Has the Republican Party morphed into a new party?

Bill Markin at American Thinker believes it has. Read this:

R.I.P., G.O.P.

The Grand Old Party, known to many as simply the "G.O.P.," passed away during the recent election season.

Despite having once been known for such luminaries as Lincoln and Reagan, in recent years the party had slipped into a near-comatose state of minorityhood and, under the leadership of a continuing parade of elder statesmen, had demonstrated an unfailing ability to reach across the aisle and compromise principles in the name of "getting things done."

It is survived by a group of aging professional politicians whose primary interest has been their own political careers and assuring the blessings of continual reelection upon themselves and their cronies.

Those close to The Party say it was asleep at the time of passing.

This is just the beginning, read it all here.

Tea Parties and the GOP II

Glenn Reynolds at Instapundit has a series of links to articles with this theme, including one of his own.  Read them all.
From the Examiner:
Glenn Reynolds: More impact is what's next for the Tea Party movement

A year ago, the Tea Party movement didn't exist. Today, it is arguably the most popular political entity in America. The movement is already more popular than the Republican or Democratic parties, according to a recent NBC / WSJ poll .

Even in blue-state California, three in 10 voters identify with the Tea Party movement.

And, of course, Scott Brown's come-from-behind blowout in Massachusetts occurred in no small part because of money and volunteers from the Tea Party movement around the nation.

In The Hill:
Armey tells House GOP: Win back the tea-partiers to win
By Molly K. Hooper

Dick Armey left his former House GOP colleagues on Saturday with a sobering thought: They lost the tea-party activists in 2006, now go win 'em back.

The former House GOP leader told the lawmakers gathered on the third day of the issues retreat that if they worked hard, it would be possible to win back the “small-government, grass-roots conservatives.”

From Cincinnati.com:
Tea Partiers aim to remake local GOP
by Howard Wilkinson

A year ago, when the Tea Party movement first stirred to life, it had to shout to be noticed, with big public rallies that drew thousands of conservatives to places like Fountain Square and VOA Park in West Chester - citizens angry about government bailouts, billions of tax dollars for economic stimulus and political parties that didn't seem to be listening.

Now, though, the speech-making over loudspeakers to angry throngs seems to have given way to a much quieter form of protest - one in which Tea Party activists, here and across the country, are trying to either take over or gain a foothold in the political parties from the ground up.

They are doing it here by the hundreds by filing as candidates in the May 4 primary election for the office of precinct executive, the lowest rung of the political party structure.

American Spectator:
Grassroots vs. Establishment Battles Shape GOP Primaries
by Robert Stacy McCain

The Tea Party movement continues to shake things up in the Republican Party, as contested primaries provide opportunities for grassroots activists to show their strength against the GOP establishment.

A crucial test will come in Tuesday's Illinois primary, where political newcomer Adam Andrzejewski has gotten a surge of support, with a Tea Party event yesterday in Chicago where the temperature was 7 degrees:

The Tea Party movement continues to shake things up in the Republican Party, as contested primaries provide opportunities for grassroots activists to show their strength against the GOP establishment.

A crucial test will come in Tuesday's Illinois primary, where political newcomer Adam Andrzejewski has gotten a surge of support, with a Tea Party event yesterday in Chicago where the temperature was 7 degrees: ...

...Despite the frigid weather, the Tea Partiers and other self-described "true" conservatives made their way to Federal Plaza Friday afternoon. There, they welcomed their newest hero, Republican gubernatorial candidate Adam Andrzejewski.

"New ideas are required by new people. Real reform requires a new generation of leadership," said Andrzejewski.

Andrzejewski, a Hinsdale businessman who made millions selling telephone books, vows not to raise taxes and to cut, cut, cut spending, as he says. His rhetoric has resonated with the Republican right.

"We need more people to step up to the plate for hard-working Americans who have the morals and can go in and get our country back," said Kathy Hurst, Tea Party member.

Lech Walesa's appearance yesterday with Andrzejewski helped generate extensive media coverage. One Illinois source reports that the campaign is sending out a mailer featuring the former Polish president's endorsement that will go to a list of more than 200,000 Polish-American voters in the state.

Tea Parties and the GOP

Richard Viguerie writing in the American Thinker:
Why leaderless Tea Parties are beating the GOP

Rasmussen reports the Tea Party Movement, which percolated only months ago, is beating the Grand Old Party.


That's amazing -- and good -- news. A nascent grassroots movement is more popular than a long-established political party.

Republican Party leaders should be embarrassed. Instead, the Republican establishment disdains this populist uprising. Rather than embracing this genuine movement, establishment politicians and consultants are calculating how to co-opt, sideline or even defeat the newest phenomenon in politics - tea partiers.

That would be arrogance, not leadership. It could be the downfall of Republican leaders, who have taken the Party of Reagan to the Party of No -- meaning, No Ideas, No Leadership, and No Principles.

What's driving the Tea Party phenomenon? Robert Stacy McCain writes at American Spectator about one tea partier, Rhonda Lee Welsch, who says, "‘It's a systemic problem,' discussing the top-down approach of leaders in both parties who seem indifferent to the concerns of ordinary Americans."

Go read it all.