Here Come the Obama Republicans?

From diarist R o o k at Daily Kos I learn that this past November, and in a strong Democratic Year, Republicans won control of the Tennessee legislature for the first time in over forty years, but by only one seat in the House. Conservatives promptly made ready to do what it is conservatives always do when Republicans gain control of a legislative body: steer it radically to the right. The vehicle was a wingnut named Jason Mumpower.

Here was Mumpower, longtime minority leader and, according to this profile ,standard-bearer for all the hottest winger fashions: he sponsored a bill to bar gay couples from becoming foster parents; led a stalwart "do-nothing" caucus that blocked even the most sensible and minor tax increases; and ran a smear campaign against renovating the governor's resident; and apparently worked mightily to make sure state campaign finance reform legislation did not included any, well, campaign finance reform. (An aside: his political action committee is called MUMPAC—how could he lose?) He also blocked state lottery to help fund education; that, he said, would be "prostituting our children."

Tennessee wingnuts appeared to be on a glide path to power. Listen to Mumpower speak here about his high level of confidence because of the unity of the Republican caucus.

Then they were delivered a shock.

The Democrats in the chamber united to vote for a moderate Republican rival of Mumpower's named Kent Williams, who voted for himself—shutting out the conservative. According to another Daily Kos diarist, "Right-wingers were red-faced and angry, and fun was had by all." Apparently Williams made his challenge because he was sick and tired by right-wing extremists trying to bull him into taking far-right stands—going so far as to threaten boycotts on his family business." (This sounds fascinating; any Tennessee readers who know more, please do share.)

Why do I delve so deep here into into the local politics of the Volunteer State? Because I suspect we may be watching the leading indicator of a sea change. As I've noted recently here and here, many ongoing Republicans' answer to their ongoing political collapse is to become increasingly involved, to speak only to each other, and retreat into rituals of purification as a fantasy road back to political recovery. I noted that with this, the Republican Party threatens to split clear in half: on the one hand, the PalinCrats, who learn nothing and forget nothing, and harrass memebers of their party who work toward constructive engagement with the actual governing realities of the nation. The people on the other side we might just might end up calling "Obama Republicans"—Republicans who finally realize wingnuttery has reached the end of the line, join with Democrats in coalition, and actual help get this country moving again.

I don't know the details. I'd be glad to know more. But perhaps this fellow Kent Williams is one of the first: an Obama Republican. The more of them there are, more conservatism becomes nothing but an angry, ineffectual, petulant faction—and the more powerful, as brokers for reform, each individual Obama Republican becomes.

That, at least, seems to be the President Elect's theory. Maybe, just maybe, it will prove correct.

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