The Brown Hangover: What Now for the Tea Party?

My friend, Andrew Ian Dodge, frames it quite well here. In a way, we were snookered by the Brown tsunami. He got all the benefits with none of the baggage. He DID say the three things we all wanted to hear (nix to HCR, free enterprise-lower taxes, strong defense) so why the buyer's remorse so soon? For me it was the realization that he is just another guy...fallible as you or me. That faux pas over his daughters gave me a chill. The nude picture. When was the last time you or ANY of your friends posed nude? Sure, it was in his halcyon days of college (and you don't want to KNOW what I was doing at Fordham, IYKWIMAITYD) but this is a clear case of Anyone But The Liberal.

I believe that true conservative values must be the litmus test anywhere and everywhere...AND they will win out a la NY 23, VA and NJ. Scott Brown is no RINO. Look at his issues page. Other than abortion (where he waffles BIG time) and Israel (where he kinda supports her over the PA) I am OK with the rest. No clear cut denial of terror, especially Islamofascist terror, and that is bothersome.

The Independence Caucus has this Vetting Document (PDF) for candidates which should be a starting place for separating the wheat from the chaff. 80 questions is a lot but all a simple Yes or No.

So I am not offended that Brown didn't thank the Tea Party people. We got what we wanted and we showed that we ARE a force to be reckoned with. But all roads lead to home...work locally. My first order of business is to get the progressive in the cupboard in NY19, John Hall, outta there. Nan Hayworth is very Scott Browny. So I will hold her feet to the fire with the 80 questions if she wants my supprot.