Guest Submission by Steve Kukral

Tea Partiers across the country worked hard to elect Republicans to put a restraining order on Obama and the Democrats’ out of control spending, unrestrained rule making and sweet heart deals to political friends and donors. How has that worked out for us?

*Spending is still going up. The House (1/2 of 1/3 of the government) failed to control spending during the continuing resolution fight, the debt ceiling fight, and now, in the super committee fight. In fact, their plan is to RAISE TAXES! We elected them to cut spending, not raise taxes!

*Regulation is still out of control–witness EPA and ObamaCare regulations alone.

*Crony capitalism and individual corruption are both alive and well.

So I think we’d have to conclude that electing the Republicans has not altered the trajectory of the country toward fiscal armageddon at all.

Finally, this self same party of the status quo is preparing to foist Mitt Romney on us as the party nominee for president. Or if, as many at C4P feel, we’re “lucky,” Newt Gingrich. Do either of these retreads excite anybody in the Tea Party? And I don’t know if people are “excited” about Newt so much as finding him an acceptable “Not Romney” who they think can beat Obama. But if either Newt or Mitt is the nominee, how many of you are going to open your wallets and give up time to man phone banks, canvass neighborhoods, stuff envelopes, etc.? I’ll pull the lever for either one, but that’s about it because I no longer have any faith in the Republican Party to do what’s best for the country. I’ve been a Republican since I could first vote over 40 years ago, so this is not an easy position to come to.

I believe the time has come for a third party. No, not now, not before the 2012 election is over–we still have to try to get Obama out. But on November 7, 2012, we should officially stand up a third party, dedicated to fiscal responsibility, constitutionally limited federal government, and free market capitalism. What have we got to lose? The current parties are both too corrupt and too out of touch to any longer represent we the people: the Democrats are what they are–the party of OWS; and the Republicans have become the Whigs of today. The time to lay the foundations for that party is now. Sarah would be perfect to lead this new party. Comments??