I am not defining the TeaBagers as the Know Nothing Party of the 1800's. I employ the title to draw historical attention to the fact the multi-parties are as American as apple pie. No one votes for the Federalist Party any more. The Republican Party did not exist until the mid 1850's. The Free Soil Party no longer holds political conventions,and William Jennings Bryan, no longer runs for political office. Ross Perot is still alive although no longer on the presidential ballot and although I did vote for Ralph Nader several elections ago I am not sure I would do so again. The Dixiecrats and Reagan Democrats may never have been official political parties but like the Teabagers represented a public interest category of believers . We hear of the Blue Dogs and other congressional caucuses ,but even Michael Vick is wondering "Who Let the Dog's Out". The Black Panther Party was originally a political party and my favorite political party is the still the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party. As you watch the Sarah Palin speech, remember that as Frederick Douglas has said, which has special resonance for this is the month of his birth, " The Struggle Continues"
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