Uh oh. Looks like the fact that Michele Bachmann didn't drool on herself at the Republican debate the other night might give House GOP leadership a bit of a headache. The Washington Post reports:
Rep. Michele Bachmann’s smooth presidential debate performance stands to make her a bigger force in the Republican Party after years of errors and hyperbole. Her new credibility could pose problems for GOP leaders trying to put together a deal with President Barack Obama on reducing the nation’s debt.
...
Her confident, nearly error-free debate showing Monday night on stage alongside six men rippled through Republican circles back in Washington. She may have the clout now to confound GOP leaders who have labored to keep the Minnesota congresswoman positioned to help the party, rather than embarrass it. Speaker John Boehner now may have to do more than just pacify her.
Even though teabaggers love her (she did start the Congressional Teabagger Caucus, after all), and she's the top fundraiser in the House, Boehner and other "serious" Republicans have kept her at a distance because, well, she's kind of nutty. But after Bachmann wowed America by mentioning, repeatedly, her five children and 23 foster kids—coming in second only to Ron "I delivered 4,000 babies" Paul in the critical "Who Has the Most Kids?" portion of the GOP debate—even Boehner was forced to say nice things about her:
"I think she did a really good job last night. She’s a bright member of our caucus. It’s one of the reasons why I appointed her to the Intelligence Committee."
But Bachmann's "success" at the debate means Boehner might have to do more than pat her on the head and say, "Nice job, little lady." According to the Post:
Several Republican lawmakers and aides said Tuesday that Bachmann’s debate may have opened the door to reviving her credibility if she can stay clear of exaggeration and mistakes.
Of course, that's one gigantic, laughably impossible "if." But since Michele is currently outshining Newt "I'm so smart, I got my whole staff to quit" Gingrich and Tim "Plan B" Pawlenty (who, after Monday, has been demoted to at least Plan C or D), House leadership just might have to listen to Michele's "bright" plans to shut down the government, save the 15th century light bulb, and preserve the perfect-as-is Constitution by writing in a "gays are bad" amendment. Because if they couldn't reign in Michele back when everyone thought she was just a joke, there's no way they'll be able to control her now.