Kansas is leading the way toward the end of Tea Party

[MineralMan]

control of the Republican Party. In its primary elections, several tea party types have been successfully primaried by more mainstream Republican candidates. The tea party types destroyed the Kansas economy and left the state in economic shambles. Finally, the voters are throwing those bums out.

That does not mean that Kansas will suddenly become a progressive state. It will not. But, it is a sign that tea party ideas have been tested and found wanting. In that, there is some hope for the future.

The Republican Party is now so divided that it could not even select a candidate for President who could actually compete on a national stage. Instead, the division led to Donald Trump, the candidate who will destroy the party itself in losing this election.

Republicans have been in disarray for some time, but the internal divisions have finally culminated in disaster for the party. If Trump continues to be their presidential candidate, the destruction will be catastrophic by November.

[Happyhippychick]

1. That's great news

[MineralMan]

4. It is, I think. Mostly, we don't pay much attention to Kansas.

It plays too small a role in national politics. But, in some ways, it is a test state for Republican politics. It was pretty much wholly taken over by the insane wing of that party. The results have been horrible for the state. We just haven't really noticed.

It looks, however, like even Kansas has had enough of tea partyism. I hope so.

It's important to note that Donald Trump is like neither wing of the Republican Party. That he became the GOP nominee, despite his lack of appeal to any sector of that party, indicates that the party is in shambles.

We must work as hard as we can to assist that party in its downfall in 2016. In the time it will take the party to rebuild, we may well be able to create a progressive majority on a national basis that will have time to demonstrate how much better progressivism is than regressive concepts.

I remain hopeful.

[Hortensis]

7. The Tea Party and its successes were all Koch creations,

and Kansas is the Koch's home ground. This is very encouraging because rejection of "tea party" solutions is rejection of the GOP/Koch alliance's schemes, though no doubt they're still looking for every chance to turn this chaos into victory.

The trumpsters may be most famous for xenophobia and nationalism, but they also include a very strong theme of backlash against the GOP/Kochs' attempts to destroy government programs that serve the people. They want hands off their Social Security and Medicare. They want guaranteed vacation leave back. And so on.

[BlueCaliDem]

2. Well, since the "Tea Party" was created in the wake of a black president, and said black president

is nearing the end of his two terms in office, they're no longer necessary. Any politician that rode in on the racist horse in 2010 should've known that this was a temp job.

But the good news is, we finally get vindication that, yes, the Tea Party was fueled by closeted racism because Barack Obama became president - despite all their bullshit to the contrary when challenged.

A lie travels fast, but the truth will always, always, catch up to it.

[tonyt53]

3. I think that election just signaled more power by the wealthy of the ag business in KS.

The teabagger guy wanted to cut agricultural subsidies. The guy that won the election ran on the platform that he would work to preserve corporate farming subsidies. in other words, they bought another seat in Congress.

[MineralMan]

5. The thing is that I don't really care what happens in Kansas.

I'm only interested in it as a test bed for Republican politics. What actually happens in that state is of no interest to me at all, I'm sorry to say.

[JRLeft]

6. You will still get Koch brother led policies.

[MineralMan]

8. Oh, perhaps not, if we take advantage of this upheaval

in the Republican Party. I suggest we do that.

[JRLeft]

9. I could have sworn those 2 own Kansas.

[MineralMan]

10. As I said in the OP, I don't really care that much about

Kansas. And I'm not really talking about the state of Kansas politics, really. It will continue to be a red state will very little influence on national politics.

The Koch Brothers can have Kansas, as far as I'm concerned. I'm just looking at Kansas as the home of a minor revolt in the Republican Party there against the Tea Party types. I see it as symptomatic of the problem the Republicans are facing in 2016. They've nominated someone for President who isn't even really a Republican at all. Times are changing, I think, for that party, and it's not going to end well for the GOP. Not well at all.