Boehner Makes Ugly Threats on Debt Limit Increases

The upcoming Republican caucuses in Colorado and Minnesota, along with the non-binding primary in Missouri should determine once and for all who will be anointed as the front-running, “non-Romney” candidate in the GOP.  This is not a small issue among the ultra-conservative “Tea Party” wing, who view Romney as a betrayer of  core Republican values, and an opportunist that is  willing to compromise with the Democrats when politically expedient.  The dilemma for the Tea Party  has always been whom to choose among the rather pathetic group of  conservative presidential aspirants.  Michelle Bachmann bombed out early due to her obvious lack of knowledge and experience; Rick Perry headed for the door after making a fool of himself during the Republican debates; Herman Cain slithered out the back  after several accusations of sleazy affairs, and Jon Huntsman bowed out after realizing that the Republicans were not really interested in another Romney alternative.  This leaves the Tea Party wing of the GOP with two proven losers to choose from: Newt Gingrich, who was booted out of Congress for ethics violations, and Rick Santorum, who lost his re-election bid by the widest margin in Pennsylvania history.

Since  scoring impressive gains in the 2010 mid-term elections, many conservative Republicans have been  salivating over  the thought of seeing one of their own capture the presidency in 2012.  Conservative prophets, such as Rush Limbaugh and Karl Rove, gloried in the victories of conservatism, and exhorted the party faithful to deny the President (and the people of the United States) any legislative victories.  All new initiatives were to be voted down, and all judges and presidential appointments were to be filibustered.  The Republican game plan was clear; forget the business of governing, and concentrate all efforts on denying Obama a second term.  To a great extent, the Republicans have managed to get their own way by becoming the “Party of no”.  After subjecting the American public to two years of legislative stone-walling, what conservative, Tea-Party leaning candidates have the Republicans come up with? Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum and it is almost beyond belief that Gingrich and Santorum are the best the Tea Party has to offer.

On the eve of the latest round of caucuses and primaries, it appears that Rick Santorum has become the latest “flavor of the month”, Tea Party candidate.   This can be evidenced by the fact that the Romney campaign has largely given up on attacking Newt Gingrich, and concentrated its efforts on portraying Santorum as being part of the big spending establishment in Congress, and of an influence peddling while being in the Senate.  Clearly, Santorum’s star in on the rise, and Newt’s star is about ready to be snuffed out forever.  To a certain extent, this would be a good thing for the Republican Party, since  much time and effort has been wasted on determining who will wear the “non-Romney” crown.

Although the right wing of the GOP may have finally found their candidate for 2012, Santorum will never muster up enough support to derail the more moderate Mitt Romney, nor would he have a ghost of a chance of beating Obama in the General Election.   In the final analysis, the Tea Party movement will fail to impact the American political landscape in any permanent or significant way,  and this will amount to a victory for the American people.

Rich