Think Tea Party and blowback...

"Political innovations involving new organizational techniques, a vocabulary of vituperation, the use of violence, attacks on vested authority and high social position, and the mobilizing of men at the bottom of society that earlier had been deplored were transforming political culture in widely diverse locales. Whenever the elite was divided, as was increasingly the case in the late colonial period, well-born politicians reluctantly worked to activate and obtain the support of the lower classes because this was their only political reservoir to tap. Though they were called “the rabble” and told they had no right to participate in politics if they were illiterate or propertyless, common people were acquiring a sense of their importance despite the manipulations of those above them. The full significance of these developments would become apparent only when local conflicts began to intersect with issues of how and whether England could tighten its rule of the American colonies. This convergence occurred with dramatic swiftness in the shocking events that took place in the summer and fall of 1765." Garry Nash...The Unknown American Revolution.

This is why those who study history are starting to scream at the parallels to eras with very transformative elements. I will let this stand on it's own. Suffice it to say we are seeing divisions in the rarified elite, and populations manipulated.

of the U.S., those who are on the almighty (hack, cough) "Left," will have to sit down with the Teabaggers. We have more in common with them than the crap that's running things now. Of course, that depends on whether or not our "progressive" brethren can dispense with the cultural warfare, regionalism and rank stereotyping we regularly accuse others of.

As appealing as tying the Tea Baggers to a populist movement would be, and harnessing their animalistic rage to do good, it ain't gonna happen. Ask the GOP of you don't believe me.

and I find it difficult to believe what they say. They are a distinct minority party with a highly polished, well-funded, more intelligent operation than the Dems (which seem to run from any notion of a party, hoping to win by some mass passive-resistance). They are a highly effective adjunct to corporate power and extremist RW ideologies; the Dems leave little at all to grab onto, and I don't think they want anyone to grab onto anything they have.

BTW, I would not seek to "harness their animalistic rage" for 2 reasons. I don't think they are animals, and I refuse to place myself into a "higher" position so as to harness anyone.

"It ain't gonna happen." Respectfully, in this day and age, those words sound a little antique.

against their own best interests. Against 99% of the country's best interests.

Figure that one out and I'll join you.

On another note - the Republicans would love nothing more than to shed these people out of their party.

they will figure this themselves. Some already are... but like all movements it takes time for the rabble to figure this out.

shed these people out of their party."

As for your more difficult question, I can only suggest this:

(1) Organize a true take over of the Democratic Party so that a set of principles, short, clear and easy-to-understand, are instituted (we used to call this, heaven forbid, "ideology"); or

(2) Have a rapprochement with the Tea Party to sound out the prospects of a "third" (really "second" party).

Odds are better with the first alternative (this happened in large measure in the early 1970s), but things are moving fast, and frustrations are high. Everybody needs to come up with some proposals; no one person can conjure them up with the expectation that others will follow. And no one should wait for that one-person approach to come about in order to "join" up.

BTW, I think the GOP wants nothing to with the Tea Party for more than the usual embarrassment quotient; they don't like the notion of populist/democratic politics of any sort; after all, the Democratic Party was once known for such.

who believe in supply side economics. They believe those with massive amounts of wealth have earned it. Then there are those who hate dark skinned people. Both of these groups are the teabaggers.

if we resign ourselves to stereotyping ("...these groups are the teabaggers"), then we cut ourselves off from others. Some of these folks are very dubious about our wars and want to get out of them; that's why MSM has raised the usual specter of "isolationism" to stereotype them from another angle. And despite their animosity toward government programs, most don't want to give up on their medicare. I don't think it is too idealistic or delusional to say: Most tea party folks are neither racist nor suspicious about the wealth running this country. You may note how the GOP and their Fox-oriented commentators regularly lambaste George Soros -- a billionaire several times over. The Republicans want to filter any "class warfare" to their advantage, not give up on it entirely!

immediately. Many of the tea party rank and file, not the leaders, are figuring this out... Thom Hartman had one today... he woke up politically with the Tea Party, after losing his job. He's evolved politically. This is what is happening. The leaders... they are stuck... but the rank and file... are starting to figure this out...

As of now, the Democratic Party is not providing the space; partly because of the class hostility often seen in these pages, partly because the Party has shown very little to rally around. The GOP with its 24-7 repetition of the same themes knows the effectiveness of ideology and passion; the Democrats seem to steadfastly refuse to offer anything to rally around, and seem to recoil at the notion of passion. In that vacuum, it is easy for the RW to tag you, again and again.

there is passion on the D side, you just don't hear it in the media.

Also the Ds are having a problem of not knowing what they are and a historic shift in who the base it.

We are ready for a third POPULIST party, to be honest.

And what remains of "liberalism" in Congress is regularly termed the "left" by MSM, continuing the myth of competition and democratic viability. Frankly, I don't think MSM is as influential as they were even 5 years ago; they continue to muddle through with the same kinds of outlooks and approaches with a website thrown in on the side.

Thinks may change faster than either of us think. I'll got with a populist party, and we can see what sorts out. There is an advantage in this: Lefties, Tea Partyers, indies, etc., won't have to tote the baggage of either party.

in that I agree. Why I posted Nash's little note. We are at one of those moments... and it will take BOTH "parties" by surprise. I suspect the Tea Party... or parties. will be the foreshock of blowback... as well as labor, see WI.