Artful Dodger: I agree that many Americans consider themselves consrvatives, but they also consider themselves disinfranchised, because the present Republican form of conservativism isn't, and hasn't been for years

Jim Dandy: This is precisely why many incumbent Republicans are targets for replacement. Big spending and Conservatism don't go together and it's true that the Republicans have seriously lost their way.

Artful Dodger: I don't know if the Tea Party is a good example of Republicans finding their way, if that is who you feel are doing the targeting. Sharron Angle, what do you think of her?

Jim Dandy: What precisely is wrong with the Tea Party movement? I've read what they stand for and it's clearly the core values of historic conservatism.

Jim Dandy: I don't know much about Sharron Angle. She's not the tea party.

Artful Dodger: Sharron Angle is considered "Mrs. Tea Party" , you should check her out

Jim Dandy: I've checked her out a little. I'm not seeing a major story here. Aside from a few remarks that some found objectionable, she's a politician. She's NOT the Tea Party. She IS a Tea Party favorite. Lower taxes, support small business growth (the real backbone of the US economy) smaller government, State's rights, adherence to the Constitution - sounds good to me.

Artful Dodger: Sharron caused a stir with her position against abortion even in cases of rape and incest

Jim Dandy: .. I can see why that would cause a stir. Especially in the case of incest.. genetically that is a most unsafe prospect.. and what if the kid is adopted on and then wants to find out it's real parents.

(V): Well,these positions aside, as AD pointed out, she's a Tea Party fave, and has been labled "Mrs. Tea Party"

Jim Dandy: She'll never throw as good as one as the Queen's tea parties!! If they want to do something... end the lobbying system. But that has to be a national campaign transcending party lines.

When Blair lied and led Parliament into the war millions marched despite party as one.

(V): Ending lobbying would go a long way towards putting the power back with the people who elect.Obama has not been helpful in this regard

Jim Dandy: No-one has. They are to afraid to face down the big corporations and lose out on the gravy train that comes after being in office. We have the problem in the UK even though there are regs and laws to stop such if caught.

(V): Well,that's where Obama loses me, if he had no intention of dealing with issues such as lobbying, he should have kept his mouth shut on the campaign trail.He has actually broadened the ability for major corporations to spend on campaigns, not limited them

Jim Dandy:

Jim Dandy: So what? You've explained nothing.

Tuesday: If God didn't want abortions.. why does The I AM allow miscariages to happen, still borns and bad mutations? In some respects we do not show the same respect that we do to animals in the name of a collection of words often mistranslated and used. God breathed life into clay.. clay did not make life.

Tuesday: From progs describing the having a baby.. it is a bit of a fight between mum and baby... that's why things can go wrong. It'll never be a 100% process.

Tuesday: Are you of the opinion that an individual should be forced to carry a child even if was from a rape or incest?

Tuesday: We can agree to disagree on this one

Jim Dandy: that's my position. So I don't see it as causing a stir. The ONLY time abortion is justified is when the life of the mother is in immediate threat. Unfortunately, even this "immediate threat" has to be defined. It means that if the mother continues with the pregnancy, there's a huge chance she will die.

The reason I'm against abortion would prohibit an abortion even in the case of rape and incest. Otherwise my position would be inconsistent and irrational.

Jim Dandy: The tea party movement will just cause the GOP to be a non entity regarding major elections. The Democrats must be laughing at the infighting over who's a better conservative. Just like happened in the USSR under Stalin and any other movement that has sought to micro analysis what it is to be a good party member.

(V): While I can't see the Republicans become a "non entity regarding major elections"
The current witch hunt will not have a happy ending IMO

Jim Dandy: Witch hunts never end up good... McCarthyism is a prime example. I say non entity as we in the UK have witnessed a party having two or more go for being elected as an MP.. It splits the vote. The Republicans might end up fighting a tea party favourite therefore losing out entirely to the Democrats.

Jim Dandy: What you call a witch hunt is what political parties do all day long. They find the chink in the armor of an opponent and they go after that. Democrats, Republicans, Whateverans, they ALL do it.

The NAACP just passed a resolution against the Tea Party. Are they on a witch hunt?

To be on a witch hunt, you have to be looking for issues/problems that don't exist. In Salem, they were looking for witches which some there were only happy to help find. Even if that meant lying (which most did if not all). The Tea Party is not a a witch hunt. They are a political group exercising their Constitutional right to participate in the political process. And consistent with that right is their right to oppose candidates that don't represent their views. Additionally, they have the right to actively oppose those politicians with campaigns to defeat those they oppose and put in place those with whom they agree. This is what ALL parties do.

So what is wrong with that? Simply calling something a witch hunt explains nothing. It's a lazy way to have a discussion. He's a liar. She's a racist. They are on a witch hunt. What the hell kind of argument are those lazy statements? They say nothing unless backed with a rational and well formulated argument with examples and explanations. You've given the former and totally avoided the latter.

What makes your statements against the Tea Party any less of a witch hunt as you put it?