Tea For One

Things are getting crazier out there.  And Paul Baumbach asks a great question.

What effect will conservative tea-party activists have on the GOP?

Well… given the increase in criticism from some big names in the party, I’d say the GOP is concerned.  Check out the latest blow-up.

Via Think Progress:

Ziegler attended the Western Conservative Political Action Conference in California this weekend, where he sat down for a scheduled interview with Keene. Ziegler began by telling Keene that his criticisms of Palin “sound like Keith Olbermann.” Keene stood by his views, arguing that Palin’s decision to quit as governor has shown she cannot “handle leadership and responsibility.”

The interview grew heated as Ziegler began lobbing personal attacks at Keene, facetiously suggesting he was “being paid” to issue critical statements of Palin. (Ziegler was referencing the fact that Keene’s organization was revealed to have asked FedEx for a $2-3 million check in return for helping the shipping company in a legislative fight.) “So your influence is either for sale or by lobbying,” Ziegler said. Upset over the direction the interview had taken, Keene got up and walked away, which led to a public showdown at the conference:

KEENE: You are a liar! … [grabbing the microphone] I said this is over! You got it? Over! … Get out of my face! … I’m not going to hit you, but I’d like to. … I’m not answering anything to you because you’re a jerk. … You’re a scumbag. … You’re an asshole. Got that on the air? Asshole.

Hmm… looks like there’s trouble in River City.  Seriously, did the GOP just notice the nuts?  Nah, they knew they were there, they just used them.  Of course, the rest of us knew they were creating a monster – a monster they no longer control.  Methinks they’ll need more than pitchforks.  Of course, killing the beast will kill any chance they have in 2010.  They need the nuts.  Quite a dilemma.  How will Republicans keep the tea partiers happy without scary everyone else to death?

We’ll have a chance to watch their impact on November 3rd.

Via WSJ:

In upstate New York, Dede Scozzafava, 49 years old, is the choice of local party leaders to defend a Republican seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, an abortion-rights candidate who could appeal to independents. Doug Hoffman, 59, is a local accountant backed by tea-party activists who has jumped into the race declaring himself the real conservative.

Conservative politics has been given a boost with the rise of “tea party” activists. But WSJ’s Naftali Bendavid says the support could backfire on the Republican Party, as opposition mounts to a number of the party’s midterm election candidates.

Mr. Hoffman has siphoned so much support from Ms. Scozzafava that their Democratic rival has vaulted into the lead, according to a poll released Thursday.

Pass the popcorn.