Contessa Brewer was actually frustrated by the fact he was an Islamist instead of one of her least favorite groups on the right. Bloomberg went as far as to suggest that it could have been a tea party person upset about the Obamacare. It could have been anyone, but do you really think the people who go to tea parties are potential mass murderers? Where is the evidence for such a specious suggestion?

Then again the other wish of the left and media, that this guy was acting “on his own” seems to be have been dashed as Pakistan has arrested either in connection. Its hard not to wonder if by definition any bomb that does not go off is “amatuerish” and thus does not deserve that much attention.

There are suggestions that it was a dry run, or it it just the guy just screwed up. After all the bombs that were meant to kill even more on the London tube, two weeks after the 7/7 attacks, exploded by merely missed igniting the rest of the bomb.

I think that talk that there are people on the left that was to see us attacked badly is a bit far fetched. It would help if people chose their words more careful and did not make statements that really make you wonder. One would hope that non American would want to see their fellow Americans killed by any terrorist attacks whatever idiocy might have inspired it.

Not one of the candidates rises to the level of inspiration for this voter. They all seem to lack both the leadership qualities necessary and the ideas that inspire a vote. Of course, the Republican and Democrat fields will be culled to one after the primaries in early June. Unless one of their many candidates decides to flower in the next month or so, its anyone’s guess who will prevail.

Some of the independents and Republicans have been attempting to court the tea party movement. Well in the case of at least one Republican his courting involves co-opting the tea party name and masking his rallies as tea party events. This has annoyed many in the movement and turned people off his candidacy. Tea party activists have received calls, emails and even IMs from several of the independents begging them for help, support and possible endorsement. Repeated rebuffs due to the non-partisan nature of the movement fails to dissuade requests.

There really is no one running for governor that fully represents the views of the tea party movement, be they Republican, Independent or Democrat. With any luck by 2012 candidates suitable for tea party support will rise out of the mire that is Maine politics.

The three men running for Prime Minister of Great Britain may be a bunch of dunces, but they are more entertaining that the candidates for governor of Maine. Sad for Maine as the state is in dire need of a great leader for the state.

Why Walt Minnick was chosen seems to be a mystery to both Tea Party members and Democrats alike. The mystery continues to deepen and increasingly frustrates those on the ground in Idaho.

Huffington Post reports that there are those that are questioning the selection.

“National Review’s Jim Geraghty, who supports the election of Vaughn Ward to Idaho’s 1st District, has a “quibble” with the endorsement, saying, “Walt Minnick’s first vote as a congressman was to make Nancy Pelosi the Speaker of the House, empowering her a great deal.” Yes! That whole time Nancy Pelosi became Speaker did lead to a certain measurable amount of empowerment. This is a great observation!”

The Congressman’s spokesman reportedly seemed a bit surprised by grudgingly accepting the endorsement.

“And while Minnick is fine with the endorsement – “Um, sure,” Foster replied when asked if the campaign was accepting the Tea Party’s backing. “Walt is not in the habit of turning down support.”

CNN speculates that it is because of his stands on fiscal conservative issues.

“On the House side, the group is also backing one Democrat: Walt Minnick of Idaho, who is part of the “Blue Dog” coalition of centrist Democrats. He has long railed against pork-barrel spending and voted against the recent health care bill.”

But Minnick hardly has a Republican in Name Only as a potential opponent. Vaughn Ward’s website makes it very clear that this veteran is not from the centrist wing of the Republican party. He states clearly his beliefs. They read like the laundry list that would unite tea party people behind him. “Stop Tax Increases, Eliminate Wasteful Spending, Repeal and Replace the Health Care Bill, Defend our 2nd Amendment Rights, Secure Our Borders, No Amnesty.” Any accusation of being vague in this beliefs would be quickly quelled by one reading of various subject pages.

He even has the backing of Sarah Palin, a Tea Party Express favourite, who has been pulling in the ralliers and funds on various stops across the country.

““I’m happy to support Vaughn Ward because I know that he believes in the same common sense conservative ideals that we cherish.”
Sarah Palin – Former Vice Presidential Candidate and Governor of Alaska”

Will Palin now have to distance herself from Ward now that TPE has backed his opponent? Or will this confusing situation be allowed to persist confusing the voters of the district?

Tea Party Boise responded with this statement.

“The recent announcement by Tea Party Express that they planned to endorse Walt Minnick for Congress was a surprise to Tea Party Boise, who was never consulted on this issue. Our position is simple – We believe that the people of Idaho will determine who they will support and endorse as the fall election draws closer. Tea Party Boise does not endorse Mr. Minnick or any candidate from any party at this time. Tea Party Express would be well advised to talk to those in Idaho who cast the votes.

Tea Party Patriots coordinator for Idaho said the following:

“… I am very disappointed and have requested an explanation. Minnick is no Conservative and I’ve been in touch with TP folks on his side of the state when they have had repeated demonstrations at his offices. He’s only voted with “us” because we hold his feet to the fire! So, I am not in agreement.”

The Pocatello Tea Party on the other hand liked neither and believes that Minnick’s voting record is not as bad as it could be.

“That is curious. Minnick’s voting record has probably been closer to Tea Party ideals of fiscal restraint and limited government than Ward’s would likely be. Ward is a John McCain Republican plant who is favored by the GOP establishment, but who is not favored by liberty minded Idaho conservatives. The grassroots and conservative legislators favor their colleague Raul Labrador – who has a proven track record – in the upcoming primary.”

Vaughn Ward’s spokesman had the following to say in response to the announcement.

““This endorsement does not change the fact that Walt Minnick’s first vote in Congress was for Nancy Pelosi and her liberal agenda of higher taxes, more spending, and a more intrusive federal government that has done nothing to get Idaho families back to work. When Walt had the chance to step up to the plate for Idaho families, he voted against permanently ending the financial bailouts and voted for a permanent extension of the death tax. Walt Minnick and Nancy Pelosi’s tax and spend policies continue to cripple our economy. “

“We are proud of the Idaho endorsements we have received as our momentum continues to build. Our campaign began as a grassroots effort and is driven by the people. This is their seat and Kirsten and I are humbled by the thousands of people who have given so much to the campaign.” “

This story is not going away, with Alex Pappas, exploring it further in today’s Daily Caller. Pamela Gellar of Atlas Shrugged is more succinct calling the decision idiotic. Hot Air have a piece on the subject today, bemused as the rest of us with the choice.

Tea parties all over the US are wondering why the Tea Party Express has taken upon itself to endorse anyone is such a top-down way. If Idaho is anything to go by there is little or no consultation with the actual tea party groups in state. Tea Party Express is yet again proving there is nothing “grassroots” about their efforts and its just more top-down bullying from DC based operatives rather than people on the ground.

TPE seems to completely miss the point about the grassroots nature of the tea party movement. They do not seem to realize that their meddling will not find popularity among the hard-pressed tea parties in the nature.

Maybe Tea Party Express will explain their choice in that Idaho district to help with any confusion that tea party observers might be suffering. There are a lot of frankly befuddled Republicans, tea partiers and Idahoans that deserve an explanation why this race was singled out for such a spot of bizarre meddling.

NB: This is an expanded version of a piece publishedat the Daily Caller.

Its sad to see the great idea that was the Contract from America, reduced to mealy mouthed non-specific points. No doubt this was so that Newt Gingrich would get on board and support it. Its gone from a grassroots attempt to find out what America wants to merely an exercise in blowing smoke up Gingrich & Co posterior. It really annoys me, as someone who worked hard on the CfA and someone who told lots of people about it, that Ryan Hecker has decided to jump on board the abomination that is the Tea Party Federation. He told no one involved in the creation and publicity for it that he as doing this. In short Hecker sold us out for the bright lights of a Republican front. The fact Hecker refuses to release vote totals and percentages does not muster confidence either. What is there to hide?

How exactly will TPF help with the problem? Its the same ole’ Republican DC types trying usurp the tea party movement and bring it back into the Republican tent. Its a con. The strength of the tea party movement is its non-partisan nature. If you want to change the Republican and Democrat parties you don’t sell out the minute they talk to you, (down in most cases) you play coy. Big names, and many go rushing off like good little sheep, star struck that some politician is actually paying attention to them. Its pathetic, but alas predictable and it will always be thus.

TPE, TPN & TPF could care less about the non-Republican members of the tea party movement. All they want is the registered Republicans to come back into the tent after our little tantrum. There is no question the Republican Party wants to see the tea party movement fizzle as soon as possible. They are doing everything they can to make sure that happens.

This ain’t rocket science the non-partisan tea party movement is a direct threat to the Republican Party. its in their best interest for it to cease to be as soon as possible. What they are doing, for them, makes perfect sense and is logical. We are getting involved in primaries and all levels of political life in our states. The establishment of anything naturally protects itself. This is the way politics is played.

I hope the vast majority of tea party types keep their powder dry and play hard to get. I want the tea party movement to be a constant worry to both parties for a long time to come. That is the way you are going to change how they operate and what they do. They got to start playing our game, not the other way round.

“President Barack Obama says he believes the Tea Party is built around a “core group” of people who question whether he is a U.S. citizen…”

Obama’s charges do not sit well with the tea party movement which has gone to great lengths to distance itself from the issue. They consider a distraction from the core fiscal conservative cause that underlines the tea party movement.

Birthers of all types have been ranting and raving at various tea party organisations for their lack of attention to their cause. There have been hundreds of threads where birther advocates have berated tea party groupings for ignoring “the most important” . Andrew Breitbart made the disconnect as clear as possible. He was speaking for the majority of the tea party movement when he challenged a birther at the so-called “tea party convention” last year.

““It’s self-indulgent, it’s narcissistic, it’s a losing issue,” Breitbart told Schilling. “It’s a losing situation. If you don’t have the frigging evidence — raising the question? You can do that to Republicans all day long. You have to disprove that you’re a racist! Forcing them to disprove something is a nightmare.””

I have come under birther suspicion with members of this grouping demanding to see my birth certificate as they charge me with being a foreign agent. Like the President I have not agreed to publicly posting my proof of birth either. Its become a rather odd new form of protest, decrying someone’s background in this manner.

We should not be surprised to see Obama participating in the insidious black balling of the tea party movement as a political force. From the mainstream media to socialist Congressman, there is a concerted effort to make the movement out to be something its not.

Breitbart has written extensively about this whole trend in a American politics.

Groups that have no link to the tea party movement, and would probably not want to do so, are suddenly being spoken about in the same breath. Newspapers are desperately trying to find a tea party link to groups like this and the more extreme militias.

“Guardians of the Free Republics is a “sovereign citizen” group, which believes that its members do not have to abide by the duties of U.S. citizenship, such as paying taxes. According to the group’s website, it seeks to appeal to people who are “tired of being subjected to a corporation posing as a legitimate government that would arrest you for refusing to pray to corporate courts or give up your land or pay taxes to the Rothschilds or exhibit a state-issued confession of subject-class citizenship.”

Worried about its power they have resorted to the “when did you stop beating your wife” variety of political discourse. The tea party movement must prove itself not to be racist, while the socialists may make any charge however unsubstantiated. Or as Michael Moynihan put it in Reason recently.

“Those who wondered about the contradicting claims surrounding the Lewis charge were, naturally, themselves derided as racist. But if the country’s largest newspapers can accuse those assembled to “kill the bill” of being motivated by racial animus, “eliminationism,” Nazism, or old Dixie nostalgia, is it so unfair to ask for verifiable proof?”

In effect, the President’s repeated sneering at the movement shows that it has arrived. His use of Chicago-style slander against an entire group of Americans shows that he has noticed them as a force in politics. First Obama and his socialist followers ignored the movement, then they made fun of it and now they are maligning it.

Obama has been careful so far to not ratchet up the rather aggressive rhetoric from the other side about the motives of protestors or has he. One has to wonder how he would feel about the anarchists left’s threat to disrupt the tea party movement on the 15th of April. Or has he? Are his comments a signal that it is now open season on the tea party movement?

We shall have to see if the rhetoric from the President is toned down after he finishes his Obamacare victory lap. The question is whether his fanatical fans in the media and the wider activist community follow his lead and tone their behaviour.

The events of the last few weeks have more than justified the initial distancing of the tea party movement from the “birther” obsessive. This distance makes the President look all the more foolish for his charges.

This entire fight and drama will be draining the energy and certainly the funds of the tea party movement. Instead of concentrating on getting their “type” of candidate on the ballot in their states they are making mad dashes to DC and their state capitals to rally or lobby their representatives.

This past Tuesday the tea party movement mustered thousands to head to DC to do a “mass-lobby” of the House of Representatives, as they did again this last Saturday. Reports from the Tuesday war room tell of a spit and bailing wire type operation. However the conclusion is the real kicker in the piece.

“The Tea Party movement’s long term viability is likely dependent on people who can actually get volunteers to do more then just bring a flag to a rally. Even if attendance was small, its hard to refute the notion that they didn’t achieve anything, “people dropped what they were doing on a two or three day notice — the rally was only announced three or four days ago — and our whole effort only started ten days ago.” Even if the healthcare bill does become law, in other measures, the movement may still be enjoying limited success.”

On Saturday the 20th in DC there was s a “final push” for the no vote, which failed. However there can be complications as there always are in this sort of grand affair. The event on Saturday was named in an ironic manner, if you follow the mannerisms of the socialist left, the People’s surge. There will no doubt be more of these surges in DC to try and influence our elected representatives to resist the tide of socialism.

Code Red run by the NRCC (National Republcan Congressional Commitee) has been a source of info on how the vote was going. They have been a key part of the effort to rally the activists to keep up their pressure on the Obamacare waverers. Alas, they made a valiant if unsuccessful effort.

Now those on the receiving end of their multitude of phone calls, faxes, emails and personal visits might not be terribly pleased by the increased attention. Because of limited activists and time, many Republicans who might have had primary opponents are either not getting one or are on the receiving end of lacklustre challenges. In some states, like Maine, the divided efforts have meant there are still places were Democrats are running with no opposition whatever.

The mad scramble to get candidates on the ballot via the collection of signatures ranging from under 50 (registered Republicans) to thousands in some states has suffered greatly due to the chaos over health care. One has to wonder whether this will have a profound impact on how much influence the tea party movement will have on the November elections.

All means of modern communication are being used from Twitter, through Facebook to good old SMS (texting on your mobile phone). Those in the tea party movement are getting bombarded with updates about the issue

It might please activists to know that 50% of American consider themselves less likely to vote for someone who voted for Obamacare. The fact 150 economists are convinced the bill is a job killer might help with the morale as well.

Leading activists are suffering from burnout and exhaustion, activists are finding themselves unable to keep up the pace. Now that the House bill has passed what will happen? Will the tea party movement lose faith and dissipate somewhat? Will the 9.12 rally in DC this year be able to muster their enthusiasm once again, as it did last year? Will it inject a new sense of urgency in the tea party masses? One has to wonder if leading activists will be able to “keep it together” through November and beyond.

I have been asked often where I thought the tea party movement would be in a year’s time? I frankly have no idea and doubt anyone else does . There’s a lot that can happen to either grow the movement or reduce it.

Beyond Obamacare there are other socialist initiatives like cap & trade and amnesty for illegal immigrants. These other parts of the socialist agenda have been making their way through the various avenues of power. There are many battles left for the fiscal conservative, free market and limited government advocate.

The fight against Obamacare is yet another one of those landmarks in the short history of the tea party movement that could have a profound effect on its future. Maybe now they will realise its less about rallies and more about getting fiscal conservatives into office.

“General Motors has now come out publicly in favor of the proposal. GM has been installing event data recorders in its cars since 1995 as part of the air bag system. In accidents where the airbags are triggered, GM can use the data stored in the EDR for diagnostic purposes to improve the function of its safety systems. The recorders save the last few seconds of data before a crash from a number of sensors. GM is not only supporting the installation of these recorders in all vehicles, but also supports making the data accessible so that accident causes can be more accurately determined.”

Yet, another reason to avoid buying a GM vehicle methinks. Its not just bad enough they went broke and were bailed out by the taxpayer, now they want to spy on your driving. You would think since they are now just another government arm ther opinion on this should be discounted.

What people found who attended was a revitalised and rejuvenated conservative movement that for the most part has welcome the influx of tea party energy. People were smiling and having a good time while discussing how to deal with the challenges that face us all. Instead of moaning and groaning about everything they were able to focus on what matters. Social conservatives, libertarians, fiscal conservatives and other types chatted about what to do about our socialist governance.

There were some bears at the picnic in the form of knuckle-dragging types who wanted to limit the conservative movement to a few select people like them. There were also Paul cultists who were loud but not as many in number as they might claim. The two groups gathered together in corners to discus their pet hates like homosexuals or Israel/neo-Cons/Jews. While it was obvious they were there, their attitudes did not distract from the main task at hand. The reaction of the main hall to various pronouncements about these groups, booing, made it very clear how most who attended felt.

Almost everyone realised that getting it right in the primaries upcoming and in November was far more important than worrying about a straw poll of preening presidential hopefuls. While people had their favorites, it was obvious they knew that 2012 was not the issue right now.

I would be amiss if I did not thank Redstate for the wonderful blogger lounge which housed many of my blogging colleagues both old and new. The levity of almost all participants made the task of writing about the event all the more easier. I would like to thank all those bloggers, video-diarists and radio hosts who interviewed me and allowed me to speak of my new book And Glory (along with tea party issues and conservatism in general). It was very pleasing that all of the Bank of Kev panels, three of which I was on, were so well attended.

I am already looking forward to next year’s CPAC which will be no doubt bigger and better. Take inspiration not from the gay-bashers or curmudgeons, but from Andrew Breitbart in his call to arms.

2010 is going to be a big year in politics in the both the UK and the US. 2010 might be one of those pivotal years the analysts will refer to for years to come. Then again it could all be a rather damn squib with only the politicos getting excited. Needless to say those who are interested in politics have a couple of things to look forward to next year.

The UK general election which has to be by early May, and of course, the mid-term US elections which will be a referendum on Obama and his socialist policies. Now the experts are convinced that the Democrats are going to suffer badly in Nov of 2010 and that Labour is going to get routed soundly in the UK.

However, a cynic might wonder if either of these two things are a forgone conclusion. The opposition, in both cases parties of the right are not necessarily offering much difference to what the parties in power offer. They are merely different people pretty much peddling the same thing. Instead of vastly differing policies of the past, they are merely minor variations of big government, meddling, expansionist beliefs that neither reduce the bureaucratic nor taxation burden on the public.

Solutions from the Republicans in the US and the Conservatives in the UK lack substance and backbone. Of course, the systems are different and should the Republicans do well, and take the House and the Senate, they will not be in complete charge like the Conservatives.

Opponents of the respective governments in charge have not been universally moved by the parties “of the right” either. Tea party members are just as annoyed with the wishy-washy Republicans candidates on offer as they are the Democrat incumbents. Likewise issues like the retreat on a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty and continued acceptance of climate change alarmism has hurt the reputation of the Conservative Party in the UK.

Now unlike in the UK, those who are not keen on the Democrats or Republicans do not have much choice on the ballot. In the UK people can vote for the United Kingdom Independence Party, the Liberal Democrats or a whole myriad of other third parties. There has been much speculation about the possibility of a third party in US to tap into the angst and frustration of the tea party movement. There is at least one third party (http://www.floridateaparty.us/index.html) set up in Florida to challenge both parities in 2010.

There is always the stay at homes who will vote for none of the above to express their frustration with the state of politics in both countries. The question is whether or not any of these will affect the outcome.

Could we see a hung parliament (no party with a majority) in the UK and the possibility of back-room dealing to create a government? Could we see third parties, desperate for power, finally getting place at the governing table. Who would pair with whom and how long such a coalition will last. Will the UK have a strong solid Conservative government with a large loyal majority or could the UK be in political chaos for some time to come?

In the US will the Republicans attract enough of the tea party vote for the party to take the House and the Senate as Dick Morris is predicting (http://www.dickmorris.com/blog/2009/12/09/the-charge-of-the-280-dems/)? Or will we see the Republicans take the right, of whatever ilk, for granted and ignore their concerns once again.

The tea party movement may have the power to seriously influence the outcome of American elections. Or at least that is what some observers think. The Republicans would be foolish to assume that the tea party movement will help them deliver victory in 2010. Arrogance and political reality may just prevent the Republicans from bringing the tea party movement into their tent for the election.

Likewise David Cameron (http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/david-cameron-likely-britains-next-pm-but-he-may-yet-blow-the-chance/), who has yet to come up with a killer policy like Margaret Thatcher did with her council house purchase policy (allowing publically owned housing tenants to buy the houses they lived in) which proved hugely popular with working class voters, can not depend on every right-of-center voter in the UK. UKIP was very strong (http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/for-britain-these-are-interesting-times/) in the European elections and may be able to turn it into votes in the Westminster election.

2010 may be the year when the independent right hold the cards to help the mainstream right of center party gain power. Its whether or not they are willing to lend their vote merely to hurt the socialist parties holding onto power.

The Republicans and the Conservatives would be foolish to take their victories for granted. They might be doing better in the polls but the enthusiasm really isn’t there as much as it should be at this point in the election cycle.

In short those who love politics are going to love 2010.