There are endless legions of RINO’s standing in the wings, to fill in for those who become inactive or go to their just reward. It is a problem the Republican party shall not ever be free of.
Remember, there have always been what were originally called the “radical” Republicans. President Lincoln struggled with them when considering plans for the “Reconstruction” of the South, after the Civil War. The Radical Republicans, after the death of Lincoln, prevailed, and the draconian measures imposed on the South positively guaranteed an enmity that took a century to die down. The Radical Republicans were reborn as the “Progressive” Republicans, with the success of Teddy Roosevelt, and it is no mistake that Franklin Delano Roosevelt seemed a bit radical himself. Though there was a difference in party designation, Teddy and FDR were really of very similar thinking. In fact, much of the agenda of the “New Deal” was written and supported by the “Progressive” Republicans.
Jim Leach is just a latter-day resurrection of these old-time “Progressives”.
Teddy Roosevelt managed to wrangle himself int toe Vice-Presidency in 1900, and when President McKinley was shot down in September 1901, Teddy became President. The boss of the Republican Party at the time, Mark Hanna, grumbled, “Now look, that damned cowboy is President.”
Some people sincerely believe that Teddy Roosevelt did great things. Maybe he did. His image is on the side of Mt. Rushmore, and you can’t hardly buy that kind of public relations any more.