http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11378369

- Didn't notice a thread on this so far, which is surprising. But I thought The Tea Party movement in America was fascinating in the face of Britain's recent third-party inclusion, with the Tories having to join forces with the previously minor Lib Dems.

The same is happening in New Zealand, and else where in the country, as previously marginalised, minor, or non-existence parties are becoming more popular.

Either way, how much does this neo-con party upset Republican election chances?

Its not actually a political party, Halo. Its more of an offshoot of Liberterianism as well as further right leaning members of the GOP at best but mostly is a populist movement that grew from the outcry against Washington spending so much money while not really being accountable to the taxpayers. My version of it is that it represents all those pissed off ("whinging" for the benifit of Halo) that Obama was not able to wave a magic wand and fix everything that has gone wrong the past 10 years in the two short years he has been in office while still running up a healthy tab.

This link: http://www.contractfromamerica.org/ basically codifies what the Tea Party Movement is about and is probably the closest thing they have to a charter. Its the 10 bullets. Some of them make sense but who knows what kind of baggage comes with it.

Whats does it do for Republican chances? I think Malse summed it up pretty well when he mentioned it will mostly allow incumbent Republicans to get tossed out on their ears for even nuttier Republicans who are even further deeper to the Right. Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck are two of their poster children. Needless to say they are very much take it or leave it as both of them don't appeal much to those who might use logic from time to time. It very well could backfire on the GOP (Republicans) if there is an incumbent of theirs who is marginal being challenged by a Tea Party supporter as well as a Democrat. The Democrat could be a complete tool but if the Tea Party supported choice is a total nut case or an inept boob than people who would not vote Democratic might do so just to keep the Tea Party endorsed choice out of office. It also does nothing to present the Republicans as a unified front, which is something they will need going into the 2012 elections.

If the Tea party actually became a real poltical party, perhaps by assimulation of the Libertarian Party or vice versa, then they could become somewhat dangerous. Again, depending on what idealogical baggage they bring in tow in addition to the economic/constitutionality issues. Some of them are surprisingly neutral on many of the socially conservative hot topics.

I've been working on a documentary on the Tea Party movement for the BBC's documentary unit (25 fps makes my eyes feel fuzzy!) that you should be able to see in the near future Halo - probably November!

Thanks chaps - will look out for that Kel.

I'll post the infos as soon as I get it.

Now that I have more time to type, I gotta say, the Tea Party really is kinda fascinating. Its not very organized, so they have like, half a dozen different messages and dozens of different goals. You go to these rallys and see signs ranging from "Obama Eats Babies" to logical discourse on government overspending. You have a lot of really rational people who are just upset - and why wouldn't they be? Their 401ks were pillaged over while they lost their jobs and their homes.

The sad thing is somehow Sarah Palin became the spokesperson and she's so fucking horrible that half of the country instantly tunes out - and rightfully so. If you are gonna follow that mule you don't deserve to have your message heard.

They'll disrupt the elections this cycle, nominate her for president in the next, and disband shortly after a la 2000 Green Party.

The Green party disbanded? I know there was a lot of hemming and hawing about the consequences of their tactical voting failure, but they're still around.

Also, read yesterday about the Anti-Islam folks (Social Democrats?) in Sweden got seats in Parliament, and not an insignificant amount, after the vote there the other day.

The Green party disbanded? I know there was a lot of hemming and hawing about the consequences of their tactical voting failure, but they're still around.

Ok, I phrased that incorrectly. The movement behind Ralph Nader's nomination and getting recognition for the Green Party disbanded, the party itself continued on but pretty much the way it was in 1996 and a shadow of its former self. I anticipate the Tea Party will sputter out after a failed Presidential run and spoiler to the Republican Party.

It very well could backfire on the GOP (Republicans) if there is an incumbent of theirs who is marginal being challenged by a Tea Party supporter as well as a Democrat. The Democrat could be a complete tool but if the Tea Party supported choice is a total nut case or an inept boob than people who would not vote Democratic might do so just to keep the Tea Party endorsed choice out of office.

This basically happened to Lisa Murkowski in Alaska, the Palin-Bots managed to get enough votes to win the primary because most of us figured she'd win in a landslide and didn't bother with the primary. So now she's running as a write in candidate and may make history as the first one to win in Alaska's history because a lot of people are wondering just why the hell we should throw away all the seniority we had in the senate. And it's for some fucking nutter who doesn't even think rape/incest victims should be allowed abortions.

That's the problem with the Tea-Party, they have far far far right wing nutjobs hiding in the clothing of sound reasonable ideas (fiscal conservatism, getting good programs up not throwing money at it etc). Frankly it scares me, and if it came down to it, I'd rather write my own name in on the 2012 ballot than vote for either the Queen Quitter or our current lame duck of a president.

In many ways the Tea Party is the conservative response to the protests while Bush was in office - but as usual, the conservatives are a bit more organized than the left.

Palin may be their spokesperson, but it doesn't sound like they're well liked (http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2010/09/16/2010-09-16_sarah_palin_tea_party_are_not_viewed_favorably_ by_most_americans_latest_poll_fin.html).

Interesting article (http://www.themudflats.net/2010/08/24/billionaire-brothers-buy-the-tea-party-sarah-palin-and-alaskas-joe-miller/) on some of the money behind the Tea Party.

I desperately wish we had a viable third party, I just also wish the current option wasn't predominantly composed of ignorance, with ignorance herself as the mouth piece.

The Tea Party is the reason the Democrats are not going to lose the Senate.

In many ways the Tea Party is the conservative response to the protests while Bush was in office - but as usual, the conservatives are a bit more organized than the left.

Palin may be their spokesperson, but it doesn't sound like they're well liked (http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2010/09/16/2010-09-16_sarah_palin_tea_party_are_not_viewed_favorably_ by_most_americans_latest_poll_fin.html).

Interesting article (http://www.themudflats.net/2010/08/24/billionaire-brothers-buy-the-tea-party-sarah-palin-and-alaskas-joe-miller/) on some of the money behind the Tea Party.

I desperately wish we had a viable third party, I just also wish the current option wasn't predominantly composed of ignorance, with ignorance herself as the mouth piece.

Thanks for the link on the Koch brothers and their financial backing of both main-stream and whack-job Republicans. One can only imagine what that amount of money could have accomplished if spent constructively (i.e., on something tangible).

What's funny to me about it is how it stands in contrast to the conservative whines about George Soros.

The Tea Party is the reason the Democrats are not going to lose the Senate.

That being a big selling point for the money grubbing assholes who support the current status quo is why eventually they will.

What's funny to me about it is how it stands in contrast to the conservative whines about George Soros.

It's very helpful to understanding the media and thought-control intent of the business interests that run the GOP, in realizing they create this big "look what dem evil libruls are doing!" conspiracy to distract from themselves, and it's so well-formed and consistent because they're just looking in the mirror.

The funny thing is that Soros has never been anything but upfront about it -- he believes in certain causes and he funds them. Contrast this with the efforts of FreedomWorks ...

The Tea Party is the reason the Democrats are not going to lose the Senate.

And he was right.

I've been working on a documentary on the Tea Party movement for the BBC's documentary unit (25 fps makes my eyes feel fuzzy!) that you should be able to see in the near future Halo - probably November!

The doc made it up on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKCnjT8ORAM

2 of 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhCGlIg6Xzc

3 of 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1r5YtZfwwFY

4 of 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGTRbLI6zh0

Blimey Kel, did you get to work with Andrew Neil? I love that chap, met him twice!

Yeah, a little bit. You could see on the credits there was like 8 of us on the US crew spread out over a bunch of days.

Recently I did 4 days with Lord Melvyn Bragg, who I imagine you would know of (though I never heard of him before) for a different BBC project airing soon (about the King James Bible).

nicely done Kel. was some really nice shots from a production stand point. my Fav was in link one with the "pioneer" lady heading into the porta-potty. Oh the irony.

Well, 3 months from now I finally get to see this.