The Tea Party train wreck that never happened

Three weeks ago, E.J. Dionne (or “Baghdad Bob,” as James Taranto has called him) saw nothing but doom in the GOP’s future, as “the Republican establishment … is essentially powerless,” having surrendered its soul to the evil Tea Party, which has driven the country to hell.

Events since have proved this judgment mistaken: The establishment lives, and is doing its duty; part of the Tea Party has been merging with it; and the “system” is working as planned.

What are the signs that the system is working? When the prospect of former House speaker Newt Gingrich as the presidential nominee of the Republican Party first appeared to be rising, first responders from all parts of the party rushed to their stations en masse.

Former House colleagues called him unstable. The National Review termed him “erratic.” Ann Coulter called him all hat and no cattle. Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., weighed in with a similar judgment.

Tea Party stars rushed to shore up Mitt Romney, the most probable Gingrich alternative. Gov. Chris Christie, R-N.J., had already endorsed him. Gov. Nikki Haley, R-S.C., now endorsed him. Christine O’Donnell, who unseated Rep. Mike Castle in Delaware’s GOP Senate primary, endorsed the ex-moderate.

Follow Joe Miller at Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE.

 Read More at washingtonexaminer.com By Noemie Emery, washingtonexaminer.com