House of Eratosthenes

So there’s this poll out now that tells us a certain unelected, unappointed private American citizen is suffering from a dwindling approval rating, and it’s also telling us that the “tea party” movement is on a similar downslide popularity-wise.

The new poll shows Republicans divided about the tea party movement, which threatens to cause a rift in the lead-up to November’s midterm elections. Two-thirds of those calling themselves “strong Republicans” view the movement favorably, compared with 33 percent among “not very strong Republicans.”

Overall opinion is about evenly split, with 35 percent of all Americans holding favorable views of the movement and 40 percent unfavorable ones. A quarter expressed no opinion. Nearly six in 10 Democrats have unfavorable views, while independents are split, 39 percent positive and 40 percent negative.

One thing that might be fair to notice about the tea party movement, but somehow didn’t make it into the official analysis: If you took a poll among those who identify with it, however many or few they may be, about whether they’re happy with the direction the government is taking lately — the results of that poll would be more-or-less on par with the country as a whole. That may not be good news for President Obama, but it would cut to the heart of the matter of whether the movement speaks with legitimacy on behalf of a meaningful cross-section of the country.

Is that the relevant question?

Well, our Vice-President certainly seems to think it is, and I agree with him about that.

Be that as it may, it seems to me with all these desperate sound bites flying around about the tea-party movement, sound bites clearly meant to dissuade us from lending any support to it, real or perceived — there is slippage taking place with the comprehension of what exactly it is. It is not a “revolution,” per se. If it were that, it might be a legitimate exercise to take a poll and see what it’s favorability ratings are, rather than a stunningly useless waste of energy, time and ink. It would be a good point to say, Look at this! Back here 55% supported it, and now 37% support it. The revolution’s running out of steam! Back to the drawing board, you revolutionaries!

Well here’s a news flash: Our new administration, barely into its second year, is the revolution. Remember that?

The tea party is the Heywaitaminnit for that revolution. The let’s-revisit. The back-up-the-truck.

In fact, the revolution that is really connected to the tea party movement, assuming that any one revolution at all anywhere ever has been, is the one that took place in 1776. The tea party is not a revolution taking place in the here-and-now; it is a point. It is a reminder that, if you really do wish to plow ahead with this dependency-oriented “single-payer health care” scheme, then the stated goals from 234 years ago are in need of serious re-alignment if not outright banishment.

You’ve probably figured out from this that I think it’s fair to conduct a poll on the Obama administration, and blast some headlines trumpeting the fact that its decrease in popularity is nothing short of historical. And also, somehow, that I think it’s silly and irrelevant to do the same with the tea party movement.

Why yes. That is precisely what I mean to say. One’s reasonable, the other is not.

Joe Biden’s boss represents a revolution that simply hasn’t panned out. Its impetus has been exhausted and at this point it is nothing more than a mistake from our past. Now, if the counter-revolutionary movement is also losing popularity at the same time that the 2008 revolution itself is losing popularity, that can only mean Americans are getting tired of the conversation.

Is my point still not quite clear? Let’s use an analogy. A telemarketer breaks the Do-Not-Call law and calls you Monday night, at dinnertime. You, with a gleam in your eye, hang up on the telemarketer, and if feels so GOOOD!. The telemarketer calls back Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Each night your final sign-off is worded a little bit more creatively, and your slamming of the phone onto whatever is a little bit more forceful. By Friday night you’re ready to reach through the phone and rip out the guy’s vocal cords, and who can blame you? You’re probably ready to buy a new phone, as well.

Polling the popularity, or lack thereof, of the tea party movement — the “Hold Up There, Barack” movement — is like pointing out that hanging up on the guy on Friday night, somehow isn’t quite as fun as it was on Monday. It’s just as silly as that. Silly and irrelevant. The answer is still no, isn’t it? And the likelihood that this might become a yes, is a tad on the low side, right? Okay then. In both situations, that’s all that really matters.

The new poll shows Republicans divided about the tea party movement, which threatens to cause a rift in the lead-up to November’s midterm elections.

That may not actually be a bad thing. I have thought for some time now that the “moderates” are dragging our party to the left, and that they need to be purged…or we’re going to continue to be seen as simply Democrat-Lite. You know, “Me too, just a little bit less.” That attitude is not going to get us back into power, and it certainly won’t do anything for the conservative agenda.

Oh? What’s that, you say? The Tea-Partiers are making us look bad, causing splits in the GOP, and we’re therefore going to get our butts kicked at the polls due to our lack of unity? News flash, Mr Moderate…we got our asses handed to us in the last couple of rounds listening to you. Time to try it someone else’s way, don’t you think? Or were you hoping for 3 for 3?
- cylarz | 02/12/2010 @ 01:31
Thinking too much about politics these days makes me homicidal. Literally.

Rope. Tree. Politician. Some assembly required. It’s almost time for some examples.
- chunt31854 | 02/12/2010 @ 12:53

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The Tea Party: NOT a RevolutionFriday, February 12th, 2010

The Tea Party: NOT a Revolution
Friday, February 12th, 2010