Republicans: Tea-Party and not Tea Party

[Ed Anger]

I was going to post hitler as my favorite kind of republican.

He was NSDAP.

Tomato, tomato.

[derspiess]

I think the Tea Party movement is going to remain as a caucus within the GOP-- sort of a mirror image of the Democrats' Congressional Progressive Caucus, except with a lot more media coverage for the time being. 

Previously I thought it would either take over the GOP entirely or fizzle out and die, but now I think neither will happen.

It will probably be more influential/successful in the 2014 elections than it was in 2012, but may never match the impact it had in 2010.

[KRonn]

I think the Tea Party movement is going to remain as a caucus within the GOP-- sort of a mirror image of the Democrats' Congressional Progressive Caucus, except with a lot more media coverage for the time being. 

Previously I thought it would either take over the GOP entirely or fizzle out and die, but now I think neither will happen.

It will probably be more influential/successful in the 2014 elections than it was in 2012, but may never match the impact it had in 2010.

Yeah, I think the Tea Party looks like it will remain a part of the Republican party same as the Repubs and Dems already have  various groupings within their parties. I'd predict that the Tea Party will change and conform, shedding at least some of what doesn't work with voters.

[Berkut]

I think if it reformed enough to "work with voters" it won't look much like the Tea Party in any meaningful way.

I think that is the basic problem with the Tea Party - the Norquistians are all insane, and they've taken it over. It is their insanity that makes it interesting to that critical mass, but it is that same embrace of stupid that makes it repellent to everyone else.

[derspiess]

I think if it reformed enough to "work with voters" it won't look much like the Tea Party in any meaningful way.

I think that is the basic problem with the Tea Party - the Norquistians are all insane, and they've taken it over. It is their insanity that makes it interesting to that critical mass, but it is that same embrace of stupid that makes it repellent to everyone else.

I think Norquist's influence peaked in 2010-11.  He doesn't seem as influential now.

[fhdz]

I think if it reformed enough to "work with voters" it won't look much like the Tea Party in any meaningful way.

I think that is the basic problem with the Tea Party - the Norquistians are all insane, and they've taken it over. It is their insanity that makes it interesting to that critical mass, but it is that same embrace of stupid that makes it repellent to everyone else.

I think Norquist's influence peaked in 2010-11.  He doesn't seem as influential now.

No, they've moved on a bit to jizz on Paul Ryan's mathematically broken austerity budget instead.

[Kleves]

Obama should embrace austerity, because then the Republicans will be forced to change their position to something sensible. 

[MadImmortalMan]

He has. Here's this from yesterday's FOMC statement.

Release Date: May 1, 2013
For immediate release

Information received since the Federal Open Market Committee met in March suggests that economic activity has been expanding at a moderate pace. Labor market conditions have shown some improvement in recent months, on balance, but the unemployment rate remains elevated. Household spending and business fixed investment advanced, and the housing sector has strengthened further, but fiscal policy is restraining economic growth. Inflation has been running somewhat below the Committee's longer-run objective, apart from temporary variations that largely reflect fluctuations in energy prices. Longer-term inflation expectations have remained stable.

Those six words cost us about 80 points on the dow yesterday.

[Razgovory]

I think if it reformed enough to "work with voters" it won't look much like the Tea Party in any meaningful way.

I think that is the basic problem with the Tea Party - the Norquistians are all insane, and they've taken it over. It is their insanity that makes it interesting to that critical mass, but it is that same embrace of stupid that makes it repellent to everyone else.

I think Norquist's influence peaked in 2010-11.  He doesn't seem as influential now.

Does that mean they will be raising taxes now?

[derspiess]

I think if it reformed enough to "work with voters" it won't look much like the Tea Party in any meaningful way.

I think that is the basic problem with the Tea Party - the Norquistians are all insane, and they've taken it over. It is their insanity that makes it interesting to that critical mass, but it is that same embrace of stupid that makes it repellent to everyone else.

I think Norquist's influence peaked in 2010-11.  He doesn't seem as influential now.

Does that mean they will be raising taxes now?

Not necessarily.  But many who signed the 2010 no tax increase pledge backed off last year.

[Razgovory]

But they won't be raising taxes.  So I'd say his influence is still pretty strong.

[MadImmortalMan]

Even if they didn't, the taxes still got raised. They didn't have the ability to stop it.

[derspiess]

But they won't be raising taxes.  So I'd say his influence is still pretty strong.

It's not as if he's the only anti-tax Republican out there.

[Razgovory]

But they won't be raising taxes.  So I'd say his influence is still pretty strong.

It's not as if he's the only anti-tax Republican out there.

Ah, so they'll do what he says, but not only because he says it.  There are other demagogues who hold them hostage that should be taken into account.

[derspiess]

But they won't be raising taxes.  So I'd say his influence is still pretty strong.

It's not as if he's the only anti-tax Republican out there.

Ah, so they'll do what he says, but not only because he says it.  There are other demagogues who hold them hostage that should be taken into account.

Or maybe the party just has a tradition of advocating lower taxes.