The Republicans are essentially two parties under one flag. Oddly, this calls to mind that in the Chinese script, the symbol for trouble is a caricature of two women under one roof.
There is an obvious power struggle taking place. In one corner, we have the G.O.P. This takes in the neo-cons, the Reagan Democrats, and the old-guard moderates. For this faction, the only real growth they see is some ebb and flow from the right-leaning democrats, that bounce back and forth depending on the issues of the day, and the charisma of the Democratic candidates.
In the other corner, we have the "Tea-Party" Republicans. Rand, Paul, Ted Cruz, Mike Lee, Justin Amash, and the like. This is the powerhouse of the Republican party. These people are drawing in support from the independent conservatives, Libertarians, the Constitution Party, and noticeable numbers of previously apathetic non-voters.
They're causing excitement. These people emerged from the shut-down debacle completely unscathed. In fact, the Tea-Party candidates are considered by many to be the clear winners in the shut-down. Cable news is buzzing about it constantly. Since the shut-down, I'm not aware of any news program on any of the news channels that have gone a full hour without mentioning Ted Cruz, or Rand Paul. Recently, Ted Cruz returned to Texas to speak at an event, and was given an eight-minute standing ovation.
Right now, their popularity has the moderates and the liberals confounded and fearful. Proof of this is everywhere. Alan Grayson (D) Fla. just openly attacked the Tea-Party by comparing them to the KKK. (Absent from his diatribe were anything resembling facts, but I digress.) While his accusations are completely false, (The KKK has always been the province of white southern democrats) it's easy to understand his motivation. The Tea-Party message of "Empowerment over Entitlement" and life free from government interference strikes powerful chords across all party lines.
Grayson's attack was clearly directed at the liberal base. An attempt to "rally the troops" as it were. Why is the liberal electorate so afraid of the Tea-Party? Simply put, Liberal politics are cracking at the foundations. Americans are beginning to see that Socialist policies just simply do not work in practice. The message of gun-control has fallen flat. The "Entitlement culture" is coming under fire from the outside, from people tired of paying for the largesse bestowed upon healthy, able-bodied, but unambitious recipients.
There is also significant fire coming from within the entitlement culture, from people that feel "trapped by the system". They want out, but the system actually works against those that try to better themselves. These people want to hear more about Empowerment over Entitlement. The only defense the liberal machine has is to distract and deflect their anger in order to keep them under control.
Call it what you like, but the Tea-Party is becoming the political Juggernaut.
When the Tea-Party walks, the ground shakes inside the beltway. When the Tea-Party speaks, the status-quo trembles in their boots.
The Tea-Party clearly represents the best hope for the future of America.
There is an obvious power struggle taking place. In one corner, we have the G.O.P. This takes in the neo-cons, the Reagan Democrats, and the old-guard moderates. For this faction, the only real growth they see is some ebb and flow from the right-leaning democrats, that bounce back and forth depending on the issues of the day, and the charisma of the Democratic candidates.
In the other corner, we have the "Tea-Party" Republicans. Rand, Paul, Ted Cruz, Mike Lee, Justin Amash, and the like. This is the powerhouse of the Republican party. These people are drawing in support from the independent conservatives, Libertarians, the Constitution Party, and noticeable numbers of previously apathetic non-voters.
They're causing excitement. These people emerged from the shut-down debacle completely unscathed. In fact, the Tea-Party candidates are considered by many to be the clear winners in the shut-down. Cable news is buzzing about it constantly. Since the shut-down, I'm not aware of any news program on any of the news channels that have gone a full hour without mentioning Ted Cruz, or Rand Paul. Recently, Ted Cruz returned to Texas to speak at an event, and was given an eight-minute standing ovation.
Right now, their popularity has the moderates and the liberals confounded and fearful. Proof of this is everywhere. Alan Grayson (D) Fla. just openly attacked the Tea-Party by comparing them to the KKK. (Absent from his diatribe were anything resembling facts, but I digress.) While his accusations are completely false, (The KKK has always been the province of white southern democrats) it's easy to understand his motivation. The Tea-Party message of "Empowerment over Entitlement" and life free from government interference strikes powerful chords across all party lines.
Grayson's attack was clearly directed at the liberal base. An attempt to "rally the troops" as it were. Why is the liberal electorate so afraid of the Tea-Party? Simply put, Liberal politics are cracking at the foundations. Americans are beginning to see that Socialist policies just simply do not work in practice. The message of gun-control has fallen flat. The "Entitlement culture" is coming under fire from the outside, from people tired of paying for the largesse bestowed upon healthy, able-bodied, but unambitious recipients.
There is also significant fire coming from within the entitlement culture, from people that feel "trapped by the system". They want out, but the system actually works against those that try to better themselves. These people want to hear more about Empowerment over Entitlement. The only defense the liberal machine has is to distract and deflect their anger in order to keep them under control.
Call it what you like, but the Tea-Party is becoming the political Juggernaut.
When the Tea-Party walks, the ground shakes inside the beltway. When the Tea-Party speaks, the status-quo trembles in their boots.
The Tea-Party clearly represents the best hope for the future of America.