GOP Tears Itself Apart in the 5th CD?

Can the GOP freak show in the 5th CD get any freakier? But of course it can! First, we have right-wing extremist Michael Farris (founder of the Home School Legal Defense Association; close ally of Pat Robertson and Phyllis Schlafly, among others) endorsing Feda Morton for Congress. According to Farris, "Last year we lost a tremendous champion of freedom and the faith of our Founding Fathers when we lost Virgil Goode as Congressman in Virginia’s 5th District." Fortunately, Farris has found Feda - "a champion of conservative principles, standing up to those in her own Republican Party who were determined to move the party away from these principles...serving in my campaign and the campaigns of Ollie North and George Allen, among many others. Awesome! Farris, North and "Felix Macacawitz" - what right wingnut could wish for more?

Next, we have our old friend Chris "Swift Boats" LaCivita joining the Robert Hurt for Congress campaign.

LaCivita is fresh off a big win -- helping conservative Sen. Ken Cuccinelli defeat Steve Shannon in the race for attorney general.

But some political insiders are speculating that Hurt hired LaCivita to shore up his conservative credentials in what is expected to be a tough primary for the GOP nomination.

Hurt is the best known of the five Republicans running against Democratic U.S. Rep. Tom Perriello, but some GOP activists question his conservative credentials because he voted in favor of former governor Mark Warner's 2004 tax increase -- one of the defining moments of modern Virginia politics.

So, basically this nomination fight is going to be a race for the right wing of the Republican Party. And waiting for the winner at the end of the process? Aside from Rep. Tom Perriello (D), who just took a courageous vote in favor of health reform (and earlier this year another one in favor of "cap and trade" legislation), there's Virginia Conservative Party candidate Bradley Rees (plus possibly other "tea party" candidates; for instance, what happens if/when Feda Morton loses the Republican nomination?). Boy, is this ever going to be fun to watch - grab some popcorn and pull up a seat! :)

UPDATE: Republican Michael McPadden plans to kick off his candidacy on Veterans Day. "Six Republicans are seeking the party's nomination. In addition to McPadden, GOP contenders include Ron Ferrin of Campbell County, Feda Kidd Morton of Fluvanna County, Laurence Verga of Albemarle County, Kenneth C. Boyd of Albemarle County and state Sen. Robert Hurt of Chatham."