Quote:
Originally Posted by 12thMan
While it could be a backlash against both parties, their views, "principles", and rhetoric are mainly aligned with Republican ideology. There's no question about that. I would also ask myself, where was the Tea Party when the previous administration grew the size of government, passed legislation (namely Medicare Part D) without paying for it, and funded the Iraq war almost entirely through debt and budgetary supplements? All of which added significantly to the current deficit. So for them to suddenly come out and rail against big governement, the ballooning deficit, and universal healthcare is curious at best.
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That is a good question. You did hear
some right wing talk radio hosts offering brief, mild criticism of the Bush administration's spending habits, but they were always quick to follow up that criticism with, "but, but, at least he's kept us safe ... blah, blah, blah."
There were smaller pockets of true paleoconservatives, strict constitutionalists and libertarians who were louder with their opposition to Bush. There have been too many who were fine with a big spending, big government guy as long as there was an "R" after his name.
Rightly or wrongly, Obama's push for health care reform is what sent people over the edge. But I don't think it makes the Tea Party any less legitimate. Talk to any of them, and they aren't happy with GOP either.
Now you're starting to see mainstream republicans, national committee types cozy up to the Tea Partiers, and act like they've been with them all along -- but trust me, they aren't having it. What I don't want to see is the Tea Party infiltrated by the bible thumpers, the neocons, and chickenhawks trying to include their agenda with what one that is only about fiscal restraint, and smaller government. Because those are exactly the people you didn't hear from when Bush was doubling the federal budget, creating massive new government bureacracies like the TSA and Dept. of Homeland Security.
If the thumpers and the neo-clowns are successful then all you're seeing with the Tea Party is a washout of the moderate republicans into a party of extremes wanting to outlaw abortion and put the throttle all the way up with Iran and Russia. If that's the case, they'll be losers again and the Democrats will maintain control.