Populist Reform of the Democratic Party

merrily

(45,251 posts)

45. Tea Party is not an alternative to diddly. It's a wing of the Republican Party. They vote (R).

Sun Apr 12, 2015, 02:15 AM

Apr 2015

IMO, the Koch brothers got the idea for that tactic--a conservative wing of a political party taking on formal existence-- from the DLC, to which the Koch brothers donated and on whose Executive Council they sat in its early days.

A New Yorker article written by Jean Mayer some years back about the Koch brothers states they got the idea for the Tea Party in the 1980s. That coincides with formal incorporation of the DLC in 1985 and the involvement of the Koch brothers with it.

There's only circumstantial evidence for where they got the idea, but the Tea Party definitely is not an alternative to (D) and (R), any more than Third Way is an alternative to (D) and (R). It's all part and parcel of the 1.3 party system. (IMO, i can't accurately describe it either as a one party system or as truly a two-party system. Hence, 1.3, give or take.)

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Name nine people you want in the Democratic primary debates. I dare you [View all] MaxRobes Mar 2015 OP

My nine: democrank Mar 2015 #1

+1 for Feingold F4lconF16 Mar 2015 #30

Absolutely. merrily Apr 2015 #42

another list to consider guillaumeb Mar 2015 #2

Too soon for Sawant in my opinion. Let her go for Mayor, Governor. merrily Apr 2015 #43

agreed. guillaumeb Apr 2015 #44

Tea Party is not an alternative to diddly. It's a wing of the Republican Party. They vote (R). merrily Apr 2015 #45

You demand? RiverLover Mar 2015 #3

You're right, I should have put a smiley face on that "demand" Just trying to be funny. Sorry MaxRobes Mar 2015 #6

Well, in that case.. RiverLover Mar 2015 #13

Good list. I, of course, am happy to see Rep Keith Ellison there, another fine Minnesota politician MaxRobes Mar 2015 #16

Warren, Sanders, O'Malley, Feingold, Franken, Brown. Scuba Mar 2015 #4

I like your list, but I notice you left Hillary off. Intentional? And may I assume you want debate MaxRobes Mar 2015 #8

Why would I want Hillary in a Democratic Party debate? Republicans have their own. Scuba Mar 2015 #14

I share your sentiment but look at it this way. Hilly and Billy are not Republicans either but they MaxRobes Mar 2015 #17

Hillary, Warren, Gillibrand gwheezie Mar 2015 #5

"You demand to know"? Cooley Hurd Mar 2015 #7

Sorry about the "demand" thing. Just trying to be funny. MaxRobes Mar 2015 #10

Comedy is subjective... Cooley Hurd Mar 2015 #11

Yes, and the more I think about it, maybe humor is the wrong characterization. I used the word dare MaxRobes Mar 2015 #19

It makes others suspect... Cooley Hurd Mar 2015 #20

Thanks, I appreciate that. To clarify, I am deeply worried about the Clinton candidacy (as are MaxRobes Mar 2015 #23

I'm not a primary supporter, but will vote for her in the gen... Cooley Hurd Mar 2015 #25

That's about where I am. I plan to start a new thread on why not Hillary in the primary MaxRobes Mar 2015 #26

So why shouldn't she be in the primary? gwheezie Mar 2015 #29

Oh she should be in the primary and in the debates. I simply won't vote for her in the primary MaxRobes Mar 2015 #33

I like klobuchar gwheezie Mar 2015 #34

Hallelujah MaxRobes Mar 2015 #35

Sheldon Whitehouse. CrispyQ Mar 2015 #9

Yes, Whitehouse is great. Especially on climate change. Wish I had put him on my first list. MaxRobes Mar 2015 #12

People, I think, who would bring a needed perspective to the national debate. Half-Century Man Mar 2015 #15

Let' make Jesse the moderator. I'd like where he took the conversation. At least once. MaxRobes Mar 2015 #21

I intended to suggest Jessie as Moderator, typed fast to make dinner...... Half-Century Man Mar 2015 #36

Whitehouse also gwheezie Mar 2015 #18

The more the merrier rock Mar 2015 #22

Yes, but what is wrong with calling for full robust primary debates? MaxRobes Mar 2015 #24

None whatsoever. rock Mar 2015 #27

Brian Schweitzer would shake things up grasswire Mar 2015 #28

Haven't read any comments so, hotrod0808 Mar 2015 #31

nine jeepers Mar 2015 #32

I think it would be a mistake to have too many people included in the debates. rhett o rick Mar 2015 #37

In part, I disagree.. but I do see your point. 2banon Apr 2015 #40

I plan to leave this open for one more day and then summarize the DU MaxRobes Mar 2015 #38

good post.. I'll think about this.. I like how you came to each consideration.. nicely done. 2banon Apr 2015 #39

Id sqy.. mylye2222 Apr 2015 #41