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Politics

Progressives vs. The Tea Party: These Are the ‘GOP What’s Next?’ Poll Results

Dec. 19, 2012 6:30pm Billy Hallowell

TheBlaze’s “GOP : What Next?” editorial series has concluded — and with some fascinating information for politicos and Republican officials, alike, to consider. If you were actively reading the associated articles, you observed a plethora of expert analysis surrounding what went wrong for the Republican Party in the 2012 presidential campaign and election. Now that the series has come to a close, we present you with the results of the “What Next?” Blaze poll that measured a variety of issues surrounding the party’s future.

In addition to checking the poll’s results, at 7:00 p.m. ET tonight TheBlaze TV’s “Wilkow!” will facilitate a special episode exploring the party’s past — and future. While you can watch the show and hear the issues being dissected, also be sure to catch up on each of the pieces in the editorial series here.

Series exploring the future of the Republican Party

As for the poll, the results were telling. From the Tea Party’s role to the future of Progressives, you shared your views about what’s next for the GOP. Based on the results, it is overwhelmingly clear that Blaze readers believe that Tea Party members — and not Progressive Republicans — are best suited to lead the movement.

Of 796 respondents, 96 percent said that Progressives should not remain in charge. On the flip side, of the 818 readers who took the poll, 97 percent answered affirmatively when asked if they would like to see the Tea Party leading the GOP. This is no surprise, considering that 98 percent of readers who participated noted their support for the right-of-center movement.

Looking beyond which ideological construct should dominate the party’s future, 84 percent of readers believe that the Republican Party needs to go in a new direction, with only 16 percent disagreeing with this notion.

It seems experts, too, agree with this alleged need to evolve. From re-assessing the party’s moral arguments, to considering better outreach mechanisms to young and Hispanic voters – the room for improvement is grand.

Be sure to read the entire series and to tune-in tonight to see “Wilkow!”

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Comments (47)

Sickandtiredofextremists
Posted on December 21, 2012 at 1:22am
I, and all of my family (as far back as I can trace) have always been believers in the Republic………….hence we’ve been Republicans. But since the Marxist who is occupying “my” White House has been in office, I’ve grown increasingly embarrassed with being thought of as a Republican. Where are those of us similarly inclined to go to find like-minded individuals? I have no idea at this point. The Tea Party is a movement, not a Party. It is not organized enough to be a Party. There are plently of new public representatives who have the Tea Party movement in their genes, but the established Republicans resent their presence. Which is why the Speaker has had them removed from so many of the committees recently. Shame, too, because many of them speak a language I’ve missed hearing from the Republicans presently in office. I just don’t know the answer, but know something has to be done to take back our government before Osamabama and his evil regime totally trash it so our children and grand children have nothing to look forward to. Makes me sick to look at our Topsy-turvey country today.

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taxedenuf
Posted on December 20, 2012 at 2:16pm
I am firmly in the camp of the Tea Party. I see that as a libertarian social conservative, but a hawk on fiscal conservatism. I don’t care what you do, just don’t expect others to pay for your bad outcomes. If you wish to have bastard children, FINE! Just don’t ask me to feed, clothe, or house them. That is your responsibility. If you don’t carry insurance on your health, car, house, or life, FINE. But when bad things happen to you, STFU, and fix your own problems. If you have a disabled child, don’t ask the rest of society to cover your problems, and don’t ask the schools to teach less to the capable because they must mainstream your child. The Government is to provide for the common defense, not take care of everyone’s problems.

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- jmm124567
  Posted on December 31, 2012 at 7:33pm
  What is a libertarian social conservative?
  
  Report this comment
Brother Winston Smith
Posted on December 20, 2012 at 12:33pm
Na. Keep your SCRIPTED “results.”

Lemme guess: Amnesty (outreach to “Hispanics” – you’ll say) = cool. Destruction of marriage = cool. (Responsible – you’ll say) UNCONSTITUTIONAL, COMPULSORY redistribution of wealth = cool. MORE UNCONSTITUTIONAL “war” = cool. MORE UNCONSTITUTIONAL police/surveillance-state = cool. Right? I’ll wager the “results” FIT WITH EXACT PRECISION, the gop prescription that cemented the losses (designed losses) in 08 and 12.

The leftist republican party is finished. The ONLY THING they can do now, is SPLIT THE VOTE and siphon support AWAY from the Constitution Party and the Libertarian Party.

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- Silvertruth
  Posted on December 20, 2012 at 1:43pm
  I don’t know about everyone else but the common thread in all of this is the word “Party”. We’ve been partying since the 1800′s and it’s gotten us no-place great. Sadly, we are in a bad predicament because ‘parties’ keep adopting ‘platforms’ that force people that disagree with ‘planks’ of the platform to conform to that party’s majority claim.
  
  All of this garbage needs to be boiled down to minimum logical points, addressed as cultural, safety or rights based and let it be debated clearly without all the spin. Let’s educate on all sides of a given issue with a neutral viewpoint and let people choose representatives based on who they feel best represents THEIR beliefs. Parties just mess it all up and make idiotic, ideological, arguments that usually only have a passing blush of reality or truth in them. They appeal to our base nature, not our intellectual one.
  
  I’m starting to think we will have to have some kind of revolution before the original intent of the framers will come out again, in force, but with so much trash in wide abundance, finding truthful treasure is harder than turning lead to gold.
  
  Report this comment
izukiddin
Posted on December 20, 2012 at 11:44am
If conservatives don’t win over the Republican Party it is dead

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flipper1073
Posted on December 20, 2012 at 8:55am
PONYEXPRESS Has already said what the TEA Party is about.
But many of the Groups that calls themselves tea party.
Express, Patroits and others are arms of the GOP.
If You’re OK with Big Government You just want the Republicans
in Control (abortion, gays an all that crap) then You’re GOP.
I’m NOT saying give up your Core Values an Princibles.
Just that the Federal Government Need not make the Rules for
Everyone.
I don’t want a Dept.of Education (Cabinet Level) for exactly the same REASON.
Remember it was a Republican that gave Us the Dept of Homeland Security, TSA,
NDAA, Patriot Act,OSHA,FEMA, I could go on an on.
This is NOT a New Battle it’s been going on for Decades (Goldwater / Nixon, Reagan / Bush)
I Want a MUCH Smaller Government, MUCH less Spending an MUCH More
Individual Freedom It’s Really that Simple.

PS Warmonger this is proably the only time I Agree with You
The Convention was the Last Straw for the GOP !

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- flipper1073
  Posted on December 20, 2012 at 10:17am
  Opps !
  Sorry Warmonger
  I had you confused with Trollmonger or something like that.
  
  Report this comment
nilo
Posted on December 20, 2012 at 8:40am
Progressives in the Republican Party have achieved their goal, wittingly or unwittingly. I’m a Tea Partier in spirit now. I hold no allegance to any party. The Tea Party is a movement, not a party. George Washington warned about parties. His warnings should have been heeded. The parties have divided the nation, which is what he warned against.

There is a good article about Washington’s position on political parties. Look to:

http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/history-purpose/2012/mar/9/george-washington-warns-against-political-parties/

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MisterSarcastic
Posted on December 20, 2012 at 1:49am
What’s next for the GOP? For me it’s the Constitution Party. I’m done with the Republicans.

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Angeltoo
Posted on December 19, 2012 at 11:03pm
When did the Leftists become the ‘Progressives?’

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- GhostOfJefferson
  Posted on December 19, 2012 at 11:38pm
  Around 1992 or so.
  
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- Micmac
  Posted on December 20, 2012 at 12:12am
  More like 1915 when they decided it would be easier to take over the Dem party then create one. The word Progressive was created to be a substitute for Commy/Socialist to be more palatable.
  
  Report this comment
- Concerned Green Beret
  Posted on December 20, 2012 at 7:05am
  No actually in the early 1900s. Progressives is the changed name from communist. It is the cover name they use to move their commie agenda forward!!!
  
  Report this comment
StandingUpForAmerica
Posted on December 19, 2012 at 10:45pm
Time to let the Republican Party know we are not going to put up with the run of the rhinos each election cycle. Each election year they bring out progressive rhinos and tell us Americans want compromise some one in the middle. Some one more like the Democrats. Then they expect us to hold are nose and vote for the team. Well not any more. Try putting up the most Conservative guy you can find and watch us vote in record numbers. I am going to the town hall and changing my party affiliation to independent. If The republican part see there numbers drop in droves they just might see the writing on the wall.

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foxrocks
Posted on December 19, 2012 at 10:23pm
hate to say it but time for a third party, conservatives only, instead of these RHINO’s that all they care about is getting reelected, taking care of their cronies and big business. They care less about small business, and the conservatives…..Bohner gotta go as speaker asap. Worst Speaker ever, doesn’t care about who got him elected

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- Strasser
  Posted on December 20, 2012 at 8:37am
  I fully understand the frustration in wanting to just leave the GOP behind and start a third party, but unfortunately history has shown this will succeed only in splitting the vote and guaranteeing easy victories for the commies. It’s simple human nature–as long as there is a GOP with it’s history and name recognition, a third party will never get the 90%+ of the conservative and moderate vote it would need to beat the Dumbascrap opponent. This is why the commies changed their name to “progressive” and infiltrated the Dumbascrap party–they knew they could never compete as a third party, so the took over an existing one.
  
  We need to do the same–we’ve made significant progress in electing true conservatives as Republicans, and there’s open talk of throwing out the RINO’s. We have them scared–that’s why Boehner threw the conservatives off the budget related committees. It’s a long, hard war, and there are sure to be setbacks, but they dont mean we’re losing the war. Don’t give up the fight–keep faith and keep supporting true conservatives in GOP primaries so we can knock off the RINO’s one by one and face off against the Dumbascraps one to one!
  
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Ponyexpress
Posted on December 19, 2012 at 9:47pm
The “Tea Party” is not a party, it is the embodiment of any and all of the values permanently embedded in the soul of every American and enshrined in our declaration of independence and constitution.
It is who we are.
For the last 60 years or so we have assumed that those elected by us and taking the oath of office were part of those values.
We have awakened, after many years of dreamily pursuing our right to Life Liberty, and our personal vision of Happiness, to find out that the old Communists, now sheathed in the cloak of “progressivism” have undermined those values and now, threaten them.
The name of the wakeup call is “Tea Party”.
Those who do not understand who we, as a nation are, will be shunned by those who do.
It is not an organization, or a movement, it is the United States of America ethos.
That is what the tea party is, no less, no more.

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- WarMunger_Al
  Posted on December 19, 2012 at 10:47pm
  Apparently it wasn’t embedded deep enough into the majority of Americans as the election proved. And now every conservative ideal will be swallowed by the liberal legislative filth coming down the pike. All the “polls” are showing that a majority of Americans do not desire to be free. They only want free stuff.
  
  Report this comment
- GhostOfJefferson
  Posted on December 19, 2012 at 11:39pm
  @Warmonger
  
  A free man does not ask permission to be free. Who cares what they demand. Withdraw from the system as best you can. Do not comply or submit.
  
  Report this comment
- Texasexpat
  Posted on December 20, 2012 at 1:51am
  @Pony Express You are spot on! I ccouldn’t had said it better!!!
  
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Ponyexpress
Posted on December 19, 2012 at 9:44pm
The “Tea Party” is not a party, it is the embodiment of any and all of the values permanently embedded in the soul of every American and enshrined in our declaration of independence and constitution.

It is who we are.

For the last 60 years or so we have assumed that those elected by us and taking the oath of office were part of those values.

We have awakened, after many years of dreamily pursuing our right to Life Liberty, and our personal vision of Happiness, to find out that the old Communists, now sheathed in the cloak of “progressivism” have undermined those values and now, threaten them.

The name of the wakeup call is “Tea Party”.

Those who do not understand who we, as a nation are, will be shunned by those who do.
It is not an organization, or a movement, it is the United States of America ethos.
That is what the tea party is, no less, no more.

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- For my Liberty!
  Posted on December 19, 2012 at 9:52pm
  Amen!
  
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Chromo200
Posted on December 19, 2012 at 9:33pm
So the GOP needs to give up on abortion, or gun control, or proper immigration, proper spending, smaller gov’t, etc etc .. So why call your self GOP ..

I will not give the GOP a penny and have sent in my affiliation to independent. I need to the courthouse and see if I can change it to conservative.

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- For my Liberty!
  Posted on December 19, 2012 at 9:53pm
  NO one is saying the GOP needs to give up it’s BASE MORALS and beliefs….READ it again!
  
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Distress
Posted on December 19, 2012 at 9:22pm
The sad fact is we can only delay the oncoming war. Further delay will only hurt the chances of free thinkers victory. Our enemies have done an amazing job of bringing the rest world to accept a lower standard of living and the control of their lives. Their spread is quickening, from the borders to our own neighborhoods, these ideas are becoming the norm, and I fear that if we don’t make a last stand freedom on this planet will lag behind for decades.

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Marine25
Posted on December 19, 2012 at 8:45pm
First, there are no ‘progressives’ left in the GOP. Second, the tea-party has done what is probably irreparable damage to the Republican brand nationally. Anyone who wants tea-party leaders to run the GOP is either politically tone-deaf or really likes losing national and state-wide elections.

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- BlackCrow
  Posted on December 19, 2012 at 8:55pm
  Then go join the Communists if that is the way you feel. Myself I firmly believe in the Tea Parties core values of a smaller less intrusive government built on the founding principals and lower taxes.
  
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- Jedrin
  Posted on December 19, 2012 at 9:02pm
  You are 180 off on this. Who do you follow? A wishy washy coward like Bohner or an agressive “I’ll go first” dude? The Tea Party isn’t a party, it is a loosly affiliated group of people that want the spending to stop. The Rs have no leadership, no morals, nothing to stand on and thus no chance to win anything. It is time to man up and take a stand, don’t hide behind the wire. Do you even care about what has alredy been lost?
  
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- Jedrin
  Posted on December 19, 2012 at 9:05pm
  is it wishy washy that is getting my posts banned?
  
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- muffythetuffy
  Posted on December 19, 2012 at 9:05pm
  NOT MUCH I CAN DO IF GOP EXTENDS DEBT CEILING AGAIN BUT QUIT
  
  If they break their promise on this, I will re-register as an Independent and send my GoP legislator and Governor a copy of my new status. That means little but my vote will not be available to them in primaries and my contributions will no longer be available. As an Independent, I will be a vote the GOP wants dearly. Maybe you can join me in helping the GOP go to HELL.
  
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- Jedrin
  Posted on December 19, 2012 at 9:06pm
  I just found out that wIIIshy Waaashy is a bad word
  
  Report this comment
- truthnstuff
  Posted on December 19, 2012 at 9:30pm
  Hey marine, where are/did you serve. Venezuela.
  
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- HOOT_OWL
  Posted on December 19, 2012 at 9:39pm
  Marine25 or should I say ‘Liberalmarine’ .
  
  I see your off your meds again. You have all distorted to hell and back.
  
  Report this comment
- banjarmon
  Posted on December 19, 2012 at 9:51pm
  A Liberal marine….you SIR are a failure and a disgrace to your fellow MARINES!!
  
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- For my Liberty!
  Posted on December 19, 2012 at 9:54pm
  REALLY???? And HOW do you explain 2010???? *l* better go back to your research…
  
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- decendentof56
  Posted on December 19, 2012 at 9:59pm
  Marine……
  No disrespect intended, but……..
  You need to educate yourself. You are obviously not sure of what the TP movement is about.
  Why not go to a few TP meetings?
  The TP may well replace the GOP at some future time….maybe sooner than you think.
  
  Report this comment
- reconmarine
  Posted on December 19, 2012 at 10:24pm
  You call yourself a Marine? BULL!
  
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- alecj
  Posted on December 19, 2012 at 10:52pm
  Which one of these national candidates would be considered a “Tea Party” backer. Bob Dole, John McCain, Mitt Romney.
  
  None…the are all moderate, GOP progressive types.
  Which one won his national election?
  
  Dont tell me there are no progressives in the GOP, thats just stupid….second, the last real Tea Party type national candidate we had was Ronald Reagan…how did he do?
  
  GW Bush ran as a conservative and how did he do?
  
  You are either a liberal repeating the idiotic things you read on Media Matters, or you are a progressive Republican trying to deflect blame from your many, many defeats.
  
  Lets just check 2012:
  Tea Partiers had Richard Mourdock, Josh Mandel, (Todd Akin was not a Tea Partier so dont go there), Moderate GOPers, had Tommy Thompson, Linda McMahon, Linda Lingle, Scott Brown, George Allen
  
  Plus we are sending Ted Cruz to the Senate after the GOP insiders set out to beat him.
  
  Add Pat Toomey, Chris Lee, Marco Rubio, Ron Johnson, Rand Paul, Kelly Ayotte, and Id say the Tea Party has done just fine with candidates recently.
  
  Im sorry but if Scott Brown couldnt beat that liar fake indian, Warren in Massachusetts then I dont want to hear about Tea Party failures…
  
  Report this comment
- BmanIII
  Posted on December 19, 2012 at 11:51pm
  @ Marine25…
  
  So, you were a marine in McHale’s Navy?
  
  An honorable discharge? Or no?
  
  Report this comment
- henryKnox
  Posted on December 19, 2012 at 11:52pm
  I no longer am willing to compromise my principals to win elections. It doesn’t seemt to work anyway. If I believed in Socialism I would support Socialism and if I’m going to support it might as well go with the true Socialists and vote wih the Socialist Democrats. Unfortunately, Socialists have been responsible for millions of murders in the last century and I can’t support that. The Tea Party is really the only group based on true American ideals of freedom, limited central gov’t and fiscal responsibility.
  
  Report this comment
- Marine25
  Posted on December 20, 2012 at 6:15pm
  You may disrespect my service all you like. The patriotic credibility of the majority of posters here was destroyed 2 nights ago with several hundred shameful and hateful comments regarding Medal of Honor recipient Senator Daniel Inouye on the evening of his death. His remains will lie in state in the Rotunda as one of our bravest warriors and most dedicated public servants. Today I visited the Capitol to pay respect to Senator Inouye. I saw dignitaries, Democratic and Republican, from every state and around the world today pay their respects to an authentic and sincere American hero. The fact that his service was so callously ridiculed on this website shows not only the selfishness of many here, but how far so many on the right have fallen from the American ideals of service, respect, and duty. Yes, disrespect my service as a Marine and an American Foreign Service officer all you like. Tuesday night I learned all I need to know about how many of you ‘support our troops.’
  
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- jmm124567
  Posted on December 31, 2012 at 7:48pm
  The problem I have with the Tea Party is they seem a little too extreme. For example several Tea Party activists recently said they only want Republicans to compromise on the fiscal cliff if no ones taxes increases. They said if taxes on the rich have to go up then Republicans should not compromise. This would mean everyone’s taxes go up not just the riches. This is stupid. Why would you not compromise and have the top 1% taxes go up instead of everyone’s?
  
  Also people talk about the Tea Party being about individual freedom but aren’t the Religious Right part of the Tea Party? If this is true then the Tea Party is not about individual freedom since the Religious Right are very intrusive into people lives trying to regulate what people do.
  
  I also heard the Tea Party was taken over by the NeoCons
  
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- jmm124567
  Posted on December 31, 2012 at 7:52pm
  @Alecj
  You said: “Dont tell me there are no progressives in the GOP, thats just stupid….second, the last real Tea Party type national candidate we had was Ronald Reagan…how did he do?”
  
  You think Ronald Reagan was a hardcore fiscal conservative like the Tea Party?
  
  Reagan increased spending, increased the size of the federal government, had skyrocketing deficits, tripled the national debt, lowered then raised taxes to try to fix the deficits. Reagan also compromised a lot.
  
  Report this comment
TrueColours
Posted on December 19, 2012 at 8:43pm
The GOP is full of RINOs, Neo-Cons and Dupes of the new world order! This organization is dead. . .we just don’t want to admit it and develop a new alternative that will truely represent our conservative principles and interests.

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- truthnstuff
  Posted on December 19, 2012 at 9:29pm
  You are right, and the GOP has proven that they will marginalize and drive out the conservatives. Also their actions during the convention were sheer thuggery. We may need that third party.
  
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- WarMunger_Al
  Posted on December 19, 2012 at 10:50pm
  the convention was the last straw for the GOP.
  
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