Palin to tea partiers: You’re going to have to choose between the parties
posted at 1:14 pm on February 17, 2010 by Allahpundit
It’s in her interest to say this, of course, if she wants any shot at the GOP nomination, and it’s bound to irritate tea-party indies who bristle at her attempts to “hijack” the movement for Republicans.
But if, like me, you’re first and foremost interested in knocking the Democrats out of power, this is pure gold.
Asked what her advice would be to conservatives as the November elections approach, Palin first lavished praise on the Tea Party movement, calling it “a grand movement” and adding, “I love it because it’s all about the people.”
But she quickly pivoted to the broader question of whether the Tea Party movement might successfully field its own candidates in national elections, and on that point she sounded far from convinced.
“Now the smart thing will be for independents who are such a part of this Tea Party movement to, I guess, kind of start picking a party,” Palin said. “Which party reflects how that smaller, smarter government steps to be taken? Which party will best fit you? And then because the Tea Party movement is not a party, and we have a two-party system, they’re going to have to pick a party and run one or the other: ‘R’ or ‘D’.”
Translation: Forget the third-party nonsense. She’s been surprisingly consistent on this point, even with people like Glenn Beck leaning on her; all credit to her for trying to keep the train on the track for the midterms before it derails in Perotville. With exquisite timing, CNN’s out with a new poll today showing just how catastrophic a third-party tea-party movement would be to the GOP’s chances. Head to head with Democrats on the generic ballot, Republicans currently lead 47/45 among registered voters. Feast your eyes on what happens if tea partiers, er, go rogue:
That’s a lot of tea. In fact, according to CNN, fully 11 percent of Americans claim they’ve actively supported the tea party movement in some way. (Note to Olbermann: Supporters are also better educated than the population on average.) Can that be right? 33 million or so tea partiers?
Blowback
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I agree, and I think you have put your finger on the central challenge to, and criterion of, conservative leadership right now. The true conservative leader for 2012 will be the one who compellingly makes the case why tea-party types should put their faith in the GOP, i.e., what will be different this time.
rrpjr on February 17, 2010 at 3:14 PM
Palin didn’t say it explicitly, but the key word is PRIMARIES.
If a Tea Party candidate wants to be elected, let him run in a PRIMARY. Since such a candidate would likely lose a Dem primary, the best choice is a Republican primary.
If the Tea Party candidate wins the Republican primary, he/she can run against the Democrat and possibly win. If the Tea Party candidate loses the Republican primary, he/she should endorse the Republican winner and bow out gracefully, because getting half of one’s ideas elected is better than nothing.
Third party candidates from either extreme have always favored the opposition. Theodore Roosevelt’s Bull Moose party in 1912 elected Woodrow Wilson. John Anderson’s liberal third-party run helped elect Reagan. Ross Perot helped elect Bill Clinton twice. Ralph Nader’s 70,000 votes in Florida helped elect George W. Bush.
No one ever wins an election with 16% of the vote. Either unite 50%+ of the voters around your ideas, or stay out. United we stand, divided we fall. If the Tea Party movement is truly independent, independent voters will support their Republican candidates, and help them win.
If the Tea Partiers have truly winning ideas, let them do what Reagan did: draw the Republican Party to those ideas, and ride them to victory.
Steve Z on February 17, 2010 at 3:15 PM
The problem comes up again, of the belief system of many Americans, including most of the Tea Party people. These folks are the same ones who sent bricks to Congress, when the Republican Congress refused to build a wall on our southern border. So they aren’t happy with Republicans either.
I’m not happy with either party. I’m a Conservative, and I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. I’ll vote for the MORE Conservative Candidate, regardless of party. If the More Conservative Candidate is an Independent, I’ll vote for the Independent. If the MORE Conservative candidate is a Democrat, I’ll vote for the Dem.
I know, a vote for a More Conservative Dem keeps Nancy Pelosi in power. Yet, does it really? Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi, to often lampooned and rightly so, far left wing libs, are struggling to get their Health Care bill through Congress.
They have a Majority in both houses, yet they can’t get the votes, because the Blue Dogs are stopping them. The Blue Dogs have conditions that are at odds with the left wing establishment.
So lets say that the Republicans get control of both houses in Congress this November. What will that lead us to? Will they be the Republicans of 1994 who pushed for balanced budgets and fiscal responsibility? Or will they be the Republicans of 2000 who started spending like the well was bottomless. Will they be the Republicans of 1994 who rode the popular mood into power, or the Republicans of 2000 who called us all Racists for wanting to secure the border.
Which Republicans would we get? We hope for the Republicans of 1994, but we hoped for them all the way through the Bush Administration too. Instead we got erosion of liberties, and absolute irresponsibility on so many fronts there isn’t time to list them all.
Right now, I’d say that neither party has the history or the principals that I want them in charge. My disgust at the Democrats is tempered by my lingering anger and disgust at the Republicans.
I say, vote each of them out of office, at every election. Make service in Congress a temp job, and see if we can possibly get this nation back to some semblance of common sense Government. Because right now, I fear the Republicans in power almost as much as I do the Democrats, and that means I have little to vote FOR.
Snake307 on February 17, 2010 at 3:16 PM
You’re exactly right Mark.
The “empire” IS collapsing. The Soviets lasted 70 years under socialism … we’re coming up on 70 years under the New Deal and we’re rocking like a punch drunk boxer before he goes down for the count.
It will take BOLD and DECISIVE action to save us – and nothing less.
Everyone is getting excited about a GOP victory in November – it’s coming.
But seriously – winning is only 10% of the fight – we have a devastating situation on our hand that may be impossible for anyone to fix. It’s damn sure impossible for anyone who works “around the edges” to fix. We can elect some smooth talking “centrists” … who will reach accross the isle and might even be able to do enough to pass off the “fall” to our sons and daughters.
But … speaking for myself – if we’re going to go down – I’d rather have to deal with the pain of the fall than to pass it to my kids. We’re responsible for the situation and should be responsible for the consequences.
I won’t vote for any man or woman who isn’t up for BOLD AND DECISIVE ACTION – because this ship is in shoal water. I’m not voting for a Republican simply because he’s marginally better than the Democrat. Sorry – won’t do it.
GOP needs to find some heros – otherwise – they don’t have my vote.
HondaV65 on February 17, 2010 at 3:21 PM
I certainly do – and I don’t care.
Again – I want people who can commit to BOLD AND DECISIVE action – it’s the only thing that’s going to save us.
HondaV65 on February 17, 2010 at 3:24 PM
Yeah… its sad that we are fighting two wars against Al Q… who while our enemy is NOT anywhere near an existential threat to America herself…
And the real existential threat, our own Governments policies, in which BOTH parties are complicit, are no really seen in that light.
Al Q could kill some of us… our Goverment could Destroy America herself.
Romeo13 on February 17, 2010 at 3:27 PM
Obama/Pelosi/Reid 2012 thank you in advance as well. Your plan of action is their only hope. Conservatives, always looking for ways to rescue defeat from the jaws of victory!
Midas on February 17, 2010 at 3:29 PM
Nobody’s going to loan us money if we inflate it into worthlessness either.
The only real difference between inflation and defaulting, is that defaulting is faster.
MarkTheGreat on February 17, 2010 at 3:30 PM
A Republican who is nothing more than a Democrat lite isn’t any hope either.
MarkTheGreat on February 17, 2010 at 3:34 PM
McCain called. He said your check’s in the mail and Graham threw a little extra in there for good measure.
Extrafishy on February 17, 2010 at 3:35 PM
Well, there’s always tangible assets … Wonder how much China would give us for California?
RedPepper on February 17, 2010 at 3:35 PM
I say we only sell it to them as “carry out”.
SKYFOX on February 17, 2010 at 3:39 PM
I still prefer the train analogy as it’s simple to understand.
The Democrats want us to board their speedy express to serfdom. The current Repulicans (including Bush, McCain, Graham, et al) want us to board their slow freight to the same damnable destination. What some on this thread don’t understand is that so many of us don’t want to board either train. If it’s my choice, I’ll take the narrow, hardscrabble road to freedom, thanks.
SKYFOX on February 17, 2010 at 3:44 PM
SKYFOX on February 17, 2010 at 3:44 PM
Agree.
A point that I have been trying to make is that we have making the choice between fast track to h#ll and the slow track to h#ll for so long, that h#ll is just around the corner, and it doesn’t matter which track you are on, we will be there in a few minutes.
MarkTheGreat on February 17, 2010 at 3:48 PM
The only solution is to get the h#ll off the track and start going in a different direction.
MarkTheGreat on February 17, 2010 at 3:49 PM
And now whatever alliance previously existed as a mutual effort between Tea Party activists and neoconservatives has been sabotaged by the neoconservative smear campaigns that fail to address Tea Party platforms, but scapegoat the Tea Party as politically incorrect.
Think carefully about WHO will redress the corruption of governance propagated by neoconservative progressive socialist Politically Correct mannerisms, legislation taxes and programs that decree some people to be more special than others, and that negates the rule of law while touting their neoconservative “compassionate conservatism” that both Jonah Goldberg and Amity Shlaes expose to be fascist Marxism.
Actually study the history of the Tea Party, readers. As Lord Christopher Monckton says, Don’t take my word for it; research and learn for yourself.
maverick muse on February 17, 2010 at 3:59 PM
Sarah Palin: Stimulus Bill Anniversary Proves Not-So-Stimulating
http://tiny.cc/XFixM
Sarah Palin Is One Tough Mother
http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/02/sarah_palin_is_one_tough_mothe.html
The second one says it all.
gary4205 on February 17, 2010 at 3:59 PM
No one, R or D by their name, deserves my vote based on that one little letter. If the Republicans nominate a RINO, they will not have my support. If they lose by one vote it is not my fault, but theirs.
I owe them nothing, they must EARN my support.
Irritable Pundit on February 17, 2010 at 4:02 PM
I love the Tea Party Movement, but I will not support a 3rd party unless the polling shows them clearly able to beat the Dems, which will not happen many places. It’s more important to get the devils out than to get angels in. A third party will have the Dems laughing their asses off. Don’t be stupid, this is important.
bagoh20 on February 17, 2010 at 4:07 PM
I don’t have to pick anyone until election day.
Oh, so, what she’s saying is, I need to pick a party to send money to.
Oh…well, that will probably never happen again for me. So, nope, still don’t have to ‘pick a party’.
bridgetown on February 17, 2010 at 4:12 PM
You’re a fair man, AP. Sarah’s right and I thank you for giving credit where it’s due.
princetrumpet on February 17, 2010 at 4:15 PM
Unfortunately, you don’t get that choice. “I choose neither train, I’m gonna walk” means you get put on the speedy train, like it or not.
On the slower train, you at least get to exert some effort to slow it down, reverse it, change it’s course, what have you.
By either overtly choosing the speedy train, or some well-intentioned-yet-deluded “I choose neither train” – you still get on the speedy train, AND you have no chance of having any say in making changes. You get what you’ve gotten the last year under Obama.
If you can’t see that this is worse than at least getting aboard the slower train and having a chance to fix it, well…
Midas on February 17, 2010 at 4:15 PM
Are you serious?
misterpeasea on February 17, 2010 at 4:25 PM
Just six months ago on his own TV show, Glenn Beck filled an entire segment with questions about a 9/11 cover up because he had questions of his own. Link to hear Beck on September 3, 2009:
“I have questions myself. I had many questions after 9/11.”
“I’d like to know about the whole Sandy Berger thing. That just seems weird and it seems to me that Bush and Clinton were in on that one on both sides, I’d like to know about that one.” Beck added.
Beck went on to highlight the questions others have asked about money wired to the lead hijacker Mohammed Atta by Pakistani Intelligence, the alleged maneuvers pulled off by Hani Hanjour in flight 77 which hit the Pentagon, as well as president Bush’s whereabouts on the day of the attacks – all be it declaring them invalid questions.
“Let me again ask you this question, if you believe that about your government wouldn’t you want to find out who in our government was trying to kill innocent Americans? Three thousand innocent Americans. Wouldn’t that be a top priority?” Beck fumed with regards to allegations of government involvement.
“You have a right to peacefully, reasonably question your government. You have a responsibility to do that.” Beck concluded.
This 9/11 truther Beck is a dirty hypocrite for attacking Debra Medina who protects Constitutional Rights that include responsible and free speech:
All the neoconservatives who smear the Tea Party libertarians and Constitutional conservatives, instead endorsing corrupted career politicians who have overextended their constituents’ traditional term limit and have acted to dissolve Constitutional Rights in order to empower statism are really only painting neoconservatives as intolerant and corrupt hatemonger-purists.
maverick muse on February 17, 2010 at 4:27 PM
Not that I have ever noticed.
MarkTheGreat on February 17, 2010 at 4:27 PM
Sarah Palin supports new investigation of 9/11.
maverick muse on February 17, 2010 at 4:30 PM
Chris Matthews and Glenn Beck french kiss.
maverick muse on February 17, 2010 at 4:32 PM
Neither, until they are both weeded out.
Blackhawk45 on February 17, 2010 at 4:32 PM
Ok then. If you see no difference between the Rs and the Ds, then I wholeheartedly agree: either waste your vote on a 3rd party candidate, or better yet, don’t vote.
misterpeasea on February 17, 2010 at 4:36 PM
As long as the GOP supports people like Fiorina, Whitman & Scozzafava, the GOP is as much an enemy as the Dems.
Blackhawk45 on February 17, 2010 at 4:36 PM
Because supporting those three is as bad as supporting Boxer, Schumer, and Leahy.
Check.
misterpeasea on February 17, 2010 at 4:40 PM
No, WE The People weed them out in the primaries. I know, the GOP wasn’t going to get involved in the primaries but they lied. So we get out & fight them.
Blackhawk45 on February 17, 2010 at 4:40 PM
Actualy, worse.
Because those types of R’s would vote with the D’s, thus making whatever Progresive thing they voted on, BiPartisan.
Romeo13 on February 17, 2010 at 4:42 PM
Never said that I thought that she would. But I’d like it if she would, because it would be the right thing.
Alternatively, she could explain that it is necessary to not just support the Republicans, but to seize control of the party to force it to stick to a conservative message. That it wouldn’t carry the suggestion of not voting Republican, so she wouldn’t piss off partisans as much. Then again, it’s not entirely clear that she should have a problem with pissing them off, since there are so few of them left. So maybe the first idea would in fact be in her interest – speaking out against your own party is a good play when most people hate it.
In any case, the point is that telling people to pick a party and support it without some qualification will not go over well with very many people in the Tea Party, given how many conservatives despise the GOP.
RINO in Name Only on February 17, 2010 at 4:43 PM
When Sarah announced that she was Going Rogue, she strongly supported the concept of independently voting for the candidate who most closely aligns with your own ideology, regardless of party affiliation.
“You have to choose between the two major parties now.”–Palin
She simply clarifies what she’s already done, her official resignation from Going Rogue.
I’ve always supported Palin’s right to self determination. That does not mean that I endorse Palin’s choices. I do appreciate Palin’s enthusiastic spirit. So do her loyal fans whom the neoconservatives are converting into their corrupted establishment. The neoconservatives have rallied to support Palin now that they see how many loyal fans she rallies. Study which candidates she endorses in order to admit with whom she most closely aligns. Like 16th Century Spanish Conquistadors subjugating indigenous cultures, tribes and Western hemisphere populations, the neoconservatives are determined to absorb, purge and assimilate the momentum of the Tea Party movement.
maverick muse on February 17, 2010 at 4:45 PM
Take your own advice before dishing it out.
maverick muse on February 17, 2010 at 4:47 PM
Anyone else would be called a “Troofer” and all manner of other names besides…But not Saint Sarah!
Dark-Star on February 17, 2010 at 4:49 PM
If it’s my choice, I’ll take the narrow, hardscrabble road to freedom, thanks.
SKYFOX on February 17, 2010 at 3:44 PM
amen brother, there is no other way in my mind.
exceller on February 17, 2010 at 4:50 PM
For me, I’m with you. The argument about the direction of the nation inevitably comes down to the idea that we must choose one of the two paths to the same destination.
The destination is the problem, not the manner in which we get there. Why is it that so many pundits for the Republicans don’t understand that? Why is it that Allahpundit and his ilk always mock such observations with the same old tired excuse. If we don’t vote Republican, we’re going to allow the Socialists to win.
If we do vote Republican, we slow the trip to the same socialist place, but we still get there don’t we?
The two party system would work, if the two parties offered different views of the responsibility, and power, of the Federal Government. Yet, with both parties going the same way, left, and the only difference is the speed at which we arrive, then the two party system is absolutely broken.
Then it’s time for a third party. Then it’s time to shake up the existing status quo. As far as Obama, Reid, and Pelosi, they are symptoms of the problem. The problem is the leftward march towards a more powerful, more controlling, and more intrusive Federal Government. The problem is out of control spending, and the solution is not Vote Republican, or Vote Democrat. The solution is to vote them all out of office and start anew.
Snake307 on February 17, 2010 at 4:56 PM
I have? See, I can tell a difference between the two parties.
misterpeasea on February 17, 2010 at 5:02 PM
Allah, would you say her consistancy was “unexpected?”
DrAllecon on February 17, 2010 at 6:26 PM
Tea Party in the PRIMARY not the General.
- The Cat
MirCat on February 17, 2010 at 6:33 PM
tea-party indies It’s not like were not used to going our own way. I will vote for the fiscally conservative candidate, that doesn’t promote abortion. I’m really not that hard to please. If they mention Truthers or Climate Change, I automatically cross them off my potential list.
Dr Evil on February 17, 2010 at 6:36 PM
I was behind Medina, till she hemmed and hawed about 9/11 conspiracy theorists. I guess she just wasn’t ready. There is a difference between a non perfect candidate, and a non starter.
Dr Evil on February 17, 2010 at 6:39 PM
The democrat party is being ripped to shreds by O’s insane radicalism. The moderates are being pushed down the river.
Palin is headed towards a showdown with the tea partiers because it looks like they want to start a real 3rd party, which will really hurt GOP chances in ’12. Palin is right to say come together, if they come to the GOP, they’ll do it kicking and screaming.
We’ll have 2 completely divided parties by ’12 if all of this keeps up.
B Man on February 17, 2010 at 8:38 PM
Blackhawk, I”m with you. Also as I am a Tea Party Patriot, intending to stick with the simple message. Less Govt., States Rights, Lower taxes, fiscal responsibility, national security. I am a voice and a movement to restore the USA to a constitutionally governed republic. As a movement, I as a Tea Party Patriot wield the collective power to demand responsible and trustworthy behavior by our elected or else. Period. Do not mess with us!
texriot on February 17, 2010 at 8:38 PM
And this is precisely why the GOP has been working so hard to co-opt the Tea Party movement via neoconservative leaning leaders like Palin and Beck. They have to try to get the conservatives to buy back into voting “lesser of two evils” or the GOP is sunk.
But I, along with my friends who attend Tea Parties, am finished with voting against the Democrats only to elect a neocon. If the GOP can’t find a candidate who can get behind a conservative foreign policy then they can continue to lose.
popularpeoplesfront on February 17, 2010 at 9:36 PM
Palin is a fraud! She is up to no good. She will either:
1. Lead a ticket with Rick Perry the corrupt Texas Governor as her running mate. or
2. Help the GOP Push Perry as the new saviour the republican and ultra Tea party candidate, and try to unite both movements behin this corrupt RINO in 2012.
paulsur on February 17, 2010 at 10:08 PM
Exactly when did that occur? Are you referring to the Beck interview last week? If so, I refer you to Glenn Beck’s interview of the Jersey Girls in February 2009. In this interview Beck came out in support of everything that Medina said last week, and so much more.
Medina never said she supported the Truther movement or was a member of the movement.
paulsur on February 17, 2010 at 10:12 PM
The Tea Party thing should be a political movement, not a political party.
Dr. ZhivBlago on February 17, 2010 at 10:25 PM
I view the Tea Party movement like a secular Promise Keepers. It’s not a substitute for your political party but rather a special event meant to enhance your political experience.
Mojave Mark on February 18, 2010 at 12:34 AM
Vote for Romney 2012. No difference already between R and D. All political problems will be solved. Bwa ha ha ha ha!
TheAlamos on February 18, 2010 at 12:45 AM
A third party candidate in 2012 means 4 more years of Obama.
How can you Americans be so stupid?
Crux Australis on February 18, 2010 at 12:45 AM
Exactly. Every Palin thread, he shows up and whines and bitches about her. Paultard.
atheling on February 18, 2010 at 12:47 AM
Palin is right. We do have to choose between two parties.
But we don’t wait for the GOP to “woo” us. We join the GOP and shape it on a grass roots level. I went to my local GOP caucus and became a county delegate and I’m on the platform committee. Then I plan to move up to state delegate and platform committee.
Infiltrate the party and shape it from the ground up! That’s the way it’s supposed to work!
atheling on February 18, 2010 at 12:49 AM
I still can’t stop from laughing that more people believe Elvis is alive than the stimulis is working.
lavell12 on February 18, 2010 at 1:07 AM
I still can’t stop from laughing that more people believe Elvis is alive than the stimulis is working.
lavell12 on February 18, 2010 at 1:08 AM
That is over the short term. If you are going to quite compromising on candidates, you are going to take some hits over the short term. You would not expect everyone who is a registered Republican to jump on board with a third party, but over time it might work if it can sustain itself. Unless you are willing to take these hits in the short term and let the Republicans lose, you are still going to be getting the same RINO candidates that you always get because there is no incentive for the Republican Party to field anything else if they know that you will vote for anyone with an R next to their name.
Think long term strategy here folks. Changing the Republicans back to a conservative party or getting a conservative third party going is a long term process either way. You really have to be willing to lose some political contests in order to accomplish the long term goal.
tballard on February 18, 2010 at 2:07 AM
10 circumstances that could lead to Palin’s downfall or could convince her not to run for POTUS in 2012 (other than personal/family health challenges):
1)Consistently polling in the second tier
2)being abandoned by the Tea Party movement or its leaders
3)scandal
4)lack of fundraising
5)being abandoned by the evangelical community in the South
6)proof or conviction that a female can never be elected POTUS because of misogyny
7)Obama’s job approval is consistently above 55% after the midterms making him impossible to defeat in 2012
8)Cannot win either Iowa or South Carolina
9)A potential GOP opponent is too strong
10)God tells her not to run
technopeasant on February 18, 2010 at 7:27 AM
Years of voting for the lesser of evils has resulted in a Republican party that’s almost as big on spending money and growing the government as the Democrat party. I’m not interested in continuing to vote Republican if it means the country winds up in the same place the Democrats are taking it, just a little later.
Why do the Tea Partiers have to suck it up and compromise their principles? Let the Republican party come to meet us for a change.
I don’t give a damn what letter comes after a politician’s name. I care about their principles. If they aren’t going to work for smaller government and try to be fiscally responsible then I’ve got no use for them and I’m not going to vote for them. Not anymore.
If the Republicans want my vote then let them start fielding more candidates who support the things I do and fewer Dede Scozzafavas.
Rip Ford on February 18, 2010 at 7:53 AM
Ah Mav…once again, on point …she has been assimilated… my reason for loosing faith…
I understand, now, why she endorsed McCain(personal loyalty)…but Perry?
`shakes head in disgust`
jerrytbg on February 18, 2010 at 7:55 AM
Do you have any evidence that most of the tea partiers want to start a new party?
MarkTheGreat on February 18, 2010 at 8:11 AM
ANYONE who proposes a third party candidate is really just a democrat attempting to “Perot” the republican party.
dthorny on February 18, 2010 at 8:16 AM
The third party threat is just a way to keep the GOP honest. I do wonder what would happen if the GOP continues to push for socialist Republicans ala McCain.
True_King on February 18, 2010 at 8:22 AM
Simple. We’ve willingly allowed elections to be dominated by those with money and influence.
Anyone who isn’t one of the Big Two hasn’t a chance of getting much higher than a city mayor, unless they’re extremely lucky and/or the incumbent has done something to make the voting base hate his/her guts.
Dark-Star on February 18, 2010 at 8:41 AM
If I was Sarah I don’t believe for a second that if the GOP loses, the blame would be squarely on her shoulders. What the Tea Party movement needs to do is be more open with their mission, their goals and objectives and continue to advocate for each candidate that wants to throw their hats in.
Inside the movement, there can be statewide meetings where folks can decide if they want to serve politically (of course, from the ground up). If a GOP candidate ID’s as a Tea Party member-supporter-believer-whatnot, then this candidate will be fried in the MSM and we all know it.,
Of course, each person inside the movement have their own unique skills, abilities and background education. Put those to work FIRST and SERVE your state, dip your foot in. Do as Sarah did; serve on a local level and if your desire to serve and change things around in your state is still a fire that is building inside you, goshdarnit go for it!
I believe also that I don’t have to be inside the Tea Party movement b/c by experience, that blew up on my face in Puerto Rico when people wanted to lead the whole thing, after I created the website, got phone calls, prepared documentation and whatnot. I am not happy with what’s going on either! I enjoy watching Sarah play her poker game, because like it or not, she’s got the winning card! ;)
ProudPalinFan on February 18, 2010 at 8:43 AM
Exactly, and that is it’s strength, it shouldn’t “adopt” a party, but continue to fight for smaller more responsive government. A government that takes it’s citizens seriously.
right2bright on February 18, 2010 at 8:50 AM
Palin misses the fundamental point the TP’ers are fed up with politicians telling them what they have to do. Romney sharpening his fiscal points, figuring out how to blame MassaCare on someone else, and staying away from social issues should end her 15 minutes.
MarkT on February 18, 2010 at 8:51 AM
Maybe it’s the Republicans who need to pick a party: big government D’s, or small government TP’s…
MarkT on February 18, 2010 at 8:53 AM
I’m with those who say they won’t vote for a RINO just because he/she is not a Democrat. If the USA is going down, so be it, but it won’t be because *I* was again talked into a “no Democrat” vote.
katablog.com on February 18, 2010 at 9:27 AM
Now that I reread the first sentence of nmy post, what I meant to say was that Sarah does NOT want the 3rd party blame on her shoulders. She’d be fried by everybody, and she has been “fried” enough already.
I believe we all agree on that.
ProudPalinFan on February 18, 2010 at 9:39 AM
You have to remember this is a CNN poll. The goal of this poll for them is to drive voting wedges. Does anyone really think they were not propping up the democrat numbers to make any sort of third party movement look like a disaster for Republicans? Of course they were. Judging from Gallup and Rasmussen polls, those Dem numbers are about 5% too high.
Opportunity Costs on February 18, 2010 at 9:53 AM
Rush said it best…McCain is attacking his contender WAY harder than he ever did during the whole Obama campaign. That is being an opportunist pompous old fella who seeks to take advantage of his POW to gain votes. To top that off, he wants to school us the same way Obama does to us about how things should be run according to his principles. Bullcrap! We are getting that from Obama now, why allow two men do this to the whole US?
I hope Arizona knows that the whole country is watching them, and that Sarah and Scott Brown get off the stage and off the state as soon as campaign’s over *gets off the soapbox*.
ProudPalinFan on February 18, 2010 at 10:23 AM
No we don’t. I didn’t vote for that lady, and if she runs again, I’ll be voting third party or staying home in a heart beat.
Spathi on February 18, 2010 at 10:26 AM
Even if this were true, so what?
Shouldn’t those with the most to lose be allowed to participate in the process as well?
The real solution is not to lock out those you disagree with, it’s to take away from govt the ability to pick winners and losers in the economy.
MarkTheGreat on February 18, 2010 at 10:28 AM
So you’d give the democrats a win rather than vote for Palin?
darwin on February 18, 2010 at 10:28 AM
The Tea Party movement will do better by siding with Republicans every time they bring forth a conservative candidate. But we tea-partiers should never let the Republican party do to us what it has done in the last 10 years. The threat of a Tea Party candidate must remain real and our Tea Parties have to grow in number and influence if we are going to keep the Pubs from taking us for granted.
Christian Conservative on February 18, 2010 at 10:35 AM
She’s right. 3rd party means Democrat wins. I agree with Republicans about 80% and will let them know when I’m upset with them. I agree with Dems about 10%. That’s pretty hopeless to try and change all those hard lefties. 3rd party sounds so righteous but that’s a perfect storm for Democrats. Google Ross Perot and see how that led to Bill,Hillary,Gore,Carville and all the rest of the Democratic machine.
Hummer53 on February 18, 2010 at 10:53 AM
Sarah is only part right, the strength of the Tea Party movement is it’s independence.
tarpon on February 18, 2010 at 11:34 AM
Both the Republican Party and the TEA Party had better figure this out.
If the Republicans just want to be a little less socialist than the Democrats they DESERVE to lose. If the TEA Party won’t accept anything less than 100% of what they want they won’t be around long.
McCain ran as I’m less socialist than the other guy and got beat. If he had won he may have passed half of O’bama’s agenda by now. (Amnesty, Carbon Credits, Expand Government controlled Health Care, close GITMO)
Having a socialist/RINO Republican may be worse for the Nation than a socialist Democrat. So if the TEA Party stays home, votes for a third party candidate or runs their own candidate they may still be doing the Conservative movement a favor.
jpmn on February 18, 2010 at 11:36 AM
YEP
JUST AS THE PROGRESSIVES DID, THEY TOOK OVER THE DEMS AND NOW MAKES INROADS IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY:
TAKE OVER THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, FILL’M WITH YOUR CANDIDATES,
AND TAKE OVER THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, FILL’M ALSO WITH YOUR CANDIDATES
mooseburger on February 18, 2010 at 12:01 PM
IF YOU REALLY WANT TO HAVE INFLUENCE, YOU TAKE OVER BOTH PARTIES.
REPUBLICAN PARTY IS THE EASIEST TARGET, SO LET’S START HERE.
mooseburger on February 18, 2010 at 12:02 PM
mooseburger:
Notice that all those who support 3rd party candidates won’t bother to comment on your and my tactic?
That’s because they’re lazy. They want to find the perfect candidate so they won’t have to pay attention or do any work. They want to sit at home and watch football and American Idol without having to get active. They don’t understand that if you want change, you have to get up off the couch and make the change yourself, on a local level. It’s that kind of laziness and apathy that got us in trouble in the first place.
atheling on February 18, 2010 at 12:06 PM
I will remain Independent. I’m not about to support just any GOP candidate, trusting that they have gotten the message.
I’ll evaluate each candidate based on their platforms and their solutions.
I like Sarah, but no……..no blanket support.
AnninCA on February 18, 2010 at 12:58 PM
I agree. Our game should be to oppose those that do not embrace our philosophy rigorously in the Primaries, and then, back the candidate that is closer to our ideals during the General Elections. The people in power want us to form a third party, which is all the more reason not to. The only good thing that came out of the 2008 elections was the galvanization of our base. Outside of that, I would much rather see a RINO like McCain as president than a far left ideologue like we have now.
DL13 on February 18, 2010 at 1:05 PM
I’m a Libertarian and will vote straight Republican to defeat the Progressives. Even if they happen to be Progressives. There will be a time to vote them out later. The Obama administration needs to be destroyed. Any Republican that has an attitude of “They need to EARN my vote” is being stupid. You’re the reason there’s a Progressive Socialist in the White House now if you stayed home last time instead of holding your nose and voting McCain. Every vote is needed to get the commies out. Each election can be used from there on to purge our government. Don’t be fools and vote third party. As for Saran Palin, if you compare her to Lynn Cheney, there is no comparison. I’m not falling for the cult of personality like the Obamabots did. We need experienced leaders to get us out of this financial mess.
adamsmith on February 18, 2010 at 1:13 PM
I guess I can see that the 3rd party thing will never work, like what happened with Perot.
But I am sick & tired of watching the GOP circle the toilet bowl on everything.
That’s why the primaries are so important.
The GOP just really needs to keep their issue basic, like enforcing state’s rights, enforcing the Constitution, small govt & low taxes.
The gay marriage crap & abortion can be fought at the state levels.
The big stuff is what really matters (though abortion is no small matter) & we have to pick our battles.
The rest will fall in line.
Badger40 on February 18, 2010 at 2:00 PM
That was my main reason for voting for Romney in the primaries last go round.
He could do it.
Badger40 on February 18, 2010 at 2:01 PM
Well said, but you do know there are no conservative Democrats anymore, right? I think the last one was Zell Miller. The odds of finding a true Constitutional Conservative with a (D) after his name are slim to none, and slim left town. With the Republicans those odds are slim to possible, but when you find one stand over the SOB with an axe in your hands and a wild look in your eyes. Othwerwise they will be sure to fall prey to the siren song of pork and big government.
SKYFOX on February 18, 2010 at 2:06 PM
Ask yourself…….what kind I’d message would it send to the turnipsuckers on Crapitol Hill if we THREW ALL OF THEM out if office in November?
PappyD61 on February 18, 2010 at 2:22 PM
What kind OF message…. Sorry bout that….little keys on iPhone.
PappyD61 on February 18, 2010 at 2:23 PM
Every person that I have seen post has quite clearly stated that they will fight for a good candidate in the primaries, but if a socialist light is selected, then they leave.
Why do you feel the need to lie about what those you disagree with have said?
MarkTheGreat on February 18, 2010 at 5:10 PM
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