Tea party insists it’s alive and kicking

[DonViejo]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The foot soldiers of the tea party movement dismiss the chatter about its demise and stand ready to use their unbending political force against both President Barack Obama and the Republican establishment this election year.

The Tea Party Patriots, one of the major grass-roots groups, marked the fifth anniversary of the movement Thursday, attracting hundreds of members and plenty of speakers to a Washington celebration in which they directed their animosity at the Washington establishment.

Keli Carender, national grass-roots coordinator, said the strength of the group was reflected in the $1.2 million and counting that it raised in 10 days.

To the “establishment and permanent political class,” Carender said, “we don’t need their millions, we’ve got our own.”

more
http://www.salon.com/2014/02/28/tea_party_insists_its_alive_and_kicking/

[RickFromMN]

1. Thanks to Citizen's United, a few paltry millions doesn't cut it any more.

Did they forget Romney was the Republican establishment choice?

Did they forget the importance of money in the Republican presidential primary?

Their only chance is to hope the Republican establishment billionaires sit out the 2014 election.

I don't know which is worse, them or the Republican establishment that practices trickle-up economics.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

2. And props them up

Last edited Fri Feb 28, 2014, 01:03 PM - Edit history (1)

And I hate how the media gives them a veneer of legitimacy that they don't IMHO deserve. All of the things they claim to be against seem contradictory to their support of the GOP and their "policies" and a lot of what they complain about seems like either "sour grapes" because Republicans lost in 2008 (and 2012) and/or things that Bush/Cheney and Republicans did IN SPADES that they didn't complain about at the time- and their outrage is *conveniently* timed to coincide with President Obama's election in 2008 (i.e. debt, deficits, debt ceiling). None of which anybody (but us) ever seem to call them out for.

[Thor_MN]

3. Grass roots, my ass.

Of the Tea Baggers I know, there's not a one of them that isn't extremely tight fisted. They are the most selfish bastards I know. The funding for the Tea party is not coming from its average members.

[1StrongBlackMan]

4. And I'll bet that ...

$1.2 million came from a single, if not less than 5, donor(s).

[B Calm]

5. Good!

They are destroying thè republican party.

[AlinPA]

9. They are the republican party. The base and heart and soul.

[B Calm]

11. I know, just stating a fact!

[Sunlei]

6. wow the big Rs only 'donated' 1.2 million to pay for all those 'tea party' leaders salary.?

That million won't even cover their pretty clothes, much less their salary. Bet their "national grass-roots coordinators" don't work for free

[Cannikin]

7. Like a latent herpes virus lurking deep in the neural ganglia...

They are alive in well in Arkansas and are the most vocal group in state politics. They are very active and very motivated with "grass roots" meetings weekly. They have AFP (of course) as well as attorneys from Florida and a host of other lobbyists and internet advocates fighting the continuation of our Medicaid expansion known as the Private Option.

If you're the internet advocate type and would like to lend your southern lefties a hand, our politicians engage us on Twitter daily and we could use more level heads. Please join us in the discussions at #arleg.

[Redford]

8. They are there

Don't be fooled for one minute. Very few of them congregate but like roaches and rats they are multiplying in the walls and fields and will show up in mass this year

[AlinPA]

10. Too bad, you are right. I live in teabagger heaven in PA and those rats and roaches are everywhere.