The John Adams Society |
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Mark S. Sanquist
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Ted L. Volk
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Peder Mewis
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Susan Smith
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September 2010
History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or timid.
- President Dwight D. Eisenhower
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS GETTING ITS TOUGHEST LESSON in a generation. One after another, RINOs who felt safe, cynically relying on two-party system stability, are losing primaries to passionate Tea Party activists. The winning Tea Party candidates will certainly attempt to knock down the culture of unjustified compromises favored by many in the entrenched Republican Party leadership.
Once elected, the Tea Party candidates will gradually dilute their pre-election promises in favor of pragmatism of political alliances. Hiding behind excuses like being a "Massachusetts Republican", some of them would fall to the traps of the corrupting environment of DC. Others would be out-voted, or just out-maneuvered. And, of course, the regrouping Democrats will continue to demonize them in the eyes of the always sought after “middle-of-the-road” voters. The Tea Party movement’s major advantage – its enormous popularity – will be replaced by another mass disillusion.
ON THE OTHER HAND, people can easily distinguish the original grass-roots movement – that gets little press – from the GOP showboat riders. The Tea Party must come to terms with being the tie-breaker, not a major third party. The cozy Republican Party establishment will re-ignite the fire by returning to business as usual, thus insulting the voters. The evolving Internet tools enable smaller movements to form and find supporters. There is no more dependency on the fat cats who dominate the nominally pro-freedom party. Lean and mean, the Tea Party is in no danger.
THE CHAIRMAN, torn between the latest news from the front lines of the election campaign and his deep belief in the destiny of the voters to be deceived in the most brutal way, has called a debate to settle the question:
RESOLVED: The Tea Party Cannot Survive a Republican Landslide
The Debate will be held on Wednesday, September 22, 2010 at the University Club, 420 Summit Avenue, in Saint Paul. The Chancellor will preside over drinks beginning at seven o'clock p.m. The debate will begin at half past seven. While there is no dress code for attendance, gentlemen who wish to speak must wear a tie; ladies should adhere to a similar sartorial standard. For those gentlemen who arrive tieless yet wish to speak, fret not: the Purveyor of Ties will keep on hand at least one of his quite remarkable ties for just such an eventuality. Questions about debate caucus procedures or about the John Adams Society itself may be directed to the Chairman at (952) 887-2553 or the Secretary at (612) 247-1212.