What should Tea Party activists do to have a greater impact? (Representatives, independence)

[AnUnidentifiedMale]

"The conservative movement is urging its members to seek positions as local Republican precinct representatives. Their goal: Remake the party - and U.S. politics - from within."

'Tea party' activists filter into GOP at ground level - latimes.com

I'm not a Tea Partier or a Republican, but I think this is a good development. Protests and angry outbursts have their limits; eventually, you have to try to work with others.

[AeroGuyDC]

Vote. Spread the message. Put their force behind political candidates. Stay away from "party leaders" to maintain its grassroots heritage. They've been plenty successful with their message so far. I believe they've gained enough leverage to make a difference....the just need to keep it simple. Once they start to move into elected office, I think they risk stealing votes from more mainstream Republicans who appeal to a broader cross-section of the electorate.

[Theliberalvoice]

They need to grow up. All they sound like are whining little kids who thought America was doing PERFECTLY fine until Jan 20 2009.

[Visvaldis]

Make sure that all who attend rallies bring their guns.

[harborlady]

Originally Posted by AnUnidentifiedMale

"The conservative movement is urging its members to seek positions as local Republican precinct representatives. Their goal: Remake the party - and U.S. politics - from within."
'Tea party' activists filter into GOP at ground level - latimes.com
I'm not a Tea Partier or a Republican, but I think this is a good development. Protests and angry outbursts have their limits; eventually, you have to try to work with others.

I'm against your second choice because I feel that tactic has been responsible for the destruction of the republican party. Christian right wing dominating the party is not something main stream republicans appreciate. Libertarians trying to assert their position through nasty tactics of divisiveness or supplanting themselves strategically to win an inch but cost the entire nation a decade... this must end.
I think the only thing useful not just for tea party, but all disparate groups residing under the red banner of GOP need to sit down respectfully with one another and come to mutual understanding. Once those skills are acquired again, they just might be able to return to the table meaningfully. The GOP needs to embrace these differences within their party and recognize a yearning for evolution within the party they've beat off with a stick for too long. The dissenting views of libertarians came first. Then the independence party Ross Perot got a boot on the head to crush it. Now fox sponsored Tea party where they try to steer a rampaging irrational elephant ironically sickened by the very disinformation campaigns they've laid for decades. GOP is vested in protecting itself as an institution, not vested in evolving, and putting American sovereignty in peril.