I don’t think most Senators are RINOs. A lot of GOP Senators accused of being “RINOs” on FR (Mike Enzi, John Barrasso, Pat Roberts, etc.) have pretty solidly conservative voting records. My GOP Senator (Mark Kirk) is an exception to the rule, this guy loves Planned Parenthood and wants to ban all guns, but falsely sells himself as a “social moderate”.
Kirk won the primary because the GOP establishment in the state pushed for him in the primary, and wouldn’t give any other candidate the time of day.The more conservative candidates in the primary did not have the support of Republican legislators. Powerful entrenched Republican politicians in EVERY state prefer the status quo candidate over the “Tea Party” candidate, and that INCLUDES safe Republican states like Texas (where the GOP officials and state legislators wanted Dewhurst instead of Cruz) and Alaska (where the GOP officials and state legislators wanted Lisa Murkowski instead of Joe Miller). In both cases, the GOP electorate, which is MORE CONSERVATIVE than the political elites in the states, voted for the more conservative candidate.
Thus, by repealing the 17-A, you would move the GOP Senate caucus to the LEFT. A Ted Cruz type candidate who is not a part of the political elite in the state won’t have a chance, whereas GOP establishment boot lickers will be in a great position to be appointed Senator by state legislators.
So, you’re saying the founding fathers were idiots.
According to some people there are maybe 3 or 4 Senators that aren’t RINOs and maybe a couple dozen in the House.
Since anybody, especially random paultard losers or self-important perennial candidates can claim to be “tea party” the term has become somewhat meaningless just like anyone can claim to be “conservative”. That’s why I favor candidates with proven conservative track records in lower office.