Hopes for a “Tea Party”-based revolution sputter against the rocks of partisan politics. The non-partisan nature of the movement has dribbled away as Republicans — not Democrats — have courted Tea Party support.
And GOP leaders have remained firmly in control.
James Hohmann, writing in Politico, shows that the old guard “has withstood the tea-party revolution.” A recent insider meeting in Scottsdale showcased the persistence of the old way of doing things:
The … movement’s influence has waned everywhere since its apex in 2010. Most visibly, the Republican Party is poised to nominate the most pragmatic of the men who ran for president this cycle even though many tea-party groups vocally opposed him during the primary. Indeed, Mitt Romney received a coronation of sorts at a unity lunch here Friday, soaking up standing ovations and basking in blessings from 2008 rival Sen. John McCain.
Though it may be that “it’s only a matter of time” before Tea Party folks run the GOP (as “the longtime national committeeman” from my state put it), the price of admission to the higher ranks seems calculated in the abandonment of principle. Hohmann quotes one old party hand as saying that Tea Partyers need to learn “that everybody who is in government is not evil, that we’ve got some really good people in government. Let’s don’t burn the barn down to get rid of the rats.”
And here you have the real problem.
Real change isn’t about putting “better people” in office. It’s changing the principles by which anyone in government — good, bad, or indifferent — must operate.
The founders knew this. Today’s Republican insiders do not.
This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.
10 replies on “Who’s In, Who’s Out”
Maybe it is time for those Tea Party people to help Governor Gary Johnson’s run for president, truly a fiscally responsible guy. By doing so and getting him on the public scene, they may make a real difference in the way government is run. If Johnson starts polling at 15%, he (according to the rules NOW) will be in the national debates. IF he wins the swing vote middle, those who do win will know they have to change their ways to regain those votes. Alas, even with all their power, I fear the Tea Party will not put their might behind someone who is fiscally conservative AND socially liberal.
The Tea Party isn’t dead. It’s in the hearts of many people who did not go to one rally in addition to the ones who did. However, the field of candidates were not very inspiring. If Sarah Palin had decided that her family was worth sacrificing, which is what she would have had to do with the noxiousness of the democrat controlled media, you wouldn’t be writing an article like this. Given the choices we had, there wasn’t anyone strong enough to fight the establishment at this time. My, and likely most Tea Partiers, only concern now is it has to be anybody BUT Obama next term. Romney will have to recruit a great Veep to spark some enthusiasm. Rubio and Allen West come to mind. Those would be great choices to set up terms for them when Romney is done. Yes, even Romney will be an improvement. But, nothing but a true conservative, who is able to articulate our ideals, will spark enough enthusiasm in the electorate to beat out the establishment. I think Obama and his minions have sunk the Democrat party for years to come. Anyone who continues to vote democrat after these last three corruption-laden years have to be either evil or mal-educated.
An old timer who fought the Rino’s in Ma.
I was a coordinator for Barry Goldwater in 64
I get sick when I hear Rick and his supporters say he is the true conservative
A true conservative would have backed Twoomey and not Specter ( the 60th vote for Obamacare)
His record of voting strictly union and his spending record are not what i call conservative
Tea Party activists criticize current congress for some votes and then overlook Rick’s record
I started supporting Newt but changed to Romney
He was the most conservative Republican in Ma. except for one congressman in the 90’s
Rick is ONLY a social conservative not a physical conservative and while I consider myself a social conservative, I think Rick would be a disaster and lead to Obama’s re election
What a great column.
Little difference whether “their” people spend us further into a hole or “our” people do it, but at a slightly slower place. The administration pushes the idea of climate “deniers” to denigrate folks who don’t buy in to the CO2 guilt fantasy, while pandering to the real budget deniers who are disinclined to look at the repercussions of the $138,000 and escalating debt load per taxpayer.
The debt from all the spending is going to do us in soon, while CO2 effects are almost nil. The maximum effect we could have by even shutting down the economy of the whole country will have the effect of maybe 6/1000 of a degree over the the next 50 years. The major result of all the CO2 alarmism is a shrinking lifestyle and liberty for America and a concentration of power into the hands of a self-anointed few.
And that self-governing/freedom thing going into the trash.
“People have a great misconception in this way. They think the way they solve things is by electing the right people. It’s nice to elect the right people, but that isn’t the way you solve things. The way you solve things is by making it politically profitable for the wrong people to do the right things.” — Milton Friedman
Hello! Republican Party. It’s not just about winning. Principles do count in setting the environment for the politicians to do the right thing.
Apparently there will be no Austrian economist invited to the White House for at least another 5 years.
Therefore it is all the more imperative than ever to concentrate on the local, state, congressional and senatorial races.
The only manner available to potentially control this beast is through its source of funds.
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I enjoy my Common Sense email subscription. I am not a libertarian, but I would like to ask if Ron Paul’s campaign is still aggressively active. Or has that changed now that Romney is the only remaining candidate, and needs all of the delegates he can get?