Comments on: National Tea Party Convention Pics: Just Some People Sitting Around In Their Pajamas

By: Kendall

Kendall — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 09:01:45 +0000

People here seem to think the conference was about leading the tea party somewhere. It was not, it was a large meeting to share ideas. From this, tea parties across the U.S. will take what philosophy and tactics they can and bring them back to the local areas and do what works for them. You cannot “take over” a movement composed entirely of individual groups from many locations around the U.S.

It’s easy to understand how you are confused; after all, traditional “conventions” held by Republicans and Democrats are about promoting the message the upper leadership wishes to convey and reigning in dissent to present a unified front. But remember this Tea Party convention endorsed no single candidate, it was about sharing ideas, not crowning a leader.

At the heart it was simply a way for a lot of local tea party leaders to connect with each other in person and learn from each other.

Remember that many Tea Party people do not even care about a third party – what they want to try and do is ensure that candidates from either party that are elected are as fiscally conservative and small-government as possible, for the area voting in a candidate. It would serve tea party members just as well to push particular candidates in both Republican and Democratic primaries, so when it comes time for a voter to choose they are at least choosing between two people equally interested in promoting the Tea Party core agenda. I see Tea Party activists as inherently pragmatic in a way that politicians of late have not been.

By: zombyboy

zombyboy — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 08:33:08 +0000

This is undoubtedly one of the weirdest comment threads I’ve read in a long time. At least, if you don’t count any of the Kos-type threads I’ve read.

By: The Big Feed

The Big Feed — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 06:50:19 +0000

“I think that having a small and perhaps not representative group steal the agenda of the movement is a legitimate concern. I hope for a big tent approach grounded on some core principles; an approach much like Reagan’s.

I would hate to see the movement hijacked by some individual for personal gain or by some group to push a non-central objective. Some are trying that already.”

Well said. And well warranted. Someone had to set that convention’s agenda. And it was attributed to the tea party movement. So how else is anyone going to take it other than being representative to those attend these parties? So the question are, who set the agenda? Why? And who gave them that authority? Who gave them that trust?

Answer all those and I’ll think you’ll see that the movement has already been co-op’ed. Intentional or not, the people who paid to be there, and who set the agenda, and who spoke, took over the movement. If only for a week.

I hate to say it…but that’s AUDACITY.

By: JB

JB — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 06:06:28 +0000

“When rich people (those who can afford $549) take over a movement is when the rest of us walk away.”

Yeah, because the American revolution was harmed so greatly when those rich folks like Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson got onboard.
Walk away indeed, concern troll.

By: maryann

maryann — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 06:06:26 +0000

They have made conservatism Sexy, Cool, Hip and now it’s the conservatives speaking truth to power. if I would have known these hot Conservatives would be there I’d have paid the bucks to go. The founding fathers in modern times. They are making history.

By: Dave

Dave — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 05:45:08 +0000

The future of the TEA party movement is local – that’s 90% of politics. Those big names can’t hijack an “organization” as decentralized as this. They are there to be used – to contribute ideas, generate some publicity and exposure, even lend some credibility. And it’s a networking opportunity for those who go. And if the day comes that it becomes centralized enough to be taken over, it will have already died the death of the existing political parties.

By: Ambrose

Ambrose — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 05:11:23 +0000

I think that having a small and perhaps not representative group steal the agenda of the movement is a legitimate concern. I hope for a big tent approach grounded on some core principles; an approach much like Reagan’s.

I would hate to see the movement hijacked by some individual for personal gain or by some group to push a non-central objective. Some are trying that already.

By: Richard Cook

Richard Cook — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 04:43:52 +0000

No they have never had to do that mndasher so they can opine on it. These guys are full of crap.

By: mndasher

mndasher — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 04:23:46 +0000

I don’t get the big complaint about the cost for the convention. Have you ever tried to rent a large convention center? They cost big money.

By: Mendicant Optimist

Mendicant Optimist — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 04:16:29 +0000

Attack of the Concern Trolls?