tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29179803.post153889492475841353..comments2024-03-23T13:45:19.208-04:00Comments on Serene Musings: Why the Tea Party Has to GoScotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10535260741343975445noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29179803.post-1024990108831010392012-10-06T12:28:53.910-04:002012-10-06T12:28:53.910-04:00Good comments, Brent. Thanks for your perspective...Good comments, Brent. Thanks for your perspective. I agree with much of it. Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10535260741343975445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29179803.post-32715903403077785712012-10-01T12:05:52.113-04:002012-10-01T12:05:52.113-04:00Let me preface this by saying that I do not consid...Let me preface this by saying that I do not consider myself a tea party member. I do not understand why people actually enjoy putting themselves in a certain box. On to my response.<br /><br />I don't think anyone should evaluate Congress irrespective of the President. It takes both government branches to accomplish anything and therefore their approval ratings should be (although often times aren't) intertwined.<br /><br />The main time period for the decline in approval ratings, according to your research, was 2008. Which was also the year that it became obvious that either Hilary Clinton (a better option) or Barack Obama would be president. As you stated, 2009 was the year the tea party officially started. It was also the year Obama took office.<br /><br />I think that perhaps conservative leaning people (including myself) disapprove of congress because they disapprove of the job the government is doing as a whole. Remember there is a portion of the republican party that disapproves of everything congress does just because they want the federal government to be smaller. In fact I received two emails today from one of my most conservative friends. The first was bashing Obama and the second was bashing Congress.<br /><br />Then you have the liberal minded folk who simply disapprove of congress because it is a republican congress. Or possibly disapprove because Obama has blamed Congress (maybe even rightfully) for his slow progress and inability to follow through on his promises.<br /><br />There isn't anyone left to support the building that is "looks like a boob." (Parks and Rec reference) <br /><br />Does the tea party's position have something to do with the approval rating? Sure. But I would argue the low approval rating is more of a reflection of the people's overall disapproval with their government as a whole.<br /><br />By the way, I negotiate on behalf of others for a living. In every negotiation both sides have a bottom line (or top line depending on how you look at things). However every once in a while a party feels so strongly about their position that they refuse to bend. They aren't wrong for feeling that way, but they do have to live with the consequences. They would rather lose at trial than meet somewhere in the middle. It's okay to 'dig in.' I encourage both sides that if they feel strongly enough about something to do just that. I will not compromise on anything when it comes to my children. If the tea party feels just as strongly about certain issues as I do my children then I actually admire them for their stance. I would say the same about an ultra-liberal group. <br /><br />It's not the tea party that has to go. It's this whole idea of, "You don't agree with my ideas so your wrong" that has to go. And honestly both sides are guilty of this thinking. Rambohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10129336910188393556noreply@blogger.com