Poll Shows Appetite for Third Party

[pghin08]

That poll doesn't really show anything highly unusual.

*According to that poll, 64% of Tea Party members oppose same-sex marriage. The CBS poll released last Monday said that 38% of those polled support same-sex marriage (so 62% oppose or support same-sex unions, but not marriage).

*The abortion numbers are logical. Only hardline liberals think there should be zero restrictions on abortion. Most Americans, even moderate liberals, see the need for some form of restriction. Unfortunately the way that poll is worded it essentially places you on the side of either fully supporting or fully opposing abortion.

*The immigration issue makes sense considering the Tea Party position of the need for a fiscally responsible government. It's hard for our government to be fiscally responsible with 11 million illegals contributing to welfare needs, increased school populations and the loss of tax base due to under-the-table paychecks for undocumented workers.

*Gun ownership numbers make sense considering the movement is largely distru™™™™l of the government. I don't see why this isn't a bigger issue for liberals. Only the dullest of people truly believe that the police can/will protect them in a time of need.

It proves that the vast majority of the Tea Party is more socially conservative than even registered Republicans, so to my point of the Tea Party being not very liberal socially, then it's very relevant. How the Tea Party stacks up against all registered voters doesn't matter. I was looking at how they stacked up socially to registered Reps.

[duane1969]

It proves that the vast majority of the Tea Party is more socially conservative than even registered Republicans, so to my point of the Tea Party being not very liberal socially, then it's very relevant. How the Tea Party stacks up against all registered voters doesn't matter. I was looking at how they stacked up socially to registered Reps.

To be honest I don't know many Tea Party members. I would think that there is a good chance that they are more socially conservative simply because many conservatives don't like the liberal watering down of the GOP and are looking for a better option. Romney is a key example of a liberal in Republican's clothing propped up by the GOP.

I guess I fit the mold of a Tea Party member pretty good because I support gun ownership (and own plenty), I do not support abortion in all/most cases and I support border security and dealing with immigration issues.

If being socially liberal means only the government should have guns, our borders should be flung open wide and doctors should be aborting babies like popping the heads off of dandelions, then I gladly consider myself a social conservative.

[pghin08]

To be honest I don't know many Tea Party members. I would think that there is a good chance that they are more socially conservative simply because many conservatives don't like the liberal watering down of the GOP and are looking for a better option. Romney is a key example of a liberal in Republican's clothing propped up by the GOP.

I guess I fit the mold of a Tea Party member pretty good because I support gun ownership (and own plenty), I do not support abortion in all/most cases and I support border security and dealing with immigration issues.

If being socially liberal means only the government should have guns, our borders should be flung open wide and doctors should be aborting babies like popping the heads off of dandelions, then I gladly consider myself a social conservative.

Agree 100% with what you've posted. And I think (along with Pew Research), that most Tea Partiers are like you, and not very libertarian. From my time here on P&R, my opinion of you is that you are a pretty classic conservative in the sense of how the Republican party existed under Reagan.

[duane1969]

Agree 100% with what you've posted. And I think (along with Pew Research), that most Tea Partiers are like you, and not very libertarian. From my time here on P&R, my opinion of you is that you are a pretty classic conservative in the sense of how the Republican party existed under Reagan.

My hero! (as soon as Michael sees this I bet he goes on an anti-Reagan rant LOL)

[tpeichel]

The rejection of the "bail out my neighbor mentality" is what really started the Tea Party, not social issues.



Certainly the establishment Republicans have tried to inject social issues into the Tea Party, and to some extent they have been successful, but the underlying core of the Tea Party movement, fiscal restraint and limited government, is still very strong and highly appealing to many people.

[pghin08]

My hero! (as soon as Michael sees this I bet he goes on an anti-Reagan rant LOL)

What is it about Reagan that today's conservative idolizes so much? They focus so much on the fact that he had his big tax cut when he came into office, but ignore the fact that he backtracked on that a bit by raising taxes 11 times. I'm not a huge Reagan fan (I'm sure this shocks you), but I admire his ability to have recognized when he cut too much. I don't see that humility in today's conservative, they are unapologetic cutters, which Reagan was not.

[JustAlex]

What is it about Reagan that today's conservative idolizes so much?

I personally believe because Reagan is a SAINT compared to both Bushes'.

There's NO WAY they would dare say anything positive about Bush so they just go backwards.

It's quite pathetic IMO seeing as Reagan did AMNESTY for illegals and like you said raised Taxes 11 times.

The funniest part of all of this....Reagan would be considered a hard liberal by today's republicans.

They are SO FAR RIGHT, it's crazy!

[AUTaxMan]

What is it about Reagan that today's conservative idolizes so much? They focus so much on the fact that he had his big tax cut when he came into office, but ignore the fact that he backtracked on that a bit by raising taxes 11 times. I'm not a huge Reagan fan (I'm sure this shocks you), but I admire his ability to have recognized when he cut too much. I don't see that humility in today's conservative, they are unapologetic cutters, which Reagan was not.

Is repeal of a not-yet-effective, future tax cut a tax increase (especially if the rate is still lower than it was originally)? Income tax rates were slashed under Reagan, and that's what hits most people's bottom lines the hardest. Sure he raised taxes on things like cigarettes and gasoline, but to essentially treat Reagan's tax increases as discrediting his cuts is not really accurate.

[pghin08]

Is repeal of a not-yet-effective, future tax cut a tax increase (especially if the rate is still lower than it was originally)? Income tax rates were slashed under Reagan, and that's what hits most people's bottom lines the hardest. Sure he raised taxes on things like cigarettes and gasoline, but to essentially treat Reagan's tax increases as discrediting his cuts is not really accurate.

I can see where you'd think that's what I was doing, but I didn't really mean that to discredit his cuts. My point was where he differed from today's conservative. Reagan came in slashing big time, and realized that he may have done too much, and incrementally raised taxes. Of course, the net effect of the Reagan years were lower taxes, that's beyond debate, I just admired his ability to admit that he'd done a bit too much. I don't think today's conservative would do that. They would just cut, and that would be that. No tax increases no matter what. Reagan wasn't like that.

[AUTaxMan]

I can see where you'd think that's what I was doing, but I didn't really mean that to discredit his cuts. My point was where he differed from today's conservative. Reagan came in slashing big time, and realized that he may have done too much, and incrementally raised taxes. Of course, the net effect of the Reagan years were lower taxes, that's beyond debate, I just admired his ability to admit that he'd done a bit too much. I don't think today's conservative would do that. They would just cut, and that would be that. No tax increases no matter what. Reagan wasn't like that.

I didn't take that from your post, but that is the argument made by liberals generally against Reagan. Reagan was able to compromise with Tip O'Neill. He cut taxes with a Democratic Congress. That was one of his many admirable accomplishments.