Watch Live: Congressional Hearing on IRS Scandal

Live BlazeCast at 2pm ET: All the fireworks from the IRS Hearing!

Politics

Tea Party vs. Progressive Republicans — Battle for the Soul of the GOP

Dec. 3, 2012 9:22am Meredith Jessup

Editor’s Note: This is the first in a series of articles examining what went wrong for the Republican Party in the 2012 presidential election and where the GOP goes from here. Please visit our special section GOP: What Next? to follow the series stories and find related content.

–

Since Nov. 6, there has been no shortage of opinions as to why challenger Mitt Romney and the Republican Party failed to ouster President Barack Obama. Pre-election divisions in the Republican Party between moderates and conservatives have only widened since Romney’s defeat and the party’s strategy for the future remains unclear, a source of contention and heated internal & external debate.

Specifically, many now wonder what the sobering 2012 election results means for the right-leaning Tea Party, the champions of personal freedom and smaller government who exploded on the political scene in the 2010 midterm elections. The re-election of a progressive like Barack Obama would seem to signal the end of the conservative Tea Party, but the movement’s conservative leaders insist that last month’s election results only vindicate the group’s message.

“The Tea Party is not a political party; it’s an informal community of Americans who support a set of fiscally conservative issues,” says FreedomWorks’ Matt Kibbe. “And when you take a look at the roster of new fiscal conservatives being sent to Congress next year, it’s clear our issues are winning.”

Indeed, although the Tea Party may be focusing the vast majority of its ongoing efforts on local issues, the conservative movement has left an undeniable mark on the national GOP establishment. The group’s mantra of uncompromising fiscal conservatism and limited government has remained a driving force in shaping Republican platform.

For proof of this, one need look no further than Rep. Paul Ryan’s ascendancy to the No. 2 spot on the GOP ticket. Once considered a fringe of the congressional conservative coalition, Tea Party-backed fiscal hawks like Ryan are now considered key players at the core of today’s Republican Party.

Critics, of course, will argue that Romney’s defeat in November signals a rebuff of these ideals. “The 2012 elections have been the undoing of the 2010 Tea Party tsunami that crashed upon Washington,” the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) proclaimed in November. “The Tea Party is over.”

But the actual election results suggests this declaration is a bit exaggerated and vastly underestimates the conservative Tea Party’s influence in the GOP.

Despite defeats in states like Indiana and Missouri, the Republican Senate caucus gained three new Tea Party-backed members with the addition of Ted Cruz of Texas, Jeff Flake of Arizona and Deb Fischer of Nebraska. In the House, the Congressional Tea Party Caucus had 60 members before election day. Of those 60, six did not seek re-election, seven lost their races and 47 were re-elected. In addition, candidates endorsed by former GOP presidential hopeful Rick Santorum’s conservative PAC — Missouri’s Ann Wagner and Montana’s Steve Daines — also secured victories for the right.

“The Election Day losers were not the so-called ‘tea partiers,’” Kibbe points out, “they were the candidates embraced by (and some hand-picked by) the Republican establishment who failed to run on the winning message of economic freedom.” When you boil it down, Kibbe argues, the lack of serious conservative candidates in 2012 meant many principled Republican voters chose to just stay home on Election Day.

This much is true — GOP turnout in 2012 was lower than both the 2008 and 2004 elections. Turnout this year dropped by 7.9 million voters, falling to 123.6 million from 131.5 million in 2008. This year’s underwhelmed electorate marked the first decline in a presidential election in 16 years. Additionally, only 51.3% of the voting-age population went to the polls. When you couple low turnout with a few obnoxious and offensive comments on rape from gaffe-prone politicians, it’s hard to say whether the GOP ran with bad policies or just bad candidates.

History also seems to be on the Tea Party’s side. Election results aside, Bloomberg News‘ Albert Hunt predicted the end the GOP establishment and continued rise of the conservative movement after Romney clinched the party’s nomination:

From Washington to the state capitals to the local level, the movement conservatives are in the ascendancy. For years, the Republican base was divided; it’s now dominated by the movement types.

A comparison of Reagan’s last year in office to today illustrates the dramatic change. Then, more than one-third of Senate Republicans were either genuine liberals such as Mark Hatfield, Lowell Weicker and Arlen Specter or moderates such as Bill Cohen, Bob Packwood and Nancy Kassebaum. With the retirement of Olympia Snowe of Maine there’ll be no more than two or three moderate Republicans in the Senate next year.

A quarter-century ago there were dozens of moderate Republicans in the House, members like Chris Shays of Connecticut, Amo Houghton of New York, Bill Gradison of Ohio, Tom Ridge of Pennsylvania and Bill Frenzel of Minnesota. Today there are very few House Republicans who break with conservative orthodoxy.

The changes are equally dramatic at the state and local level. Moderate Republican governors are relics. In Kansas this month, the right wing, led by the state’s conservative governor, drummed a number of the Bob Dole-type centrist Republicans out of the party.

Columbia University political science Professor Brigitte Naco has studied the rise and influence of the Tea Party movement. “Some Democrats say the Tea Party is dead. That’s all baloney,” Naco says. “The fact of the matter is when you look at the basic agenda of the Republican ticket, it’s pretty much what the Tea Party likes.”

But does the GOP’s Old Guard establishment acknowledge or understand this fact?

In recent weeks, House Speaker John Boehner has appeared wobbly on his commitment to the New Guard’s steadfast fiscal conservatism. Before the election, Boehner downplayed any likelihood of a Republican compromise on the so-called fiscal cliff — the $1.2 trillion in mandatory spending cuts coming at the end of this year. But after Romney’s defeat, Boehner seemed to pivot, then characterizing Republicans’ re-elected House majority as a mandate to find “common ground” with House Democrats who demand increased spending and higher taxes.

“There will be some kind of war” between the GOP establishment and the Tea Party over the future direction of the party, longtime Republican Party consultant Mike Murphy told the New York Times. On one side of the divide there are “mathematicians” like Murphy who argue that the GOP must shift its political strategy and policy focus to attract the votes of Hispanics, blacks, younger voters and women; on the other, there are those who believe that basic conservative principles — when articulated appropriately — will ultimately restore unity within the party and attract a wider base of national voters in the future.

Whatever course the party chooses to pursue, it will need to decide quickly as the countdowns to the 2014 midterms and 2016 presidential election have already begun. “We are in a situation where the Democrats are getting a massive amount of votes for free,” Murphy warns.

“Republicans need not jettison their principles. But they must avoid appearing judgmental and callous on social issues,” esteemed GOP strategist Karl Rove argued in the days following the election.

Tea Party favorite and Florida Senator Marco Rubio agrees: “The party has to continually ask ourselves, What do we represent? But we have to remain the movement on behalf of upward mobility, the party people identify with their hopes and dreams. People want to have a chance.”

FreedomWorks’ Kibbe predicts the party’s pivotal shift that began in 2010 has put the GOP’s Old Guard on a collision course with a new generation of Republican leaders, including Rubio, Ryan, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Gov. Bob McDonnell of Virginia and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, whose steadfast support of small government and limited spending launched him to national fame in a (successful) battle against some of the country’s most ruthless labor unions.

“You are going to see a continuation of the fight between the Old Guard and all of the new blood that has come in since 2010, but I don’t know how dramatic it is going to be,” Kibbe says. “It is getting to point where you can’t reach back and pull another establishment Republican from the queue like we have done with Romney.”

With Republicans holding onto their strong majority in the House of Representatives, we may see a more conservative voting bloc emerge in the 113th Congress than the 112th, and the ongoing debate over the nation’s fiscal crisis may be a good indicator of the divided Republican Party’s trajectory for the next four years.

Will the party establishment steer the party to be more conciliatory when pressured by the White House and Democrats on Capitol Hill, or will the GOP dig in against political concessions that threaten their undermining ideological principles?

“Republicans lost this year because they failed to recognize that economic freedom is trending in America. The shareholders in America have spoken, and they want senior management to stay out of their homes and to stop spending money we don’t have,” Kibbe wrote days after Obama’s re-election. “The party that can communicate that message is the party that will win over the American electorate come 2014.”

GOP: What Next?

Related Commentary: How Not to Reform the Republican Party

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

Back to The Blaze »

Comments (335)

joey g
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:17am
there are 49 million of us,,,no one wins without us period…

The Tea Party lives ……

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Bum thrower
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:29am
  Nest republican ‘Moderate’ Loser……………..Chris Christi…..
  
  he’ll join Dole, McCain, and Romney in Dec 2016….
  
  Report this comment
- Marine25
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:37am
  49 million tea-partiers? Evidently they don’t vote.
  
  Report this comment
- RANGER1965
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:44am
  The problem is that it’s a double edged sword. You say no one wins without us, but according to the last election no one wins with you either.
  
  The Tea Party itself is divided. In my group almost half voted for Gary Johnson, the other half for Romney, with a few refusing to vote at all. Unless a stong Conservative leader rises who also has a pretty big Libertarian streak, and is personally a strong Christian, you will have this sort of division again.
  
  Report this comment
- marybethelizabeth
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:44am
  49 million divided by 311 million is 16% of the American population.
  
  But the 49 million figure is overstated.
  
  The Tea Party was never conceived to be an arm of the Republican Party. It was the Republican Party who tried to co-op the membership through front organizations like the Tea Party Express and Freedomworks.
  
  There has not been any growth in the Tea Party movement. The ranks just swelled temporarily by masquerading Republicans.
  
  Report this comment
- momprayn
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:06am
  It’s time we “NoBama” people, not only the Tea Partiers, decide we need to go THIRD PARTY – running someone like SARAH PALIN. The GOP is totally corrupt with only a handful of patriots, the nebie TP ones that can’t do anything b/c they don’t have the rank & in the minority. Plus realize that they are ANTI-CONSTITUTION, Consvs., and pro NWO people. This will NOT change b/c they are corrupt and use corrupt methods, such as voter fruad, unethical & devious methods to make sure the desired Consvs. do NOT win Primaries and/or definitely NOT the nomination. Face it.
  With research, you’ll find this last one was mostly won b/c of massive voter fraud – there are many proofs of that but do you hear anything much about that? Why? B/c GOP is guilty of fraud themselves & will not touch it, plus that “consent” they signed in 1982 to not prevent voter fraud.
  The ONLY way now is to go Third Party in this NEW era – has a great chance to work THIS time.
  Have to get out from under the corruption of GOP & fix fraud – due to:
  Scytl, Sequoia and SOE, the Big Three S’s in vote fraud.. The programs are simply running now casino software making it a payout for the masses in the minority, while the desired party always wins.
  http://www.wnd.com/2012/12/congress-urged-investigate-vote-fraud-now/
  
  http://gulagbound.com/35946/massive-voter-fraud-and-i-am-angry/
  
  http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-allen-palin-for-president-20121118,0,1525685.story
  
  FIX
  
  Report this comment
- Fubared
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:10am
  Yeh, when I think TEA a fake marine and MBE are no where near reputable sources of info. 25, this wasn’t a rainbow coalition piece; MBE, this wasn’t a CAIR piece. Troll on along to the 49% dependancy route.
  
  Report this comment
- ltb
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:28am
  According to a 2012 Gallup poll, 46% of Americans identify themselves as “total conservative” on economic issues and 38% as “total conservative” on social issues. In that same poll, only 20% of (anti-)Americans identify themselves as “total liberal” on economic issues and 28% as “total liberal” on social issues. No, the Tea Party isn’t dead, the Tea Party was just trying to work within the GOP to flush out the RINOs and that failed. With a plurality of Americans who identify themselves as “total conservative,” it doesn’t take a genius to realize that it’s time for a third party.
  
  Report this comment
- kenboo1
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:34am
  As long as there are people desiring a hand out and a government willing to give a handout (Other Peoples Property or OPP). the “takers” will continue to steal from the producers without guilt or remorse. Romney and his pro-ported millions was not the best advocate to push a conservative agenda. His balance sheet was enough to stress why there is a social war against the rich… When asked about job creation, how did he answer? ” trust me, I know how to create jobs” But what else could he say in a 20 second sound bite?
  
  We have lost the war for the minds of the voter and things will have to get really bad before it gets any better… Econ101forall.com I am looking for collaborators… I think there is money to be made…
  
  Report this comment
- cloudsofwar
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:36am
  not to vote is too vote. thank you to all the repubs who didn’t vote, you gave us 4 more years of the progressive ruler. now maybe he can appoint more SCOTUS judges that can continue his rule after he’s gone. if you didn’t vote look in the mirror thats the person that is too blame.
  
  Report this comment
- GrayPanther
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 12:16pm
  AMEN! As a Republican precinct captain and more, I came beck to the Republican Party as a tea party advocate. I (we) tried to defeat Juan McCain (R-AZ) for one example of a RINO. The home of the tea party people is to take over the old and tired Republican county parties and keep Constitutional conservatives moving forward. Our biggest roadblocks are the liberal mono media and a lack of education on our founders principals and our free enterprise-capitalist system. We need to get off our back sides and work to make it happen.
  
  Report this comment
- December3
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 12:34pm
  We need to transform the Republican party back to the party of the founding principles. Read fresh political comentary at: http://smallcraftadvisorychronicles.blogspot.com/
  
  Report this comment
- KnightofChrist
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 12:58pm
  In 2010 the Republican party, for the most part, embraced the base and the tea party, and won big. In 2012 the Republican party pushed a liberal flip flopping liberal as the only choice, ran a very nasty campaign against the more conservative or actual conservative candidates. Romney’s very nasty and negative primary campaign helped to depress Republican turnout on election day. Romney’s BIG and numerous flip flops helped to depress Republican turn out. Romney being a liberal progressive help to depress Republican voter turn out. Romney being a founding father of Obamacare and the HHS Mandate helped to depress Republican voter turn out. A Republican appointee on the Supreme Court declaring Obamacare constitutional depressed Republican turn out. Save for the first debate Romney ran a weak pansy campaign, unlike the primaries, he played the nicey nice guy and agreed too much with Obama and that helped depress Republican turn out. Romney was weak on social issues and it lost him a lot of social issue voters who went third party, which of course depressed Republican turn out. If the Republican party continue on the path of liberal progressivism it will continue to lose. Why vote for the knock off liberal (progressive Republicans) when voters can vote for name brand liberals? This election shows that given the choice conservatives will not vote for progressive Republicans, and nor will liberals.
  
  Report this comment
- KnightofChrist
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 12:58pm
  In 2010 the Republican party, for the most part, embraced the base and the tea party, and won big. In 2012 the Republican party pushed a liberal flip flopping liberal as the only choice, ran a very nasty campaign against the more conservative or actual conservative candidates. Romney’s very nasty and negative primary campaign helped to depress Republican turnout on election day. Romney’s BIG and numerous flip flops helped to depress Republican turn out. Romney being a liberal progressive help to depress Republican voter turn out. Romney being a founding father of Obamacare and the HHS Mandate helped to depress Republican voter turn out. A Republican appointee on the Supreme Court declaring Obamacare constitutional depressed Republican turn out. Save for the first debate Romney ran a weak pansy campaign, unlike the primaries, he played the nicey nice guy and agreed too much with Obama and that helped depress Republican turn out. Romney was weak on social issues and it lost him a lot of social issue voters who went third party, which of course depressed Republican turn out. If the Republican party continue on the path of liberal progressivism it will continue to lose. Why vote for the knock off liberal (progressive Republicans) when voters can vote for name brand liberals? This election shows that given the choice conservatives will not vote for progressive Republicans, and nor will liberals.
  
  Report this comment
- shorelineliz
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 12:59pm
  The Tea Party does indeed live. Taxed Enough Already! They need to get rid of these Republicans who are caving. Just vote them out and put their men or women in. It disgusts me how these Republicans are caving to Obama but I hope they will just let the budget go over the fiscal cliff and then OBAMA will OWN this economy. They need to let OBAMA FAIL! This is important that they not cave to his bullying. I like what Newt Gingrich said and Ann Coulter. OBama wanted another four years? Let him have it! He can’t blame George W on this one! Bahahahahaha!
  
  Report this comment
- glassbeadlady
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 1:33pm
  The tea party should become the Constitution Party, the GOP is infested with progressives and must be gotten rid of.
  
  Report this comment
- Minnaloushe
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 1:42pm
  The communists have no problem with killing people by the 10s of millions, so that won’t deter them. The political battle for the federal government is *over*. The progressives won. We aren’t going to beat the system using the means the system provides. That’s a patently ridiculous notion especially now. You can talk political party until you’re blue in the face and it won’t do any good. It’s time to talk about next steps.
  
  Report this comment
- pamela kay
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 2:32pm
  JOEY G, Amen. It may be that they eliminate our rights to vote, but they can not eliminate what we hold dear and true. God Bless America.
  
  Report this comment
- marybethelizabeth
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 2:53pm
  Mr. Beck said he realized on his book tour this weekend something I have been saying ever since the election:
  
  That the Republicans got overconfident because they have isolated themselves so that they only hear like minded opinions. You can’t turn on the radio or television without hearing the conservative viewpoint.
  
  A viewpoint that most of the country rejects.
  
  Then he goes on to talk about walling off Texas from the rest of the country.
  
  If Republicans don’t stop making the enemy everyone who disagrees they will be disappointed every time.
  
  Walling yourself off is insuring defeat. It’s as if this is what Mr. Beck really desires. He would not have a show without telling you about someone to hate.
  
  Report this comment
- Wisdom7
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 3:21pm
  “That the Republicans got overconfident because they have isolated themselves so that they only hear like minded opinions. You can’t turn on the radio or television without hearing the conservative viewpoint.
  
  A viewpoint that most of the country rejects.
  
  Then he goes on to talk about walling off Texas from the rest of the country.
  
  If Republicans don’t stop making the enemy everyone who disagrees they will be disappointed every time.”
  
  ^You must be joking. This is completely opposite of the truth. Glen created his own network because the vast majority is completely left leaning, aside from FoxNews which is attacked every 0.01 seconds of the day by the left. In fact I can’t even turn on the television anymore without hearing propaganda from the left in the news, movies, and sitcoms. We conservatives get attacked from EVERY angle! I’m also really sick of hearing “most of the country” from people like yourself. I think you are going to be in for a big surprise the next election. The left has done nothing but reject and attack other viewpoints…sort of like you do every time you post on here.
  
  Report this comment
- R-Paulson
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 3:27pm
  “Goldline specifically targets vulnerable consumers with sales tactics designed to pressure those consumers into buying products that would often result in the consumer losing over one-third of his or her investment the instant the purchase is made meaning that, even when the price of the precious metals increases, because these consumers were deceived into purchasing coins with mark-ups exceeding 50 percent, it could be years, if ever, before the consumer recoups, much less makes any profit on, the investment.”
  
  Report this comment
- Jaycen
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 4:12pm
  @cloudsofwar
  
  Hey man, I voted for Romney, even after I swore I wouldn’t. Apparently, more principled Constitutionalists than I refused to vote, or they voted 3rd party.
  
  You state that by not voting, those other people helped elect a Progressive. What you fail to state is that you and I both voted for the Progressive who lost. Consider that, and then tell me how angry you are with our Constitutionalist brothers and sisters.
  
  Report this comment
- TheePolitinator
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 4:18pm
  @marine25 You honestly think there was zero fraud? many districts reported zero Romney votes in districts that always had a high percentage of Repuklican votes. My point is this. We are at the time, men need to be men we will mark my words have to refresh the tree of liberty. the corruption is simply to deep.
  
  The Repubes are just as corrupt and vile as the Demorats. We have a two party choice of the same result. People need to start to understand this.
  
  Report this comment
- Mil Mom
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 4:30pm
  @joey g
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:17am
  
  there are 49 million of us,,,no one wins without us period…
  
  The Tea Party lives ……
  ****
  So right Joey! If the repubs old guard doesn’t want us in their party, they can join the whigs and we’ll just re-name it the Tea Party if enough of us vote so, OR they either watch a mass exodus of the 49 million to the new Politica Party called the Tea Party. (Likely they would officially join the democrats they’ve been helping against so many Tea Party candidates) ####. It’s decision time for the old guard.###### “Balls in your court guys. If you want to join the dem party in governing, go ahead, join them officially, we’ll just establish ourselves as THE SECOND PARTY since you guys refuse to act like it!”####
  $$$ (All that Tea Party money raised for the repub candidates this year would be going with us! THINK LONG AND HARD BEFORE YOU MAKE YOUR NEXT MOVE!!!) $$$$$
  
  Report this comment
- Mil Mom
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 4:34pm
  @Marine25
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:37am
  
  49 million tea-partiers? Evidently they don’t vote
  ***
  Or! Corrupt software changed their votes! Think it’s impossible, just remember computer viruses are corrupt software and remember how they can take over your computer and turn into a zombie for hackers. Don’t think corrupt politicians know how to use computers? Remember Sarah Palin’s emails being posted all over the web while she was governor of Alaska and VP nominee?
  
  Report this comment
- SWING HARD
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 5:03pm
  My ? Is this….who gives a f&@k what the Demoncrats say!
  
  Report this comment
- stoxfox
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 5:41pm
  Romney was never going to win. He’s a Northeastern Liberal and is why millions of Evangelicals, Paul, Santorum and McCain voters stayed home on election day. True conservatives finally had enough from the millions of Rino/Liberal voters who continue this trend. This country id facing many, huge problems that have been daunting us for a very long time, and no one in EATHER PARTY has lifted a finger to fix them. I did extensive homework on Romney’s voting record for all the years he was Gov. of Mass, and to say it wasn’t pretty would be an understatement. Either stop throwing away the most powerful vote our Founders gave us in the Primary and instead save the ABO vote (fill in the blank) where it was designed and intended to be used in the General Election or nothing will change. The RNC doesn’t choose your candidate for you. YOU do when you follow their chosen lead again, in the Primary. Stop it … stick with a true conservative and THEY will have to follow YOUR chosen lead. Yes, THAT’S how it works IF you the voter change your ways. Remember, two, TWO votes per election. Ask yourself … now why is that?
  
  Report this comment
- Fubared
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 6:52pm
  Mbe
  Confused about your last pile…Beck has yet to mention you/Mbe, I don’t listen religiously the way you may, but has he mentioned Mbe? And yet, well, you get the idea.
  
  Report this comment
- amerbur
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 7:15pm
  The Democrats won – hello. I am tea party member and I was not thrilled by Mitt Romney as a candidate. However, I was not dumb enough not to vote for him in THIS election. I am angry that my fellow patriots did not show up for the battle – you all would have refused to cross the Potomac river with George Washington – big disappointment.
  
  Report this comment
- braddock66
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 7:41pm
  Only if we can have transparent and honest elections. The other side is not honorable!
  
  Report this comment
- francisco
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 12:13am
  What the conservative movement needs is a firebrand (notice conservative movement not Repub) someone who is going to take an articulate, unappolegetic arguement based on the constitution and history to the progressives. The problem is we have a conservative leadership which is afraid of being called racist, unfair, greedy, mean spirited, or selfish. We need a Goldwater for this generation who is not afraid to give an argument based on the constitiution and who is not afraid to tell the civil rights movement in the 60′s that they were wrong.
  
  Report this comment
- Beck_Art_-_Obama_In_Pee-Pee
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 12:31am
  “The Tea Party is not a political party; it’s an informal community of Americans who support a set of fiscally conservative issues,” says FreedomWorks’ Matt Kibbe. “And when you take a look at the roster of new fiscal conservatives being sent to Congress next year, it’s clear our issues are winning.”
  
  It took the Progressives-communists just under 100 years to infiltrate every corner of America and completely compromise the Democrat Party, which they now OWN (every Democrat signed the Progressives-communist “CommieCare” health bill WITHOUT READING IT!).
  
  The Republican Party is mostly compromised. The “TEA Party” MUST DO to it what the communists did to the Democrats — infiltrate and TAKE OVER the Republican Party. The old Democrat Party is completely beyond redemption and is no-more; we can only burn & bury it’s “New Communism” doppelgänger.
  
  Report this comment
- hard.right
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 1:16am
  @Ranger, you hit the nail on the head. Progressives in the GOP have to go. They are done. Nobody wants them, other than Democrats. But your point about what is needed is spot on. A conservative, heavily leaning libertarian, strong Christian, that is willing to stay out of peoples lives in general…is the ONLY way to win. I’m as conservative as they come. 42, strict constitutionalist, white, male, reformed faith denomination that hasn’t turned liberal. I think homosexuality is wrong, but its none of my business what you do with your life. I think abortion is wrong, and will continue to fight to have it outlawed. Neil Boortz would rake me over the coals for that, but you can argue womens rights til you are blue in the face, it’s different than other social issues, another life is involved and all because you don’t define it as a life doesn’t make it NOT a life. Legalize drugs, I could care less, but stiff penalties have to be put in place for operating outside your home under the influence. You can’t be free to do drugs, buy drugs, and free to drive, carry a firearm, etc. If libertarians would jump on that, and agree to impose stiff penalties (like jail or 1 strike drivers license gone for a decade or more, 2 strikes gone forever) then OK, let’s roll w/ that. I’ve had enough of Romney-esque, McCain-esque idiot progressives. We need to stop and re-evaluate what the Constitution states and do that.
  
  Report this comment
- KissMyAmericanFlag
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 2:17am
  What if all the conservative ‘splinter groups’ joined forces, rather than each going separately and dividing the members who essentially agree with their positions and platforms…
  
  Would be super to have an alternate Hollywood with conservative talent free to come out in the open, plying their craft and showing the exceptionalisms of our beloved country, instead of trashing it and humanity in the process. A radio program here and there mixed in with the msm, a smattering of principled producers and directors, publishing houses, and the voice/ message is lost in the muddle. What about a real powerhouse conglomerate, for profit, to provide the entertainment, the sports, the news, the Validation of viewers in ways substantially better than what hollywood too often cranks out. Meantime, the waves of patriotism and Real America splash through and make new rivulets and rivers into the future, granting opportunities to navigate on one’s own terms via refreshed education…
  
  Report this comment
- GETLIFE
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 4:32am
  The right needs to get together under the name of FREEDOM– and live up to it. It is their fundamental difference with the “progressives.” The shackles are slowly being attached…..
  
  Report this comment
- christianUSA
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 5:25am
  Opinion the tea party can not coexist with progressive republicans therefore logically it should leave form its own new moral fiscal responsible party that proposes to dump irs regulations ending all the crony pork handouts and stop making wars that setup our terrorist enemies into middle-east power etc as well as end mega$$$$$$$$$$ handout to them. A Person can not be nor are they both liberal and conservative at the same time. Let republicans be truly progressive liberals they really want to be; logically they will be absorbed into the demos party where they will fight endlessly between themselves as they long have been doing and if honest we know they will continue fight to destruction.
  
  Report this comment
- GETLIFE
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 6:12am
  ANY great civilization which has tried to progressively grow its power and extend its governmental reach has progressed right into OBLIVION. Our Constitution was set up to avoid that. There is an urgency to stop talking politics as usual and start dealing with the socialist revolution which is taking away our Constitution.
  Are the progressives negotiating? No.
  They are taking advantage of the Right which is still confused and reeling after the elections revealed just how unaware Americans are of what is happening. Their game is NOT provided for in the Constitution. Get back to the halls of Congress and shut the door behind you. Make the government work as intended. The house has an ELECTED conservative majority. Pass fiscal legislation, let the PROGRESSIVES refuse.
  
  The GOP is not taking this Constitutional crisis seriously. Why? They are all set and protected in case of economic catastrophe? Perhaps. In any case, they sure look like they really don’t care.
  Interesting article about how Boehner should be recognizing the socialist power grab and declaring it to the media: http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/12/03/Obama-Overreaches-Republicans-Underperform
  
  Report this comment
- 4theThinMan
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 6:20am
  Obama won – I suppose that was with the Tea Party. The Senate is STILL in the hands of the Socialists – that is also the Tea Party?
  
  Report this comment
- 4theThinMan
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 6:26am
  @momprayn Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:06am
  
  IF you go “third” Party you will lose – you must be FIRST Party. AND “if” you run Sarah Palin you will lose. The majority of women in this country are already socialists and most of them tremendously dislike the harridan Palin – you will NOT get their vote just because she is a woman. Hillary lost to a half black, Muslim loving, male with no experience or name recognition. Women are NOT black people that will vote for a black (or perceived black) person, that will vote just because it is a woman running.
  
  Report this comment
- sleepnomore
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 2:43pm
  The Tea Party LIVES on–tea party ppl. do not lie, ccheat, nor steal! Unlike those on the left-it is all they know! You think they really care about you? No-NO!
  We must have smaller gov;t, and a lot less spending, muchless buying off the bottonm end. The one hope I had was on univision t.v., obama could not stand to be talked to like that, hit a nerve, and there goes the mask! He has come(obama0, to destroy America, the end. He wants to rule the world, not just the U.S. Vakerie jarad0she runs what goes on, as well as Michelle, he is not that smart1 he got left behind as a child, never left his heart whole again, period. From there he heard only commi comments, and his dad was a card carring communist. Church–joke period! It is all he knows, hatred for everyyone, you’ll seee, he wants to destroy us, so none has a business, house, car, even a life! He needs to be gone for LYING to thee Amercan people!!NOW!
  
  Report this comment
- Keatonc33
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 6:36pm
  The Democrats win pretty well without you… : )
  
  Report this comment
- SquareHead
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 6:43pm
  T-Party does live.
  
  Obama won the election despite having a loss of 10 mill voters!
  Manikin Mitt got 4 Mill less voters than McCain did!
  
  One has to be an idiot insider to say that the country is lost to the welfare voters, and illegals.
  
  The fact is that the millions that sat home.
  
  The repentant 08′ Obama voter:
  Sat home because he thought Obama would get us out of Iraq and Afghanistan, and not START ADDITIONAL WARS! They thought he would close down Guantanamo, preserve liberty and run a transparent government…. Now they see the reality.
  Flip Flopper
  
  The Reluctant Republican:
  Sat home because Mitts record:
  1st state in America to institute Socialized Medicine. Romney Care! the father of Obama Care :(
  Mitt was the 1st Governor to legalize Gay Marriage.
  Pro choice (most of his life)
  Anti 2nd Amendment (most of his life)
  Believes he will become a god one day
  Flip Flopper
  
  Ron Paul would have brought out 75% of those voters, and would clearly beaten Obama, being he was the one that polled best against Obama all along.
  Ron Paul would have drawn all sorts of people to vote for him because he is real and not a flip flopper.
  He would have:
  Eliminated 5 federal agencies
  Protected our border
  Gotten us out of Iraq
  Gotten us out of Afghanistan
  Stopped foreign aid
  
  Now it won’t happen since too many of you settled for the lesser evil, and followed marching orders from TheBlaze, Fox and likes :(
  
  Report this comment
- Wolfgang the Gray
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 9:19pm
  I agree, the TEA Party is not an arm of the Republican party. There are conservative democrats, libertarians, and anyone else that thinks we are Taxed Enough Already, can join the TEA Party. Unfortunately, it did appear that we became just a visible group of the republicans. I left the republican party & became a libertarian back in 2008, but all the way up to Nov 2010 & again in 2012, I heard the republican members saying we all have to vote republican or the democrats would win. Well, I am tired of voting for the lesser of two evils. Now if Allen West ran in 2016, I’d vote for him with enthusiasm. Of course, who knows if the country, the economy, or any of us will be around by 2016. Big Brother is taking us down a dark path & is starting to speed up after a 4-year run & now another 4-years to push that momentum. Buckle up kiddies, we’re in for a rough ride.
  
  Report this comment
- bambamfunkhouser
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 11:16pm
  7 out of 60 House Tea Partiers losing is pretty bad. The Tea Party is the last gasp of conservatism. Like kamikazes were the last gasp of Japan.
  
  Report this comment
- scarydave
  Posted on December 5, 2012 at 12:29am
  Two predictions for 2013…
  
  1. The old Republican Party becomes a money-raising arm of the newly formed “The Progressive Republican Party”, which is then melted into the fold of the DNC the Democrat National Committee”.
  2. The # 2 Political Party powerhouse becomes a Tea Party backed group that supports ONLY Conservatives with real American values.
  
  If you haven’t put 2+2 together on the above…. what I’m trying to say is “The GOP is history”. They may be around for many years as a minor playing party in name so they won’t completely disappear, but they will forever-more be powerless and a punch-line to 80% of all political jokes.
  
  Report this comment
- NukeHaze
  Posted on December 5, 2012 at 3:06am
  Meredith… Glenn told us about Soros’ Secretary of State project and the truth has no agenda so it was right to do so.
  He also said that Soros works at destabilizing countries by causing the people to lose faith in theior elections and through extreme voter fraud to achieve that end. This, too, was the right thing to bring to our attention.
  When we see the momentum of the 2010 elections and the polling agencies pulling out early and calling races in the swing states for Romney and almost all of them apparently are now “wrong” with their assessments, it is more than suspicious.
  When 70% is considered extremely good voter turn out and there is over 100% turnout in most of the precincts where Obama won, it, too is more than suspicious.
  When we see thousands of energized and awakened Americans attending Romney events and simply hundreds attending Obama events, it is more than suspicious.
  When McCain gets a higher voter turnout than the most energized base that conservatives have ever had, it is more than suspicious.
  When McCain even gets more of the Mormon vote than Romney did, it is more than suspicious.
  When the world is on fire and voters seem to care about Sandra Fluke more than getting a full blown communist out of the White House, it is more than suspicious.
  When Obama will likely be able to cover up a catastrophe like Benghazi is re-elected and continue working to protect his attorney general who also shields him from investigations, it is more than suspic
  
  Report this comment
- NukeHaze
  Posted on December 5, 2012 at 3:14am
  Meredith…
  You and Glenn and everyone else then cannot be trying to deter the tea partiers who are ticked off about this after the truth, which has no agenda has been told and we see that an election has been stolen through severe voter fraud set up by George Soros and his Spanish company responsible for vote counts and the Secretaries of State who are all counting the votes have “effectively squashed our insignificant rebellion” (in the voice of the Emperor in Star Wars) since it was Stalin who said that it was enough that people whould have elections and that the winners are determined by those who count the votes. How can you expect that we, the poeple, should behave otherwise? Elections and even the truth has consequences with civilians just as it does with my kids. We are not sheep, nor are we children. We have been told not to sign petitions at the government websites perhaps wisely, but also to suck it up, we lost, and that’s that. No, it is not. Fraud is a crime and without free and open elections, we do not have a republic. I believe we are tired of being told the truth and then being told that we do not have a right to feel a certain way about it. I know I have not seen an election sto9len in this way and we will see far worse with this dictator in chief and his full implementation of Obamacare and choosing 3 new Supreme Court Justices totalling 5 for his reign in the throne. This all may have been eclipsed had he been properly vetted in the first place 8 yrs a
  
  Report this comment
- NukeHaze
  Posted on December 5, 2012 at 3:22am
  Mere the point is that we awakened Americans took it to them this time which explains why ALL of the pollsters were modeling their polls after 2008 an d NOT 2010. There is a MAJOR reason for that if they were going to fraud their way through this election to victory.
  You simply cannot expect that telling us the truth….the RIGHT thing to do…and then to sit down and shut up and accept that what Karl Rove and the GOP establishment will not capitualte and we must accept it because it is the changing nature of the demographic in our society to accept amnesty for example. It did nothing for the Republican vote for Reagan to allow it and will do nothing for conservatives now to allow it. Conservatives are simply not as fond of cheating and sleeping with the enemy as liberals, progressives and marxists are. We did not simply just lose and must move along as there is nothing here to see. We are being told to give up because without insurrection, we must accept their status quo. I have a strong feeling that the recent “stand down” sentiment is to buffer certain individuals against accusations of sedition. The people still have a right to the truth and have an opinion. We still have a Bill of Rights.
  
  Report this comment
- DenverKitty
  Posted on December 8, 2012 at 11:46am
  The Tea Party is alive and living. I have decided that I am NOT a Republican…I am a Conservative! And we Conservatives must be as obnoxious and in-your-face as any liberal Democrat…so “Obamaphone Woman”, bring your fat a$$ on!
  
  Report this comment
- smv803
  Posted on December 8, 2012 at 11:50am
  @marybetheliizabeth and @mamaprayn…
  AMEN sista!
  
  Report this comment
- shorelineliz
  Posted on December 8, 2012 at 12:13pm
  The Tea Party IS the GOP now. They have to be. They will come back stronger. Articles that start off like this make me want to throw a flame thrower into them. This election was straight up thieved through voter fraud. There is no need to scratch your head. From Florida to Colorado, Ohio and Pennsylvania these Democrats are thieves, cheaters and liars. My money is entirely on the Tea Party to rid the United States House and Senate of these vampires, wolves and Margaret Sanger Disciples and every Republican who is not on board with the Tea Party can take a hike! That includes Boehner, Graham and any number of the old rich white farts in the GOP too! Please stop interviewing Karl Rove and Dick Cheney is no Republican. He is actually DArth Vader in a suit.
  
  Report this comment
- R.A. Bullseye
  Posted on December 8, 2012 at 1:49pm
  amen.
  
  Report this comment
- ROYSTOLL2
  Posted on December 8, 2012 at 2:27pm
  First of all the Democrat Liberals are treating this as a war. We are treating this like a fair campaign and fair election. In all that I have seen, this election was stolen, mainly with the work of the SEIU and their unprincipled members. What you people don’t realize is how many of us swore of any allegiance to the Republican Party when they did nothing to contest the results. I live for politics and I blog every single day and I am frustrated by the timidity of most of the Republicans. It is impossible for 26 precincts in Ohio to vote 100% for Obama. It is impossible for 27 other precincts in that same county to have only one vote for Romney. It is impossible for Philadelphia to vote 99% for Obama. Two Republican leaning counties in Colorado vote 104% and 141% for Obama. There is quite a bit more but the timidity of the Republican Party to contest this is why we “Lost”. Look, high class people do not contest these things, I understand. What you have just done is given our country to the cheaters and by the way, our way of life. It is not to late to audit the election and I know that all Tea Party members and most Republicans would give at least $20.00 each to finance it. Jerome Corsi has started it on his own. The Republican Party is indeed dead if you don’t do this. The Tea Party Movement is not dead but we are fragmented into three groups. We need to have one umbrella group and Tea Party State Councils. This is one third party that will work.
  
  Report this comment
- steadyhand39
  Posted on December 8, 2012 at 2:50pm
  America and Republicans are loosing because they have not been taught or forgot what Alexis de Tocqueville pointed out and is quoted in the book The 5000 year Leap by W. Cleon Skousen, pg. 80. The “religion of America”, as sometimes referred to by the founders, explains what the founders understood when they adopted the Northwest Ordinance in 1787, article 3, about the importance of Religion, Morality and Knowledge being necessary to good government and happiness of mankind and the necessity it be taught in schools. This “religion of America” was expressed by Benjamin Franklin, (Smyth, Writings of Benjamin Franklin, 10:84). It is expressed with five “Fundamental Points”, to be taught in schools and listed in Skousens book p. 78. It was agreeable to all world faith’s and necessary to Freedom and Republican government. This was the unwritten “political religion” undergirding the Republic and discovered by De Tocqueville. Differing religious tenets were popular among the churches. If we can rediscover this “religion of America”, the Republican Party and America will be reborn.
  
  Report this comment
- Russ Henry
  Posted on December 8, 2012 at 10:36pm
  The current Tea Party move! #FireBoehner. Go to AmericanActionMajority.org to learn how you can help!
  
  Report this comment
- Tonto USA
  Posted on December 9, 2012 at 11:54am
  And the GOP will now demonstrate into which pile they fall….either the RINO pile or the real conservative pile. This mess will be an excellent weathervane. Boehner hasd already shown he’s got to go. Several more will follow.
  
  Report this comment
walnutportconservative
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:17am
Here in Pennsylvania, the move toward middle or Left has begun within the party of the weak. We have a representative who was brought up to know better, educated to knoe better, and has a mind to know better, yet he claims he is a homosexual. Actually the word which best describes it is “queer”. It is only a political move on this representatives part, because he knows that homosexual activity is an abomination toward God. He has learned from the left that lies and wrong living appeals to Americans.
Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil, who put darkness for light
and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.
21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes
and clever in their own sight.
The party has already lost this conservative Christian patriot when they jammed Romney down our throats. The blameless one was Santorum… A True Conservative
God Be With Us

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- RANGER1965
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:51am
  I’m pretty sure Santorum wasn’t blameless.
  
  But I do believe that we have crossed a line into an undisciplined society that begs for bread and circuses, rather than justice, and certainly not righteousness. I also believe that it will be hard if not impossible for a Conservative who promises hard work and discipline to win over a liberal who promises…free stuff.
  
  As Rush says, it’s hard to vote against Santa Claus.
  
  Report this comment
- CorpsmanToPA
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:51am
  I agree with Ranger
  
  Report this comment
- Darla_K
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 9:28am
  I find it hard to believe that people would want 4 more years of the same that we have right now. To sit on their osses and not vote or to vote for Gary Johnson is just plain crazy. They deserve everything they get, it is just to bad that I have to get it also. Shame on you.
  
  Report this comment
azghost
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:15am
As a conservative republican my family and I are not voting for the moderates and liberals of the republican party anymore, if they are not conservatives, why waste our votes for the liberal republicans. We never vote for liberal democrats.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:23am
  I have to agree with you there, we need conservatives who will put America first and not their own interests. The Tea-party and other grass-roots conservative movements are becoming the new rebirth of the GOP, yet only when the progressives are gone for good, will we awaken fully again.
  
  Report this comment
- naughtycal
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:43am
  Maybe just leave the GOP and the Republican label behind all together. The Tea Party is actually a moderate libertarian party more than the conservative Republican party group. Time to drop the Republicans party the bends to PC and a populist…..Better to be a Constitutional party where freedom is more important than pandering to special interest.
  
  Report this comment
- RANGER1965
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:47am
  I’m with you. I will never vote because it’s the strategic thing to do again. Either it’s a cantidate that I think deserves the post, or nothing. I will never cast a vote for someone because I hate the other guy.
  
  Report this comment
- BODYBAG
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:47am
  “Since Nov. 6, there has been no shortage of opinions as to why challenger Mitt Romney and the Republican Party failed to ouster President Barack Obama.”
  
  There is no big secret here. Romney has voiced the true reason numerous times already:
  
  “When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic”
  
  “Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch”
  
  Ben Franklin made both these statements. The looters [wolves] have voted themselves into power [along with a healthy dose of voter fraud]. Progressives of BOTH parties are responsible for this predicament.
  
  The real question is when are The People going to grow a pair and actually do something about taking this country back to LIBERTY as intended by our Founders. And yes, I do mean by force if necessary.
  
  Report this comment
- Truthbeliever2
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:50am
  When the progressives are gone for good huh? Well I would say us Ron Paul supporters did a FINE JOB of not selling our souls to vote for Progressive flip-flopping dirt bag Mitt Romney. If only the rest of you had a clue…
  
  Report this comment
- Truthbeliever2
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:55am
  You Romney supporters talk a good game against Progressivism but then throw all of your support behind one of them. Progressivism will die when ignorant Republicans pull their heads out of their *****!
  
  Report this comment
- BODYBAG
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 3:32pm
  @RUTHBELIEVER2
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:50am
  Well I would say us Ron Paul supporters did a FINE JOB of not selling our souls to vote for Progressive flip-flopping dirt bag Mitt Romney.
  ————————————–
  And you helped usher in yet another 4 years of The Communist Boy-King and all that it entails.
  Thanks alot douche.
  
  Report this comment
- soybomb315_II
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 4:26pm
  It is ignorant and haughty to blame Ron Paul supporters for not voting for Romney. We said from the begining only Constitutional candidates will do. At the end of the day, as long as we have corrupt election laws that only allow for two voices – things will never get fixed
  
  Report this comment
- Fubared
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 2:12pm
  Tofu
  It is also quite haughty and ignorant to think thinking people would support Paul just based on his whack job supporters that did nothing but get his message diluted and turned into a hedonistic weed for free fest. That and the whole math issue. .05% of .01% is still not worthy of a stem and seed. Thank windy, angry, resme, sillysallyfreshness, and yourself. Oh, jihad jerk and a few other lovely characters. Speaks volumes for the candidate to have such stellar backers. Is it johnson or is it paul? next week barr, who is this stein chick, is it back to paul’s johnson again?
  
  Report this comment
- TooMuchSense
  Posted on December 8, 2012 at 4:31pm
  I don’t like luke warm milk. I don’t like luke warm soda. I don’t like cold soup. If I want limp wristed and luke warm politicans, I can get them for free in the democrat party. The Republican Party is dead. Dead if they lose what ever purpose for their existence that they had. I will not support a party, just to support a party. They must stand for something. If they don’t, and I support them, I become them. Worthless, of no importance. I value my beliefs, and support those that value mine.
  
  Report this comment
azcowboy1
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:12am
The true TEA party is still here. In the shadows, waiting. That’s where it (tea party) needs to be. If we try an all out assult, we will lose. It took the progs 100 yrs. to get us here. Just keep your powder dry and wait. I have my beliefs on gay marrige and such, but that’s not what TEA is about. The little issues will take care of themselves. Our first step as TEA will be known when we get a balanced budget. Not an ammendment (thats talk), but a real balanced budget. If we (the USA), can last 4 more years we can try again. Patience is a vitue. If a civil war starts you will see the shadows brighten, if you get my drift.
TEA
jH…

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- PLJJ
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:30am
  Great post , you get it , there’s more of us then they know .
  
  Report this comment
- TMOverbeck
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:31am
  As long as message discipline is stressed within the Tea Party types, they can recover from this and regain their strength. When we were first hearing about the Tea Party rallies, Wilkow stressed that they were focused on fiscal issues and that social issues were taking a backseat, albeit temporarily. As time went on, some people got too overzealous and went off message suddenly spouting off against gay marriage and abortion, and that scared a lot of the independents away. We need something like Clinton had, in the vein of “IT’S THE DEBT, STUPID”… and keep the social initiatives at the grassroots level where they belong.
  
  Report this comment
- chucksue351
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:33am
  it was once known as the silent majority, but now i don’t know if there are enough to make a difference, once you get bought off there is no turning back
  
  Report this comment
- azcowboy1
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 2:23pm
  Well Chuck, I’ll just stay quite, I’ll leave it to you to figure out how many I’s there are. Good luck and Bye
  jH…
  
  Report this comment
WTSpike
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:09am
We need a return to our roots, and the Tea Party represents what we need here. Smaller government, less intrusive into the private sector, more thrifty, and one that abides by the tenets of the Constitution. This is why the Tea Party exists, and the left labels them as racists and extremists only because they see it as a threat to their “progressive” platform.

We have a right to live under the Constitution as it was put forth by the Founders. We need to re-embrace these values.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- dflocks80
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:46am
  There once was a point when the Tea Party and the Religious Right were two distinct entities. The Tea Party was started with fiscal responsibility (TEA=Taxed Enough Already). However, it has essentially been “hijacked” by a loud minority who feels that the most important function of government is to serve as the strong arm of their religious beliefs.
  
  The Tea Party needs to refocus or rebrand, and make sure it doesn’t get hijacked again. Fiscal sanity is of utmost importance moving forward, and we do ourselves no favors by associating with people who claim to promote small government, yet are more than happy to have big brother enforce religious beliefs on people, providing that it is their religious belief.
  
  Report this comment
- RANGER1965
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:56am
  @ECINOM
  
  The Word of God describes your diatribe as Gnashing yourTeeth. It is a normal response when a d mocker bangs his head against the indominatable truth.
  
  Report this comment
- Ric
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:02am
  Encinom,
  Why in the world do you use negative and insulting terms to try to get your point across? All this gets you is some minimal support from like minded people, while blunting the message you are trying to get across to non supporters. Continue playing up to your ilk if you must, but your approach doesn’t make much sense!
  
  Report this comment
- Fubared
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:16am
  Encinom the free ******
  
  Report this comment
Priscilla King
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:09am
Liked and linked at Blogspot.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
BasketFullOfPuppies
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:07am
I bit my tongue and held my nose when I voted for Romney. To me, it just sucked that real conservatives like Cain and Bachmann were kicked out of the race. Was it because the GOP had already decided who it wanted? I don’t know. But, I suspect so. I wish the republican party would go back to its roots. But, maybe it is too late. Maybe we need another party. If this happens, it will be a long time before any elections are won. But, it took 100 years for the progressives to get to this point. Personally, I’ll be surprised if we have another election. I’ll be doubly surprised if the ballots aren’t already filled in for us. I am pretty sure that we don’t have another 100 years to fix things. I think things are about to be fixed, in spite of our own unwillingness to do it, ourselves.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Just_Us2
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:22am
  We were given Romney, McCain, Dole….RINOs all. Republicans know how to pick em don’t they. They have losing down to an art form. Then they turn around and insult Tea Party people. They say we just are not like Democrats enough to appeal to the electorate. We need to move left to win. If I wanted to move left to win, I would have voted Obama. If your policies mirror those of Democrats, tell me, why do I want diet when I can get the one loaded with sugar? In four years we will have yet another RINO put before us and we will be told that the party depends on us all being united. They can go pound sand. I refuse to vote for another Democrat, even if they have an ‘R’ by their name.
  
  Report this comment
- BasketFullOfPuppies
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:29am
  I was thinking the same thing. If the Republicans really want me, they’ll have to come to my way of thinking. I’m not going to come around to the progressive view. If they want to win an election, they’re going to need you and me, and more like us. Personally, I don’t need them. I’m tired of this carp.
  
  Report this comment
- RANGER1965
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:01am
  I agree with your reasoning.
  
  However it might already be too late. The trend I am seeing is that Democrats are swinging hard to the left into Socialism. The GOP is moving left into Progressivism.
  Even though it’s merit’s are questionable a 3rd Party might be the only option for Conservatives.
  
  Report this comment
Locked
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:03am
This article takes the wrong tact. From what I’ve heard from young people on both sides of the political fence, it wasn’t fiscally conservative positions that sank the GOP, but socially conservative ones. Anecdotally speaking, in my experience a lot of young people agree that the country needs to reign in spending and the size of government; but they’re not willing to support a political party that does so at the expense of expanding government to limit personal freedoms, like the GOP tried to do in this last election.

In other words, if the GOP walked the walk instead of just talked the talk, then they’d be successful. If the Tea Party keeps itself on a fiscally conservative path rather than diverting into socially conservative areas, it will be a major force in future elections, bridging that awkward divide between the more libertarian young members of the right and the older core of the GOP.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- dflocks80
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:55am
  Locked, you’re dead on with this. As a young person myself, I can attest to the fact that there are two major political ideologies prevalent in my generation. We have those that pay little attention to political matters, yet get hyped up over “non-issues” (birth control, etc.). These people tend to run strictly to the left, as they are social voters first. On the other side, we have those who pay a lot of attention to political matters, and are libertarian-leaning, strict fiscal conservatives. However, like Locked says here, they are reluctant to vote Republican, as the current strategy within the GOP is to “throw a bone” to the religious right minority by taking hypocritical hard stands against gay marriage and the like.
  
  The first party to embrace the libertarians will be the one that holds the power in the future. The GOP is much more compatible with the Libertarian mindset that that of the current Democrat Party. If they’d only spread their small government argument to the social realm, they would be golden.
  
  Report this comment
- alinmatt
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:04am
  I am one of those young libertarians. I left the Republicans under the reign of Bush, and felt reassured in my decision when he pushed TARP at the end of his last term. Government spending is out of hand and the Rep. have no desire to reign it in. They are in favor of big gov as long as they are the ones behind the wheel. Social conservative ideas, whether good or bad, are a destructive force when the goverment is expanded to enforce it. Social conservatism belongs in churches and homes, the government’s only duty is to protect and preserve our freedoms.
  
  Report this comment
- ForMyKidsVA
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:23am
  LOCKED,
  
  While I agree with what you have said, I don’t agree that conservatives need to shy away from conservative social values. Most everyone is liberal in their thinking when young but once one marries and has children, one begins to realize that socially conservative values are what keeps society going.
  
  I disagree that Republicans need to become socially liberal. They just need a different way of going about it.
  
  Report this comment
- SimpleTruths
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:27am
  You’re right on the mark with that line of thinking, problem is too many TP groups have deep roots in religious foundations. The manufactured belief that the “Founders” built this country on Christianity makes them feel empowered to demand everyone follow their morality.
  
  That was, and will continue to be, the TP biggest problem with attracting significant chunks of voters regardless of whether they agree with their fiscal agenda.
  
  Report this comment
- alinmatt
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:36am
  @formy, I am young, married, and have children. I agree that socially conservative values are to the benefit of society, but it cannot be the government’s duty to decide which values we have. That is up to each individual. When the government takes on that responsibility, it grows and then it continues crossing a line into the freedom of the individual. While we may like the government supporting our values, the leadership in our government is frequently changing, and all the power that we give our leaders to support our values can then be used to destroy them when someone like obama gets in office.
  
  Report this comment
- dflocks80
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:59am
  There is no need for conservatives to abandon their socially conservative beliefs. By all means, hold them, cherish them, and champion them. In fact, many libertarians (myself included) hold these personal beliefs similar to yours. However, we need to champion a small government that spans both the fiscal AND social realm. Not only does this remove a great deal of hypocrisy from our message, it removes the only attack the left has against the right.
  
  Rarely do you ever hear an attack by the left that originates from calculated disagreement with fiscal policy or financial responsibility. The vast majority stem from social non-issues such as contraception and gay marriage, and they are fueled by the fact that we have a vocal minority who clamors for these things to be government policy. If the GOP doesn’t have to hold a hypocritical party-wide tough line on these social issues, then what ammunition will the left have?
  
  If small government is good for the fiscal, it’s good for the social as well.
  
  Report this comment
- ForMyKidsVA
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 12:15pm
  ALINMATT,
  
  Actually, I agree that it is not the government’s duty to dictate how we live our lives which is why I am so perplexed that so many voted D. Liberals are the biggest nannies around. But I suppose as long as you let people have free abortions, birth control and gay marriage, then heck, what do we need with big gulps and unmolested air transportation?
  
  I don’t for a minute suggest that the government enter our bedrooms. What I do propose is that we stop, as a society, condoning easy access abortion, sexual promiscuity, etc. Don’t ban these things and don’t make them a party platform but make it clear that there will be no laws or regulations making them easier and cheaper to obtain. Basically, making things shameful again once the person’s actions impact others.
  
  I think the biggest problem most conservatives have with abortion, single mothers, legalized drugs, etc., is that we end up paying via our taxes for those abortions that we detest, for the fatherless children and for the crime brought on by people who are hooked on drugs.
  
  I personally don’t care what a person does in private. But it had better not impact me and I had better not have to pay for it. Unfortunately, we do have to pay for all the negative impacts of socially abhorrent behavior one way or the other. It’s a shame the conservatives can’t or won’t underscore that point.
  
  Report this comment
- Lived 30 years in the USSR
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 1:01pm
  Well said
  
  Report this comment
- tommytruck
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 1:37pm
  This is for every one of you, who states that they are fiscally and politically conservative and socially liberal and “libertarian.” If only the religious fanatics would go back to their homes and keep their mouths shut. If only candidates would run the house well, but do nothing to protect the people in it. If only those morons would realize that this country was NOT established on Christian principals. You are morons.
  
  The Founders, deists they may have been, but they were deists with a Christian bent. So much so, that they used terms such as Creator, Inalienable, Rights. These terms would ONLY be used by Christians, because without Christianity the terms would hardly exist. The Greeks and the Romans, Republics – yes, Republics founded on these Truths which our Founders based our Republic – no.
  
  You are illogical at best and sophists at worst. Learn your history. Do NOT dare to call yourself a Patriot, yet have the moral turpitude to suppose that your “lives” and your “rights” should be protected, while the child conceived in the horrid case of rape or one unwanted or one with a disability or one partially birthed, does not warrant due protection.
  
  Selfish Pigs. I and many others may have put ourselves in harms way for your rights, but that makes you no less loathesome. “You people” would argue State’s rights to avoid the abolishment of slavery and obviously lack the moral fibre to defend those weaker than yourselves. Pigs.
  
  - Tommy Truck
  
  Report this comment
- alinmatt
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 7:37pm
  @tommytruck, libertarian doesn’t mean that someone is fiscally conservative and socially liberal. It simply means that the federal government has a responsibility to defend and protect our rights and has no constitutional right to delve into social issues. I am socially conservative, yet I am a libertarian.
  
  Report this comment
- Locked
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 8:28am
  Alinmatt nailed it in his response. Pretty sure all of us are socially conservative in our own lives; that doesn’t mean we want a government to force us how to live, even if it’s the “right” way.
  
  “I and many others may have put ourselves in harms way for your rights.”
  
  Very unlikely. I mean, if you’re arguing that you were a member of the military, well join the club. We’ve got jackets. If you’re going to say something like you were outside an abortion clinic protesting, or went to some rallies or something… well, that certainly isn’t putting yourself in harm’s way, nor does it have anything to do with my rights.
  
  ““You people” would argue State’s rights to avoid the abolishment of slavery”
  
  Now THAT is funny. Know what a constitutionalist does? They look to the Constitution. Know what the 13th amendment says? Outlaws slavery. See, we have no problem with amending the Constitution when it is warranted; we DO have a problem with the government expanding itself and ruling on unconstitutional matters.
  
  Complete fail on your part, TT.
  
  Report this comment
- flipper1073
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 8:55am
  Excellent Discussion,
  
  An exactlly on Point. Those of you who say you’re Conservative.
  But Say You want the Government to Control how everyones Lives.
  That’s Counter too Smaller Government,Less intrusion More Freedom.
  You Can’t have it Both Ways Either you want Smaller Gov.or You Don’t !
  
  This is not to Say that I Don’t want Politicians to be of the Highest
  Moral Standards an Convections.(OK that leaves out the RINO’s)
  
  The Best Formula for a Conservative to Win Either in the Repub. Party
  Or in a New 3rd Party is to stick to Conservative Fiscal Principles.
  an Leave the Social Issues to the Individual.
  
  Say You’re Christian an Believe in GOD Then “SHUT UP”
  Say You’re Pro-Life with few exceptions Then “SHUT UP”
  Say You’re For Civil Unions an Equal Rights Then “SHUT UP”
  Say You’re For Contraception (Buy it Yourselve) Then “SHUT UP”
  
  Say You’re for Cutting Spending
  Then spend your whole Campaign Telling What an How Much.
  Say You’re for Cutting Government
  Then spend your Campaign Telling which Dept’s an Agencies
  You’ll Eliminate Starting with Czar’s an TSA.
  Say You’re for a Strong National Defense
  but not Nation Building or Rebuilding or Policeforce of the World.
  
  Simply Put, I don’t Want or Need My President to be My
  Spiritual or Religious Leader I want a Leader Who will Restore
  America to her former Greatness !
  Before the Progressives in BOTH parties destroyed
  Our Personal Freedoms an Economic Future.
  
  Sarah Palin
  
  Report this comment
- flipper1073
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 10:24am
  It cut Me Off
  the last line is
  Sarah Palin / Allen West 2016
  
  Report this comment
- tommytruck
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 1:07pm
  Yes – You People.
  
  Nice try at dodging the issue, but the 13th Ammendment is the 13th Ammendment because it wasn’t part of the original 10. You People, back then, if you followed your logic would have to argue that the States can maintain the practice of slavery because abolition isn’t “constitutional.”
  
  Slavery was not consistent with our founding principals. It was contrary to our “belief” as Americans, which is fundamentally based on the Judeo-Christian ethos. The Declaration of Independance was our “what we believe.” The Constitution is “how we live that belief.” The fact of the matter is, while you sit there and bemoan the fact that Christians are ruining your opportunity to be free of government interference, those Christians are defending the rights of those who NEED the protection of the Government – of society as an whole. It is not BIG Government. It is Government doing its damned job. The ONE job it was created for – To protect and defend the right of all men who are created equal to their inalienable right of LIFE, LIBERTY, and the PURSUIT of happiness.
  
  Abortion is no more about women’s rights than slavery is about States rights and the right to own property. Slavery was about the rights of blacks as men, equal to all others. Abortion is about CHILDREN’s rights. Slavery and abortion are against our founding principals and the moral foundation they were built upon.
  
  Of course, you know this. You just find it inconvenient. Twits.
  
  Report this comment
- Locked
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 2:08pm
  @TT
  
  “You People, back then, if you followed your logic would have to argue that the States can maintain the practice of slavery because abolition isn’t “constitutional.””
  
  False. I already said that I’m fine with amending the Constitution when required. Heck, I like that idea better than the idea of Congress (or even worse, the President) making federal changes without regard for the Constitution. By YOUR logic, you’d prefer a president unilaterally decide what to change rather than amending the Constitution. That’s why you’re not a conservative.
  
  “The fact of the matter is, while you sit there and bemoan the fact that Christians are ruining your opportunity to be free of government interference, those Christians are defending the rights of those who NEED the protection of the Government – of society as an whole.”
  
  “Christians” aren’t ruining anything. Fundamentalists are. I can guess which category you fall into.
  
  “Abortion is no more about women’s rights than slavery is about States rights and the right to own property… Abortion is about CHILDREN’s rights.”
  
  I disagree with abortion, but outlawing it doesn’t make abortion disappear, nor does it reduce the reasons for abortion (which are economic for 75% of women who abort). It just makes it unsafe. Know what’ll bring down abortion rates? Prosperity… through fiscally conservative policies.
  
  You won’t get that with the current GOP.
  
  I would be for a personhood amendment, FYI
  
  Report this comment
- alinmatt
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 5:29pm
  @Tommy trucker, many of us are against abortion and do see it as a constitutional issue. It’s not a women’s right issue in my opinion, but a child’s right to life issue and it is the fed gov constitutional job to protect that life. Unfortunately, we have lost that battle and continue to lose it. As locked pointed out, prosperity would help in reducing abortion numbers. I also happen to believe that if American’s stopped looking to the government for answers and reconnected with the ideals of individual responsibility and freedom, that they would be more inclined to take responsibility for their actions and not use abortions like birth control.
  
  Report this comment
TheMajority
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:03am
What makes anybody think the “We The People” of the TEA party is going to have any more success purging the progressives/communists out of the GOP than they would the DEM party?

Rush, Hannity, Levin?, or anybody else have an answer to that?

Lets hear it.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- longknifed
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 1:52pm
  I have been suffering from chronic insomnia the last 4 years, partially from Obama. I can tell you that Republican voters had political insomnia because all they wanted was to go back to sleep at any cost – “Romney is the most electable” even though he was identical to Obama.
  
  Republicans just want a “tough” talker to govern the exact same way with exactly the same policies as a Democrat. Allen West, Gingrich, Perry, Cain are all no different than Democrats when it comes to policies. They differ only in style, not substance from Democrats.
  
  Report this comment
- ConservativeFirst
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 9:33pm
  I don’t think there will be success purging the progressives from the GOP. I think it is time for a Fiscally Conservative Party that includes fiscal conservatives and libertarians.
  
  Report this comment
jessieH
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:01am
The TEA Party knows there is no difference between the GOP or the other treasonous party.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- doomytram
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:11am
  The other treasonous party is evil. Bureaucrats in Washington DC are just punch drunk with money. We need a leader as President who can reform the ridiculous Bureaurats who don’t think that we need to cut Gov’t by 40% EPA Dept of Ed. Dept of Commerce, State Dept, UN ties, FEMA,. DHS, etc etc. etc and build from the ground up. But that’s the common sense thing to do… and DC isn’t common.
  
  Report this comment
- longknifed
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 1:24pm
  hate to break it to you but the “tea party” is synonymous with “neoconservatism.” It was successfully infiltrated, hijacked and commandeered by Sarah Palin and Karl Rove in mid-2010. Progressivism IS neoconservatism. But it get’s worse……any and all jingoism of the 1776 revolution is now synonymous with this co-opted Tea Party….”don’t tread on me, liberty, tyranny, capitalism, etc.”
  
  These people have been such a detriment to this country that it can never be fixed at the ballot box, and probably not even with the bullet box.
  
  Report this comment
jadams1214
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:59am
I think any movement that considers Paul Ryan a fiscal conservative is a fraud. Ryan has voted for big government and big spending consistently for 12 years and then gives a couple of speeches in which he spews rhetoric about fiscal conservatism and we are supposed to ignore his record now. If this is what the TEA PARTY stands for i’ll continue to vote third party for the rest of my life. I find it insulting that the same people who say look at the Dems. records completely ignore Paul Ryan’s.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- alinmatt
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:19am
  Yeah, when I read that Paul Ryan was a fiscal hawk I nearly spewed my coffee. When balancing the budget (not the debt) in 28 years is considered fiscally conservative, we know something is screwy. Thank you GOP and other “conservatives” for labeling true fiscal conservatives as nuts.
  
  Report this comment
pookieamos
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:57am
It is too bad people want to denigrate the tea party people . The tea party message is smaller govenment , it’s about living under the Constitution , it’s about FREEDOM. In Congress , they are trying to right the country but they have to fight Progressives on both sides . If, we the people , Democrats and Republicans and Libertarians don’t come together to stop AGENDA 21 , it’s over for the world. Have you picked up a copy of Glenn’s new book , AGENDA 21 ????? It’s a spellbinding book. It’s about a country with no HUMANITY !!!!! No FREEDOM , live where you are told, eat what you are told , no autos , no NOTHING !!! This is what is being plotted not only here in America but across the world through the United Nations.Agenda 21 is already moving fast forward in California , the most Progressive state in America. Educate yourself and try to awaken others on Agenda.Democratsagainstunagenda21.com , Freedomadvocates.com are great websites on Agenda 21. Please work hard to fight this else , we lose.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- encinom
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:09am
  ” . The tea party message is smaller govenment , it’s about living under the Constitution , it’s about FREEDOM.”
  
  Really, then why do the tea baggers stand for government deciding whose religious text will be used to define marriage? They are not for freedom, but for advancing restrictive religious beliefs.
  
  Report this comment
- dflocks80
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 12:07pm
  Encinom’s Tea Party diatribes are proof of why the Tea Party needs to shed those that see the government as a religious enforcer from their ranks. None of his (nor any of the left’s) attacks against the current Tea Party stem from their stance as fiscal hawks. Instead, they are all railed against those who jumped on board and used the movement to further their own hypocritical agenda of establishing a social theocracy.
  
  Frame the debate around the religious extremists who have infiltrated the Tea Party, and we’ll lose every time in the court of public opinion. Shift the debate to fiscal policy, and the argument gets much more interesting. We hold the power to shift the debate, and we need to act upon it.
  
  Report this comment
- Mil Mom
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 4:48pm
  @encinom
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:09am
  
  ” . The tea party message is smaller govenment , it’s about living under the Constitution , it’s about FREEDOM.”
  
  Really, then why do the tea baggers stand for government deciding whose religious text will be used to define marriage? They are not for freedom, but for advancing restrictive religious beliefs
  ***
  You really should learn a little more respect when addressing your elders first off. Second, from the beginning of mankind, (That’s man and woman however they originated) man has married woman, not monkey, not horse, not cow, not camel AND DEFINITELY MAN DIDN’T MARRY MAN OR WOMAN MARRY WOMAN OR THE SPECIES WOULD NEVER HAVE GOTTEN STARTED WHETHER WE EVOLVED OR WERE CREATED. You’ll never find the fossil of 1/2 man and 1/2 other species because it couldn’t happen today and it didn’t happen in the past. Maybe the species started off looking far different, but where are all those missing steps? Show me scriptures from every religion except Gaia and Global Warming, and I’ll show you that originally man married woman. Now make up your own religion, find a deserted Island somewhere and institute your own government and version of marriage, just don’t push it off on this nation where the founders recognized otherwise!!
  
  Report this comment
pilgrim249
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:55am
It’s different now.

Conservatives know that the Republican Party is now nothing but a decaying corpse—Let the dead bury the dead.

We MUST have a new Party, not another Paul diversion, but a Party with soul and courage, grounded in reality and led by a man like LTC Allen West.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- 1stzookid
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:01am
  I’d vote for Alan West
  
  Report this comment
- VaARNG_Guardsman
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:06am
  Try the Constitution Party: http://www.facebook.com/TheConstitutionParty?fref=ts
  
  Report this comment
- pilgrim249
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:32am
  The Constitution Party is a proven failure.
  
  We need a Party ablaze with the fire of God—If we have that then we won’t need the wierd Paulites, we won’t need the Hispanics whom Obama bought with trinkets and meager handouts, we won’t need country club effeminate losers.
  
  We need a Party with the courage to fight in the streets if need be. One that draws military patriots. One not afraid of the word Revolution!
  
  Report this comment
- truthnstuff
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:48am
  Pilgrim, tour point is exactly correct. They need to start coalescing, loudly, now to get ready for 2014 – 2016.
  
  Report this comment
- dflocks80
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 12:11pm
  Pilgrim, you are advocating for the party to double down on failed policy. Frankly, the GOP would be better off if those who can’t see the hypocrisy of small fiscal/big social government would break off, and form their own small, powerless third party with all the political pull of Nader and the Green Party. Then, the Libertarians would gladly come aboard, the Democrat/Republican distinction would still be clear, and the GOP would have a decent shot at winning again.
  
  Report this comment
- crazyrightwingmom
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:59pm
  Sounds good to me…I’m waiting!
  
  Report this comment
- USA DJ
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:58pm
  I would vote for Alan West as well but I disagree with you about a 3rd party. It would take forever to gain the support of the public and we would never win an election again. We have to take back the Republican party and go back to the valeus they once stood for. If we force the establishment republicans to come around to our way of thinking then we will have a chance. If they think they will be left behind they will come around. I, for one think Romney actually won the election. I think the voter fraud was much more rampant than anyone thinks and was also a factor in the 2008 election. To bad no one has the courage to report it, investigate it, or call for hearings into it. Afraid of being threatened, called racist, sore loser, no one has the courage to try to find out the truth even if our country is at stake. How sad is that!
  
  Report this comment
Apple Bite
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:54am
Enough of the social conservatism and the same- sex support crap. Those are really talking points of the Progressives, period. And applying it to conservatives at all is a simple way to start a division. That’s what they excel at, dividing society and those that have the potential to overcome their death march.

What we need to support is common sense solutions. Common sense says you don’t attack somebody based on what they believe, or kill an unborn child while it’s still in the womb.

What we’re seeing right now is a total division of a party and a potential backing of said party to stay true. They’re recreating reality at our expense. We can’t not allow that to happen.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
term limits for congress
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:54am
This speculation is meaningless. Unless the GOP comes up with a way to reach the Diane Sawyer/Dancing with the Stars crowd, they’re done.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Pantloadian
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:51am
The Tea what? Tea Party? Oh, wait, right, I remember that. Yeah. Quaint little episode of hysteria in our great nations history. Like Duck Dynasty or Prohibition. I seem to recall all the “members” of the Tea Party dying off soon after their humiliating rejection by the American people in 2012. Guess they were all too old to sustain their dementia. But there’s good news – they all got 72 Hula Hoops in Heaven.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- doomytram
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:01am
  Your support Obozo!
  
  Report this comment
- Just_Us2
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:13am
  If I wanted to vote for Democratic principles, I would vote Democrat, not RINO. Perhaps Romney is the last time I vote for this worthless party. If smaller government is wrong, I don’t want to be right. I was told that the only way to save America and win the election was to hold my nose and vote Romney. Well, that got me more government. Thanks, but no thanks. You can keep your Democrat lite party, you ran two RINO candidates and you have two losses. Why in the hell should I listen to anything you have to say or give you any money? So you can lose AGAIN and tell me what an idiot I am? Thanks but no thanks. Keep your insults and your losing candidates.
  
  Report this comment
- Chromo200
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:43am
  PANTLOADIAN Sure you believe in a one party system .. More abortions, free stuff for every one, all march to same drum beat, no need to work because gov’t will give you what you need. You seem to believe in anything that will destroy the principles that made this country a beacon of freedom for the rest of the world.
  
  Soon you will be supporting beastiality, pedophilia, murder, because it will be convenient and the old folks will be dead and won’t be in your way.
  
  At least the Tea Party Member maintained its moral compass. The RINOs sell their souls to anyone just to be in power and the Dems are like aids infected prostitutes that infect anyone they come in contact with.
  
  Report this comment
VaARNG_Guardsman
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:50am
It’s time for the tea party to start voting for the constitution party!!!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
doomytram
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:49am
I remember when ridiculous talking heads Gregory and Snuffylufagus were pounding GOP and Tea Party Politicians on the Sunday shows about 4 to 1 spending cut, to tax revenues.

Hey Obozos! You ludicrous fools! Obozo offered Ozero spending cuts and more borrowing(spending money we don’t have) on the table. Look! Let me be clear Obozo has no ideas. He is the fool of fools. He is a wanna be Dictator that looks up to Morsi and the Brotherhood. He thinks Detroit-a-stan and Deerborn Michigan are the way of the future. Chicago and Detroit city are going the wave of the future for non edumacation and put the people in fancy Ustore it condos.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Winedude
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:41am
If the Tea Party was only about financial issues I probably would give it some support. It’s quite obvious that we cannot keep living beyond our means (although it is quite fun.). However, in far too many instances I hear some iteration of Tea Party going on and on about same-sex marriage, contraception, abortion and other social issues. I know that there are some regular posters on here who thing that’s OK. I disagree…it’s NOBODY’S business except for the people involved. Quoting scriptures, especially stupid things from the New Testament, isn’t going to get many votes outside of the Christian evangelists. It sure won’t get mine…

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- SacredHonor1776
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:49am
  That’s really only from the so-called Teavangelicals who have been tryin to co-op the Tea Party to add more issues.
  
  Report this comment
- barber2
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:56am
  I do think that the Republicans could win hands down on financial issues BUT… . The biggest obstacle Republicans face is the radical Left’s control of the MEDIA which allows them to twist, spin, and lie without consequences. ( Soros invested his money in buying media influence . The media is the most powerful influencer of the majority people today ) . The morality issues should be couched in terms of big brother government versus individual rights . That is really at the core of this dispute. ( The Democrat Give-Aways are another big problem as are dumb people voting ! )
  
  Report this comment
- doomytram
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:59am
  @Winedude, open up your mind to realize that Akin and Murdoch lost because of people like you. Don’t take this personally, but rubbers (Obozo’s pesudo war on women) same sex marraige and other social issues don’t have anything what-so-ever to do with the Tea Party. From your post, it sounds as though your are simply mis/dis/ill/ and uninformed by the Idiot Box Leftist’s on Sunday Show’s etc.
  
  The tea party really don’t want to bring up social issues at all. Only the Obozo’s want to bring that up etc. For example, Romney transported a family dog in an AKC approved pet carrier on a vacation. Axelrod and Obozo lied and said Romney hates dogs. Whilst Obozo said in his book that he ate dog. This example and 100 more are examples of the Wicked Wacked out Evil Left portraying the GOP and the tea party in an evil light.
  
  Your post illustrates that your listening to the MSM about social issues. You can’t take what one person or five people say about social issues on a web blog either. If you care about social issues Windude then keep it to your self, but if you care for the USA then it’s Tea or Evil Cramming and nudging into Totalitarianism with Kim Jong Obozo.
  
  Report this comment
- jwpowers41
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:59am
  I do not support abortion however I really do not support taking taxpayer money to pay for it it is
  illegal and immoral to do so and sandra fluke buy your own contraception or stop screwing…
  
  Report this comment
- Locked
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:29am
  @Doomy
  
  I agree with Winedude and disagree with you. You say that “open up your mind to realize that Akin and Murdoch lost because of people like you.” No, they lost because they
  1) Engaged in a battle about social issues, and
  2) Were dumb as bricks. It’s one thing to argue about social issues; it’s another to be blatantly wrong about science like Akin was or to say something utterly moronic about God condoning rape like Mourdock did.
  
  Were they “gotcha!” media moments? Sure. But they doubled-down on their remarks after; this was not two men misspeaking. This was two men holding positions that should have been revealed and disqualified them when they were first vetted.
  
  You don’t win elections by pretending a candidate is perfect when they have obvious flaws. You need to have good candidates.
  
  Report this comment
- barber2
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:33am
  JW: agree. The issue here boils down to spending tax payers’ money for personal items.
  
  Report this comment
- doomytram
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 12:09pm
  @Locked Akin and Murdoch’s plight was a contrived set up of these two fools. The problem I have with the ridiculous PC BS Obozo MSM Leftist’s is that the two candidates that actually morally against abortion lost. The Demoncrats that have no problem with abortion and planned Gov’t parenthood won. That’s the shame.
  
  Report this comment
- dflocks80
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 12:22pm
  @Doomy
  
  Opposing abortion via Libertarian belief (in which one believes the unborn child is a person and is entitled to constitutional rights of its own) is admirable and can be intellectually debated by those on the left. It is hard to do a hit piece on someone who justifies their beliefs this way.
  
  Opposing abortion “for the Bible tells me so,” or because you feel it is the work of Satan is Constitutionally incompatible with the foundation of our country, and is rightfully chastised and lampooned by the media. When you add the complete stupidity in the comments of these two (legitimate rape, etc.), you lose all hope of keeping these guys around.
  
  There is a Constitutional argument against abortion to be made. Using any religious text as a supplement to this argument dooms it to failure.
  
  Report this comment
- ConservativeFirst
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 9:44pm
  Winedude, thenTea Party IS about being fiscally responsible. The Republicans tried to include the Tea Party under their umbrella to get the votes, but they have no love for these individuals. The press wants to destroy the Tea Party, as they realize the grass root support that exists. The press rarely asks the Tea Party individuals about fiscal issues, as they realize those would be popular. They only ask questions regarding religious and social issues to turn off people such as yourself. the Tea Party is not about social or religious issues. The social and religious issues will mean nothing if the country goes under financially.
  
  When the right candidate comes along, which will happen, there will be a ground swell of support that many who oppose the Tea Party will have a hard time understanding. There is a lot of grass root anger and there are a lot of people who feel betrayed by the GOP.
  
  Most Tea Party supporters are hard working Americans, who need to selectively choose their battles.
  
  Report this comment
progressiveslayer
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:39am
It isn’t enough to say you want smaller government and lower taxes,apparently there’s enough people who want big government and high taxes and so they voted for the Marxist POS. The bigger the government gets our standard of living will continue to go down because more of our dollars will be going to government BS programs. A big part of the problem is public schools since they indoctrinate kids at a young age to think that government is the be all end all to all our problems. We don’t have time to fix the government indoctrination camps so we’ll just have to deal with taxmageddon when it hits,taxes going up for everybody except obamazombies. Isn’t it great how it works out,they vote for higher taxes because they don’t pay federal income tax and we get to pay it,only in Amerika,great huh?

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- barber2
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:48am
  PRO: There seems a innate unfairness when those who get to vote on how tax money gets spent , do not pay any taxes. Funny our Lefty ” social justice ” crowd always avoids that basic injustice .
  
  Report this comment
- Pantloadian
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:03am
  Who pays no taxes?
  
  Report this comment
- Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:25am
  @Progressive:
  
  Sarcasm duly noted and understood in full. All too true.
  
  Report this comment
- flipper1073
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:26am
  PANTLOAD
  47% of Americans Pay NO tax.
  Crazy part is Most of them Voted Obama.
  
  Report this comment
- Locked
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:42am
  @Flipper
  
  “47% of Americans Pay NO tax.”
  
  This is wrong. You probably mean “income tax.” All people in our country pay some taxes; whether it’s on the food they buy, or for the property they own, or for social security and other programs.
  
  Report this comment
justangry
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:39am
If “Tea Party favorites” include the trash that was voted in in 2010, and Matt Kibbe is the definitive authoritarian about what the Tea Party wants, then I have NO RESPECT for the Tea Party at all. Social conservatism is a progressive movement. Any ‘conservative’ entity that doesn’t recognize this can’t be fiscally responsible or constitutionally sound.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- longknifed
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 1:18pm
  The Tea Party is dead. The Tea Party remains dead. And we have killed it.
  
  Report this comment
RIGS
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:37am
To all of you tea party and gop’ers who did not vote for romney because it was his faith or he was not conservative enough GOOD FOR YOU now suffer the next 4yrs and maybe longer.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- barber2
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:44am
  Bingo. ” Divide the Dumb Conservatives : was a clever strategy for the crafty Democrats ! We saw it being played here on the Blaze daily : the Mormon religion / they’re both the same so why vote ..blah..blah..blah…
  
  Report this comment
- Pantloadian
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:53am
  Hey, if they’re conservative and dumb (and let’s face it, it’s impossible to not be both), why not divide them? Congratulations – you’re drowning and you’ve identified water as the problem.
  
  Report this comment
- justangry
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:03am
  How about if we didn’t vote for him because we’re tired of big government, progressive, global police statists from Harvard?
  
  Report this comment
- SacredHonor1776
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:07am
  Ironically by not voting you get that anyways… No choice… No instant solution…
  
  Report this comment
- barber2
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:24am
  RIG: Agree with you. Conservatives need to unite in the next 4 years. PERIOD.
  
  Report this comment
- neverending
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 12:05pm
  @RIGS and BARBER2 – so totally agree with you. So many of them refused to vote for a Mormon well congratulations to you sorry sob’s that gave this commie 4 more years. Sadly we all have to suffer in what we are headed for and truly believe we can’t even imagine what a disaster it will be.
  
  Report this comment
- shorelineliz
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 1:02pm
  I truly am pissed at all these Conservatives, Ron Paul supporters who actually thought he would be the GOP candidate (magical thinking) and EVANGELICALS who stayed home and didn’t vote. I am pissed at you stupid people! Because of your stupid “Principles” you got Obama another 4 years. That is on you stupid people! Elections matter. Yes, Romney is a Mormon but Obama is a Communist or didn’t you just read Pravda Magazine? Idiots!
  
  Report this comment
- SimpleTruths
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 2:59pm
  Pants…
  “Congratulations – you’re drowning and you’ve identified water as the problem.”
  
  Spot on!
  
  Report this comment
- SimpleTruths
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 3:33pm
  SHORELINELIZ
  A prime example of just how brainwashed you, and your ilk, really are:
  MSNBC is a left wing propaganda machine, but PRAVDA reports the plain truth.
  
  Wow. And you wonder why most American’s can’t take you seriously.
  
  Report this comment
- justangry
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 3:39pm
  @shorelineliz, I’m pissed you didn’t stand up to the GOP when they pulled all their crap. If you’re sucking the GOP’s pud, you’re a dumb ass. They’re not different than the Democrats.
  
  Report this comment
- Fubared
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 7:03pm
  Angry
  And yet you see not why you are mocked, ridiculed, and essentially ignored. Look above; you align and enable some stellar pos’s. You are load and simpleton choomer. Congrats, and how is Paul’s Johnson today? Swell huh. Well, not too swell without a lot of lil blue pills and lots of fluffing. Load and choom = angry. Really, postulate some more for posterity’s sake. Did you know load was the hero of fallujah 2? Not the movie, the real deal. And why yes, aligning with the choomer has garnered you sooo much more repsect and attention for the good doc. Are you angrier? Does it matter in the least? Choom on with a load then.
  
  Report this comment
- justangry
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:22pm
  Yeah, Fubared being mocked by you and a few other halfwit statists, neocons and social progressives really upsets me SO much… I’m crushed!! LOL What’s really funny is that I’m so stuck up your crawl. If you’re not a friend of liberty, you’re no friend of mine and I really have NO USE for you. Republicans and Democrats are both enemies of freedom. Unless you missed that Romney and most of the GOP voted for or supported us not having the right to a trial? Something we’ve enjoyed since the Magna Carta was signed, but yeah I’m supposed to look the other way and vote for more of that ****? You’re the one “chooming” if you aren’t PISSED OFF about it. Stupid sheep can’t even stand up for your rights and ridicule those that do… What a worthless POS
  
  Report this comment
- Fubared
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 2:23pm
  Sure, I am many things, but aligning with lefties and stoners, I won’t bend to. You bend, you seem practiced. Again, your drivel does not confront me. Hold pantloads hand and sing the c
  kumbahya song. Let your anger build, then hit the bong some more. Let your anger build, then hit the bong some more. Let your anger build, then hit the bong some more. Let your anger build, then hit the bong some more. Really great platform. Oh, leave me and my stuff alone, and don’t tread on me, and pass the bong, and don’t tread on me, and leave my stuff alone. Sure. You have zero to do with paul/johnson/barr getting traction. Nothing. Really. Let your anger build, stroke pantload and choomer, then hit the bong some more. Seems to really be working well so far. 0 thanks you, load thanks you, and of course choomer is right there with you. You align with lefties and stoners as if it is common place and just the price of doing bidness. Kudos. In a world of compromise, some don’t. You know exactly zip about my political leanings other than what I allow you to percieve, and somehow your new pity party with lefties and stoners is going to make paul/johnson/barr look better? How? Stay angry, stay stoned, and let the adults work through or around this morass. Now, really postulate on world happenings the way a good paul/johnson/barr toad can. Everybody is waiting with baited breath. You are a joke and you and yours ruined a decent movement but you cannot fathom that.
  
  Report this comment
goahead.makemyday
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:35am
I know what will change the establishment. TERM LIMITS! Is there any back door way we can get an amendment on the national ballot that institutes say a two term limit in congress and say a four term limit in the house? That right there would FORCE new people who listen into congress and keep people from being too corrupted with their sense of power.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- 1stzookid
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:59am
  I am with you on term limits. How do we get this started?
  
  Report this comment
- Small World
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 2:55pm
  If the voters would stop re-electing the same person over & over we could enforce term limits.Bo*er has been in for 20 years.
  
  Report this comment
StormRider
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:33am
After a total train wreck, I heard our state establishment picked GOP chairman resigned. And some Cons have been nominated to take over. So please Libs,Dems keep telling everybody the Tea Party is dead. Just don’t pay attention to the guys behind the curtains, nothing to see there, move along.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
DougHuffman
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:26am
Loser takes all. The GOP is dead, dead, and dead of Bush-41, Bush-43, McCain, Cain, and all of The Jerk Obama’s enablers.

The GOP is the right wing of the progressive American Ruling Class. Vote Country Class, vote Constitution Party, read Angelo Codevilla’s America’s Ruling Class — and the Perils of Revolution.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- TAXEVERYONE
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:43am
  You must be one of those Ron Paul losers.
  Thanks for destroying our country.
  
  Report this comment
- BlackCrow
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:52am
  Remember Ross Perot!
  
  Third party politics are the quickest way to get Communists elected. Better to work from within the Republican party and kick the RINOS to the curb. Why give up on the gains the Tea Party has already made in a very short period of time? The more state legislatures and governorships the more states will have the courage to stand together against the Federal mandates.
  
  16 states are already refusing to implement the insurance exchanges mandated by Odummer care. How many more will call their bluff? We will take our country back or boot the blue states out. The insurance exchange issue is only the first step in a long journey.
  
  Report this comment
- VaARNG_Guardsman
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:57am
  I absolutely agree about the Constitution Party….leave the GOP and join your state Constitution Party today.
  
  Report this comment
- soybomb315_II
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 4:20pm
  Everyone needs to boycott the GOP until they fix election laws so that 3rd party can compete. Then we vote for Constitution Party and if Constitution Party is not in the run-off election, then vote republican.
  
  Report this comment

It appears that you have Javascript Disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser preferences for a better user experience on TheBlaze. You can not comment without Javascript enabled.