Enter the Tea Party — that pesky group of conservatives that helped put together huge wins for Republicans — and are about to cause holy hell in the halls of Congress.
Tea Partier’s are Republicans on steroids. Yes, they share a great deal of common ground with their GOP counterparts. But they also have a mind and agenda all their own. Think of a gang of mechanical robots that were created to do man’s bidding, but somehow go mad and start making decisions on their own… and you’ll get the point of just what the Tea Party is about to unleash on Washington.
Republicans used the Tea Party to ride their backs all the way into the winner’s circle. Republicans also have a set structure and a set leadership already in place and all prepared to call all the shots. But the Tea Party could give a damn about structure or leadership or what allegiance Republicans may think the Tea Party owes them. And they’re certainly not preparing to fall in line and listen to one “all-knowing” fearless leader. They believe their constituents sent them to Washington with their own set of marching orders, so you’d best believe they’re hell-bent on getting it done.
Just yesterday, during Freshman orientation for new congressional leaders, the Tea Party tested their mettle by challenging Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to make an about face regarding earmarks. Earmarks is a long tradition in Washington, whereby politicians slip pet projects into a bill in order to benefit their constituents back home. For example, if a local town needs funding for a new airport runway, a politician may slip that funding into an unrelated bill currently up for approval. So, a bill to fund health care for veterans, could also contain approval of extra money to build a runway in Rochester, a park in Portland, or a bridge in Baton Rouge. Mitch McConnell has long supported the practice. But the Tea Party pulled the plug on that idea, forcing McConnell into the announcement he will now seek to ban earmarks. Now that’s power!
On paper, Republicans hold control of the U.S. House of Representatives. But behind doors, where it counts, will they have complete control of ALL their members — Republicans and Tea Partier’s alike? Will Republicans succeed with a collective front, or will infighting be their ultimate demise?? And now that they hold an inch more power within Washington, which also equates to holding more responsibility for those things that do (or don’t) get done, are the expectations for them to succeed too high, thereby setting them up for failure come 2012??? Hmmm…
I hate to admit it but people are so tired of Democrats and Republicans the Tea party is set up to become major. I know Republicans think they have the Tea party in the bag. But thats not a guarantee for long. If the Tea party gets a big name candidate other than Sarah Palin they might make some noise in 2012.