gut;1583301 wrote:I don't deny it's been somewhat hijacked/infiltrated by some whackos, but I don't feel the whackos are really running the movement - but that is a narrative pushed at every opportunity by liberals, Rhinos, and the media.
Ted Cruz is a poser. To me, Rand Paul and Marco Rubio are the real leaders of the Tea Party, and I don't remotely consider either to be a whacko nutjob. Or Sarah Palin, for that matter - I don't think she's particularly bright but I do think she is genuine.
You're right on Rand Paul but you're wrong on Ted Cruz. You may think he's a poser (which he is...He is the Republican Party's version of Obama) but the Tea Party loves him. Also, Marco Rubio has largely been excommunicated for his stance on immigration.
Here are the results of a recent Tea Party Presidential Poll.
1. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz-84 percent.2. Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul-80 percent.
3. Dr. Ben Carson-77 percent.
4. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker-70 percent.
5. Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin-64 percent.
6. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee-59 percent.
7. Texas Gov. Rick Perry-59 percent.
8. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal-56 percent.
9. South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley-55 percent.
10. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio-52 percent.
11. Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice-48 percent.
12. Former Sen. Rick Santorum-46 percent.
13. Rep. Paul Ryan-45 percent.
14. Ohio Gov. John Kasich-42 percent.
15. Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin-41 percent.
16. Indiana Gov. Mike Pence-41 percent.
17. New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez-41 percent.
18. Rep. Steve King-37 percent.
19. New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte-30 percent.
20. Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.-29 percent.
21. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush-29 percent.
22. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie-15 percent.
The whackos are running the movement. And anytime somebody sensible like Thomas Sowell comes out says something like "Ted Cruz is only out for himself" they risk being labeled a RINO or worse an "Establishment Republican" lol. They cost the GOP control of the Senate and the only Tea Partier candidates they managed to get in there, Mike Lee and Ted Cruz are making the GOP look like a giant pile of derp to most Americans who are not Orthodox Conservatives.