Bob Bennett of Utah, an incumbent in office since 1992, just defeated at his party's state convention this weekend.This, after Florida Governor Charlie Crist left the party to run for Senate as an independent a week earlier, is clear indication that the normal rules of politics no longer apply on the right. The idea of keeping your popular winners is now upside down, with ideology triumphing over pragmatism -- and over actually working with opponents to pass legislation, a.k.a "doing the peoples' business."
I'm of two minds about this, or maybe four. On the one hand, I'm hoping it leads to more self-destruction in the GOP, as the circular firing squad executes winners, not losers, folks that win elections by appealing to more than the wingnuts. On the other hand, there's always the chance that the Tea Party/birther/Bircher candidates win, and you get more Jesse Helms types in positions of power where they can do actual damage to the Republic.
On the third hand, isn't the role of political parties in our democracy to be where actual citizens get to express their collective will and nominate candidates that express their views? There's a bit of static in this case since Utah had a convention, not a primary, so the activists had the upper hand, but if they're driving the party and more traditionally conservative or moderate-conservative Republicans don't fight back, so be it.
And on the fourth hand, haven't I wanted turnover on the Democratic side when there's a public official I find too corporatist or Blue Doggie?
If Rubio beats Crist in Florida, all bets are off, but if Crist or Democratic Senate candidate Meeks wins, expect hell to pay in the GOP for those 'baggers.
Next Tea target: Kentucky.
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