Some Thoughts On Attempted Tea Party Take Over of State GOPs

Instapundit had something I talked about last week.

ALL POLITICS IS LOCAL: Tea Partiers aim to remake local GOP. “They are doing it here by the hundreds by filing as candidates in the May 4 primary election for the office of precinct executive, the lowest rung of the political party structure. . . . It is a strategy that has worked elsewhere – Tea Party activists essentially took over the Nevada Republican Party earlier this month; and, in Florida, they were successful in forcing out a state party chairman who was seen as too centrist.” Ignore the bias — “too centrist” — and note the lesson. It’s often pretty easy to take over your local party apparatus with just a few hundred well-organized supporters, especially if that apparatus is hidebound and complacent. Heck, you might manage to take over both of ‘em. . .

EXACTLY!!!!! I have been screaming this for years!! Now though I am not a Tea Party person I welcome this. I think on the whole it is good. People that rant against the two party system miss the point. A Third Party will not cure ills. The problem is lack of involvement at the local level.

Some thoughts.

I am not threatened by this. If the Tea parties can do it then I expect others will form factions to get their people in. WIN WIN adn the big winner being Democracy .

ARE PRO-LIFE DEMOCRATS PAYING ATTENTION. Instead of complaining non stop how the pro-life movement is too welded to the GOP and talking about the numerous sins of GOP pro-lifers 24/7 take over your own party at the local and State level. You can do it too!!!

Last but not least, will the Tea Party folks be loyal GOP people or go AWOL if they don't win or worse.

That is something I want to observe. When you are elected to a GOP position there is some need for overall party loyalty. You are an very important cog in the process. In this position these folks will have enormous influence in advocating for positions and candidates in the primary. However what happens if their guy or guy does not win the primary. Will they unite behind the winner in the general and live to fight another day? Or will their Tea Party viewpoint kick in as they wage war on the winner they perceive to be a RINO.

I have no indication that they will not be loyal and fair . I suspect these are largely GOP friendly tea party folks anyway However I am reminded of a situation with the Louisiana GOP where Republican Governor Mike Foster took over the party on the basis of "reform". The reform was that these people did not care about the party just Mike Foster. The GOP was pretty must neutered for years. Not a good development.

I hope not. Because in the end that would be destructive on all sides.