Politics and strange bedfellows, indeed. Tea party may be Democrats' biggest ally

  Republicans are a divided party between its tea party conservatives and its moderates, and that division looks like it will carry over to the 2014 elections where Democrats hope to keep the Senate and wrest the U.S. House from Republicans.
  There's no indication that the tea party will back down from the GOP moderates it calls RINOs, short for Republicans In Name Only. Tea party conservatives, in fact, anticipate challengers to their candidates next summer from candidates recruited by moderates, and vow to hold their ground.
  That division may give Democrats the edge it wants and needs in next year's congressional elections.
  Consider this message that Tea Party Nation sent out Monday morning from Judson Phillips, a former Tennessee assistant district attorney and founder of that group:

Blame game continues after partial federal government shutdown

  Fresh off the 16-day partial federal government shutdown, Michigan U.S. Rep. Sander Levin, a Royal Oak Democrat, offers his own perspective in the October newsletter of the Oakland County Democratic Party.

  Not surprisingly, Republicans get the blame for it from the long serving congressman, who criticizes the GOP's motivation, facts and bravery.

  Here's what he had to say:

Michigan U.S. Senate and House races gear up early for 2014

  Never at a loss for words, Republican L. Brooks Patterson is weighing in on two of the higher profile races on the 2014 ballot 13 months from now — U.S. Senate and the emerging battle for the 11th Congressional District.
  Both races for next year already have active campaigns working.