Here comes the cavalry . . .
It’s almost a cliché in movies and on TV: the good cop and the bad cop in the interrogation room. The bad cop is loud; the bad cop is threatening. The bad cop is going to go over the top.
Meanwhile, the good cop tells the perp, “Hey you’d better give us a name. I can’t hold him back for long!”
In the end, both cops get the name they want—and the perp is relieved that he got out in one piece.
Watching the tea party debate online reminded me of those guys.
A lot of tea party people are very angry about this vote: they are screaming about betrayal, defeat, and how the cause is “badly wounded.” For those of us who consider this a win, it was a bit of a struggle to hear it yesterday. Nobody likes to be told they are wrong.
How do I feel about their reactions today? Pretty good, actually.
The TEA Partiers’ anger and their desire to push this are the only reasons we have this win; that tea party anger is going to be necessary to keep the GOP honest.
The establishment GOP was willing to make all kinds of deals for the White House; they were ready to cave really early. The TEA Party anger kept this from happening. The pressure, the phone calls, and the fear of being “primaried” were, for mainstream GOP members, the only reasons that the Senate didn’t cave on Reid’s deal. They are the only reason there is any Balanced Budget Amendment language in the final bill at all.
If this anger dissipates too early, then the establishment GOP is going to relax. We don’t want them to relax; we want to keep them worried. As long as they are worried, they will be looking over their shoulders—and that’s good for us and for the country.
The one danger? Getting carried away, and confusing our allies with those who are “iffy.”
Allen West and Renee Ellmers have gotten some grief for their “yes” votes. Let’s bluntly say that these two are no less tea party friends than Tim Scott and Ann Marie Burkle—who each voted “no.”
Visualize the cavalry in pursuit of a fleeing enemy: a smart general will send half of the troop to rest and water their horses while the other half keeps up the pursuit. West and Ellmers are watering their horses and consolidating the ground already taken; Scott and Burkle are still riding, keeping the enemy in confusion.
When the pursuit finally ends, the enemy will be pushed back and exhausted and scared about what happens next. Meanwhile Burkle and Scott will join West and Ellmers around the campfire, and in the morning all four will be ready to fight again.
If, however, we were to outrun our support, then the second half of the campaign—victory in 2012, both in the Senate and at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.—might be in jeopardy.
Keep the passion alive, but never forget what the real prize here is.
- Excited
- Angry
- Not as Angry
- Bored
- Indifferent
- Sad
I keep reminding myself that the folks who keep telling me what a wonderful deal we got are on my side. If I keep telling myself that often enough, I might get myself convinced eventually.
I’ll concede that it was probably as good a deal as was possible, given the number of Democrats and RINO’s in Congress, but even if I’m being pragmatic and making that concession, I cannot find it in myself to be in the least bit happy with it.
“victory in 2012, both in the Senate and at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.—might be in jeopardy.”
Haha,
A truer sentence has never been written on this blog.
I think Mitt is going to disappoint a lot of wingnuts next year.
Don’t get too hopeful just yet. At the rate Barry’s popularity is going, even if the Tea Party spins off from the Republicans and runs Sarah Palin aginst Mitt and Barry, Barry would be liable to finish third.
Keep in mind that at least 10 percentage points of that huge 40% approval rating is probably due to the Bradly effect.
That’s the spirit, Jeffy!
Mitt Romney:
1) Is really a conservative
2) Has a chance of beating Barack Obama
1. Not.
2. You might be surprised at how likely that would be. Any Generic Republican Candidate would beat Barry like a drum, today. Rick Santorum would beat him in Pa. today, according to the latest poll.
By the time the Election comes around, Barry couldn’t beat a red-headed stepchild’s yard dog. Count on it. Did I say “third place?” Heh. Maybe fourth behind one or more current third parties. He may beat Ralph Nader, but not by much.
Can you say “Failure”, Boys and Girls? Very good. I thought you could. And there Barry is.
Any questions?
If the wingnuts didn’t have wishful thinking, they wouldn’t have anything at all.
If this is bill is the result of keeping the GOP “honest,” then the battle and the war are lost. I must question your use of that word. Is calling slightly less increase in planned, increased government expenditures for next year a “cut,” honest? Is leaving the vast majority of the “cuts” for the out years “honest?” Is creating a commission that can easily vote to raise taxes while declaring again and again that there are no tax increases in the legislation, honest? This is what you genuinely believe? Honest? Really? Dude, you have already chosen your side. The best you can do for the rest of us who abhor this abomination of a bill and the cowardice and mendacity of those Republicans who voted for it, is just to shut up and stay in your room. Honest.