the fracture widens....

[callmeslick]

....or why Dems have reason to be a bit optimistic this off-year election. Hell, they may win Boehner's district if the Tea Party targets him:
http://www.npr.org/2014/02/14/276977809 ... arty-again

just make some popcorn, grab a drink and watch the GOP foodfight continue!

[flip]

Both sides are out of their minds it seems, worst thing that could happen is one gain a majority again. I hope at the very least we can keep them divided until they completely destroy each other. Then maybe we can get some new blood in there.

[callmeslick]

flip, I am a self-confessed political wonk. I studied this stuff in high school and college, and have played around in the political arena my whole life. I find this current GOP situation fascinating(ideology aside). I can't remember a situation quite like it. When I was really young, the Dixiecrat thing over civil rights split the Dems. Throughout, though, enough adults stayed in the room to right the ship and eventually, they passed the Civil Rights Act, and Voting Rights Act. Later, the Dems again fractured over response to the war in Vietnam, and it cost them an election or two. What I'm seeing now, from the Republicans is similar, but thus far, the adults in the room seem to have a complete lack of control over the primary(hard core) voters in their party.
I really do see a remote possibility that the Republican party could join the Whigs as a failed former major party. Even up here in Delaware, the party primaries get dominated by loony Tea Party types, and the old guard Republicans either disappear altogether, or self-identify as Moderates or Independants. Some have even joined the Dems. The current schism of the GOP is similar to the Dixiecrat thing(which led to a number of former Dems becoming Republicans in the deep South), but the other issue in play is the changing demographics of the nation. I seriously believe you could see Texas, of all places, go Democratic in 3 election cycles, maybe 4. And, if that turns out to be accurate, you could see close to a generation of Democratic dominance, nationwide.

And that scenario, I agree, flip, is dangerous as hell. Not because of the ideology, but lack of real competition scares me every time.

[flip]

Yeah, I remember when that happened too, and a few times since. It just seems to me that everyone of them are overwhelmed. I think your right though, a lot of jumping ship is coming this next cycle. I myself wish for a decentralized and weak federal government and strong individual states. Let people take care of their own problems locally. The courts and officers of the courts are governing authorities, we must submit to them. Not so with elected representatives, they must submit to us. That's the beauty of our system and how badly it's been perverted. The Governors and Sheriff's across this nation have the ability and authority to facilitate that and there's nothing more irritating than a bug in the ear