The Top 10 Tea Party Bloggers You Need to Read Posted By Walter Hudson On May 5, 2011
The Tea Party stands as a moral challenge to the status quo. It's not a third-party movement. It's an extra-party movement. It's not political. It's philosophical. It is a manifestation of the market, an example of how free minds and free will seep through the cracks of the established paradigm to fulfill unmet needs. Although it did not manifest in rallies and town halls until 2009, the seeds of the Tea Party were planted 15 years earlier. Republicans took control of Congress in 1994, propelled by the Contract with America. The sweeping reforms Republicans pledged to attempt were largely unsuccessful, an outcome they could lay at the feet of President Clinton <http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/individualProfile.asp?indid=644> . Nonetheless, the perception among rank-and-file conservatives was that the Republicans failed to deliver. Republican credibility was further eroded when the party held both the White House and Congress during the presidency of George W. Bush. After years of listening to pundits suggest that Democrats <http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/Articles/dempartyexpandedprofile.html> were the sole driving force behind ever-expanding government, conservatives watched in awe as Republicans drove the ship of state 180 degrees away from every principle they ran on <http://reason.com/archives/2009/01/26/bush-was-a-big-government-disa> . That led to widespread apathy among the grassroots, deflating Republican campaigns and enabling the Democratic victories of 2006 and 2008. Of course, the inauguration of Barack Obama <http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/individualProfile.asp?indid=1511> and the subsequent acceleration of government activism through bailouts, nationalized health care <http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/viewSubCategory.asp?id=615> , and other forms of "fundamental transformation" reinvigorated conservatives. But they weren't about to be fooled twice. Instead of rallying under the Republican banner, discontented citizens took to the streets under the Gadsden flag. The Tea Party became a revolt against politics-as-usual, against partisanship over principle, and for a return to the principles of the Founding. Among the grassroots movement, many voices have emerged to articulate a philosophy of fiscal responsibility, constitutionally limited government, and free markets. We've scoured the net to bring you some of the best bloggers championing that message. We sought to bring to light writers whose work deserves more attention than they currently receive. We wanted to introduce you to voices you may not have heard of before and will be glad to know. These aren't folks who necessarily identify as Tea Partiers, but who boldly articulate the philosophy which drives the movement. Here are the top 10 Tea Party bloggers you need to read. <http://www.newsrealblog.com/2011/05/02/the-top-10-tea-party-bloggers-you-ne ed-to-read/2> Next: The Canine Pundit. 10 ) The Conservative Pup >From the start, the Tea Party has been criticized as "AstroTurf <http://www.newsrealblog.com/2010/03/02/nancy-pelosi-tries-to-rebrand-the-te a-party-movement/> " by leftists conditioned to assume that any gathering of protesters is bought and paid for. After all, that <http://www.newsrealblog.com/2010/10/16/astroturf-tides-foundation-funds-gra ssroots-protests-against-canadian-oil-sands/> 's how they do it. In truth, the Tea Party is authentically grassroots, wholly amorphous, and beyond wrangling. It has drawn many citizens to an activism they would never have before considered. There are always new faces at rallies and community meetings, taking time out of their busy lives to champion the preservation of liberty. The anonymous author of <http://www.conservativepup.com/> The Conservative Pup sums up the stakes. I. believe that America and her Constitution are not invulnerable. We must not take our liberty and fundamental God-given rights for granted. There always have been, and always will be, those who will attempt to "fundamentally change" this nation. The American Idea is under attack. The forms of attack are not always intuitive to articulate. But people know them when they see them. . it seems that the National Labor Relations Board is suing Boeing for opening a second plant in South Carolina, a right-to-work state. Apparently this is seen as "retaliation" for a strike at the Washington plant a few years back, and is considered [an] "unfair labor practice." If that's the case, how would a business operating in a union state ever open another location in a right-to-work state? This seems like an attack not just on Boeing, but on all right-to-work states and their ability to attract new business to themselves. Put another way, it's an attack on fiscal federalism, the ability of states to compete for the best public policy in service of their residents. Government intervention begets government intervention. That's why federalism has yielded over the years to a centralized nationalism. The only way for bad public policy to "work" is at the expense of good policy. Rather than recognize the folly of monopolistic labor unions <http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/guideDesc.asp?catId=55&type=group> , the Left prescribes protecting their monopoly. That's precisely the kind of battle the Tea Party is primed to fight. <http://www.newsrealblog.com/2011/05/02/the-top-10-tea-party-bloggers-you-ne ed-to-read/3> Next: The Hollywood Herald. 9 ) US Liberty Journal Andrew Breitbart and Bill Whittle are just the tip of the iceberg. Beneath the surface of Hollywood <http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/viewSubCategory.asp?id=369> , an entire community of conservative storytellers are crafting an alternative to the region <http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/viewSubCategory.asp?id=369> 's leftist narrative. Among them is "accountant to the stars" Daezy, who blogs at <http://uslibertyjournal.blogspot.com/> US Liberty Journal. This is about as grassroots as you're going to get, a simple Blogspot format more cognizant of content than style. Daezy is nonetheless indicative of the typical Tea Party activist, looking for a return to principled statesmenship. Obama, never having really left campaign mode, has ramped up his attack and laid out his platform for the next gruesome 18 months. And attack he will, which makes it all the more critical for a strong Republican candidate to step forward. Personally, I don't see one right now, but am praying that the closer we get to the election, the urgency of the situation will bring forth an unexpected warrior, who will debate the issues, ignore the name calling, and take on Obama toe to toe. Obama will crumble like dried bread. Indeed, when the issues are properly articulated, leftists are always on the defensive. That's because they are wrong, not just academically, but morally. The Left advocates for turning the government's monopoly on force against the very people it was conceived to serve. That's a losing argument out of the gate. As a result, the Left has to sugar-coat and distort their intent. They have to sell the public on an alternative morality whereby the wants and needs of some place a claim upon the labor of others. The "unexpected warrior" Daezy hopes for will call that out for what it is - slavery. <http://www.newsrealblog.com/2011/05/02/the-top-10-tea-party-bloggers-you-ne ed-to-read/4> Next: The Relic. 8 ) C-POL Starting out as a listserv during the pioneering years of the internet, C-POL <http://c-pol.blogspot.com/> was a necessarily short handle for discussion of "constitutionalist, conservative politics." Since developed into a blog, C-POL retains the listserv feel. Its author is a grassroots activist who makes his living developing software for a university in Texas. Though C-POL predates the Tea Party, it is nonetheless a conduit for the movement's philosophy. In the early years of this blog, I posted often <http://draft.blogger.com/posts.g?blogID=3201855&searchType=ALL&txtKeywords= &label=Property+Rights> about cities that seize private property through eminent domain proceedings, only to turn the property over to private developers who promised more money for the tax coffers than the previous owner brought in (this tax revenue increase was the "public use" justification!). The practice, even though it was upheld by the Supremes in the Kelo decision <http://c-pol.blogspot.com/2005/06/ominous-precedent-supremes-pull.html> , is manifestly contrary to what the authors of the 5th Amendment 'takings' clause intended. The issue is worth revisiting given the prominence in presidential politics of real estate mogul Donald Trump, who has happily taken advantage of eminent domain in the past. Trump, apparently, has no respect for the private property rights of those who stand in the way of his business interests. And we should support him because.? The Tea Party's support of free markets does not condone crony capitalism. Lobbying government to impose restrictions upon competitors and seek subsidies or bailouts is as counter to free market principles as universal health care. It doesn't matter whether the beneficiary is a welfare-recipient or a Fortune 500. Wealth redistribution is theft. <http://www.newsrealblog.com/2011/05/02/the-top-10-tea-party-bloggers-you-ne ed-to-read/5> Next: The Dopey Automaton. 7 ) Mind Numbed Robot A good blog combines the insightful analysis you would expect from a legacy publication with the irreverent fun of new media. Both are present in the work of an anonymous pundit <http://mindnumbedrobot.com/> with an odd handle. The term 'Mind-Numbed Robot' came from Rush Limbaugh. His detractors have called his listeners MNR's for years, as if to say that they are just following orders and don't have minds of their own. So, the name is kind of a jab at them so to speak. The point is to show that Conservatives do indeed think for themselves. When President Obama released his long-form birth certificate last week, that independent thought was put toward discerning President Obama's strategy. It's a ploy to keep you focused on anything other than the destruction he is wreaking on the country and the turmoil he is causing in the world with his Keynesian economics and his dangerously cavalier handling of foreign policy, which is to say, his coddling of our enemies and snubbing of our allies. Obama and his leftist allies have reveled in the Birther sideshow, a textbook example of the politics of personality eclipsing the issues. Making a ruckus over the legitimacy of a particular candidate diverts attention from the vital debate over public policy which will remain whether that candidate is on the ballot or not. <http://www.newsrealblog.com/2011/05/02/the-top-10-tea-party-bloggers-you-ne ed-to-read/6> Next: The Caffeinater-in-Chief. 6 ) Shane Vander Hart The Tea Party welcomes activists from a wide range of backgrounds and affiliations. The spectrum starts on one end with committed adherent's to Ayn Rand's Objectivism and spans through devoted Ron Paul libertines all the way to more traditional social conservatives. Caffeinated Thoughts <http://caffeinatedthoughts.com/> is a group blog planted firmly in the latter half of that spectrum. As theological as it is political, Caffeinated Thoughts approaches the news of the day from a professed evangelical Christian perspective. Editor-in-chief Shane Vander Hart <http://caffeinatedthoughts.com/author/shanevanderhart/> may also be the publication's most prolific contributor, posting just about every day, and often multiple times in a day. Of course, making this list is more about quality than quantity, and Hart's insights deliver. Maybe the end of the world really is upon us <http://caffeinatedthoughts.com/2011/04/may-21-2011-family-radio-harold-camp ing-and-the-end-of-the-world/> . Why? Because Donald Trump leads in the latest National GOP Rasmussen Poll <http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_ 2012/national_gop_primary_poll_trump_19_romney_17_huckabee_15> at 19%(.) It would seem that some are enamored by celebrity and tough talk, but are lacking discernment. Trump is not a conservative or a Republican even. He believes <http://caffeinatedthoughts.com/2011/04/donald-trump-we-know-his-name-but-wh at-do-we-really-know/> and behaves <http://caffeinatedthoughts.com/2011/04/donald-trump-democrat-sugar-daddy/> like a Democrat. Calling for birth certificates and going bankrupt a plethora of times does not qualify one to be President of the United States. The Trump phenomenon tells us a lot about where the country is at. Voters are quite frankly desperate for someone - anyone - to stand up for America and comport themselves with masculine authority. Trump satisfies that, but only superficially. What few policy prescriptions can be derived from his colorful rants are not conservative in any sense of the word. He's willing to flip off the camera <http://www.google.com/url?url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpol itics/post/2011/04/donald-trump-president-f-bomb-nevada-/1&rct=j&sa=X&tbs=nw s%3A1&ei=pJa-TeC7MOHV0QHq4qnbAw&ved=0CEMQ-AsoATAB&q=trump+vegas&usg=AFQjCNGF GxOTQUn9nm69XIvF15jAXNABpQ&cad=rja> , however. And people get a vicarious thrill from such theatrics. President Obama's effeminate deferral to "the international community" leaves many with a hunger for any hint of robust nationalism, an urge which could be channeled into a very negative force by the wrong personality. <http://www.newsrealblog.com/2011/05/02/the-top-10-tea-party-bloggers-you-ne ed-to-read/7> Next: The Flak Dodger. 5 ) Brian Myers They say, when you're taking flak, you know you're over the target. It's not a perfect analogy, but it suits <http://caffeinatedthoughts.com/> Caffeinated Thoughts contributor Brian Myers <http://caffeinatedthoughts.com/author/brian-myers/> . In an analysis of the carnage perpetrated in reaction to Pastor Terry Jones <http://caffeinatedthoughts.com/2011/04/koran-burning-and-islam/> ' burning of a Koran, Myers kicked a bee-hive of Islamist apologists <http://caffeinatedthoughts.com/2011/04/koran-burning-and-islam-revisited/> who could not discern Meyers' critique of Islamic murder from advocacy for Jones' tactics. I am no Terry Jones apologist. I called the Koran burning a "boneheaded and provocative act". There are probably people rushing to the defense of Terry Jones, but I am not one of them. Nonetheless, I was (and still am) at a loss to understand why so many people were talking about Terry Jones and not about the murderers that killed a dozen people in the name of Islam. Terry Jones burned a copy of the Koran. A bundle of paper and ink. The Afghan murderers slaughtered a lot of innocent human beings. Boneheaded or not, this provocation by Jones shouldn't be used as another excuse for more outrageous bloodshed. This violence is simply indefensible. But Islam seems to always get a pass. Islam <http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/guideDesc.asp?catid=183&type=issue> isn't a subject often evoked within the Tea Party. But it ought to be. More than a personally held faith, Islam stands unique among religions as a prescription for force. That makes it a competitor to government and a threat to individual rights. Myers' episode is a microcosm of the larger tendency in our political discourse toward a hand-wringing multiculturalism. The notion that every culture contributes equal value and should command equal respect forces those struggling to be politically correct to shift blame from murderers to those who criticize a murderous ideology. It's actually the inverse of true equality, where individuals are held to a universal standard regardless of their background or beliefs. <http://www.newsrealblog.com/2011/05/02/the-top-10-tea-party-bloggers-you-ne ed-to-read/8> Next: The Exception That Proves the Rule. 4 ) Adrienne Ross When Sarah Palin burst onto the national scene as John McCain's running mate in the 2008 presidential election, she excited a wide swath of conservatives, and frustrated countless leftists. Palin's story ran counter to the radical feminist narrative regarding women, family, and misogyny. In the oppressive female-denigrating America of leftist fantasy, Sarah Palin should not exist. The Left certainly wasn't going to let her tarnish their narrative further by ascending from relative obscurity to the vice presidency. As a black woman, Palin-supporter and blogger Adrienne Ross adds another dimension to that counter-narrative. Ross runs a blog called <http://www.motivationtruth.com/> Motivation Truth, produces video commentary on YouTube <http://www.motivationtruth.com/p/generation-now-youth-group.html> , and engages her community in public debate on the issues relevant to their lives. Apparently, those issues have nothing to do with race or gender. Joe the Plumber <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUvwKVvp3-o> brought the whole spread the wealth issue to America's attention in 2008, and nothing has changed. President Obama is still committed to spreading the wealth around and even more committed to class warfare. The more he talks, the clearer it becomes that he definitely has no real interest in cutting spending. Rather, he's content to cut more out of people's income, particularly those people he deems filthy rich. It's obvious, too, that to him "filthy rich" isn't just an expression. In fact, he's already told the country that at a certain point people have made enough money <http://hotair.com/archives/2010/04/29/obama-i-do-think-at-a-certain-point-y ouve-made-enough-money/> (.) . In a town hall speech last week, he spoke of those rich people who cannot be allowed to just relax and "count [their] money <http://nation.foxnews.com/president-obama/2011/04/22/obama-we-cant-let-rich -relax-and-count-their-money> ." First of all, does he not realize that people have the right to do whatever they want with their money? If they want to get naked and roll around in it, is that not their decision to make? Is it really government's business what a person does with the money that is rightfully his or hers to enjoy? Has President Obama and his tax and spend administration failed to understand that some of those he has coined rich are small business owners-job creators-who have been too busy to just count cash all day? Instead, they have been hard at work producing needed services and providing opportunities for others so they can then take care of their own families. The very existence of a commentator like Ross is an embarrassment to the Left. A black woman elevating private property rights above some esoteric sense of "social justice" is anathema to them. If for no other reason than that, you should follow Adrienne Ross. <http://www.newsrealblog.com/2011/05/02/the-top-10-tea-party-bloggers-you-ne ed-to-read/9> Next: The Mom Next Door. 3 ) Sheila Kihne Women are everywhere in the conservative movement, often taking the fight to the Left with more aggression than their male counterparts. It makes sense. Mothers are instinctively and appropriately protective of their families, and the ability of families to direct their own affairs and pursue happiness according to their own judgment is under constant threat by nanny state busy bodies. Sheila Kihne is as fiery as they come. Billing herself <http://www.theactivistnextdoor.com/> The Activist Next Door, Kihne is a feisty suburban mom whose unapologetic independence is as evident in her writing as it is in person. "Distracted driving" is such a ridiculous nanny state issue. It's the government trying to read your mind. I was the most distracted driver when I was commuting daily to Mayo Clinic for my mom's cancer treatments. Many days I was in full-blown tears..other times I was simply lost in thoughts of "what if" and my mind was certainly more distracted than it is on a typical cell phone call. I use my iPhone for navigation all of the time. What's the difference between looking at my phone for the next step in my route and the olden days when I used to glance over at the map next to me? How does an officer know if I'm doing that or if I'm texting? And Lord knows I eat in my car, I can pass back an entire Happy Meal, one french fry at a time, to two kids in the back, while driving (without turning my head- a neat trick I think.) Of course Nanny State liberals would love to see a double-citation for such a horror..passing the french fry to the kid ($50 for distracted driving) and feeding the french fry to the kid ($150 for terrible parenting.)(.) .people should really start to worry when the government is pulling you over for eating in your car or turning your head momentarily. to tell a kid - "Knock it off." The prominence of such nanny state thinking is truly chilling. No longer are individuals simply held responsible for harming others. Instead, we're expected to refrain from any construed "endangerment," as if there's something inherently safe about guiding a 55 mile-per-hour missile amidst other missiles under any circumstance. The idea of assumed risk, that life is inherently dangerous and others cannot be held responsible for the risks you assume when engaging in activities of your own choosing, is now so eroded that even many professing conservatives agree the state should protect us from ourselves. As an autonomous adult, Kihne prefers to mother rather than be mothered. Next: The Whippersnapper <http://www.newsrealblog.com/2011/05/02/the-top-10-tea-party-bloggers-you-ne ed-to-read/10> . 2 ) Katie Kieffer There is perhaps no more important an audience to reach with the libertarian principles of the Tea Party than students and young adults. Heartening as it may be to see a group of any size attending a rally or other civic engagement, the typical sea of grey and silver hair at Tea Party events bodes poorly for the perpetuation of the movement's ideas. That's why young conservative activists who engage their peers are vitally important. One such voice is Katie Kieffer <http://katiekieffer.com/> , an ambitious young woman who has parlayed her enthusiasm, education, and experience into a new media brand. Recently added as a columnist at Townhall <http://townhall.com/columnists/katiekieffer/> , Kieffer is a rising star propelled on her own steam. Kieffer was insightful enough to recognize her passions early in life and sought to develop them in scholastic endeavors which led to leadership opportunities and a varied career in journalism, video production <http://katiekieffer.com/media/> , and public speaking. Kieffer has a passion for free enterprise which is apparent in everything she does. She distinguishes herself by deviating from boiler plate arguments to highlight the application of free market principles, and their effect on American prosperity. . Private entrepreneurs will literally fly to the moon to solve the U.S. technology crisis while government initiatives to support green technology fall flat. The set of 17 rare elements known as "rare-earths" is integral to normal technology like iPads, fiber-optic cables and military equipment as well as "clean" technology like wind turbines, solar panels and electric batteries. The U.S. used to lead the world in mining rare-earths through a California mine called Molycorp. However, environmental regulations sent this mine into extinction and the U.S. lost her competitive technology advantage. Today, years later, Molycorp is slowly re-building after meeting stricter U.S. environmental standards(.) As hall of fame quarterback and former Minnesota Viking Fran Tarkenton told the St. Paul Pioneer Press on Nov. 24, 2010, "In my life, when I tried to have a quick fix to something, it turned out worse than it was before." Unfortunately, many U.S. politicians see government intervention in clean tech as the quick fix to energy independence, job creation, and a cleaner environment. Check out Kieffer <http://www.youtube.com/user/KatieKieffer> 's YouTube channel for interviews, speeches, and commentary. <http://www.newsrealblog.com/2011/05/02/the-top-10-tea-party-bloggers-you-ne ed-to-read/11> Next: The Silver Bullet. 1 ) Mitch Berg Anyone who has a hobby blog knows how difficult it is to keep up, to get content out on a regular basis and develop a following. When it's not your job - indeed, when you have a job around which you blog - success requires the passion to persist and the talent to attract repeat traffic. Mitch Berg has been at it since 2002, writing about politics and current events at Shot in the Dark <http://www.shotinthedark.info/wp/> . Berg helped found the Minnesota Organization of Bloggers, the group blog <http://looktruenorth.com/> True North, and the Northern Alliance Radio Network <http://townhall.com/talkradio/northernalliance> from which he co-hosts a weekly show with <http://hotair.com/hotair-tv-ed-morrissey-show/> Hot Air's Ed Morrissey. Berg is one of the foremost bloggers in Minnesota, part of a community of pundits which predate the Tea Party and nevertheless champion its ideals. His prolific and often thankless work has been an inspiration for my own efforts. Berg is one of those writers whose text reads as his speech sounds. Reading him is like having a beer with him. His irreverent, thoughtful approach to political analysis entertains as much as it provokes. There are many, many reasons Barack Obama is not qualified or fit to serve as President. Let's focus on the ones that matter; he's a socialist; his background for office was never adequate; he oozes contempt <http://blog.christianitytoday.com/ctliveblog/archives/2008/04/obama_they_cl in.html> for everyone who's not like him; many of his supporters are reprehensible scumbags <http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2011/04/27/whoopi_on_race_card_im_pl aying_the_damn_card_now.html> ; he's incompetent; he ran on a platform of "restoring Respect" for America, and then went on to lose it; his meddling has multiplied a national debt that already had us on the road to ruin; he's at the head of one of the most corrosive movements in American history. Put another way - what if his Birth Certificate <http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/rss_viewer/birth-certificate- long-form.pdf> is fake? Even if it's fake, and even if an impeachment movement got him removed from office, it wouldn't undo the damage he caused. There is no miracle "get out of hell free" card with Barack Obama or the socialists; we have to get rid of them the hard way. At the polls. One vote at a time. Berg's work sits at that vital junction between cathartic release and insightful encouragement. He has that rare ability to harness an emotional reaction and tame it in service of a rational argument. One of his latest entries on use of force is a must-read <http://www.shotinthedark.info/wp/?p=19669> which exemplifies this trait well. _____ There are plenty of others I could have included on this list, and no doubt several you may wish to share in the comment section below. Blogging has become an integral form of expression in our political and cultural discourse, and allowed many voices who may have never otherwise been heard to engage a broad community. The Tea Party is a contemporary manifestation of an impulse which predated it and will outlive it. It is the revolutionary assertion that "all men are created equal," not made so by other men. It is championing "the pursuit of happiness," not a promise to provide it. It is the idea that each man owns his person and the product of his labor, and that a neighbor's need or want places no obligation upon him. The ten bloggers presented here are skillfully crafting that narrative. Keep your eye on them. _____ Article printed from NewsReal Blog: http://www.newsrealblog.com URL to article: http://www.newsrealblog.com/2011/05/05/the-top-10-tea-party-bloggers-you-nee d-to-read/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, [email protected]. -------------------------- Brooks Isoldi, editor [email protected] http://www.intellnet.org Post message: [email protected] Subscribe: [email protected] Unsubscribe: [email protected] *** FAIR USE NOTICE. 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