Leni, the Repubs have opened themselves to this because so many have, through their open hostility to the tea party, revealed that they are actually RINOs. Too many repubs have shown me they are really democrats in disguise - they don’t care about our founding principles at all - they just want to keep the money flowing THEIR way.
People are sick of being played for fools and are looking for an alternative. So when the libertarians pop up and say, “look at us - we have the principles NONE of the people that have run for president on the republican ticket have had, nominated by the Republican Powers that be, like McCain and Romney” - people sit up and take notice.
How many times does the Republican power elite think they can kick the base and laugh about it, without a revolt starting to foment? Not saying it’s a great idea, but I understand it. Even Rush has been subtly warning the elites.
"warning the elites."
Actually what distinguishes those whom you euphemistically refer to as "the elites," is that they are perhaps the most obvious example of those being "played for fools."
Those bent upon destroying the heritage of the Founding Fathers, have been more successful playing the Republican Corporate types as fools, than they have with just about any other group. The trick is focusing the target group on immediate wishes, rather than their actual long-term interests. (For example, see Another Variation On Demonic Theme.)
The game, literally, is as old as Genesis. The most effective answer is not to puff up the egos of the foolish dupes, but to identify their folly for what it is.
William Flax