Contract From America

[Beemnseven]

dmek and saden, I wouldn't take the Tea Party movement as something that's solely Republican-driven. Yes, the Democrats are probably going to get it broken off in their ass this November, but that's only because they have complete power. If the Pubbies were in control, the same thing would happen to them. In fact it already did happen to them in '06 and '08. The issue then was outrage over the wars. Now it's health care and fiscal insanity.

I really believe that this is a backlash against both parties, against government in general. The system we have now, which has been in control by only two select groups for over a century, may be starting to crack. I'd like to see a break up of the two-party system into a mish-mash of many different ideaologies, all angling for something different than the same ol' business as usual, corrupt, back-room dealings with cronies who have had the ear -- and the pockets -- of both parties for far too long.

I know you two are democrats, but trust me -- the republicans are going to be a short leash this time around. If we see them going back to the ways of big spending, expanding government, and marching all over the face of the earth with a 'tough foreign policy' stance that they've always been so proud of, but does nothing but get young Americans killed, they'll be thrown right out just as fast as they got back there.

Nobody's going to get a long running free pass anymore, with the voters as apt as they've been for massive upheavals of power shifting in both directions. Only this time, I think there are some new players in the game, and that's a good thing.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

dmek and saden, I wouldn't take the Tea Party movement as something that's solely Republican-driven. Yes, the Democrats are probably going to get it broken off in their ass this November, but that's only because they have complete power. If the Pubbies were in control, the same thing would happen to them. In fact it already did happen to them in '06 and '08. The issue then was outrage over the wars. Now it's health care and fiscal insanity.

I really believe that this is a backlash against both parties, against government in general. The system we have now, which has been in control by only two select groups for over a century, may be starting to crack. I'd like to see a break up of the two-party system into a mish-mash of many different ideaologies, all angling for something different than the same ol' business as usual, corrupt, back-room dealings with cronies who have had the ear -- and the pockets -- of both parties for far too long.

I know you two are democrats, but trust me -- the republicans are going to be a short leash this time around. If we see them going back to the ways of big spending, expanding government, and marching all over the face of the earth with a 'tough foreign policy' stance that they've always been so proud of, but does nothing but get young Americans killed, they'll be thrown right out just as fast as they got back there.

Nobody's going to get a long running free pass anymore, with the voters as apt as they've been for massive upheavals of power shifting in both directions. Only this time, I think there are some new players in the game, and that's a good thing.

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.

On a separate but somewhat related note, it appears as though Sarah Palin is making her bed with the Tea Party, which is just fine by me. The only problem -- a major problem -- with that strategy is that at some point she's going to have to tact to the middle on some issues be considered a serious candidate.

[Beemnseven]

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.

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.

[70Chip]

FYI, the original Contract with America was conceived by Newt Gingrich, not Nancy Pelosi.

[Trample the Elderly]

Originally Posted by 70Chip

FYI, the original Contract with America was conceived by Newt Gingrich, not Nancy Pelosi.

He should've written Contract on America.

[mlmpetert]

Originally Posted by 70Chip

FYI, the original Contract with America was conceived by Newt Gingrich, not Nancy Pelosi.

Thanks, not sure where i got the idea Pelosi put it together?

[tryfuhl]

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.

On a separate but somewhat related note, it appears as though Sarah Palin is making her bed with the Tea Party, which is just fine by me. The only problem -- a major problem -- with that strategy is that at some point she's going to have to tact to the middle on some issues be considered a serious candidate.

Great question. The tax cuts + increased spending definitely didn't do us any favors.

[mlmpetert]

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.

On a separate but somewhat related note, it appears as though Sarah Palin is making her bed with the Tea Party, which is just fine by me. The only problem -- a major problem -- with that strategy is that at some point she's going to have to tact to the middle on some issues be considered a serious candidate.

I honestly think it is a backlash against both parties. I think while GW was in office during his second term, there was a sense of you cant really do anything right now except wait for him to leave. There was a lot of disgust and outrage by republicans while he was in during his second term because of the over spending, privacy intrusions, and his foreign policy intervention.

I think the start of the Tea Party stuff can be linked to Ron Paul's success during the Republican primary's. Because he was saying so many things that resonated with Goldwater type Republicans. I also think that by some states banning his participation during the primaries (i think S. Caroline), and by conservative media personalities largely dismissing him it helped flame the fire.

So while nowadays the Tea Party movement can be called a backlash against Obama's spending spree and socialist ideology i think it all started as a backlash against the Republicans because they embraced what GW was doing and offered GW Jr. type candidates for the 2008 election, all the while dismissing a fiscally conservative and socially liberal candidate that struck a cord with Goldwater Republicans and young people.