Without the Tea Party support Republicans wouldn't have won this election, so the Tea Party clearly did not cause the Republicans to fail to gain the senate.
And if the Republicans won the senate by voting in a large number of RINOs, or by supporting Republicans who had gotten to comfortable with the percs of power and the big spending ways of national government in recent years, than winning wouldn't be much of a gain. I don't think Republicans should never support RINOs, I've argued here than in some circumstances, when some of the better ones are running, and when there is never any chance that any real conservative, or conservative leaning libertarian, could be elected, having a couple of them around can be useful. But if we make them the driving force of the party, then the parties core supporters would be discouraged, and the Republicans would lose power in the next election. And even if the Republicans somehow maintain control with such people in power, we won't accomplish much, I care more about ideas and policies than partisan success. Electing people with an R after their name, doesn't help if they contribute to the the growth of big government.
If the Republicans took the senate by electing several RINOs than they still wouldn't be able to move through a positive agenda, but since they would control both houses, they would get blamed for their lack of progress. Maybe if the president was a good small government conservative, than getting those few extra seats would be worthwhile, but under the circumstances, sending a message to Republicans that if they become part of the problem, we won't support them, is a more important achievement. |
