Teabaggers vs Paultards: The Race To 1%

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Longtime members of the forum will know that we've had a lot of fun at the expense of Paultards/Libertarians. You'll recall the 2004 election and the riches of comedic material provided by Libertarian nutjob Michael Badnarik.

More recently, whackadoodle Ron Paul seems to have picked up the Libertarian Party mantle, joined by his Teabagger brethren.

As we know, Badnarik famously received 0% of the vote in 2004, as did his successor Bob Barr in 2008. The Teabaggers, while only about a year old, were humiliated in the Texas primaries last month.

Even though equally(?) loony, they remain separate political parties. While both claim to speak for the vast majority of Americans (or should I say 'Mercans?), neither has managed to avoid embarrassment at the polls.

So the question is, which group will be the first to break the 1% barrier on the national stage? And when? 2010? 2012? Or, the most likely answer, never?

Discuss.

[Captain.Sassy]

In primitive and feudalistic electoral systems (like you have in the US and like we have in Canada) it is hard for new parties to get votes.

Switch to a modern and more democratic PR system and the results would be quite different.

[Cleon]

"Paultard" is so vulgar and derogatory.

I like "Ronulan" better.

[dudalb]

Longtime members of the forum will know that we've had a lot of fun at the expense of Paultards/Libertarians. You'll recall the 2004 election and the riches of comedic material provided by Libertarian nutjob Michael Badnarik.

More recently, whackadoodle Ron Paul seems to have picked up the Libertarian Party mantle, joined by his Teabagger brethren.

As we know, Badnarik famously received 0% of the vote in 2004, as did his successor Bob Barr in 2008. The Teabaggers, while only about a year old, were humiliated in the Texas primaries last month.

Even though equally(?) loony, they remain separate political parties. While both claim to speak for the vast majority of Americans (or should I say 'Mercans?), neither has managed to avoid embarrassment at the polls.

So the question is, which group will be the first to break the 1% barrier on the national stage? And when? 2010? 2012? Or, the most likely answer, never?

Discuss.


Hard to say, since there is such a huge crossover between the Teabaggers and the Paultards.

[dudalb]

In primitive and feudalistic electoral systems (like you have in the US and like we have in Canada) it is hard for new parties to get votes.

Switch to a modern and more democratic PR system and the results would be quite different.


Sorry, but I like the power to split my vote, and vote for the best person rather then a party ticket.

[Cleon]

Hard to say, since there is such a huge crossover between the Teabaggers and the Paultards.

Oddly, there was quite a bit of overlap between the Ronulans and Twoofers, too.

[Captain.Sassy]

Sorry, but I like the power to split my vote, and vote for the best person rather then a party ticket.

Well that's fine and dandy but I imagine you're in the minority. In Canada something like 95% of voters cast their ballots by the party.

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Hard to say, since there is such a huge crossover between the Teabaggers and the Paultards.

Are you proposing that we'll see a merger at some point down the road?

[Cleon]

Are you proposing that we'll see a merger at some point down the road?

Teatards? Paulbaggers?

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Teatards? Paulbaggers?

Good choices!

[daredelvis]

I vote that we drop the 'tards' and stick with a 'bagger' based name, 'tards' is insulting to my developmentally disabled nephew.

Daredelvis

[dudalb]

Are you proposing that we'll see a merger at some point down the road?

If Paul was to run again in 2012, I would be very surprised if most of the Teabaggers did not jump on board.

[The Central Scrutinizer]

If Paul was to run again in 2012, I would be very surprised if most of the Teabaggers did not jump on board.

Which would be a problem for the Libertarians, unless Paul is their candidate. And if he is the Libertarian candidate, who will lead the Teabagger ticket?

[drkitten]

Which would be a problem for the Libertarians, unless Paul is their candidate. And if he is the Libertarian candidate, who will lead the Teabagger ticket?

Sarah Palin.

Actually,.... I doubt there will be a national-scale tea-bagger ticket. The teabaggers seem unable to organize themselves on sufficient scale. They are vehemently anti-elitist to the point of being anti-leader, which means that they'll essentially rent themselves out as shock troops to whichever candidate has an organization in place but needs manpower.

That's the problem with anti-elitism. Armies with no officers don't plan well. I believe the technical military term for such a group is a "mob."

[fullflavormenthol]

Perhaps they can merge into the Liber-Tea Party.

[drkitten]

Perhaps they can merge into the Liber-Tea Party.

Brilliant!

[dudalb]

I got a feeling the Tea Bagger movement is headed for a bad split, with the Libertarian types going one way, the Religious wing the other.

[fullflavormenthol]

I got a feeling the Tea Bagger movement is headed for a bad split, with the Libertarian types going one way, the Religious wing the other.
Oh I think that is already happening to the degree that the birthers and "tree of liberty" types are being told they are not welcomed to speak at conventions. Heck...Joseph Farah (of WND infamy) wants to start his own party because the Tea Party folks aren't hardcore enough for him.

[AlBell]

Sarah Palin.

Actually,.... I doubt there will be a national-scale tea-bagger ticket. The teabaggers seem unable to organize themselves on sufficient scale. They are vehemently anti-elitist to the point of being anti-leader, which means that they'll essentially rent themselves out as shock troops to whichever candidate has an organization in place but needs manpower.

That's the problem with anti-elitism. Armies with no officers don't plan well. I believe the technical military term for such a group is a "mob."
Sounds about as effective in any real terms as a 'chattering of atheists'.

[I Ratant]

Perhaps they can merge into the Liber-Tea Party.
.
"Liber-Tea Party."
Second the Brilliant! !
One of the better ones on the forum!

[MattusMaximus]

I got a feeling the Tea Bagger movement is headed for a bad split, with the Libertarian types going one way, the Religious wing the other.

I agree that this is already happening. The handwriting is on the wall, and the socially conservative wingnut power brokers in the GOP are going to make a major play to absorb the TP movement. Why do you think that Palin is appealing to the TP types? The notion that she's "small government" is laughable, given all the federal cash she took from Uncle Sugar before she quit as Alaska's governor.

[portlandatheist]

Oddly, there was quite a bit of overlap between the Ronulans and Twoofers, too.

So there is a big overlap between twoofers and Ronulans,
A big overlap between Ronulans and baggers,
But I bet there is very little overlap between baggers and twoofers.

[drkitten]

So there is a big overlap between twoofers and Ronulans,
A big overlap between Ronulans and baggers,
But I bet there is very little overlap between baggers and twoofers.

I'd take that bet.

The primary overlap is ideological -- populist anger and distrust of the central government. I suspect very few of either camp believe that a big, powerful, centralized Fed is a good thing when one party is in control, but a bad thing when the other is in control.

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Sarah Palin.

Actually,.... I doubt there will be a national-scale tea-bagger ticket. The teabaggers seem unable to organize themselves on sufficient scale. They are vehemently anti-elitist to the point of being anti-leader, which means that they'll essentially rent themselves out as shock troops to whichever candidate has an organization in place but needs manpower.

That's the problem with anti-elitism. Armies with no officers don't plan well. I believe the technical military term for such a group is a "mob."

From what I have read, they can't even decide which group of teabaggers are the "official" teabaggers. There are several competing websites.

[Brainster]

So there is a big overlap between twoofers and Ronulans,
A big overlap between Ronulans and baggers,
But I bet there is very little overlap between baggers and twoofers.

Yes, there does not seem to be a good fit between those two crowds. Our local branch of the Troofers (http://www.meetup.com/911truthphx/calendar/10157540/?from=list&offset=0) attended the Arizona Tea Party, and were not exactly made to feel welcome:

We got punched, kicked, pinched and and pushed. Other then that, it sucked!
:D

[Hokulele]

"Paultard" is so vulgar and derogatory.

I like "Ronulan" better.


I always referred to them as moRons.

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Yes, there does not seem to be a good fit between those two crowds. Our local branch of the Troofers (http://www.meetup.com/911truthphx/calendar/10157540/?from=list&offset=0) attended the Arizona Tea Party, and were not exactly made to feel welcome:


Our local Twoofers were made to feel quite welcome at a Teabagger rally in St. Louis. I saw video of the event, with the Twoofers prominently in attendance and not a single teabagger was laughing at them.

[I Ratant]

From what I have read, they can't even decide which group of teabaggers are the "official" teabaggers. There are several competing websites.
.
I read long ago there was seldom a three-day old religion without a 2-day old heresy or two.
Same thing.
Only these loose nuts will never find a common center, with the leader losers all claiming the high ground for themselves, with their manifold differences.

[skip]

Here’s what I don’t get about any of them… They where all the same people that said “If you disagree with the President your being unpatriotic.” Or is that all over now… Sometime it’s hard for me to keep up.

[Fishstick]

Here’s what I don’t get about any of them… They where all the same people that said “If you disagree with the President your being unpatriotic.” Or is that all over now… Sometime it’s hard for me to keep up.

"THESE COLOURS DONT RUN MISTER IF YOU DONT LIKE IT YOU CAN LEAVE THE COUNTRY!" Oh there's a democrat in office now? "DESCENT THE HIGHEST FORM OF PATRIOTIC"

[daredelvis]

Yes, there does not seem to be a good fit between those two crowds. Our local branch of the Troofers (http://www.meetup.com/911truthphx/calendar/10157540/?from=list&offset=0) attended the Arizona Tea Party, and were not exactly made to feel welcome:


:D

They chase the Toofers out yet cheer the racist and homophobes on. What a great group of people.

Daredelvis

[HansMustermann]

Sorry, but I like the power to split my vote, and vote for the best person rather then a party ticket.

There are ways to vote for a person and still avoid the "if you don't vote for the one of the two major parties, you're throwing your vote away" idiocy. See, the electoral system in France. Of course, convincing the USA to do _anything_ like France is a whole other issue ;)

[The Central Scrutinizer]

It will be interesting to see if the Teabaggers will have any success at the local level. I suspect they will, but if they're anything like the Paultards, the highest offices they can aspire to are County Water Commissioner and Mayor of Bumbleturd NC, population 34. Of course, this will be trumpeted as evidence of their growing influence on the national stage. The rest of us will simply laugh.

[skip]

"THESE COLOURS DONT RUN MISTER IF YOU DONT LIKE IT YOU CAN LEAVE THE COUNTRY!" Oh there's a democrat in office now? "DESCENT THE HIGHEST FORM OF PATRIOTIC"

Thanx I always try to keep up with the current fashions… BTW since Lou Dobbs left CNN are the Mexicans still in vogue? Or is that all over now too?

[Vorticity]

http://forums.randi.org/imagehosting/4514b14093554d1b.jpg

"One percent? ****. I scrape one percent off the bottom of mah shoe."

[The Central Scrutinizer]

http://forums.randi.org/imagehosting/4514b14093554d1b.jpg

"One percent? ****. I scrape one percent off the bottom of mah shoe."

Good one. I suspect it will take about 20 elections for the Teabaggers and Paultards combined to do as well as Perot did in 92.