So.....are you now a Tea Party fan? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

MS Fowler · #1 02-14-2011, 01:08 PM

Or, maybe, a little less critical?

Last week the Tea Party opposed the renewal of three provisions of the so-called Patriot Act. In this effort, they opposed Republican party leadership. Please note that many House democrats actually voted for the extension.
Another vote is scheduled for Tuesday.

MTI · #2 02-14-2011, 01:19 PM

I think an initial problem is defining who, or perhaps what, one considers the "Tea Party" including any singular ideology. Rather, one might applaud the actions of certain elected officials that "cross the aisle" on principle's sake. What should be made of Rep. Bachmann's vote to extend? Is she Tea Party or not? One wonders since she delivered the Tea Party's response to the State of the Union address. 43 other members of the 52 member Tea Party Caucus joined Bachmann and voted to extend. So, should anyone's opinion be shaped by 15%?

tbomachines · #3 02-14-2011, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MS Fowler

Or, maybe, a little less critical?

Last week the Tea Party opposed the renewal of three provisions of the so-called Patriot Act. In this effort, they opposed Republican party leadership. Please note that many House democrats actually voted for the extension.
Another vote is scheduled for Tuesday.

I can't imagine that two votes would significantly impact peoples' views on the tea party

pj67coll · #4 02-14-2011, 01:32 PM

Never had much time for them myself. This doesn't affect that either way.

- Peter.

The Swede · #5 02-14-2011, 01:33 PM

Nope.

PaulC · #6 02-14-2011, 01:43 PM

Too many flakes...

MTI · #7 02-14-2011, 02:04 PM

I guess the corollary . . if 15% (six members of 41) of the Congressional Black Caucus voted to repeal affirmative action legislation . . . would that change perceptions?

JollyRoger · #8 02-14-2011, 02:33 PM

Meet the new boss....

http://motherjones.com/politics/2011/02/tea-party-patriots-investigated

MS Fowler · #9 02-14-2011, 04:32 PM

I did not have the entire vote breakdown. I had the breakdown for my state (MD), and here only one voted to end the provisions of the Patriot Act. I was just happy that soneone form the MD delegation voted against the extension.

No, one vote, or even a couple of votes do not a trend define. It is interesting that the TP is divided on this, not what I expected, or rather hoped for.

MTI · #10 02-14-2011, 04:35 PM

If you expect politicians of any party or caucus to act differently, even newly minted ones, then you should prepare to be disappointed on a regular basis.

Or shall we continue to engage in "my politician's ideology is better than yours?"

Pooka · #11 02-14-2011, 04:47 PM

That the Tea Party thought they would be able to make a difference shows just how little they know about how to get things done in DC.

This Act has been around so long that it has its' supporters and they came out stronger than the Tea Party ever could on this.

The Tea Party has not yet reached the point where they know how to win. They just know how to complain.

Pooka · #12 02-14-2011, 04:52 PM

The original question of this post makes me wonder why all the Republicans don't love Obama.

If you look at what he has done over the past two years and you still don't see that he is trying to put the country back on track after the Bush years then perhaps you are not paying attention.

But the answer is: No matter how much or how little good he does there is still the fear of what is he really hoping to do?

It is the same with the Tea Party. They were quite clear during the elections what their intentions are and how much they hate Obama. Now a small number of them vote against the Republicans and everyone is supposed to fall in love with them?