Maine Republicans Get Tea Party Plague

[Are_grits_groceries]

Yep, you read it right, Maine. This wacky stuff is going to decimate the Republican Party with no doubt. h/t Taegan.

An overwhelming majority of delegates to the Maine Republican convention tonight voted to scrap the the proposed party platform and replace it with a document created by a group of Tea Party activists.

The official platform for the Republican Party of Maine is now a mix of right-wing fringe policies, libertarian buzzwords and outright conspiracy theories.

The document calls for the elimination of the Department of Education and the Federal Reserve, demands an investigation of “collusion between government and industry in the global warming myth,” suggests the adoption of “Austrian Economics,” declares that “‘Freedom of Religion’ does not mean ‘freedom from religion’” (which I guess makes atheism illegal), insists that “healthcare is not a right,” calls for the abrogation of the “UN Treaty on Rights of the Child” and the “Law Of The Sea Treaty” and declares that we must resist “efforts to create a one world government.”

It also contains favorable mentions of both the Tea Party and Ron Paul. You can read the whole thing here:
http://www.mainepolitics.net/sites/default/files/Maine_GOP_platform.pdf

http://www.thepoliticalcarnival.net/2010/05/maine-republicans-get-tea-party-plague/

Gah! They make locusts look like a minor problem.

[Dappleganger]

1. That's sure to make some moderate heads spin.

I expect a substantial push-back on this one.

[JuniperLea]

2. Let me get this straight...

The Republican sock-puppet party, aka The Tea Party, has written platform policy for the hand up its own ass?

I'm still pissed that they have ruined the name of one of my favorite bands for me...

[struggle4progress]

7. Unable to download pdf from either link: here's a doc version

http://media.kjonline.com/documents/GOP+Platform_Final.doc
via

May 9
Activists redefine GOP platform
One delegate warns that platform provisions may scare off independents needed to win elections.
By ETHAN WILENSKY-LANFORD Kennebec Journal
http://www.pressherald.com/news/activists-redefine-gop-platform_2010-05-09.html

[Maine-ah]

3. it was a small group from Knox County (my county)

that got this stuff added, and seriously pissed off a lot of republicans. There are somethings in there I agree with....

Pass a Congressional reform act which includes the following provisions:
i. Term Limits: 12 years only, in any capacity.
1. Two Six year Senate terms
2. Six Two year House terms
3. One Six year Senate term and three Two Year House terms
ii. No Pension
iii. Congress participates in Social Security under the same rules as the general public.
iv. Congress can no longer vote themselves a pay raise.
v. Congress participates in the same health care plan as the general public. No preferential plans or treatment.
vi. Congress is subject to and must abide by all the laws they impose on the general public

[onethatcares]

6. congress does not vote itself a payraise.

they sit around and don't vote it down, allowing it to pass without a vote.

the rest of this is never gonna get by the entrenced richie riches that now want to be public servants.

[bobburgster]

4. Oh great, and I thought Maine had the only sensible Republicans.

[roguevalley]

9. given they have the pretend progressive twins, collins and snowe,

no. they aren't. :)

[customerserviceguy]

5. Maine's not as progressive as you might have thought

They demonstrated that clearly to me when they rejected legislated equal marriage.

[RM33]

8. Tea Party invasion

So the tea people are taking over the Republican party. Is it possible that they can enter Democratic primaries and start voting for right wing Democrats?

Put another way, can the tea party turn both political parties into Conservative parties?