The Far-Right Angle

I think the most fascinating aspect of this year's general election will be whether the "Tea Party" movement will spell triumph or defeat for the Republican Party. In their attempt to "take our country back" from the perceived anti-American socialism of the Obama administration, will Tea Party folks scare away the moderate voter, either into voting Democrat or, more likely, staying home altogether? It could be like the Democratic Party of the McGovern era, when left-wing activists so dominated the party that the middle fled to the Republicans.

Perhaps the best example of this is the senate race in Nevada. A few months ago, Harry Reid was a dead man walking. Now, he has a pretty decent shot at keeping his seat, despite being an entrenched incumbent and the Democratic leader, one of the faces of the party that the Republicans have demonized. Why the change? The Republicans nominated a woman who, to be frank, is a kook.

Sharron Angle, a former Nevada assemblywoman from Reno, will be the test for the Tea-Party Republican wing. Even more than Rand Paul, she represents the loony-tunes aspects of the movement. Her positions are severe: abolishment of the Department of Education; the U.S. leaving the United Nations; the eventual phasing out of Medicare and Social Security. She even, in the state of Nevada no less, has advocated prohibition of alcohol and the storage of nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain. I'm waiting for her to advocate a ban on gambling--that ought to go over well.

Perhaps most disturbingly, Angle has made remarks concerning an armed revolution. She has said, "What is a little bit disconcerting and concerning is the inability for sporting goods stores to keep ammunition in stock ... That tells me the nation is arming. What are they arming for if it isn't that they are so distrustful of their government? They're afraid they'll have to fight for their liberty in more Second Amendment kinds of ways?" and "That's why I look at this as almost an imperative. If we don't win at the ballot box, what will be the next step?"

If Angle wins, it won't be the end of the world, she would only be one of 100. But it would be a sign that the Tea Party mentality of paranoia has grabbed a firmer footing than is safe for comfort.

By the way, the Democrats have their own bizarre nominee. In South Carolina, which is doing its best to be America's weirdest state for politics, the Democratic nominee for Senate is Alvin Greene, a thirty-two-year-old unemployed veteran, who despite having practically no advertising, Web site, and practically no campaigning, got 59 percent of the vote, beating the establishment Democrat, Vic Rawl.

In the aftermath, a lot of questions have been raised. How did Greene, a complete nobody, win? It has been revealed he is under indictment on a felony obscenity charge, for showing a pornographic picture to an eighteen-year-old girl. It is not clear how he paid the $10,440 filing fee (law requires that this be paid out of his own funds). Some have even wondered whether he is a Republican plant, clearing the way for an easy reelection for the incumbent, Jim DeMint. I even saw an article the other day wondering if Greene is border-line retarded.

Clearly nothing happens according to Hoyle in either Nevada or South Carolina. Greene will get slaughtered in the general election, but the Reid-Angle race will be an interesting one to watch.