Posted on 09/22/2009 9:51:53 AM PDT by yongin
The passions of conservative activists could be reshaping the Republican Party and complicating some 2010 re-election campaigns.
Indiana’s Mark Souder is among four House Republicans likely to face primary opponents drawing strength from the “tea party” movement and its fervent opposition to anything that might trigger higher taxes or bigger government.
Souder, first elected in the Republican wave of 1994, usually lines up with his party’s right wing. But he has angered some conservatives by endorsing earmarks for his district and by backing both the 2008 financial industry bailout (PL 110-343) and the expansion of the program to help recreational vehicle makers.
Rachel Grubb, a self-described “blue-collar mom,” is challenging Souder in the May primary, running on promises that she would strictly adhere to the Constitution and pay attention to those in the electorate “who say those in power have been there far too long.”
The eight-term lawmaker said he expects other conservative candidates to join the field, as well.
Souder said the prospect of several possible primary rivals makes it difficult for incumbents like him to embrace bipartisan deals on high-profile issues.
“On the big issues, I don’t think you’re going to see much bipartisanship because our right wing has dug in so hard,” Souder said. “And there’s, quite frankly, panic among Democrats.”
(Excerpt) Read more at cqpolitics.com ...
Better he and all the other Pubbies up there take notice. You are ALL going home to stay.
You’re correct. The Tea Party’s fight is not just with the Dems but with the RINOs. They all need to be voted out. The Constitution comes first not the party. And if the RINOs don’t understand that now they will come election day. If another RINO like McCain is picked for us in 2012 I’m not sure many on the right will just “go along with it” this time. I know I won’t. If another RINO or lame-o like Romney or Huckabee is the nominee I might just walk this time.
“On the big issues, I don’t think you’re going to see much bipartisanship because our right wing has dug in so hard,” Souder said. “And there’s, quite frankly, panic among Democrats.”
As a result, Republican lawmakers are increasingly reluctant to work with Democrats on health care (HR 3200, S 1685), climate change (HR 2454) and financial services regulations — even if their natural inclination is to work to perfect those bills rather than line up to thwart them.
Republican pollster Whit Ayres said the “tea party movement” has given Republicans in Congress new reasons to stick to their guns as the opposition party.
“It’s helping to create an atmosphere where all the incentives for Republican members of Congress are to oppose Obama,” agreed Eric Schickler, a political scientist at the University of California at Berkeley.
Good. Keep up the opposition and keep these primary challenges coming. If the GOP thinks for one moment they are safe to do what they damn well please, they will. In my view a good election cycle would be if every politician was thrown out. Yes, we'd lose a few good ones. But better all first termers than allowing any poltician to get too comfortable in D.C. with selling us out.
The Tea Parties are moving to its next step. Challenging long time GOP incubments. Would Tea Party activists be more productive in challenging Dem incumbents?
as long as they are acting with reason and prudence. And if they lose the primary to someone who is mostly a solid conservative, are they smart enough to negotiate joining his coalition in the fall.
i’m trying to get something posted here about this. i will ping you before i do/
also:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0909/27429.html
BYRD -— hospital
I've spoken at one of the Tea Parties and support them, but they absolutely cannot become a movement that allows more Dems to get elected, period. Rush is right on this and Beck is wrong. It isn't a "pox on both their houses." It's overwhelmingly a DEMOCRAT problem we have.
The "Tea Party" organizations seem to be the best avenue for conservatives to take back the RNC from the RINOs, by creating and funding primary challengers for the biggest RINOs.
Better to clean out your own house first.
The problem is that RINOs are hard to get rid of. The RNC will not support a primary challenger to a RINO incumbent under any circumstance, so it needs to be handled independently of the RNC. Once the conservative has gotten the nomination, he can fund-raise in the regular way.
Good point. Going to a fund raiser for Rob Portman tomorrow. He’s a good guy, and a terrific improvement over Voino.
YES! I want to see more primary opponents in GOP races. The sell-outs who voted in favor of bailouts, cap-and-tax, and Obamacare need to be ridden out of office on a rail.
I’m glad the Tea Parties have no official leader. If the Tea Parties become another special interest group, then the whole movement would have broken down due to internal office politics. See the feud between Mark Levin & Glenn Beck as an example.
I’m for challenging any Representative that doesn’t vote for smaller government and a free market, and I don’t care if they are Republicans or Democrats. It’s time to draw the line.
Except at some point, one person has to emerge as the face of conservatism. Without a leader, you get directionless movements-—lots of energy, but little actually accomplished. And if the tea parties don’t eventually fall in behind someone, they will dissipate. You can only sustain emotion based on “getting screwed” for so long. Then you have to vote.
Mark for later reference...
Christians need to prufiy the GOP of Romney supporters.
Challenging mediocre GOP incumbents in safe seats is good strategy.
The threat of a challenge could persuade some Rs to vote the right way on stuff. If not then they deserve to be defeated in the primary.
Of course rats must be challenged also.
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