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| Source:Thom Hartmann- talking to Shane Brooks, about the Coffee Party. |
"Thom talks to Shane Brooks, a reformed Tea Party member, Whiskey With My Coffee on his transition from Tea Party to Coffee Party to Democracy 2.0."
From Thom Hartmann
When the Tea Party started off it had a very clear message: the Federal Government spends too much, its too big, we have to get the debt and deficit under control. They were also anti-corporate bailouts and had very strong libertarian leanings and didn't care about social issues.
When the Tea Party started off it had a very clear message: the Federal Government spends too much, its too big, we have to get the debt and deficit under control. They were also anti-corporate bailouts and had very strong libertarian leanings and didn't care about social issues.
The Tea Party movement before the Christian-Right hijacked it, was a conservative-libertarian movement. But then the Michele Bachmann's, Sarah Palin's, Herman Cain's of the world merged with them. Which continued to push a certain fiscal policy message, but still likes corporate welfare and brought back social issues and brought back the politics if you disagree with me then you're not a real American. And went back to being anti-muslim, anti-immigrant, anti-gay go down the line (if you have way too much time on your hands) including anti-pornography, and anti-adultery.
Now the so-called Tea Party is trying to make anything that they don't like illegal just because they don't like it and trying to tell people how to live their own lives. The original version of the Tea Party with the libertarian leanings I respected as a Liberal, even though my approach on these issues is much different. The original version of the Tea Party had a chance to become a major political movement in American politics and perhaps even be able to merge with the Libertarian movement.
But this new theocratic Tea Party will go no farther than the Christian-Right and be seen as another fringe movement in American politics, because Americans especially independent voters don't tend to like big government authoritarianism.
Back in late 2009 early 2010 and they didn't get started early enough to be a major factor in the 2010 mid- term elections. Just look at the Ed Schultz rally, I believe in October 2010. Another movement began to come from the Democratic Party calling themselves the Coffee Party. That was what I would describe as the democratic socialist (or social democratic) version of the Conservative-Libertarian Tea Party. That saw their role as to defend the American welfare state especially during deficit reduction. And if anything expand the welfare state and use government to promote so-called progressive policy's to create jobs in America. When you have 9.2% unemployment, no better time than to try to create jobs.
Back in late 2009 early 2010 and they didn't get started early enough to be a major factor in the 2010 mid- term elections. Just look at the Ed Schultz rally, I believe in October 2010. Another movement began to come from the Democratic Party calling themselves the Coffee Party. That was what I would describe as the democratic socialist (or social democratic) version of the Conservative-Libertarian Tea Party. That saw their role as to defend the American welfare state especially during deficit reduction. And if anything expand the welfare state and use government to promote so-called progressive policy's to create jobs in America. When you have 9.2% unemployment, no better time than to try to create jobs.
I don't see the Coffee Party becoming much of a factor in the Democratic Party to create positive change in as far as winning elections and taking back the House of Representatives.
The Coffee Party is not big enough and there are not enough of them in Congress. The so-called House Progressive Caucus (Democratic Socialists and DSA members, in actuality) are 40 members (give or take) and maybe 5-10 in the Senate. If they were to decide to take on Democratic members of Congress in an election year when the economy will probably still be weak or worst take on the President with their own candidate, Democrats will lose everywhere, they'll have a hard enough time getting reelected on their own.
If the Republican Party nominates Mitt Romney for President and the economy is still weak, President Obama will have a hard enough time getting reelected. Because the election will be about his record.
What the Coffee Party can contribute to the Democratic Party in a positive way, is recruiting House and Senate candidates where the incumbents are Republican. Which I believe will get the Democratic base out to vote for Democrats whoever the candidate is, as well as the get out to vote operations for the fall. To get as many Democrats to vote as possible.
What the Coffee Party can contribute to the Democratic Party in a positive way, is recruiting House and Senate candidates where the incumbents are Republican. Which I believe will get the Democratic base out to vote for Democrats whoever the candidate is, as well as the get out to vote operations for the fall. To get as many Democrats to vote as possible.
Otherwise you'll see another divided Democratic Party, just like 1988, 84, 80, 72 and 68 that loses in a landslide to Republicans in Congress and the White House: "United we stand, divided we fall."
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