The Tea Party opens a long-planned convention tonight in Daytona Beach, expecting 1,200 delegates, dozens of speakers — but almost no big-name politicians.
None of the leading Republican presidential candidates and only two of the five U.S. Senate candidates agreed to speak at the three-day Florida Tea Party Convention at the Volusia County Ocean Center.
And top Republican officeholders who have previously courted Tea Party support — Gov. Rick Scott, Attorney General Pam Bondi, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio and U.S. Rep. Allen West of Plantation — also sent their regrets.
Organizers said they still expect two presidential candidates: U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania. But neither campaign would confirm they're coming, and their campaign schedules don't list the convention.
In fact, all of the politicians who responded to Sentinel inquiries cited scheduling conflicts, though the convention dates were set months ago. And their absence leaves many observers puzzled, considering how popular tea-party events have been among most Republican candidates.
Liberals say the depiction of tea partyers as "extremists" — especially on issues such as immigration — is prompting candidates to keep their distance.
"A lot of politicians are worried about being painted by that association, especially as we get into the real meat of the election cycle," said Mark Ferrulo, executive director of the liberal, Tallahassee-based Progress Florida.
Let's face it the Teabaggers are nucking futs, and any politician who wants to be taken seriously has to make as much space between their campaign, and the lunatics in the tri-corner hats as possible.
Only ex-politicians with no hopes of any future campaigns, like Sarah Palin, can afford to publicly endorse the baggers. Of course Palin is still blowing kisses at them, who else is going to pay to hear her screech about the President if she pisses THEM off?
Personally I think that since the Americans have now seen what jokes the Baggers are as legislators, after a number of them were elected in 2010, they are now simply over them as a movement. I believe that the country is FAR more interested in what kind of change the OWS crowd might usher in, than supporting a movement that has single-handedly caused progress in Washington to grind to a complete halt.
Do you giggle when you write that Sarah has no political hope? Cause I giggle and tee hee like a school girl when I read it!!
ReplyDeleteIs that photo a photo-shopped joke? Isn't that Willow and her mom's boss Rupert in the front row?
ReplyDelete--Melanmoney
I find the OWS a lot more legitimate a display of grievances against the State of the Union.
ReplyDeleteThese people most likely invested in 'Hope and Change' and are inspired by democratic protests in inexplicable nations this past year than the manufactured outrage at government "growth and spending" that the Tea Party should have protested during the Bush years, not at the helm of a new leader.
The Tea Party movement is and was disingenuous, they just wanted Sarah Palin's Americana, White where foreigners and people of color knew their place. . .and where people just vote about abortion and nothing more of substance.
And the asshat Joe Walsh--just got an award from some doofus organisation for his support of the family....just not HIS family.
ReplyDeleteCreepazoids.
The Tea Party movement was totally fake! Cynically funded by the Kochs to take money from dumb racists. (Can you imagine? They wanted MORE MONEY.) And it worked. Once. But not this time. Not 2012.
ReplyDeleteIf you have a friend who is a teabagger, tell them that the Kochs are behind Americans for Prosperity and that the Kochs are billionaires. Let the Kochs fund their own dumb astro-turf. You'll be helping your old white mentally-challenged male tea-bagging friend hold onto his cash. He's gonna need it. Thank you.
The Teabag Queens are not going to the convention...Oh My!
ReplyDeleteTime to wake up, Baggers: You've been fucked and put away wet. Now put your clothes on and go home.
ReplyDeleteEven Michele Bachmann, who founded the Tea Party Cuacus in, is passing on these Tea Bagging fools!
ReplyDeleteI guess they really are over when HER busy schedule of dance competitions with The Fabulous Marcus takes a higher priority.
But where's the Palins?
ReplyDeleteI'm confused. Wasn't that what SarahPAC and donations were all about? She was going to lead the charge, do the whole Tea Party support thing, with vigor and enthusiasm?
Could we have clarification from one of the Tea Baggers?
Isn't that what the Harley Davidson motorcycle ride on Washington was all about? Isn't that why you paid her and the kids to be there?
What's she doing at DisneyWorld instead? I'm so confused...
What ARE her politics, anyway?
Typical of Sarah Palin to be telling people to join the passe'
ReplyDelete"OWS should join the Tea Potty" she says;
it never ends - always behind the curve, out of the loop and ignorant of the facts; that's our Sarah.
You'd like to think that the Repos want to avoid possible video of them on the dais with some one screaming about offing politicians and liberals considering what has already happened in Arizona.
ReplyDeleteBut, sadly, that probably isn't the reason the aren't there.
Imagine, if you will, someone telling the OWS movement, that Paul Revere shot warning shots and rang bells to warn the british. Or that the earth is 6000 years old, man walked the earth along with dinosaurs.
ReplyDeleteWould any of them buy it, let alone defend it and send her their hard earned money?
They'd either laugh hysterically, ignore her, or try their best to correct her in an age appropriate way, with scientific facts.
The Tea Party is proof that stupid begins at conception. Since they don't believe in education, they also believe it's incurable.
The beauty of the occupy movement is the intelligence and peaceful spirit of their cause.