The Tea Party is pressuring the Republicans even more than they are the Democrats, because they sit in the Republican caucus and can withhold their votes in the House. More importantly, they control a substantial voting bloc that can go Third Party, if ignored. In a 50/50 nation, every vote counts, and the Republicans cannot afford a Third Party, and neither can the Democrats afford a Third Part challenge from the Left. (And, even worse, the Democrats can face a Primary challenge from the left…)
(This combination moves the Democrats to the left, and the Republicans to the right.)
The Tea Party KNOWS that the Republicans have been (a great) part of the problem, and their impact on Republican earmarks has already been felt. They are moving the Republicans toward a greater sense of austerity — but it is hard because spending other people’s money is a benefit afforded to, and practiced by incumbents of all stripes.
About a decade ago, I was moderator of a presentation at Casa de Campanas featuring a local retired Admiral who was participating in the Grace Commission. One of the panel members was the now recently retired Republican Congressman Duncan Hunter, who used his opening remarks to brag, heavily, about how much (primarily military) funding he had brought to San Diego.
Everyone (panel and audience) sat stunned, because cutting “bacon” (as a part of government waste) was such a large part of the condemnation of government excess by the Grace Commission. Hunter had been in Congress for so long that even as a “conservative” Republican, he had completely accepted the spending philosophy.
(It’s similar to this late Deficit Commission…has anyone heard anything about its results being executed? )
The Tea Party members currently in Congress will most likely succumb to the intoxicating fumes of the Potomac River, and like most politicians, revert to using taxpayer’s money to buy votes back home.
But it is a start.
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