When the Tea Party first burst onto the political scene, I remember actually being excited. I saw the Tea Party as a grassroots organization of working-class to management-class Americans who were tired of the way the Republican Party managed the conservative agenda. In my mind, the Tea Party represented real American conservatives who wanted to get things done instead of engaging with Democrats in the same old dance. I realize now that I was right and wrong.
The Tea Party is entirely composed of conservatives who want to change the way Republicans work to conduct the country’s business. Unfortunately, the members of this decentralized powerhouse that recaptured the House for Republicans during the last mid-term elections seem to be so out of touch with political realities that they are destroying the conservative cause.
I understand why any American would want to keep taxes low and keep government from running over the common man, but the performance of Tea Party Republicans in the House and Senate have convinced me that these guys really don’t have a clue. By bullying House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio into shutting down the government and threatening a historic default on U.S. debt, Tea Party Republicans have created a no-win scenario for conservatives. Democrats only have to keep from openly laughing in the face of the Republican Party while it consumes itself from the inside out.
While Mr. and Mrs. America deal with the fallout of their actions, Tea Party Republicans have taken a Kamikaze attitude while what used to be known as the ultra conservative Republican wing chews off its own foot hoping to save even a teaspoon of the party’s dignity.
What should the American voter expect from all of this? Well, 2014 is all but here. Expect to see the full weight of the passionate Tea Party rally against their fellow conservatives in numerous primaries across the country. Of course, if conservatives hope to remain employed, they will absolutely need to fight back.
Oh yes, there will be blood!
When the victor emerges weary and financially depleted, they will face a fresh Democratic opponent armed to the teeth with memories of how Republicans abused and molested the government and the American people and failed to achieve anything in exchange for our suffering.
Of course with two years of total control of the executive and legislative branches of government, no re-election to worry about and likely one of the highest approval ratings of an outgoing U.S. President, it is very unlikely that there will be anything that President Obama can’t do.
Republicans should look forward to comprehensive immigration reform, an increase in the minimum wage, and a brand new tax code for the American people. Oh, and I’d get used to the idea of the next President Clinton, I wouldn’t be surprised if she thanked the Tea Party specifically in her inaugural address.