Whereas I have been critical of Thaddeus McCotter (and Republicans in general) in the past, I do believe now that he has found religion. The Tea Party movement has developed into a serious political force in our nation. Its reach extends across state lines; it is not dependent on campaign cash, and even seems immune to the unrelenting ridicule and attacks orchestrated by the White House and its lackeys in the state-run media.

Tea Party dogma does not revolve around single issues like comparable movements on the Left that seems to be able to generate sizable rent-a-mobs in support of gender, race, immigration, environmental and foreign policy issues. Tea Parties appear to have a comprehensive view re all of those, including some of their own. Examples: spending, taxes, schools and unwarranted government intrusion into American’s private lives. Though Tea Party supporters are not primarily focused on foreign affairs, they tend to support of Israel and other traditional American allies.

Tea partiers pose a threat not only to the ruling elites, but also to what is seen as its adjuncts: corporate, academe, media, unions and the like. Money, traditionally generated by such deep pocket interests seemingly has no effect on the unprecedented growth of the movement. Politically, it is expedient for politicians with aspirations to higher office to align themselves with the movement or, at the very least, to make certain not to end up in its crosshairs.

No doubt, the movement developed in response to the blind ideological stance the Obama administration has adopted. It acknowledges that career politicians of both major parties have been complicit in causing the general downturn in America’s fortunes. Even more important, Tea partiers are determined that they will no longer be the victims of a political process that has managed to upend the slave/master paradigm.

The Tea Party, thus far, is has been a grassroots movement without a face. All attempts at painting it as racist, stupid, seditious, have failed. In fact, every attempt to portray Tea partiers as dangerous, Timothy McVey or supremacist militia types has only served to make them stronger. Where the ruling class and most of the pundits make their mistake is by casting the Tea Party as a political entity - a third party alternative to Republicans and Democrats. The Tea Party is not political. It is a popular uprising. Its aim is not to win elections. (Sorry, Lou Dobbs.) Its aim is to be king maker; to elect people to political office - regardless of political affiliation - who they feel most closely approximate a return to reasonable and effective governance.

The next test for the movement will be crucial to its ultimate impact. No doubt, a leader will emerge. Perhaps he or she already has. As long as this leader is not tempted to overtly pursue political office, the party remains relatively safe. Ideas, thus far, have been immune to the proverbial sticks and stones. It is the human face of a party that is most exposed to smear. As long as no leader emerges, the idea of America returning to its former self will continue to grow. And the Tea Party will have served its purpose.

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Lou - I agree. There are two ways to look at this. Your way (if I read you correctly) will split the opposition and maintain Democrats in power. My way will make the Republicans into a credible, unstoppable force. There are risks inherent in both.

An aside: I just heard the mayor of Chicago say, "Welcome to America. This is America; Americans killing each other..." He was referring, of course, to all the gang violence recently on Chicago's streets that claimed several lives. I would respond by saying that in my town, nobody is killing each other; neither are people killing each other in the next town, and the next... We are America too. Don’t lay the blame on us.

All this amounts to is the usual intemperate political propaganda and blame shifting by second amendment opponents. It is as disingenuous as it is obvious. We must resign ourselves to the notion that as Chicago goes, America will follow as long as these Chicago clowns hold national offices.

http://peterkoelliker.blogspot.com/

Just listened to Tunku Varadarajan's comments on the Tea Party from last night's show. Amazing that someone who speaks with a foreign accent and has a virtually unpronounceable name has such a very sharp assessment of U.S. politics. Of course, he went along with practically everything JOhn said; but as John noted at the beginning, the observations are so obvious as to beg the question of why the MSM hasn't figured it out yet.

I give Thaddeus a lot of credit for just going out and listening to the people. Just to see what they have to say. I realize he's a party man and he's doing his job at the same time, but AT LEAST HE'S DOING IT WELL.

Excuse me, guys, but wasn't it John Batchelor who recently looked down from his lofty perch at the Daily Beast and ridiculed the unsophistication of a bunch of retirees who were embarrassing the GOP with their "loving-hands-at-home project" signs at picnics and rallies. You know, the guy who, if not actually stating it, implied that we hayseeds had no business playing with the big boys.

Well, butter my butt and call me a biscuit! Now, he and the GOP suits have decided that we are "sharp, sophisticated, focused, organized, spontaneous and dogged." Son-of-a-gun, we've certainly come a long way, haven't we...and without even a single scout master from inside the Beltway!

John and all the old gray elephants want to climb on our haywagon because it appears to be the only ride that's going anywhere. "Makes the pols tremble." Apparently it does!

Cathy - I need to go study the difference between your comment above and mine earlier this month, when I accused JB of inconsistency. You got a concession out of him; I got what could best be characterized as a rebuke for expecting consistency where none had been promised. It's not what you say, it's how you say it, I suppose. Perhaps I need a new batch of colloquialisms. Spank me in the butt and call me Charlie is so .... 2003.

Yeah, I wonder if the Vietnam demonstrators had carried signs and softly chanted slogans like, "Pardon us, Mr. President, we really don't mean to me a nuisance, but we were wondering if you might reconsider your decision to continue sending young men to Vietnam? Thanks and no need to get back to us on this right away, we know you're very busy what with Mr. Kissinger and all that."