Tea Party's Poll Setbacks Don't Limit Its Washington Clout

Wall Street Journal ^ | June 25, 2014 8:42 p.m. ET | Patrick O'Connor June 25, 2014 8:42 p.m. ET

[God luvs America]

Republican Sen. Thad Cochran's runoff victory Tuesday exposed the limits of tea-party power at the polls, but conservative activists retain considerable influence in Congress as they fight the Export-Import Bank, an immigration law overhaul and higher taxes to repair bridges and roads.

[God luvs America]

further proof how pathetic the GOP-e is.....

[Caipirabob]

Rome wasn’t taken over by Christianity in a day.

[BobL]

Once the final determination is made in the Cockran race, I’m going to post a suggest that Mississippi voters vote Democrat in that Senate race. If we allow Cockran to stay in office that way, this tactic will be used by The Establishment EVERY TIME there is a credible Tea Party challenge in an open primary (and maybe even in ‘closed’ primaries). It has to be stopped, and stopped early.

I hate to lose a Senate seat, but it’s the price you have to pay to fight these guys, at their level.

[stilloftyhenight]

The only thing race “exposed” are the lengths that the GOPe will stoop to.

People are enraged all across this nation. We will unseat you. If it takes the rest of our lives, we will dethrone you! We The People will win. Count on it!

[dirtboy]

The precedent for that was set in 2010. For years, the GOP-E smugly told conservatives to give it their best shot in the primary and then everyone should support the primary winner in November. And when their chosen candidates fell in Delaware and Nevada and elsewhere, the knives came out - not for the Dems but for the Tea Party candidates.

And now that they stooped even lower in Mississippi, it is clear they have declared war on the base. Fine. Try to win in November in Mississippi with much of the base either voting for the Dem or simply not voting for Senator. I think it is imperative for the GOP-E to face major blowback or else, as you said, they will use this crap in every close primary. It doesn't have to be across the board in other races, but IMO it is necessary here.

[WilliamofCarmichael]

Republican Sen. Thad Cochran's runoff victory Tuesday exposed the limits of tea-party power at the polls, but conservative activists retain considerable influence in Congress as they fight the Export-Import Bank, an immigration law overhaul and higher taxes to repair bridges and roads . . . Chamber officials say their goal is to elect candidates "who want to come to Washington to solve problems" not just shut down the government. "Governing is the theme we have inserted into this cycle," said Scott Reed, who advises the Chamber on strategy. "It all starts with quality candidates."

or

"Street thug Thadius Cockroach mugging a citizen Tuesday exposed the limits of citizens' power on the streets, ho hum; but citizens in their homes do retain considerable influence on public opinion but those citizens should help us solve problems not just whine and talk about shutting down crime in the streets . . . ."

[McGavin999]

Republican Sen. Thad Cochran's runoff victory Tuesday exposed the limits of tea-party power at the polls

Yeah, those limits are we don't lie cheat or steal. Apparently integrity is not a limit to the GOPe.

[BobL]

” It doesn’t have to be across the board in other races, but IMO it is necessary here.”

Agree. It’s a first for me (out of about 16,000 posts) to say vote Dem (or even go third party). I have defended the Maine twins, even though they have less-than-superb Tea Party credentials (to say the least...but that is Maine), and even kept quiet about Miss Graham. But the idea of using Democrats to RIG ELECTIONS has to be stopped, and stopped immediately - and if Harry Reid keeps the Senate, don’t blame us - Mississippi is a SOLID RED state and McDaniel is a SOLID CANDIDATE, blame yourselves (i.e. The Establishment).

[JamesCooper]

McDaniel lost because of Mississippi’s quirky election laws, I blame them for his loss.

In most states if you get 49 percent and your opponent gets 47 percent, that is all you need. You win the nomination and go on to the general election. Mississippi’s Democrat Party put in the run-off to prevent blacks from winning a nomination where several whites would split the white vote.

The Mississippi made sure that Democrats could legally decide the GOP candidate.

I blame the state’s laws more than Cochran taking advantage of it. Politics is hardball and Cochran took advantage of the bad electoral law.

[Hardastarboard]

Agreed. Vote for the dem and do it loudly so the GOP-e gets the message. One time only.

[TWhiteBear]

The OP/and WSJ article show the political ineptitude of the Conservative movement.
Rather than(as the WSJ article says)’conservative activists retain considerable influence in Congress as they fight the Export-Import Bank, an immigration law overhaul and higher taxes to repair bridges and roads.’
the Conservative phrasing should be “...as they fight against Crony Capitalism, protect vulnerable US borders and to reduce taxes for everyone.’
TWB

[DaxtonBrown]

In Nevada, Sig Rogich, GOPe extrordinaire, ran Republicans For Reid. They can rot in hell.

[duffee]

A unified effort to “NO VOTE”. Enough Conservatives to not vote for thad, denying him victory without voting democrat and letting the claim “conversion to their party”. Go to the polls and write in and block out the write in circle. It will be recorded as a vote but for neither candidate.
The effort would be better if all used the same write in name. Write in votes are not counted by law in Mississippi but the space is provided by law on the ballot.