The Republican Party is Richard Mourdock

[DonViejo]

It doesn't matter how many extreme candidates crash and burn. Republicans never seem to learn their lesson

BY JONATHAN BERNSTEIN


If the polls hold up, the biggest surprise of this election cycle will certainly be Democrats holding the Senate – and very possibly even adding to their majority.

I know what you’re thinking: Todd Akin, Richard Mourdock (pictured with Mitt Romney above) and their unfortunate habit of making comments about rape that drive voters away. No doubt, that’s a part of what’s happened to the Republicans in this cycle.

But as much as Republicans have a real nominations problem, one which probably will cost them more than just those two seats in this cycle, I see no sign at all that the party is going to learn any useful lessons from it. The problem is that the scope of the likely defeat is so broad that everyone is going to be able to find convenient targets for blame.

Remember, this was going to be an election cycle that set up very nicely for Republicans. Because we’re six years out from the 2006 Democratic landslide, the Democrats had to defend 23 seats while only 10 Republicans were up for re-election. Impending Democratic retirements in Nebraska and North Dakota made it seem that getting the three seats needed to reach 50 would be automatic, with the only question being whether Republicans could get close enough that 60 seats after 2014 would be well within reach.

continue reading:
http://www.salon.com/2012/10/27/why_the_gop_will_draw_the_wrong_lessons_from_2012/