The Third Party, Tea Party Movement: Some Say was Founded by Rush!

It would appear that some research into the Tea Party movement, which is enjoying increased momentum in these days of "broken government", is in order. Let us then consider a number of reasonable and reliable sources, and here-with examine the Tea Party movement.

Some actually credit the most outspoken Mr. Rush Limbaugh with a part in creation of the Tea Party. During late January of 2009, radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh referred to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (The Stimulus Package) saying: "This 'porkulus' bill is designed to repair the Democratic Party's power losses from the 1990s forward, and to cement the party's majority power for decades."

Porkulus is Limbaugh's coined term combining "Pork" (non-essential spending linked to congressional bills and favoring one or another of the bills sponsors), and "Stimulus". On February 10, 2009, Seattle blogger Keli Carender, better known as "Liberty Belle" called for organizing a "Porkulus Protest" which was held in Seattle on February 16th, of that year. This was a protest which developed into a spring-board for the Tea Party Movement.

Susan Page, in USA TODAY refers to the Tea Party in an article dated February 18th, 2009:

"A newly muscular "tea party" movement dominated an old-line conservative conclave Thursday, depicting Democrats as destroying America's freedoms and warning Republicans not to take their support for granted.
President Obama and congressional Democrats "are using this downturn as cover, not to fix America but to try to change America, to fundamentally re-define the role of government in our lives and the role of America in the world," Marco Rubio said in the opening address at the annual Conservative Policy Action Conference (CPAC). The rising conservative star, who is seeking the GOP Senate nomination in Florida, said, "The good news is it didn't take long for the American people to figure this out." "

The Tea Party Movement, described as a fiscally conservative, populist movement, is generally considered to have emerged as a response to the federal government stimulus package, officially known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

The Tea Party official Web Site flies the banner, "A community committed to standing together, shoulder to shoulder, to protect our country and the Constitution upon which we were founded"

That site describes the mission of the party in this way:

"Mission Statement" -- "The impetus for the Tea Party movement is excessive government spending and taxation. Our mission is to attract, educate, organize, and mobilize our fellow citizens to secure public policy consistent with our three core values of Fiscal Responsibility, Constitutionally Limited Government and Free Markets."
The Official Web Site of the Tea Party, "Tea Party Patriots" hosts a wide scope of blogs. One blogger reminds incumbent, unopposed office seekers that the citizens of the U. S. demand secure borders and ports; he demands enforcement to immigration laws. He says Americans have worked too hard to allow GOP cheap labor interests to snatch defeat from the "jaws of victory".

Another Tea Party blogger addresses new Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown, and his vote "across the aisle" for the democratically hosted jobs bill. His comment: ". Geez, Mr. Brown, have you lost your frickin' mind?"

A blogger at Tea Party Patriots suggests collusion between Ruport Murdoch and one of the Saudi Billionaire Princes. He also appears to see collusion between the Saudi Arabian Muslim leadership, and Fox news.

And finally the satirical idea put forth in a Tea Party blog that the Democrats and Republicans may form two new armies, two new constitutions, new laws from either side, and two new tax systems. Apparently this blogger would welcome all-out war between these two dominant parties.

To view the Tea Party Web Site, blogs, and articles, I have provided a link at the bottom of this AC posting.

Atlantic Magazine (Apr 13 2009, 6:07 pm by Chris Good) indicates an 'organizational landscape' of the Tea Party. In that article headed, "Who's In Charge?" three are listed:

• FreedomWorks, a conservative action group led by Dick Armey

• dontGO, a tech "savvy free-market action group" that sprung out of last Augusts' oil-drilling debate in the House of Representatives

• Americans for Prosperity, an issue advocacy/activist group based on free market principles.

The Atlantic Magazine Article goes on to mention that "Conservative bloggers, talk show hosts, and other media figures have attached themselves to the movement in peripheral capacities."

Well, reader, I doubt Mr. Limbaugh had all that much voice in re-energizing this interesting and controversial new third party that offers fresh air to a broken system. I'm certain we shall hear much more from the 'Tea Party' in weeks, months, and perhaps years to come.