A. You do not have to agree with his politics to learn from his methods of organizing.
B. Asked and answered.:roll:
The Nurturing of the Tea Party Movement
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A. You do not have to agree with his politics to learn from his methods of organizing.
B. Asked and answered.:roll:
Death Threats Force FreedomWorks to Move
The mild mannered, respectful, left wingers strike against those mean old conservatives and their vast right wing conspiracy.
Idlewind, I have not said there was anything wrong with it. Nor did I say it changed the validity of the message or the depth of belief..and I certainly did not say anyone could not organize and promote their agenda...I asked if the groups who claim independence are aware of the backing and underwriting of Freedom Works? That is all I wanted to know. Sorry if you feel that is borderline insulting...but it would not be the first time that a large organization had used an agenda to influence a group w/out the groups' awareness...and without being transparent about it. There is a lot of info about this in the research.
Perhaps you are reading more into my questions than is there...
I think we have exhausted the issue. Thanks for your replies/thoughts.
I know this thread is about FreedomWorks and whether or not TP members were aware of their involvement. But I just had some thoughts come to mind about my impressions of the tea party that I want to share.
We hear from good people who are involved with the tea party that the group's cornerstones are small government, lower taxes, responsible spending. And I say time and time again that I can get behind this. But the TP doesn't let me because they have mucked it all up-
The TP in theory is a group of nonpartisan like minded citizens who are fed up with government and the direction the country has gone. They are rising up to throw the bums out. Man oh man- that would work if that's what it was about in practice.
Instead the TP comes off as an anti-Obama spin off of the Republican party. I think where the TP is going wrong is allowing opportunistic Republicans and news media outlets (FOX NEWS) to go from being the tail to wagging the dog.
My analysis leads me to believe that the TP will make little difference in November this year. To clarify- I believe democrats will take a hit in the midterms and maybe even a big one. But I believe this would have happened anyway because A) this is the trend of midterm elections and B) there is national frustration with the poor economy/unemployment and dissatisfaction with President Obama. But all the tea party is doing IMHO is insuring that the folks who would have voted opposite of democrat regardless actually make it to the polls. I do not see the TP providing independents or dems with much to think about.
There is a thread that Glenda started about Charlie Crist. I believe he is onto something with his message and his tone and the new positioning of himself he is using. If the TP remained independent of (and above) the Republican party and of Fox News and used a message/tone more like Crist and stuck to their supposed cornerstones of small government, lower taxes, responsible spending---
WOW- I believe the ground would shake.
As is- I think we just see the Republican party trying something new. And that is a shame for folks like Andy A. and others whom I believe are the real deal.
We hear from good people who are involved with the tea party that the group's cornerstones are small government, lower taxes, responsible spending. And I say time and time again that I can get behind this. But the TP doesn't let me because they have mucked it all up-
The TP in theory is a group of nonpartisan like minded citizens who are fed up with government and the direction the country has gone. They are rising up to throw the bums out. Man oh man- that would work if that's what it was about in practice.
Instead the TP comes off as an anti-Obama spin off of the Republican party. I think where the TP is going wrong is allowing opportunistic Republicans and news media outlets (FOX NEWS) to go from being the tail to wagging the dog.
My analysis leads me to believe that the TP will make little difference in November this year. To clarify- I believe democrats will take a hit in the midterms and maybe even a big one. But I believe this would have happened anyway because A) this is the trend of midterm elections and B) there is national frustration with the poor economy/unemployment and dissatisfaction with President Obama. But all the tea party is doing IMHO is insuring that the folks who would have voted opposite of democrat regardless actually make it to the polls. I do not see the TP providing independents or dems with much to think about.
There is a thread that Glenda started about Charlie Crist. I believe he is onto something with his message and his tone and the new positioning of himself he is using. If the TP remained independent of (and above) the Republican party and of Fox News and used a message/tone more like Crist and stuck to their supposed cornerstones of small government, lower taxes, responsible spending---
WOW- I believe the ground would shake.
As is- I think we just see the Republican party trying something new. And that is a shame for folks like Andy A. and others whom I believe are the real deal.
Glenda, I do not believe the issue has been exhausted at all. You asked the question who is the leader of the Tea Party Movement? If you will go to the 8 minute segment of the Newsmax.com interview with Dick Armey, your question will be answered. You may not like or agree with the answer but it will be answered. In fact, you might find the whole 10 minute interview with Mr Armey and the head of Freedom Works interesting. I know I did, and a big thank you to Idlewind for posting the link so we could all further our education. And thank you, Glenda, for broadening my horizons by making me research Freedom Works to find out more about it. Maybe our local Tea Party group will petition them for some financial support since as far as I know, only what we donate at our meetings is what we get.
AndyA, I guess I was refering to the "talking past each other " that Idlewind and I seemed to be doing, not the overall issue.
I do not recall asking who the leader of the Tea Party was/is...I was asking if the members of all the local groups realized that the funding and campaign "direction" was being underwritten by Freedom Works which is underwritten, in part, by the Koch brothers ?http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5729456/koch_brothers_becoming_politicians.html
I have seen the videos and actually done quite a bit of research and reading on this subject for a project I am working on...I think I have a pretty good idea of what the movement is about in general. I am just interested in the question of transparency and integrity...from the local point of view, that's all.
Obviously, I don't agree with much of what I read/see/hear from the Tea Party given my politics, but I was not trashing or bashing the group; I was just asking for some information.
I do not recall asking who the leader of the Tea Party was/is...I was asking if the members of all the local groups realized that the funding and campaign "direction" was being underwritten by Freedom Works which is underwritten, in part, by the Koch brothers ?http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5729456/koch_brothers_becoming_politicians.html
I have seen the videos and actually done quite a bit of research and reading on this subject for a project I am working on...I think I have a pretty good idea of what the movement is about in general. I am just interested in the question of transparency and integrity...from the local point of view, that's all.
Obviously, I don't agree with much of what I read/see/hear from the Tea Party given my politics, but I was not trashing or bashing the group; I was just asking for some information.
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Sorry, Glenda, I thought I had read that you asked who the leader of the Tea Party is. There have been many that have and I thought I read it in one of your posts. The point is, there is no one leader at this time. That is the beauty of the movement in its present form. That is not to say this will not change in the future, though I do not see the movement evolving into a 3rd party. As far as Geo's assertion that it is part of the Republican party, I think he is wrong. I will readily admit that it is closer to the Republican party due to its ideals and goals but will maintain it encourages all with the ideals and goals it expresses to join them. It is probably the most "unevil" political force in the nation today.
Don't TP candidates run as Republicans? Are there any running as Independents or Democrats (or other)?