Did the Tea Party Movement help or hurt the GOP this time and for the GOP's future?

[demopublican]

In a way, we already have the makings of this, though not formalized. For example, the TEA Party has currently hitched its wagon to Republicans for power but ultimately if they are marginalized, they may break rank. Same if not more factions within the house of Democrats. Obviously, the whole notion of Parties is something the original framers of our government did not totally imagine. Neither did they imagine career politicians.

I would love it if the OWS group broke off from the Crats and the Tea Part broke ranks with the GOP. That would give us four parties. Two extreme and two moderate.

[octoburn]

Moderates are losing every cycle. Both "sides" are cleaning house and getting rid of sensible moderates that are prone to compromise.

And that really seems to be the truth. Such candidates that might have overall mass appeal among the general electorate simply cannot make it past the primaries anymore.

Although ~ Even though he played to the far right, Romney was one of the more moderate candidates that the GOP had this year. Look at Bachmann, Santorum, Gingrich...

Gingrich is the most laughable of them all, having promoted term limits when he paved the way for the Clinton years and then spending the next 20 years trying to get back into public office. And at the very top!!!

I do thank Newt for this elections "moonbase" moment that was his "Hail Mary" pass to get attention from voters.

[can you hear me now!]

Moderates are losing every cycle. Both "sides" are cleaning house and getting rid of sensible moderates that are prone to compromise.

and therein lies the problem....there needs to be a third party in this country...

[gonzoliberal]

What's laughable is "the right's" efforts to paint Obama as "far left".

The very reason he won is that he is a historical moderate, much to "the left's" dismay.

Obama is only approaching Socialism in the minds of those stuck in "the right's" alternative betaverse, where reality is too liberal.

[Byng]

It depends on how palatable those individual far-right candidates are.

They have to appeal to voters in the election not just the primaries plus you can't as a National party expect to win when your only message is how bad the incumbent is. You actually need to be able to provide the voter with a viable alternative platform.

It worked for Obama in 2008 but only because of the serious mess the country was in and a poor alternative in McCain. You really need an alternative plan in which the arithmetic adds up to present to the more reasoned set of voters from the middle to win any election in general but a Presidential election in particular.

[Shell Beach]

They have to appeal to voters in the election not just the primaries plus you can't as a National party expect to win when your only message is how bad the incumbent is. You actually need to be able to provide the voter with a viable alternative platform.

It worked for Obama in 2008 but only because of the serious mess the country was in and a poor alternative in McCain. You really need an alternative plan in which the arithmetic adds up to present to the more reasoned set of voters from the middle to win any election in general but a Presidential election in particular.

Yes, I agree. With the divisions between rural and urban/suburban areas now, the GOP will have an uphill battle winning a national election.

For the House, though, local tastes will continue allowing conservative candidates to be elected.

[ODENTON]

Koch brothers=Teaparty, Teaparty=Koch brothers.
Some in the Teaparty know they are being played, others just follow the crowd.
The Teaparty is like a bad sore, it gets worst when left untreated. Its on the GOP to treat it. Gut check time!

Post #2 is on point.

Yes---It did and it does.

[musicmd]

Quit obsessing over conservatives and work to make your socialist brothers and sisters stronger.

Oh how it hurts. Make your socialist brothers and sisters stronger. LOL LOL

Na na na na, hey hey, goodbye


Hey hey, goodbye

Na na na na, na na na na, hey hey, goodbye

Na na na na, na na na na, hey hey, goodbye

Na na na na, na na na na, hey hey, goodbye

[demopublican]

What's laughable is "the right's" efforts to paint Obama as "far left".

The very reason he won is that he is a historical moderate, much to "the left's" dismay.

Obama is only approaching Socialism in the minds of those stuck in "the right's" alternative betaverse, where reality is too liberal.

I promise you that he will move to the left now that he has flexibility.

Far to the left.

[Haberdasher]

What's laughable is "the right's" efforts to paint Obama as "far left".

The very reason he won is that he is a historical moderate, much to "the left's" dismay.

Obama is only approaching Socialism in the minds of those stuck in "the right's" alternative betaverse, where reality is too liberal.

This.

It is so amusing to me to hear people call Obama a socialist. He is historically moderate, perhaps even slightly right of center.

Just look at the history of health care in this country. In the 70's the Democrats, when labor unions were still a potent constituency, wanted universal health care to be achieved through an employer mandate. Republicans balked and said that universal health care should be achieved through an individual mandate. You know, individual responsibility and all that.

Then a moderate Republican gets elected in a Democratic state in New England and passes universal health care in his state, using an individual mandate.

Just a few years later, Obama passes universal health care legislation whose main feature is, you guessed it, the individual mandate. And he is promptly branded a socialist by the very same party who advocated this solution for 30 plus years.

Anyone who thinks Obama is a leftist or a socialist needs to stop listening to the right wing echo chamber and read a little history.

But then again, the right isn't exactly known for letting facts get in the way of their delusions.

You know, like the Romney landslide and all.

[Grindelwald]

I would say Obama is left-center. calling him right-center is going a little far but I agree that anyone who thinks he's socialist is very misinformed. But listening to Limbaugh and Savage will make you pretty uninformed.

[gonzoliberal]

I promise you that he will move to the left now that he has flexibility.

Far to the left.

How far?

Nationalization of heavy industries?

Execution of dissidents?

Abolition of the two party system?

How far to the "left" do you fear O will go?

[demopublican]

Did I say I fear him?

I don't think so. Maybe I am wrong and you can sho me.

[demopublican]

How far?
Nationalization of heavy industries?
Execution of dissidents?
Abolition of the two party system?
How far to the "left" do you fear O will go?

1. Pretty far.

2. Possibly. If an suitable emergency situation offers a good excuse. More elimination of industry than nationalization.
3. Yes. They already have killed citizens with drones.
4. no. parties like the system.
4. Amnesty, massive environmental regulations (climate change related, virtual elimination of coal, oil, and shale drilling), pushing union agenda.

[gonzoliberal]

Let's revisit this idea in four years and see who's the fool.

[jtowne-swim]

The TEA party cost the GOP 2 senate races. North Dakota and Indiana it almost cost them Arizona except Carmona made a not so funny gaffe in the debate. The number of house races is high to.

[johnpolitics]

Want to get more moderates elected just get rid of the Voting Rights Act. If Andy Harris had to represent a district with 30% minorities and E. Cummings had to represent 40% of whites it would force them to be more moderate.

[demopublican]

Cummins is now magically my congressman.

[Phineas Finn]

Certainly you know that it's Cummings, so why the distorted spelling?

[Phineas Finn]

Want to get more moderates elected just get rid of the Voting Rights Act. If Andy Harris had to represent a district with 30% minorities and E. Cummings had to represent 40% of whites it would force them to be more moderate.

Oh, you mean go back to the "good ol' days" when minorities could be disenfranchised at the stroke of a pen.