Today’s poll from Rasmussen is very telling in many ways. The poll, released this morning, suggest that the GOP base IS the liberty movement. And right now, that base has left the party.
In a three-way Generic Ballot test, the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds Democrats attracting 36% of the vote. The Tea Party candidate picks up 23%, and Republicans finish third at 18%. Another 22% are undecided.
Among voters not affiliated with either major party, the Tea Party comes out on top. Thirty-three percent (33%) prefer the Tea Party candidate, and 30% are undecided. Twenty-five percent (25%) would vote for a Democrat, and just 12% prefer the GOP.
Among Republican voters, 39% say they’d vote for the GOP candidate, but 33% favor the Tea Party option.
This is good for our movement because it proves what we’ve been saying all along… the two major parties have been courting the wrong crowd. Especially the Republican Party.
I mean, recent polls make it clear that the dominating ideology in America is conservatism. This poll makes it clear that the dominating part of the Republican base is the liberty movement, not the moderates.
Many within the movement are not Republican and never have been, but I think it’s safe to say that the majority of the movement strongly opposes efforts by Democrats to destroy our country.
This was the major problem with John McCain, in my opinion. McCain is a moderate. And while many claimed it was for different reasons, I believe he lost because he had nothing significant to offer the liberty movement. Obama on the other hand promised his base a free ride in life.
It’s wild that Republicans can’t seem to grasp the simplicity of the situation. We’re not asking for freebies, we’re not asking for handouts… we’re instead just asking for our right to be free. We’re asking for representation that will protect our liberty, not trample it.
So, I think this poll makes a few things clear for us. First, Republicans can’t win without the movement. Second, the movement can’t win without the party. At least not in the short term.
If this polling data is correct, then we fail the second we split the vote that opposes Democrats.
This is only my opinion, of course. And I would certainly love to hear yours.
NOTE: In 2010 we need to remain focused. And our focus needs to be on removing big government thugs from office. Starting with those who support healthcare, cap and trade, bailouts and other dangerous legislation.
K. Couch says it all! I agree completely!!
i think that we need to start leaning on the GOP now. make it clear that we will not support any more R.I.N.O. canadates. we have got to start at the local level. i plan on working for who ever is running against mary jo killroy, she was a screw up when she was on the county commission and she is even worse in washington!
When Bush and McCain turned towards “amnesty” for illegal aliens, failed to secure the borders, failed to be held accountable for overspending, lost their values, I got disgusted. McCain was a disappointment in his lack of attacking Obama and the Democrats during the last campaign for Obama’s lack of experience of any significance, and McCain didn’t demand proof of Obama’s American birth, educational records. The falsification of millions of dollars being donated illegally by numerous organizations like ACORN, unions, etc., for fear of being branded racists, that did it for me.
Ater reading the choices, first, I chose to take over the GOP and then I read over the comments. Lots of views, very convinceable, however, I then voted with what I chose…I believe that we really need to work with the parties that we have. Replace those in power, and hold the replacements to exactly what is right for the people. Can only be done with hard work and much prayer.
I am going on line to sign up to GOOOH.com. Thanks
If we narrow ourselves down to a particular party, we leave ourselves vulnerable to manipulation. IF the GOP is willing and there are appropriate/capable candidates then by all means we would be right to support them. But if the GOP candidate is a wobbler or spineless, or conveniently (suddenly) decides at election time they support our ideals, they aren’t for us! It’s time to look further. I think we need to stick with the principles of this country, and then back whatever candidate fits those principles! The odds of that being a democrat are slim to none, but GOP or whatever other party we may determine to back, we should back whole-heartedly if they are true patriots! That’s the whole way we will get our country back.
I agree 3rd parties don’t work. I voted for Perot and was sorry. How about starting our platform: 1) stop all spending for one year 2) term Limits 3) fair tax 4) line item veto 4) deport all illegals 5) etc. etc
Many elections have been given away by splitting the voters. Politicians use this ploy every year in one place or another. If there is a GOP choice and a conservative choice against the liberals, the liberals will win.
The conservatives had better find conservative republicans to go to the polls in November.
We have a voice and the GOP will LISTEN. We will not be 100% effective. The GOP needs a win AND so do we. They got us in this pickle and I’m sure they don’t like it either. The only hope is to combine forces with the GOP and disenchanted Democrats,s well as other conservatives. We need to solidly defeat Communist arm of the Democratic Party. They MUST be given no quarter. Only a strong united front will do that. We can not afford to divide our forces,we will not survive.
We have a voice and the GOP will LISTEN. We will not be 100% effective. The GOP needs a win AND so do we. They got us in this pickle
and I’m sure they don’t like it either. The only hope is to combine forces with the GOP and disenchanted Democrats,s well as other conservatives. We need to solidly defeat Communist arm of the Democratic Party. They MUST be given no quarter. Only a strong united front will do that. We can not afford to divide our forces,we will not survive.
Phil, I too would help as long as previously stated, “no one has their hand out”! I look forward to this if possible but for now like all hard working americans, I must off for work in the AM.
caio all.
We need to be careful here, the GOP is presently leaderless, directionless and, except for Joe Wilson, voiceless.
We also need to watch out for “chameleons” who will change their look to appeal to their perceived support base.
There a few honerable Dems who should be supported when either it’s impossible to elect a Republican in that district or when the entrenched GOP canidate stinks.
How should we vote in 2010? Kinda simple-vote the bums out-regardless of party.
Size up the best person and vote.
I, for one will not be sucked into another “contract with america” as we saw in ‘94. Republicans want to make hay with the tea party movement. Democrats will try to triangulate—we, are obligated to do our due dilligence as serious and concerned citizens, don’t let these small, mean people win.
I am truly sorry if the rules of this forum do not allow repeats and I will not do it again if so chided, but I have read deeper in this thread and I hate to say it but we are in this mess because we thought we could change our party at the top. We have to have learned that all of them are or have been corrupted in some way. I do believe that Sarah Palin is still pristine and maybe should be our frontrunner if she would accept. Then we should all through email campaigns and forums join together and take our silent majority and move it into numbers that we can all understand and begin our grassroots building. Comeon folks if we make a New YEARS and a NEW AMERICA Resolution to change this country and begin to live everyday for REFOUNDING, WE cannot lose! We only lose if we say “Hey lets get those politicians to see our side” Notice I have not included parties as I know we are all different but let let our AMERICAN SENSIBILITIES take charge here and when we have our country back, we can fight again like brother and sister as it should be.
Their is no basis on which to place any confidence in the mainstream parties, particularly the Republicans. The Democrats are liberal and consistently nominate liberals. The Republicans have had more years in control in the past decade than the Democrats. Why would the Tea Party emasculate itself by aligning with a proven failure of a party? This is insanity. To do the same thing over and over and expect different results is dysfunctional. Stop operating out of fear and act on principle! The Tea Party isn’t splitting the Republicans, it’s the Republicans that are splitting the Conservatives!
Me again with a special hearty AMEN! to K. Crouch
The first thing we need to do is GET THEM ALL OUT OF OFFICE, I don’t care which party the new ones belong to. We need to let the current politicians know we are REALLY tired of what they are doing. We need to make some new laws limiting terms to ONE term. The tea party needs to vote conserative. If that means a third party then so be it. This 2010 election is the most important election if we want to make a statement. Let’s see if all these people really mean what they are saying.
I say it is time to move forward and do it soon but to organize without asking for money. There are plenty of free ways to get messaging out and I am sure that we have tradesmen and women in all walks of life with something to contribute. We began to go the way of liberals as soon as we put our hand out. Lets all keep our hands in our pocket and use our GOD given talents to move this nation back to the top where it so rightly belongs. Start the TEA PARTY today!!!
I will be very concerned if we should elect to go the Third Party Route, UNLESS it is necessary in some states to get our candidate(s) on the ballot, and even then with the clear delineation that the “party” is truly NON partisan.
I have been convinced for some time that the party apparatus (whichever party we’re talking about) can not be relied upon to maintain loyalty to grass-roots principles on a long-term basis.
In other words, we need not only to “THROW THE BUMS OUT!”, but also to break the control of the parties over the electoral process. This can only be done if we organize at the PRECINCT level to find principles and concerns that actually UNITE us, and coalesce around those principles, creating a practical American Majority. We need to call our fellow-Americans to ACTIVATE OUR CITIZENSHIP at a new and serious level. This will admittedly be enormously labor-intensive.
I’ve thought about this a lot, and would be willing to share additional ideas if anyone is interested. I would be most interested in soliciting ideas for putting this process to work.
Phil
The Marxies commandeered the old Democrat brand and look how far it took them.
Are we so dim or incompetent as a movement that we can’t do the same with the Republican SHELL?
The Marxies, ‘Country Club’ RINOs and enabling Pinkos all hated Ronald Reagan because that was HIS notion … that we Conservative Majority’ should take over the and completely re-populate the Republican Party.
Damn it! It’s been more than thirty years already! LETS ROLL! NOW!
It is time for a change! The GOP as proven time and again that they cannot or will not make the changes needed to protect the U.S. Constitution. Let’s get it done GOOOH team!
Both parties haven proven their lack of worth in recent history. I would like nothing more than an independent party such as the Tea Party, whose values include supporting the Constitution AS WRITTEN and truly believe (instead of spewing with no real intention or thought to the true meaning) that all Americans are entitled to nothing more than an equal chance at Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. HOWEVER, if those who would run this “Tea Party” can’t get a significant increase in support from those on either side of the fence, running as such will do nothing more than secure Obama’s next term. So, that being said, if the Tea Party is to make a real ‘go’ at this, it must do more to gain the attention of all of the American public while doing the following;
- Provide a solid, moral, ethical Candidate
- Provide executive Level (ie simple) quick points that truly define the principles of a Tea Party member (and how the modern Dem and Rep doesn’t demonstrate these qualities)
- Provide clear, concise solutions to the problems we face.
If the above is not accomplished with utter perfection, Obama and our Czars will remain in office until 2016.
If a third party is viable, then we might consider moving forward in that direction. Because taking over a party or establishing a new one isn’t as important as taking back our country, re-establishing our personal freedoms and maintaining a balanced and real economy.
We need to start progress in a new direction for the people of this country by stopping the people in Washington that are placing unconstitutional and immoral limitations on U.S. Citizens, businesses, and educational entities.
If that means joining with individuals in either or both the Democratic or Republican parties, then we should all come together as a group to reclaim our Constitutional Rights and our country.
I have to agree with Mark Lawson. We should NOT vote for anyone who labels himself a “Tea Party” Democrat or Republican. Tea party candidates should run as independents this time. Strike while the iron is hot and we have the momentum. It won’t take too many more percentage points to pull it off and I would rather lose one more election and suffer through 2 to 4 more years of politics as usual, than sell out.
Personally, I do not care how many parties there are. What matters is principles and agreement. That is what Goooh offers. If offers us a chance to vote for a person under contract to us to vote according to agreed upon ideas. This is not some flash in the pan idea. If you take the time to consider what any of the parties have done for us and our ideas I think you will come up with, not much. They have not controlled spending. Every one was involved with the Freddy- Fannie explosion and the over reactive bailouts. No one has secured our borders. No one has given us term limits. They all take Lobby dollars and vote according to those dictates, not ours.I am putting my effort in Goooh. That is ACTION not rhetoric, emails and flag waving. Do You Want a good candidate from your District?? Then select one with Goooh.
I am a 67 year old male who was a registered Republican from 1964 until 2001. It became very clear that neither the Republican nor Democrat parties are interested in protecting the U.S. Constitution or the American people. Their primary objective is to retain power and get re-elected - American citizens be damned.
The Republicans had control of the House, Senate and the Presidency for eight years and acted like irresponsible drunken “frat boys” spending daddy’s money. The northern and southern U.S. borders are wide open with little or no effort to close them, even though there is ample evidence that terrorists are moving into the U.S. from both the north and the south.
Of the potential 2008 “Republican Presidential Candidates,” I was left with my seventh choice as the representative of the Republican party and had it not been for Sarah Palin, I would have voted for the Constitutional Party candidate. I voted for Sarah Palin, NOT John McCain. I admire his service to our country while in the U.S. Military, but he has been a dismal failure as a U.S. Senator. I am tired of all the “backroom” deals that are being made and then covered up. I want integrity and responsibility in my public servants. The Republican and Democrat parties are devoid of these values.
The National Republican Party is about power and not service. I want to send every member of the House and Senate home to pursue other careers. Our founding fathers never intended service to our country as being a career. It is service. We do not have royalty in this country — especially in the Congress and Presidency. It’s time for these folks to become “commoners” again.
If you had a physician who botched an operation, would you want him to perform a second or third surgery before you said “that’s enough!”
Over one half of the U.S. House is in their seventh or subsequent term. Why in the world would we want to continue to return the same people to Congress - regardless of which political part they belonged. It’s time to send them all home and support strong third party candidates.
While I like the idea of a 3rd Party I am afraid that we would split the moderate conservatives and the Demogods would remain in the majority. We need and must regain control over the Republican Party and re-create it in the Conservative mode.
I would urge us to do this in the true sense of re-engineering. Do not merely tinker with it and make minor corrections here and there. We need to decide what it should be and how it needs to work to represent us and put that in place and throw the current Republican Party on the scrap heap.
I definitely agree with you, Eric. It is NOT time for a third party - we will fail if we do this. We must join the republican party in 2010 and 2012 and then down the road see how things are going and then make a decision about a third party. How Obama and his minions would love for us to start a third party. Let’s don’t give them the satisfaction and let them win the coming elections!! We need to get the thugs out in 2010 and 2012!!
The process needs to change. Both parties take money (in differing proportions) special interest groups. Where are you really on your congressman’s list of priorities? I would submit that you are #4: behind his career, his party, his special interest money. The GOOOH process is non-partisan and can help us take back the House. We can find some good conservative candidates for the senators etc. Most are already in place for 2010. If we re-take the House and fill it with WE THE PEOPLE, then we can start fixing things. Check out http://www.goooh.com
We have a civil war in Congress and voting for either a Democrat or Republican is throwing you vote away. Additionally the party leaders, special interest will coerce, bribe and threaten new members to vote their way and not the for the people. Go to http://www.goooh.com and join this group who wants to replace everyone in the US House of Representatives. GOOOH OR GO has leaders and members in every state. They are made up of various people of the Tea Party and other groups that are speaking out.
This is off the subject; but it may be important..I cannot debunk it nor can I prove it; however, if the Trooper is right, there are serious things coming toward us…look on You Tube, I think you will see something like Trooper, his name and an excerpt stating freedom is about to be taken from us…something similar…then see if you can find another article that says Obama calls for One Million troops to be nationalized to ward off “we” when we discover what he truly has done to our country..pillaged our money, served while not qualified and more…………look hard, you will be able to find both and if not, please write me at siouxcro@yahoo.com and I will find it…please leave your email address…..both of these are serious charges…another I have heard is that the Anointed One will scatter our military, then he will make it so they cannot get home to protect us and we will see the first shots fired at us from the Homeland Security freaks.
Due to circumstances and timing, we need to impale ourselves upon the GOP and help them establish and walk the course that needs walked to overcome the DEMS; at some point in time there will be a third party and likely, if she will consider doing it, led by Sarah Palin in 2016.
We need to encourage her to at least think about it and also ask her, her thoughtss in how the Tea Party movement will and can best help the GOP increase its movement and its strength. We need her strength, her power in our corner; we need to pick her brain and her thoughts as much as she will allow us to and she needs to know what our mission is and that we are not violent but we will consider civil disobedience to save our nation.
As for the lovel lady concerned about the Latino vote; do what many of us do, get on Newsvine, Facebook, etc. and when you see the opportunity BLOG away and state your reasons, your passion for your reasoning and what you see happening to this once strong country.
I suggest all Tea Partiers and other patriotic citizen movements need to sign up on the GOOOH Plan at http://www.goooh.com.
It is the only plausible plan to replace all 435 members of Congress next November 2nd.
GOOOH is not a third party, but rather a system, through which “we the people” can vet our own candidates to serve in the House of Representatives. A system which has eliminated the corruption, the influence of special interets, and the career politicians from the process.
Each GOOOH candidate presents their individual platform as part of the process, and the system holds them accountable to vote acording to their stated positions on all issues.
Those Republicans who have the capacity to change their paradigm and vote for the GOOOH vetted candidates will be on the winning team when the people take the power back.
John L put it right. It’s impossible for 3rd party to access all states ballots. It’s rigged that only Democrat or Republican win an election thanks to these 2 rats legislating protectionism for themselves. This leaves taking over the Republican Party to get anywhere.
We need total replacemet of congress members and the senate. Keep voting these peeps out of office every election cycle until reforms are written and corruption leaves Washington with them.
I agree with Cristina R. 2010 is only months away, not enough time to fully organize and it might give the dems a bigger advantage. I wish there was a way for Hispanics, so few of us, to reach out more to the HIspanic Community. The Dems have monoplized with assistance from La Raza and ACORN. Also, ACORN is still alive and well and I am sure will be out there doing what they do best. Fraudelent votes is something to worry about.
We need a viable 3rd party push. We need to get rid of professional politians. Serving your country in Congress is not a career. I think Goooh has a good game plan to have a 3rd viable party. Check it out! goooh.com
Both parties have put America where it is now … broke and without a moral compass. It is past time for both parties to go ! Third party, ordinary citizen candidate is the only way to vote.
Our Founding Fathers we were told to call “heretics” or “radicals” (British naming) instead of a term meaning “closer to conservative ideals”: lesser government not more. Let people make more decisions about their own rights; make them take more responsibility for their own decisions, or face the alternatives; don’t save themselves but allow them to fail from their own decisions…or…succeed from their own decisions. Force more adult thinking…by forcing the people to “live” their own decisions, thus correcting their misjudgments step by step. Governor Bradford’s letter back to the British base said it all: the socialistic ideal allowed weak sisters to live off each other instead of acting for themselves. Converting the original plan to an independent, “work your own” success…changed early settler attitude and forced responsibility for survival on each other. So Be It, and save this Country we love!
E. R. “Bob” Eastin
St. Louis
The greatest obstacle to third party candidates is access to the ballot. In many jurisdictions it is all but impossible to gain such access. It is also easier to take control of a political apparatus than it is to construct one. If a candidate runs in either party he/she can always identify him/herself as a Tea Party Republican or Democrat, letting it be known that they will always vote in support of Tea Party principles. This is particularly important in the primaries. By identifying themselves in this fashion, voters and party-members will understand that you are not a party to the sins of the past.
Also, there needs to be a clear set of such principles, and those can only be defined by consulting, discussing and conferencing by representatives of the many Tea Party groups. That is the first order of business. It is probably wiser to express the core principles such as smaller, Constitutional government; national sovereignty; national security; and personal independence and responsibility. Those are examples only.
What ever we intend, we had better get busy, for we have not much time remaining!
I want to have the courage you speak of Mark and be a real American as you say, but my life and history has taught me that third parties lose and socialists take advantage of that and grasp power and never relinquish it again. I just don’t think we have enough time from here to 2010 elections to accomplish a viable third party that could win, maybe for 2012. Time is against us I think, I am no expert though and could not predict if we could win as a third party or not. All I really know is I am deathly afraid of losing and will support 100% whoever runs for office in my area that supports our causes regardless of political party.
We have the momentum NOW. Polls are simply statistics that can be manipulated to create any desired outcome. If we throw our lot in with either party, we are as guilty of selling out the country as they are. The so called two party system–that the founders warned us against establishing, by the way–is a systemic cancer upon the republic. We must go to war against BOTH parties . And in war there are battles won and battles lost. But the entire war is NEVER won through capitulation. It’s time to be AMERICANS.
To Larry Kennedy and anyone who chooses to listen.
I don’t give a damn about the ‘party’ thing, either. However, you sound so down and negative…we must stay positive or certainly all is lost.
I’ve been awake for a long time as have others contributing here today. We are at the point where the colonists were: we are going to have to fight like they did, literally.
Many of us won’t go down without a fight; I know I won’t. I’m 66 years young and I am learning to shoot. There are millions of gun owners out there (like myself) who are making sure that we can protect our families from the thugs if needs be.
I am NOT advocating violence!
I AM advocating civil disobedience. Abe Fortas, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States wrote a little booklet back in the 60’s. Check it out and research more current articles.
Stay strong and be prepared.
doctort
The problem is with the “parties.” It is with the control and corruption of the Democrat and Republican party leadership. If you remember, the Republican party was going hand-in-hand with the Democratic party until the sleeping giant woke up.
The Democratic party for the most part is liberal. The Republican party is like driftwood. The Republican party moves with the tide. I don’t think the RNC will return to conservative principles. When the sleeping giant that was awakened returns to sleep in which it will, the Republican party will slip back in bed with the Democratic party.
If we don’t take a stand now, those with Constitutional principles will lose the opportunity to do so.
I definitely understand Jeff and Murray, but we have to ask ourselves, do we have enough time to lose races with a third party while these socialists destroy our country to the point of nonrecognition? If the answer is no, then we should short-term align with any candidate that supports our cause to win in 2010 and then use the time we have gained to establish ourselves as a third party if that is what makes sense later on. We can at least count on the Republicans that do get in office in 2010 to vote against the socialist agenda!!! Any political party/organization needs both short-term and long-term goals. Right now I believe the short-term goal of putting a stop to these socialists is of primary concern and the swiftest solution doesn’t include establishing a third party. Our long-term objective of a viable third party or the reclaiming of the Republican party may be conceivable later on.
This poll is FATALLY flawed by the very answers to choose from. You split the vote of the those who don’t support the two parties by giving, for example, two different “third party” questions.
You influence the results by using the term “third party” and all of the Perot implications.
You sent the poll to a group that is by every indication lifetime Republican Party voters.
What happened to the TEA party being non-partisan? I’m not a Republican, and was part of the movement because I want real change. I don’t want to elect more politicians in the same old, fundamentally flawed system.
Is the real question you are trying to ask “HOW can this group ensure we the people retake control of our government?” If you want a fair poll, ask if we should:
- vote out all incumbents?
- keep the incumbents, but ask them to support certain items - that is what the Tea Parties seem to be asking, which is pointless.
- keep the incumbents, but DEMAND they support certain items
Then once you have an answer, you can ask how you should do that. This poll asks a question that is guaranteed to give the answer you personally want based on all of your prior blog entries.
Remember, the Republicans were in COMPLETE control from 2000 to 2006. What did they do to control the deficit? What did they do to seal our borders or fix the corrupt tax code. What did the Republicans do to put an end to the lunacy of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in 2005? What did they even do to ensure that a prayer could be said before a high school football game?
choosing a candidate with the core tea party values is good. The GOP, I think has learned a lesson, and might be ready to go back to the core principles. I think this round(2012) we try one more time. The best chance to stop the obamanations is with a combined tea party and GOP group. If the Gop screws up(after winning), then 2016 is our time for a Tea-Party!
Third parties bring out much emotion in political discussions. Let’s remember that the Republican Party has its roots in political turmoil. The Republican Party was a mix of Know-Nothings, Free Democrats, Whigs, etc that came together over the issue of slavery and others. They went from infancy in 1854 to being elected to the presidency in 1861! Only seven years. And Lincoln got only 40% of the vote.
If we are going to do this thing (third party) Then I don’t want to be part of any half-way BS. Ross Perot got 19% of the vote for president in 1992. That is a lot for a one campaign run. But after that……nothing. I am not going to waste my votes anymore on a candidate that represents a party that rides the fence (Republicans) or doesn’t have the determination to mount a multi-election- cycle campaign for change.
Look how close Hoffman got in NY23. If he runs again with an earlier start in the race and a little better campaign management, he will win. (Not to mention the disgusting actions of the “Republican” candidate Scazzafava.)
The one thing the Dems and Repubs fear more than each other is a viable third party. Remember how both parties worked, and succeeded, in keeping Perot out of the debates in ‘92 ? It only takes 34% of the votes, in a three way race, to win an election. (assuming that the other two parties split the remaining votes down the middle)So, 19% doesn’t look so bad if you only need 33%,conceivably, to win.
My point is this. If we go third party. We need to go all in and not half-heartedly. And stick with it for numerous election cycles. Not just one and then out if we lose: giving in to the falsehood that “we ruined the Republican’s chance of winning” by splitting the vote. As far as I’m concerned, the moderate Repubs are the ones ruining the party. That’s why we are here today. I don’t consider it a wasted vote if our candidate loses, as long as we stick with it for the long haul. Soon we can win.
Gregg, how right you are!
If a Socialist would have run as Socialist, he would have collected probably 3%. Obama called himself a Democrat and got 52%.
Bull Moose party failed, as did the Wallace’ party (whatever its name) and Ross Perot gave us Clinton. Third parties never succeed.
Tea Party participans should capture the leadership of the Republican party. This is the way to victory. Republican party has the structure, the money collection cvapablilities, and some savvy operators. The leadership is timid and letagic, not to say unprinicipled and rotten. However, when conservatives capture leadership, where will they go? To Democrats? I doubt it. They will have no choice but to follow.
The tea party cndidates whold call remselves Tea Republicans.