The tea party as a ‘hostile takeover’ of the GOP
Two tea-party promoters, Dick Armey and Matt Kibbe of Freedomworks, offer a “manifesto” for the movement in today’s Wall Street Journal. The bit that’s getting all the attention doesn’t come until the end:
[L]et us be clear about one thing: The tea party movement is not seeking a junior partnership with the Republican Party, but a hostile takeover of it.
The American values of individual freedom, fiscal responsibility and limited government bind the ranks of our movement. That makes the tea party better than a political party. It is a growing community that can sustain itself after November, ensuring a better means of holding a new generation of elected officials accountable.
So, it’s a hostile takeover of a political party, but it’s also better than a political party? I think I know what they are getting at: that they are part of a movement that will try to infiltrate the GOP and change it from within, rather than compete with, or take orders from, it. But it’s a little obtuse, as is the notion of setting out a manifesto for a group that, as they write within said manifesto, is not a top-down organization:
The many branches of the tea party movement have created a virtual marketplace for new ideas, effective innovations and creative tactics. Best practices come from the ground up, around kitchen tables, from Facebook friends, at weekly book clubs, or on Twitter feeds. This is beautiful chaos — or, as the Nobel Prize-winning economist F.A. Hayek put it, “spontaneous order.”
Decentralization, not top-down hierarchy, is the best way to maximize the contributions of people and their personal knowledge. Let the leaders be the activists who have the best knowledge of local personalities and issues. In the real world, this is common sense. In Washington, D.C., this is considered radical.
As I’ve said before, the tea party’s best chances for “sustain[ing] itself after November” lie in changing the way Americans engage with politics and politicians — for changing the framework for debate, not working within the old one. And it needs to be done locally before it can expect to have more than a fleeting impact nationally.
I don’t think Armey and Kibbe are wrong about their description of the tea party to date. But if they are right about its intention to remake the GOP nationally, I think the movement will end up using its energies in ways that don’t fulfill its potential.
P.S. — As a challenge to those who will come on here and disparage tea partiers, try to say something more original and insightful than accusing all or most of them of racism.
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310 comments Add your comment
@@
August 17th, 2010
9:25 pm
Now why am I not surprised that Bruno hung out at the W2W blog?
Bruno
August 17th, 2010
9:29 pm
“Now why am I not surprised that Bruno hung out at the W2W blog?”
Woof, woof.
Hillbilly Deluxe
August 17th, 2010
9:29 pm
DANG! Hillbilly and I see Kyle in the same light.
Whodathunkit?
Well I always did think you were an astute one. (IW&SH)
@@
August 17th, 2010
9:35 pm
Yip, Yip.
Bruno
August 17th, 2010
9:37 pm
Just for you, @@, a nice Genesis number:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrJ1EUrJhOQ
Of times when kings and queens sipped wine from goblets gold
And the brave would lead their ladies from out the room to arbours cool
A time of valour, and legends born
A time when honour meant much more to a man than life
And the days knew only strife to tell right from wrong
Through lance and sword
md
August 17th, 2010
9:40 pm
“It diminishes those who are concerned about racist elements of the Tea Party.
Its pretty obvious there are some.”
Look a bit closer, and one may notice that it is pretty obvious that there are racist elements in just about every group imaginable – to single out the tea party is intellectual dishonesty.
Del
August 17th, 2010
9:42 pm
Having studied the left wing mind set on different far-left blogs it seems they’re pretty much guided by their hero’s in the MSM or on far left blogs. They all say the same things and their talking points never reflect free non-influenced opinion. The difference between Conservatives and far-left liberals is clearly differentiated. The left in this country thinks America is an intrinsically bad country that desperately needs transformation, while the right see’s America as a shining example of what’s great in our history as a nation, our culture and our contributions to the world. A sharp contrast now exists between the left and right in this country. The difference is that not so many years ago, liberals and conservatives didn’t disagree on the greatness of America, only on the what’s best overall for the country and its citizens, now the divide is between those who believe in a traditional America and those who believe in reshaping America into something far different.
Bruno
August 17th, 2010
9:44 pm
“Look a bit closer, and one may notice that it is pretty obvious that there are racist elements in just about every group imaginable – to single out the tea party is intellectual dishonesty.”
md–As stated above to HDB, perception is reality to many people, so I do think that the Republicans should take the high road when it comes to matters of race. At the same time, it does get tiresome to hear the racial drumbeat over and over when there are far more substantive issues to worry about.
md
August 17th, 2010
9:46 pm
“You have to admit that Jay does have an endearing quality or two, or why else would he have such a loyal following which includes a fair number of unrepentant conservatives?”
I for one visit because of the bloggers, not the blogmaster. Like @@, I agree that Jay is redundant and condescending, but does have his good days. His agenda is pretty obvious, which tends to turn me off.
Hillbilly Deluxe
August 17th, 2010
9:46 pm
“The Shot Heard ‘Round The World”.
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100817&content_id=13548902&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
Linda
August 17th, 2010
9:53 pm
@@ @ 9:22, In their heyday? They’re in it now. Been counting the czars lately? The Medicare person was not even nominated, let alone vetted by Congress & was appointed during a recess. He’s in charge of a budget larger than defense. The Senate would not pass climate change cap & trade tax so O has the EPA legislating it. He shut down drilling in the Gulf & wonders why unemployment is so high. There’s a memo circulating about granting amnesty to illegals with an executive order.
You mean a kingdom WITHOUT God on earth.
md
August 17th, 2010
9:54 pm
“At the same time, it does get tiresome to hear the racial drumbeat over and over when there are far more substantive issues to worry about.”
Unfortunately, the racial drumbeat is still ingrained in many of all colors and will take generations – if ever – to filter it out. It will never disappear until the time comes when we no longer have labels. If we as individuals insist on labeling ourselves anything other than “americans”, others will also see those labels. Heritage is one thing, descriptive adjectives another.
@@
August 17th, 2010
9:58 pm
A progressive tune, Bruno?
And the weak must die according to natures law
Did you know there used to be a Natural Law Party here in the U.S.? It dissolved. Their initiatives have been undertaken by The U.S. Peace Government.
Looks to be right up your alley, Bruno…not much room for a realist, but idealists are welcome.
Bruno
August 17th, 2010
9:58 pm
“If we as individuals insist on labeling ourselves anything other than “americans”, others will also see those labels.”
Completely agree, md, although in the end, “all politics is local”. People can talk a mean game about what’s best for the country, but it is only a reflection of what they think is best for themselves. Maybe I’m being cynical, but I think the Democrats buy the minority vote each election with promises of special treatment.
@@
August 17th, 2010
10:03 pm
Linda:
I totally agree.
Will the movement ever die?
Hopefully it’s in its death knell now.
The Democratic Party has been hijacked by progressives.
Del
August 17th, 2010
10:04 pm
Well off to Alaska…Good Lord willing I’ll talk with y’all in about 3 weeks.
md
August 17th, 2010
10:08 pm
“Maybe I’m being cynical, but I think the Democrats buy the minority vote each election with promises of special treatment.”
It isn’t limited to minorities………….it is class warfare at it’s purest. The haves vs the have nots. No different than when I was young, dumb……..and broke. I voted democrat across the board – I wanted what “they” had, and the dems were promising it.
md
August 17th, 2010
10:09 pm
Have a safe and enjoyable trip Del…………….
Bruno
August 17th, 2010
10:09 pm
““The Shot Heard ‘Round The World”.
HD–A few years back, I had a lady client who claimed to be related to BOTH Ty Cobb and Johnny Mize. I know they’re both Georgia boys, but wasn’t sure how they all could have been related. At any rate, I was smart enough to not push the issue with her. No sense letting the truth get in the way of a good client relationship.
AmVet
August 17th, 2010
10:10 pm
Be safe and have fun, Del.
We’ll want a full report when you get back.
@@
August 17th, 2010
10:10 pm
Well since Hillbilly brought up baseball, I was reading an article today about Lou Gehrig (sp?)
There’s speculation that he was the victim of brain trauma, not ALS. Something about him continuing to play while injured.
Just a tidbit.
G’nite.
Bruno
August 17th, 2010
10:11 pm
“Well off to Alaska…Good Lord willing I’ll talk with y’all in about 3 weeks.”
that sounds like an exciting trip, Del. Kiss Sarah for me, will you?
Linda
August 17th, 2010
10:12 pm
@@ @ 10:03, No, it will never die. It’s much, much worse than it’s ever been. I don’t know if we can repair the damage they’ve done or that they will do by Jan., ‘11. Most Reps. in DC have no clue what their agenda is.
RW-(the original)
August 17th, 2010
10:12 pm
I know they’re both Georgia boys, but wasn’t sure how they all could have been related
Barack Obama claims to be related to Dick Cheney so I guess it’s how deep you look.
Hillbilly Deluxe
August 17th, 2010
10:19 pm
Bruno
Ty Cobb was born in Banks County and Johnny Mize was from Demorest. They aren’t very far apart and both Mize and Cobb were from old-line families. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if your client was telling the truth.
snoqualmiefalls
August 17th, 2010
10:23 pm
Doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out The Tea Party movement… it is a cult, mostly White, 50’s plus, conservative, angry, Christan, FOX News consumers, nothing new here, they make for good political theater… destined to go the way of the Burma Shave billboards.
Bruno
August 17th, 2010
10:23 pm
A bit of baseball trivia for you, RW. Andres Galarraga of Montreal/Atlanta fame was known as “The Big Cat”, though it was Johnny Mize who originally had that nickname in the 1930s. Mize came out of Demorest, GA while Ty (The Georgia Peach) hailed from Narrows, GA, which is in Banks County. Close enough geographically to support a possible relationship.
Bruno
August 17th, 2010
10:27 pm
oops–didn’t see your 10:19 while typing out my 10:23, HD. I’m not surprised you scooped me on that one.
You have referenced being from N Georgia yourself, but for some reason I picture you as being more from NW GA, maybe near Chatsworth.
md
August 17th, 2010
10:34 pm
Bruno,
Per your earlier question/comment about Jay’s blog. 25 pages of “travelin music” and just as many for a picture of a trout ought to indicate folks don’t show up for just Jay.
RW-(the original)
August 17th, 2010
10:42 pm
Except they called Gallaraga, El Gato Grande.
Bruno
August 17th, 2010
11:05 pm
Looks like the blog is dead. Here’s “Back to Georgia” by Loggins and Messina:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHUwwRDQLkc
We could probably support a full Friday Night Music just based on songs about Georgia. There’s a bunch of them.
Bruno
August 17th, 2010
11:12 pm
“Georgia” from Boz Scaggs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jnowrxj_cbQ
Bruno
August 17th, 2010
11:23 pm
Well, blog, looks like “We’re All Alone”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkZGAscEdLw&feature=related
RW-(the original)
August 17th, 2010
11:24 pm
And a bomb by Thome is the first walk off game winner at the Twins new digs.
Later!
Bruno
August 17th, 2010
11:27 pm
“Harbor Lights”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srdtqGPSrEY&feature=related
Bruno
August 17th, 2010
11:36 pm
Well, at some point even I have to admit “It’s Over”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSsPP_uEgsc&feature=related
Night all.
mswoman
August 18th, 2010
1:44 am
Christians, Sarah Palin and Ground Zero Mosque
I am glad you gave me this opportunity to talk about the history of this great nation. The original English Colonist drifted to America’s shores because they had been exiled from Europe and marked as incorrigible criminals, murders, thieves, serial killers, and rapist. They were put in a boat and exiled because of the evil they wrought. The group of ex-cons had no idea where they were going until the boat hit the rocks and the first person that put his foot on land was Christopher Columbus, the serial rapist and murder.
They stumbled upon the Indians. The Indians were shocked to see the people and unable to take their eyes off them, observing they weren’t red like them, nevertheless, they were kind and offered to share their food. The Indians named this group of people, “ Pilgrims” because they were lost and new to the land. The Indians taught them how to hunt, fish, cultivate the land, make weapons, smoke their peace pipe and wash themselves and taught the women how to cook.
The Indians was having a special day of Thanks. Neighboring Indians traveled for miles bringing food and gifts and they called this day Thanksgiving. The Indians laid out the food and gifts on the table and asked the Pilgrims to pray and eat. The Pilgrims did not know how to pray, so the Indians taught them. After the meal was completed the Indians bowed their head once again to pray and thanked God that they could share their food with the Pilgrims. As they bowed their head, using the weapons that the Indians taught them how to make, massacred them and began to take over their land killing everyone in sight, forgetting their kindness. To this day, some Indian tribes cry on Thanksgiving. The wounded Indians that survived passed the story from generation to generation.
To the very few Indians that survived the massacre by running and hiding, he named this man, the “White” man. Great violence, grief and suffering were heaped on their land, their blood spilled to the ground. As the years went by and these pilgrims multiplied, savagely they went through the country, killing, burning, raping destroying and brining evil upon the land, because, for one thing, that’s all they knew, that’s why they had to be exiled from Europe in the first place. After they had killed, and violated the land, still with blood on their hands and heart while wiping the sweat from their brow from all the hard work of killing, they kneeled on their knees and prayed and thanked God for this “Great Land of Liberty” that they had discovered in 1492.
From that time, up until now, any human being that came across their path not looking exactly like them, they brutally murdered them, or enslaved them-treating them with every bit of savage cruelty. This “White man” Christopher Columbus and his posse made sure that tradition would continue until this day. Why this America has been at war with just about every country in the world leaving blood behind and taking some with them. Each time, they bow their head and “Thank God, for this great Christian Nation”.
Fire Eater
August 18th, 2010
4:07 am
The role of Tea Party patriots to the Republican Party is a lot like that of the political commissars of the Red Army in World War II…to march behind reluctant troops to enforce grim “discipline” when they begin to waver on issues like taxes, immigration and guns. Thus far they have had a stunning record of removing “moderate” GOP candidates in the primaries.
The neo-con influenced Republican Establishment wants the votes of Tea Partiers, gun owners and other “extremists” but does not want to further their agenda. They would like to appear “nice” to the Controlled Media and its “mainstreamed” news…thank God for the internet.
stands for decibels
August 18th, 2010
6:01 am
most blacks are in agreement with the Republican platform, especially on issues of morality
Issues? Plural? Bruno, that Gallup piece you linked makes a pretty flimsy case. There is precisely one (1) issue of agreement in their polling sample–whether “homosexual relations” are immoral.
Doesn’t go into the politics of gay rights, just the relations.
stands for decibels
August 18th, 2010
7:26 am
oops. My bad–that gallup piece cited by Bruno, earlier, does bring up more social issues than I’d claimed @ 6.01. The results don’t surprise me all that much, though, and the piece itself is over a year and a half old–I think both the DNC and RNC have already calibrated their respective appeals to this political demographic accordingly, for better or worse.
Roy Barnes
August 18th, 2010
7:28 am
I never heard of Barrack Hussin Obama! Isn’t he trying to change the American flag so Muslims won’t be offended?
Lil' Barry Bailout
August 18th, 2010
7:34 am
Rightwing Troll: What new ideas have emerged from the “true freedom loving” beast that calls itself the Tea Party?
—————
An idea doesn’t have to be new to be a good idea. Socialism and fascism were “new ideas” once. Didn’t keep your Idiot Messiah from trotting them out again, however, with his government takeovers of various industries and obscene, trillion-plus annual deficits.
left wing
August 18th, 2010
8:24 am
Linda from yesterday. – Yes I did bring up Reagan’s budget and if you in fact do have an economics degree (I got mine from the University of Missouri) Then you’d understand that you need to adjust Reagan’s $760 Billion debt to the same year’s dollars in order to compare to Obama’s debt.
First, stop repeating the lie. When the ARRA (stimulus package) was passed, unemployment was already over 8%.
The stimulus was in fact a success. On the previous page I copied a link from the council of economic advisors who said that it increased GDP by 2.7% and added over 2.5 million jobs. How is that a failure?
What would have been a failure is following right wing economics (If you have that degree then I’ll assume you follow the Austrian school). Austrian economics says basically to let everything crash & burn. If the business was supposed to fail, let it fail. Get the pain over with and then rebuild from the ashes.
So, they would have allowed the banking industry to fail. If you remember, AIG was teetering, Washington Mutual & Lehman brothers failed completely, Citibank was in huge trouble as well as Wachovia. What would have happened if they had failed? There would have been a huge cascading effect. Dr. Greenspan (certainly no liberal) said as much. TARP basically saved the banking industry.
So, they would have allowed GM and Chrysler to go under. Seems GM is turning a profit now, and isready to have an IPO and get out from the temporary government control. Letting them fail would have added another 3 million jobs to the 8 million currently unemployed.
Adding the 2.5 million jobs the stimulus created/saved to the 3 million from the auto industry means we kept another 5.5 million people employed right there. That sounds like a success to me.
So, who’s plan was better? I’d say that’s a no brainer (unless your’re an Austrian economist or a tea partier).
Corporations & rich people don’t pay taxes That’s actually the first thing you said that I tend to agree with. And this trend in fact started during Reagan’s administration. And I certainly think they need to be more heavily taxed (and middle and lower incomes not as much) in order to bring the overall debt in this country down.
Bosch
August 18th, 2010
8:39 am
Fiscal responsibility does not equate to less government spending — as well as socialism does not equate to government spending.
If those of the Earl Grey Persuasion could grasp those two concepts and throw out the racist lunatic fringe element of the “movement” — then they might be taken seriously.
Bosch
August 18th, 2010
8:40 am
Oh and Dr. Laura has been chopped. That’s certainly good news. I guess she’s learning that she can’t bully her way around when it comes to advertisers. Good riddance.
Intown
August 18th, 2010
9:58 am
I really think the Tea Party thing is going to flame out. It’s not a sustainable movement because it does not have alot of ideas and it is more or less an uninformed and radical hodgepodge of liberatarians and other political outliers that the Republicans used to have a little more control over. But, I hope they infiltrate the Republican party because it will make the Democrats all the more likely to be able to hold on to power over the long term and accomplish things that our nation needs to stay competitive in the 21st century.
Don
August 18th, 2010
10:22 am
I’m all for limited gov’t and don’t particularly like paying any more tax than I do, but…..
I would be a lot more interested in the Tea Party movement if they would talk about how to deal with Social Security and Medicare. Those two alone will consume 100% of the Federal budget in the upcoming decades all by themselves. Any talk of cutting taxes and reducing spending in general without a plan for these two items is just hot air and a waste of my time.
buck@gon
August 18th, 2010
10:48 am
Kyle,
Dick Armey may be a tea-party guy, I don’t know, but he’s writing in the WSJ because he is a well-known republican trying to gain some influence in the tea party movement. If a movement can affect a party (as the progressives (a la Move-On.org) ) then I would say that is fine, and it won’t affect the movement.
Your article is much-ado about nothing.
Peter
August 18th, 2010
10:49 am
Don’t accuse racists folks of racism Kyle ?
Ok how about calling Greedy Republican’s Greedy……..is that OK ?
Grand Forks
August 18th, 2010
10:51 am
“Ok how about calling Greedy Republican’s Greedy……..is that OK ?”
Better yet, how about calling Peter a retard.