What happened to the Tea Party?

So, there was no mention of the tea party at all by the media in this last election, at least not since McConnel said a while back that the GOP was going to destroy them. I'm sure there were some Tea Party favored candidates that got elected, buy nothing at all like a movement.

So what happened to all the people on here claiming that the Tea Party represented America and that everyone supported their extremist views?

Is the Tea party finished as a movement in America

DId the GOP use them as a sacrificial lamb for all the people who disliked the GOP?

a reply to: CB328

Any political movement that shows the slightest potential of changing the status quo is automatically usurped by the Hierarchy.

Until citizens stop looking for some savior outside of their innate, God given power to cocreate, the program of looking for a savior shall make sure nothing changes.

Its impossible for a few people to resist being bought off whether through money, power or prestige. Its part of the human condition.

The good news is people are waking up. Within a generation things will change. The old program has run its course.

We are our own saviors. The Hierarchy must crumble.

It is difficult for any movement to gain traction when both Republicans and Democrats are attacking it because it threatens their monopoly. Sadly, the media was also complicit in 'destroying' the Tea Party movement.

During his famous Gettysburg Address Abraham Lincoln said “government of the people, by the people, for the people” .

This no longer viable; instead we have a government of the two parties, by the two parties lobbyists and for the two parties corporate interests and their profits.

" What happened to the Tea Party? "

Many have gone underground.

And have infiltrated lower ranks in the Republican Party.

They now lurk and are cloaked.

Perhaps the Koch brothers cut their funding. They used them to get what they wanted now they have no need for them.

a reply to: CB328

It was infiltrated and co-opted by the extremist right wing of the republican party and died a quiet death.
Just further proof that our current Govt. is beyond salvaging.

What we need to do is get a whole bunch of gasoline, then take all that gas and pour it on all the current politicians and set them on fire.

Then maybe we can start over with people that actually want to get this country back on the right track.

originally posted by: xuenchen
" What happened to the Tea Party? "

Many have gone underground.

And have infiltrated lower ranks in the Republican Party.

They now lurk and are cloaked.

As the "john birch" society did in the early seventies? Let's hope not.

a reply to: CB328

The tea party is the Republican Party…they have always been the Republican Party and they always will be the Republican Party.

Who did they run as? Republicans.

There has NEVER been a thing as the Tea party.

They always ran as GOP candidates and NEVER started a third party

They have always just been the GOP on steroids

a reply to: Willtell

There has NEVER been a thing as the Tea party.

The media sure spent a lot of time attacking something the doesn't exist.

originally posted by: CB328
So, there was no mention of the tea party at all by the media in this last election, at least not since McConnel said a while back that the GOP was going to destroy them.

You answered your question right there I believe. McConnell is a very powerful politician.

a reply to: Metallicus


So what’s your point?

The media often spends a lot of time doing stupid things.

They want controversy and excitement

Nothing wrong with that it sells so they report on an extreme element in an extreme party

But the tea party ran as what?
Republicans

So that’s what they are

Do deny that is to deny reality

a reply to: CB328

Joined up with the Occupy movement.....Big deal at 1st...everyone making signs to wave....and then? Reality....

I was protesting decades ago...we never stopped war...the killings... the gov....so wake up America.

These were 2 great groups with potential and to echo the question...where are they now?

Next time realize...these orgs never last...sadly,

a reply to: Willtell

But the tea party ran as what?
Republicans

So that’s what they are

So the media attacked them because they were Republicans?

That sounds about right.

The Tea Party was really a mawkish institution that was more of a fashion show for shiny white people and their enormous families to rally like Independence Day without the fireworks. It was the awesome alternative for Republicans who love the holidays more than they love business suits.

This thread is nearly 2 years old, but I believe this article from Politico gives a very plausible answer to the question, 'What happened to the Tea Party?'

How we killed the Tea Party

PAC's and greed is the short answer. Lots of bluster and talk and fundraising from the general public, but not much in the way of results is the long answer.

As just one example:

In 2014, the Tea Party Patriots group spent just 10 percent of the $14.4 million it collected actually supporting candidates, with the rest going to consultants and vendors and Martin’s hefty salary of $15,000 per month; in all, she makes an estimated $450,000 a year from her Tea Party-related ventures.

POLITICO last year reviewed the activity of 33 conservative PACs for the 2014 cycle. Combined, they raked in $43 million dollars, according to the POLITICO report. Of that, $39.5 million went to overhead including $6 million to entities owned by PAC operators; candidate's got $3 million.

Less than 7% went to the candidates.

This election cycle will be no different. There are still few regulations to enforce fiduciary responsibility of Political Action Committees.

If you want to donate to a candidate, it's best to do so directly. They may not spend wisely, but at least you know the cash is under your candidates control.