The tea party is helping Democrats

[cali]

By Dana Milbank, Friday, October 19, 1:32 PM

There are those who say that the tea party is fading in influence, but nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, the movement is on the cusp of achieving what once seemed nearly impossible: keeping the Senate Democratic.

A year ago, famed political handicapper Charlie Cook gave Republicans a 60 percent to 70 percent likelihood of capturing control of the Senate; now, he tells me the likelihood of it remaining Democratic is 60 percent.

The switch in fortunes can be attributed to many causes — a slate of lackluster Republican candidates high among them — but one thing is beyond serious dispute: If not for a series of tea party upsets in Republican primaries, the Republicans would be taking over the Senate majority in January.

In the 2010 cycle, tea party candidates caused the Republicans to lose three Senate seats easily within their grasp: Sharron Angle allowed Democratic leader Harry Reid to keep his seat in Nevada, Christine O’Donnell handed Joe Biden’s former seat right back to the Democrats in Delaware, and a tea party favorite in Colorado, Ken Buck, lost a seat that was his to lose.

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/dana-milbank-the-tea-party-is-helping-democrats/2012/10/19/815e07e0-1a08-11e2-aa6f-3b636fecb829_story.html?hpid=z2

[Voice for Peace]

1. shhhhh..

[randome]

2. If the GOP wants to stop the bloodletting, they will need to join with Democrats to stop the TP.

[LisaL]

3. At least there is something they are good for.

[MrModerate]

4. And that "slate of lackluster candidates" . . .

Wasn't exactly an outlier. That's the best of the(ir) best they've got out there. Case in point — Mitt Romney.

By driving out the thoughtful, the fact-based, the scrupulous, the even-handed, the Republican Party has left itself with nothing but mediocrities to select from.

Well . . . mediocrities and the absolutely dreadful.

[pampango]

5. And in the House: House tea party icons face re-election challenges

Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann's tendency to cause a ruckus on Capitol Hill made her a tea party sensation. Her bulging campaign treasury and conservative district make her a clear favorite to win a fourth House term on Election Day, despite her Democratic rival's attempts to turn her won't-budge philosophy into a liability.

Three other high-profile House conservatives, facing opponents insisting that their views are too extreme, have trickier paths to re-election next month. GOP Reps. Allen West of Florida, Steve King of Iowa and Joe Walsh of Illinois are all embroiled in tough and expensive races that are drawing plenty of spending by friends and foes from around the country.

The challenges faced by West, King and Walsh stem in part from this year's redrawing of congressional districts and a political climate that has cooled for tea party politicians since the 2010 groundswell that swept them into office. They also underscore the risks that frequent television appearances and outspoken views can bring.

"You get more attention, you've got better ability to get your message and policy positions out there," said GOP pollster David Winston. "The challenge is because everybody's paying such close attention, you have a lot of scrutiny."

http://www.nujournal.com/page/content.detail/id/259217/House-tea-party-icons-face-re-election-challenges.html?isap=1&nav=5031

[backwoodsbob]

6. we said the same thing in 2010

look where that got us