Measure up Angle against half the Democrats in the House, or even the Senate. She doesn’t look so bad. Why Republicans can’t win: the leadership is mostly hostile to the Teaparty’s types, in part because of their tone. In Part because they really do equate looks and education with quality. Never mind that men like Bush’s last treasury secretary are conmen whose first instinct in a crisis is to save their own asse(t)s and bail on the rest of us.
I’m sure Angle’s voting record would’ve been superb. Ditto Akin and Mourdock. But that doesn’t change the fact that their own mouths and/or behavior get them in serious trouble. If Angle hadn’t made false allegations of voter fraud against Dean Heller in 2006, her viability would’ve been preserved for a future race and she might very well be the Senator today. She has only herself to blame, and same goes for both Akin and Mourdock (both of whom I supported in their respective primaries).
Regardless, the Tea Party needs to be more sophisticated in whom they support. There are credible, Conservative candidates out there who can overcome the odds and win (like Ted Cruz in TX). Of course, nobody can predict if a candidate decides to publicly commit political suicide despite a previously pristine record of electoral success (as Akin & Mourdock had).
As for the GOP establishment, I give them no quarter, either. They’re more comfortable giving their Dem buddies a reach-around than serving with or campaigning for Conservative reformists. They’re both the problem in DC.