High Hopes and Not Enough Votes

Eugene Robinson sums up the Teapublican problem of not enough votes and great expectations in the 112th Congress very nicely:

I don’t want to overstate the Republicans’ predicament. They did, after all, take control of the House and win six more seats in the Senate. But during the lame-duck session, it seemed to dawn on GOP leaders that they begin the new Congress burdened with great expectations – but lacking commensurate power. It’s going to be a challenge for Republicans just to maintain party unity, much less to enact the kind of conservative agenda they promised to their enthusiastic, impatient voters.

I’m sure the Tea Parties who voted in the new Teapublican Congressional class will be patient and understanding.