There's something happening here. The anti-establishment protest song has been turned on its head as Tea Partiers find their voice: "People speaking their minds/Getting so much resistance from behind/What a field-day for the heat/A thousand people in the street/Singing songs and carrying signs …" (Cover image of October 2008 "quickie paperback satire" Terminatrix, co-authored by top Harper-Collins Editor Adam Bellow (Saul's boy), who most recently worked on Sarah Palin's forthcoming blockbuster autobiography Going Rogue)
"It's quite a revelation. I'd been slowing down party contributions of late. Now I see THE WAY!" we twittered blogfriend Barry Campbell of enrevanche ecstatically this morning in response to his response to an earlier tweet of ours:
We: Give to strategic small-government candidates, not parties!
Barry: Yes. And I agree so fervently that I don't mind the "shouting."
It was a eureka moment as we saw the social-networking sausage taking shape before our eyes. Delicious! It started with Sarah Palin's endorsement last week of Doug Hoffman, the independent conservative candidate challenging ACORN-supporting Republican-Party-sanctioned RINO Dede Scozzafava in the upstate NY District 23 congressional special election. Dismissed by Newt Gingrich and the Republican Party establishment, Hoffman has become a beacon of hope for the Army of Davids Tea Partiers, who are getting glimpses of a way out of the desert as he surges ahead in the latest poll. And, of course, Palin's every strategic move is of intense interest — to both diehard fans like us and those who can't stand her — in the blogosphere, the twittersphere, Facebook and on cable TV. The networks and airwaves were abuzz. Based upon Palin's support we sent a little money Hoffman's way, just as we had sent a check to Joe "You lie!" Wilson earlier based upon his speaking truth to power during President Obama's recent address to a joint session of Congress. Today it was dollars for someone else we'd never heard of, conservative VA AG candidate Ken Cuccinelli, based upon a Twitter tip from Erick Erickson of Red State, who looks to a higher authority for his response to "the new counter spin" that would have us once again hold our noses as so many small-government citizens did with John McCain:
To quote Christ, “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matt. 16:26 NIV)
Well. Gotta be off to add a little something to the coffers of "Upstart candidate Marco Rubio," who's "cut in half [Obama-hugger] Governor Charlie Crist's lead in the race to win the Republican nomination for a Florida U.S. Senate seat in 2010" thanks to "popular outrage at his support for the $787 billion federal stimulus package." We encourage our readers to lend support to strategically-targeted, small-government candidates wherever they may find them. And while we're in the mood, we especially urge you to support our dear blogfriend, satirical genius and candidate for Lehigh County [PA] Executive, Scott "Live the Freedom" Ott of Scrappleface and the Washington Examiner. Click here to give early and often.
Update: Dan Riehl links:
Just as one should always follow the money, the politicians will follow the money, too. Use it to force the GOP to adopt the policies we want, not simply for spite against the GOP.
As we wrote in the comments, "Absolutely. Not an ounce of spite. Just a way out of the desert."
A 'way out of the desert' indeed! If we can bring the D.C. pachyderms out to play with the core... how powerful would that ultimately be, Sissy??
I'll add Scott to my 'New Blood' page. :D
Posted by: pam | October 27, 2009 at 12:24 PM
I agree, Sissy.
Posted by: retriever | October 27, 2009 at 01:36 PM
Well said.
Hoffman is a positive, and I strongly support his race in NY 23rd.
However, he is actually a Republican.
Mrs. Palin has wisely (I greatly appreciate it), endorsed Republicans throughout the Country, like the two running for Governor in Virginia and New Jersey.
The failure to have a primary in NY23rd, because of a special election, has created this problem.
I am not a real partisan, but know full well the third party delusion will only help the Democrats.
“There are big political races on the East Coast that are coming down to the wire – the results of which will impact policies and political actions that touch all of us in every state. Like other independent Americans, I don’t always see eye-to-eye with Republican political committees, so when I tell you that the Republican Governors Association has my complete support and confidence in its campaign efforts back East, know that I really mean it. The RGA is helping lead the conservative comeback beginning this year, and its involvement in the East Coast races is significant. I hope you’ll support these efforts, which are vital to the cause for America’s freedom and prosperity:”
LINK; Sarah Palin: East Coast Races Impact All Americans
The forces trying to debase the GOP, and all the sound conservatives serving within, will only chime her endorsement of Mr. Hoffman. They will ignore Mrs. Palin’s endorsement of the Republican named Christie from a Blue State, because it doesn’t fit the new fashionable mantra of being anti-GOP.
I understand the frustration, but also know some very misguided forces trying to diminish the sound, vast Majority of Conservatives serving within the GOP, with a game of anti-Party independence.
Ronald Reagan may never have been empowered without the fine Republican Party.
The fashion is concerning, only because some Elite Celebrity Conservatives have become so anti-GOP, using baseless generics and stereotyping of all, they may again be enabling the DNC with gross exaggerations of guilt by the association of a very few Rhinos.
Ego can be a problem for the sideline cynics, who never face an election. They mean well, and want better representation. I welcome their efforts, but worry when I see it lacking a constructive element.
The hyperbole and reactionary efforts after 2004, only empowered Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Barack Obama, etc., and even the truly misguided fashion followers like John McCain. I just don't want to see this folly again.
Much of the problem remains a failure to be truly objective, reasoned, rationale, etc., about the many positives of the former Bush Administration and the Republican leadership after 9-11.
But my appreciation for Mrs. Palin grows with this posting of hers above. She is not damning all in the Republican Party with some vapid generic swat. Support should always be determined by basis - as the mighty SISU always offers in a wonderful manner.
It will be curious to see, who ignores Mrs. Palin's endorsement of Republicans (especially one in a Blue State), for their own personal political mantra.
Posted by: Brooklyn | October 27, 2009 at 02:13 PM
40% of Americans identify themselves as "conservative", while 36% identify themselves as "independent" or "moderate". Only 20% self-identify as "liberal" - which says to me all that needs to be said.
Given the disdain and contempt on display by the establishment toward the tea party people who were respectful, non-confrontational but quietly insistent on their right to seek redress as constitutionally permitted (nay, encouraged), perhaps both major parties need to be marginalized over time into nonexistence and replaced by more correctly named parties who will, at least for a short while, be far more relevant. The corruption displayed primarily by the Dems and the blatant way in which the Dems glory in their despicable behavior ("It's the Chicago Way" - that's something of which to be proud?) is deeply offensive to many Americans. Yes, some Republicans have screwed up but Republicans insist on their miscreants resigning from office and going away! The Dems promote them to Committee Chairmen!
Somewhere along the line, these arrogant airheads have convinced themselves that they know better than their employers: "We, the People" and that public service is a suitable career! It was never envisioned as a "career" choice by the Founding Fathers. We need no more than 3 terms in the House of Representatives and no more than 1 term in the Senate. Certainly it could reduce the big fat old "For Sale" sign each of the current crop seem to have tattooed on their foreheads!
If this Republic is to be preserved in any kind of decent order, bold and decisive action is required! By most of us.
Posted by: Gayle Miller | October 27, 2009 at 03:15 PM
It is time for conservative independents to run as Republicans and to take the party out of the hands of professional politicians. They are the ones who we must support if we are to the land of the free.
Posted by: goomp | October 27, 2009 at 04:12 PM
I think I read that over a million service men and women have rotated through either Iraq or Afghanistan since 2001. I would venture to guess a larger percent of them are rather conservative. And, they know how important it is to get this war on terror done right.
Anyhow, why don't we try to get more of these million young veterans locally to run for school boards, city councils, township trustees, county planning and zoning boards, county commissioners, etc... Then a young group of experienced likely conservative and realistic men and women will be available 10 years down the road for state government positions and Governor's races. Someone will move up from obscurity to be a Governor or a President. Lets make it a veteran.
Posted by: checkers | October 28, 2009 at 12:00 AM
For those of us with a sense of humor, this is rich - in the Free-Lance Star newspaper in Fredericksburg, Virginia the article describing President Obama's trip to Norfolk, Virginia to campaign with Creigh Deeds (the rapidly imploding Democrat running for governor)was located inside the newspaper on the two pages that were otherwise devoted to obituaries!
I'm an irreverent sort and found that utterly and breathtakingly funny!
Posted by: Gayle Miller | October 28, 2009 at 02:39 PM
Thanks for the inspiration. I wandered over to Hoffman's site and donated.
Here's hoping it turns out better than the last NY special election that gave the rest of us Gillibrand.....
And Gayle Miller, you made me laugh...
Posted by: C Ward | October 29, 2009 at 08:50 AM