re: #55 Lawrence Schmerel

The “potent force” of the Tea Party will probably prevent the Republican Party from gaining back a majority in the Senate and the House in 2010. Without that “potent force,” it would have.

The dynamic will probably be thus: the Republicans will make some gains, but not as great as they might have. But purists will be blamed on a lack of ideological fervor and there will be further purges, leading to a significant reverse of fortunes in 2012.

I believe that is what it will take to get the GOP to get its head on straight.