Iowa: The End of the Tea Party?

147

January 13, 2012

Published in Le Monde
(France) on 4 January 2012
by Corine Lesnes (link to original link to original)

Translated from by Rhianna White. Edited by Katya Abazajian .

The results in Iowa weren't particularly good for the tea party. The anti-tax and anti-big government movement had no formal candidate, but it must be noted that their champions started out in pole position.

The founder of the Tea Party Caucus, Michele Bachmann, arrived last in the Iowa caucus. Rick Perry, the promoter of the Texan model of “low taxes, low services” was fourth. Although Ron Paul the libertarian took third place, he is too independent to have ever been a tea party favorite.

Neither of the top two finishers identify with the Tea Party. Rick Santorum has been a steadfast conservative for a long time, and his positions have always been centered more on values than on deficits.

And just weeks ago, Mitt Romney, the bête noire of the tea party, got an unfavorable rating.

However, to declare the end of the tea party would be premature. Specialists advise us to wait for the competition in South Carolina, a state that is very representative of the diversity of Republican factions.

Cerrtain parts of the tea party have also preferred to focus their efforts on the elections in Congress. They predict that the president, who might end up being the "moderate" Romney, will have to be kept on the straight and narrow by a Congress that is ready to fight.

Les résultats de l'Iowa ne sont pas particulièrement bons pour le Tea Party. La mouvance anti-taxes, anti-big government, n'avait pas de candidat déclaré mais il faut bien constater que ses champions ne sont pas en pole position.
Michèle Bachmann arrive dernière des caucus. Elle était la fondatrice du groupe Tea Party au Congrès. Rick Perry, le promoteur du modèle texan ("low taxes, low services), est quatrième. Ron Paul, le libertarien, prend la troisième place mais il est trop indépendant pour avoir jamais été le favori du Tea Party.
Les deux premiers ne sont pas non plus identifiés Tea Party. Rick Santorum est un conservateur grand teint depuis longtemps et son discours a toujours été plus centré sur les "valeurs" que sur les déficits.
Et Mitt Romney, la bête noire du Tea Party, fait un score inespéré il y a encore quelques semaines.

Décréter la fin du Tea Party serait néanmoins prématuré. Les spécialistes conseillent d'attendre la compétition en Caroline du sud, Etat très représentatif de la diversité des factions républicaines.
Certains groupes Tea Party ont aussi préféré centrer leurs efforts sur les élections au Congrès. Ils estiment qu'un président, et notamment le "modéré" Romney, devra être maintenu dans le droit chemin par un congrès prêt à se bagarrer.

This post appeared on the front page as a direct link to the original article with the above link .

Tags:
France

Hot this week

Block title

Germany: Trump and Ukraine: Thinly Veiled Blackmail

February 14, 2026. Published in Die Tageszeitung

Trump is threatening to cut Kyiv's U.S. security guarantees ... What is this man talking about? There are no ... commitments from Washington regarding ... security.

Mexico: The Halftime Show That Enraged President Trump

February 16, 2026. Published in La Razón

Clearly, this year’s halftime show, which Bad Bunny headlined at Levi’s Stadium in California, was one of the most impactful in the event’s history.

Saudi Arabia: Recalling the Night the US Ambassador to Libya Was Killed

February 17, 2026. Published in Asharq Al-Awsat

Cuba: Are Our Days Numbered?

February 14, 2026. Published in La Juventude Rebelde

[T]he media and social networks have deployed an offensive that relentlessly repeats expressions of anti-Cuban euphoria.

Israel: Donald Trump’s Intervention in the Netanyahu Trial Is Unacceptable

February 17, 2026. Published in Israel Hayom

Trump is grotesquely intervening against Israeli democracy and the rule of law.

Topics

Mexico: The United States: Arms Supplier to Drug Traffickers

February 17, 2026. Published in La Jornada

[T]he U.S. government itself is a major supplier to the cartels that the White House claims to be pursuing with all its might.

India: What’s behind the Layoffs at The Washington Post?

February 17, 2026. Published in Amar Ujala

The Washington Post Guild, the staff union, questioned Bezos' commitment, saying that if he is no longer willing to invest in its mission, the institution needs a steward who understands it.