Given the stated goals of the TP - diverse and disconnected as they may be, what are we to expect should a sizeable portion of the TP backed candidates running for National office be elected? They will surely caucus with the Repubs meaning they wil have no real power of their own. The R's know from experience and pragmatism that most of their efforts to dismantle Government will be blocked by the Dems and certainly vetoed by Obama. Without a 60 vote veto proof block, nothing will get beyond the rhetoric of the TP candidates' pandering to the 20%(?) of voters they represent. Is the destruction of Social Security and Medicare - two vastly popular "socialist" programs supported by many of the TP's elderly and soon to be elderly base - really in the sights of the R's due to the influence of a handful of incoming members who have been financed by coporations and outside "anonymous" donors? Or, do the most irrational of the TP supporters just expect someone to "witch" it away?
The mantra of the TP has been to label any R who even knows a D as a "RINO" and to remove them from the running. This spells simple obstruction from the TP to all programs which would progress this country forward should they win. The R's cannot pass any legislaton if their members include a handful of no-compromise ideologues any more than the D's could sweep the public option through their more moderate members.
How foolish would it be for the TP's to insist that, say, the Civil Rights Bill of 1964 be re-examined to include Rand Paul's well out of the mainstream comments? Do you really suppose those individuals firmly entrenched in Washington power and money would think it a wise idea to repeal the 17th Amendment? Would immigration actually be addressed any more than it has been under the D's? Would the evangelical wing of the TP's insist that the US Government rush in to stop the personal decision making of another Terry Schiavo? That certainly didn't win the R's any moderate swing voter converts back in the 2006 and 2008 elections.
Just what would the TP's effect be since they will have no power other than that typically and historically granted to incoming freshmen Representatives and Senators by the Repubs who already know their limits? The Repubs are notorious for their "waiting your turn" philosophy of moving people forward in the power plan. No Committee Chairmanships are going to be handed to any TP candidate, they will sit at the far end of the dias whenever investigations are convened or bills are debated. You can expect Republican Party Leaders to exert the same pressure to conform which has been in place for decades. At best, a few more "Michelle Bachman" types will draw some attention to stir the crazy pot on Fox News but what else is there to expect? Are the TP's actually damaging the Repub brand just for short terms gains in a single election? What are you expecting should the rosiest of scenarios envisioned by those with Lipton hanging from their hats come to fruitition?
Given the stated goals of the TP - diverse and disconnected as they may be, what are we to expect should a sizeable portion of the TP backed candidates running for National office be elected? They will surely caucus with the Repubs meaning they wil have no real power of their own. The R's know from experience and pragmatism that most of their efforts to dismantle Government will be blocked by the Dems and certainly vetoed by Obama. Without a 60 vote veto proof block, nothing will get beyond the rhetoric of the TP candidates' pandering to the 20%(?) of voters they represent. Is the destruction of Social Security and Medicare - two vastly popular "socialist" programs supported by many of the TP's elderly and soon to be elderly base - really in the sights of the R's due to the influence of a handful of incoming members who have been financed by coporations and outside "anonymous" donors? Or, do the most irrational of the TP supporters just expect someone to "witch" it away?
The mantra of the TP has been to label any R who even knows a D as a "RINO" and to remove them from the running. This spells simple obstruction from the TP to all programs which would progress this country forward should they win. The R's cannot pass any legislaton if their members include a handful of no-compromise ideologues any more than the D's could sweep the public option through their more moderate members.
How foolish would it be for the TP's to insist that, say, the Civil Rights Bill of 1964 be re-examined to include Rand Paul's well out of the mainstream comments? Do you really suppose those individuals firmly entrenched in Washington power and money would think it a wise idea to repeal the 17th Amendment? Would immigration actually be addressed any more than it has been under the D's? Would the evangelical wing of the TP's insist that the US Government rush in to stop the personal decision making of another Terry Schiavo? That certainly didn't win the R's any moderate swing voter converts back in the 2006 and 2008 elections.
Just what would the TP's effect be since they will have no power other than that typically and historically granted to incoming freshmen Representatives and Senators by the Repubs who already know their limits? The Repubs are notorious for their "waiting your turn" philosophy of moving people forward in the power plan. No Committee Chairmanships are going to be handed to any TP candidate, they will sit at the far end of the dias whenever investigations are convened or bills are debated. You can expect Republican Party Leaders to exert the same pressure to conform which has been in place for decades. At best, a few more "Michelle Bachman" types will draw some attention to stir the crazy pot on Fox News but what else is there to expect? Are the TP's actually damaging the Repub brand just for short terms gains in a single election? What are you expecting should the rosiest of scenarios envisioned by those with Lipton hanging from their hats come to fruitition?