporter of the TEA Party movement, it's not really a party per -Se, it's made up of conservatives, libertarians and some democrats who want smaller government and much smaller spending (fiscal sanity). We are, like most people, tired of watching politicians do what they want. Unlike others we find the time to rally, get the word out about important legislation, which is good because most people do not have time to study every law passed. I suggest at least signing up to news letters, there's a lot of good analysis done on laws and regulations and what they mean to the average person.
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  • Posted by skstewart 12 years, 5 months ago
    You don't need a new party. The Libertarian Party has been around for decades, but has been marginalized by the other two. There are so many false assumptions about Libertarians based on what others say. The root word of Libertarian is liberty, that should say a lot about the party.
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