The Tea Party Movement

2010-10-05T17:06:00.001-07:00

Christine Oâ€™Donnell to Delaware Voters: â€œIâ€™m Not a Witch, Iâ€™m Youâ€: Senate candidate and Tea Party-backed Christine... http://dlvr.it/6Z47q

Christine O’Donnell to Delaware Voters: “I’m Not a Witch, I’m You”

2010-10-05T14:07:00.000-07:00

Senate candidate and Tea Party-backed Christine O’Donnell made headlines when she was able to upset heavily favored GOP nominee Mike Castle during the previous Republican senate primary for Delaware. The endorsement by the Tea Party Movement and Sarah Palin days before the primary was seen as the ultimate key to O’Donnell’s victory. The upset was so huge that Republicans warned about the consequences it has brought to the goals of the GOP in the upcoming polls which is to regain control of the House and the Senate. She will now be facing a well-funded and established Democratic candidate Chris Coons for the Delaware senate seat.

Because of her widespread popularity, O’Donnell is now the subject of many criticisms with some even going overboard. On September 18, 2010, comedian Bill Maher aired a previously recorded clip of O’Donnell’s appearance on his former 1999 television show, Politically Incorrect. Seen in the clip is a footage of O’Donnell uttering the following words “I dabbled into witchcraft — I never joined a coven ... I hung around people who were doing these things. I'm not making this stuff up. I know what they told me they do” and “One of my first dates with a witch was on a satanic altar, and I didn't know it”. Because of such remarks, Maher said he would continue to show more exclusive clips until O'Donnell agreed to appear on his current show.

The upcoming midterms isn’t going well for O’Donnell. Recent surveys suggest that O’Donnell is trailing Coons with a huge 2 digit margin. According to a September 21, 2010 Fox News Poll, Coons is leading by 15 points over O’Donnell with only 5 percent of voters left undecided. It might seem that the “Witch” propaganda may have spelled doomed to her candidacy. Not losing hope, O’Donnell recently launched her first TV Ad with the central theme of “I’m not a witch, I’m you”. She clarified that the she isn’t certainly a witch and that she pretty much belongs to the society she is in (Delaware).

Dressed in a black blazer and pearls, she addresses the camera with the following words:

“I'm nothing you've heard. I'm you. None of us are (sic) perfect. But none of us can be happy with what we see all around us. Politicians who think spending, trading favors and backroom deals are the way to stay in office. I'll go to Washington and do what you'd do. I'm Christine O'Donnell and I approve this message. I'm you”.

Despite of her strong message that she is indeed not a witch, O’Donnell may still have a hard time convincing people that she is really for them. Her rival, Chris Coons is still enjoying a comfortable lead in recent polls especially that we are nearing the midterms.

Here is her 1st TV ad:

Sharron Angle: "The Republicans have lost their standards, they've lost their principles”

2010-10-04T13:25:00.000-07:00

"The Republicans have lost their standards, they've lost their principles. ... Really, that's why the machine in the Republican Party is fighting against me. ... They have never really gone along with lower taxes and less government”. These were the words used by Tea Party-backed and Republican senate candidate Sharron Angle in describing the present situation of the Republican Party during a recent taped discussion which accidentally leaked in public. Angle is also desperately persuading another Tea Party-backed candidate, Jon Scott Ashjian, to drop out of the Nevada senate race and leave the race to Angle and her democratic opponent.

Last 8th of June, Sharron Angle made headlines when she was able to bag the Republican nomination and upset highly favored Republican candidate Sue Lowden. Angle received an endorsement from the Tea Party Express during a rally in the nation’s capital which was seen as the primary reason for her victory. It was one of the many upset victories that Tea Party candidates were able to accomplish during various Republican primaries. The most famous was Christine O’Donnell’s victory in the Delaware Republican primaries where she dethroned highly favored Republican candidate Mike Castle.

Angle has been reportedly asking her rival, Scott Ashjian, to move away from the race. She reasons that the candidacy of Ashjian, who is also backed by the Tea Party, will effectively split the Nevada conservative votes. As a result, Democratic senator and candidate, Harry Reid, will benefit from such scenario and will have an easier time in taking back the Nevada Senate seat. Recent polls showed Angle is leading her opponent with a smaller margin. It is predicted that the Nevada senate race will be closely fought between the two with the winner only able to achieve a slimmer margin.

The leaked tape was immediately defended by Angle’s camp stating that she was only expressing the feelings of the Nevada community. Angle’s spokesman Jarrod Agen said the following words, “Sharron expressed what many working families in Nevada and across the country are feeling”. He also added “They are angry with Harry Reid, they are angry with Washington D.C., and they want blunt plain-spoken leaders who are willing to shake things up”. Democrats have been using the video to explain to voters how hypocritical the relationship of Angle with the D.C. Republicans.

Despite the evidence of her badmouthing with the party, National Republicans have continuously expressed their support to Angle and even defended her from various criticisms. With Democrats strongly criticizing Angle as having too extreme views, she eventually received an endorsement from the state’s largest newspaper, Las Vegas Review-Journal. The editorial board suggested that Reid could offer voters only the status quo and Angle had the more promising political platform.

2010-10-01T18:15:00.001-07:00

Things are Heating Up in the New York Gubernatorial Race: About 5 weeks from now, Americans will again be voting for... http://dlvr.it/6JgW4

Things are Heating Up in the New York Gubernatorial Race

2010-10-01T14:20:00.000-07:00

About 5 weeks from now, Americans will again be voting for politicians who they think are the answer to their problems and struggles. And this election is expected to be a tight one despite the already growing hatred and dissatisfaction of voters towards Democrats. While recent polls point out to an impending Republican takeover of Congress this November, Pres. Obama and his Democrats are still optimistic that their last ditch efforts to fire up young voters and their die-hard supporters will save them from a projected catastrophic election. Now as I am saying this, recent studies show that attack ads and black propaganda are on the rise this campaign period.

In the New York Gubernatorial race, Tea Party-backed and GOP candidate Carl Paladino have recently released allegations that his Democratic Rival, Andrew Cuomo was quite infidel with his previous wife. Paladino is now accusing Cuomo of infidelity as a reason for his failed marriage. In a recent interview by Politico.com, Paladino uttered the following words, “Has anybody asked Andrew Cuomo about his paramours? … When he was married — or asked him why his wife left him or threw him out of the house? Has anybody ever done that? What are they doing intruding on my life?”…

Paladino was seen as visibly angry and upset after news reports pointed him to have fathered a child in some affair way back. He reportedly channeled that anger towards Cuomo by making such allegations. According to Politico.com, there was no public allegation or evidence which points to Cuomo having an affair outside his former wife. In fact, Cuomo’s former wife, Kerry Kennedy, reported to have left the marriage and had an affair with socialite Bruce Colley. Paladino’s actions are a perfect example of candidates who deviate from traditional statewide campaign norms. Topics such as infidelity are such sensitive topics and must not be used in the name of politics.

Meanwhile, Paladino also hit headlines when he reportedly threatened to “take out” a news reporter. New York Post state editor, Fred Dicker, approached Paladino in a business confab and demanded him to present valid evidences to back up his claims of Cuomo’s infidel past. Paladino immediately responded by stating that he had the necessary evidence though he will only be presenting it in the most appropriate time. He then said “You send another goon to my daughter's house and I'll take you out, buddy”. And we will be expecting things to get hotter as election time comes closer.

Below is the confrontation between Paladino and Dicker that was caught on cell phone video:

2010-09-30T18:57:00.001-07:00

Four Antidotes for the Four Major Themes of the Tea Party Movement: There are numerous questions left answered... http://dlvr.it/6FJPB

Four Antidotes for the Four Major Themes of the Tea Party Movement

2010-09-30T13:32:00.000-07:00

There are numerous questions left answered towards the many different problems that plague the nation. The victories of the Tea Party in various GOP primaries is just a testament to the many lessons the Republicans can get from the scorching anger that the Tea Party activists are displaying. In being able to identify the 4 main themes of the movement, Bradford Kane also gave the antidotes for each theme. It is very important that whoever gets those seats this November, should give their attention to the concerns of this movement or suffer the same fate that Democrats will soon have.

On Fiscal Responsibility

Being the central theme for these upcoming midterm elections, fiscal responsibility should be on top of everyone’s agenda. It is very important for these lawmakers to focus on job creation as this is the only way for the economy to experience growth. There should be an effective and inexpensive way to conduct job skills training. The bulk of unspent stimulus money can be used for e-learning programs which will further widen the skill set of unemployed workers. To ensure the long-term sustainability of our economy, deficit reduction should also be prioritized. The bipartisan National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform will recommend ways to reduce the debt and deficit such as reducing defense spending, increasing taxes on large corporations and phasing out spending for certain programs.

On the Role of the Government

The role of the government remains to be a legitimate topic for debate, and can best be addressed by specifically identifying what the American people would lose if the federal government were limited or controlled. The voting population may still be unease with the proposal of privatizing social security and Medicare, eliminating civil rights laws and financial companies taking advantage of consumers. They may not also be in favor of dismantling unemployment insurance and educational programs. This remains to be a major topic for discussion and evaluation. While some roles of the government should be better off handled by U.S. states, others are still better addressed by the federal government itself.

On Anger

Voters should be critical enough and must know that, whoever they choose, that candidate will be bringing along a wide range of political views, not only the few that they usually reiterate during the campaign. Each race should be localized, with a focus on the choice between the particular candidates, rather than on national trends. Radical proposals which stem from anger can be countered with sound policies toward shared objectives. Voters should realize that the sound policies of Obama will only take effect in the coming months. The upcoming elections should be nationalized, giving full attention to what the Tea Party candidates say they would do.

On Demonization

Demonization is quite destructive in nature based on distrust and prejudice. Americans of all political beliefs should strongly condemn attacks that are based on baseless allegations and false accusations. There is now, more than ever, a greater need for decency and civility rather than hateful and antagonistic rhetoric behavior. The recent issue with regards to the planned construction of an Islamic center right near the ground zero site is a perfect example of the destruction that demonization may bring. By practicing collaboration, civility and dialogue, a compromise can be done in order to avoid conflict and have a more harmonious society.

The Four Major Themes of the Tea Party

2010-09-29T14:03:00.000-07:00

With thousands of Americans losing their jobs every day and with thousands more growing desperate in looking for viable source of living, People are beginning to lose their patience and are directly blaming the government for such chaos. The massive frustration of Americans towards the Obama administration and the Democratic-controlled Congress will surely be evident during the upcoming Midterm elections this November. The Tea Party Movement rose out of these frustrations and is now telling the government that the voices of the American population must be heard. In order to fully understand the movement, Editor of “The Bipartisan Bridge”, Bradford Kane, talks about the four major characteristics that the party is focusing this November.

Fiscal Responsibility

It is quite evident that the Tea Party came into existence because of the growing concerns of people towards the rapid federal spending, the ballooning national debt, the continuous rise of the budget deficit, the unreasonable taxes and the capital infusions of banks and automobile manufacturers. Despite of the stimulus package that gave financial assistance to banks and large institutions enabling them to recover and avoid any further damage, it is still unfair for people that much of the package was only benefiting these large businesses while millions of families still suffer today. As long as there is excessive spending done by the government which contributes to more deficits and debts, the Tea Party will continue to dwell on these issues and criticize the priorities of the government.

Role of the Government

As seen from these fiscal issues, the Tea Party strongly considers reducing the scope of the federal government. A smaller government is what the movement is proposing. Many of its supporters would like the Federal government to limit its focus on defense and other international issues. They want the states themselves to handle it instead. In this way, the Federal government can focus more on more important matters such as propelling the economy. Also, the party is strongly objecting two of the government’s fundamental social responsibility roles – providing social safety-net and regulating industries which have direct impacts on safety, health, environment, consumer protection, justice and the economy.

Anger

As seen in numerous Tea Party victories in various Republican primaries, many Tea Party votes were cast to protest the status quo. They strongly rejected Republicans who were not firmly opposed to the economic stimulus and health care and financial industry reforms. Whether experienced or not, Tea Party candidates have a common denominator where they did not hold offices which would have saddled them to the ugly economy of the past three years.

Demonization

As the Tea Party gained strength and influence, it also became an outlet for resentments and malevolence that plagued America in 2010. The movement was hijacked by those determined enough to use it to spread the word about anti-immigration, racism, anti-gay, and anti-Islamic sentiments. Although it diverts from the original scope of the Tea Party, the Tea Party itself acknowledges the demonization of demographic groups in society. Leaders of the group often focused on Pres. Obama, the Immigration law and issues with regards to Muslims.

GOP Candidate Came Under Fire for Signing then Unsigning Tea Party Agenda

2010-09-29T14:00:00.000-07:00

The recent unveiling of the Republican Legislative Agenda called “Pledge to America” represents the GOP’s morale and confidence that they will most likely defeat Democrats this Midterm polls. It is also a way for the party to convince the voters that the party is indeed serious in implementing reforms in the government and achieve the genuine change that was promised before but was ignored by then. But just like Republicans, Tea Party activists also have their own 10-point agenda called “Contract from America” which they want the next Congress to follow. With the popularity of the Tea Party soaring high, many candidates are strongly considering the support of the party as their ticket to a seat this November.

In Alabama, grassroots activists have expressed their anger and discontent towards Republican congressional candidate Mo Brooks. He reportedly signed and expressed his support towards the national Tea Party-backed agenda “Contract from America” on Sunday. But a day later, his name went missing from the list of supporters thus prompting activists to probe Brooks. According to Ryan Hecker, a Houston activist who’s behind the Tea Party agenda, Brooks wanted his name to be removed for the reason that he received pressure from his Democratic opponent for not supporting earmarks.

Alabama congressional candidate and Democrat Steve Raby strongly criticized Brooks for supporting the agenda showing his intentions to reject federal funding for the district. If we look closer at the Tea Party agenda, we can see a section there that calls for an end to earmarks until the federal budget is in balance. Brooks immediately explained his actions stating that the he didn’t treat the provision as a way to ban earmarks. In fact, he strongly supports them so that more dollars will be poured towards his district. He also uttered the following words ““He (Raby) is knowingly misrepresenting my view”.

Despite of this explanation, several Tea Party supporters were strongly criticizing the move of Brooks. On the “Contract from America” Facebook fan page, several users expressed their displeasure and anger. John Guill said “To ‘unsign’ the Contract is worse than not signing it”. He also added “Mr. Brooks apparently lacks the decisive leadership skills necessary to be a Congressman”. Another supporter, Dave Hatcher, wrote, “Vote him out next chance. Some folks need to have an example made of them”. Brooks won the GOP nomination over Rep. Parker Griffith with the help and support from local Tea Party activists. Now, he is under fire and criticism for turning them down.

2010-09-28T16:01:00.001-07:00

Does GOP have a place for Tea Party Agenda?: When Christine Oâ€™Donnell was able to snatch the Republican nomination... http://dlvr.it/65s65

Does GOP have a place for Tea Party Agenda?

2010-09-28T13:50:00.000-07:00

When Christine O’Donnell was able to snatch the Republican nomination against GOP-backed Mike Castle for the senate seat in Delaware, she immediately gained political fame for having defeated a strong contender for the seat. Castle was heavily favored by the GOP to win the primary until Tea Party activists along with Sarah Palin poured support for O’Donnell resulting in her victory. Immediately after O’Donnell’s win, several high-profile GOP leaders mentioned that they will not support her financially and they felt that their aim of regaining control of the senate was being threatened.

At the recent Values Voter Summit which is an annual gathering of Christian conservatives, Republicans have underlined their primary concern that Tea Party’s focus on fiscal issues might interfere and sideline the agendas of their other candidates. It is remembered that the Tea Party Movement has drawn huge crowds in protesting the cost of Obama’s health care bill, along with his “Unsuccessful” economic stimulus program and his proposed expiration of Bush-era tax cuts. For the past three decades, Christian conservatives have played a key role in the Republican coalition. And now, they are seeking for a reassurance from the party that they are not going to be displaced.

Just last week, Tea Party strategists Matt Kibbe told reporters at a breakfast meeting that the Tea Party Movement is not anti-religion. Yet, Kibbe is widely known as one of a number of movement leaders who have called for more focus on the nation’s economy. One reason seen is the fact that economic issues are rather more appealing to independent voters who decide to fall elections. And with developing concerns that their causes will be left out, three socially conservative organizations last week unveiled 20,000 signatures on petitions demanding that the party will include in its priority list "issues on Family Values" such as a favorable ban on abortion.

Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the “Susan B. Anthony list” which funds female candidates opposed to abortion, uttered the following words “"It would be an electorally costly mistake for the GOP not to include them (social issues, religion and family values)”. Going back to the Values Voter Summit, several potential Republican presidential contenders rejected the possibility of downplaying a conservative social agenda. Former Arkansas governor said the following words “There are a lot of people who say this is not a year when we should be talking about social issues, values issues”. He also added “Many of our economic issues are the result of the breakdown of something of character and integrity”.

Many participants of the summit also expressed similar sentiments. Elaine Tornero of Columbus, Ohio, mentioned that he believes the Tea Party movement is equally concerned about socially conservative values. In order to be successful in their goal of repealing Democratic influence in the government, the GOP and the Tea Party must be united and must share common goals in order to achieve victory this coming elections.

2010-09-27T15:11:00.001-07:00

A Display of Tea Party Strength: Voters are Unsatisfied with Democrats and Republicans: The present state of the... http://dlvr.it/62HVY

A Display of Tea Party Strength: Voters are Unsatisfied with Democrats and Republicans

2010-09-27T14:21:00.000-07:00

The present state of the U.S. economy has been very troubling for the past few years not only to politicians and lawmakers but to ordinary citizens as well. Unemployment levels are at a record high that is now standing at 9.6%. With the continuous failure of the Obama administration to stimulate economic growth and create jobs for the millions of individuals who are currently unemployed, people began feeling weary, discontented and frustrated. And the GOP has been seeing this as an opportunity to finally regain power in the U.S. Congress most especially in the Senate.

The GOP firmly believes that most Democrats who supported Obama during his campaign period will eventually shift sides this time and favor Republican candidates as the President and the Democratic-dominated Congress is unable to save the nation from the recession. But a recent poll by AP-GfK showed that 59 percent of respondents disapproved of the way Democrats in Congress are handling the economy while 64 percent also said that same about Republicans. This is a clear indication that voters are displeased with both political parties.

Millions of voters now have shifted their support and become involved with the Tea Party Movement for the reason that it gives them opportunities to have their voices heard. It is worth remembering how Democrats used to put down and ultimately ignored concerned citizens in public forums. This is the very reason why Democrats of today are constantly attacking Tea Party people with attack ads and other propagandas. The GOP and Republicans also don’t like the party for the very reason that the party contradicts to their very principles and may prove to be hindrance in achieving their goals.

Despite of their non-approval to the party, Republicans are generally benefiting from the efforts of the Tea Party. A recent poll showed that 54 percent said that they hated Democrats for this coming election while 40 percent of respondents said the same was true for Republicans. In terms of voter turnout, 49 percent are now backing Republican congressional candidates and are expected to vote these elections while only 39 percent was rooting for Democrats. Another poll conducted by Rasmussen last week indicated 52 percent of voters saying their views were closely relevant to Tea Party figure Sarah Palin as opposed to President Obama’s views.

The recent victory by Tea Party-backed candidates during Republican primaries is just a taste of what’s to come. The Tea Party Movement is slowly showing its true strength and is ready to make upsets this November. Despite of the massive publicity and popularity that the party today is gaining, they will still be battling against rich and powerful Democrats who are going to spend tons of money for their campaigns. Regardless of the outcome, the Tea Party will eventually influence U.S. politics today and with the years to come.

Recent Polls Show GOP Candidates with Big Business Ties are Leading their Respective Races

2010-09-27T14:18:00.000-07:00

The economic recession that started in yearly 2007 is perhaps the worst financial crisis to hit the United State and the rest of the world since the Great Depression. The poor decision and implementation of regulations amongst Wall Street companies resulted in a liquidity shortfall that affected major financial institutions worldwide. As a direct result, thousands of people lost their jobs that significantly affected the quality of living in the United States. People directly blamed Wall Street professionals and financial institutions for such mess they have created. With failed attempts of the Obama administration to stimulate the economy such as the Stimulus package, people only grew weary and disgusted.

With just barely 5 weeks away from the November Midterm elections, there is a huge expectation for elected politicians to save the economy from total failure. Despite of the negativity that is attributed to Democrats for its current failures in the government, there is still no clear indication yet that we are expecting a Republican victory this coming November. There are still numerous issues to be tackled and there are even rumors of a record-low voter turnout come Election Day. Also, the Tea Party has been showing signs of strength especially during Republican primaries where they were able to achieve significant victories over established Republican candidates.

While they are strongly being tagged by Democrats to be the primary reasons for such failure in the economy, GOP candidates who are business-oriented professionals, Wall Streeters, free traders and Big Business profiteers may even have a stronger chance of defeating their Democratic rivals this November. The Democratic Party has strongly been criticizing GOP candidates who previously have ties with Wall Street institutions or those that have worked for the Bush administration. Despite of this, several of these candidates are even outperforming their counterparts in various polls.

In the state of Ohio, GOP candidate John Kasich is having a comfortable lead over incumbent Democratic governor Ted Strickland. Kasich is an ex-Lehman Brothers executive and a former Chairman of the House Budget Committee. Also, Republican candidate for U.S. senate Rob Portman is also a favorite to win the state’s senate seat against Democrat and the state’s lieutenant governor Lee Fisher. Portman is the appointed head of the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of the U.S. Trade representative during the previous Bush Administration. Interesting enough, there are numerous TV and radio ads, flyers and blast emails about the participation of Kasich in the Wall Street plunder that made him reach. There were also rumors about the contribution of Portman to George W. Bush’s record of deficits. Despite of these efforts, voters have seemed to ignore these ads and stayed firm with their votes.

In the Pennsylvania senate race, Republican nominee Pat Toomey is heavily favored to snatch the state’s senate seat which is currently held by newly minted Democrat Arlen Specter over the party’s nominee, Congressman Joe Sestak. Toomey is known to be a Wall Street derivatives trader where he made a fortune. As head of the conservative group the Club for Growth, he peddled personal savings accounts as a cure for Social Security’s troubled balance sheet. Sestak and some of his Democratic allies have continued to attack Toomey of his past but have failed to gather enough support to him. In fact, recent polls show that Sestak has been lagging way behind in the polls. Efforts of Democrats to show voters of the unfavorable pasts of various Republican candidates have continuously failed. While Republicans might not win all seats this November, they will certainly have a higher fighting chance to win most of them.

2010-09-24T15:11:00.001-07:00

The Tea Party Rebellion is Coming: The Tea Party Movement is perhaps the face of the November 2010 U.S. Midterm... http://dlvr.it/5sckp

The Tea Party Rebellion is Coming

2010-09-24T12:56:00.000-07:00

The Tea Party Movement is perhaps the face of the November 2010 U.S. Midterm elections. You can’t deny that almost everyone from different corners of the nation has been talking about the movement. The party gained recognition in early 2008 when various activists held a rally that protested against members of Congress who voted for a bill that will raise taxes. And with the desire to implement genuine change for the nation, the Tea Party sent candidates for Republican primaries resulting in many significant victories. With the string of upsets achieved by Tea Party-backed candidates, the party was clearly sending a message to America - The Tea Party Rebellion is coming.

Tea Party-backed Christine O’Donnell’s upset victory over highly-favored Republican Mike Castle during the Delaware Republican primary was one that shocked the political world and gave a hint of the Tea Party strength. It has no charter, no published agenda or manifesto and no governing council yet it was able to compete with Republican elites and set its sights unto changing how the U.S. Congress works. From the anger and frustration of people came this party which is already staging a political uprising. In a victory speech, O’Donnell mentioned “We the people will have our voice heard in Washington once again”. She further added “It's more a cause than a campaign, and the cause is restoring America”.

With the aim of creating a radically smaller government, unfettered financial markets, lower taxes and reducing government regulation, the movement now has a chance to send as many as seven new Senators to Capitol Hill carrying along with them the Tea Party dream. Democrats have proudly cited poll results indicating less appeal from the broader public to new political newcomer’s views. But even before the Delaware primaries, Democrats were already disturbed by the particularly higher voter turnout for Republican voters as compared to previous elections where Democrats practically outnumbered Republicans.

Not many people noticed it, but the victory of O’Donnell and several other Tea Party candidates was able to expose one of the most open secrets to U.S. politics. The Republicans and Democrats, two of the nation’s most powerful political parties capable of changing the national agenda are very much caught up and seemed to care too much about regaining and achieving power. During off-year primary elections, only a few electorates show up making established and highly-favored candidates more vulnerable to small popular movements.

If you are able to attend a particular rally that is spearheaded by Tea Party candidates such as Nevada’s Sharron Angle or Alaka’s Joe Miller, you may probably be surprised by the degree of frustration and anger that channeling towards oversized government bailouts, the Obama stimulus and the expansion of government-supported health care. During O’Donnell’s victory, Republican operatives grieved about their fellow candidate most especially that it endangered the GOP’s chances of retaking the U.S. Senate. Not long after, the head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, John Cornyn, changed his course by supporting all Republican Nominees including Tea Party-backed candidates. He then promptly offered O’Donnell $42,000 for her campaign. O’Donnell was certainly right when she mentioned the following phrase “We the people are making their voices heard”.

2010-09-23T14:12:00.001-07:00

A California Group Launches Attack Ad against the Tea Party: Out from the ashes came a populist political movement... http://dlvr.it/5pCr7

A California Group Launches Attack Ad against the Tea Party

2010-09-23T13:41:00.000-07:00

Out from the ashes came a populist political movement in the United States of America that aims to reduce taxes and implement reform in the government. The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and a series of health care reform bills triggered a series of local and national protests which eventually saw the emergence of the Tea Party Movement. Clearly, the string of upsets accomplished by Tea Party-backed candidates over Republican and favored rivals in various primaries has shown the increasing strength of the movement.

The state of California is very significant in the upcoming polls as it is the most populous of all states in the United States. Though having a Republican government, the state is generally dominated by Democrat senators and members of the Assembly. A Santa Monica-based nonprofit advocacy group has produced an ad on a Times Square video screen labeling the Tea Party movement as “insane”. The video ad is 30 seconds long and includes phrases such as “Home foreclosures” and “Wall Street greed” with flames on its background.

The ad directs viewers to visit the Consumer Watchdog website. In a recent phone interview with the president of the Consumer Watchdog group, Jaime Court uttered the following words, “Popular anger can be such a force for change, and people who support progress can’t allow the tea party to use that anger for their ends, which is to get control of the reins of government and then do away with it”. People who view the ad will also be directed to Court’s recently published book entitled, “The Progressive’s Guide to Raising Hell”. The book discusses the power of public outrage as a driver for change and development.

According to Neutron Media, the Toronto-based company that owns the ad space, the ad will be aired 18 times a day until Oct. 15. Consumer Watchdog is famous for it’s the lawsuits it filed against the insurance industry and other corporations. Its proceeds are done accounted for about one-third of its funding. The group also receives significant financing from trial lawyers and labor unions. Two of the country’s largest tea party organizations, the Tea Party Express and the Tea Party Patriots, refused to comment on the matter. With just 6 weeks before the big Election Day, Tea Party candidates are expecting to put up a good fight against Democratic rivals.

2010-09-22T15:06:00.001-07:00

A Closer Look at the New York Gubernatorial Race: The Tea Party victories in various Republican primaries are... http://dlvr.it/5l7vD

A Closer Look at the New York Gubernatorial Race

2010-09-22T13:51:00.000-07:00

The Tea Party victories in various Republican primaries are perhaps the most talked-about and most surprising events to occur for the upcoming November midterm elections. Christine O’Donnell’s victory over Mike Castle in the Delaware Republican senate primary instantly became the talk of the town. Sharron Angle also made her presence felt in Nevada by defeating Republican candidate Sue Lowden in the Nevada primary. And with just 6 weeks left before the polls, the GOP has been particularly busy in trying to adapt to the culture that the Tea Party Movement has brought them.

Being the third most populous state in the United States, the New York gubernatorial race is very important to look upon. The state’s Attorney General and certified Democrat, Andrew Cuomo, is expecting a tough battle against Republican Carl Paladino and several other minor-party candidates. Paladino, is an American businessman from Buffalo, New York. His candidacy is widely supported by the Tea Party Movement. He ultimately defeated Rick Lazio, Steve Levy, and Myers Mermel for the Republican Nomination.

A Quinnipiac University poll released on September 1 clear showed the huge lead of Cuomo over Paladino with a score of 60 percent compared to Paladino’s 23 percent. That poll was released just two weeks before Paladino’s Republican primary victory. Cuomo has been strongly favored to win the gubernatorial race especially that New York is considered a heavily Democratic state and that he is the son of a popular former New York Governor, Mario Cuomo.

But a poll conducted by the Quinnipiac University on Wednesday showed that Paladino has pulled within 6 percentage points of Democrat Andrew Cuomo. It seems that Paladino was able to take advantage of his huge Republican victory and it has given him a fighting chance. In the latest poll, 18 percent considered themselves as part of the Tea Party Movement. About 77 percent expressed their support for Paladino while only 18 percent was for Cuomo.

Paladino’s candidacy is based on his platform to cut unnecessary taxes and dismantle parts of the state bureaucracy that he called obsolete. With regards to the planned Islamic center just two blocks away from the site of the September 11 attacks on New York City, Paladino commented that if elected governor, he will use his power to stop the mosque and make the site a war memorial instead. He is being strongly supported by the Tea Party Movement which advocates smaller government, reducing taxes, and less regulation of private business. It is also a political group that strongly criticizes the workings of President Barack Obama.

2010-09-21T18:09:00.001-07:00

A Look at Tea Party Strength in Key Battleground States: With just a couple of weeks away from the U.S. midterm... http://dlvr.it/5hDWF

A Look at Tea Party Strength in Key Battleground States

2010-09-21T13:19:00.001-07:00

With just a couple of weeks away from the U.S. midterm elections, no party is still assured of victory this coming November. With the continuous failure of the stimulus package to generate jobs and with the inability of the Obama administration to stimulate economic growth, there are wide speculations that Republicans will finally regain control of Congress. Despite of this, recent Tea Party victories in key Republican senate primaries may have jeopardized the chances of the Republican Party to establish a majority. The Tea Party Movement is now making its presence felt and will try to change the face of American politics this coming November.

Both Republicans and Democrats were utterly surprised last week when Tea Party-backed Christine O’Donnell handily defeated nine term U.S. Representative and former governor Mike Castle during Republican senate primary in Delaware. The upset was a clear indication of Tea Party strength and influence. Despite of the upset victory, O’Donnell will most likely have a hard time as surveys show that 54% of likely voters favor her Democratic Rival Chris Coons while 39% will vote for her. Only about 5% of the respondents are undecided with 2% already committed to a minor party candidate.

A recent survey also hinted that if Rep. Mike Castle won the Delaware senate primary, he is expected to defeat Coons with a 15-point margin. It is remembered that after the nomination of O’Donnell, several Republican leaders have expressed their discontent and even refused to support her. Fortunately for her, Delaware voters are more receptive to her small government message. About 42% disagreed from her statements while 41% expressed opposition to the Tea Party. The big challenge now is for O’Donnell to convince the voting sector about her qualifications and capabilities. While 59% of respondents feel that Coons is qualified to be senator, only 33% believe the same way for O’Donnell.

In Nevada, the senate race between Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Republican Challenger Sharron Angle is locked up in a tight race with 46% of voters favoring Angle while 45% for Reid. On April 15, 2010, Angle received a major endorsement from the Tea Party Express which is seen as a turning point for her nomination. While 25% of respondents support the Tea Party, 27% say their votes say otherwise. 32% expressed strong opposition to the movement while only 22% support it.

In the Pennsylvania senate race, Democratic Rep. Joe Sestak is slipping father behind Republican and Tea Party-backed Pat Toomey according to a new Fox News battleground poll. Toomey participated in a Tea Party Movement rally where he received a massive endorsement from the party. According to a survey, Sestak is now trailing Toomey by 8 points compared to last week where Sestak was only trailing by 6 points. The Tea party has a broad influence at Pennsylvania. 45% say that they support the movement while 35% expressed their opposition.

Republican or Democrat, People are Upset of the Economy

2010-09-21T13:16:00.000-07:00

The outcome of the upcoming November U.S. midterm elections will certainly be determined by key issues in the country. With unemployment levels among American cities going higher and with job scarcity presenting a dangerous threat, American voters will certainly consider the economy as a driving force for their votes. It is remembered that the Obama administration passed the $800 billion economic stimulus package to augment the fiscal crisis and create jobs for the people. Over a year has passed and many Americans are still without jobs. Job creation will be the main focal point this election. Obviously, people are upset with the economy.

With a budget deficit estimated at $1.171 trillion and a national debt of $14.078 trillion, America is certainly struggling and will drown in debt in the coming years if nothing is done to stop it. The stimulus plan of Obama calls for rapid spending though it hasn’t achieved any significant success yet. More people now believe that the stimulus was just a waste of taxpayer’s money and will just contribute to more debts in the future. In a bid to take control of the U.S. Congress this coming November, arch-rivals Democrats and Republicans are trying to persuade the people about their platforms for economic growth.

In a recent survey released early Tuesday by ABC News/Yahoo! News polls, respondents, majority of them independents, expressed their lack of confidence on either party’s ability to save and improve the situation of the economy. We all remember how Obama-led Democrats presented measures for the economy during the past few weeks such as more stimulus projects which will hopes to generate more jobs. On the other hand, Republicans and its leaders are continuing to spread the message about the 2 years of Democratic leadership where it has ultimately failed to save the economy.

During the previous presidential race where Obama handily won, Independents played a vital role as they voted 52% for Obama as opposed to 44% for his rival. And today, Independents aren’t satisfied at all with the way Obama and his administration are taking care of things. In fact, the survey indicated that only 11% of Independents believe that the economy will have a better chance of improving if Democrats win Majority of the seats this November. Despite of their displeasure with Democrats, only 21% of Independents also believe that the economy will be better if Republicans take control of Congress.

Despite of an early lead by Republicans, there are plenty more of issues to be tackled before we can see who clearly has an advantage. One such issue that is being closely watched by Independents is the expiring Bush-era tax cuts. The voting turnout this November is expected to be lower compared to the previous years. It is expected to be 20 percentage points lower than it was during the previous election. A majority of those who will skip voting are those “Democratically inclined” independents. It is expected that those Independents who voted for Obama 2 years ago are exhausted enough that they would rather stay home come election time. Others might even try out with the Tea Party movement as they are more open for change in governance.

2010-09-20T15:54:00.001-07:00

Oâ€™Donnell Witchcraft Remarks Come Hunting Her Back: Many people donâ€™t notice it, but election time is a time where... http://dlvr.it/5cRkc

O’Donnell Witchcraft Remarks Come Hunting Her Back

2010-09-20T12:11:00.000-07:00

Many people don’t notice it, but election time is a time where bizarre and crazy things happen. With so much at stake, political candidates and groups often result to desperate measures such as attack ads and offensive propagandas just to gain an edge over their rivals. Various surveys showed a significant increase in advertisement spending with offensive ads having the highest increase in years. But perhaps nothing is more bizarre than taking the issue of witchcraft against a political candidate.

Last Tuesday, Christine O’Donnell shocked America and took the spotlight when she defeated Republican candidate Mike Castle during their senate primary in Delaware. Castle was a Republican nine-term representative which was long been favored to win. On the other hand, O’Donnell was a marketing consultant who was making her third bid for a seat in the Delaware senate. She was also strongly endorsed by Sarah Palin and has reportedly received funding from the Tea Party express amounting to $150,000.

Upon hearing the news about O’Donnell’s victory in Delaware, several officials from the GOP have claimed that O’Donnell’s victory may have jeopardized the Republican’s efforts to regain control of the senate. Many political analysts mentioned that although O’Donnell was able to win the majority, Castle was the better choice and would have strengthened the position of the party in the upcoming November elections. There also have been numerous criticisms that were directed towards O’Donnell.

Considered as a first in U.S. senate politics, O’Donnell has been criticized for her previous remarks claiming that she practiced witchcraft. A famous TV program by Bill Maher in 1999 called “Politically Incorrect” has shown O’Donnell uttering the following words: “I dabbled into witchcraft. I never joined a coven." She also added the words “One of my first dates with a witch was on a satanic altar, and I didn't know it. I mean, there's a little blood there and stuff like that”.

Karl Rove, who is a vocal critic of O’Donnell, called out O’Donnell to face this controversy. He also mentioned that there are serious questions about background, character and statements that O’Donnell must answer and clarify. At a picnic the past weekend, O’Donnell downplayed the witchcraft rumors blaming it to be a case of high school immaturity. He further added the words “How many of you didn't hang out with questionable folks in high school?” Last week, Maher said that he will keep O’Donnell hostage by airing old “Politically Incorrect” footage of O’Donnell for as long as she refuses to appear on the show.