The Tea Party just got bigger

If the senate is planning on postponing their vote until after the first of the year, they must be planning on testing the reaction to the house of representatives' vote.

I have a feeling that the Tea Party is going to get bigger and louder and the independent ranks will swell. Republicans have an opportunity to articulate where we are as a nation and what's at stake, and to show independents they are the party willing to fight the progressive agenda. I recommend talking to the public about this in broader terms of free market principles, while also showing how free market solutions are superior to government social engineering. I would question the constitutionality of the bill and explain the constitutional issues -- it's a violation of individual rights.

I would challenge the public to resist the healthcare reform bill on principles and show how this is an issue bigger than present healthcare concerns -- it's an issue that affects how we are governed, and it determines whether we have the courage to fight for liberty and constitutional integrity. Republicans should put together several forums in which they can present the alternative to statism, and not talk down to the public, but try to catch up to them.

This is a battle worth winning -- it could determine who wins the war, statists or those who defend the Constitution, the free market and individual rights-- no compromise, no retreat.

In order to turn back the progressive attack on the free market, this healthcare reform bill must be defeated. The progressives who are trying to ram this bill down our throats are depending on resistance being weak, wearing down -- I hope they're wrong. I'm not accepting the inevitability that Democrats will pass the bill because the progressive/president's agenda depends on it -- fuck the progressive agenda -- excuse my French. Nothing in politics is inevitable if enough people stand against it and make their position crystal clear. The rallying cry should be -- Market Solutions, Hell Yes, Government Takeover, Hell No.

Those who read this and believe it's hyperbole are probably of the same mindset of those who've appeased statism in the past -- oh, it's nothing but government attempting to help the unfortunate. Please, let's not fall for this once again -- the government gives and the government takes away -- it's what they take that's always misjudged.

The diversity of independents

It's a big mistake to look at events like Tuesday's's elections and see only a conservative faction at work, a group of automatons led by Dick Armey and Sarah Palin who all think alike and act in unison.

There are probably some broad divisions which can be made, like those who favor an interventionist government because of whatever benefit they're getting from government, and then those who don't really get any extra benefits (other than the normal government services that apply to everyone) from government who prefer that the state not interfere in our lives.

These divisions have existed for quite some time, and not all those who prefer less government intervention have been politically active -- they've simply cursed a little at times when the subject comes up, but mostly they go about their business and think very little about government - however, now that the progressives have power and they are intervening in major ways, and now that the Information Age is wide open, people are realizing just how nannyish and dangerous big government has become.

Yes, there is the radio talk-show group, although they are not monolithic, and, yes, there is a conservative base which has relatively similar ideas about politics, and, yes, there are white racists who blame minorities, although they are a fringe element, and the race element is manifested in different ways, not all a simple hatred of people of color, but rather a sense of reverse discrimination, plus there are independent people of color, and, yes, there are libertarians who, of course, want a limited government, but libertarians are varied and some lean left, and, yes, there are some who are rich businesspeople, but they don't think and act alike -- on and on. So, the independent movement is not so easy to buttonhole.

The independent movement, if you can really call it a movement at this stage, is beginning to coalesce around a few ideas -- out of control spending, too much government power, high taxation in many areas and fear of taxes going higher all over the country, unemployment, bailouts of big corporations and corruption.

I certainly wouldn't look at the increase in independents as just a conservative movement related to the Republican Party. There are political figures who would like to co-opt independents for their own purposes, but independents are too diverse to define as a political group, and it's best to see independents as representative of the private realm, not necessarily seeking power, but, rather, seeking to limit power by insisting on change in Washington D.C.

Many independents thought they were getting change with a new type of president in Barack Obama, but increased government power isn't what they had in mind. It speaks to the political naivette of many people that they thought Obama would clean up Washington and bring in a new style of responsible governance -- but people are quickly getting a lesson on politics and a refresher course on the Constitution. Many people don't like what America is becoming -- they had been asleep, and now they are waking up.

Those isolated in political intrigue in Washington D.C. don't understand the independent movement and see conspiracies behind every placard -- they are convinced that evil capitalist forces are at work putting forth an army of conservative soldiers to destroy Obama. The conservative movement makes up only a portion of the independents and they are not brain-dead foot-soldiers, just, for the most part, ordinary conservative Americans concerned about government over-reach, but it's a mistake to see this as a classical conservative/liberal, Republican/Democrat battle for political control. An apolitical movement is forming which transcends the old political divisions, and this movement makes up what used to be called the Silent Majority -- it's a diverse group with very few political demands, and very few special interests. This awakening has more to do with the private realm being left alone, a desire for a vibrant economy and the limitation of government power. Government is held responsible for unemployment and people are sick of big corporations being favored at the expense of small businesses and jobs.

It's also not traditional class warfare -- it's a war between the people and the government. Although the economy is the biggest concern, it's quickly becoming a moral issue of liberty vs domination.

He might even win an Oscar

I will be writing a lot about independents in the coming days, because I believe the independent movement is being marginalized through misrepresentation of what it stands for -- at least moderates and progressives are attempting to marginalize the movement. One of the reasons I like Glenn Beck is because he understands the independent movement and doesn't waver or lean toward a wink-and-nod to Republicans. Once Beck realized the emptiness of the Republican Party, he grasped what the Tea Party is about.

 

But before I get into the subject of the independent movement too far, it's useful to explain why I think Obama is still fairly popular, yet congress is viewed less favorably than a box of rattlesnakes -- at least there's anti-venom for a snake bite. Obama will likely remain popular and, also, likely win a second term -- but progressivism will be punished. As Obama sees that his progressive agenda is becoming more and more unpopular, he will separate himself from it the best he can, while still hoping surrogates can get changes through which don't stick directly to Obama. There is no mistake that Obama is a progressive, but he's also a man who wants leave a great legacy.

 

Obama, as titular head of the U.S., will be given a pass, because he's the first African-American President, and because he's a personable guy, but the independent movement will not allow him to become an Emperor. That's okay -- there will be no widespread movment to destroy Obama, and there shouldn't be, because he can't make changes alone -- his progressive agenda will be stopped, and he will have his legacy.

 

If someone like John Kerry had been elected to president and it turned out he has all these socialist-leaning connections and his agenda was full-bore progressive, he would be destroyed -- but Obama will be a star. He'll be rendered politically impotent, but he'll be a star, nonetheless. We love our celebrities. Oh, there will be small groups who try to destroy him, but he will rise above it, and the majority will let the movie play out.

Moderates haven't learned anything from the independent movement

The moderate spin this morning is that conservatives shouldn't have messed with NY-23 and that Scozzafava was the perfect candidate for that district -- even after she endorsed the Democrat. What can you say?

 

Moderates are hopeless. I don't see how this split is going to be resolved, because the conservative movement is actually only a part of a much larger movement of independents who are a diverse lot -- they just don't like progressivism. The simpletons who claim there is no such thing as independents are unable to grasp the new shift in the political landscape -- they still insist on claiming that independents are either Republicans or Democrats posturing, but still loyal to their party.

 

We will soon see to what degree the independent movement has evolved, and how it will not only affect the Republicans, but it will also divide the Democrats. There are moderate Democrats just as squishy as the Republican moderates, and the hardline progressives are already threatening to punish their squishiness, but you will also see Democrats who begin siding with the independent movement. The independent movement is separating from both parties, and partisans can't understand this because they are so accustomed to thinking in the mindset of the two party system. No one entrenched in the two-party system can imagine a true independent movement, but it's a reality, and it's growing daily.

Progressives have been sent a message

No more socializing!

The country is tired of big spending, big programs, redistribution, unemployment, taxes, and over-reach in general.

It's too bad Hoffman didn't win, but the other two elections, with McDonnell and Christie winning, and Hoffman's good showing, send a clear message -- the resistance has just begun. The country is fired up and the independent movement is growing.

We'll see how the Republican Party reacts. Republicans have a chance to become the limited government party, but, first, the moderates have to get on board. It's good to see libertarian influence having an effect, but if the party splits down a statist/limited government line, there could be a big battle ahead, and if the big money goes toward the statist-leaners, there will support for a third party -- even if a third party doesn't have a chance. People are not in the mood to be sold out again.

However, the real question is -- how will Democrats act? Will the Democrats unite under progressivism, or will they split, too? It's going to be interesting.