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GOP Candidates May Be Too Wacky to Deliver a 2010 Upset

Tea Party 'nonsense' could thwart Republican victory

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 13, 2010 3:36 PM CDT

(Newser) – The conventional wisdom says the GOP will ride waves of anti-Obama sentiment and Tea Party energy to dramatic victories in November. But looking at how primaries have shaped up, Eugene Robinson foresees another possible narrative emerging from the midterms: "The big political story of the year may turn out to be the consequences of the GOP's foray into extremism and wackiness," he writes for the Washington Post.

Look at Harry Reid, who seemed fated to fall for supporting the Obama agenda—until the GOP nominated Sharron Angle, who openly said the press should "report the news the way we want it to be reported." Or consider the fact that major Republican figures are openly discussing the merits of abolishing the 14th Amendment, or that the Republican candidate for Colorado governor considers bike paths part of a grand UN conspiracy. The party may yet face comeuppance for embracing "utter nonsense," Robinson writes, and "hand victories to Democrats that they frankly might not deserve."

In this May 18, 2010 file photo, Nevada Republican Senate candidate Sharron Angle holds a meet and greet at a home in Pahrump, Nev.
In this May 18, 2010 file photo, Nevada Republican Senate candidate Sharron Angle holds a meet and greet at a home in Pahrump, Nev.   (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken, File)
Dan Maes applauds before his speech for the party's nomination to run for governor at the Colorado Republican State Assembly in Loveland, Colo., on Saturday, May 22, 2010.
Dan Maes applauds before his speech for the party's nomination to run for governor at the Colorado Republican State Assembly in Loveland, Colo., on Saturday, May 22, 2010.   (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 42 comments
Matt2h
Aug 14, 2010 10:30 PM CDT
The political system of the United States is just as rigged as that of China or the old Soviet Union. There is only the illusion of choice, which is necessary to maintain control. Two flavors of the same corrupt oligarchs.
Momsbam
Aug 14, 2010 9:40 PM CDT
Finally a respected journalist says in print what most of us already knew. Hopefully this will wake up some people out there.
zaglossus
Aug 14, 2010 10:28 AM CDT
The leftist (like this left wing hack Robinson, Keith Olberman's token black) assertion that the GOP wants to abolish the 14th Amendment is a scare tactic/lie. They only want a reinterpretation or clarification of the clause "and subject to the jurisdiction therof."
 

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