Reply to John Hinderaker at Powerline...

John Hinderaker, one of the very smart guys at Powerline, asks 'Why Can't Republicans Win?'

I have no idea why this was a political loser for the GOP. Given that a clear majority of voters want the payroll tax cut extended, one would think that the party that voted to extend it by twelve months rather than two would come out on top. But logic seems immaterial; no matter what the conflict is between Republicans and Democrats in Congress, it is consistently the Republicans who come out on the short end, politically. This is due in part, no doubt, to the press having its thumb on the scale for the Democrats. Many say it is also due to political ineptitude on the part of the Republican leadership, in this case, John Boehner. But why?

Why? Part of the answer is there - with the press 'having its thumb on the scale'. But more of the answer was covered here - where perception drives reality.

The problem was not Speaker of the House John Boehner, but Senate Minority Leader and overall coward, Mitch McConnell.  He owns more of this failure than Boehner as noted in that post.

John is correct.  The logic was there.  It was made harder to communicate because of the bias of the press and the President's 'bully pulpit'.  But both of those have been overcome before - on more contentious issues.  It wasn't even the result of something like 'ineptitude' on the part of the House GOP Leadership.

But what did in the GOP and the Tea Party was the gutless and inexcusable surrender of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell - who proved himself far more part of the problem than part of the solution.  His choice to fold this morning is what killed the House GOP.  It also handed an undeserved victory to both President Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. 

The losers? 

The Tea Party and the American people.

Thanks for nothing Senator McConnell.