Tea Baggage

By Baxter

While the mainstream media focus on the woes of the Democrats, let us cats take a moment to assess the state of the GOP.

And our diagnosis, folks, is not so good. When is the Republican establishment — not to mention the media talking heads — going to realize that the teabaggers are a threat to the Grand Old Party?

Sure, the establishment GOP boys have had some successes this year. They got their preferred candidate in the Iowa governor's race, and in two of three targeted Congressional races in Virginia. They got the mean girls, Whitman and Fiorina, nominated in California. But here are some warning bells that should be going off at 310 First Street, S.E.:

• The establishment lined up behind Charlie Crist in Florida, and he couldn't even make it through the primary.
• They didn't want Nikki Haley in South Carolina.
• They didn't get their candidate in ID-1.
• They didn't get their candidate in the Kentucky Senate race.
• They didn't get their candidate in the Nevada Senate race.
• They didn't get their candidate for Governor of Texas.
• They might not get their candidate for Arizona Senate.
• They probably won't get their first choice for the Connecticut Senate race.
• They might not get their candidate for the Alaska Senate race.

What has to trouble the GOP establishment is this: Much of this teabagger insurrection is taking place in the only areas of the country in which the Republican brand still has any value — the bitter, white, gun-clinging South and West. The rise of the teabaggers shows that the Republican Party is losing control of their base — not only ideologically, but geographically.

We cats, of course, PURR.