Washingtonpost.com:
The Gadsden flag, which flew proudly over the 2010 midterm elections, now lies in tatters — rent by internal disagreements, losses among its most visible standard-bearers and a growing sense that the tea party movement, which once looked like it could transform American politics, will soon be nothing more than a blip in the country’s collective memory.
The movement’s journey from boom to bust is the story of American politics writ large. The tea party’s ups and downs (in 2012, mostly downs) highlight some of the key forces shaping today’s battles — from the fissures that threaten to destroy the Republican Party to the perils of a leaderless or multi-leader effort to the difference between proving a point and winning.
I never liked the idea in the first place. I recognized some of the old crowd who were were just putting on different hats. I don’t trust groups that have no head. If they screw up, i want to be able to go to someone to complain. Failure to provide any kind of structure just proves to me that the group wanted to avoid assuming any responsibility.
Now those folks who got into office on a wish and a prayer are holding the rest of us hostage. They don’t carry the wishes of the American people, yet they hold us all hostage to their antiquated, outdated way of thinking. They cannot return to the past.
Tea party, time to sit down and get out of the way of progress. Enough is enough. You will not win.
Your political point is destroying my economic security. Therefore, I consider you my enemy. I stomp on your stolen flag.
