Blunt Opposes Ban on Earmarks, St. Louis Tea Partiers Feign Surprise

Dana Loesch, pictured here threatening Roy Blunt in 2009, scaring no one

The Post-Dispatch reports this afternoon that Roy Blunt plans to vote against a ban on earmarks.  THIS IS A TOTALLY SHOCKING DEVELOPMENT.  This isn't shocking to anyone familiar with Blunt's record in the House or his lame damage control on the issue earlier this year, but it is noteworthy on a day when even Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) flip-flopped to support the ban.

Meanwhile, St. Louis Tea Partiers like Dana Loesch and Bill Hennessy are either (a) executing their own post-election damage control strategy after supporting Blunt's Senate candidacy, or (b) really not up to snuff in the reading comprehension department.  Hennessy, for example, condemned Blunt (after the election) for "pretend[ing] the Tea Party never happened."  And today, Loesch tweeted all of the following:

• Are you kidding me? @clairecmc is opposing earmarks whereas @royblunt is not? http://bit.ly/d5sC4d
• I can't say what the heat is going to be like if @royblunt refuses to stand against earmarks. Grassroots are furious.
• I'm ready to start looking for a viable candidate who can run a GOOD campaign to primary Blunt unless he goes anti-earmark and ltd govt.
• All #MO eyes on @royblunt to see if he joins McConnell in endorsing earmarks ban...

All of these are very bold and courageous stands for a radio personality to take after passing on Senate candidates in the primary and general elections who opposed the current earmark process, and refusing to make any real stink at a time when it actually would have mattered.

I'd be impressed with Loesch's big talk if she had followed through the last time she promised Blunt that she and other St. Louis Tea Partiers were "coming for you."   But she didn't and I'm not.  I might even be impressed if she took on a member of her own party at a time when it mattered -- and not 10 days after said politician was elected to six-year term.   But she didn't.  

Perhaps I have unreasonable expectations for a person who promotes herself as a principled activist determined to take on the Washington establishment.