Tea Party Zeitgeist
While Barack Obama remains obsessed with George W. Bush, Sarah Palin hardly acknowledged his existence in Nashville at the Tea Party convention. Her back to the future vision for America skipped right over all the Bush years and went back to the principles of Ronald Reagan.
That was perfectly appropriate for the Tea Party convention. It is the zeitgeist of the movement.
The “kinder-gentler, compassionate conservatism” of Bushes 41 and 43 brought deeply flawed big spending concepts that have become confusing distractions. Those 12 years of drift — surrounding Newt Gingrich’s forcing of Bill Clinton to govern from the right — have allowed liberals to blur issues and blame the failure of big government on conservatism. Ironic, isn’t it? How’s that new tone working out again, Mr. Rove?
Not so well. Too many independents fell for the spin and assumed the Republican brand forever meant the undefined Bush mush. This confusion and a teleprompter helped folks conclude that Obama was a reasonable, articulate and super intelligent post-partisan and post-racial pragmatist.
For Sarah Palin and many others, the Tea Party movement is precisely about reversing all of that nonsense. Thus, in this context, Bush Republicanism must be ignored and replaced. Talk of a third party must be swatted aside. The imminent threat is the liberal agenda, period.
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Jack Says:
Anyone who makes fun of the tea party movement are definitely “out to lunch”. That will become apparent in the months to come.
All “deniers” can take it to the bank.
Posted on February 8th, 2010 at 7:05 pm
Cynapse Says:
I’d rather short-sell it. Sarah Palin is dead in the water until her reach spans beyond scared, old, land-owning conservatives. She DOES need educated support, she DOES need Hispanic support and most of all she DOES need independent support. Regarding the latter, she’s doing horribly. Next to Bill Clinton, she deserves the most support for Barack’s victory because frankly she scares people – and not just the martini-sipping intellectual (woe be the culture that makes such a trait into a slur) limp-wristed liberals you set up as strawmen.
Posted on February 8th, 2010 at 10:33 pm
Mac Says:
With all due respect to Palin, I hope if the Tea Party does get out of the weeds, it is with new faces since the old guard need to go away. Palin is tied to the Republican Party which is as messed up as the Democrats. Both parties need to be flushed away.
Posted on February 9th, 2010 at 1:02 am
Philanthropist Says:
Palin is a leader, she’s not going to the Republican party, she’s going to bring the party to her.
Posted on February 9th, 2010 at 3:39 am
Cynapse Says:
Leader of a cult, apparently. Some of you just refuse to the see the evidence in front of your face.
Posted on February 9th, 2010 at 7:02 am
Lee Says:
As a matter of fact, I saw a poll that showed that Palin had quite a lot of support among the Hispanic community.
I dont get the idea that there is a cult here. I am not sure of the definition, but if having the support of many like minded people constitutes a cult, then maybe so.
You would be wrong to equate Palin with the Tea Party. Certainly she is supported by many who are also involved with the Tea Party, but she has not sought, not has she been asked to be the leader of that movement. I would define her role there as a motivator, and obvious supporter.
You would also be wrong to equate Palin with the Republican party. She is a registered Republican, but is quite willing to point out where the party has strayed from what she believes are the initial planks in the Republican platform.
We are going to find that trying to categorize Palin , to neatly put her in a political compartment is difficult.
I predict that we will see the Tea Party playing a large role in the mid terms. Scott Brown was a beneficiary of that support. Witness the “money bomb” that brought in a million dollars a day in the last days before the election.
I predict that you will see the Tea Party drag the Republican party back to its roots.
Its fascinating to watch.
Posted on February 9th, 2010 at 7:29 am
Undecided Voter Says:
I agree with Mac on this one…at first glance the tea party seems a lot like the present Repblican one which doesnt appear to represent all americans except the white religious right.
The U.S. is more divided & financially broke than ever. Similar to Canada along the Francophone power and the ROC divide with Alberta being the present receipient of Quebec’s negative attention.
Posted on February 9th, 2010 at 10:35 am
ward Says:
The idea that one must court special interest groups or engage in identity politics to be successfel is the lie that breathes life into the Democrat party as identity politics and class envy is their stock in trade.
The only cult alive and well in the USA of any real consequence is the cult of Obama, and his incurious unquestioning supporters.
Google Hispanic radical group la Raza and tell me why anyone should court this group based on their racial origins.
The party that runs on the platforms that is most purely constitututional, and is able to articulate that platform clearly – will attract the broadest base and win the next election.
Continued attacks on Palin demonstrate fully that she is the one the left fears most.
Posted on February 9th, 2010 at 11:50 am
Cy Says:
Then explain the makeup of the tea party
Posted on February 9th, 2010 at 12:05 pm
Undecided Voter Says:
Cy — thats easy, white and to the right. And ‘the left fears Palin,’ hardly as shes the best thing they have gong for them. Now if it was the young lady from the Alberta Wild Rose Party, they might indeed have something to worry about.
Palin should go back to her ‘palm reading’ job at Fox.
Posted on February 9th, 2010 at 3:23 pm
ward Says:
The tea party is made up of a cross section of Americans Cy – just not in the ratio you would like.
In fact it looks much like the the makeup of Democrate Senators. Lots of white faces.
UV you should take a look at it too because it speaks to your bias in comment 7 (and now
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_current_United_States_Senators
At least the stump toothed racists on the right have an excuse according to their critics. Whats the Dems excuse?
Posted on February 9th, 2010 at 3:24 pm
Cy Says:
I have no preference for ratios (after all that would be quotas; plus you can judge a movement by natural drift), just the desire to explain to you that while you drone on about “special interest groups”, you’re getting behind one (minus a few insignificant tokens).
Frankly the “ratios” were more representative when Alex Jones was leading the financial revolt. The present day tea party is a Southern Strategy in drag, by comparison.
Posted on February 9th, 2010 at 4:02 pm
ward Says:
Tokens Cy? We all know what comes after that word. Also interesting that if you do not subscribe to special interest group think that you are insignificant. This from a guy who continually tries to stick the word “uppity” in other peoples mouths.
Please tell me why a sea of white faces is Ok if they are Dem Senators, but racist for anyone else.
Posted on February 9th, 2010 at 4:27 pm
Cy Says:
The tokens are insignificant in that they don’t alter the general malice behind the platform. They’re quite significant to the platform in terms of being paraded around as a symbol of universality. That’s what a token does and it hardly applies to race alone. You don’t think Adam Giambrone isn’t a “young” token for the face of the David Miller Toronto government?
No one’s saying the Democrats don’t have their issues – they have a lot actually. But they’ll continue to get away with it so long as their competition is so openly hostile. You keep giving it to them, so don’t get mad at me – ask why your people (rightists) keep giving away huge sectors of otherwise religious and traditionalist votes.
Posted on February 9th, 2010 at 4:47 pm
ward Says:
I dont follow Toronto politics as I live in Van.
Think of what you are saying Cynapse.
Why would these people alter anything. they are part of the movement, they support it. You are implying they are being used and too stupid to know it. They cannot think for themselves. Now consider that they are black.
Your political career just went up in flames if you were a Republican. As a Dem you would now have a job on MSNBC or CNN
Posted on February 9th, 2010 at 8:51 pm
Cynapse Says:
Unfortunately Vancouver politics are foreign to me so maybe someone who knows both can come up with a similar analogy.
Not all tokens are alike. Some tokens foolishly believe they’re down with the cause (Clarence Thomas, IMO). Some know their level of intellectualism and some of their conclusions would outcast them among their own (possibly Thomas Sowell). Some are merely profiteering, going as far as advocating positions that, if put into practice, would even put their own asses in the fryer (Michelle Malkin). Some may genuinely believe that the present direction of the group is wrong and that a better solution can be had (John McWhorter).
In a perfect world, some wouldn’t be tokens at all. Capitalism carries no ethnic implication, nor does the concept of small government. Tokenism, in practical terms, is who you will stand shoulder to shoulder with as they benefit from you saying what you say. If those same people would otherwise throw rocks at you or roll up their car windows as they drive by then there is a good chance you are a token. Most people couldn’t stand being in that position and look down on those who do. As per usual, it’s humans that screw up the system.
I’ve no use for tokens though.
Posted on February 9th, 2010 at 9:11 pm