Much has been written about the nifty trick of unifying fiscal and social conservatives to bring the GOP to power. Most of it has been a good deal less nasty than this. In fact, the Democrats have long studied it to see how they managed to hold this ill-assorted bunch together so long. Several Republican representatives I heard speak about the bailout last night made good sense, and I am a registered Democrat. They also spoke about representing their constituents and their commitment to limited government--both of which I can respect. So, while there are undoubtedly extremists in the Party ranks, Congressman Issa comes to mind immediately, it seems that some are trying to force the Party to hold to its basic beliefs--something ... More »

This is an excellent opinion piece in which it is claimed political conservatism is sputtering toward the end of its three-decade reign in the Republican Party. Mr. Waldman makes a cogent, convincing case that the three pillars of conservatism are crumbling due to recent disasters. Warmongering conservatives are out of favor thanks to the disastrous Iraq War; social conservatism is on its deathbed, thanks to growing conservative rejection of the poison pill Palin; and economic conservatism has been shown to be a house of cards by our current economic meltdown. The one factor Waldman forgets is the Republican spin/smoke/mirror machine that may succeed in duping American voters about all the above, resulting in another Republican ... More »

An insightful look that the challenges to be faced by the Republican party's various factions after the November election assuming they have major loses. But it isn't like we haven't heard it all before, the long anticipated fracture between fiscal conservatives and cultural/religious conservatives.

I hope he is right but it was rather a smug prediction. The Democrats could just as easily self-destruct. Politics changes from day to day and it's very hard to see how this decades long process is correct.