What Kind of Hold Do Tea Baggers Have on Republicans?

[dynasaw]

Something I don't understand: The Tea baggers are a really small part of the population.
Why do they have so much power?
What hold--or what kind of blackmail--do they have on the Republicans?
How does such a small sector have the ability to jeopardize not only this country but the global economy and why do the rest
of the lawmakers let them get away with this?

[LiberalLoner]

1. Koch brothers and other billionaires. They can pay for spying (think Murdoch empire) for

blackmail. They can pay for murders (think of Murdoch whistleblowers - two of them - now dead.) They can buy politicians and judges.

Yes, that is why the teabaggers have the power. They are just the puppet in front. The real power is behind the puppet - the evil Koch brothers and their ilk.

[emulatorloo]

2. Fear that they will be primaried by a Teabagger. Plus Koch Bros influence, they are

Right wing extremists. Daddy Koch co- founded the John Birch Society

[blm]

3. The same hold Frankenstein's monster had over Dr. Frankenstein.

The fascist wing of the Republican party CREATED Tea Party for their own greed and aggrandizement.

[damntexdem]

4. Sitting on their faces?

just a thought

[divvy]

5. They are the same crazies from the religious right .... They have been repackaged.

[Bok_Tukalo]

6. The political redistricting process in the Several States (save a few)

... has ensured a large number of "safe" congressional districts for both Democrats and Republicans. The down side to that is it makes the primaries themselves the true election and as such, the place where members of the House are most vulnerable. That vulnerability comes in the form of active Republican voters and the most energized are currently the so-called Tea Party voters.

Since 2010 was a watershed year for Republicans at the state level as much as the federal level, redistricting will be even more critical in the process of trying to solidify the Republican majority in Congress. This along with the highly charged nature of the 2012 election makes it difficult for Republicans not in the Tea Party Caucus to maneuver politically.

The Tea Party Caucus has 60 members (approx.). The Democrats in the House far exceed that number. If Boehner needs to pass a bill the Tea Party Caucus does not like, he can. But for now, because of the threat of a challenge from the right, he, and other Republicans, are required to defer to the political will of that group.

That's my take on it.

[florida08]

7. what I want to know is where were they doing the Bush administration

when Cheney said deficits don't matter

[jtown1123]

8. I think Republicans are afraid of getting primaried by teabaggers

[kctim]

9. Its called representation

Voters vote in a member of the Tea Party. The Republicans need those reps to vote for their legislation so they must take their views into consideration.
Its no different than when Democrats cater to Sanders, Grayson, the Kuch etc...

[sinkingfeeling]

10. It's not the Tea Baggers who have the power, it's who's backing them that have the hold.

[Evasporque]

11. gonies?Tight little grip...on the Boehner?... nt

[EC]

12. Primaries....

the only ones that show up in primary votes are the rabid repubs and they back the tps. So even though in the general elections they may be able to win, not so in the primaries unless they can out-crazy the opponent. And for some reason these guys can't stand the thought of having to find real jobs when they lose. I really don't know why, since most of them end up in new jobs where they work even less, like lobbying.

[DJ13]

13. You know that dirty definition for tea bagging?

Imagine teeth dug in.......

[leeroysphitz]

14. They have 'em by the yam sack alright... n/t