You knew it was bound to happen. The Republican Party invited Tea Party members into their club and it was fun – kind of like a summer fling. The GOP used the Tea Party members’ votes and excitement to get candidates elected. It was an adult relationship with both sides using each other for their own needs.

But now the Tea Party wants to do things their way. They are all grown up and Ted Cruz and Rand Paul speak for them. This is not like the Christian Coalition takeover of the GOP in the early 90s.

Frankly, the GOP is probably getting a little worried about their Tea Party cousins because now they want to do things like defund Obamacare. Regular Republicans want to defund it, too, but they won’t shut down the government to do it. They know how shutting down the government worked out last time.

This is kind of like the cousin who is down on his luck and moves in with you. At first it’s fun, but then he takes over the TV remote and he drinks all the milk and leaves the empty carton in the fridge. That last piece of cake is gobbled up by him before you can eat it.

Now you’re ticked off and don’t know where to turn – he does buy pizza and beer on Friday nights – and he and his friends are fun to hang out with. They are so energetic in getting things done, but you like the steady and quiet leadership of John Boehner and Mitch McConnell, while your “cousin” worships Ted Cruz and Rand Paul. 

Now President Obama is involved. He is making fun of the GOP and the Tea Party. Obama was quoted in National Journal asking, “Are some of these folks so beholden to one extreme wing of their party that they’re willing to tank our whole economy?” He added, “Are they willing to hurt people?”

Psst…Mr. President, the answer is yes.

But Obama may have given the GOP something to unite against, and that is him. One has to wonder if the turmoil within the Republican Party would still allow them to circle the wagons one more time. We may soon see if they can unite, because the federal budget expires October 1.

The now “unwanted” house guests may just throw the Boehner/McConnell folks out and take over the party.

You knew that summer fling wouldn’t last, right? The Tea Party wants more than just a fling. They want a steady relationship – one with meaning and respect. They want long walks on the beach and deep talks about the future. They want more in this relationship than to provide some crucial votes on Election Day. It’s like the Tea Party folks are channeling Beyonce, “Cause if you like it then you shoulda put a ring on it.”

The Boehner/McConnell Republicans may never get control of that remote again.

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