One topic that hasn't been discussed much coming out of the election is the Tea Party. There were 8 states where the Tea Party supported candidate went down to defeat, with the notorius loss of Lugar's seat by the Tea Party's Mourdock leading the way. In fact, if not for Tea Party candidates costing them seats, the Republicans very well could be in control of the Senate. As Congress stares down the fiscal cliff, Tea Party representatives will be the biggest obstacle to reaching a compromise. Is the Tea Party still viable or does the Republican Party need to distance itself from the Tea Party even more?

I think a big indicator will be how Boehner handles everyone in the next few months. He needs to grow some "guts" and stand up to them, if not, watch out! I can still picture him at the podium just over a year ago, his look of frustration, as well as a tea party member behind a podium going off, some was towards Boehner.

 

I think there could possibly be a lot of infighting, a big struggle to gain control. Or, I see the tea party breaking away and forming a third party, enabling the GOP to reinvent itself.

Tough for opposing party to do well down-ticket when their party lost the Presidential election.

Tough for opposing party to do well down-ticket when their party lost the Presidential election.

 

True. But this was a close election and Romney won several of the states by big margins where the Tea Party candidate lost - Indiana, Missouri, Montana, Utah, North Dakota.

An old thread that got little action a couple years ago. In light of the poor results for Tea Party candidates in last night's primary elections across the country, I thought I would ask the question again - is the Tea party dead?

It's not dead, but the influence has certainly decreased.

It's not dead, but the influence has certainly decreased.

 

If I am the Tea Party, I start looking for races where there is no other viable Republican opponent and focus my energy there. That is their best bet to actually win a general election and gain influence in Congress. Incumbent Tea Party members should be safe going forward but new Tea Party candidates in state/national elections are going to continue to have trouble winning IMO.

Would be interesting to see membership numbers and other statistics on the TP. As Randy noted, their influence sure isn't what it has been.

Maybe in name, but their influence was all over things last night.

 

In 2008, a Republican in the waning months of the Bush administration could support the TARP bailout, GM bailout, stimulus spending, and a host of other things. The Tea Party has made the GOP much more accountable to budgetary restraint and other conservative principles than a decade ago. They may have lost the races, but they've absolutely pushed the establishment group of the party in the direction they wanted it to go.

I believe there are many who agree with part of the Tea Party platform of less government...when it comes to economic issues. However, the TP needs to distance themselves from the "moral right" because it is contradictory to not want more govenment in one area - economics, but to want more government in another eg. right to life.

 

At least the liberals and self-named "progressives" are on the same page with each other...they want more govenment everywhere. It is winning them elections, but pushing us closer to the septic tank.

The most popular GOP members of Congress are conservatives who have Tea Party support. The OP is nothing but wishful thinking.

Unity of the GOP and getting away from their stances on putting Christian biases in politics is a major factor in their losing votes on a national scale, plus a complete lack of understanding on the platform with minorities and gender issues and their influence on national politics.

 

They seem to recognize it more after the 2012 Presidential election, but haven't changed much. For a party that wants to get big government out of our lives, then don't tell me how to live my life, in terms of religion, how I should live my life under their moral code, and pay white mails more for the same type of work in many cases just does not play well with the majority of Americans.

 

Before you rail on me and I fully expect it, I am not saying Christian teachings and lifestyles are wrong, bad or should be condemned, they just have no place in politics. We truly cannot compromise on anything controversial anymore and that is not good for this country in any way. It is our way, GOP or Dem, and that is never going to be what is best for this country.

Here is my problem with the tea party.

 

When it first started I liked what they represented. The problem I have with them though is the ones I have dealt with in this area end up not researching and studying things. They want to slash spending at all costs without looking into the affects of what the drastic cuts will do. There is a lot of wasteful spending in govt, but slashing across the board is not the answer, instead slash what is wasteful spending.

 

They also don't seem to have a grasp on their own platforms many times. With all this said I actually am a fan of Rand Paul. It tends to be the local govt tea party politicians that come off as very unprepared.

Good point HB. But that is the basic premise behind Reaganomics isn't it? Just cut taxes and then government will automatically shrink?

Unity of the GOP and getting away from their stances on putting Christian biases in politics is a major factor in their losing votes on a national scale, plus a complete lack of understanding on the platform with minorities and gender issues and their influence on national politics.

 

They seem to recognize it more after the 2012 Presidential election, but haven't changed much. For a party that wants to get big government out of our lives, then don't tell me how to live my life, in terms of religion, how I should live my life under their moral code, and pay white mails more for the same type of work in many cases just does not play well with the majority of Americans.

 

Before you rail on me and I fully expect it, I am not saying Christian teachings and lifestyles are wrong, bad or should be condemned, they just have no place in politics. We truly cannot compromise on anything controversial anymore and that is not good for this country in any way. It is our way, GOP or Dem, and that is never going to be what is best for this country.

 

I think you've confused the Tea Party with the Religious Right. There is nothing in the Tea Party platform that I've seen that says anything at all about religion or Christian teachings.