Are you tired of the Republican presidential candidates yet?
We're 14 months away from election day and already, with their almost weekly forays into so-called "debates," I've lost all interest. Even in Ron Paul who at least shows some some shreds of integrity, if no longer any political and intellectual allure. Today's "debate" will feature their ties to the tea party -- which means Republicans are becoming more and more like a circus act -- a once-is-enough circus act.
This "debate" will feature the tea party movement's notions of "constitution" and their take on a federal reserve bank -- neither of which bears much similarity to the real Constitution and Federal Reserve. The Tea Party Express is sponsoring the show, and once again it's being held at a fair grounds. If you get confused by their rhetoric, you can take a break in the Hall of Mirrors.
The Monday debate audience at the Florida State Fairgrounds is expected to consist largely of tea party activists, who will be asking questions. Also quizzing the panel will be movement loyalists from remote locations.
To help build momentum, the Tea Party Express has led a cross-country caravan of activists who have been stopping for rallies across the nation. The buses started rolling in Napa, Calif., August 27.
"We want to focus on fixing the economy and reducing the size of government," said Sal Russo, Tea Party Express co-founder, speaking from one of the buses.
The tea party is not monolithic. The movement is "decentralized," as Rep. Allen West, R-Fla., one of two black House Republicans elected with strong tea party support, put it. But he acknowledged that members' views are similar, and as a result, "the tea party has had a lot of influence on the conversation."
But activists' approaches vary widely. Some want to see candidates get tougher. "Republicans need to be having a cage fight to see who can best eliminate all the government waste," said [Tea Party Nation founder] Phillips. "What have we heard so far from these Republicans? Crickets." ...McClatchy
None of this seems very important in the larger picture. As McClatchy reminds us, favorable views of the tea party movement are stuck at 29%.
So yes, the country may be suffering already from Republican fatigue -- or Republitigue -- at this distance from the election. And the tea party movement's constant in-your-face, shout-yer-ignorance tactics may not be able to hold onto that glorious 29% favorability rating for fourteen whole months of weekly attention-getting displays.