GOP and the tea parties
April 17th 2009 00:43
Yesterday, tens of thousands of people showed up at hundreds of tea parties across the country. I was encouraged by the showing of so many people who are tired of the tax and spend policies of Washington. What concerned me, though, was the attempt by some Republicans to co-opt the movement for their own benefit. I think it was pretty clear that most of the protesters weren't fans of Obama or the Democratic Congress. However, it also seemed to me that all of Washington was pretty unpopular with those folks. That would include both Democrats and Republicans. The fiscal mess we face now started under George W. Bush's presidency and even dates back to the Republican-led Congress which was expelled in 2006. The Republicans spent like Democrats over the last few years, so they hardly are blameless on the issue of wasteful spending.
With that in mind, I think that the GOP would be ill-advised to expect the protesters to blindly back them. The GOP has blood on its hands in this fiscal disaster. Instead of being shameless opportunists, they need to VERY CLEARLY differentiate themselves from the Dems on the issues of spending and earmarks and corruption. Right now, the Democrats are providing a golden opportunity to draw that line because of their profligate spending, their hyper-partisanship, and their hypocritical grandstanding. However, if the GOP of today continues to look like the GOP of the last few years, they could see themselves as the minority party for a LONG time. People are energized, but if the GOP doesn't listen to those protesters and start behaving responsibly again, they will deservedly catch just as much venom as the Dems. If that happens, I wouldn't be surprised if the inertia created by the tea parties manifests itself into support for a third party. Either that, or it could dissipate into yet another wave of cynicism and hopelessness amongst the electorate.
With that in mind, I think that the GOP would be ill-advised to expect the protesters to blindly back them. The GOP has blood on its hands in this fiscal disaster. Instead of being shameless opportunists, they need to VERY CLEARLY differentiate themselves from the Dems on the issues of spending and earmarks and corruption. Right now, the Democrats are providing a golden opportunity to draw that line because of their profligate spending, their hyper-partisanship, and their hypocritical grandstanding. However, if the GOP of today continues to look like the GOP of the last few years, they could see themselves as the minority party for a LONG time. People are energized, but if the GOP doesn't listen to those protesters and start behaving responsibly again, they will deservedly catch just as much venom as the Dems. If that happens, I wouldn't be surprised if the inertia created by the tea parties manifests itself into support for a third party. Either that, or it could dissipate into yet another wave of cynicism and hopelessness amongst the electorate.
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Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief
Comment by PopulistConservative
Angry Electorate
Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief
Comment by Lester Caudill
Round Politics
Comment by PopulistConservative
Angry Electorate
Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief
Comment by rickb_georgia
Passing the Stimulus without even reading it was a slap in the face of every American citizen. The fact that so little of it has actually been disbursed proves the sense of urgency was overated for political purposes of the few.
Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief
Comment by PopulistConservative
Angry Electorate
I couldn't agree more -- especially with regard to term limits. I don't think our founding fathers ever wanted our country to have professional politicians. They wanted citizens to go and represent the people and then return back to their given professions. I think they would be sickened by the political machinery and lobbyists that have amassed in our nation's capital. It's definitely sickening to me. And both parties care more about money and power than they care about their constituents or the welfare of our country.