Dems and Tea Party Gang up to Oust Mitch McConnell

Both groups could spend millions on a primary fight

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is up for re-election in 2014, and he's facing an ungodly alliance of Democrats and Tea Partiers who want to end his career.

The Kentucky Tea Party plans to mount a vicious primary challenge to McConnell, known unaffectionately to his detractors as "the turtle."

Meanwhile Democratic donors and a liberal SuperPAC in Kentucky have promised Tea Partiers that they'll shell out millions of dollars to back a conservative candidate against the minority leader.

The Democrats' plan? "Soften up McConnell and make him vulnerable in a general election in Kentucky, where Democrats still maintain a voter registration advantage," writes Politico's Manu Raju. "Or better yet, in their eyes: Watch Kentucky GOP primary voters nominate the 2014 version of Todd Akin or Richard Mourdock, weak candidates who may actually lose."

The Tea Party, of course, has quite different goals. They hope to force McConnell to embrace Kentucky conservatives - and so far it's been working. McConnell has attended over 100 Tea Party events in the state since 2011.

Via Politico.

Would you like to see McConnell lose a primary challenge?

[PNWest]

I want to see a dem senator but I disagree with supporting a tea party candidate to "soften" McConnell up. The GOP should be free to do whatever they choose without democratic interference. The dems should not lower themselves to the "Operation Chaos" crap that the GOP pulled with Hillary in 2008.

[martydotcom]

Operation Chaso, Rush's favorite game with an open primary. What's good for the goose is good for the gander. This just one reason why Obama has reactivated his campaign team. He's not going to gain control of the House by sitting back and hoping that good things will happen.

[PoliticalSpice]

Get on board already. Tea Party crazies are the best thing dems have going for them. Support the brewing of Kenyucky tea. Preferably an akin-bauchman blend.

[DARSB]

Does it matter which person is parroting the party line?

[PNWest]

It does. It is far easier to beat an extremist than a 5 term sitting senator.

[GmanGSW]

Cantor scares me, and he's from my state. Also, Ryan scares me, along with a few others. I wonder who would be made minority leader if McConnel loses?

[marine1]

Wonder what would happen if members of both the house and senate had to vote on all bills by line item issues?

[Rogue]

Good point Gman!

[Synthesis]

Who'd be the minority leader If he leaves?

[martydotcom]

Short term the bigger problem is what kind of extremism will he try in a futile attempt to maintain his seat.

[Dan_Tien]

Here is a radical idea: support a candidate with intelligence, integrity and real world experience in dealing with complex problems, instead of wasting all this time and money on gamesmanship.

[DerivePI]

I don't think Diogenes would be anymore successful today.

[frigginhell]

An interesting idea to be sure. Sadly for McConnell such an approach still means he'd lose. This is the state of Rand Paul, don't get your hopes to high.

[PoliticalSpice]

Where do you get these crazy ideas?:)

[marine1]

Folks like you describe all know what an acceptable standard of competents is and would not want to have to lower their standards to join the Mickey Mouse Club

[jessejaymes]

I want him out because he's institutionalized corruption just as is Harry Reid. Nobody be majority or minority leader for more than one term.

[GmanGSW]

You have that right! Neither is good!

[GmanGSW]

Also, beyond 1 term as majority/minority leader, I feel there should be a 20 year term limitation for those in public office, as is. Yes, 3 terms as Senator + 1 term in the house, or something like that. There ought to be new blood every once in a while! 20 years is too much, but then it would allow another to "get in to office." Then again, we are more of a plutocracy & oligarcy than a democracy. Still, we do have the ability to kick out "poor" legislators, keep in "better" ones. Keep on your legislators, folks!

[jessejaymes]

@GmanGSW I disagree. Two terms mandatory with no lobbying the federal govt for 20 years allowed. We think that our Presidents cannot possible be of such importance that they should serve more than two terms. And they are elected by national vote in the EC. What possible excuse could there be to allow a Senator more time to be destructive than a President?

[GmanGSW]

@jessejaymes Forgot about the lobbying problem. 2 terms is fine with me, along with a timed limitation on lobbying. How do we keep one out of the house then? It gets tough unless it's a 2 term, 2 term, 2 term? I felt 20+/- years combined makes better sense, allowing for presidency, which I also didn't include =, let's say, 2 terms in the Senate & 2 terms as President. Then you'll have 2 terms in the house, allowed? It gets tough. Really, there needs to be major campaign & lobbying reform...

[GmanGSW]

@jessejaymes Btw, the EC? why bring in the EC when I actually have degree of power over my state's Senators in a public election? If we get the EC involved, I am worried a candidate would/could win by EC, not me. Heck, I am a moderate with certain leanings on particular items in Congress right now. I want to have the ability to lobby my Senators & congressman, that I can & do, without having to be a multi-millionnaire to get through to them & to leave a msg. Definitely we need campaign reform & term limitations, though (inc. that lobbying problem).

[ctc]

He's the Senate Minority leader....not the House.

[Chromalord]

maybe too little too late, but yeah, I'm all for seeing anyone, regardless of their party, being ousted who openly admits to putting political agenda before the people's. The collateral damage from him, be it direct or trickle-down, has costs a lot of delay in any positive progress there may have been in reaching across the isles, as well as defacing the GOP's efforts to reform its party.

[stepped_in_it]

I have very little problem "ousting" many (if not all) career politicians....Republican or Democrat! Most have stopped serving We, the People and just serve their own interests. Think I heard somewhere......RE-ELECT NOBODY 2014

[jessejaymes]

Not only reelect nobody in 2014, pass a law that that nobody cannot work as a lobbyist for 20 years after leaving office to the body that they served in. That means they can lobby for their city or their state but not for the feds. And make it the death penalty if they are caught sneaking around taking money from lobbyists.

RE- ELECT NOBODY 2014

[stepped_in_it]

@jessejaymes No death penalty.....but I've always favored bringing back a chain gang for non-violent criminals.....which that crime would fall under!
RE- ELECT NOBODY 2014

[jessejaymes]

@stepped_in_it Well ya know China catches a politician taking bribes and they execute them. I don't see what's wrong with that?

RE-ELECT NOBODY 2014

[ctc]

@jessejaymes How about you forfeit your government pension and medical benefits when you register to be a lobbyist.

[stepped_in_it]

@jessejaymes Yeah, but 20 years on a chain gang. I always been told I'm a vindictive SOB......guess I am!
RE-ELECT NOBODY 2014

[Neo_NtheMatrix]

McConnell sold out and pushed for raising taxes in order to get obama's agenda passed. I'm sorry, under no circumstances can I support someone like that. It's time to continue the purge.

Funny how so many Politix posters claim they want politicians that do the work of the people until they hear someone like me say we should oust those who don't do the work of the people. Then, at that point, those exact same posters start yelling about partisanship and whatnot. You know, we need a pure party that is not driven by politics or lobbyists or corruption or money, but by principle.

Why wouldn't I want a pure Tea Party candidate? Can anyone answer that?

[martydotcom]

Only four of the 16 Senate candidates endorsed by the Tea Party Express won this year prompting some in the Republican Party to expect a battle over the party's future.

[Neo_NtheMatrix]

@martydotcom - Do you want politicians that can be bribed or politicians that stick to conviction?

[martydotcom]

@Neo_NtheMatrix @Neo_NtheMatrix @Neo_NtheMatrix Neo you mention bribed and politician in the same sentence as conviction Too bad we can't convict them, they're all thieves, Don't be naive the only difference is the name on the check

Who do you think is paying for TP Patriot congressmen to fly around in private jets like Wall Street bankers? Who do you think is paying for TP anti global warming deniers votes
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/oct/24/t...

Do you have any concept of the benefits Koch family has reaped ?
Did you know Daddy Koch was a leader of the John Birch Society?
Something's never change. Daddy was sure Commies we're running the gov,(Allan West).
The family's pet bugaboos taxes, corporate regulation, organized labor, and government “handouts” to the poor, unemployed, ill and elderly remain unchanged.
Koch ind. began with oil and now includes pipeline, fertilizers, chemicals, minerals, Geo Pacific, just to name a few Do you think they'd pay a few psaltry 100 mil to keep the EPA off their backs

THEY're all bought and paid for don't fall for the conviction BS unless you're talking about a congressman walking a perp line

[PoliticalSpice]

My motives differ from yours, but I do eant the tea party to run against mcconnel, and much as i detest their politics i grudgingly respect them for keeping faith what their voters in refusing to sell out and doing all tgey can to keep their promises. Till this year, despite the small numbers, they pushed through quiet a log in cuts as they promised they would. As i said, i don't support em, bit very few in congress keep their word. That earns them my respect, if not my agreement.

[wild_turkey6]

@Neo_NtheMatrix good point, regardless of political party.

[RobertJHarsh]

I selected the mixed feelings option because McConnell is somewhere between a moderate and conservative, one of the last ones left. The neocons have always hated him and moderates are the natural enemy of both parties. Neither party is interested in moderate views and both sides are extremists.

[SomethinsFishy]

Attaboy, fools. This is why I left the Republican Party. There is no room for moderates. Choose instead an ideologue who will have no chance of winning. That will just about assure you of a Left Wing Democrat being elected. Where is your common sense?
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assaultweaponsbanof2013 dot blogspot dot com
The defense of the 2nd Amendment is more ably and credibly handled by Moderate Republicans than by the fringe from the Right.

[Fitz]

Mitch McConnell's term limits have expired. couple that with the pork spending during the Bush years. Mitch does not walk the walk

[Kellso]

Here we go again with the 'PARTY' crap again! Each voter should look at the' candidate' and not even look which 'party' that candidate is registered in. Political parties are what is ruining this government and thus, this country!

[albert]

I think jessejaymes hit it right on the nail head,anyone caught taking a bribe or payoff should be executed just as they would be in china,dem or rep.

[harold_lloyd]

I don't like the Machiavellian aspects of this, but it's really just using the teabagger strategy against itself, which seems appropriate.

The word of the day is schadenfreude.

[harold_lloyd]

"House Minority Leader "

Shouldn't that be Senate Majority Leader???

[AtheistStand]

KY needs a person that really loves the people and the state. Mitch loves money and Mitch. His comments about the poor and his lack of care for the many hard working Kentuckians without any healthcare and his sudden massive wealth should be enough to get him out.
But it will take a well liked person to get KY voters to vote Democrat. This person should start now...making his/her way to every small town in KY. Shaking hands,listening,hosting picnics, taking pictures. These actions go a long way with KY folk.
Bill Clinton made his way to my super small town here in KY and many more KY towns and he carried KY.
A person who beats Mitch will need to be people oriented, not stuck up, honest, modest, genuine, and not money hungry and greedy.

[Denizen_Kate]

Why does the Tea Party want to get rid of McConnell? He worked really hard at his stated, one-and-only goal of making Obama a one-term president. It isn't his fault that that plan failed. I thought the Tea Party liked him.

[Raptor]

The man is a crook and senile to boot. After all is said and done he will sell out to the highest bidder, in this case a pharmaceutical giant called Amgen, the world’s largest biotechnology firm, and a drug maker that sells a variety of medications.

http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/big...

[WattheTyler]

Mitch McConnell put politics above the American people. In 2010, he said his number 1 goal was making Obama a 1 term president. Not getting jobs for Americans. Not ending the wars. Not throwing wallstreet bankers in jail. It was all about Obama. Not the American people. It's almost 2014 McConnell. Soon you will be out of office you old sob.