Did the tea party get slapped in this week’s elections?
Maybe. One night’s results certainly aren’t a trend. Still ...
In Ohio, the law restricting public workers’ bargaining abilities — one of the signature tea party legislative acts — was repealed by a huge number, 62 percent to 38 percent.
Locally, look at the Phoenix city elections:
The two Council winners were challenged by tea party types — small government, low taxes, help businesses. And both tea party types were whupped, one by 11 percent, one by 13 percent.
As was the mayoral candidate who attempted to mimic the tea party agenda: Wes Gullett. Who campaigned — laughably — as an “outsider,” a “reformer” who would downsize government, rein in the unions, make the city more efficient, be business friendly. In other words, the tea party agenda.
And who lost by 13 percent to the guy tea party types tried to label the “status quo,” the Big Government Democrat.
But the biggest tea party kick in the pants?
The End (at least temporarily) of the Emperor of Arizona.
The King of the Arizona Tea Party.
The Guy who Personified Everything Right About America (at least if you believe him).
The Most Powerful Man in Arizona (at least according to some).
Russell Pearce. Who lost by a substantial margin, 53 percent to 46 percent.
Does this mean the tea party’s over?
Hardly.
But like any other movement that achieves some influence and power, some tea party types have overreached.
The Ohio law, admits even the Republican governor who pushed it into law, was too much too soon.
And in Pearce, the tea party has all the stereotypes of its movement: Angry, unyielding, unwilling to work with the other side.
Right or wrong, that’s the perception many have of tea party elected officials: They won’t cooperate with anyone they disagree with, so little gets done.
That perception, of course, began with the debt ceiling circus this past summer, with the small self-described tea party caucus unwilling to move from its original position.
Maybe some of those folks in Congress who’ve previously been sympathetic to the tea party movement are reading the, ahem, tea leaves. Twenty Republicans have broken from the dogma of no new taxes and signed onto a letter sent to the Super Committee, asking them to consider new revenue as a way to cut the debt.
I suspect that the majority of Americans still agree with one tenet of the tea party: a desire for smaller government, more efficient government. Makes sense: Government, especially the one at the federal level, is bloated and needs to be cut — but by a surgeon’s scalpel and not a butcher’s knife.
And in Pearce’s loss, other tea party politicians now have a road map ... of what not to do.
The only bad news associated with Pearce’s loss?
The state senator who’ll likely succeed Pearce as Senate president. Gilbert’s Andy Biggs. Who’s even more strident and unbending than Pearce. And less likable.
• Mike McClellan is a retired Mesa high school teacher who lives in Gilbert.
Anniechan posted at 11:21 am on Wed, Nov 9, 2011.
[sad] I was sorry to read your column today. I thought it was unkind, laced with "in-your-face" cynical comments against Russell Pearce and the Tea Party movement. I would think you could just be thankful with the gains you wanted, and have mercy and kindness to those who think differently than you do, and especially those who lost. Just so you know, I am not a Tea Party advocate, nor a die-hard Pearce supporter. I think you should be ashamed of yourself.
Accuracy posted at 11:30 am on Wed, Nov 9, 2011.
Mike McClellan wrote: "In Ohio, the law restricting public workers’ bargaining abilities — one of the signature tea party legislative acts — was repealed by a huge number, 62 percent to 38 percent."
-------------------------------------------
Union leaders in Ohio say they want to use their victory as a spark to help re-elect President Obama and put more Democrats in office in 2012.
But it remains to be seen if that's the message Ohio voters were sending.
gilbertgrandma posted at 12:14 pm on Wed, Nov 9, 2011.
I agree with Anniechan - very sad the amount of anger and cynicism coming from the left. Makes it hard to have any kind of rational discussion these days.
Moderation posted at 12:17 pm on Wed, Nov 9, 2011.
I agree with many of the comments in this column especially in the notion that unyielding tea party members are going to drag themselves down because they will never compromise on anything. Especially with their own party! Please if you are an elected official who says "my way or the highway!" prepare to pack your bags because the people who elected you will send you packing just like we did to Pearce.
CSalafia posted at 1:02 pm on Wed, Nov 9, 2011.
Mike is right.
Last night, in a number of elections, voters rejected the politics of division, of partisanship, of rigidity, of, well, crazy.
Vote #Sanity2012
Masterrogue666 posted at 4:00 pm on Wed, Nov 9, 2011.
I've noticed that it's the Liberals that are the first to hurl insults while trying to make their "point(s)". They claim that we are racist, et al, and full of hate.
If I was such a racist, why would I like to see Cain as our next President? I figure, since he's more business man than politician, he will actually try to resolve our problems.....
JMJ posted at 7:46 pm on Wed, Nov 9, 2011.
Here is my well-mannered golf clap because Pearce is out: tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap
I hope that satisfied the Miss Manners Peanut Gallery.
Who doesn't want to shout from the rafters that, perhaps we will now have an education advocate in Pussell's stead? After my income went down for four years in a row because of the far right Republicans who gutted and eviscerated education in our state, this is my football cheer, baby: GOOD RIDDANCE RUSSELL! DON'T LET THE DOOR HIT YOU IN THE BUTTOCKS ON YOUR WAY OUT.
And, how anyone can blame unions in our state is a mystery to me. The "unions" are not "unions". They are associations in a right-to-work state. If memory serves, the only time anyone has ever struck for workers' rights in our state, it was back in the 70's at the copper mines. Other than that, "union" workers have no real support. Especially in education.
LESS TASTE. MORE FUL-FILLING.
NA NA. NA NA NA NA. HEY HEY HEY. GOOD-BYE.
WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS, MY FRI-END.
I think that about expresses it. No shame here. I had to practice my rowdy cheers for the U of A/ASU game, any way.
bobunf posted at 10:06 pm on Wed, Nov 9, 2011.
Rational seems to have run out of things to say. Same identical post in multiple threads.
And what an attitude: "the war isn't over."
The war with your fellow citizens? It reminds me of Pearce's attitude towards his constituents - at least the ones who didn't agree with him - hostile, superior and arrogant. .
Logical Thought posted at 12:37 am on Thu, Nov 10, 2011.
Negative comments from both sides here serve only to prove that bigotry and racism are alive and well in the East Valley. Rational (and Pearce) might want to read our nations history again and realize that we are a nation of immigrants, albeit mostly legally ones.
Democracy is difficult because it's about the rights and desires of both the majority and the minority. When an elected official forgets that and becomes unyielding and unresponsive to any compromise, it's time for the voters to say "thank you for your service, please step aside."
Ring of Gyges posted at 1:47 am on Thu, Nov 10, 2011.
@Rational Human-I'm with you brother! The scum down south needs to be put in their place and sent packing! When they get here November 19th at 7:30 p.m., the Sun Devils are going to make them wish that they would have never invaded our territory, taken our jobs, and sent us Linda Ronstadt. We ARE going to kick the scum down south out of our state and out of our country. The battle has been joined! ASU!!
chatmandu002 posted at 9:47 am on Thu, Nov 10, 2011.
I am a Tea Party Patriot, mock me is you must, ridicule me if you will. But I believe in our Constitution our Republic and will vote accordingly.
Cerulean posted at 11:29 am on Thu, Nov 10, 2011.
No need to be ashamed, Mike, every observation you make is fair. It seems that those who are offended simply forgot what it feels like to lose – sore losers. Pearce said that Lewis would never have won if there had been a primary. That may be true, but this election shows us there are many moderates in the Republican ranks who do not always fall in step with ridged, Know-Nothing tea party ideology.
samkat posted at 12:29 pm on Thu, Nov 10, 2011.
Mike is obviously more of an occupy everything kind of guy. :-)
Moderation posted at 3:34 pm on Thu, Nov 10, 2011.
@Rational Human
Just because we don't agree with you resort to threats, which I am sure you are completely incapable of acting on. I believe you should seek psychological counseling for you anger. For the time being your rants just make it easier for most of the general population to just ignore everything you say because it sounds as if it comes from a complete........$*#@*#
Rational Human posted at 3:54 pm on Thu, Nov 10, 2011.
I make no threat Moderation. You pro illegal alien traitors need to stay on alert because we aren't going to stop. I am most certainly capable and willing to continue the fight to remove all illegal aliens from Arizona. We aren't going to stop cause you panderers won a battle. The war on illegal immigration continues to grow will not stop growing until we have kicked the last illegal out of America. You want to call that a threat fine with me, but I would look at it as more of a promise, but by all means ignore what I have to say until it sneaks up on you and bites you in the rear. Everything I've read from you sounds like it's coming from a complete idiot to me, but I never turn my back on idiots.
Cerulean, this recall election shows what we all knew from the get go, there are moderate republicans. Always were. May be true? Pearce would beat the bishop hands down if it weren't for democrats being allowed to vote in what was essentially a republican primary. The bishop got all the liberal, dumbocrats, and enough republicans to put him over the top. Be sure that if Pearce even wants his position back he will use the 260k the state will be reimbursing him to beat the bishop easily in the REAL republican primary. As I said to Moderation, you may have won a small battle but the war is far from over, so you better stay in your bunkers and stay alert. Here we come.
Dale Whiting posted at 1:21 am on Fri, Nov 11, 2011.
Perhaps the Tea Party ought to try brewing Turkish Tea, "Chi" short for Chinese. The Turks have been brewing Tea since the days of Marco Polo. And it's so strong that most everyone takes two lumps of sugar. Two lumps are placed on every saucer holding a cup of tea. I've even seen Turkish military truck drivers brew tea as a coolant in their jeeps. At every stop, its a short time between setting up a table and chairs and drafting a cup or two from the radiator!
mnjcpa posted at 7:51 am on Fri, Nov 11, 2011.
McClellan looks to be in his late 40's-early 50's.
Of course he's going to take a slanderous position about people that promote lower taxes, less government. Do the math on McClellan's unsustainable & unrealistic pension & health care benefits & you see through what he's viciously trying to personally protect.
Mike McClellan posted at 9:29 am on Fri, Nov 11, 2011.
Well, mnjcpa, when you can't attack the message, attack the messenger. As to my "unsustainable and unrealistic pension and health care benefits," you should look before you leap.
I -- like almost all the state workers in AZ -- am in the ASRS retirement program, the most solvent in the state. It's currently funded at about 83%, down from the 106% it was at prior to the financial debacle of the last decade.
Generous? Maybe. But unlike the politicians' retirement plan in our state, ASRS members make the same contribution as their employers do. And over the last several years, have contributed a greater share than their employers have. So don't confuse teachers' and other state workers' retirement plans with other states that required little employee contribution.
As to the generous health benefits. . . well, I pay $12,000 a year for my health insurance, and I have the same co-pays and deductibles I had when I worked.
So, mnjcpa, please explain how that is "unrealistic"?
But back to the matter at hand. I don't believe it's "slanderous" to suggest that the TEA Party politicians, both national and local, overreached. It's not unusual. The Democrats in Congress along with Obama did the same thing at the outset of this administration, using their clout to pass health care reform that didn't reform what most Americans see as vital: the cost of health care.
Russell Pearce epitomizes that overreach: The tactics used in the recall campaign were extreme and backfired on him. Even in the last session of the legislature we saw that overreach, with his five immigration bills all being defeated by his fellow Republicans.
All of this speaks to the danger of consolidated new power: the arrogance of power can lead -- and inveitably, it seems, does lead -- to the kind of overreach the TEA Party is now suffering from.
Mike McClellan posted at 9:29 am on Fri, Nov 11, 2011.
By the way, I'm near 60.
mnjcpa posted at 10:35 am on Fri, Nov 11, 2011.
Mike - I'm a business person. And in that capacity I don't use vitriol in my discussions. I respect other peoples opinions, regardless of their position. I don't believe I see a single comment I made that attacks you personally - but I guess that only works one way when you refer to the Tea Party as getting slapped.
And yet I understand why you're overly sensitive because you're one of the benefactors of the public trough that private sector taxpayers like myself pay for.
What you don't understand is that many of our financial problems are going to be decided for you. There's too many people like yourself that have their heels dug in and don't want to consider that we need to change many things. In your case, there is no private sector job that pays a continuing salary and benefits AFTER you quit working.
What many finance experts predict is going to show up in the US Bankruptcy Express that shows up late next year. You don't need an accounting degree to understand that when the average age of retirement in Greece is 51 you CAN'T take enough from taxpayers to pay this unsustainable system. It's nothing more than a time value of money calculation.
You're not going to have a choice Mike - it's going to be made for you whether you like it or not. So maybe a better strategy is a better understanding of the monetary system so you can understand the problem better rather than expecting someone else to pay for your unsustainable benefit.
Leon Ceniceros posted at 11:50 am on Fri, Nov 11, 2011.
Thank goodness, Folks, he taught "English" instead of American History....lol.
Here it is Veteran's Day, Armistice Day and Rememberance Day and we are honoring our Falled Heroes and Our Past Military Service Men and Women and we see a Column like this.
Someone gloating that an American Patriot, Russell Pearce, was Recalled from Office by a Pro-Illegal Alien Amnesty supporter. American Military Men and Women are sacrificing life and limb to protect the borders of Afghanistan from the Pakistani Talban invaders. Russell Pearce was only doing the same thing = protecting the American Border in Arizona from the invasion of Mexican Illegal Aliens carrying 40lb backpacks full of marijuana, heroin and cocaine to infect our young people. We should be mourning the fact that Mesa Citizens foresake their Loyalty to our Constitution to follow the dictates of their religious leaders.
What have these Mesa citizens gained by placing their religion above their patriotism = nothing. They have elected a State Senator who will be shunned by all the other Republican Senators. They have elected a State Senator who will have no political where-with-all to bring any benefits to Mesa. They have elected a State Senator who will have no Legislative authority what-so-ever. Congratulations !!!
Mike McClellan posted at 12:01 pm on Fri, Nov 11, 2011.
mjncpa, I appreciate your expertise as a business person, but I'd still suggest you look before you leap . . .
As you might know, the state has reformed the ASRS system, raising the age of retirement and changing the retirement for all employees hired after July 1, 2011 to a defined contribution plan rather than a defined benefit plan.
Both will -- barring another financial debacle -- lead to a full funding of the retirement system.
But as a business person, you should be upset, really, with our state's politician retirement plan:
They qualify for a pension after I believe 8 years in government;
They don't contribute a penny to their retirement, meaning we fund it all;
They are supposedly part-time legislators, yet they get a pension?
That plan needs reformation.
Rational Human posted at 1:39 pm on Fri, Nov 11, 2011.
It's a sad day in the history of Arizona the day extremist lefties fooled republicans into helping them to oust one of the greatest senators this state has ever produced. A sheethole like Mesa never deserved such greatness. Russell Pearce is larger than Mesa will ever be. A drive through the heart of Mesa shows it to be nothing but a terd world city full of terd world thinkers. Russell Pearce will go on to bigger and better places, and the fight to decimate the filthy scum invaders from the south will not end here today. Pearce helped to start the ball rolling and it's picking up speed. Look out terd world invaders. We are coming for you, and we will kick you out of our state and country. Perhaps Russell needs to consider running for Jon Kyl's US Senate seat. He'd be ten times better for Arizona than flaky flakes could ever be. In the meantime, all you illegal supporters join hands with La Ratza and do the hat dance in celebration. You deserve to celebrate a job well done. Then get back down in your bunkers cause the war isn't over by a long shot.
mnjcpa posted at 4:30 pm on Fri, Nov 11, 2011.
Mike - I've looked & leaped for 25 years. You're looking at the issue from 50 feet - I'm at 30,000 feet.
My profession requires advanced tax & finance skills. When you understand these topics well, it's easy to see we're headed for the same fate as Europe.
When people pull back on the emotion and really understand the topic - it doesn't matter whether you're Democrat, Republican, Liberal or Conservative. We're looking like Greece by the end of next year unless something dramatic shifts and it's not taxing people more.
abimopectore posted at 4:52 pm on Fri, Nov 11, 2011.
"We're looking like Greece by the end of next year unless something dramatic shifts..."
You just threw your credentials down the drain. It's pretty obvious you're exaggerating with your comment(s). There is not one serious economist in the world that would agree with your statement especially it's time sensitive precision. However, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt for the long term down the road; if we don't get our fiscal house in order, we are looking towards some unpalatable economic realities that are going to be unfortunate because we have the time to set the ship straight if our politicians had some interest in the WHOLE country instead of their particular partisan inclinations.
JMJ posted at 5:16 pm on Fri, Nov 11, 2011.
As usual, the back and forth. I wondered when you'd weigh in, Leon.
I honor the five service members in my immediate who kept our country free, where we honor the Constitution [...or what's left of it...]. I honor my Civil War ancestors who lost their lives fighting on both sides of that conflict, and their family members, some of whom also died as a direct result of the war's impact on their families.
My "golden parachute" after years of work, contributing directly into that plan with my own money, is made out of Mac'n'Cheese. It's surviveable, but hardly. Still, I am grateful that myself, and others in my shoes, had the foresight to also try to help our fellow citizens no matter their background.
Don't worry. The way educators are treated, now, very few college students will follow in our footsteps, and then, we'll have an even larger uneducated underclass.
I hope you have your golden parachute from your view up at 30,000 feet.
None of my kids went into education. They are planning for their retirement on their own, just like I had to do. ASRS is sustainable. The legislature tried to get their hands on the ASRS funds a while back. It was a "no go". Thank God.
Happy Veterans Day. Mine are all back safe and sound from the sandbox.
mnjcpa posted at 9:09 am on Sat, Nov 12, 2011.
Abimopectore- keep hanging on to your beliefs because that's why we are where we are. I'm not exaggerating one word.
There are plenty of people that understand what I have discussed but you have to be deep in the finance world of which I am to get the information. People don't want to hear that their benefits are unsustainable. Maybe study this subject a little deeper? Anyone could benefit studying Keynesian v. Austrian economics to understand how the methods currently being deployed are disastrous.
And JMJ-no I don't have a golden parachute. I love what I do, am an entrepreneur, & thus count on my own creativity to fund my retirement.
abimopectore posted at 10:01 am on Sat, Nov 12, 2011.
mnjcpa,
You stated:
"Abimopectore- keep hanging on to your beliefs because that's why we are where we are. I'm not exaggerating one word."
If you read my comments carefully, you can see that I'm not saying we're not heading toward an unsustainable financial future. I'm just challenging you to explain the next year factor which is something you've not supported with anything but your belief. I know very well the Social Security, and Medicare mess this country is heading into in the future and hence the reason for curbing these unreasonable expectations for future generations and righting the ship as I've stated. You need to be intellectually honest if you want folks to believe your claims, something you've not been in any of your comments, except a ala "take my word for it because I work in this field" attitude.
mnjcpa posted at 12:00 pm on Sat, Nov 12, 2011.
I gave you the information you need to read to become informed. You're not going to hear this type of information on the nightly news.
Start at www.misesacademy.org to study economics. You will learn historically we are right behind Europe in economic conditions. F.A. Hayek is another. Or you can continue to keep your head in the sand & insult people who are genuinely trying to help people understand the dire situation our country is in. Be my guest if that's your choice.
abimopectore posted at 12:19 pm on Sat, Nov 12, 2011.
mnjcpa,
Where have I insulted you? I've challenged you to be intellectually honest and you've have not done nothing remotely. The link you've provided doesn't work and what about Hayek supports your claim that NEXT YEAR we're going to be in Greece's situation? I could also tell you go somewhere and study economics and maybe you'll understand with what I'm trying to say. But you haven't said anything and only made claims. I have friends who've graduated with degrees in economics from Ivy league schools and none have stated with certainty that we're headed in Greece's direction by NEXT YEAR as you claim. I have stated that WE ARE on an UNSUSTAINABLE path if we don't do something about our current situation; but to claim that NEXT YEAR is the year is all fine on your part yet you have NO supporting facts to back up your claim except to invite me to a web link that doesn't work, while mentioning a former Nobel laureate as proof of your assertion without providing the factual basis for such a claim. You're sounding more like the recent news story about an upcoming doomsday figure who's prophecy didn't pan out in October.
mnjcpa posted at 2:12 pm on Sat, Nov 12, 2011.
You have to study the markets & our debt to draw an informed conclusion. I form opinions from study & discussing issues with people I respect. We've formed this conclusion based on economic history & what the statistics are telling us.
A simple google search would get you to academy.mises.org but you still have to study our debt & economic history to see what's going to happen. Ron Paul isn't the best communicator & probably isn't electable but he understands the monetary system better than anyone & what to do about it. Today's Newsweek has an article about it, the Wall Street Journal too.
I'm inviting anyone that participates in this column to study the topic rather than respond with hostility. It's not about the precision of the date - it's about understanding the topic. Do your own research & turn off the tv. We will be better off if we're all informed.
abimopectore posted at 2:47 pm on Sat, Nov 12, 2011.
mnjcpa,
Thanks for the corrected link. I will look into it but I will repeat that your previous conjecture of next year has rightfully been corrected by your statement, "It's not about the precision of the date - it's about understanding the topic." You're appealing to one way of looking at the situation; there are other schools of thought concerning this matter, and I'm sure you know about them. However, I will read and look into what you've stated so that I can understand what you're trying to say. You misinterpreted my statements as "hostility" when I was challenging you with the "words" you were using.
sockratties posted at 9:08 am on Mon, Nov 14, 2011.
Dale… Once again your ignorance is showing through a thin veneer of knowledge. Chinese tea is “cha” and I doubt you have ever had tea brewed in a radiator or even been to Turkey. If you had done all the things you claim in you quagmire of posts you would have to be older than Methuselah. Of course it’s possible to get hot water out of a radiator with which to brew tea while ingesting various heavy metals. Maybe that does explain some things, though. “Chi” is the Chinese term that refers to spirit or sometimes a inner force, depending on where you fall on the spectrum spanning religion to philosophy. But then you probably think you’re an expert on that too.
reeblite posted at 12:49 pm on Wed, Nov 16, 2011.
anniechan, if you watch fox news, you should be ashamed of yourself for posting your comment.
azconan posted at 12:46 pm on Tue, Jan 3, 2012.
Pearce was recalled because he is a racist. That and he was to big for his own good. Pushing around members of Congress, threatening the county attorney and stealing from the Fiesta Bowl. He wasnt a tea party favorite and neither is Arpaio who will be gone soon. The Tea Party is still strong. Just biding their time for the big election to rid this country of the most vile and hurtful President in our history !