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Title: The Tea Party's Defining Choice
Source: The Atlantic
URL Source: http://www.theatlantic.com/politics ... partys-defining-choice/238900/
Published: May 18, 2011
Author: CONOR FRIEDERSDORF
Post Date: 2011-05-18 09:33:42 by go65
Keywords: None
Views: 2273
Comments: 3

Will the right-leaning movement elevate an effective small government reformer or a bombastic rhetorician in 2012?

In a New York Times piece on the primary challenge that GOP Senator Richard Lugar faces, this passage struck me: "Mr. Lugar is trying to run on moderation in an immoderate time. He is betting that the Tea Party call of alarm and partisanship is drowning out a majority that prefers Republicans who specialize in reason and reaching across the aisle."

The tea party movement is defined in that sentence by the ferocity of its rhetoric rather than the substance of its small government agenda. Insofar as there are a lot of tea party voters who earnestly care about the budget deficit, the size of the federal bureaucracy, and the bailouts we've seen since the financial crisis, it is unfair to write as though the movement is driven solely by its embrace of immoderation. At the same time, the tea party has brought this characterization on itself by elevating leaders like Sarah Palin and Michele Bachmann, who are celebrated for their combative style more than their governing chops or the policy positions they embrace.

In the 2012 primaries, we're going to see what tea party voters and activists value most. Electability? Principled policy stances? Or heated words? The best version of the movement would elevate candidates who are principled, rather than prizing electability above all else. The worst version of the tea party would make electability and policy subservient to emotionally cathartic campaign rhetoric -- it's always a mistake when firing up the base is more an end than a means.

Why would anyone deem "talking the talk" more important than "walking the walk?" It's puzzling, to be sure, but a faction of the conservative movement is doing just that in the most explicit terms.

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#1. To: go65 (#0)

What is it about the Tea Party that frightens you left wingers so much? You obsess over it constantly.

war has to do something for entertainment. The voices in his head aren't speaking to him and his imaginary friends have found reasons not to come over anymore.

Rudgear  posted on  2011-05-18   10:27:15 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#2. To: Rudgear (#1)

What is it about the Tea Party that frightens you left wingers so much? You obsess over it constantly.

Anyone with half a brain should be frightened by the tea party, we're already seeing the damage they are doing simply by controlling one half of Congress.

"Thats because your basically and idiot."
Badeye posted on 2011-04-29 10:30:22 ET

go65  posted on  2011-05-18   10:56:56 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#3. To: Rudgear (#1)

What is it about the Tea Party that frightens you left wingers so much? You obsess over it constantly.

There you go again with your emotional 'leftist tactics'.

Why are you so scared when others discuss the suitability of a "movement" to determine the candidates that run for office? There. That should make you happy.

"http://first-draft-blog.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c5ced53ef0148c7a28c4b970c-320wi"

Rek  posted on  2011-05-18   11:33:35 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


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