Rove and establishment GOP go after the Tea Party

[the machine]

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa — The biggest donors in the Republican Party are financing a new group to recruit seasoned candidates and protect Senate incumbents from challenges by far-right conservatives and Tea Party enthusiasts who Republican leaders worry could complicate the party’s efforts to win control of the Senate.

The group, the Conservative Victory Project, is intended to counter other organizations that have helped defeat establishment Republican candidates over the last two election cycles. It is the most robust attempt yet by Republicans to impose a new sense of discipline on the party, particularly in primary races.

“There is a broad concern about having blown a significant number of races because the wrong candidates were selected,” said Steven J. Law, the president of American Crossroads, the “super PAC” creating the new project. “We don’t view ourselves as being in the incumbent protection business, but we want to pick the most conservative candidate who can win.”

The effort would put a new twist on the Republican-vs.-Republican warfare that has consumed the party’s primary races in recent years. In effect, the establishment is taking steps to fight back against Tea Party groups and other conservative organizations that have wielded significant influence in backing candidates who ultimately lost seats to Democrats in the general election. Story continues here...http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/03/us....html?hp&_r=2&

It's just too bad that the Tea Party which was founded on Fiscal concerns became yet another faction of the GOP controlled by religious fanatics.

This seems like the begining of a civil war in the GOP and one which will certainly weaken it before it hopefully makes it stronger in the end.

[Vette_Newb]

It's going on all over the country. The GOP leadership is trying to put down the libertarian/conservative factions. Hell, they are really having a doosy in Alaska..

[Texdentist]

Originally Posted by the machine

This seems like the begining of a civil war in the GOP and one which will certainly weaken it before it hopefully makes it stronger in the end.

I agree completely. It's too bad the Tea Party crowd is so fanatical. What they basically want is what we need from a fiscal standpoint. But they are so determined to wrest control of the party from the moderates that they are willing to see the party go down in flames if they don't get it. It does look like civil war, and the only winners will be liberals and Democrats. They must be loving this.

[HardcoreABN]

Originally Posted by Texdentist

I agree completely. It's too bad the Tea Party crowd is so fanatical. What they basically want is what we need from a fiscal standpoint. But they are so determined to wrest control of the party from the moderates that they are willing to see the party go down in flames if they don't get it. It does look like civil war, and the only winners will be liberals and Democrats. They must be loving this.

Until the next REAL civil war....

[C6 CRUZR]

There is nothing "fanatical" about the Tea Party!

[Vette_Newb]

Originally Posted by C6 CRUZR

There is nothing "fanatical" about the Tea Party!

Sure there is, even among moderate republicans the idea of fiscal sanity is considered extreme. The idea of less federal government is extreme. The idea of less profit war is extreme.

[Texdentist]

Originally Posted by C6 CRUZR

There is nothing "fanatical" about the Tea Party!

OK, maybe fanatical is the wrong word. Let's say unaccepting of moderates in the Republican Party. The problem for the Tea party is that they don't have the numbers to win national elections. On one hand, they need moderates (just as moderates need them), and on the other hand, they refuse to do business with them. That's what I'm talking about.

[the machine]

Originally Posted by Texdentist

OK, maybe fanatical is the wrong word. Let's say unaccepting of moderates in the Republican Party. The problem for the Tea party is that they don't have the numbers to win national elections. On one hand, they need moderates (just as moderates need them), and on the other hand, they refuse to do business with them. That's what I'm talking about.

It is an extremist position, group. You are correct Tex. They see themsleves as the only oppinion worthy of discusion and they are willing to cut off their nose to spite their face. they need to be reigned in for the good of the party, and the country.

[Vette_Newb]

Originally Posted by Texdentist

OK, maybe fanatical is the wrong word. Let's say unaccepting of moderates in the Republican Party. The problem for the Tea party is that they don't have the numbers to win national elections. On one hand, they need moderates (just as moderates need them), and on the other hand, they refuse to do business with them. That's what I'm talking about.

It's not the right wing pulling the shenanigans.. we are using their rules and beating them at their game. So now they are changing the rules..

[Texdentist]

Originally Posted by Vette_Newb

It's not the right wing pulling the shenanigans.. we are using their rules and beating them at their game. So now they are changing the rules..

Where are you beating them at their game? You had a good election in 2010. Since then, the impact of the Tea Party has diminished considerably. They were hardly a blip in 2012. The Tea Party isn't winning anything. It's just keeping the Republican Party from winning anything either.

[ArKay99]

Originally Posted by the machine

It is an extremist position, group. You are correct Tex. They see themsleves as the only oppinion worthy of discusion and they are willing to cut off their nose to spite their face. they need to be reigned in for the good of the party, and the country.

Originally Posted by Texdentist

I agree completely. It's too bad the Tea Party crowd is so fanatical. What they basically want is what we need from a fiscal standpoint. But they are so determined to wrest control of the party from the moderates that they are willing to see the party go down in flames if they don't get it. It does look like civil war, and the only winners will be liberals and Democrats. They must be loving this.

The 'experts' on the Tea Party...

[Texdentist]

Originally Posted by ArKay99

The 'experts' on the Tea Party...

Look at the 2012 elections compared to 2010. There were far fewer Tea Party backed candidates elected. There were some to be sure. Ted Cruz is a new senator from Texas, and the early returns on his abilities and effectiveness are good. But overall, the impact of the Tea Party is less now than it was 3 years ago. I talk politics with lots of my patients (only if they bring it up first ). Three years ago, there was a lot of excitement about the Tea Party gatherings around the area. I went to a couple of them and was impressed. But as time passed, and it became clear that the Tea Party was hurting the Republican Party in national elections, many fringe visitors like myself decided the Tea Party way was going to cripple the only party that can oppose the Democrats.

[ArKay99]

Originally Posted by Texdentist

Look at the 2012 elections compared to 2010. There were far fewer Tea Party backed candidates elected. There were some to be sure. Ted Cruz is a new senator from Texas, and the early returns on his abilities and effectiveness are good. But overall, the impact of the Tea Party is less now than it was 3 years ago. I talk politics with lots of my patients (only if they bring it up first ). Three years ago, there was a lot of excitement about the Tea Party gatherings around the area. I went to a couple of them and was impressed. But as time passed, and it became clear that the Tea Party was hurting the Republican Party in national elections, many fringe visitors like myself decided the Tea Party way was going to cripple the only party that can oppose the Democrats.

What you are saying is that in order for republicans to win elections they need to comply with the other party that refuses to compromise... If they do that, they won't be republicans any longer...just middle of the road democrats...or RINO's. Guess you bought into the democrats mantra...no turning back now...

[Texdentist]

Originally Posted by ArKay99

What you are saying is that in order for republicans to win elections they need to comply with the other party that refuses to compromise... If they do that, they won't be republicans any longer...just middle of the road democrats...or RINO's. Guess you bought into the democrats mantra...no turning back now...

If you think there is no difference in a moderate Republicand and a Democrat, you aren't paying very close attention. The Tea Party loves that RINO epithet and uses it in their circle jerks where they all convince themselves that anyone to the left of Atilla the Hun is really a Democrat. But moderate Republicans simply understand that this is not a monolithic population. There are many groups with many ideas about how the country should be run. As much as I might agree with Tea party economic principles, I understand that 25% of the voters don't get to decide how the country is run. That means I understand that Republicans must participate in the "C" word - compromise. If your position is "our way or the highway - no compromise", you will get the highway, because you don't have the numbers to get your way. It's a hard reality, and by all appearances it's a reality the Tea Party refuses to recognize.

[Vette_Newb]

Originally Posted by Texdentist

Where are you beating them at their game?

At the state level, where all the shenanigans are going on.. went on during the primary, going on now. You guys costs us 2 elections and still want power.. Not gonna keep it though.