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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe Tea Party is a powderkeg about to explode under the asses of the Republicans...
These few Republican Senators that have dropped in the polls because of their support for the NRA over background checks for the safety of all, is the latest example. It is a lose-lose situation. If they agree to background checks, they piss off the NRA and a big portion of their base. If they choose the NRA position over the vast majority that wants background checks, they lose a big portion of support also. Flake of AZ and Ayotte of NH have been hit especially hard in the polls and their seats could mean the difference in who controls the Senate after next year's election?
Those that go against the NRA and the Tea Party loyalists face a possible primary opponent, either Independent or a Tea Party Republican. If that were to happen, it would overturn the applecart of gerrymandering that the Republican Party has so much invested in. Independent candidates could destroy the Republican majority in the House of Representatives. That may be the way the Democrats win back the House?
Also, Third Party candidates must be very appealing to Republicans about now? Their present representatives in Congress are about the sorriest bunch of legislators ever assembled in Washington, DC. So I would encourage all Republicans to look for a Third Party. They do not have to vote for the morons that are destroying this country.
flamingdem
(39,304 posts)Hekate
(90,202 posts)... just as much as I hope the Dem base stops that fantasy, because it is a fantasy.
The Tea Partiers, though? I wish they would take their deep disappointment with the system, their sense of betrayal and their grudges, and stay home. The fundagelicals used to stay out of politics, as they had their sights on the world to come and not this one -- I wish they likewise would return to their churches and leave politics alone.
Or they could register under a new party name. Either way it would help us, but I am not going to bet the election in 2014 on it.
Arctic Dave
(13,812 posts)Begich in Alaska is all but toast thanks to his NRA support.
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)only voted against expanded background checks because his constituents wanted him to. Do you have a link otherwise?
Arctic Dave
(13,812 posts)to 41%.
He is a good guy, met him many times, but he has fallen into the well worn rut Democrats in Alaska fall into. They think that by sucking up to repugs they will vote for him. Always searching for the mythical "moderate repug". Sad.
The polling suggest his numbers fell in dem and ind votes but didn't move with reps.
His only hope is the teabaggers jam in one of theirs or our gov gets the primary. Our current gov just rammed a billion dollar give away to the oil corporations and Alaskans are pissed.
kentuck
(110,950 posts)Or, if not Republican women, they should encourage Democratic women to run as Independents against these most right-wing Congressmen in their heavily gerrymandered districts. They may not be as safe as they think? Why run as Independents? Because Democrats would not do as well as Independents in these gerrymandered districts, in my opinion. And women would be much more acceptable than men. They can be defeated.
Left Coast2020
(2,397 posts)At least I'm sure I heard that from my high school civics class or some discussion back in the 70's.