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Bill O'Reilly talks up new political Tea Party

Is conservative Fox News commentator ready to sign up?

PATRICK ROBERTS,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Sunday, December 20, 2009, 12:42 AM

Updated Sunday, December 20, 2009, 1:18 AM

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37 Comments

Tea Party political button

Will Bill O'Reilly be one of the "founding fathers" of the latest American political party, the Tea Party, which is being taken very seriously by many Americans?

It may well be. O'Reilly had two fellow Irish Americans on his show the other night to seriously discuss the formation of the Tea (Taxed Enough Already) Party, a hard-right group named after the successful mass rallies against President Obama's policies -- the events were called tea parties by participants.

O'Reilly pointed out that a recent Wall Street Journal poll showed that 35 percent of Americans lean Democratic, 28 percent lean Republican, but that a "whopping 41 percent support the Tea Party and its tactics."

His two studio guests were Mike Gallagher, a conservative Fox News contributor, and Ned Ryun, president of American Majority, an organization closely linked with the new movement.

O'Reilly suggested that the party should nominate Sarah Palin in 2012, and got an immediate ecstatic response from the two guests.

"All over it," Gallagher responded. "I would become the biggest cheerleader. Millions of Americans would, too. Bill, it's the perfect storm. Now's the time."

Ryun wanted to move even faster, and have the Tea Party take over the Republican Party itself. He believes it's possible in today's very volatile political climate.

O'Reilly said to his guests, "You want to basically overthrow the moderates, bring in the Tea Party philosophy and let that rule the GOP. It's very interesting, because that's what's going to happen on the other side, too."

Given that Sean Hannity, another Irish American, has been very active in pushing the Tea Party agenda, there may well have a full-fledged new political movement in the United States -- spearheaded on all fronts by Irish Americans.

The success of such a party is by no means out of the question. Imagine Palin as their candidate, and a split Republican Party in 2012. It could happen.

And don't be surprised if Hannity, in particular, is not somewhere on such a ticket.

"It's time for torches and pitchforks," Gallagher concluded.

Nster.com

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37 Comments

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HeadHoncho | Dec 28, 2009, 02:45 PM EST

If the Tea Party People are to take over... they MUST assimilate with the Republicans. Otherwise, they'll split the conservative vote insuring that the spend-happy DEM's (Obama et.al.) will continue on their merry path. The DEMS are creating an entitlement society. Is that what JFK had in mind when he said, "Don't ask what your country can do for you..."? The DEMS don't get it, do they? R. Reagan envisioned a better path for this Nation.

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graygoast52 | Dec 28, 2009, 11:21 AM EST

whats happening to United States? we have been brain washed we are being taken over by big money and spending on war tourn countries to buld up there economy and ours is going down the plans we sold f-14 jets to Iran years ago I know I worked for the company who sold then,why do we give weapens to counties later on is going to be against us. there was a catholic priest that said on tv that let the U.S. fight all the wars and run out of money than when we become a week nation and will be taken over by anothe nation .I really think our leaders want us to go there because they are tired of dealing with the american public and they do not know how to get us out of this mess. so let another nation try. think about it hard look at all the money you hear being give to iraq and afganistan isrial,and others to help keep them healthy.and we are getting sicker with all of a sudden thies new flues are coming out,is somone droping this stuff out of a plain, is our government useing us a ginny pigs and seeing how many people become sick ? they test people with the firat atomic bomb,on the after affects on them. there is a comsperisy going on.

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graygoast52 | Dec 28, 2009, 10:52 AM EST

YOU KNOW THIS OLD MAN AT THE VA TOLD ME THERE IS GOING TO BE A REVELUTION AND I SAID AGAINST WHO AND WHO IS GOING TO FIGHT WHO,I CAN JUST SEE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE RUSHING OUT FOR WEAPONS IS THAT WERE WE ARE HEADIND TO? BILL I LOVE YOUR SHOW ,IM AN X VET NAM VET, I HAVE BAD FEELING ON ALL POLITICAL EVENTS,I WATCH THE HOUSE ALOT WHATT A BUCH OF PUSSEY ASSES,IM A DEM AT LEAST I WAS BUT I HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH EVERYTHING THEY WANT TO PASS IN THE HOUSE I THINK OUR PRESEDENT IS GETTING THE IDEAS FOR SOMONE HIGHER UP THAN HIM HE IS TAKING ORDERS AND BEING BRAIN WASHED HIMSELF BUT NON OF IT IS GOING TO WORK OUT,TAXES ON HEALTH CARE, JOBS,I WISH SARAH HAD WON,I VOTE FOR OUR MAN BECAUSE I WANTED TO SEE A BLACKMAN WIN,HE HAD GOOD SENCE WHAT HE WAS PREACHING,BUT THAN YOU CAN NOT JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER, DOMINICK FROM OCALA FLORIDA

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plasticpaddy | Dec 26, 2009, 06:39 AM EST

I would like to see evidence that most Americans don't want this legislation, alot of people on here claim that America is against it but I have yet to see a single shread of evidence. Typical right wing lies.

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Pat Riley | Dec 25, 2009, 08:37 PM EST

I think Hancock is correct in his assessment. Obama is worsening the economy by forcing a health plan on the country that most Americans don't want. I am amazed that Letterman has lasted as long as he has. His show is about as entertaining as constipation,

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Steve2350 | Dec 25, 2009, 01:37 AM EST

I believe it is time for a change. However, Please leave Palin out! I am very tired of hearing plitical junk and start geting someone in congress walk the talk and do what they say.

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rubeinsky | Dec 24, 2009, 04:08 PM EST

I'm afraid is too late for another election. It is past time to run these crooks in Washington, District of Criminals, out on a rail....time to step away from the ballot box and step up to the bullet box. It is past time to take our banking system called the Fed. away from the Zionist who have deceived the American people and led us into the brink of financial disaster. Do it now!!

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plasticpaddy | Dec 24, 2009, 08:06 AM EST

yes Irish and proud, they will however either ruin the Republican party - which would be a good thing, or make the dems stronger, they will alienate the moderate voter the conservatives need to win a countrywide election. They may however have some gains in local elections where they can successfully dupe undereducated individuals into believing their anti-intellectual drivvel

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plasticpaddy | Dec 24, 2009, 08:04 AM EST

of course not, im sure she didnt know what communism was, also catmann are you going to be another of these crazy far-right people on here giving Irish people a bad name?

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catmann | Dec 24, 2009, 05:35 AM EST

Communist are trying to take over America by Hook or Crook,I'm sure my Great,Great,Great Grandmother didn't come to America,on a wooden ship,while Pregnant, to have her Heirs sucomb to communism.

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catmann | Dec 24, 2009, 05:30 AM EST

Don't trust O'Reilly.

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IrishAndProud | Dec 24, 2009, 04:56 AM EST

Well, one can say whatever they will about this whole matter of the 'Tea Baggers'...but they are indisputably king of the hill now, when it comes to being the rebels against The System...the corrupt, political system.

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hancock | Dec 23, 2009, 11:25 PM EST

slip of the tongue? If a Republican said it we would still here it on Letterman. 57 states? Goodbye Dems in 10, Goodbye Obama in 12.

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plasticpaddy | Dec 23, 2009, 05:08 AM EST

ok halfirishann, youre just being silly, it was clearly a slip of the tongue. To insinuate he is anything other than very intelligent is just farcical, by the way I'm not a democrat or an Obama supporter. Also your muslim states comment is both incorrect and a blatant lie. You still have not adequately answered a single question I posed of you

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halfirishann | Dec 22, 2009, 07:49 PM EST

Obama spent 1 and 1/2 years in the senate, and the majority of his voting record was "present." The man thinks we have 57 states----only 50. But, there are 57 Muslim states!!!

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