Give Us Liberty: A Tea Party Manifesto, by Rep. Dick Armey: on Principles & Values


Bill Owens: 2009: Endorsed by GOP candidate against Tea Party nominee

[In a 2009 N.Y. Special Election] the Conservative Party refused to endorse Republican Dede Scozzafava. Instead, it nominated Doug Hoffman. But the national Republicans threw their support behind Scozzafava. The Republican Party establishment stood against grassroots citizens.

As would become a pattern in elections to come, the Tea Party movement "nationalized" this election. Activists from all over N.Y. were getting involved in Hoffman's underdog bid.

[Third in the polls], Scozzafava, the Republican, endorsed the Democrat, Bill Owens. "Since beginning my campaign, I have told you that this election is not about me; it's about the people of this district," she claimed. "It is in this spirit that I am supporting Bill Owens for Congress and urge you to do the same."

Owens ended up winning by capturing 48% of the vote, with the Hoffman receiving 46%. Everyone agreed that Scozzafava's decision to team with the Democratic Party had been the margin of difference in Hoffman's defeat.

Source: Give Us Liberty, by Rep. Dick Armey, p.137-140 Aug 17, 2010

Dick Armey: Tea Party takes back America from left swing of pendulum

I believe we are at a turning point in our nation's history, as the pendulum has swung far to the left. Trillion-dollar deficits, government control of health care, federal ownership of banks and auto companies, taxpayer-funded bailouts of irresponsible home owners, and attempts to control energy consumption have combined to push a nation conceived in liberty and devoted to free markets to bankruptcy.

But I believe Americans are genetically opposed to big government. They won't accept it, and they have been joining with their fellow citizens in the streets to take America back. I believe this movement, the Tea Party movement, has the opportunity to break the boom-and-bust cycle and restore a constitutionally limited government and bring fiscal sanity to Washington.

Source: Give Us Liberty, by Rep. Dick Armey, p. 4 Aug 17, 2010

Dick Armey: Everyone should read Alinsky's "Rules for Radicals"

Understanding how the Far Left hijacked the Democratic Party in instructive. The progressive movement began during the late 1800s and argued that government should get involved in making life "fair" and "equal" by mandating higher wages and shorter working hours, offering welfare.

By the 1910s, progressives had become a substantial force. They made a critical mistake that the Tea Party movement must avoid. Rather than taking over one of the two major parties, they decided to form a new party to run their own candidate: Teddy Roosevelt in 1912.

The Progressive Party faded away, but its ideas did not. By the 1930s, legendary progressive leader Saul Alinsky began organizing and training activists to be more effective. Rather than spend time creating a new political party, he was going to spend his time more effectively and take over the existing structure. Alinsky's guide to being an effective activist is called "Rules for Radicals". We've all read it a FreedomWorks and suggest you do, too.

Source: Give Us Liberty, by Rep. Dick Armey, p. 129-134 Aug 17, 2010

Marco Rubio: OpEd: Leader for next generation of conservative movement

Marco was already running for Senate before Gov. Crist announced in May 2009. Marco had no money and virtually no name recognition. What he did have was an ability to get things done, and a record worth supporting. From day one, the early Tea Party movement started to spread the word on the ground, evangelizing about this fresh face who offered something different, something worth fighting for. They also had not forgotten how Crist embraced the president's stimulus package.

Rubio became a welcome guest at Tea Party events across the state. At their urging, Dick Armey endorsed Rubio on July 4, 2009, describing Rubio as "an inspiring leader for the next generation of the conservative movement."

Yet despite the obvious advantages these fiscal conservatives found in Rubio, Crist enjoyed an enormous lead in the first polls. But the Tea Party had a champion and got to work. Slowly, the Tea Party movement's support helped bring Rubio to the public eye.

Source: Give Us Liberty, by Rep. Dick Armey, p.162-163 Aug 17, 2010

Mike Lee: Tea Party underdog against reliable Republican incumbent

In Utah, Sen. Robert Bennett, a three-term Republican mainstay, was ousted at the state Republican convention by the Tea Party activists. When the dust settled, a whopping 2,200 of the 3,600 delegates had been personally contacted by FreedomWorks staffer and local volunteers. The pro-freedom contingent even set up a booth on the convention floor, debating the opposition in person and winning votes up to the last moment.

Bennett was widely considered to be a "good guy" who was mostly reliable on Republican issues. Most notably for the delegates from Utah, he had voted for the Wall Street bailout. As Bennett spoke to the gathering, the chant of "TARP, TARP, TARP" echoed across Convention Hall. Bennett was ultimately replaced by the Tea Party underdog candidate Mike Lee, a staunch supporter of limited government and the very first signer of the Contract from America.

One pundit fumed, "It is a damn outrage." Another wailed, "It's almost a nonviolent coup." Get used to it, guys.

Source: Give Us Liberty, by Rep. Dick Armey, p.164 Aug 17, 2010

Scott Brown: 2009: Overwhelming Tea Party support

In 2009 the dedication of the local Tea Party members support for Brown was overwhelming.

One week before the election, an e-mail entitled "warning to Tea Party activists: don't even think about voting for Scott Brown!" was sent from Carla Howell and Michael Cloud, two prominent Libertarian members of the Tea Party movement.

In part, their e-mail read, "You have a radically better choice. A choice that will advance the Tea Party Cause. A choice that will give us REAL Tea Party candidates and allies in November."

This, of course, is the constant tension in politics--deciding whether or not to let the unelectable "perfect" be the enemy of the electable "good."

most activists realized what was at stake and accepted the current reality of our system. Many of the Tea Party citizens preferred the libertarian Joe Kennedy, but Scott Brown had the best chance to win, and the Tea Party people solidified their support behind Scott. The libertarians may generally be counted among the Tea Partiers.

Source: Give Us Liberty, by Rep. Dick Armey, p.148-150 Aug 17, 2010

Tea Party: Feb. 2009: "It's time for another Tea Party"

In Feb. 2009, a movement was reawakened. Confused by the commonsense rhetoric and nonviolent, law-abiding tactics, political pundits and media observers were at a loss. The phenomenon needed a name.

On Feb. 18, CNBC's Rick Santelli listened to news coverage of Obama's proposal for yet another housing bailout. Santelli unexpectedly unleashed an impassioned rant: "The government is promoting bad behavior! This is America! How many people want to pay for your neighbor's mortgages that have an extra bathroom and can't pay their bills? Pres. Obama, are you listening? It's time for another Tea Party. We're thinking of having a Chicago Tea Party in July, all you capitalists. I'm organizing."

Within hours, Santelli's rant had gone viral, earning more than a millions views on YouTube and countless discussions across the country. The frustration that had been building, and which had begun to turn into street action, now had a name. The Tea Party was ready for the national stage.

Source: Give Us Liberty, by Rep. Dick Armey, p. 19-20 Aug 17, 2010

Tea Party: Movement for change; including Alinsky Rules for Radicals

A whole new generation of eyeballs [have added] a few new classics to the activists' education. For instance, Saul Alinsky's "Rules for Radicals"--the original protestor's handbook from the 1960s--has found a surprising readership among thousands of Tea Partiers. This transition may provide some insight into the political establishment devoted to change, not simple academic debate. The Tea Party movement understands the tenets of the philosophy so those principles can be put into practice.

This body of work has created the basis for a political framework for a new limited-government movement. The Left figured this out a long time ago. Theirs is not an idea-based movement; instead, they focus on organization and power.

As Saul Alinsky teaches, "change comes from power, and power comes from organization. In order to act, people must get together." Today, the Tea Party has the power to change America for the better.

Source: Give Us Liberty, by Rep. Dick Armey, p. 92-95 Aug 17, 2010

Tea Party: 9/12/09 Coalition: fiscal restraint & Constitutional limits

FreedomWorks proceeded to assemble a large coalition of partner groups, including:The coalition created a broad net of anyone who agreed on the basic principles of the movement:
  1. a belief in individual freedom, fiscal restraint, and respect for our Constitution's limits on government power
  2. a working coalition that understood the need to organize and take to the streets in defense of liberty.
[In planning the march on Washington, we decided to forgo any big-name speakers, in part because we didn't have the money. But we also wanted the event to reflect the leaderless nature of the Tea Party. So the emphasis was on the local leaders.

Conservatively, you can say that at least one million people showed up for the Taxpayer March on Washington on Sep. 12 2009

Source: Give Us Liberty, by Rep. Dick Armey, p.102&117 Aug 17, 2010

Tea Party: A social movement, not a political party,& hence sustainable

There was growing recognition that the millions of people who self-identified with the Tea Party movement represented a potentially significant political force that needed to be covered by the press. It is understandable why they got it wrong. The Tea Party movement is decentralized. It is leaderless.

The sole purpose of a political party is to get candidates elected. Principles, on the other hand, are different. Good ideas stand up to scrutiny. The right principles and the best ideas pass the test of time.

The principle of individual freedom, fiscal responsibility, and constitutionally limited government are what define the Tea Party ethos. They bind us as a social movement. And that marked the Tea Party better than a political party--something that can sustain itself the day after the first Tuesday in November. The Tea Party is a far more potent force for social change in America because it will sustain itself beyond the next candidate's election.

Source: Give Us Liberty, by Rep. Dick Armey, p.121-123 Aug 17, 2010

Tea Party: OpEd: Seize control of the Republican Party

If the Tea Party movement wants to be politically effective in turning an ethos into public policy, we need to take over the Republican Party. By seizing control of the party, we can spend our time focused on ideas and use the party infrastructure that has been built over the past 156 years. And among the two parties the Republicans have at least at times been on the side of fiscal restraint and already have some of us in their ranks.

Notice that we call for a hostile takeover. We didn't say "join th Republican Party." We need to take it over. The commonsense values that define the Tea Party movement, like the belief that government should not spend money it does not have, puts us in the broad middle of American politics. That means the existing parties, if they covet the votes of this broad constituency, need to gravitate toward our values and our issues to get elected.

Source: Give Us Liberty, by Rep. Dick Armey, p.135-136 Aug 17, 2010

Tea Party: 2009: Libertarians included in Massachusetts Tea Party

In 2009 the dedication of the local Tea Party members support for Brown was overwhelming.

One week before the election, an e-mail entitled "warning to Tea Party activists: don't even think about voting for Scott Brown!" was sent from Carla Howell and Michael Cloud, two prominent Libertarian members of the Tea Party movement.

In part, their e-mail read, "You have a radically better choice. A choice that will advance the Tea Party Cause. A choice that will give us REAL Tea Party candidates and allies in November."

This, of course, is the constant tension in politics--deciding whether or not to let the unelectable "perfect" be the enemy of the electable "good."

most activists realized what was at stake and accepted the current reality of our system. Many of the Tea Party citizens preferred the libertarian Joe Kennedy, but Scott Brown had the best chance to win, and the Tea Party people solidified their support behind Scott. The libertarians may generally be counted among the Tea Partiers.

Source: Give Us Liberty, by Rep. Dick Armey, p.150-151 Aug 17, 2010

Tea Party: Contract From America: Our liberties are inherent

A Tea Party leader in Houston launched a website called ContractFromAmerica.com in mid-2009. He received thousands of ideas; a national online vote resulted in ten positions, presented at our Tax Day Tea Party on April 15, 2009:
    The Contract From America: Our moral, political, and economic liberties are inherent, not granted by government. The purpose of our government is to exercise only those limited powers that have been relinquished to it by the people. We call upon those seeking to represent us to work to bring each agenda item to a vote during the first year:
  1. Require each bill to identify its empowering provision of the Constitution
  2. Reject Cap-and-Trade
  3. Demand a Balanced Budget
  4. Enact fundamental tax reform
  5. Restore limited government by eliminating unconstitutional agencies
  6. End runaway government spending
  7. Defund, repeal, & replace Government-run health care
  8. Pass an All-of-the-Above energy policy
  9. Stop the Pork: moratorium on earmarks
  10. Stop the Tax Hikes.
Source: Give Us Liberty, by Rep. Dick Armey, p.154-158 Aug 17, 2010

Tea Party: 2010: Championed Marco Rubio over Florida GOP candidate

Marco was already running for Senate before Gov. Crist announced in May 2009. Marco had no money and virtually no name recognition. What he did have was an ability to get things done, and a record worth supporting. From day one, the early Tea Party movement started to spread the word on the ground, evangelizing about this fresh face who offered something different, something worth fighting for. They also had not forgotten how Crist embraced the president's stimulus package.

Rubio became a welcome guest at Tea Party events across the state. At their urging, Dick Armey endorsed Rubio on July 4, 2009, describing Rubio as "an inspiring leader for the next generation of the conservative movement."

Yet despite the obvious advantages these fiscal conservatives found in Rubio, Crist enjoyed an enormous lead in the first polls. But the Tea Party had a champion and got to work. Slowly, the Tea Party movement's support helped bring Rubio to the public eye.

Source: Give Us Liberty, by Rep. Dick Armey, p.162-163 Aug 17, 2010

Tea Party: 2010: Championed Mike Lee over Utah GOP candidate

In Utah, Sen. Robert Bennett, a three-term Republican mainstay, was ousted at the state Republican convention by the Tea Party activists. When the dust settled, a whopping 2,200 of the 3,600 delegates had been personally contacted by FreedomWorks staffer and local volunteers. The pro-freedom contingent even set up a booth on the convention floor, debating the opposition in person and winning votes up to the last moment.

Bennett was widely considered to be a "good guy" who was mostly reliable on Republican issues. Most notably for the delegates from Utah, he had voted for the Wall Street bailout. As Bennett spoke to the gathering, the chant of "TARP, TARP, TARP" echoed across Convention Hall. Bennett was ultimately replaced by the Tea Party underdog candidate Mike Lee, a staunch supporter of limited government and the very first signer of the Contract from America.

One pundit fumed, "It is a damn outrage." Another wailed, "It's almost a nonviolent coup." Get used to it, guys.

Source: Give Us Liberty, by Rep. Dick Armey, p.164 Aug 17, 2010

  • The above quotations are from Give Us Liberty:
    A Tea Party Manifesto
    ,
    by Rep. Dick Armey.
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Candidates and political leaders on Principles & Values:
2010 Retiring Democratic Senators:
CT:Dodd
DE:Kaufman
IL:Burris
IN:Bayh
ND:Dorgan
WV:Byrd
WV:Goodwin
<2010 Retiring Republican Senators:
FL:Martinez
FL:LeMieux
KS:Brownback
KY:Bunning
MO:Bond
NH:Gregg
OH:Voinovich
PA:Specter
UT:Bennett
Newly appointed/elected Senators, 2009-2010:
DE:Kaufman (D)
CO:Bennet (D)
IL:Burris (D)
MA:Brown (R)
NY:Gillibrand (D)
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Page last updated: Aug 18, 2011