Tea Party’s next big war: Nebraska’s confusing GOP senate primary

[Disir]

For proof that the textbook “Tea Party vs. Establishment” guide to GOP Senate primaries is out of date, Thom Tillis’ victory in North Carolina was a fair start. But even that case, wherein the “establishment” candidate was the one who’d sparked a Tea Party revolution in North Carolina, is nothing compared to the mishmash of narrative that will reach its conclusion in tonight’s Nebraska Senate primary. Welcome, friends to the post-”Tea Party vs. Establishment” reality, wherein the only true image is that of national reporters’ heads exploding out of confusion.

Long gone are the days where things struck down as neatly as, say, Mike Castle (squishy RINO DC-insider establishment trai-tor!) vs. Christine O’Donnell (unqualified comedy person propelled to victory following a Sarah Palin endorsement and outside Tea Party bucks). That was all the way back in aught ’10, when life was simpler. But now simple breakdowns seem as quaint and distant as the 19th century velocipede.

So, who’s the Tea Party guy and who’s the establishment guy in this race to replace retiring Sen. Mike Johanns? Let’s give you a rundown who have been the two top candidates for most of the race, and you try to figure it out:

Ben Sasse is the president of Midland University, a Harvard-educated former official in the Bush administration who’s spent plenty of time in Washington D.C. He has the support of Ted Cruz, Sarah Palin, the Senate Conservatives Fund, Freedomworks, Tea Party Patriots, National Review, and the Club for Growth. He is against Obamacare, obviously, but has been criticized for his involvement with a firm that “pitched itself to clients in early 2010 to help implement the Affordable Care Act.” (Horror of horrors.)

Shane Osborn is a former state treasurer of Nebraska. He has been endorsed, according to Politico, by local Tea Party groups such as “the Nebraska Republican Liberty Caucus, Nebraska Taxpayers for Freedom, Western Nebraska Taxpayers Association and Omaha Liberty Ladies.” He has also been supported by NumbersUSA, an anti-immigration group that suggests Sasse is a secret amnesty lover. Indeed, Osborn lately has been criticizing Sasse for not signing a “pledge” promising to block even legal immigration.There is also a third candidate, Sid Dinsdale, who has been surging, potentially because Nebraskans have tired of Sasse and Osborn and their parallel galaxies of surrogates fighting each other.

The endorsement of FreedomWorks in this race offers the best anecdote for how headspinning this race has been. FreedomWorks, one of the more famous and early “Tea Party grassroots organizations based out of Washington, D.C.” endorsed Osborn some time ago. In late March, however, FreedomWorks switched its endorsement to Sasse, citing Osborn’s support from Mitch McConnell (who had a personal falling-out with Sasse). This led a FreedomWorks VP, Dean Clancy, to resign from the organization.

If the Nebraska Senate primary gives us any indication of what may replace the old “Tea Party vs. Establishment” narrative — because God forbid that political news has to continue outside of a rigid, oversimplified narrative for even one second! — it could be that the next stage of battles occurs between local Tea Party groups and national Tea Party organizations. Could the national Tea Party organizations, which, as this New York Times piece explains, have begun to earn some grassroots backlash for lavish overhead costs and purchases of luxury big-city digs, be the next establishment villains themselves?

Tea Party?s next big war: Nebraska?s confusing GOP senate primary - Salon.com

It was simply a matter of time. I'll go get the popcorn.

 

[Katzndogz]

The tea party has only one issue. Democrats attribute other issues to the tea party but they really have only one issue. Taxes.

 

[JakeStarkey]

The tea party has only one issue. Democrats attribute other issues to the tea party but they really have only one issue. Taxes.

Very, very false. If it were only taxes, the TeaPs would not have the immense number of fringers frothing at the meetings and in the media.

 

[BreezeWood]

Domina wins Nebraska Democratic US Senate primary

Nebraska will be in play - Domina is best known for his opposition to construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline ... that's certain to have appeal in Neb., stay tuned.

.

 

[midcan5]

The tea party is simply a creation of a lost election to a Black man and the corporate management of the minds of the republicans, libertarians, and an assortment of genuine nutcases of the paranoid and militia types. The odd thing is they are so wacky they support losing candidates whose ideas are off the wall, off any wall. They will become just another think tank type whiner society with well paid corporate talking heads who spin total BS. That is already happening. Their function is activating the insecure and paranoid voters. They have their place in the plutocracy that is America today.

http://www.usmessageboard.com/tea-party/116607-would-the-tea-party-exist.html
http://www.usmessageboard.com/tea-party/134673-tea-party-anarchists.html
http://www.usmessageboard.com/tea-party/114928-tea-party-and-sympathizers-please-read.html
http://www.usmessageboard.com/tea-party/121511-the-very-angry-tea-party.html


"For decades conservatives have been demonizing government and not enough has been done to defend it. Ever since Ronald Reagan declared in 1981 that "Government is not a solution to our problem, government is the problem," Republicans have been waging a political war against this institution. They have been joined in this anti-government crusade by libertarian thinkers, Tea Party activists, right-wing media pundits, and wealthy corporate lobbies. This powerful political coalition blithely ignores anything good about government and conducts a relentless smear campaign against this institution. They constantly play upon the fears and insecurities of average Americans and encourage them to blame all their problems on big bad government." Government is Good - An Unapologetic Defense of a Vital Institution

 

[Disir]

The tea party is simply a creation of a lost election to a Black man and the corporate management of the minds of the republicans, libertarians, and an assortment of genuine nutcases of the paranoid and militia types. The odd thing is they are so wacky they support losing candidates whose ideas are off the wall, off any wall. They will become just another think tank type whiner society with well paid corporate talking heads who spin total BS. That is already happening. Their function is activating the insecure and paranoid voters. They have their place in the plutocracy that is America today.

http://www.usmessageboard.com/tea-party/116607-would-the-tea-party-exist.html
http://www.usmessageboard.com/tea-party/134673-tea-party-anarchists.html
http://www.usmessageboard.com/tea-party/114928-tea-party-and-sympathizers-please-read.html
http://www.usmessageboard.com/tea-party/121511-the-very-angry-tea-party.html


"For decades conservatives have been demonizing government and not enough has been done to defend it. Ever since Ronald Reagan declared in 1981 that "Government is not a solution to our problem, government is the problem," Republicans have been waging a political war against this institution. They have been joined in this anti-government crusade by libertarian thinkers, Tea Party activists, right-wing media pundits, and wealthy corporate lobbies. This powerful political coalition blithely ignores anything good about government and conducts a relentless smear campaign against this institution. They constantly play upon the fears and insecurities of average Americans and encourage them to blame all their problems on big bad government." Government is Good - An Unapologetic Defense of a Vital Institution

This dates them 2002
Study: Kochs Tried To Start 'Grassroots' Tea Party In 2002 | Crooks and Liars

These people are on a leash. They like it.

 

[birddog]

The tea party has only one issue. Democrats attribute other issues to the tea party but they really have only one issue. Taxes.

Very, very false. If it were only taxes, the TeaPs would not have the immense number of fringers frothing at the meetings and in the media.

How many meetings have you been to?

 

[Katzndogz]

The Tea Party candidate won the primary and will have an easy coast in the general.

What else do you have?

 

[Disir]

It means, you nitwit, that the local Tea Party favorite did not win. That would have required thought and actually reading the article.

 

[blastoff]

The tea party is simply a creation of a lost election to a Black man and the corporate management of the minds of the republicans, libertarians, and an assortment of genuine nutcases of the paranoid and militia types. The odd thing is they are so wacky they support losing candidates whose ideas are off the wall, off any wall. They will become just another think tank type whiner society with well paid corporate talking heads who spin total BS. That is already happening. Their function is activating the insecure and paranoid voters. They have their place in the plutocracy that is America today.

http://www.usmessageboard.com/tea-party/116607-would-the-tea-party-exist.html
http://www.usmessageboard.com/tea-party/134673-tea-party-anarchists.html
http://www.usmessageboard.com/tea-party/114928-tea-party-and-sympathizers-please-read.html
http://www.usmessageboard.com/tea-party/121511-the-very-angry-tea-party.html


"For decades conservatives have been demonizing government and not enough has been done to defend it. Ever since Ronald Reagan declared in 1981 that "Government is not a solution to our problem, government is the problem," Republicans have been waging a political war against this institution. They have been joined in this anti-government crusade by libertarian thinkers, Tea Party activists, right-wing media pundits, and wealthy corporate lobbies. This powerful political coalition blithely ignores anything good about government and conducts a relentless smear campaign against this institution. They constantly play upon the fears and insecurities of average Americans and encourage them to blame all their problems on big bad government." Government is Good - An Unapologetic Defense of a Vital Institution

Ah, finally, the Race Card rears its familiar face. It's all because Barry's a black guy, or at least half of him is anyway and that's close enough for government work.

 

[whitehall]

What freaking war is the left talking about? Why does the left hate and fear a bunch of conservative blue haired old ladies and grizzled bald headed men who try to get the best candidates for the GOP? Join CUSA if you want to pressure democrats to move further left. Nobody cares.

 

[Luddly Neddite]

The tea party is simply a creation of a lost election to a Black man and the corporate management of the minds of the republicans, libertarians, and an assortment of genuine nutcases of the paranoid and militia types. The odd thing is they are so wacky they support losing candidates whose ideas are off the wall, off any wall. They will become just another think tank type whiner society with well paid corporate talking heads who spin total BS. That is already happening. Their function is activating the insecure and paranoid voters. They have their place in the plutocracy that is America today.

http://www.usmessageboard.com/tea-party/116607-would-the-tea-party-exist.html
http://www.usmessageboard.com/tea-party/134673-tea-party-anarchists.html
http://www.usmessageboard.com/tea-party/114928-tea-party-and-sympathizers-please-read.html
http://www.usmessageboard.com/tea-party/121511-the-very-angry-tea-party.html


"For decades conservatives have been demonizing government and not enough has been done to defend it. Ever since Ronald Reagan declared in 1981 that "Government is not a solution to our problem, government is the problem," Republicans have been waging a political war against this institution. They have been joined in this anti-government crusade by libertarian thinkers, Tea Party activists, right-wing media pundits, and wealthy corporate lobbies. This powerful political coalition blithely ignores anything good about government and conducts a relentless smear campaign against this institution. They constantly play upon the fears and insecurities of average Americans and encourage them to blame all their problems on big bad government." Government is Good - An Unapologetic Defense of a Vital Institution

This dates them 2002
Study: Kochs Tried To Start 'Grassroots' Tea Party In 2002 | Crooks and Liars

These people are on a leash. They like it.

There are no "conservative blue haired old ladies and grizzled bald headed men". There's only Koch money telling them what to think and how to vote.

 

[Luddly Neddite]

The Tea Party candidate won the primary and will have an easy coast in the general.

What else do you have?

What are you talking about?

You always spew crap without having any clue what you're talking about. The fact that you post this way is part of why I know you're lying when you say you're an attorney.

(You're not a doctor either. You MIGHT be a dog washer but that's pretty high on the food chain for your mental abilities.)

 

[Katzndogz]

Either you didn't know that tea party favorite, Ben Sasse, endorsed by Sarah Palin, won the primary or you are pretending again.

 

[Disir]

Either you didn't know that tea party favorite, Ben Sasse, endorsed by Sarah Palin, won the primary or you are pretending again.

That was outside money backing him, sweetie. Not the local Tea Party favorite with local money.

 

[Katzndogz]

Either you didn't know that tea party favorite, Ben Sasse, endorsed by Sarah Palin, won the primary or you are pretending again.

That was outside money backing him, sweetie. Not the local Tea Party favorite with local money.

Oh huh the local tea party favorite. The one that didn't get Sarah Palin's endorsement.

 

[Disir]

Either you didn't know that tea party favorite, Ben Sasse, endorsed by Sarah Palin, won the primary or you are pretending again.

That was outside money backing him, sweetie. Not the local Tea Party favorite with local money.

Oh huh the local tea party favorite. The one that didn't get Sarah Palin's endorsement.

Palin is a useful tool. Either way, there is now another group of people that realize the damages of outside money impacting local politics. Couldn't happen to a greater group.