Steve Bannon's War on the establishment

[daveosupremo]

Last night, Bannon more or less identified Boyd Matheson, a former Mike Lee chief of staff, as his pick in Utah.

[HAnnA MArin County]

When did Bannon become the de facto leader of the Republican Party?

Normally I'd be all for more Christine O'Donnell and Sharron Angle and Todd Akin and Richard Mourdock candidates, but crazy seems to be in full swing under the cirus of Trump and his cult of deplorables, so Democrats should tread smoothly. The McCaskill playbook that worked in 2012 may backfire in 2018, and then God help us if these crazies obtain power. One Senator Roy Moore is going to be way more than enough. It's not every day you'll get a senator who makes Lyin' Ted Cruz look somewhat sane.

[Yank2133]

Bannon's actual power is vastly overstated. Getting behind Danny Tarkanian for his zillionth primary threat isn't going to suddenly turn him into a good candidate. Bannon's strength is that of a man with ideas that are mostly very reasonable criticisms of the Republican establishment. But that doesn't make him a competent campaign strategist.

This.

He is the most overrated figure in politics today. Bannon has accomplished nothing since Trump's victory. He was essentially muscled out by the beltway/establishment R's in the administration.

He is a non-factor when comes to the mid-terms next year.

[Zioneer]

Last night, Bannon more or less identified Boyd Matheson, a former Mike Lee chief of staff, as his pick in Utah.

Boyd Matheson (no relation to Congressman Jim Matheson or the late Gov. Scott Matheson) is a think tank guy. He won't be a threat to either Hatch or Romney.

[Tartarus Sauce]

Bannon by himself isn't that powerful, but Mercer $$$ can go along way. We really shouldn't underestimate the potency of this project of his.

Indeed we shouldn't. Bannon may not be that powerful himself, but the primary candidates he's endorsing are the types that appeal to anti-establishment Republicans that are motivated primary voters. Establishment GOP voters certainly won't be the ones driving primary election enthusiasm given the string of failures of full-Republican government control, but pissed off tea partiers and Trumpists will be very motivated to show up to the polls in the primary to foist their preferred lunatics on the party to send a message to Congressional leadership.