Remember when Jim DeMint resigned?
Most people thought he was just being mercenary, going for the bigger bucks of a steady prestigious job.
Turns out he figured he'd be able to concentrate more on making the power play to take control of the Republican Party (aka GOP civil war) that we now see unfolding.
A True Believer in Far Right / Evangelical / Tea Party "Values" he is of the persuasion that the problem with the Republican Party, as evidenced by Romney's defeat, is that they aren't conservative enough.
Okay when you stop laughing listen up...LOL
He is so certain of this that he has launched an all out full court press on all Republican office holders to hold their feet to the fire of his brand of conservatism or face primarying by a Tea Party challenger. And he has the big bucks and backing to pull off his threats. As well as a crack army of zealots and activists to put feet on the ground and keep the pressure on.
This is why the Republicans in Congress are running scared, they are under fire from both sides now, but most heavily from within.
Far from being independent self-motivated firebrands, Ted Cruz and Mike Lee are his chosen acolytes in Congress.
Read this excellent article in Bloomberg, for how he's pulling the strings and is the big brain behind this most excellent (for us) strategy of hostage taking over Obamacare.
Jim DeMint Congressional Republican's Shadow Speaker
And if you haven't already, read this for why, to the Tea Party, and Conservatives in general, even moderates, the Affordable Care Act is their Waterloo, Custer's Last Stand etc. For those inside the bubble it is now or never.
Democracy Corps - Inside the GOP: Report on focus groups with Evangelical, Tea Party, and moderate Republicans