[ALUmnus]

I say screw the Republicans... give me a Constitutional Conservative. If that happens to be a Republican, so be it, but I tend to find those few and far between in the GOP ranks. Constitutional Conservatives have all moved to Independent (i.e. Libertarian/Constitution Party) b/c they are sick of the GOP being Dem-Lite!

When Republicans start being a party of Constitutional Law and Fiscal Conservatism, they will have the support of the Tea Party. That's why the TP motto is essentially "principles not parties."

And that's why you'll never be in power.

The whole tea party thing was an idea, not an entity, so having mottos and convincing candidates they need your support or die is ludicrous. And that fact that people are trying to make it into a "party" wreaks of "the same ol' thing" if you ask me.

[Green Monkey]

And that's why you'll never be in power.

The whole tea party thing was an idea, not an entity, so having mottos and convincing candidates they need your support or die is ludicrous. And that fact that people are trying to make it into a "party" wreaks of "the same ol' thing" if you ask me.

I think you meant "reeks," not "wreaks."

[ALUmnus]

That is true.

[matshark]

I say screw the Republicans... give me a Constitutional Conservative. If that happens to be a Republican, so be it, but I tend to find those few and far between in the GOP ranks. Constitutional Conservatives have all moved to Independent (i.e. Libertarian/Constitution Party) b/c they are sick of the GOP being Dem-Lite!

When Republicans start being a party of Constitutional Law and Fiscal Conservatism, they will have the support of the Tea Party. That's why the TP motto is essentially "principles not parties."

And that's why you'll never be in power.

The whole tea party thing was an idea, not an entity, so having mottos and convincing candidates they need your support or die is ludicrous. And that fact that people are trying to make it into a "party" wreaks of "the same ol' thing" if you ask me.

well, that answer just shows that you completely DONT understand the tea party movement. (have you been watching msnbc or something?) its NOT a party - never will be an organized political party. however, candidates DO need the support of the tea party. why? because its made up of people from both political parties and a whole heck of a lot of independents that are furious at whats been going on. that all important "independent" voter they want... guess where they're at? that's right... tea party events. i have a feeling that VERY few people will be elected in November WITHOUT tea party support. oh, and do you know what it is that all these people are joining the tea party over? Constitutional Limited Government. The tea party is about electing representatives that understand and will stand up for those principles - and that, my friend, is NOT the "same ol' thing"

[ALUmnus]

I'm just basing it off of your answer, calling it the Tea Party, saying they need our support, having mottos. You have conventions, and a bunch of nobodies seeing this as their chance at grabbing some power. I kind of agree with Erick Erickson who said basically the same thing a couple months ago, that the who tea party thing is really starting to lose what it began with, and that's grass roots "folks" finally getting fed up with what's going on, not blackmailing candidates for your (aka the Tea Party's) support.

If you guys want to organize and have someone calling the shots, that's fine, but don't act like it's not the case. I guess you have to be an insider in the "movement" to really understand what's going on.

[01LUGrad]

Does anyone think Sestak is going to be asking Obama for some campaign help against Toomey in the fall? Methinks not.

[Hold My Own]

I check this thread weekly to see if we finally have someone that is capable of beating Obama and get disappointed every time.

[01LUGrad]

I am just as excited about the possibility of 51 Republican Senators.

[matshark]

I'm just basing it off of your answer, calling it the Tea Party, saying they need our support, having mottos. You have conventions, and a bunch of nobodies seeing this as their chance at grabbing some power. I kind of agree with Erick Erickson who said basically the same thing a couple months ago, that the who tea party thing is really starting to lose what it began with, and that's grass roots "folks" finally getting fed up with what's going on, not blackmailing candidates for your (aka the Tea Party's) support.

If you guys want to organize and have someone calling the shots, that's fine, but don't act like it's not the case. I guess you have to be an insider in the "movement" to really understand what's going on.

Two words: Rand Paul

Yes, this is the chance for a bunch of nobodies to get elected. I'm pretty sure we're ALL tired of a bunch of somebodies being in office (unless you happen to LIKE the status quo). Not sure who Erick Erickson is, but I'd be willing to bet that he's not a strict constitutionalist and propably has a lot to lose if the traditional parties get their butts handed to them by a bunch of "nobodies." And as far as "blackmailing" candidates, i wouldn't consider it blackmail, unless you consider "support the Constitution or else" to be blackmail - which is the oath people take when they are sworn in to office anyways. Is it too much to expect that they do the jobs they were elected to do? I don't think so. Spector went down last night (which makes the 2nd sitting senator to be turned out of their seat), Blanche Lincoln has a runoff. Not a good night for the incumbents. Granted, the fact that Rand TROUNCED his establishment opponent should say a lot to you... not that you could read what it means without Erick Erickson interpreting it to you as he thinks it should read.

[Sly Fox]

Of course it didn't hurt having a bunch of money poured into his campaign by daddy. Talk about anti-establishment.

[ALUmnus]

I'm just basing it off of your answer, calling it the Tea Party, saying they need our support, having mottos. You have conventions, and a bunch of nobodies seeing this as their chance at grabbing some power. I kind of agree with Erick Erickson who said basically the same thing a couple months ago, that the who tea party thing is really starting to lose what it began with, and that's grass roots "folks" finally getting fed up with what's going on, not blackmailing candidates for your (aka the Tea Party's) support.

If you guys want to organize and have someone calling the shots, that's fine, but don't act like it's not the case. I guess you have to be an insider in the "movement" to really understand what's going on.

Two words: Rand Paul

Yes, this is the chance for a bunch of nobodies to get elected. I'm pretty sure we're ALL tired of a bunch of somebodies being in office (unless you happen to LIKE the status quo). Not sure who Erick Erickson is, but I'd be willing to bet that he's not a strict constitutionalist and propably has a lot to lose if the traditional parties get their butts handed to them by a bunch of "nobodies." And as far as "blackmailing" candidates, i wouldn't consider it blackmail, unless you consider "support the Constitution or else" to be blackmail - which is the oath people take when they are sworn in to office anyways. Is it too much to expect that they do the jobs they were elected to do? I don't think so. Spector went down last night (which makes the 2nd sitting senator to be turned out of their seat), Blanche Lincoln has a runoff. Not a good night for the incumbents. Granted, the fact that Rand TROUNCED his establishment opponent should say a lot to you... not that you could read what it means without Erick Erickson interpreting it to you as he thinks it should read.

You totally didn't understand anything I said, but that's okay, you like to assume a lot. What did Rand Paul win? Oh, right, it was the Republican primary. Why not have your "tea party candidate" run in the Democratic primaries as well? Or maybe just wait until the general election and run as independents? And the "nobodies" I was referring to was not the candidates running, but the people who have claimed some type of authority in the whole tea party (insert noun here).

[ALUmnus]

ps. this was the piece I was referring to, if you care to read it: http://www.redstate.com/erick/2010/04/1 ... c-and-inc/

[WinterIsComing]

I think the real question should be; Can Rand Paul wield saidin as well as Rand al'Thor and is he ta'veren? These are serious questions, that need answers, lol!

[From the class of 09]

I think the real question should be; Can Rand Paul wield saidin as well as Rand al'Thor and is he ta'veren? These are serious questions, that need answers, lol!

Maybe he will be the dragon reborn (again)....I'm on book six and I must say BEST SERIES EVER.

[WinterIsComing]

I think the real question should be; Can Rand Paul wield saidin as well as Rand al'Thor and is he ta'veren? These are serious questions, that need answers, lol!

Maybe he will be the dragon reborn (again)....I'm on book six and I must say BEST SERIES EVER.

Creepy...I'm on book six too right now. A Song of Fire and Ice is my favorite, but LOTR, Wheel of Time, Harry Potter, Outlander, and Dark Tower series are all close seconds.

[RubberMallet]

I think the real question should be; Can Rand Paul wield saidin as well as Rand al'Thor and is he ta'veren? These are serious questions, that need answers, lol!

Maybe he will be the dragon reborn (again)....I'm on book six and I must say BEST SERIES EVER.

Creepy...I'm on book six too right now. A Song of Fire and Ice is my favorite, but LOTR, Wheel of Time, Harry Potter, Outlander, and Dark Tower series are all close seconds.

WoT is too slow. i stopped after Shadow Rising. SoIaF is 10x better.

[matshark]

I'm just basing it off of your answer, calling it the Tea Party, saying they need our support, having mottos. You have conventions, and a bunch of nobodies seeing this as their chance at grabbing some power. I kind of agree with Erick Erickson who said basically the same thing a couple months ago, that the who tea party thing is really starting to lose what it began with, and that's grass roots "folks" finally getting fed up with what's going on, not blackmailing candidates for your (aka the Tea Party's) support.

If you guys want to organize and have someone calling the shots, that's fine, but don't act like it's not the case. I guess you have to be an insider in the "movement" to really understand what's going on.

Two words: Rand Paul

Yes, this is the chance for a bunch of nobodies to get elected. I'm pretty sure we're ALL tired of a bunch of somebodies being in office (unless you happen to LIKE the status quo). Not sure who Erick Erickson is, but I'd be willing to bet that he's not a strict constitutionalist and propably has a lot to lose if the traditional parties get their butts handed to them by a bunch of "nobodies." And as far as "blackmailing" candidates, i wouldn't consider it blackmail, unless you consider "support the Constitution or else" to be blackmail - which is the oath people take when they are sworn in to office anyways. Is it too much to expect that they do the jobs they were elected to do? I don't think so. Spector went down last night (which makes the 2nd sitting senator to be turned out of their seat), Blanche Lincoln has a runoff. Not a good night for the incumbents. Granted, the fact that Rand TROUNCED his establishment opponent should say a lot to you... not that you could read what it means without Erick Erickson interpreting it to you as he thinks it should read.

You totally didn't understand anything I said, but that's okay, you like to assume a lot. What did Rand Paul win? Oh, right, it was the Republican primary. Why not have your "tea party candidate" run in the Democratic primaries as well? Or maybe just wait until the general election and run as independents? And the "nobodies" I was referring to was not the candidates running, but the people who have claimed some type of authority in the whole tea party (insert noun here).

Dear Alumnus:

Fox News says you don't know what you are talking about.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/05 ... -election/

Story Title: "Tea Party Solidifies Its Status as Political Force After Success in Primaries"

And speaking of establishment, Ron Paul is NOT establishment. Heck the GOP establishment HATES him! (Why else do you think they booed when he won the straw poll at CPAC this year?!?!

"Paul, a Tea Party favorite, knocked out Republican establishment pick Trey Grayson after the movement shook up a string of other big races this year."

Please admit that you have no idea what you are talking about when it comes to the Tea Party and are only parroting what you see the talking heads say on MSNBC, CNN and CNBC. (How bout that Rachel Maddow? Such a NICE boy...)

[matshark]

Does anyone think Sestak is going to be asking Obama for some campaign help against Toomey in the fall? Methinks not.

truth is stranger than fiction im afraid!

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/05 ... job-offer/

"The Sestak campaign, meanwhile, said it would welcome support from the White House for the November campaign."

[01LUGrad]

Good call! O is only 0-4 in big campaigns over the last 6 months. Shoot, with that average, he might be batting clean-up for the White Sox soon. Oh, that's right, he doesn't know anyone one the team. Nevermind.

[ALUmnus]

Please admit that you have no idea what you are talking about when it comes to the Tea Party and are only parroting what you see the talking heads say on MSNBC, CNN and CNBC. (How bout that Rachel Maddow? Such a NICE boy...)

Okay, I don't even watch the news anymore, but I'll let you keep assuming what you want. Your insider status speaks for itself, I guess.

[PastorZack]

Rand Paul may win in KY, but in my home state of PA???? Unfortunately, the Tea Party Movement cannot sustain their influence against the Democratic machine (the miniority vote) to win enough electoral votes in the Presidential elections.

Congressional elections are a different story. Turnout and smaller sampling size helps movement candidates. Try working at polls and look at poll books and understand who comes out to vote. You get a feel for the people who come out every election and those that only come out for the presidential elections.

Turnout for PA...we had closed primaries...D's and R's....elections for Senate/House/Governor/Lt.Governor/State House and we still only had by statewide levels of registered voters only 28% turnout.

My precinct...had 30%R and 22%D turnout....that is REGISTERED voters.

[matshark]

Give the TP movement time. Come the next presidential election, i think it will be fairly prevalent (as long as they have some decent leaders). Currently VA is the only state with a tea party federation where the different groups from each area meet to discuss whats going on in the state and how to help each other. I expect that to change and for more states to go that direction.

and yes, you are correct about how comes out to vote. here in lynchburg, we know who votes every election, and how each registered voter typically votes (data from the SBoE on which primaries they vote in - not always 100% accurate, but probably 90% accurate) We also know which places to campaign in (campaigning in every area of the city is a waste of time and resources - we know which areas our support comes from and we concentrate there) For example, for city council elections, we had about 50% turnout city-wide.

in our local campaigns, knowing who votes in which elections is a HUGE part of planning campaign strategy. (as well as knowing who NOT to try to persuade to vote!)

[01LUGrad]

Don't look now, but Bobby Jindal is taking advantage of the oil spill and is looking pretty good at the moment. Maybe we wrote him off too early after his botched delivery of a speech last year.

[Sly Fox]

It is funny you mention that because he has looked really strong the past few days standing up to Washington & BP.

[jmdickens]

I still say its Ron Paul....like Paul, Reagan lost in 1976 in the primaries, leading up to his victory in 1980. I know that is a stretch and was decades ago.