I hear that train-wreck a’comin’

The upcoming teabagger shindig—starring Sarah Palin!—is starting to look like it might shape up to be a train-wreck falling off the world’s tallest bridge and landing on a nuclear reactor, causing a meltdown that penetrates the earth’s crust and reaches its molten core, prompting all volcanoes on the planet to erupt simultaneously and blot out the sun. From Mother Jones:

Tea Party Nation founder Judson Phillips likely assumed that scoring a dinner speech by the former Alaska governor and GOP vice presidential candidate would guarantee a huge turnout for his National Tea Party Convention, scheduled to start Feb. 4 at Nashville’s Gaylord Opryland Hotel. But according to Tea Party insiders, the tickets for the Palin banquet aren’t selling—and some conservative activists who have already paid to attend are now demanding refunds. With the controversial event shaping up to be a potential flop, some Tea Partiers are urging Palin to cancel her speech to avoid a humiliating public relations disaster.

Mother Jones, ctd:

The problems began after news broke that Phillips intended to profit from the convention—which costs $549 a person for access to both the conference and Palin’s banquet, or $349 for a ticket to the dinner alone. With one prominent conservative blogger charging that the event seemed “scammy,” several key sponsors yanked their support, including the National Precinct Alliance, the American Liberty Alliance, American Majority, and the Federation for American Immigration Reform. As the rash of bad press continued, this week Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), announced that she’s considering pulling out as a convention speaker. And some Tea Party activists think Palin should join her. According to internal convention planning documents obtained by Mother Jones, Palin will be paid $115,000 to address the attendees—as they dine on steak or lobster. To some Tea Partiers, this lavish affair sounds suspiciously like an exclusive GOP fundraiser and a betrayal of their grassroots movement…

Given all the negative publicity, Shreeve is surprised Palin hasn’t pulled out already. “In her contract she is allowed to send a representative if she can’t make it if she’s sick or something. Maybe she’ll come down with the flu,” he says with a laugh. He adds that Tea Partiers have written her letters pleading with her not to come because they believe that reports of a glitzy, high-priced dinner would hurt the real Tea Party movement, which prides itself on its thrifty, grassroots image.

Robin Stublen, a Florida tea party leader who has been loudly denouncing Tea Party profiteers, believes that Palin “should not only pull out but pull out quickly.” He says the same about Blackburn and Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), who is also scheduled to be a convention participant. Stublen says he thinks all of these politicians were “duped” into speaking at the for-profit event, adding that several hundred people have contacted him and urged him to call on Palin to stay away from the convention.

Yeah, that’s the ticket: Palin was duped. It’s not like she’s some grifter given to perpetrating scams on the terminally gullible or anything.

But what will be really interesting is how this train-wreck plays out in the media, assuming the convention is an epic flop. The media—including the non-Fox versions—have invested the mush-brained cranks who make up the tea party movement with the Real Merka mantle. To hear even some of the MSNBC yappers tell it, all politicians must bow before the great and powerful teabaggers lest they end up with Senator Cosmo TruckNutz’s tire tracks on their slippery hides. So how will they spin teabag fail?

Posted by Betty Cracker on 01/27/10 at 03:08 PM • Permalink

Of course, cognitive dissonance is already setting in with the rabble. But if the desertation rate gets scary, she can always have someone write another inspiring book for her. Her fans are very forgiving.

Also.

Two-Bagger May Withdraw from Tea-Bagger

Bachmann may skip National Tea Party Convention

By Derek Wallbank | Published Wed, Jan 27 2010

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Michele Bachmann said today she is reconsidering her commitment to speak at the National Tea Party Convention in Nashville because of potential ethics concerns she said have been raised about members of Congress speaking at the event.

“We’ve been getting conflicting advice from different sources on if we can or cannot participate, and if the advice is conflicting, I think we need to err on the side of caution, but we’ll make a final decision,” she said. “We’re reevaluating right now and we’re trying to decide what would be the right thing to do.”

Among the concerns Bachmann listed: That the Tea Party convention is a for-profit venture, and that the event organizer, Tennessee lawyer Judson Phillips, may also be running a 527 group. Bachmann said her office is working with the House Ethics Committee to see if she will be cleared to attend. Unlike former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who reportedly will receive a $100,000 honorarium for speaking, Bachmann said she would not be paid regardless.

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