When the Republicans lost in 2008, the angry ones formed the Tea Party, and got Republicans elected

[Yavin4]

Last edited Wed Jun 8, 2016, 03:37 PM - Edit history (1)

to local, state, and federal offices. They built up so much influence that they got John Boehner kicked out. Got Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio into the presidential primaries in 2016.

I say this to all of the disappointed Sanders supporters. Being angry and doing nothing about it, leads to depression. Being angry and using it to effect positive change, leads to the things that you want.

--On Edit--

When Republicans lose, they organize and double down on their goals. When progressives lose, they get depressed and go into hiding.

[geek tragedy]

1. and they also wound up getting Donald Trump as their nominee nt

[unblock]

2. i think republicans pouring in the better part of a billion dollars had a lot to do with it.

more so than the formation of the tea party.

or said another way, the formation of the tea party was just part of the way the mountain of money was spent.

[Yavin4]

7. Money alone doesn't get people to the polls

Organization does.

[unblock]

21. true, but they often go hand-in-hand

[PJMcK]

3. Great advice

Activism is what our politics should be about. Lethargy leads to the kind of mire we're in today.

The big difference, of course, is that progressives aren't mindlessly and ignorantly angry as are the Tea Party adherents. Progressives are intelligent and logical and, when properly motivated, fearless.

Make that change.

[Orsino]

4. Taking advantage of the new voters Sanders is delivering would be even more productive.

Taking the win at the convention, then offering the same ol' same ol', less so.

[lapfog_1]

5. The big difference is that the Tea Party was astroturfed

into existence, especially by oligarchs and the Health Care industry trying to stop Obamacare (the ACA).

Progressives have no much deep pockets support to attract and promote candidates to run for local elections or to scare the incumbents with being "Primaried" out of office.

[vintx]

14. +1

[frazzled]

6. And got nothing accomplished

except for obstructionism. They couldn't rescind the Affordable Care Act, they couldn't prevent the Supreme Court from affirming marriage equality, and they couldn't even get rid of Obama in 2012. Now the Republican Party is in disarray.

I don't think the Tea Party is a model for us to emulate. It seems like a recipe for disaster.

[Yavin4]

9. In terms of getting people elected, it does.

In terms of setting an agenda, it does. In terms of preventing stuff from happening, it does.

[frazzled]

11. In terms of helping the country and the people, it does not

If the goal is simply to get elected, it's a dead end. If obstructing is your only objective, nothing will ever get done (whether good or bad), if bringing the nation together for a common purpose is the goal, it's hopeless.

Besides, the Tea Party is dead, though I'll agree the after effects of its existence live on in an aimless, angry populace with little thinking skills or moral compass.

[MrScorpio]

8. The Tea Party was astroturfed by the Kochs...

Do we have an billionaires on our side who are willing to shell out any money for us?

[Yavin4]

10. Didn't Bernie show us what could be accomplished without big money? n/t

[MrScorpio]

12. Money is the life blood of American politics

Money helps to spread one's message and money helps to build campaigns.

No matter how much zeal a candidate's supporters have for their pick, the specter of money is always lurking overhead.

Also, if you're going to build a movement, it's important to not hedge all your bets on one guy. We're not building a cult of personality here. It needs to make a difference even if Bernie is not part of it.

[HooptieWagon]

13. TeaParty was AstroTurf.

There was a lot of hot air, little tangible results, and where is the GOP now?...as bad a shape as the Democratic Party.
IDK what direction the progressive movement will take. But it has grown immensely, and will continue to grow. About 85% support from millenials, which are now the largest age demographic. I suspect they'll just write-off the two major parties as inflexible dinosaurs, and let them just wither and die. There's probably a new party, or coalition of parties, in the making.

[SFnomad]

15. And these Tbaggers did it from WITHIN the Republican Party, they didn't attempt to do it

as "Independents" that wanted to remold the party into what they wanted. They elected Republicans that were Tbaggers not Independents.

[brooklynite]

16. Additionally, being angry and spending all your time blogging does help either

Politics is hard, time-consuming work. Better get started.

[BreakfastClub]

17. The Tea Party has been a disaster for the GOP. Not the way to go. nt

[Yavin4]

19. Policy wise, yes, they've been a disaster. Organization wise, no, they've been successful.

I'm saying imitate their organizational skills.

[yellowcanine]

18. Straight line from Tea Party to Trump. Might want to rethink that analysis.

[Yavin4]

20. Again, don't imitate their policies. Imitate their organizational fervor.

Bernie's policies are superior. What is lacking is a committed organization to carry them out.

[yellowcanine]

22. "organizational fervor" That is what you call it. I call it nutbaggery.

And No Thanks. I don't think you can seriously make the case that their "organizational fervor" or their tactics were good for the Republican Party or the country. No indeed. You can't. And no thanks again.

[JudyM]

23. Good post. Pity that they pretty much ruined the ethics of our democracy.