Comments on: Mitt’s Campaign: Heading to the Cadillac Ranch?

By: Matthew Dickinson

Matthew Dickinson — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 01:39:26 +0000

David,

You got sick of hearing it because Obama could not, in fact, close the deal.

By: Matthew Dickinson

Matthew Dickinson — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 01:34:12 +0000

Eric,

Of the ones Mitt (or his wife) own, I go with the Cadillac. Preferably a pink one.

By: Matthew Dickinson

Matthew Dickinson — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 01:33:26 +0000

Jim,

There is no doubt that both the Republican and Democratic parties have shed their more moderates members in recent years, with the center of gravity of the Democratic Party moving Left, and the Republican to the Right. Arguably, the Republicans have shifted farther Right than the Democrats have to the Left, but the point remains: we are in a period of intensely polarized political parties. It follows, then, if you are going to win that party’s nomination, you will cater to those active partisans who show up and vote in caucuses and primaries. In most of the Republican races so far, the Tea Party has composed anywhere from 30% to 60% of the Republican vote. So any candidate who wants to win the nomination has to cater at least in part to their interests. The irony here is that the Tea Party activists believe they are the ones who are demanding a return to the Constitution. Remember, the impetus for the Tea Party comes from a populist rebellion against the government bailouts of the banking, insurance and automotive industries, as well as opposition to what they see as wasteful government spending and high budget deficits. Despite the prominence of social issues in recent media coverage, most surveys suggest these are of secondary interest to the Tea Party. They are all about the economy, jobs and government spending.

You are correct that this is not the Republican Party of Eisenhower, Rockefeller or other moderate Republicans. But many Tea Party activists believe they are upholding the legacy of Reagan, the patron saint of the modern conservative movement. It’s not my job to pass judgment on the virtues (or vices!) of the Tea Party ideology and what it means for America more generally. But I can understand why all the Republican candidates believe it is necessary to pay attention to the Tea Party movement. For better or for worse, the Tea Party represents an important ideological strand in the current Republican Party and no Republican candidate hoping to secure the Party’s nomination can afford to take them for granted.

By: David Tomlin

David Tomlin — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 22:53:46 +0000

In 2008, one of the cliches I got most sick of was ‘Obama isn’t closing the deal’.

By: Jim Davidson

Jim Davidson — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 11:12:43 +0000

Professor,
In all the speeches delivered during the Republican Primary campaigning, have you heard any candidate say anything that leads you to believe that they have not taken their oath to the Tea Party instead of to our Constitution**. From day one of campaigning, all have fiercely endorsed what I call “extreme” conservative positions in connection with all social or financial issues. Gingrich closed down the government during the Clinton administration; Boehner almost succeeded during the current administration. Where has the traditional Republican party gone? It has disappeared, yes? The party’s name is a misnomer. Shouldn’t they all be running as “Tea Party” candidates? What a calamity for America! What do you think? I’d love to know.

** taken from op-ed article by Prof Robert Watson, Lynn University, Boca Raton FL in the 1/15/12 issue of the Sun-sentinel newspaper.