Reuters - Republican Rand Paul, a favorite of the conservative Tea Party movement, has a narrow lead among likely voters in a Senate race in Kentucky, where economic worries top voters' concerns, a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Tuesday said.

Dick Armey & Matt Kibbe, Wall Street Journal
On Feb. 9, 2009, Mary Rakovich, a recently laid-off automotive engineer, set out for a convention center in Fort Myers, Fla. with protest signs, a cooler of water and the courage of her convictions. She felt compelled to act, having grown increasingly alarmed at the explosion of earmarks, bailouts and government spending in the waning years of the Bush administration. President Barack Obama, joined by then-Republican Gov. Charlie Crist, was in town promoting his plan to spend a trillion dollars in borrowed money to "stimulate" the economy.

Erin McPike, RealClearPolitics
By Erin McPike - August 17, 2010More Election NewsAfter nearly half a dozen Republican Senate recruits have fallen to more conservative challengers or Tea Party-driven candidates in primaries this year, at least one GOP candidate with deep experience in Washington has so far defied the anti-establishment trend.Former Rep. Rob Portman, the Republican in Ohio's open Senate race, has endured a spate of attacks from Democrats who refer to him as "the architect of President Bush's economic agenda," but polling in the state has been trending slowly in his direction...

The Atlantic Wire - 'CRITERIA FOR MEMBERSHIP'Our community is built on the Trader Principle: We associate by mutual consent, to further shared goals of restoring fiscal responsibility and constitutionally limited government.

John Judis, The New Republic
On April 14, 2009, as Barack Obama's standing in the polls was beginning to slip, and as Tea Party demonstrators were amassing in Washington for tax day protests, the president gave a lengthy address at Georgetown University explaining the “five pillars” of his economic policies. The speech was intended to promote a memorable slogan for Obama’s program that would evoke comparisons with Theodore Roosevelt’s Square Deal, Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal, and Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society.Obama’s contribution was to be the...

Tea Party-favored candidates have done well in several of the Senate primaries held around the nation so far this year. But as NPR's Martin Kaste reports, the way votes will be cast Tuesday in Washington state is likely to work against the candidate who has the most Tea Party support.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

Caroline Baum, Bloomberg
Commentary by Caroline Baum Aug. 16 (Bloomberg) -- Have you read the U.S. Constitutionrecently, especially the part where We, the People, giveCongress the power to levy and collect taxes? There's nothing in there about carving out specialexemptions for certain individuals or groups; about using taxcredits to achieve socially desirable outcomes, such as gettingmarried and having children; or about doling out earmarks in animplicit exchange for campaign contributions. How can we get Congress out of the tax-favor business? We need new rules (a constitutional amendment), a...

The Atlantic Wire - Typically Tea Party activists protest things like bank bailouts, Obamacare and government stimulus packages. But this week, Tea Party groups in Virginia and Arizona are taking on a more obscure issue: net neutrality. As The Hill's Sara Jerome reports, Tea Party groups, along with other conservative organizations, issued a letter to the FCC urging the agency not to impose sweeping regulations on Internet service providers such as Comcast and AT&T. Here's a portion of the letter followed by a rebuttal from TechCrunch's Nicholas Deleon:

USA TODAY - A year ago, the political hurricane known as the "Tea Party" erupted in made-for-YouTube confrontations at congressional town hall meetings on the pending health care overhaul.

Nile Gardiner, Daily Telegraph
Sign in or registerThursday 12 August 2010 | Blog Feed | All feedsBy Nile Gardiner World Last updated: August 12th, 2010Comment on this Comment on this article President Obama: In decline? (Photo: AFP)The last few weeks have been a nightmare for President Obama, in a summer of discontent in the United States which has deeply unsettled the ruling liberal elites, so much so that even the Left has begun to turn against the White House. While the anti-establishment Tea Party movement has gained significant ground and is now a rising and powerful political force to be...

The throw-the-bums-out narrative that had taken hold in the media in recent months suffered a blow in this week's primaries. So, too, has the GOP's dream of harnessing the energy of Tea Party fiscal conservatives. But Democrats still face some hurdles.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

A new Democratic group called the Agenda Project has launched an anti-Tea Party project, known as "F*ck Tea," which is aimed at, well, exactly what its name suggests.

The project's Web site includes facts about the Tea Party ("66% think global warming does not exist or will not have a serious impact") as well as products geared toward a progressive clientele.

"Products like a Glenn Beck Bowl Buddy (Beck B Scrubbin) and others are perfect holiday gifts or just a great way to say, 'I love you and our country' to your spouse, friend or family," the Agenda Project's founder Erica Payne told Politico's Ben Smith.

Here's the Agenda Project's mission statement from its Web site:

The Agenda Project's goal is to build a powerful, intelligent, well-connected political movement capable of identifying and advancing rational, effective ideas in the public debate and in so doing ensure our country's enduring success.

President bolstered for November’s mid-terms as Democrats lead in key races for Senate and state governorships Barack Obama and his Democratic allies have scored a series of victories in primary races while the Republican establishment has lost out to agitated Tea Party supporters, bolstering the president’s hand in November’s mid-term elections. The results of primaries in four states on …

“Tea party” groups are planning a large rally on Sunday in Arizona, near the Mexican border, to support both the state’s hard-line stance on illegal immigration and the political campaign of the local talk show host who is challenging Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). Mexico â United States border – US-Mexico Border – Immigration – United States – Law

Businessman Dan Maes rode support from tea party groups to claim Colorado’s Republican gubernatorial primary, defeating former U.S. Rep. Scott McInnis.

The Campbell County Tea Party has scheduled is having an open meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 12 in the chambers of Campbell County Fiscal Court at the county administration building, 1098 Monmouth St., Newport.

The Warren Tea Party collected enough signatures in its effort to reduce the number of Warren council members and create districts so the entire city is represented, the Clerk’s Office said today.

Washington – Elements of the Tea Party, a US conservative movement, are set to join a rally Sunday in Arizona to support the state’s hardline position on illegal immigration, The Washington Post reported Wednesday.

Tea party, gay marriage and the White flag

JUNEAU The national group Tea Party Express made a stop in Juneau last week and held a lightly attended rally endorsing Rep. Joe Miller for the impending U.S. Senate Republican primary election in Alaska.

WILLIAMSBURG — The original Tea Party may have been in Boston, but some modern-day “tea party” activists are finding a powerful narrative this summer at a different historic landmark: Colonial Williamsburg.

The Chamber of Commerce plans to spend at least $75 million on elections in 2010, but returns on its early investments this season have been disappointing. Jane Norton, who lost to a Tea Party backed candidate (Ken Buck) in Colorado Tuesday night, is just one in a string of Chamber-backed candidates to go down in defeat.

Entrepreneur Dan Maes cashed in his support from Tea Party patriot groups to narrowly defeat former U.S. Rep. Scott McInnis in Colorado’s GOP gubernatorial primary, sending a message to state republicans that the movement is a force they must reckon with.