Republicans Plan To Eat More Of Their Own In 2008

If you thought the “Leininger 5″ episode of well-funded primary candidates for less-than-far-right-wing Republicans was a one-shot deal, think again, because Republicans are already doing their best to find challenges for their wayward sons and daughters:

State Rep. Tommy Merritt, a Republican from Longview who gives Speaker Tom Craddick heartburn, is suspicious of visitors popping up in his East Texas district — at least those who come bearing critiques of his legislative voting record.

He was ready to cry “Gotcha!” when a conservative activist and Craddick admirer recently visited Gregg County to show the county judge and maybe a few other people a scorecard giving Merritt a failing grade of 38 on selected conservative issues.

Merritt, who beat back a well-financed challenge in the 2006 Republican primary, thought he smelled a recruiter trying to drum up another opponent for him in 2008.

While most normal people have better things to do with their summer, political consultants and other activists of both parties already are out enlisting candidates to run against incumbent legislators in next March’s party primaries.

You might wonder why Republicans are doing this. After all, it’s pretty evident they are going to lose control of the House in 2008, if not then by 2010.

This time, though, instead of school vouchers, it all has to do with making sure enough Republicans will continue to support the corrupt leadership of Tom Craddick so that, if by some magic, the GOP manages to keep the House by a one or two vote margin, that a majority of Republicans will still vote for Craddick:

Not only are contested primaries good business for consultants, but the winners of next year’s races also will be crucial in determining the Texas House leadership for 2009, when several lawmakers hope to unseat Craddick.

Craddick ended the recent legislative session under siege, all but barricaded on the podium behind two bodyguard-parliamentarians, staving off a revolt on the House floor by Republicans and Democrats alike.

But the speaker’s race for 2009 is still a fight. And the popular assumption is that Craddick and candidates backing him will continue to be well-financed by mega-donors such as San Antonio businessman James Leininger, who refuses to give up on his quest for tax-paid vouchers to send some kids to private schools.

There is such a statewide schism in the GOP right now it’s hard to know just how effective this strategy will be. It had very poor to mixed results last cycle, and will doubtless be worse off this time.

Right-wing Republicans already played the last session like it was their last, handing our candy to the Religious Right in the form of Bible curriculum and changing the pledge to the Texas flag, like there was no tomorrow.

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