The Tea Party candidates who ran this year had a mixed track record of success. Politico says that GOP leaders have a new shared mission now that the midterm elections are over: Stop Sarah Palin from getting the presidential nomination in 2012. Obviously, the intraparty war for control of the GOP is far from over. What next for the Tea Party? Will it still be around and fighting – fighting mainstream Pubs as well as Dems – in 2012?
I’m hoping it will soak up and disenfranchise the most uncooperative elements of the GOP.
…and I want a pony.
The Tea Party is a massive source of revenue for Fox and talk radio. This is a new political model. Not a source of revenue directly–they don’t need to maintain enthusiasm (fear) and engagement to the level of receiving donations or other direct forms of contribution. They only need to maintain an audience that will hear advertisements. The marketing executives know very well that all they need do is keep that audience’s attention, keep them stirred up, and non-political corporate spending will flow.
I’d like to see a Palin and Pelosi debating tour.
I’d even let Cher and Behar “moderate” it.
When did “debating tour” become the new euphemism for “mud wrestling”?
I’m sure that Palin would be happy to stick to the issues… not sure about the other three.
As to the the question of they role they will play in 2012, I think the answer will be based on what the Republican Party learned from this election.
Hopefully that they can’t just talk a good game…they have two years to get their act together.
Also that establishment, get-along RINO’s are going to continue to have a tough time in primaries. I don’t have any problem with that even if it costs a few seats.
Wait until the Republican primaries for president. Sooner or later the tea party will endorse a candidate and run over the rest of the Republicans.
- Palin would get the nomination.
- Obama then could not possibly lose even if he tries.
- Palin will finally get to give that concession speech she wanted to.
Everybody on the Republican short list for president is on Fox’s payroll., unless you take Romney seriously. But Palin, Huckleberry, Gingrich and all the others are on all the time. They will be running every day. With free TV time and Rupert paychecks, they will have a big boost. The ground the Dems stand on has turned to mud.
Well…Obama is going to be on Mythbusters (which, btw, I think is WAY cool!!), so I’d say that makes up for those others being on Fox. After all, I’d guess that anyone who watches Fox is unlikely (in the extreme) to vote for any Democratic candidate, especially Obama, right?? Whereas, Obama on Mythbusters is going to reach a much wider audience. Plus, if I didn’t mention this, it’s going to be way cool. 
-XT
Mythbusters does rerun shows a lot, but I doubt they can reach Fox’s level of TV saturation.
The Tea Party Caucus – which at present only exists in the House – will, I expect, be enlarged and add a Senatorial branch when the newly elected members take their seats.
But it won’t be long before they learn they are still far outnumbered by old-guard Republicans who will resist the Tea Party’s agenda. I doubt a single plank of the Contract from America will be enacted, or even presented to Obama for his veto, or even reported out of a committee in the next two years.
When that happens, will the TP decide to go the third-party route?