Reading the Tea Leaves: Coming into Focus

The GOP has an issue within its ranks. While Conservatives and Tea Party members have been a staple of the Republican base during the Obama term, parts of the most ideologically pure are coming unglued. Proof is in their opposition to any budget compromise in Congress, even before an agreement is reached. The Paul Ryan/Patty Murray bipartisan budget compromise, which passed by a large majority in the House of Representatives last week, is truly a gift for Republicans moving into the 2014 elections. While not resoundingly popular on either side of the aisle, it allows us to avert any distraction from another potential government shutdown. We can focus on what will be on everybody's mind: OBAMACARE.

But we have a problem. Instead of a laser focus on topics that can bring us a victory, any compromise between Republicans and Democrats is being met by name calling like "RINO" from the likes of Mark Levin and other conservative media groups. Conservative PACs are spending money attacking incumbent Republicans rather than Democrats. Tea Party groups have vowed to primary "establishment" Republicans who dare to indulge in strategic compromise. We have conservative champions in Sen. Cruz and Sen. Paul who led the failed defund Obamacare strategy during the October government shutdown. All argue that we continue our principled stand that is fruitlessly hurting our brand. This is complete nonsense. Minority parties do not have the luxury of commanding policy. Our strength is through compromise until we regain control.

Do these conservative groups not realize Republicans only hold the majority in the lower chamber of Congress? Democrats hold the Senate and the White House.  It is a mathematical certainty that any purely conservative budget will not have any chance of passing in the current political landscape. We will never repeal Obamacare as a minority party. We must change that. But it appears holding firm to one's conservative ideological principles is more important than strategically preparing for the next battle. As in the Alamo, principled losing stands don't end well. Focus is lost.

Focus can be regained by showing why passing a bipartisan budget is the best thing Republicans can do to prepare for 2014. If we do not have a government shutdown looming, we can focus solely on Obamacare failures, providing a better alternative, and improving the economy. Then we can focus on a strategy that brings us victory in 2014. We can pass our budgets when we control Congress and eventually the Presidency.

Eliminate Distractions + Focus on Obamacare Failures = 2014 GOP Senate Majority.