I'd like to try a little experiment

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maxiep

maxiep

RIP Dr. Jack
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There actually is a right answer, but I'm interested in the input of everyone on this board. For what does the Tea Party stand? My contention is those that dislike the Tea Party in reality have no idea what it represents.
 
SlyPokerDog said:
FTFY
Click to expand...

Aw, how cute. You do know there are only three principles that represent the Tea Party, don't you? Anything else is noise. That noise is amplified because there isn't a leader.

I contend the Tea Party is the most misunderstood political movement in recent history. I'm simply interested in what people think the Tea Party represents.
 
maxiep said:
Aw, how cute. You do know there are only three principles that represent the Tea Party, don't you? Anything else is noise. That noise is amplified because there isn't a leader.

I contend the Tea Party is the most misunderstood political movement in recent history. I'm simply interested in what people think the Tea Party represents.
Click to expand...

Why not just say what you think the Tea Party represents and avoid all of the noise?
 
SlyPokerDog said:
Why not just say what you think the Tea Party represents and avoid all of the noise?
Click to expand...

Because I want to see what people think. If you're not interested in participating, you can ignore this post.
 
Lower taxes, smaller government, and a more literal interpretation of the Constitution?
 
I think the tea party claim they stand for small government and lowering taxes.
 
The tea party doesn't actually exist as a genuine political party with an actual platform, leaders/direction, or even a common political goal.

It's a loosely gathered group of uninformed, easily-manipulated voters who feel their wishes are not being represented by either party. They are nothing more than a convenient club being wielded by the disintegrating republican party, and they vote for republican candidates 99% of the time.

Not that there's anything wrong with that. :devilwink:
 
MARIS61 said:
The tea party doesn't actually exist as a genuine political party with an actual platform, leaders/direction, or even a common political goal.

It's a loosely gathered group of uninformed, easily-manipulated voters who feel their wishes are not being represented by either party. They are nothing more than a convenient club being wielded by the disintegrating republican party, and they vote for republican candidates 99% of the time.

Not that there's anything wrong with that. :devilwink:
Click to expand...

Partially true. It's not a political party as much as a philosophy. It is a loose confederation. It is most certainly not represented by any party, much like the communists or socialists are represented by the Democrats. The Republicans do try to play lip service to them, however, they're just trying to use them.

Isn't it interesting how the Democrats haven't made a play for them? Many are social conservatives, but there are plenty out there that agree with many Democrat social positions, from the viewpoint that it's no one's business how you live your life. As an aside, why haven't the Democrats gone after social libertarians? Individual freedom used to be a hallmark of the Democrats.

Where I disagree is that they don't have a common political goal. I think their goal is pretty direct. What they are not is savvy or experienced in the way of politics. It's a bunch of Mr. Smith Goes To Washington types who are naïve about the workings of Washington.
 
I think the problem is that when you don't have leadership, it's difficult to clearly define what an organization stands for. Maybe your interpretation of what the Tea Party stands for is different from someone else who belongs? How can there be a right answer?
 
Natebishop3 said:
I think the problem is that when you don't have leadership, it's difficult to clearly define what an organization stands for. Maybe your interpretation of what the Tea Party stands for is different from someone else who belongs? How can there be a right answer?
Click to expand...

Because all the groups have agreed upon three basic principles. Very fair point, however.

I'm really more interested for what you think the Tea Party stands. If you find any of those positions objectionable, I'd be interested in your reasoning.
 
The tea party is either little girls feeding pretend tea to their dolls or a subset of republicans who figure that emphasizing libertarian principles is the path to power.

I really like what they say and advertise. I fear they are only voicing part of their overall agenda. For example, Marco Rubio is a famous elected Tea Party guy. Once elected, he proposes anti abortion legislation.
 
Denny Crane said:
The tea party is either little girls feeding pretend tea to their dolls or a subset of republicans who figure that emphasizing libertarian principles is the path to power.

I really like what they say and advertise. I fear they are only voicing part of their overall agenda. For example, Marco Rubio is a famous elected Tea Party guy. Once elected, he proposes anti abortion legislation.
Click to expand...

I think there are many members of the Tea Party that espouse culturally conservative views. However, it's a like a subset in a Venn Diagram. Do you think being pro-life is a Tea Party position?
 
maxiep said:
I think there are many members of the Tea Party that espouse culturally conservative views. However, it's a like a subset in a Venn Diagram. Do you think being pro-life is a Tea Party position?
Click to expand...

Can you name a tea party supported elected official who is not culturally conservative? There's probably between 50 and 100 to choose from.

I had hopes for Rand Paul, but he's proposed a life begins at conception abortion ban Bill.

Here's a list:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_Party_Caucus

I've seen Justin Amash touted as a "libertarian," yet he'd ban abortion after 3 days AND ban birth control.

Not. Libertarian.
 
Denny Crane said:
Can you name a tea party supported elected official who is not culturally conservative? There's probably between 50 and 100 to choose from.

I had hopes for Rand Paul, but he's proposed a life begins at conception abortion ban Bill.

Here's a list:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_Party_Caucus

I've seen Justin Amash touted as a "libertarian," yet he'd ban abortion after 3 days AND ban birth control.

Not. Libertarian.
Click to expand...

Sigh. There's a difference between being libertarian and a member of the Tea Party.
 
In the end, it really doesn't matter what the "party" stands for, it's what the "party" supporters will support and what they stand for. Because over time, the parties ideals will change to be in line with it's supporters. I look to the supporters and take cue from them. This applies to all large groups, not just the tea party. The Occupy movement is also not what is espoused by the groups involved, it becomes defined by the supporters. You have too many abortion activists at a tea party rally, or too many Che Guevara tee shirts at an occupy movement, and that becomes the party.

When I was in high school during the first gulf war, I was getting ready to go to a "No Blood For War" rally, my father told me to sit down so he could impart a bit of wisdom. He was around during the Vietnam protests and he realized that no matter how righteous the cause, the organizers are always self centered douchebags that are trying to steal the importance of the moment for their own spotlight. Now, some are better than others, and the cause may still justify going to the rally, but never be hoodwinked by the leaders of a cause. In retrospect, I have realized that is not always true, with leaders like MLK, but the vast majority of the time it is. And you have to realize, if its the leaders at a rally, or the supporters at a rally, once those individuals corrupt a cause, they become the face (or the voices) of the cause.
 
maxiep said:
Sigh. There's a difference between being libertarian and a member of the Tea Party.
Click to expand...

They're advertising nothing but libertarian positions. The three you named!

So... They're wolves in sheep's clothing.

Besides, it makes sense to vote for an actual libertarian than for someone who pretends to be.
 
They, and the Occupy people need some better pr people, because they both come across as fringe lunatics.
 
maxiep said:
Partially true. It's not a political party as much as a philosophy. It is a loose confederation. It is most certainly not represented by any party, much like the communists or socialists are represented by the Democrats. The Republicans do try to play lip service to them, however, they're just trying to use them.

Isn't it interesting how the Democrats haven't made a play for them? Many are social conservatives, but there are plenty out there that agree with many Democrat social positions, from the viewpoint that it's no one's business how you live your life. As an aside, why haven't the Democrats gone after social libertarians? Individual freedom used to be a hallmark of the Democrats.

Where I disagree is that they don't have a common political goal. I think their goal is pretty direct. What they are not is savvy or experienced in the way of politics. It's a bunch of Mr. Smith Goes To Washington types who are naïve about the workings of Washington.
Click to expand...

Libertarians believe in a self-centered survival of the fittest (or the richest) approach, Democrats believe in a compassionate survival of the community approach. They have little in common.
 
santeesioux said:
They, and the Occupy people need some better pr people, because they both come across as fringe lunatics IN THE MEDIA.
Click to expand...

Fify.

When the people you are trying to topple from power own and control ALL MAJOR MEDIA in the world, you're not going to get anything positive reported.
 
Denny Crane said:
They're advertising nothing but libertarian positions. The three you named!

So... They're wolves in sheep's clothing.

Besides, it makes sense to vote for an actual libertarian than for someone who pretends to be.
Click to expand...

Why? I have libertarian leanings, but don't like the foreign, immigration or drug policies.
 
MARIS61 said:
Libertarians believe in a self-centered survival of the fittest (or the richest) approach, Democrats believe in a compassionate survival of the community approach. They have little in common.
Click to expand...

Interesting perspective. I have long thought that the Democratic Party has tried to replace the community with government.
 
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