The Tea Party as a money machine

The guys at Powerline make note of something about the Tea Party that is at least as important as its grass roots rallies and networking, and that is its ability to raise money.

In the past I have rarely given to candidates or political parties. Why? Let’s face it, you don’t know who the party you’re giving to is going to support; it could be RHINO like X-Senator X-Republican Arlen Specter. You also know you’re going to received dozens of solicitations to give more money, the cost of which eats up all or most of your contribution. I’m persuaded that the biggest beneficiaries of political contributions are direct mail companies.

And, let’s face it, thanks to gerrymandered districts, how many of us live in districts where the outcome is not for-ordained?

Thanks to the Tea party movement we can now send our contributions to upstart challengers who may be able to make a real difference in the political composition of Congress.

So last weekend I did an unusual thing. I went online and made modest contributions to several candidates throughout the country; candidates who have the ability to upset the entrenched power brokers in Congress. If several million people only gave $5 to each of 5 candidates who are running to unseat Harry Reid, Barney Frank, Nancy Pelosi, Barbara Boxer, Patti Murray, or any one of the other horrible waste of human breath currently roaming the halls of congress, your total contribution may only be $25, but these candidates would collect millions without having to spend a penny asking for contributions; it could go right into their campaigns.

John Hinderaker:

Over the years, I have contributed to many political campaigns and have also given politicians the benefit of my advice and counsel. Pretty consistently, no matter how sound my advice may have been, the cash has been more appreciated.

This observation is prompted by today's revelation that Sharron Angle raised the astonishing sum of $14 million during the third quarter. Chris Cillizza describes Angle's $14 million as "a stunning number that far eclipses the cash-collection totals of other prominent candidates seeking Senate seats next month."

If you can only afford to give $25, here are the websites for some people who should be in the next Congress:

Sharron Angle running against Harry "The War Is Lost" Reid.

Sean Bielat running against Barney "There's no housing bubble, Fannie and Freddie are fine" Frank

Carly Fiorina running against Barbara "Call me Senator" Boxer

Dino Rossi running against Patti "Osama bin laden is loved because he's building schools" Murray

Christine O'Donnell running against Chris "the tax man" Coons.

I especially include Christine O'Donnell because she has been the recipient of the kind of Liberal assault that almost destroyed Sarah Palin.  If she can be elected this year, it would be huge.  Liberal heads throughout the wide, wide world would explode.  It is said that money is the mother's milk of politics. Let the milk flow!

Who else should be included?

UPDATE:  Even ABC is beginning to notice.  In South Dakota: Another Sarah Palin?

If money is any indication, the hottest Republican House candidate in the country is Kristi Noem. The 38-year-old rancher has raised more campaign cash than any Republican house challenger in the country.

Noem has raised $1.1 million over the past three months, about twice as much as her opponent, Rep. Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin (D-SD). And that money will go a long way: South Dakota's media market is one of the least expensive in the country.