Thoughts and observations on Republican primaries so far...

Some general thoughts and observations about the Republican primaries so far...

* Conservative Republican primary voters are angry.  And for now, they're taking their anger out on anyone who looks "establishment".  The result is a long overdue house cleaning.  The establishment doesn't really grasp what's going on here at the gut level.  People are not just "angry" and looking to take it out on someone.  We're upset with having our party run by people who patronize us, then set about undermining our goals, or at least not effectively advocating them.

* The NRSC's endorsed candidates have now lost EIGHT primaries to DeMint/Palin endorsed, Tea Party supported candidates.  They caused the problem by picking candidates that didn't represent the views (or ardor) of Republican primary voters in those states.

* The "establishment" has only made things worse (for itself).  By openly attacking candidates supported by the Tea Party movement they have enflamed the grassroots with new passion.  Lesson: don't shoot a hornet's nest with a garden hose.

* We don't need the Senate.  Not right now anyway.  If the GOP takes the Senate (along with the House), it becomes easier for Obama to demonize Congress in his 2012 re-election bid.  Better not to have complete "control" of Congress when he's running for re-election.  Until we have a Republican President, it really doesn't matter as much.  There's no appreciable difference between having 49 Republicans in the Senate or 51, other than committee chairmanships.  So long as Obama is President and has veto power, a majority in the Senate doesn't really matter.

* The results of these races were there result of votes cast by conservatives in those states.  Of course this seems like an obvious point, but it sometimes seems like one lost on the talking heads who talk as if an alien race is going about invading various state primary races.  These people are conservative, they live there, and they are rejecting a GOP establishment that has failed to effectively advocate conservative principles.

* Turnout is high because conservatives are excited and feel empowered.  Hanging a few RINO scalps on the wall only makes us more so.

* Voters in many states now have a real choice.  For years voters have complained about the lack of real differences between the parties, (at least in how they perceive them or they are exhibited).  Not this year.