Mr. Brooks writes about the “backlash myth” of the Tea Party today. Using a “many of my liberal friends” convention he defensively strikes out against the claim some are making that the Tea Party wing will hurt Republicans. It’s preposterous, because there is absolutely no proof whatsoever that in 2010 the Republicans will be anything but saved by the Tea Party wing.
But as I wrote earlier in the week, whatever may arise in 2010 it’s not predictive, because the chaos politics we’ve entered disallows any trend, because the cycles today are just too short, the media cycles to quick, to sustain them. See Barack Obama, who came in on the call that conservatism was dead. Obama coming into office with more support than any modern president of our time; the people were at his feet, the press at his beck and call, with the international community never more excited. It didn’t last 20 months.
Many of my liberal friends are convinced that the Republican Party has a death wish. It is sprinting to the right-most fever swamps of American life. It will end up alienating the moderate voters it needs to win elections.
There’s only one problem with this theory. There is no evidence to support it. The Republican Party may be moving sharply right, but there is no data to suggest that this has hurt its electoral prospects, at least this year.
I asked the election guru Charlie Cook if there were signs that the Tea Party was scaring away the independents. “I haven’t seen any,” he replied. I asked another Hall of Fame pollster, Peter Hart, if there were Republican or independent voters so alarmed by the Tea Party that they might alter their votes. He ran the numbers and found very few potential defectors.
The fact is, as the Tea Party has surged, so has the G.O.P. [...]
It’s a midterm election, which always is bad for the party in power, amidst cataclysmic Democratic malpractice on policy, with the only thing Pres. Obama can think to do for the base is appoint Elizabeth Warren. Go back in political history to a time when the establishment offered up an appointment like this one to the base, because they failed to put together policies, amidst a solid Democratic congressional majority in both chambers, to excite them instead.
Not even on health care could Pres. Obama and the Democrats get their act together. It’s an epic fail on an issue that is critically important to every American, but also our economic health. But they blew it so badly they can’t even talk about it now.
The alliance of the Tea Party and Republicans has already produced enough impact to have altered the 2012 outlook for the conservative right-wing. They will hold sway when it comes time to pick the nominee. When you look at Marco Rubio winning in Florida, but also Linda McMahon, as opposed to Palidino and Sharron Angle, you have the far extremes of what the Tea Party represents, with polish coming through even in Christine O’Donnell’s candidacy. Ms. O’Donnell started facing the cameras in her twenties and is a consummate performer, a character revealing her inner solid, while holding outlandish views on any number of subjects.
But considering how badly the Smart Set, represented by Obama, is seen to have blown it many voters see Meg Whitman, Carly Fiorina, Nikki Haley and others a better bet. Emails coming in after my September newsletter went out all followed the same thread. Here’s part of one email, name withheld upon request, and was the refrain echoed by all the emails I received:
I am an independent in California, and plan to vote for Meg Whitman and Carly Fiorina.
I can totally indentify with the anger of the tea party movement right now. I do not view them as a party with extreme views. I feel that these are people who have not been of the activist nature before, but are now fed up with the extreme spending and focus on anything but jobs and the economy of Washington right now. Their only goal is restoring fiscal sanity for the country, and I do not see that as extreme in that way.
The other point is that it is time for women to take the leadership role in government, and it is great to see it happening on the right at this time in history. The men had their chance and screwed up royally. It is time for women to take the lead and fix this mess.
Also as these people who are winning primaries on the right are not career politicians, most voters will be much more tolerant of their lapses, than we would be of career politicians.
I am not a tea partier, but it is so refreshing to see Americans standing up and taking charge. It is time to throw the bums out, in 2010 the democrats and republican career politicians will be thrown out. the process will be completed in 2012.
The importance of the Tea Party isn’t in the target they give Democrats, but in the new life they’ve given the Republican Party in the 2010 cycle, with Independents still watching and listening, others joining. It’s not predictive of what will come in 2012, but there will be significant wins for the conservative far right, taking Congress further right.
Pres. Obama has no liberal purpose, with compromise his only guide, because he’s not an ideological fighter. That means more rightward leaning dealmaking, which sets up 2012 for Republicans, not Democrats. That is unless the Tea Party starts producing more “macaca” moments to mimic the oldie clips out of Christine O’Donnell’s past. Democrats shouldn’t bet on it.
The Tea Party has won the 2010 midterm cycle. Democrats have lost it. That’s the case no matter who ends up holding the House.
The ‘mandate” was a mirage brought about by the implosion of Wall Street. Progressives were not only duped by the Obama brand, but clearly by the meaning of his margin of victory.
As this e-mail from the “independent” voter illustrates, as soon as the stimulus was passed Obama lost the Independents who seem to think the deficit is the cause of the recession and that Government spending is evil. I’m not entirely sure that there is a magic optic or message that makes this palatable for independents. I do know that in the face of 10% unemployment and a plummeting real estate market no party in charge can expect to make gains in the mid-terms.
I believe that the Tea-Party movement was invented and designed to rehabilitate the GOP. I believe it is a repudiation of the BushCo Republican party. Tea-partiers have convinced themselves that knownothing trumps experience, again, it remains to be seen if the general electorate feels the same way.
“The Tea Party has won the 2010 midterm cycle. Democrats have lost it. That’s the case no matter who ends up holding the House.”
And that’s a fact!
You know, when I first heard Biden on Maddow,I was comforted by my familarity with his emotional range when he speaks. Obama leaves me so cold. But the more I think about what his words were, the angrier and angrier I get!
When I think of the time we spent in the deep woods during the Reagan era keeping Teddy’s dream alive but working at it.
Then we got Clinton and things improved, he was able to put smarts into action. He made alot of compromises and deals but I never thought he gave up core progressive principles.But he had flaws and they were exploited by his hunters. But we kept working.
Then the next eight years that could have built on Clinton’s successes were stolen from us. But we kept working.
We worked like hell for Kerry even though we were not wild about him and we worked like hell for ’06 and we made ’06 happen!
When the presidential came around we worked like hell for our primary candidate. Some of us were disappointed and heart broken,some of us were elated but we all worked to elect Obama/Biden.
What did we get for all those years in the trenches manning phone banks,knocking on doors,having candidate BBQs, digging deep in our own pockets to fund campaigns local to national,writing letters to the editors,showing up at campaign functions and party functions,cajoling our friends and neighbors and family to do the same?
We get a dressing down from our Vice president to get off our lazy asses and do it again! For an administration that has failed us in everything that matters to us!
This is my response…” With all due respect Mr. Vice President, you can just F**k Off!”
Bravo. Again, perfectly said.
Thanks Ramsgate
I am just done!
Yes. Very well said.
I have just now listened again to the extended interview of Pres. Wm. J. Clinton on The Daily Show.
God, what an impressive-looking man he has become.
And HOW he can explain complex matters in winsomely homey ways that are easily understood.
Talk about a great communicator!
And he doesn’t need a teleprompter, and there’s nary a “um” or “er” or “ah.”
Really, really articulate. Something like his wife.
As Wonk has put it, “Coulda had a V-8!”
Alas, this is where we are.
….sigh…. I always have the same reaction when I hear WJC speak.
Ditto, ditto, ditto
The stupid Democratic leadership just cannot get it into their head that the nobodies are staying home. They are that arrogant….as arrogant as Obama. They got rid of Hillary and this is what we got. Many of us warned of this…but a crazy mania swept the land. I was having fights with my best friends over this. But the money won…and the stupids won….and they think people are morons….Again, I ask, where are the Democratic tea partiers? It’s not “what;s the matter with kansas?”…it’s what’s the matter with Democrats? The viciousness with which they attacked Hillary should tell us something. They sure never went after Republicans like they did Hillary. It should also tell us to beware of the progressive left….they were pretty easily conned. Not smart people.
I sounded the bell during the election cycle. Obama was not a progressive. I am not saying he did not/does not have a right to his positions, but to have the “liberals” all see him as the political opposite of “conservatives” was/is mindnumbing. The soft prejudice of liberals, assuming a man of color would have to be progressive, lead many down the road we currently find ourselves on. I know many liberals would balk at me pointing out the prejudicial tendencies but it is obvious. Also, their obvious chauvinism in their treatment of Hillary. Now to have Joe Biden, another faux progressive, lecture progressive about coming out and being fired up to defeat the tea party is almost laughable. We are as you say only needed when they need the vote. I did not and could not vote for Obama. I for the first time threw my vote away, by writing in the name of the candidate I supported.
For some “unknown” reason, they appear pleased witrh themselves:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/imagecache/gallery_img_full/image/image_file/P091610PS
Watch Jon Stewart interview Tim Kaine last week. It will blow you away. These people are really stupid. Jon Stewart was disgusted. He was talking with a moron. And a wimpy one at that. This is who the Obama people have directed to control the Party. It’s over…for a long time.
Yes, he really was disgusted, and told Kaine so. And then on Thursday night, talking with Bill Clinton, he said he’d asked Kaine about strategy for up-coming election and Kaine had given him a silly key-fob. Stewart said he thought something like that might be suitable for a four-year-old.
Oops – Let me try again.. For some “unknown” reason, they appear pleased with themselves…
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/imagecache/gallery_img_full/image/image_file/P091610PS-0004.jpg
They have no idea!
Blechhhhh
David Brooks column showing that there is no distastrous conclusion to the Tea Party is interesting. Going back to the beginnings of the Tea Party, the almost instant disgust of the liberal elite was quite amazing. Really there was actually no analysis of this group of people. The who, what, why, that should have been asked. No examination. Just instant labeling: bigots, racist, astro turf, violent fringe, etc.
Kind of like when Palin was announced for McCain’s VP.
With this kind of defensive response for the liberals; they themselves, help strengthened the Tea Party, just like they helped Palin.
If the Republicans, do as good as expected this Nov. The one word to described the loss by the Democrats will be –
Arrogance.
yup!
Sounds like someone is starting the awakening process. Why do you think I resigned from the Democratic party recently?
Keep questioning. “Question with boldness” as a famous forefather once said.
Obama dissed us at a 30K a plate dinner last night. I think in CT. He was complaining that he just couldn’t bring world peace fast enough for us.
http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2010/09/17/obama-mocks-public-option-supporters/#comments
“Obama mocks public option and supporters”
Here you Lady Lake…
Criticize WJC all you want but he never talked down to his base!
Lady Lake,
I agree,lov Bill as he made the most difference in my life of any LEADER!! I have criticized President Clinton for NAFTA and other things but I lov and respect the guy.Talk down to us,never.
Lake Lady posted: We get a dressing down from our Vice president to get off our lazy asses and do it again! For an administration that has failed us in everything that matters to us!
This is my response…” With all due respect Mr. Vice President, you can just F**k Off!”
I say you are the BEST!!! Thank you. You took all my rage and in your response said it better than I ever could and with less emotion.
AGAIN, thank you!!!
That was a great response from Lady Lake !! Could not have said it better myself !!!
I think democrats are so sick of being told what to do. At least the republicans are booting the bums out. The democrats tried in Arkansas and Colorado, but sadly it failed !!! I understand what the tea party is doing and why its doing it. I wished the democrats were doing the samething.