In my opinion, the party may be taken over by the right once enough of us finally make good on our threats to leave... we should play all out hardball until next years midterms and see what that gets us
Here is Michelle Bachmann’s statement in opposition to the Senate bill which was passed by the House:
http://kstp.com/article/stories/S2882805.shtml?cat=12115
There is not a word of opposition to the House leadership. The fiscal cliff bill did not pass because of the Democrats - it passed because of Republican cowardice and duplicity. And I blame Bachmann as much as the others. She was in a position to take a strong leadership role with the Tea Party caucus during the aftermath of the November elections. She could have organized the caucus to speak with a single voice and to make it clear to Boehner, Ryan and Cantor that they would not tolerate business as usual. The first sign that this was not going to happen was when Boehner knee-capped the conservative committee members and cut them from their committees. The Tea Party caucus is a myth, as is Bachmann as “rebel”. When it came time to draw the line in the sand, Bachmann and most of the others stepped over to the RINO side.