On election night last year, South Carolina’s freshman senator, Jim DeMint, convened a conference call with 4,000 supporters to declare the next battle: conservatives had to rally behind Marco Rubio, a relative unknown who was trailing the establishment candidate in the Republican Senate primary in Florida.Senator Jim DeMint, the Tea Party’s Kingmaker, Is a Power Unto Himself - NYTimes.com
The Hill 2010 Midterm Election Poll found that an overwhelming percentage of Republican voters want Congress to focus on spending cuts, even if it means bringing home less money to their state. But they don’t want this at the expense of big social programs or defense.The Hill's Midterm Poll: Likely voters throw a wrench into GOP budget plans - TheHill.com
Summary: Immediately after the congressional elections of November 2, new Members and re-elected Members of both parties will gather to meet (caucus) and vote on new leaders and enact internal party rules. Long before the House adopts its formal rules in January, these internal party rules will determine the allocation of power within Congress between leadership, committee and subcommittee chairmen, and rank-and-file MembersFour Immediate Reforms to Change the Culture of Congress | The Heritage Foundation
It’s a perfect storm. And I’m not talking about the impending dangers facing Democrats. I’m talking about the dangers facing our democracy.First, income in America is now more concentrated in fewer hands than it’s been in 80 years. Almost a quarter of total income generated in the United States is going to the top 1 percent of Americans.The Perfect Storm | CommonDreams.org
Helena, Mont. (AP) - A Montana judge says the state's century-old ban on corporate political spending is unconstitutional.District Judge Jeffrey Sherlock of Helena on Monday tossed out the 1912 Corrupt Practices Act that prohibits corporations from making independent political expenditures.Sherlock ruled in favor of conservative think-tank Western Tradition Partnership.Judge Tosses Montana Corporate Campaign Finance Ban | CNSnews.com
All I can say is, Democrats better be prepared to obstruct just as vigorously as the Republicans did or they'll be even more unpopular than they are now. As for the Tea Party nutjobs -- well, I just can't wait until they shut down the goverment and have to explain to constituents why their Social Security checks aren't going out:
WASHINGTON—The Senate is likely next year to see the largest group of strong conservatives enter the chamber since 1995, with Republican candidates calling for an end to the minimum wage, a phase-out of federal involvement in education and for challenging federal regulations they say have no foundation in the U.S. Constitution.
