THE PRAIRIE EDITOR: The Tea Party Mood
Although there was some controversy about the Tea Party meeting in Nashville
because its organizers made it a for-profit event, and it was expensive to attend,
there should be no serious illusions that the grassroots movement it represents,
at least in part, is a movement spent of its energy, ambition and ability to shake up
the political establishment.
Since it is not a political party, nor even an organization with membership
cards, dues and strict definitions of its beliefs and goals, there is no real way
at this time to measure the true Tea Party impact on current politics. In the
Illinois GOP gubernatorial primary just concluded, for example, there were two
serious candidates who appealed to Tea Party voters. Predictably, they split that
constituency, but if there had only been one candidate, their combined totals
suggest that a Tea Party candidate would now be the Republican nominee for
governor.
Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, herself a figure already prematurely
dismissed by many as a spent force in American politics, was the keynote
speaker at the Tennessee meeting, and her remarks indicate she continues
to be one of the most tuned-in politicians in the U.S. to the undercurrents of
the public mood.
President Obama, ironically, is the best political personality going for the Tea
Party. His continued refusal to adapt his agenda to the hard facts of the special
election in Massachusetts, the gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New
Jersey last year, and now the overwhelming contemporary trend of poll numbers
coast-to coast constantly refuels the voter discontent which is the engine of
the Tea Party movement.
I have already predicted that Mr. Obama will change his tune soon enough, but
instead of changing it on his terms, his delay will make his actions seem
desperate and insincere. This is the price he is paying for being a political
amateur, in fact (as I have also written in this space previously) the first amateur
president of the United States.
To be fair, the organization of the Tea Party is a bottom-up populist phenomenon,
and thus an “amateur” movement itself, but it does not bear any responsibilty to
govern (as do presidents, governors, senators and house members). The Republican
Party is the natural heir to the results of the Tea Party movement, but except in
Massachusetts, we have little hard evidence yet that the GOP knows how to fully
harness this grass roots energy to its political advantage, especially with so many
party elders and conservative pundits putting the movement down.
Let’s cut to the rhetorical chase. The Tea Party has arisen because of the ideas,
behavior and agenda of the Obama administration and its far left base in the
Democratic Party. Tea Party folks are utterly opposed to government-run
healthcare and the other radical “social-democratic” laws and programs now
proposed and promised ahead.
Mark these words, the longer Mr. Obama, Mrs. Pelosi and Mr. Reid insist on their
agenda, the more rapidly not only will the conservative Tea Party grow, but so will
a separate movement among unaffiliated centrist independent voters, many of
whom voted Democratic in 2006 and 2008. Rhetorical disguise and costumes will
not alter this reality. (Mardi Gras will be over soon.)
The only ones who can rescue the Democratic Party now are its centrist leaders
in the Congress and in the state capitals. So far, they have shown little gumption
or imagination, and have been rolled over again and again by their more radical
colleagues. Apparently, they have a delayed sense of survival because in the
election this November coming, it will not be the most liberal politicians (most of
them in safe urban districts and states) who will be the first to go. It will instead
be these silent centrists, just trying to get along with their noisy and presumptuous
more liberal colleagues.
This is what happens to invertebrate politicians, and to regimes which do not seek
the consent of the governed.
Interesting isn’t it, that it is usually those with whom we disagree that have no backbone? Our allies are always men and women of character, foresight and courage. The Prairie Editor’s charge is particularly hard to take in this case when the so-called spineless are following their own convictions instead of the latest poll numbers. Time will tell if the Dems are being politically foolish. But the lack of courage “dog” don’t hunt.
[PRAIRIE EDITOR'S NOTE: I think reader Ken has misinterpreted who I mean
by "invertebrate politicians." In fact, while I diasgree with the radical Obama
agenda and those who espouse it I do not think they lack "spine." I disagree
with them, but I would acknowledge their sincerity and attempt to promulgate
their ideas. Those who I am suggesting are "invertebrate" are those Democrats
who I DO agree with, but who lack the gumption and energy to speak out for
and vote for the centrist principles and values THEY believe in. I might add,
in fairness, that some of these folks are beginning to make themselves heard,
including Senators Bayh, Lincoln, et al.]
Thank you, PE.
The T-Party is actually a gift to the Obama Administration. The more the T-Party folks rant-without-a-plan, point fingers and sprint in noisy disorder to the conservative fringe, the more reasonable, trustworthy and statesman-like the President will appear. The real losers in all of this are the moderate Republicans leaders (yes, there are still a few) who will have these people to contend with in their next primary election.
Finally, as much as people would like us to believe that the anger is directed at Obama’s “socialism” the truth is that it isn’t about ideology at all for most “angry” Americans. What it’s really about is people playing by the rules, but losing their jobs, their home values and their 401(k)’s while the big bankers roll the dice, get bailed out and get their bonuses.
PE - You have previously written that Obama will eventually pivot but that he has not done so yet. Certainly he is “intellectually capable” of doing that; I’m just not sure he is capable of do so on ideological grounds. And if I am right, this hubris, arrogance and yes, narcissism of Obama, will turn the brush fire of the Tea Party movement into a conflagration that will consume the Democratic majorities in Congress this fall and, without a course correction shortly thereafter, the President in 2012.
You said it best in this piece, PE:
“His continued refusal to adapt his agenda to the hard facts of [the special elections], and now the overwhelming contemporary trend of poll numbers coast-to coast constantly refuels the voter discontent which is the engine of the Tea Party movement.”