No matter. In any mix of the leading candidates, the Republican Party is going to lose the 2008 Presidential election. Even if the Dems nominate Clinton, she is smart enough and ambitious enough to put Obama on the ticket, and retain his passionate supporters. Which means we are on a hellbound train for at least two years of single party Democratic Government with a real possibility of a 60 vote Democratic plurality in th Senate. The only silver lining is that they are unlikely to do as much damage in two years as it took the single party Republican government to do in six.

There is one additional possibility that Justin will like. Unlikely but possible. Since the Republican party is already so far behind the 8-ball and unpopular due to the policies of the Bush administration, (70% think the country is going in the wrong direction), and either Romney or McCain as a nominee will experience “tissue rejection” from a significant segment of the GOP itself, we may be looking at the end of the Republican Party as a relevant political force.

A Romney v Clinton contest is likely to bring Bloomberg/Hagel into the race. History shows that there is no path for a 3rd party to succeed in our system. However there are precedents for one of the two major parties self-destructing and being replaced by a new second party. Problem being, you have to blow up one to make room for the new. This may be the year that happens. It would be a fitting legacy for George W Bush. The man who destroyed the Republican Party.

If the Republican Party can’t keep these dogs on a leash, maybe they need to do what the normal sane, clear-headed individual would do.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_shelter