Tea partier braces for primary challenge from the establishment

Politico ^ | 12/22/14 | Manu Raju

[Maceman]

Tea party favorite Mike Lee roiled the GOP establishment four years ago when he knocked off a sitting senator on his way to the Republican Senate nomination in Utah.

Now, the establishment might strike back.

As the 43-year-old Lee plots his 2016 reelection bid, he is courting business leaders under the radar, hoping to head off a primary challenge backed by business leaders and other establishment figures in his home state, like billionaire Jon Huntsman Sr., an influential bank CEO and a former Utah GOP party chairman.

Some powerful establishment Republicans in Utah are tired of Lee’s hard-line positions. He stood with Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas last year when the federal government closed and again this month when they tried to take on President Barack Obama on immigration but ended up giving Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada leverage to confirm controversial nominations.

So as Lee fights to make sure he doesn’t become the first tea party senator ousted by the party establishment, he’s effectively turned the Republican intraparty war that has defined Senate primary politics for the past four years on its head.

[Travis McGee]

The GOPeRat Uniparty rolls on.

[central_va]

The Tea Party i.e. Enemy of the State.

[Nateman]

[lostboy61]

The State is the Enemy of WE THE PEOPLE. TEA PARTY is the target of the Dems and the GOP.

[JohnBrowdie]

try not to get all wadded up over what freaking politico writes. those guys just aren’t our friends. they’ve been hitting this “republican civil war” meme for years. the republicans just won in an epic blowout.

it’s the liberals that are angry and backbiting each other.

[Common Sense 101]

Although it's been stated in this forum thousands of times before, it bears repeating: If the limp-wristed POS Repukelican establishment spent as much time and effort upholding their alleged conservative “values” and fighting against the vile Demonic Party, as they do fighting against those on their side that actually do, they'd have a permanent majority for an eternity.

[SharpRightTurn]

“Some powerful establishment Republicans in Utah are tired of Lee’s hard-line positions.’

Yeah, trying to get the hemorrhaging federal budget under control, stopping UbamaCare, and stopping the illegal invasion are “hard-line” positions to the establishment crowd. Mike should have pursued a more “compassionate” conservatism (i.e., caving to the leftists at every opportunity). Then he could have been unworried about the Empire striking back at him.

[july4thfreedomfoundation]

83% of the federal government remained open during the so-called shutdown, and the 17% that was closed was because of Harry Reid and Obama, not Ted Cruz.

Also, Harry Reid would have pushed Obama’s nominations through in the lame duck session, no matter what.

[Maceman]

they’ve been hitting this “republican civil war” meme for years. the republicans just won in an epic blowout.

I think that "epic blowout" was the last one the Republicans will see as long as the GOPe is still running things.

A lot of conservatives voted for them in the now utterly discredited belief that a Republican victory would stop or at least slow down Obama's agenda, and that it would be preferable to a continuation of Democrat control of the Senate.

But I think the betrayal by the leadership is the last straw. I think conservatives now realize the Republican Party is the enemy of conservatives, and that we have been played for fools by the leadership.

I think conservatives will sit out the 2016 election en masse if the candidate is not a true conservative, or if Boehner and McConnell are still running things in Congress.

I know I will.

[DoodleDawg]

The knives are coming out already. And given Utah’s primary process of choosing candidates then the establishment could rig the process against him.

[DoodleDawg]

they’ve been hitting this “republican civil war” meme for years.

There is a civilwar going on within the Republican party, and anyone who honestly thinks otherwise is kidding themselves.

[central_va]

Where are you going to go?™.

The Republican campaign theme for 2016.

[Maelstorm]

John Huntsman Sr. is one of Glenn Beck’s mentors or at least used to be. The guy is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. These billionaire liberals/moderates are driving the party left.

http://radio.foxnews.com/2014/10/29/jon-huntsman-sr-its-bad-the-tea-party-has-hijacked-the-gop/

http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/200/49109/

[Cboldt]

-- If the limp-wristed POS Repukelican establishment spent as much time and effort upholding their alleged conservative "values" and fighting against the vile Demonic Party, as they do fighting against those on their side that actually do, they'd have a permanent majority for an eternity. --

Just another piece of evidence that their objectives are in conflict with the political wishes of the "smaller government convervative" voter. They don't want a majority, they want more government.

[Cboldt]

Two years is a political eternity. I don't think the political class really cares if the GOPe survives or not, as long as any US equivalent of UKIP is quashed. If they pick early enough, any politician can pick/switch parties and still make out like a bandit.

Expecting people IN the government to shrink their own sphere of influence is pollyanna. It's similar to a company advocating reduced demand for its product so it can rake in less money and lay people off. It never happens by choice.

[Resettozero]

To live with themselves, the GOPe must see themselves as peacemakers, a Godly trait.

Problems is, there is no peace, and all they do is appease and placate the enemies of the USA as if they are going to go away.

Right now, the GOPe appears to be winning in it’s battle against the TEA movement people. Let’s see how long this victory lap lasts.

[vette6387]

Utah should concentrate on getting Urine Hatch replaced and not worry about Mike Lee. Ole Urine is now the longest “serving” US Senator at 38 years. He’s even been there longer that Senator Depends, Leaky Leahy!

[DoodleDawg]

The Republican campaign theme for 2016.

God help them if someone comes up with an answer.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Hatch isn’t up until 2018. Leahy was elected in 1974, so he is two years ahead of Hatch (elected in 1976). Hatch takes the President Pro Tempore position from Leahy in January.