Republicans serve the devil his tea.......

[rightwinger]

Republicans serve the devil his Tea - The Week

The GOP's Faustian bargain with the Tea Party will cost it dearly in 2012 — or sooner
posted on September 16, 2010, at 5:40 PM

From the day this president was inaugurated, the GOP has fed off the forces that coalesced into the angry astringency of the Tea Party movement.

First the GOP maintained lockstep opposition to the stimulus, despite support from Republican economists. Republicans then proliferated lies about health reform — from the chimera of rationing to the nonexistent death panels. They next stoked the fires by pretending that the legislation to crack down on Wall Street was instead a giveaway to Wall Street.

Shrunken and narrowed, the GOP is increasingly dominated by a far-right rump. Republicans are now riding high on the tide of economic discontent. But they are even less popular than the Democrats—and far less popular than Obama — according to The New York Times/CBS poll. Republican leaders miscalculated their way into a place where their own influence has waned: They’ll lose seats in 2010 that they could have won, and they’ve imperiled the customary route to their presidential nomination, strengthening Barack Obama’s prospects for re-election.

 

[johnrocks]

Tea Party’s already won
By A.B. Stoddard - 09/15/10 05:56 PM ET


Even before Christine O’Donnell handily defeated Rep. Mike Castle (R-Del.) in an epic upset Tuesday night, the Tea Parties, all of them, had already won. No matter what happens in the midterm elections on Nov. 2, the Tea Party has moved the Democrats to the right and the Republicans even more so, and President Obama’s agenda is dead.

Anger from disaffected conservatives who sat quietly through eight years of the surplus-to-deficit presidency of George W. Bush bubbled up immediately after Obama took office. All it took was the unprecedented $787 billion stimulus package, and before Obama could mark his first 100 days in office, a movement was born. Some of the already angry yet newly active were libertarian supporters of Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), and almost all of them were fuming over the Troubled Asset Relief Program of 2008, the bipartisan bailout of Wall Street that Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) voted for and that his running mate, then-Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R), supported.

What debuted in nationwide protests on April 15, 2009, has taken less than 18 months to become the current driving force in American politics. The Tea Party insurgency will not only cost Democrats dozens of seats in Congress, and likely their majority — it will define the coming GOP presidential nominating process, determine the direction of the GOP for years to come and threaten any remaining plans Obama has for sweeping reforms of education, energy policy or our immigration system.

Last March, Republicans joined Democrats in calling on Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) to end his filibuster against the extension of unemployment benefits paid for by deficit spending, embarrassed he was blocking aid to the jobless. But it took just three months for the grassroots pressure to reach the Capitol — Bunning was a Tea Party hero. By the time the $30 billion expired on June 2, Senate Republicans had united behind a nearly two-month filibuster of the next round of $34 billion in “emergency spending” for unemployment insurance. They were joined by Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), and some House Democrats warned their own leaders at the time that the days of votes on “emergency spending” would soon have to come to an end.

As of last week, before the House and Senate even reconvened, it was clear there were enough Senate Democrats joining Republicans seeking an extension of the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest earners that the Democrats don’t have the votes to pass President Obama’s permanent extension of the middle-class tax cuts without passing cuts for the top two tax brackets as well.

When Obama introduced his latest economic proposals earlier this month, Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), an ally of the Obama White House, immediately put out a statement not only criticizing Obama’s newest infrastructure plan but knocking the original stimulus as well. “I will not support additional spending in a second stimulus package. Any new transportation initiatives can be funded through the Recovery Act, which still contains unused funds,” Bennet said.

Obama won’t get his infrastructure plan through the Congress, and he knows it. Next year, when he is running for reelection, tax and budget reform will be the only issues he could realistically work on with a GOP majority or a razor-thin Democratic majority. In other words, the Tea Party agenda.

The Tea Party candidates themselves — like O’Donnell, whom Karl Rove called “nutty,” — matter little. Only a few will actually get elected this fall. Yet the Tea Party has won without them. There are no tea leaves left to read. Democrats have been spooked and Republicans threatened, cajoled or cleansed. The results are already in.


Tea Party?s already won - TheHill.com

 

[rightwinger]

The Party of No’s Faustian bargain with the Party of Tea has gifted Democrats with the likelihood of holding the Senate — and perhaps the House too, where in district after district Republicans have selected exotic nominees — a rogue’s gallery of the far right.

The danger for Democrats is that they will treat the other side’s missteps as an excuse to retreat from a sharp message. How much more evidence do Democrats need to conclude that they have to draw a dividing line against the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy and do it now? This has the potential to redefine the midterms and either stem or turn the tide. Such a strategy can also let Democrats champion long-term deficit reduction and it can motivate the base, changing the composition of likely voters — which is where the GOP now has the advantage.

The president has articulated the argument; now he must sound it repeatedly across the country. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who’s proved to be a remarkable leader in the toughest hours, is pushing her caucus to move. The question is: Will Democrats refuse the helping hand inadvertently offered to them by the Tea people?

Whatever the outcome in this election, the Republicans will pay for their Faustian bargain in the next one. If they squeak in now, the tea baggers will be emboldened. If they fall short, the party establishment will face the bitter complaint that Republicans didn’t go far — or far right — enough. In either case, the historic contours of the Republican presidential process will probably be redrawn.

 

[Charles_Main]

Oh brother.

 

[The T]

RW? You guys are ramping up the rhetoric early I see?

Tea party is about Liberty. You're losing the arguement tying it To Republicans...even they are threatened...

But press on with the partisan horseshit. It suits you.

 

[rightwinger]

RW? You guys are ramping up the rhetoric early I see?

Tea party is about Liberty. You're losing the arguement tying it To Republicans...even they are threatened...

But press on with the partisan horseshit. It suits you.

Tea party is about Liberty.

 

[VaYank5150]

Even before Christine O’Donnell handily defeated Rep. Mike Castle (R-Del.) in an epic upset Tuesday night, the Tea Parties, all of them, had already won. No matter what happens in the midterm elections on Nov. 2, the Tea Party has moved the Democrats to the right and the Republicans even more so, and President Obama’s agenda is dead.

So.....the "plan" all along was to simply win primary elections? I really wish you guys would coordinate your message better. Had I known this, I wouldn't call out the loons in the "movement" quite so much.

 

[Baruch Menachem]

Does the devil get cucumber sandwiches and crumpets with his tea? What kind of tea, green or black? Does he take it with cream or sugar? (I am sure he takes it with sugar. Anyone who has tried to loose weight knows sugar is the tool of the devil)

What the Russian like to do is serve tea with jam in it. It is pretty good

 

[american chaos]

Hey rightwinger--I thinkl you are missing a very fine point.

The conservatives want rightwing conservatives holding the Congress--any rightwinger will do.

When they say it is not about the republican party--they actually mean "Screw the Political establishment and their lies"!

 

[johnrocks]

Even before Christine O’Donnell handily defeated Rep. Mike Castle (R-Del.) in an epic upset Tuesday night, the Tea Parties, all of them, had already won. No matter what happens in the midterm elections on Nov. 2, the Tea Party has moved the Democrats to the right and the Republicans even more so, and President Obama’s agenda is dead.

So.....the "plan" all along was to simply win primary elections? I really wish you guys would coordinate your message better. Had I known this, I wouldn't call out the loons in the "movement" quite so much.

That was just one article by one journalist, there is no "coordination of messages" except to complain about the direction BOTH parties have been taking us. I'm not a fan of a lot of the various things that have gone on;like hacks like Hannity latching on; but the message is resonating with the people and seems to have the left and other big govt. supporters running skeered and that;in and by itself; sends a tingle up my leg

 

[rightwinger]

Even before Christine O’Donnell handily defeated Rep. Mike Castle (R-Del.) in an epic upset Tuesday night, the Tea Parties, all of them, had already won. No matter what happens in the midterm elections on Nov. 2, the Tea Party has moved the Democrats to the right and the Republicans even more so, and President Obama’s agenda is dead.

So.....the "plan" all along was to simply win primary elections? I really wish you guys would coordinate your message better. Had I known this, I wouldn't call out the loons in the "movement" quite so much.

That was just one article by one journalist, there is no "coordination of messages" except to complain about the direction BOTH parties have been taking us. I'm not a fan of a lot of the various things that have gone on;like hacks like Hannity latching on; but the message is resonating with the people and seems to have the left and other big govt. supporters running skeered and that;in and by itself; sends a tingle up my leg

The left is not "skeerd" of the Tea Baggers. They have no impact on their choice of candidates and help to ensure that Republicans will fail in the general elections.

The ones who are skeerd of the Baggers are the moderate Republicans who are forced to assume Tea Bagger philosophies and try to get elected in moderate districts.

A recipe for failure

 

[johnrocks]

So.....the "plan" all along was to simply win primary elections? I really wish you guys would coordinate your message better. Had I known this, I wouldn't call out the loons in the "movement" quite so much.

That was just one article by one journalist, there is no "coordination of messages" except to complain about the direction BOTH parties have been taking us. I'm not a fan of a lot of the various things that have gone on;like hacks like Hannity latching on; but the message is resonating with the people and seems to have the left and other big govt. supporters running skeered and that;in and by itself; sends a tingle up my leg

The left is not "skeerd" of the Tea Baggers. They have no impact on their choice of candidates and helpp to ensure that Republicans will fail in the general elections.

The ones who are skeerd of the Baggers are the moderate Republicans who are forced to assume Tea Bagger philosophies and try to get elected in moderate districts.

A recipe for failure

"Skeered" may have been the wrong word choice, "obsessed" may be more apropos judging from all the yapping about it's perceived shortcomings by those that are ;err; obsessed with knocking it.

 

[Yurt]

its comical to see the left crying and whining over the tea party

its even more funny to see many dems distance themselves from obama and pelosi

 

[WillowTree]

The left deserves a good azz kicking. It's coming too. So bend the fuck over rw.

 

[The T]

The left deserves a good azz kicking. It's coming too. So bend the fuck over rw.

He knows it's coming. He's just trying to cushion the blow with this tripe disguised as a thread.

 

[The T]

That was just one article by one journalist, there is no "coordination of messages" except to complain about the direction BOTH parties have been taking us. I'm not a fan of a lot of the various things that have gone on;like hacks like Hannity latching on; but the message is resonating with the people and seems to have the left and other big govt. supporters running skeered and that;in and by itself; sends a tingle up my leg

The left is not "skeerd" of the Tea Baggers. They have no impact on their choice of candidates and helpp to ensure that Republicans will fail in the general elections.

The ones who are skeerd of the Baggers are the moderate Republicans who are forced to assume Tea Bagger philosophies and try to get elected in moderate districts.

A recipe for failure

"Skeered" may have been the wrong word choice, "obsessed" may be more apropos judging from all the yapping about it's perceived shortcomings by those that are ;err; obsessed with knocking it.

My generosity with REP prohibits...yaddy-yadda.

 

[johnrocks]

The left is not "skeerd" of the Tea Baggers. They have no impact on their choice of candidates and helpp to ensure that Republicans will fail in the general elections.

The ones who are skeerd of the Baggers are the moderate Republicans who are forced to assume Tea Bagger philosophies and try to get elected in moderate districts.

A recipe for failure

"Skeered" may have been the wrong word choice, "obsessed" may be more apropos judging from all the yapping about it's perceived shortcomings by those that are ;err; obsessed with knocking it.

My generosity with REP prohibits...yaddy-yadda.

lol, it's all good

 

[The T]

RW? You guys are ramping up the rhetoric early I see?

Tea party is about Liberty. You're losing the arguement tying it To Republicans...even they are threatened...

But press on with the partisan horseshit. It suits you.

Tea party is about Liberty.

Al I can say is educate yourself bud.

 

[rightwinger]

Normally the GOP nominates by primogeniture — the next person in line. For 2012, the nominee in waiting is Mitt Romney, clearly the strongest Republican choice if the economy continues to be troubled. But no matter how he tries to concoct a difference out of small details, Romney will be scorned for working with Ted Kennedy in passing a health plan in Massachusetts fundamentally similar to Obama-care. To make amends, Romney has enthusiastically endorsed O’Donnell in Delaware. But the GOP is more backlash than party these days; in Utah last spring stalwart conservative Sen. Robert Bennett was denied a place on the primary ballot merely for daring to join with a Democratic colleague in sponsoring a market-oriented health plan.

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, more and more the establishment’s backup if Romney falters, has committed the mortal sin of sensible fiscal contemplation: “At some stage, we may need a tax increase.” He hopes, he adds, for “a grown-up conversation.” With whom? The delinquents who now populate GOP primaries?

So I suspect that in 2012 primogeniture will not restrain the Republican Party. The nomination of the unqualified Sarah Palin is conceivable; she could be the O’Donnell of the presidential primary season, powered by a constituency that dismisses polls from the likes of The New York Times as a left-wing media conspiracy. The GOP’s 1964 tragedy of Goldwater, who was at least a serious figure, could be repeated in the farce of Palin.

Newt Gingrich is positioning himself as Palin with a brain. Gingrich has now become a font of smears and off-the-rail ideas — from privatizing Social Security to the transparently racist charge that Obama channels the Kenyan anti-colonialism of the father he barely knew. With his pandering to both prejudice and extremism, Gingrich could be the 2012 nominee. He would be unelectable.

So would Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor who’s proposed scrapping the progressive income tax, the sinister idea championed by that great socialist Republican Theodore Roosevelt.

In desperation, Republican strategists are thinking of Mississippi Republican Gov. Haley Barbour, who would also compete with an appeal to the birthers, the resentful, and the backlash base. But Barbour was a legendary D.C. lobbyist for the most powerful vested interests, from tobacco to oil. Perhaps he could run on the slogan: “Remove the Middleman.”

 

[johnrocks]

You seem to be trying to write off the GOP, as much as I detest the two party system which includes those useless sacks of flesh such as Gingrich, they are no more going away than the Democratic Party did in 04 after they took an ass whupping.