I support the Tea Party as a third party movement

[WeDidIt]

I'd never vote for a Tea Party member, I'd just love to see the teabaggers Nader the Republicans.

[Xipe Totec]

1. You've got the right idea n/t

[MrModerate]

2. With all the liberal/progressive angst . . .

over how people are beginning to "take tea baggers seriously," I think they're missing the fact that the movement constitutes a massive schism between the right wing and the lunatic right wing in the US.

This leads to a number of possible effects. Firstly, right-of-center politicians are going to be faced with the difficult choice of jumping on the bagger bandwagon or trying to stay with the grownups who have some concept of "governing" as one of the purposes of government. This is going to be hard and will also complicate funding mechanisms for baggers and GOPers of all stripes. Another effect will be to hand progressive/Democratic candidates wins via plurality in races where it would otherwise be very tough for them to prevail.

The downside is that the baggers will become increasingly furious, alienated, and ingrown -- more vulnerable to the siren song of demagogery -- and could mutate into a seriously destabilizing force.

Palin is one of these ethics-free provocateuses not bright enough to know why she wants power, but certain it's hers for the grasping. That's why she's so scary.

[golfguru]

6. Palin does not scare me

In the unlikely event she gets nominated and in the even more unlikely
event she gets elected, she will turn off so many in the congress, she
will be the most ineffective president ever.
Therefore none of her agenda will ever get through.

So stagnancy yes, scary no.

[MrModerate]

7. I agree the likelihood of her making it to the White House outside of a media dinner . . .

approaches zero. Not only is she wildly unfit for the office, she's wildly unfit to run for the office and win.

However, even with Congress, the judiciary, the media, and the people against her, the US President's opportunity for world-historical mischief would be vast and far-reaching.

No need to worry unduly -- but waking up in the middle of the night terrified at the (remote) possibility might be an appropriate response.

[rd_kent]

3. I support the Tea Party as a bowel movement.

[WeDidIt]

4. It was a bowel movement long before it ever became a third party movement.

:evilgrin:

[Chipper Chat]

5. As well as Dick-army movements.

And Tee-Pee-ers.