Dan Quayle: Don't let the tea party go Perot.

[elleng]

'Like many influential causes before it, the "tea party" movement appeared on the scene uninvited by the political establishment. Democrats in the White House and in Congress recognize it for what it is -- a spontaneous and pointed response to the Obama agenda -- but some Republican leaders still aren't sure what to make of it, as tea partiers have risen on their own and stirred up trouble in GOP primaries.

Sometimes in politics it's easier to recognize foes than friends, and this may be why Democrats have been quicker to figure out the movement's potential. They know that in November's midterm elections, Republicans will gain mightily from a growing discontent with the administration, which has disappointed the independent voters who made the difference for Barack Obama in 2008.

A close look at the tea party membership will find many of those independents who went for Obama but now regret it. After sweeping into power, Democrats assumed they had redrawn the political map forever, and they took this as a mandate to remake the federal government forever. To the surprise of millions of their supporters, they plowed ahead with federal control over health care and new spending financed by a decade of trillion-dollar deficits. Along the way, they have tried to brush off the Republican congressional minority as little more than spectators to one-party rule.

But across America, millions of people decided not to be silent. . . .


As Democratic operatives view it, the most "unhealthy" aspect of the tea party is that candidates with its support are winning, and many more are likely to win this fall. The movement has enlisted Americans of every background in political activism, some for the first time, and it appeals to citizens on the strength of ideas rather than party affiliation.

That's been known to happen on the left, too, except then we are told it's a refreshing display of grass-roots democracy. Now that this same kind of movement has risen up in defiance of the Obama agenda, it's going to take more than liberal condescension to answer the challenge.'

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/01/AR2010040102181.html?hpid=opinionsbox1&sid=ST2010040102187

[Drunken Irishman]

1. Yeah right. Like I'm supposed to believe Quayle wrote this.

He can't even write his own name.

[era veteran]

2. Who wrote that for Quayle?

You reckon he is the 'wise' elder of the repubs?

[bobburgster]

5. Quayle.....'wise' elder of the repubs ....

Hahahahaha!!!! How fitting!

[old mark]

3. I think the entire article is wrong - maybe Quayle did write it! nt

[rucky]

4. The GOP wants so badly to attach themselves to this.

It really shows they're on their last gasp, when they're begging their craziest of the crazy to not go independent.

[Atman]

6. Well, it will sure give MSNBC and CNN something to talk about this mornibg

This will be treated as big news. Suddenly Dan Quayle will be a wise elder statesman.

[bulloney]

7. Another mental giant associating himself with the Tealiban.

That'll knock the cumulative IQ of the Tealiban off several points, if that's possible.