HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TEA PARTY!

A first birthday is always special.  The celebration belongs to the observers to delight in how far the object of the celebration has come in twelve short months.  It’s a time to take account of the growth-journey of life: the miracle of birth followed by a string of “firsts.”  All recollections may not be idyllic: there were some sleepless nights, stumbles and falls, and tears along the way.  But in light of the celebration, those memories are fleeting when compared to this milestone and the potential for future growth.

Institutional anniversaries are much the same.  Such is the case of the TEA Party movement as it celebrates its first birthday this month.  It was a surprise pregnancy, of sorts.  Who would have imagined that the new administration would spawn a new member of the political family?  In hindsight, some might say they could see it coming.  After all, the current administration is not entirely responsible for the trend of government growth and out-of-control spending.  And yet the new administration did accelerate spending to warp-speed at the same time it veered sharply left on social issues and other matters of concern to many citizens.

And here we are a year later. The new baby—the TEA Party movement—is healthy and growing.  The celebrations this month (including our own at Sunset Station on Sunday, February 21^st) have brought the usual good wishes from a host of admiring relatives: Uncle Glenn has doted on the newborn, Uncle Sean proudly displays photos every chance he gets, and Aunt Sarah proudly visits whenever she can.  Obviously not all relatives have been so complimentary: Uncle Keith with his usual incivility declared early on that the baby is downright ugly, Uncle Anderson recently displayed his sophomoric humor to mock the family, and Aunt Rachel, who likens the family to white-hooded racists, would rather the mother, in good liberal fashion, have exercised her right to choose.  Ironically, some of these who cannot recognize themselves in a mirror are the first to complain about the unsavory people and strange ideas coming to the party!

Aside from these, there has been a fair share of difficult moments in the first year.  What do we name the baby?  Indeed, the plethora of nicknames can be confusing!  Who’s your Daddy?  Currently the movement has more politicians claiming paternity than does Anna Nicole Simpson’s baby.  What will it be when it grows up?  Is it a citizens’ movement, a new political party, a sub-party of an existing party, or a stepchild of big business?  And then within the home, how will the child be raised?  Does it surprise anyone that proud and enthusiastic parents don’t always see eye-to-eye?  Disagreements happen, working through them can be messy, and that reality doesn’t often produce Rockwellian family portraits.  For anyone who doubts that happens as institutions are born, simply reread your American history.  Yes, a new baby can certainly bring out the best and worst in families!

As the TEA Party’s first birthday passes, note an incredible year of change: growing numbers of fed-up citizens aligning themselves with local TEA Party or related groups, a string of elections that have sent a chilling message to status-quo politicians that enough is enough, and a growing exodus of officeholders from the next round of elections.  To be sure, there’s nothing like a newborn to change the family dynamics!  And given the dynamics currently at play in the American family, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TEA PARTY!  May you continue to grow and keep the family in check during the coming year!

John Bell

Member, SATP Board

(Luncheon in the Historic Depot Building)

(Setting up, before the rally)

(Audience at the rally)

(Tea Party Puppy)

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