Is there a GOP backlash against TParties?

by: ken bank

Fri Sep 02, 2011 at 04:21:53 PM EDT

Runyan certainly is in a position to know both of them personally. He was Owen's teammate on the Eagles NFC championship team in 2004, and he has gotten to know Bachmann as a member of Congress.

I do wonder that these reports of a growing backlash among mainstream Republicans against the tea parties is as much a reaction to recent polls which show growing disenchantment with the tea party movement, as it is a desire to reassert moderate views within the GOP. Somehow I doubt that Runyan and Christie woulkd be as critical of TNuts if polls showed Michelle Bachmann and Sarah Palin as the two most popular Republican politicians in New Jersey.

One other note. I was flabbergasted when Jon Runyan first ran for Congress, and consdiered him a totally unqualified candidate in an empty helmet on top of an empty uniform. But sometimes even an unintelligent Republican can display more common sense and reason than a batshit crazy TNut than Michelle Bachmann or even, closer to home, the odious Scott Garrett. The latter may score higher than Runyan on IQ tests, but which would you rather have in Congress?