"It's Pirate Time", GOP! - Put "Party" Back in TEA Party!

The modern-day TEA (Taxed Enough Already) Party movement followed from the original 1773 "Tea Party", which shocked colonists and royalists with full-on resistance to the tyranny of taxation, spending, and regulation. A band of Boston Rebels, they dressed up as Indians, breached a ship owned by a British-subsidized tea company, and dumped the tea into Boston Harbor.The reaction, the retaliation, from the Crown was immense. The piratical plans, organized and radical, turned a small crowd of rebels, who defied the King and his pet company, into an expanded revolution.

It's Pirate Time, GOP!

Conservative columnist Peggy Noonan has exhorted her conservative colleagues in print: "It's pirate time!" The TEA Party, and the rest of the GOP, lost this edge in 2012, spending more time seeking love and acceptance, instead of commanding respect by standing for their values. Romney played defense, hoping to run out the clock, then "French-kissed" Obama during the third debate. Rhode Island Republican Minority Leader Brian Newberry (himself no RINO) exposed Romney’s biggest flaw: no one believed that he believed what he was saying (confirmed by Romney's “47% remark”). In contrast, blue-state New Jerseyans respect red Governor Chris Christie because he believes what he believes, even if every policy does not line up with the research or the rhetoric of the Republican Party. Like Christie, brash and bold with piratical planning and purpose, US Senator Rand Paul took the floor of the US Senate last week, and filibustered the confirmation of CIA Director nominee John Brennan for almost thirteen hours. By the way, "Filibuster" originalyl refers to pirates taking over a ship.

These bold ideas and bold maneuvers are in order. The GOP grassroots has pushed the an outrageous reaction to government overreach. Now, the planning and the purpose must be positive as well as over the top. The California Republican Party must push for the biggest ideas, must demand the real reforms, even move to the left of the Democratic Party on key issues, which would be more consistent with the principles of conservative classical liberalism.

Take foreign policy. Sober conservative columnist George Will never shied away from a fight with the Republican administration. He demanded the draw-down of American forces in Afghanistan, inviting the sympathy and support of "The Nation's" Katrina Vanden Heuvel. He moved "to the left" on an issue which a growing number of conservatives agreed with, but were unwilling to share. Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) shared that most Republicans in private support decriminalizing marijuana. Retired Congressman David Dreier (R-CA) shared that very sentiment, the very year that he was leaving Congress because of redistricting.

TEA Party candidates radical ideas, but lacked radical, organized implementation to press their ideas. To reactionary methods, people react with disdain or scorn. US Senate candidate Todd Akin had the ideas. But his "Yes, ma'am!" calm, cool, and collected approach fell down against the McCaskill juggernaut of "legitimate rape". He should have come out swinging against 100% NARAL McCaskill, just as GOP Presidential candidate Newt Gingrich decimated moderator John King during the 2012 South Carolina President Primary debate. Massachusetts' US Senator Scott Brown ingratiated himself to Mass liberal elites, instead of hammering the wholeness of limited government. Same with Massachusetts GOP Congressional candidate Richard Tisei, who coasted on "I'm gay, I'm not John Tierney, and I might raise your taxes." Not bold enough.

Resistance to federal encroachment alone is unimaginative and ineffective, like a priest trying to run a brothel (per Jonah Goldberg): the prelate compromises himself and will get caught up. Conservatism alone cannot convey the true nature of liberty. Conserve and natural rights and individual liberty, but use “liberal” means of doing so, like Michigan Governor Rick Snyder s label “workplace fairness and equity” for “right to work” legislation, or "amnesty, but no more welfare state". "School Choice" must be at the top of the list, the Achilles heel for the Democratic Party leaders, who are owned by the unions, who oppose school choice and "right to work".

The GOP can lead on substantive, populist issues, like defederalization of controlled substances, or breaking up "Too Big to Fail Banks", or bringing down "Big Oil, Big Pharma, Big Farm, Big Labor" and other "Big Special Interests". "Radical implementation" means that just like the Tea Party of 1773, today's TEA Party must coordinate. It's not enough to stage a rally studded with yellow "Do not tread on me!" flags. The impression indicates a marginal hysteria, at best. The GOP needs to break out Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radicals, including his Thirteen Rules for bringing down the opposition. Too many Republicans fear that such tactics are "beneath them", but when you have the law and the facts, there is nothing wrong with pounding the table, too! Blogger John Hawkins’ brilliant piece touching up his Rules of Radicals makes for good reading.

Blogger John Hawkins

If Republicans believe what they believe, then bold plans and purposes are needed along with GOP principles. Bring the "Party" back to Tea Party, and resurrect its piratical essence -- radical and organized. Get Established, Establishment, and let the grassroots grow!

It's pirate time, GOP! Yo Ho Ho!