Should Democrats Be Happy About Tea Party Wins?

[babylonsister]

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/09/should-democrats-be-happy-about-tea-party-wins/63322/

Should Democrats Be Happy About Tea Party Wins?
Chris Good

Sep 21 2010, 12:04 PM ET


Democrats have celebrated the wins of upstart Tea Party candidates across the country, and not without good reason.

snip//

But taking a broader view, the jilted anger that motivates the Tea Party has been a gigantic boon to the Republican Party over the past year and a half.

Political strategists and media commentators were wholly consumed with one political question after the 2008 election: how can the Republican Party return to competitiveness? Republicans themselves acknowledged that their party was in dire straits and had possibly become irrelevant.

snip//

At its worst, the Tea Party movement will prevent the Republican Party from winning a handful of Senate seats this fall--and, depending on how close the margins are, it could conceivably produce a few House losses that will get blamed for Republicans missing out on a majority.

But at its best, the movement has answered all those panicky questions for the Republican Party and given it some much needed direction. These days, it's hard to tell who is a Tea Party candidate and who isn't--because most Republicans talk about spending and debt and taxes as if they were Tea Partiers anyway.

If Democrats are thankful for the Tea Party, so too should their Republican enemies. Even if the movement proves out of step with what most Americans think, at least the Republican Party has a step to march to.

[AlinPA]

1. No we shouldn't be happy. The republican party is energized around those wacko candidates

and if they win, it will even harder to deal with them in congress. It is not good that people who are that far right will "represent" so many constituents. We are going to end up with more than 7 (seats in very red states).

I totally agree with "it's hard to tell who is a Tea Party candidate and who isn't--because most Republicans talk about spending and debt and taxes as if they were Tea Partiers anyway."

[spanone]

2. they scare the bejeezus out of me.

[Winterblues]

3. In at least two and probably three instances the Republican would have easily won

In Alaska Murkowski would have easily won but now a Democratic win is more than possible. The same pretty much holds true in Nevada and Delaware.. With the whacked out Tea Baggers running the Democrats have a golden opportunity that otherwise would not be there so yes we should be happy the Tea Baggers won their Primary..

[el_bryanto]

6. We are assuming they won't win in the general

I kind of believe they won't too, but even with that the Goldwater defeat paved the way for Ronald Reagan.

Bryant

[pnwmom]

7. We shouldn't be happy that a bunch of whacked out racists are gaining legitimacy

in the eyes of the media and the public with each win, no matter how insignificant.

[pnwmom]

4. Absolutely not. Every win is an indicator of a serious and growing threat. n/t

[Cognitive_Resonance]

5. They just need to be soundly defeated and thereby discredited. It's up to Democrats to GOTV. nt

[pnwmom]

8. Easier said than done. Feingold, for example, is in a fight for his political life.

Against a teabagger multi-millionaire. There will be others.

[Cognitive_Resonance]

9. Let's send him some love. Link:

http://www.russfeingold.org/contribute

[pnwmom]

10. Good idea. I already have, but the more he gets, the better. nt

[Hansel]

11. No. They should feel embarassed that they let the crazies get the upper hand. nt

[lapislzi]

12. Depends on where you live

In states/districts that typically vote Democratic, watching the Republican party eat its own has become something of a spectator sport. Carl Paladino handed the keys to the governor's mansion to Andrew Cuomo last week. Rick Lazio wasn't much better, but he would have been more appealing to the average independent-to-conservative voter. Cuomo will win regardless, but Lazio would have taken a larger share of the independent vote. Paladino is just too farking crazy to be taken seriously by anyone but the most rabid of the douche bagging crowd. Ditto O'Donnell in Delaware (from my lips to the goddess's ears...)

If you live in a heavily Republican area, you have reason to worry. That energy is scary contagious and any Democrat without a strong message is going to be steamrolled.