Do you want a 3rd party?

[armedandsafe]

Look at this. From CNN, no less.

Who are the Tea Party activists?
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Tea Party activists tend to be male, rural, upscale, overwhelmingly conservative
Poll: Tea Party activists would vote overwhelmingly GOP in a two-party race for Congress
Polling analyst: Third parties' problem is they siphon votes from closest allies
Tea Party activists' views on third parties mirror national trend, poll shows
RELATED TOPICS
Polls and Approval Ratings
Tea Party Movement
Republican Party
Democratic Party
Washington (CNN) -- Activists in the Tea Party movement tend to be male, rural, upscale, and overwhelmingly conservative, according to a new national poll.

A CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey released Wednesday also indicates that Tea Party activists would vote overwhelmingly Republican in a two-party race for Congress. The party's GOP leanings, the poll suggests, may pose a problem for the Tea Party movement if it tries to turn itself into a third party to compete with the two major parties in this year's general election.

"If the Tea Party runs its own candidates for U.S. House, virtually every vote the Tea Party candidate gets would be siphoned from the GOP candidate, potentially allowing the Democrats to win in districts that they might have otherwise lost," said CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "While the concept of an independent third party is extremely popular, most Americans, including most Tea Party supporters, don't favor a third party that would result in a winner who disagrees with them on most major issues."

According to the survey, roughly 11 percent of all Americans say they have actively supported the Tea Party movement, either by donating money, attending a rally, or taking some other active step to support the movement. Of this core group of Tea Party activists, 6 of 10 are male and half live in rural areas.

Nearly three-quarters of Tea Party activists attended college, compared to 54 percent of all Americans, and more than 3 in 4 call themselves conservatives.

"Keep in mind that this is a pretty small sample of Tea Party activists," Holland said. "But even taking that into account, the demographic gaps that the poll finds between those activists and the general public on gender, education, income, ideology, and voting behavior appear to be significant differences."

The poll indicates that about 24 percent of the public generally favors the Tea Party movement but has not taken any actions such as donating money or attending a rally. Adding in the 11 percent who say they are active, a total of 35 percent could be described as Tea Party supporters. That larger group is also predominantly male, higher-income, and conservative.

Some 45 percent of all Americans say they don't know enough about the Tea Party to have a view of the movement; 1 in 5 say they oppose the Tea Party.

According to the survey, most Tea Party activists describe themselves as Independents.

"But that's slightly misleading, because 87 percent say they would vote for the GOP candidate in their congressional district if there were no third-party candidate endorsed by the Tea Party," Holland said.

So what would happen if the Tea Party supported independent candidates for Congress?

The poll indicates that in a two-way race on the so-called "generic ballot" question, GOP candidates have a 47 percent to 45 percent edge. Throw a Tea Party candidate into the mix, and that two-point advantage becomes a 12-point deficit. That's because virtually everyone who would vote for a Tea Party candidate in a three-way contest would choose a Republican in a two-way race. The Democratic candidate gets 45 percent in both scenarios, but the GOP candidate's share of the vote drops from 47 percent in a two-way contest to just 33 percent with a Tea Party candidate on the ballot.

"Historically, that's the problem many political movements have faced if they try to become a full-fledged party. They often wind up ensuring the victory of the candidate they dislike the most," Holland added.

See complete CNN/Opinion Research Poll (PDF)

Sixty-four percent of all Americans say they like the idea of a third party that would run against the Democrats and Republicans. But only 38 percent would support a third party if its presence on the ballot would mean that the winning candidate is one that disagrees with them on most major issues. According to the poll, Tea Party activists feel the same way: Only 4 in 10 favor a third party that would result in the election of candidates they don't like.

The CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll was conducted by telephone February 12-15, with 1,023 adult Americans, including 124 respondents who said they had taken active steps to support the Tea Party, such as donating money or attending a rally self. The survey's overall sampling error is plus or minus 3 percentage points and plus or minus 9 percentage points for Tea Party activists only.

CNN Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.

Find this article at:
http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/02/....html?hpt=Sbin

Pops

[oldogy]

I sincerely believe the tea party movement is an awakening as how corrupt, business as usual politicians on both sides are and it is time for change to conservatism. Look at it as having the effect of hitting them aside the head with a 2x4, waking the voters up to the fact that the US can no longer spend, spend, spend. We're broke. I believe we tea partiers will cause Rinos to shift to a more conservative direction and not form a third party. I believe most of this movement types are smart enough to realize a third party would result in a Dem victory as when Ross Perot was the independent candidate.
JMO,
oldogy

[trapperdick]

No third party.............I don't want a President that's elected by 34% of the vote. Of course I didn't want Obama either....

[Marlin T]

STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Tea Party activists tend to be male, rural, upscale, overwhelmingly conservative

Wrong, maybe, wrong, correct. But I guess that is about right for CNN.

Now for the third party? I think we should leave that for the Dems that want a moderate like Evin Bhye instead of the new communist party.

[williamd]

NO! Two is all I can stand. Two new ones may be okay, though!

But, not one as bHo is pushing for ... with thelp from HarryR, NancyP and others.

[Vladimir]

Aren't we due for a party to split anyway? It will be rough for a few years but then someone vanishes and we go back to two parties. It was not long ago that I was sure it would be the democrats, then it was the republicans, now it is up in the air.

What we need is to start moving the parties into two directions, liberal, and conservative, instead of the hodge-podge we have now. Some republicans would go left, some democrats would go right.

[bizy]

I am registered indepenent. The only thing wrong with our government is the republicans and democrats. Us third party people only get to vote in presidental elections. I guess the repub and demo are afraid of us.. Indep do not have the same rights as the 2 major parties. We are Americans also, we pay taxes, serve our country.

Unlike the dem and rep, we "really" do go for small government and a real "flat tax" system.

[Big ugly]

It aint gonna matter if we get a third party or not. It is all gonna come down to the same thing, its gonna be personal agenda over good of the nation. We need a cleaning of politcal leaders. A purgeing and every damn one of them should be tried for treason.

[keepitlow]

Do you want a 3rd party?

I guess so, but leaving out the corruption in the 3rd party, Americas mess can't be fixed...even by a god.

We have built a defective model for long term population support. We can only keep on keeping on as long as the crude is free flowing and affordable by the masses.

It would be one thing if we all reverted back to rural living, burning trees for fuel and housing and living within our comfortable means allotted to us by nature, as our ancestors did back in the day. But seven billion people can't burn the trees!

We must accept that we have built our world on unsustainable means - a means built artificially on fossil fuel.

And when we live out of balance with natures intended means there is a price to pay to come back in balance with nature. And the price usually extracts pain from us in the adjustment process.

It has been estimated that for the earth to sustainably support its population without fossil fuels a 90% dieoff must occur. I don't know if that is the right figure, but I do know humans could not live as they do unless it was funded by artificial means via fossil fuels.

http://dieoff.org/

So if this dieoff happens, of course there will be great amounts of pain in the world. But it is natures intended balancing act. It also reminds us that nature does not bow to humans - it is humans that always bow to nature.

[AL MOUNT]

CNN is scared shitteless that the Tea Party Movement "WON'T" become a 3rd party

They are hopelessly trying to talk it up because they know

what's coming in Nov. & they ain't likin what they see...

[islenos]

The Tea Party needs to stay leaderless and remain in the peanut gallery.

To become a Political Party concessions must be made, the party's ideals will be deluded for the sake of the "Party". Corruption and Apathy will settle across the land. They will claim the Tea Party Heritage but in truth little will remain of what it once was.

The Tea Party can do more if it is not a party, we can be the voice of reason; to remind the elected that it is "We The People" that hold the real power.

[bcj1755]

Originally Posted by AL MOUNT

CNN is scared shitteless that the Tea Party Movement "WON'T" become a 3rd party

They are hopelessly trying to talk it up because they know

what's coming in Nov. & they ain't likin what they see...

Exactly. They know that unless a "Tea Party party" siphons conservative votes away from Republicans, a bunch of Democrats will lose in November. Not that I think most Republicans are any better than most Democrats (they're ALL politicians), but what other choice is there? Unless ALL conservatives vote for a 3rd party candidate, then the vote split will hand the elections to Democrats on a silver platter. As much as I'd like to see some 3rd party people get elected, I know that unless all conservatives vote third party, than my vote for a 3rd party might as well be a vote for a Democrat. So basically, we're boned.

[Gun Geezer]

There must be a change in the way congress does business. I agree that a third party will only result in siphoning votes with not enough to win. My theory, though not a permanent fix, is to vote against all incumbents regardless of party. They need to learn that business as usual is not acceptable and their jobs are in jeopardy every term until they work in the best interests of the people and the country, period. Also, they should be made to share in social security and medicare not an elitist retirement and healthcare system at our expense.

[Terry_P]

I think the Tea Party movement will aid in pulling the Republicans back to their conservative base. If the republicans nominate a RINO like they did in NY senate race last year then sure why not a tea party candidate. The dem gets elected then oh well republicans wake up. That is what has to happen, we have to get back to conservative values and the only way we can is to purge the McCains, Grahams and other RINO's from the party. I don't care what mask they put on 12 months before an election they are nothing more than an extension of the democratic party. So sure a Tea party conservative movement why not. The only care that should be taken is don't run a slate of candidates in all races just those without a conservative voice.

[Trouble 45-70]

Ar. is pretty much a Dem. State but the TEA party events had a good mix of Republicans, Democrats and quite a few Independents, most of the Independents that I spoke to, had been Dems. and a few Republicans. The TEA party reflects opinion in a large segment of the population.

What I am seeing, is that a lot of Tea Party members are becoming active in local party caucuses and are going to exert a lot of influence in coming elections. They are going to change both parties from the bottom up. I think they will be successful in the GOP. but I think there are not enough Dems. to change party direction. Too many Dems. have become Independents and they will go with the Candidates that reflect their values. Change is coming. I saw it happen once before and we got the Reagan Revolution and the old party standbys were standing around and whining , "But it was my turn".

We are going to have to make the RINOS irrelevant because they will again seize power at the first opportunity. They are the sea anchor that keeps the bow of the ship of State pointing in the Socialist direction.

I don't think there will be a third party as the GOP leadership are on their way out. The TEA party people are hot on their traitorous trail. Say goodbye to the McConnell, McCain, Snow, etc RIONOs.

The CNN piece was created to misdirect their viewers. The events I went to had maybe a surplus of Women and they were deeply concerned about the future of their children as well as the country and were even more outspoken than the men and because of the women, why the movement is so polite and cheerful. That is why the TEA Party movement is such a threat to the powers that be. When the Wives and Mothers of the country rise up, the powers that be fear for their careers.

CNN runs a pole showing the helplessness of the citizens. Well, the New York Distr. 23 race is what they fear. The GOP ran a candidate that was no different than the Dem. candidate and in fact, when the TEA Party supported candidate was about to over take them both, threw her support to the Dem. candidate. That scared the He** out of the leadership of both party's because the public has taken the measure of their worthless leadership and found them wanting and are going to take over the reigns of the Republican party. A few more days and that election could have gone to the upstart new comer. The election for that post in Nov. is going to be very interesting.

[carver]

Let's vote in a good Republican. Then, when we have more control, vote out those Republicans that straddle the fence. Start voteing for those that will take a pay cut, vote for less government, vote to keep jobs in America. We only want those that have a moral compass, men and women that believe in God, and stand against abortion. We can do this, but only if we stand together, divided we fall!

[graehaven]

Originally Posted by carver

Let's vote in a good Republican. Then, when we have more control, vote out those Republicans that straddle the fence. Start voteing for those that will take a pay cut, vote for less government, vote to keep jobs in America. We only want those that have a moral compass, men and women that believe in God, and stand against abortion. We can do this, but only if we stand together, divided we fall!

I'm all for voting in a "good Republican." First - name one. You can't. Don't name someone that's been in office before. NONE of them are good enough. I don't want, and the country doesn't need some republican HACK that's tied to what the party wants.

We NEED and independently minded CONSTITUTIONALIST who happens to have an "R" by their name - and who hasn't BEEN in office.......EVER! That's who I want - someone beholden to NO ONE.

[bizy]

Originally Posted by Trouble 45-70

Ar. is pretty much a Dem. State but the TEA party events had a good mix of Republicans, Democrats and quite a few Independents, most of the Independents that I spoke to, had been Dems. and a few Republicans. The TEA party reflects opinion in a large segment of the population.

What I am seeing, is that a lot of Tea Party members are becoming active in local party caucuses and are going to exert a lot of influence in coming elections. They are going to change both parties from the bottom up. I think they will be successful in the GOP. but I think there are not enough Dems. to change party direction. Too many Dems. have become Independents and they will go with the Candidates that reflect their values. Change is coming. I saw it happen once before and we got the Reagan Revolution and the old party standbys were standing around and whining , "But it was my turn".

We are going to have to make the RINOS irrelevant because they will again seize power at the first opportunity. They are the sea anchor that keeps the bow of the ship of State pointing in the Socialist direction.

I don't think there will be a third party as the GOP leadership are on their way out. The TEA party people are hot on their traitorous trail. Say goodbye to the McConnell, McCain, Snow, etc RIONOs.

The CNN piece was created to misdirect their viewers. The events I went to had maybe a surplus of Women and they were deeply concerned about the future of their children as well as the country and were even more outspoken than the men and because of the women, why the movement is so polite and cheerful. That is why the TEA Party movement is such a threat to the powers that be. When the Wives and Mothers of the country rise up, the powers that be fear for their careers.

CNN runs a pole showing the helplessness of the citizens. Well, the New York Distr. 23 race is what they fear. The GOP ran a candidate that was no different than the Dem. candidate and in fact, when the TEA Party supported candidate was about to over take them both, threw her support to the Dem. candidate. That scared the He** out of the leadership of both party's because the public has taken the measure of their worthless leadership and found them wanting and are going to take over the reigns of the Republican party. A few more days and that election could have gone to the upstart new comer. The election for that post in Nov. is going to be very interesting.

I agree.. I think Most Americans are ready for the truth. There are more Americans wanting a new congress than there are those who want to keep it the same as it has been for too many years.

I see the republicans and the democrats acting like 3 year olds..
did to.
did not.
did to.
did not.
did to.

Why don't we just agree to give the government back to the citizens and away from politicians..

[Terry_P]

I don't agree that all the Republicans have to go. You have some good people in there like Thune of SD or Demint of SC. The ones that need to go are the democrats light version. I will focus on what is happening in my own state and work to improve what is becoming a wasteland.

[hogger129]

it doesn't matter to me who wins as long as it's a person who will do their job and protect my rights as a free citizen. then again, doing their job, protecting the rights of free citizens is not synonymous with the word politician. i'd like to see ron paul put on the republican ticket. he sounds like he'd be a good choice.

[graehaven]

Originally Posted by Terry_P

I don't agree that all the Republicans have to go. You have some good people in there like Thune of SD or Demint of SC. The ones that need to go are the democrats light version. I will focus on what is happening in my own state and work to improve what is becoming a wasteland.

If they voted for ANY stimulus, they need to go.

If they voted to NOT drill everywhere and anywhere for oil, they need to go.

If they voted for the Patriot Act, they need to go.

IF they voted to confirm the latest supreme court justice, whatshername, they need to go.

those are just the first four that come to mind. I'm sure I could come up with more. But that will probably disqualify most.

Any and all of those things represent aberrant corruption run amok in OUR congress.

We the People MUST get it through our heads that we're done compromising. Allowing repubs who change their spots to remain in office is counter productive.

[Just One Shot]

I thought we already had one?

http://www.conservativepartyusa.com/

http://www.conservatives.com/