Ned Ryun, founder and president of American Majority, has written a very insightful article titled ‘Evolve or Die; The Tea Party Movement is at a Crossroads‘.

In this piece, Ryan lays out ‘the good, the bad and the ugly’ and opines that the tea party must “become sustainable with a more concise mission and ability to fundraise… But if it cannot get past the negative impressions and the internal dissension, it will become nothing but a footnote in American political history.”

As someone who has lived the tea party experience the past three years, I feel an overwhelming need to comment on Ryan’s thoughts.

While he touches on some of the real challenges of the tea party, Ryan only skims the surface when it comes to the damage being done by the national groups. He talks about the internal dissension, the battles for control and the money-making schemes, yet fails to go into sufficient depth here.

Ryan takes a hard hitting approach with Tea Party Express, but doesn’t follow suit with Tea Party Patriots, barely mentions Tea Party Nation, gives FreedomWorks a total pass and there’s no mention whatsoever of the latest of what seems like an endless line of opportunists, TeaParty.net.

It seems highly unfair when you consider any one of the above is as detrimental as the other. In each case, don’t look too closely behind the mirror. I have my theories as to why Ryan doesn’t delve further into the abyss, but that’s for another day.

From the very beginning, the media has been trying to define the tea party. Initially, this proved to be an exercise in frustration because there was no central leadership, no one to isolate. At the same time, this quest helped add to the vacuum that existed. And that’s when the human element in all it’s glory rose up, with no shortage of individuals willing to fill the role.

At both the national and local levels, the hucksters are out in force. Books are being written and peddled for profit on an ongoing basis, the demand on the speakers tour has never been greater. It seems everyone has their own particular process or angle on how to go about solving the many challenges we face and none are shy about making the pitch.

And when the national media needs a spokesman to help further the narrative it drives, there’s a long line of ‘personalities’ willing to step up to advance their public profile – if there is no central leadership, the media will simply prey on the human frailties of ego and greed to create it.

Ryan accurately touches on the the reality that if the national groups could go away tomorrow, the movement would be fine. But the local level is beset with many of the same issues, just on a lessor scale. Ironically, those who are quick to condemn what’s happening on the national scene are just as quick to emulate the very behavior, yet can’t seem to equate the two actions as being one and the same.

Again the human element. Local groups remain shackled by political correctness and the fear of being ‘left behind’ should they speak out on the opportunists manipulating the tea party, and thus only add to the problem.

And in this carnival atmosphere, average everyday Americans that made untold sacrifices in the beginning, people like myself, simply walk away from it all realizing that the Tea Party has evolved into that which we initially rose up to fight against.

Just as the politicians endeavor to manipulate the movement daily for personal gain, so too do those within who were bold enough to step to the front of the parade and proclaim themselves leaders.

So, yes, the tea party is losing the ‘battle over definition’ because the focus long ago shifted away from the message and settled on the messengers.

It was T.A.R.P. and the Stimulus Bill that led to the birth of the Tea Party, however, consider this sobering fact; projected federal spending in 2012 is higher than 2011, which was an increase over 2010, which was higher than 2009.

Who among the self proclaimed leaders is leading the charge here? From my perspective, only one – Americans for Prosperity.

As for evolving, we saw the Tea Party ‘evolve’ from rallies protesting the spending to fighting healthcare reform and it’s hard to argue that the movement has ever been more effective than it was at this point. The transition to advocacy was quick and simple, brought about by a clarity in purpose. It is in this light that Ryan is most on target in a call for “a more concise mission”.

But all is not lost. In reality, the Tea Party has always been the people. It’s source of strength the raw numbers. And it’s motivation an out of control federal government. All of which still exist in abundance.

We understand that the mission at hand is to defeat Barack Obama and the Progressive Left, who have added more to the national debt than one would have thought possible just three short years ago. All in the quest to shift America away from the traditional values that made it the greatest nation in the history of man.

And just as we saw in the 2010 election, we the people will be heard at the ballot box.

In an appropriate metaphor*, I liken the tea party to a car nearing the end of a NASCAR race, having been told by it’s crew chief that it’s two laps short on fuel. So like any good driver, you start trying to save fuel to ensure you make it to the end. You lift up off the accelerator a little early going into the turns and ease back into it as you come out. You try to maintain a steady speed and coast whenever the opportunity permits.

You do whatever it takes to get to the finish line clearly marked as November 6, 2012. Hopefully, just as we see in NASCAR, a win there provides the necessary momentum to carry us into the next race… a day of reckoning for the political class in America.

*American Majority is sponsoring a car in this weekend’s Nationwide race at Daytona and will be on hand with it’s Pledge to Vote: Keep America Free voter registration initiative.

Cross-Posted at Florida Political Press

Mitt Romney thumps Newt Gingrich… Romney handily defeated Newt Gingrich… Romney cruised to a dominating victory… The Romney victory a decisive win… Romney obliterated Gingrich.

Gingrich’s performance has been pretty disastrous… Comparatively poor showing by Gingrich.

While scanning the news this morning, the above captions are from various national outlets reporting on yesterday’s Nevada caucuses. In case you haven’t figured it out yet, Mitt Romney won.

With 71.1 percent of precincts reporting, the former Massachusetts governor had 48% of the vote, with Newt Gingrich in second place with 23%, followed by Ron Paul with 19% and Rick Santorum was in fourth with 11%.

I’m not sure why only 71% of the precincts are shown as reporting the morning after, however, when you consider this is Harry Reid country, it makes sense that it may take a little time to “sort” out the results.

And for those paying attention, the totals show that non-Romney (52%) continues to outperform Romney (48%).

Just after the Florida Primary, there was a report that the media would now ‘pull the plug on Newt’;

Presidential candidates survive on the oxygen of media coverage. It’s what keeps them going, enables them to keep raising money. Once the coverage is withdrawn, it’s only a matter of time before their candidacies expire. Out of sight, out of mind, out of money.

Which appears to be a tactic well underway… unless there’s bad news to report which serves to further the task at hand.

So Romney wins Nevada. The only shocking thing about Nevada would have been had the race been tight. Romney carried the state in 2008, where eventual nominee John McCain finished a distant third, behind even Ron Paul. 

And Mormons account for 25% of registered Republican voters and overwhelmingly support Romney.

Here’s another tidbit that puts the opening terminology in a little better perspective, Nevada allocates its 28 delegates proportionally, which means that Romney picked up 10 delegates to Newt’s 4.

Yet, a leading Romney backer in Nevada was calling for Gingrich to drop out of the race instead of continuing to divide the party. Naturally, this ally was not as insistent on Dr. Paul and Santorum, who continue to split the non-Romney vote ensuring Romney’s success, to follow suit.

The supporter, Nevada Rep. Joe Heck, almost comically stated in reference to Ron Paul, that he should quit when it becomes apparent that there is “enough critical mass in terms of delegates”, probably sometime after Super Tuesday.

In a press conference held in Las Vegas, Newt Gingrich said, “We will continue the campaign all the way to Tampa. I suspect this debate will continue for a long time… I’m not going to withdraw. I’m actually pretty happy with where we are.”

So the only real news coming out of Nevada is that the national media continues to serve up their choice for the GOP presidential nominee, as was the case in ’08, and most Americans continue to belly up to the buffet line asking for seconds.

Cross Posted at Florida Political Press

We are now two days away from the Florida presidential primary.

If you are to believe the narrative in the media and the results of most polls, Mitt Romney has pulled out to a substantial lead in the race, up by an average of 8-10 pts.

It’s worth noting that the polling has been schizophrenic…

Romney held a commanding double digit lead here prior to the South Carolina primary, which Newt Gingrich erased entirely as he rode the momentum of his dominant win in that primary to a strong lead of his own. We then saw the ‘machine’ go to work on Newt, giving us the current results. And this has all occurred in the past 10 days.

What the polling suggests is that this is a very volatile race that can turn quickly and with two days to go, anything is possible. But for the moment, let’s assume that Romney prevails in Florida. What does that mean?

It will mean that, in spite of the great awakening of the American people brought on by Rick Santelli’s famous Chicago rant, money still controls politics.

It will mean that the politics of personal destruction and negative campaigning prevails as an effective path to winning elections.

It will mean that after three years of trying to restore honor and integrity in the political arena, these virtues remain lost in the wilderness.

It will mean that all the sacrifices over the past three years by so many to reestablish government of the people, by the people and for the people has been for naught. That such a concept is still but a distant memory.

It will mean that the ‘politics of old’ reigns supreme.

My greatest fear, that the American people will not comprehend all that is at stake in this election, seems to be playing out before my very eyes.

When Ronald Reagan ran in the 1980 presidential race, he took his case directly to the American people, not depending on the media and the political class, both of whom were aligned against his candidacy, to get his message out.

When you take an honest look at Mitt Romney, he has taken the exact opposite path.

As we Floridians have witnessed over the past week, Newt Gingrich has maintained a punishing schedule to get before the folks, with thousands turning out to hear his visions of America. Meanwhile, there is but a ripple on the ground from Camp Romney.

Yes, it seems Romney has avoided the great unwashed for the most part, endeavoring instead to ensure the support of the political class and the ‘machine’ it controls through the Republican Party. Even if it requires peddling the potential influence he acquires should he prevail, right Ms. Bondi?

Beyond the courting of Florida’s political elite, Romney has also put his sizable financial advantage to work inundating the airwaves with negative ads targeting Newt Gingrich, Ronald Reagan’s 11th Commandment be damned.

And speaking of, exactly when did we become a people who ridicule big dreams and grandiose ideas? Was America not built on dreams? Is that not the very foundation that made this the greatest country in the history of the world? And we embrace the purveyor of this ridicule?

So what does a Mitt Romney win mean Florida?

It will mean the moderate wing of the Republican Party, the very faction that gave us John McCain in ’08, is firmly in control of the conservative movement in America.

It will mean the tea party message will become just another populist movement that came and went. And most importantly, it will mean that government of the elite, by the elite and for the elite is still how things get done in America.

Two days… so much can happen in two days.

Cross Posted at Florida Political Press

It is only fitting that the mudslinging now coming out of the Mitt Romney camp is occurring here in Florida. When it comes to dirty politics, the Sunshine State stands in a class all it’s own.

After Newt Gingrich’s overwhelming victory in the S.C. primary and subsequent surge in the polls, a real sense of desperation set in for Romney.

Desperation that manifests itself in the aggressive demeanor he’s taken on and in the negative campaign ads that have inundated the airwaves in Florida.

Such as the ad that falsely claims that Gingrich “resigned in disgrace” which Romney is still running and even had aired during last night’s CNN debate. A claim that none other than Charles Krauthammer himself has stated is not accurate.

Although, were you to ask Mitt Romney about this ad, odds are you will get feigned ignorance. A bothersome trend from the former Governor, whether you’re asking about sleazy campaign ads or Swiss bank accounts, is for him to deny knowledge and divert the responsibility to others.

Yet, desperate times call for desperate measures and fortunately for Romney, his chief campaign strategist and several of his most senior campaign staff were Charlie Crist’s top political advisers who are ever so familiar with the political turf here in Florida.

And this ‘win at whatever cost’ approach now seen coming from the Romney camp is eerily reminiscent of good ol’ Charlie, leaving one to wonder if this is driven by the sense of entitlement that seems to be inherent in the political class, a.k.a. the establishment?

And make no mistake about it, the ‘establishment’ is fully behind Mitt Romney, as evidenced by the likes of John McCain and Connie Mack IV out stumping on his behalf. Individuals who are always quick to rail against the very system they have become an embodiment of.

In truth, McCain’s appearance signals something far more sinister. Mitt Romney has not put forth much effort to court tea party support, much like Crist’s moderate, ignore-the-tea-party strategy. Which makes sense considering the same individuals are behind both campaigns.

As we often see in both Washington and Tallahassee, the political class is first and foremost about outmaneuvering it’s opponents and the tea party needs to understand that the moderate wing of the GOP sees it as much of an opponent as it does the Democrats. Perhaps more so, since both parties share a common benefit from a continuation of the status quo.

And if Mitt Romney can secure the nomination without so much as crossing the street for the tea party, it will serve the dual purpose of ensuring the establishment retains control with ‘their guy’ and will go a very long way toward suppressing the rightward shift of the party brought on by the tea party.

Yes, the GOP presidential primary comes down to the moderate wing versus the conservative wing of the party – the establishment vs. the tea party.

With Newt Gingrich, in all his glory, representing the conservative tea party position.

In reality, this has been a two man race for some time now. Rick Santorum is reportedly pulling up stakes on Sunday and returning home two days before voting takes place. Simply put, he just doesn’t have the resources to compete in an expensive state like Florida where it’s winner take all.

Much like former Gov. Sarah Palin, who wants to see the nomination process continue to play out, Santorum supporters AND the tea party movement in Florida must see the long term effects of a Romney win. If he prevails here, the race is all but over.

A vote for Newt Gingrich ensures a continuation of this process and all parties involved live to fight another day.

One thing is clear, with Romney as the Republican nominee, the tea party may as well pack up and go home – it will have zero influence in his organization.

The moderate wing of the party is counting on the political immaturity of the tea party to prevail, the fierce independence of the many groups to prevent it from seeing the long term strategy playing out.

What is really encouraging here is that just as it has been from the very beginning, the people have it within their power to control the outcome. The question is do we choose to exercise this power.

Cross Posted at Florida Political Press

With the Iowa Caucus about to begin, we are just hours away from the official launch of the critically important 2012 presidential electoral process.

About the only thing that is certain at this point is that the Iowa results, be what they may, will be spun six ways to Sunday by the campaigns, their supporters and the talking heads in the media.

In these analyses, motive will be long and truth hard to find as everyone tries to seize the momentum. Which is really about the only role Iowa plays as it is far from a microcosm of the American people and the caucus process itself is suspect in many ways.

As things stand, the odds makers say Mitt Romney will prevail with Ron Paul coming in a very close second, the results of which could easily flip flop. Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum will battle it out for third place, with Rick Perry potentially factoring in. It’s very likely that Iowa will spell the end of Michele Bachmann’s 2012 efforts and Jon Huntsman, who’s putting all his eggs in a New Hampshire basket, will be an afterthought.

With the media being diligent in it’s never ending quest to remove all obstacles to the progressive Shangri-la it so desires, a trend already beginning to play out is to cast the electoral results as the death knell of the tea party.

We will be told that this is supposed to be the year that the tea party picked the Republican presidential candidate, a ‘great opportunity for conservatives to finally get a nominee without compromising’. And any success by Romney, Gingrich or even Ron Paul will be used as the measuring stick to point out the utter failure of this objective.

Newsflash… no it’s not!

The success or failure of the tea party will be predicated on one fact and one fact alone, that being the fate of Barack Obama. Replacing the current occupant of the White House is the key aspiration of the tea party, a fact confirmed in a recent Rasmussen poll. Not to suggest that it doesn’t matter which candidate accomplishes this, but it’s not the driving factor.

Of course, politics being what it is, it will be confusing because at the same time the media is selling you on the impending doom of the tea party, the frontrunners will all be trying to convince us that they are the tea party candidate. Particularly Ron Paul.

News flash… no he’s not!

Ron Paul will be the one candidate that will get an assist from the media in propagating the idea that he is the tea party choice because it serves their ultimate goal to associate the movement with some of his more quirky ideas. If successful in that endeavor, the media will then expose those ideas for what they see them as, ‘killing two birds with one stone’ if you will.

Additionally, any lack of success by Bachmann, Perry or Santorum will also be hung around the neck of the tea party, used by the media to highlight the inability of the movement to push the candidates that best represents it’s values to the forefront. Particularly Bachmann, being Chair of the tea party caucus in Congress.

Newsflash… no it’s not!

Since the historic success of it’s early days when there was a laser focus on T.A.R.P., Stimulus I & II and ObamaCare, the tea party has become very fragmented and it’s purpose waylaid by far too many self serving principles calling themselves ‘leaders’. The one consistency that remains is the understanding of how damaging four more years of Obama can be. The realization that this man has emboldened the enemies, both foreign and domestic, of a free and prosperous America like no other.

In what may very well be the only remaining success of this great awakening known as the tea party, defeating Barack Obama in 2012 is job one and the average, everyday Americans who’ve always been the strength of the tea party are looking for that one candidate that can accomplish this, ideology aside.

Which explains why Bachmann, Perry and Santorum struggle to resonate more than they do – the perception being that they do not have what it takes to defeat Obama in the general election.

Some may call placing ideology aside selling out, capitulating or simply the maturation of the tea party toward the realities of politics, but I think it’s indicative of something else all together. And that is, when it comes to defeating Barack Obama, failure is not an option.

Cross Posted at Florida Political Press

For the sake of argument, let’s assume for a moment that Ron Paul prevails in the GOP presidential primary and somehow survives the onslaught from the Far Left, who must be salivating over the thoughts of a match up with an old, white guy surrounded by charges of racism and, at age 77, becomes the oldest man ever elected President of the United States.

Once the inaugural parties are behind us and the smoke clears, how does President Ron Paul govern? And I use the term ‘govern’ in a twisted sort of way to mean actually get things done.

The first question we should ask is how does the Republican Party power base respond to a Ron Paul presidency? How eager do you think the GOP ‘establishment’ will be to advance his agenda? Is it likely that Speaker of the House John Boehner or Senate Minority (Majority?) Leader Mitch McConnell will be willing to work with President Paul?

After so many years in Washington, who are Ron Paul’s allies on Capitol Hill? Does he have a base of followers in Congress who’ve been inspired by his unique stand for liberty that he can count on?

If the Republicans refuses to caucus on his behalf, will he turn to the Progressive Socialist Party, formerly known as the Democratic Party? Out of desperation, does a Ron Paul White House strike an unholy alliance with Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid?

For that matter, what does a Ron Paul White House look like? Who does he surround himself with? Who will advise him? We can assume that Lew Rockwell will not have a role… right???

Who does Ron Paul select as Secretary of State to implement his questionable brand of foreign policy?

Will he even be able to find someone willing to accept the role of Secretary of Defense in what will surely be the biggest military draw down in U.S. History?

Having been exceptionally critical of just about every Secretary of Treasury since Reagan, who does he choose that’s sympatico with his views on monetary policy? How does Wall St. respond?

With Ron Paul’s views on individual liberty, will anyone take on the responsibility as Secretary of Homeland Security to protect America from an attack?

And considering that the Attorney General under Ron Paul is sure to have his/her hands full and then some, who ends up in this seat?

I know, I know. Far too many questions… but questions that need to be asked.

Looking back on the outcome of the 2008 presidential election, it didn’t require a rocket scientist to see that Obama was destined to disappoint. The hopes of an Obama presidency were built up to an impossible level that no earthly man could ever meet. I’m sure we all remember the video of the young woman celebrating and proclaiming that she’ll no longer have to worry about paying her bills or put gas in her car.

Will Ron Paul’s emphatic base experience a similar let down, once President Paul is face with the realities of governing? And how does he deal with this reality? Considering he will be 81 yrs old by the end of his term and we’ve seen time and again how quickly Presidents age, how does his health hold up? Remember all the emphasis on Reagan’s age when he was running?

Yeah, I know… more questions. But legitimate questions.

Which may or may not have satisfactory answers. Questions that will probably upset Ron Paul supporters who have a tendency to be overly protective of their guy, but questions any voter should ask themselves as they consider who to support in the 2012 GOP presidential primary.

(Which is ironic in and of itself. The media continues to feed us a steady diet of how the tea party has lost it’s influence, yet, whomever the movement gets behind quickly finds themselves in the lead.)

With all his history, the many inconsistencies in his record and Glen Beck screaming from the rafters that this man is a progressive, more and more tea party folks are shifting toward Newt. Even with Charles Krauthammer using the ‘S’ word – socialist – he remains comfortably atop the polls.

How can this be? Does this confirm that the tea party was never serious about all this limited government and fiscal responsibility stuff? That they’re a bunch of hypocrites?

It seems that too many on the right are looking to the eventual GOP nominee to not only defeat Obama, but to right decades of misguided policy and reset the course of American history and do it all in a single election cycle.

With feet firmly on the ground and heads free of the clouds, many in the tea party understand that the myriad of problems that plague this country are deep rooted and will take years to resolve, if ever.

Having spent the better part of 3 yrs battling Barack Obama and the Progressive Left, the tea party is well aware of how successful they have been in implementing their ideology in this country.

It’s understood that they dominate the institutions of government, the universities and, subsequently, the minds of the younger generation. That they control the national media, the entertainment industry and, along with that, the ability to define what is ‘hip’ in America, a desperately important motivational factor for the shallow minded.

Most tea partiers understand this is a war for the future of America, pitting collectivism against self reliance, and that it will take many years to play out.

And the critical first step in that battle is to remove Barack Obama from the White House, a man who’s greatest achievement to date may be the extent in which he has emboldened the enemies, both foreign and domestic, of a free and prosperous America.

A sentiment pundits would be wise not to downplay.

Another factor that is tattooed in the minds of many tea partiers is the stark contrast that existed between Barack Obama and John McCain in the debates leading up to the 2008 election. McCain’s painful oratory skills and total inability to expose Obama’s inexperience and idealism played a key role in the unfortunate outcome of that election. A blunder many do not want to see repeated.

If the past three years have taught us anything, it is that the Left will hold nothing back in their quest to retain the White House. The 2012 election will be as nasty as recent memory will allow and the right had better have a fighter in their corner.

And when surveying the GOP presidential primary field, I submit that these are the factors that lead many to Newt Gingrich.

Newt is not only a feisty individual quick to challenge the propaganda arm of the Far Left, better known as the national media, but he also has the intellectual capacity to overshadow Obama in a debate.

But more importantly, as was accurately stated by Scott Baker of The Blaze, ‘there is a cool, analytical detachment to his brutal and effective dissection of liberal failure’, that will enable Newt to win the moral argument over what kind of country America is, or should be.

The very argument that will make up the cornerstone of Obama’s campaign strategy.

And that, in a nutshell, ideology aside, is why many feel Newt Gingrich is the best candidate to go head to head with Barack Obama.

With little confidence that Mitt Romney has a ‘killer instinct’, that Rick Perry won’t end up babbling to himself, or that Ron Paul has the ability to articulate his message in a coherent manner, or that Rick Santorum and Michele Bachmann can be anything but negative, it’s “Newt or Bust’ for many in the tea party.

Cross-Posted at Florida Political Press

As the sole administrator of a conservative web site, I read far more than the average tea party member and ingest a steady intake of the many seemingly insurmountable problems that we face as a nation and a people.

Ask around in tea party circles and it will not take very long to find those who refer to me as a naysayer, one who tends to dwell on the negative. When you take a hard look at where America stands, it’s easy to develop this mind set.

I firmly believe we get the government we deserve and but for the apathy of the American people, we would see a more responsive and morally just government. At times, in more intimate circles, I’ve stated that it may very well take an absolute collapse in this country to shake people from their indifference.

I do understand that ever the optimist, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope, as Patrick Henry so eloquently stated in his ‘Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death’ speech. He follows that by asking;

“Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation?”

The latter having become my personal motto.

I came across a column titled Government of The Elites, By The Elites and For The Elites written by ‘Monty Pelerin’. The author’s name is a pseudonym derived from The Mont Pelerin Society, an international organization composed of economists, philosophers, historians, intellectuals, business leaders, and others who favour classical liberalism.

I share a portion of it with you because it so accurately captures the pessimism that resides within my heart and that we seldom hear outside of Glenn Beck. A message that has validity in these times that try men’s souls;

This country, founded on personal liberty, freedom and limited government, has morphed into a massive Social Welfare State rivaling the paragons of Socialism in Europe. The concept of government serving the people no longer applies. The people now serve their government and its cronies.

The Founding Fathers would not recognize what has transpired in this country. Their creation and ideals have been savagely distorted if not destroyed forever. In its place stands the detested evil that results from increasingly unbridled power. The image of Leviathan ruthlessly ruling over its citizens is faintly visible. Each violation of The Constitution and The Rule of Law only strengthens the growing monster.

From a short-term perspective, the deterioration in government is barely noticeable. It proceeds slowly, in the same manner and to the same effect as rust or erosion. Looked at from a wider time perspective it is easy to see…

Attacks on the Rule of Law and the Constitution, coupled with the general decline in ethical norms, enabled the inmates to take control of the asylum. Now we face a situation described rather bluntly by D. Sherman Okst:

Plutocracy allows them to do what you and I would be jailed for doing. Being a legislator today is a get out of jail and get rich card. Congress isn’t a place to serve the public, it isn’t where you go to honor your country – it is where you go to earn wealth 150% faster than the American that serves you while you screw them.

There is no viable political solution. Choosing between Corruption Faster (Democrats) and Corruption Slower (Republicans) does not change the destination, merely the rate at which the public is plundered. Government is too large and too powerful to allow itself to be dismantled via the ballot box. Yet it is also too large, too inefficient and too insolvent to survive.

A mercy killing, administered by an economic collapse, will provide a meaningful opportunity to address the political problem and return to limited government. Such an event, unfortunately, also opens the possibility of a totalitarian state.

Great pain lies ahead. The only issue is whether it will be short-term (say ten years) or long-term as in the old Soviet Union. Be aware of what lies ahead and prepare as best you can.

Cross-Posted at Florida Political Press

An extreme comparison, no doubt… Tea Party Nation’s Judson Phillips being compared to the dastardly Alan Grayson?

A common trait the two appear to share is the propensity to make the most asinine comments imaginable, all carefully designed to attract media attention in a transparent attempt to remain relevant. And speaking of the media, it’s now a given that when looking for an extreme opinion on a tea party related issue, ring up Judson Phillips.

His latest gift to the media being comments made about Herman Cain. In response to the video clip where Cain pauses to gather his thoughts, Phillips had this to say;

“Herman Cain needs to leave the race because he is not qualified to be President. The video is painful to watch. It is obvious Cain is in over his head and simply clueless.”

Comments you would expect to hear from supporters of the political class.

As a Herman Cain supporter, it’s no surprise that I take umbrage with Phillips comments, however, as a member of the tea party I’ve simply grown weary of these “national tea party leaders” allowing themselves to be propped up by the media as if speaking on behalf of the entire movement.

And in that light, I have three words for Mr. Phillips; Shut up already!

Such a definitive statement on Cain based on one interview, where Cain had the audacity to… pause?

We readily expect to see the Far Left dust off the Sarah Palin playbook and use it against conservative candidates, but it’s a whole other matter when it comes from supposed “tea party leaders”. What makes Judson Phillips qualified to espouse on Herman Cain’s mental capacity or his qualifications?

If you’re going to play into the media’s hands, why not reinforce the racial element of the tea party and proclaim that Cain can’t grasp the complexities of the job simply because he’s a black man?

Here’s a news flash, after the last four administrations, including the current one, America may not survive another “qualified” President.

The great thing about the tea party in the eyes of opportunists such as Judson Phillips is that any yahoo can step forward and call himself a tea party leader. The ranks of the tea party are full of these self proclaimed leaders who command little more than an email list, often purchased from other sources.

Beyond this, what contributions has Phillips, who once suggested that only property owners be allowed to vote, made to the movement?

His only claim to fame is that he was the first to hold a “national” tea party convention and was fortunate enough to secure Sarah Palin as the keynote speaker. A convention surrounded by controversy and lawsuits. And his second attempt at a national convention fell flat and resulted in a lawsuit being filed against him by the casino resort, who says Phillips failed to pay the bill after canceling the event.

I suggest that it is Judson Phillips who’s in over his head and simply clueless… which gives him yet another commonality with Alan Grayson.

Cross-posted at Florida Political Press

With a midnight deadline looming on Monday, the ‘Supercommittee’ is at an impasse and we run the risk of the automatic cuts taking effect if a deal cannot be struck. For the next couple of days, we’ll be treated to the theatrics of the political class ‘laboring’ on our behalf to desperately come up with solutions.

Rep. Xavier Becerra (Calif.), one of the six Democrats leaders on the committee has already tipped us off on how it all ends when he said the automatic cuts known as sequestration would not be a failure.

“[But] sequestration is a way to get us back on track,” he said. “Sequestration will give us progress whether we like it or not. I’d rather have a human hand fashioning the progress than, as I’ve said before, the blunt edge of a guillotine deciding what progress looks like. [But] any time you can get $1.2 trillion in savings, that’s not failure.”

Of course, with the savings consisting of at least $500 billion in cuts to national security spending, while entitlement benefits are protected, is it any wonder that the Democrats are fine with no deal being struck?

Meanwhile, another Democrat on the committee, Rep. James Clyburn (S.C.), denounced the latest GOP offer, which he described as containing $600 billion in program cuts with “only $3 billion in revenue.”

“Do we look stupid?” he said after leaving a meeting with Democratic members of the panel. “I mean, I don’t know, maybe we do. I certainly am not stupid.”

I submit that both the Republicans and Democrats think the American people are stupid and I fear that we are doing everything possible to prove them right.

This whole ‘Supercommittee’ stunk from day one. The idea that this group of 6 members of each party would come together and reach an accord on how to achieve $1.2 Trillion in savings was a farce from the very beginning.

Here’s a clue on how that was going to work out;

a) the Democrats will propose raising taxes and the Republicans will balk,

b) the Republicans will propose spending cuts and the Democrats will balk.

Is this starting to remind anyone of the movie ‘Groundhog Day‘?

And to further insult our intelligence, the GOP managed to include a vote on a balanced budget amendment in the deal that created the supercommittee. Well, the vote just took place and surprise, surprise, it fell well short of the 290 votes needed.

Speaker Boehner watered down the proposed amendment in an attempt to ‘appeal to Democrats’ by not including any spending limits and allowing a simple majority to raise taxes to balance the budget instead of a supermajority. Basically, pulling it’s teeth and rendering it meaningless.

So now the Republicans can go home and say ‘we tried to pass a balanced budget amendment, but those big, bad Democrats voted against it’. And the Democrats will go home and, well, I’m not sure what they say to their constituents, but I sense most could not care less about a balanced budget anyway so long as the entitlements continue to flow.

In the end, the American people get what what we always get from Washington. Politics.

Oh, by the way, we just tipped the scales to the plus side of $15 Trillion of national debt.

And to add injury to insult, despite Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac playing a large role in the economic collapse of a few years ago, a bipartisan Congressional committee, with quiet support from the White House, just announced an agreement to increase the FHA’s maximum mortgage limits to $729,750 from $625,500.

So the political posturing and gamesmanship continues and I have to ask; “Do we look stupid? I mean, I don’t know, maybe we do.”

Cross-posted at Florida Political Press