Tom is an enigma to me. The nominal Democrat form the state’s wealthiest district defied his own paty by organizing the Sanet around his own role as majority Leader.
Why did Senator Tom take his job? Ego?
I suggest that Mr. Tom may have had a good idea. The Republican party is dysfunctional. Its power core is still the monied interests . the same folks who live with Mr. Tom in his district at Hunt’s Point. These folks, whether labeled Democrat or Republican, share a commitment to business. big business. Democratic issues like gay marriage, unions, and immigration reform are not all that important to the corporate democrats any more than the corporate republicans care about prayer n the schools or abortion.
To the Tea Party, these Republicans are RHINOEs.
Mr. Tom served the establishment RHINO need because, under his leadership, we have seen no Reprican legislation backing mandatory flag worship, vaginal exams for all women on birth control, renaming WA state Reagan, or privatizing the UW.
So here is a scenario … RT runs against Insley in WA state’s next election .. the TOP TWO! If he could get the establishment R votes, and their campaign support to defeat the Tea Party types, RT might well come in second to Insley and then run vs the governor in the final as a Democrat with Repubican endorsement!