don't be too sure that the GOP has hijacked this movement. I am a registered republican, but in truth I am more Libertarian than republican. I think the tea party will hold a great sway over the coming elections. Remember, the tea baggers, which I am proud to count myself in their numbers, are comprised of republicans, democrats, libertarians, and indepents. We will not be denied our rightful voice in the electoral process, and we may well lead to a third party. (Or a fourth, if you count the greenies.)

Something had to come along and slap some sense into the GOP.

The TEA Party spoke out.....and the GOP listened. Or did they? We shall see.

Worst case scenario is that the libertarian folks get trampled over yet again and the republicans just stick to their big government totalitarian war mongering ways.

Best case scenario is that the republicans who still think their big government totalitarian war mongering is different from democrat big government totalitarian war mongering get all huffy and bail on a republican party that through absorption of the teabaggers has pulled back and made a return to the limited government mind-your-own-business practice.

A third party on it's own would be nice but at this point with no difference whatsoever between R and D a third party would just be a second party.

All I want is independence. I dont give a # who's "in charge" or what "party" claims to be running things as long as I'm left alone. Neither option is offering me that so I just get more bitter with every passing day. Thirty years it's been building now.

A real individual-liberty/small-government option might release some of the pressure a bit but I cant help but feel it would be too little too late.

It may be preceived as a "GOP hijacking" only because the movement was villified by the democrats in power, and their liberal mouth pieces.

[edit on 12/31/2009 by Blueracer]

Originally posted by kettlebellysmith
We will not be denied our rightful voice in the electoral process, and we may well lead to a third party. (Or a fourth, if you count the greenies.)

This would guarantee another Democrat sweep in 2010.
You want to win, make sure the GOP leadership has the same beliefs the TPM does. This would mean getting rid of M. Steel and Newt G. and all those middle of the road, lukewarm, John McCain, Republicans.
Get some Ronald Reagan Republican leadership, take the gloves off and attack, attack, attack the Dems ON EVERY ISSUE!

The GOP will not win if it follows John McCain's touch football campaigning style.

Originally posted by joey_hv.
Get some Ronald Reagan Republican leadership, take the gloves off and attack, attack, attack the Dems ON EVERY ISSUE!

Well actually that was the strategy the GOP used against Obama with Palin/McCain. The GOP had no platform; just attack the dembs.
Didn't work out to well did it?

Negative campaigning is obsolete. The electorate is much to sophisticated to fall for swiftboat tactics. We want a platform, a plan, and transparency.
Is that to much to ask? And if the GOP can't deliver then thay are destined to be the minority party, the dembs will win by default.

the original tea party back o april 15, tax day was all a grass roots movement

i met the young girl who, all by herself,organized the one we had in trenton, nj

after seeing the success and turnout from that day,,,,, "they" saw the potential in getting "their" foot in the door and the potential to use it for there own nefarios good and needs

i think the washington 912 project, march on d.c. was certainly used by insiders,,,,, this was the first real sign of -----the uninformed, just hateful people,,, with no real clue what they mean or wanted,,,, except that they were mad and angry

unfortunately,,, dick army isn't that bad of a guy,,,,, i read his book and he bashes bush's big gov't intrusive policies,,,,,,, but i think he still has to many inside washington connections and friends

i am another angry original tea bagger,,,,,,, i hate the people that don't know what they're fighting for,,, or there just spreading hate and division.

obama is hitler,,, nazi symbols and such are never gonna help us,,,, and will certainly turn away disillusioned liberals,, not bring them into the fold,,,,,,,

the original movement was more anti -gov't,,, than a republican vs. democrat thing it has become.,,,, we need citizens vs gov't

now,,,, i'm seen as an obama hater,,,,,, when i was calling from the roof tops for impeaching bush, cheney and john yoo.

and look,,, as most of those hateful americans will miss,,,,,, obama has totally covered their butts and even worse never reversed,,, but continued all their policies


it makes me laugh because when the msm mentions the tea party roots and supposed founders,,, ron paul is never mentioned,,,
however in hindsight,, maybe that's good,,,, because instead it's been spun into something totally different than the original purpose


ron pauler's wanted the disillusionment of mainstream america to spread and start a fire into constituitional, liberty, pro-freedom support

and we got our wish,,,, but it kind of backfired a bit,,,, again by special interests and money ,,, go figure

without people learning what is truly happening and doing some research into our gov't ,,, it's easy to believe the msm, and misconceptions put out by gov't,,,,,


i also realize writing this,,, the tactic of division,,,, is amazingly powerful and and so easily deployed first by the two parties,,,, and secondly as a cover to continue big gov't expansion,,, and avoid dissention and real change of the status quo

It's true. The GOP snatched at the teaparty movement and then isolated them from much of the true message.
Hijacked it!
They 'acted' like they were helping get the message out(as they were the ONLY big news covering them!) and then made it pro-mccain or something, LIKE WE WANTED BUSH!