Our news media tell us someone is out there collecting signatures to put the Tea Party on Michigan’s ballot this November, which, amazingly, has outraged the Tea Party.
Statements disavowing the ballot move have been issued by legions of Michigan Tea Party “leaders” who have taken a break from blaming the BP oil spill on President Obama to blaming (pick one) “liberals”, “liberal Democrats,” “the Democratic Party,” “Mark Brewer,” a “vast left-wing conspiracy” for the petition drive to establish a Michigan Tea Party political party for the November ballot.
But if we are to believe the so-called establishment Tea Party folks when they say they aren’t really, honestly shilling for the Republicans, then what’s the complaint about having an actual Tea Party? That would settle the question of their legitimacy as a real independent force once and for all, wouldn’t it? No one could ever again accuse them of being in bed with the Republican Party.
Unless, of course, the Tea Party is a distinction without a difference from the Republican Party, and the real goal of all this conservative activism is to build lists and a movement to elect Republicans this November.
But if Michigan’s Tea Party establishment isn’t interested in forming their own political party, maybe progressives ought to grab this opportunity for activist entrepreneurship. Assuming the Michigan Tea Party organizers (whoever they are) can collect the 38,000 petition signatures needed to form a political party and withstand the almost certain legal challenges, all progressives would have to do is show up in force at the legally required Tea Party nominating convention this summer.
Convention progressives could elect convention delegates who could then nominate Tea Party candidates for governor, Congress and other offices and those candidates would be on the ballot. Those are the rules under Michigan law for a new political party. No messy primaries involving voters. Just a nice, orderly process that can be done in a day at little cost.
Think of the possibilities. We could nominate a Bill Milliken, Geoffrey Fieger, Joe Schwarz - anyone we wanted - to head the top of the Tea Party ticket for Governor. Or go completely rogue and run a Cherry-Cherry ticket (John and Deb).
So what do you say? Since no one wants to claim ownership anyway of the new Michigan Tea Party, shouldn’t we give Tea Party voters a real choice this November?
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Well, the points presented were valid. Of course there’s this to consider — Mark Steffek of Reese, Michigan (front man of the Tea Party party petition drive in this state) hasn’t yet revealed the political agenda to be pursued by the proposed Tea Party party. Leftists? Rightists? Centrists? Constitutionalists? Though it is not a requirement to do so in order to establish a party, why not disclose the agenda? Even if the drive to establish is nefariously rooted — perhaps a strategy to divert votes away from Republicans come November — at least reveal the ideology! Present a selling point! Are we to assume that because it calls itself Tea Party there’s a requisite philosophy attached? Are there 38,000 naive registered voters in this state? “Duh, I’ll sign the petition, and I don’t care what the political agenda is!” Give me a break! I am actively trying to hash this out, as it presents an intriguing situation…one I personally wouldn’t mind seeing play itself out!
here are the details about the tea party ballots
mark edward steffek 9530 saginaw st reese mi 269-377-4758
outsidelansing.com
thurbersthoughts.blogspot.com
americayouaskedforit.wordpress.com
I want to sign this petition immediately. And then I want to canvass it and get my friends to canvass it.
people should have real tea parties like in england
the real Tea Party is not “shilling” for the Republicans. The real Tea Party is kicking them in the rear end. And the real Tea Party (this other thing is the Kool-Aid Party) is attracting the independent voters, fiscally responsible democrats, and independents, who realized they were duped by slick rhetoric of “change”, while getting a new party of “NO”.
The change was - No - we will do what we want.. no transparency, no compromise with others, no American values (befriend terrorists, cut and run from war, spend our children s future pay check, refer to honest Americas who protest as racists, no experienced judges for the Supreme court, ) No congressional oversight of Fannie / Freddie, no hearings for czars that circumvent congressional oversight and install radicals, no truth in history (the housing mortgage debacle - see Barney Frank, Chris Dodd etc - took down this economy. And massive bail-outs for fat-cats, failing auto, and insurance companies paid the people they railed about (their friends)! All the while establishing policies that slowed investment, and killed jobs - while they spent like drunken sailors - and used the Jedi-mind trick on the public - “It will be fine, unemployment will never go above 8%”!
They are a party of NO, no, no..
Legitimate? Hah!
The real Tea Party is grass-roots / real people interested in Constitutional, truthful government, and voting out the poor congressman of both parties that got us into this mess.
Hey David, are you buddies with any one in this “Kool-Aid” party? Sounds like.. You a Sal Alinsky fan?
The Kool-Aid Party (so called “Tea Party” political party), purchased the petition signatures by deceiving good citizens at malls, and real Tea Party rallys, that the real Tea Party endorsed the move.. So let’s start the Kool-Aid Party with deception and secrecy - that is really “legitimate”. Oh yeah, … no contact with anyone in the real Tea Party.. then, or now, and the candidate list appeared like a bunch of mushrooms pop out of soggy soil.. poof! 23 candidates - ready to split the conservative vote.. Nice.. and dirty.. just like mushrooms and lethal Kool-aid..
So who is more legitimate? grass-roots citizens open and honest.. Let’s see the Kool-aid Party’s list of donors. Who put up the $100,000 to buy signatures? Who?
Then we will have a fair playing field.