My fear is that the Republilcan base will be so disenchanted they will stay home in droves on election day, with a "why bother" attitude.
"My fear is that the Republilcan base will be so disenchanted they will stay home in droves on election day, with a "why bother" attitude."
I'd say that's a likely outcome for at least some substantial percentage of us. And that's all it takes really.
My expectation is that sometime between now and then the pubs will try to fish up some suitable hot button issue to mitigate that possibility. (eg. Stem Cell Research, Gay Marriage, etc...)
Unless something radically changes between now and the '06 election, that's exactly what is going to happen. A big chunk of the Republican base have now caught on to "we-need-more-Republicans-elected-to-get-the-job-done" and it will never work for the Republicans again. They have blown their opportunity big time and exposed themselves for what they are - not much different from the Democrats, mainly interested in getting elected again to keep the status quo and their own gravy train rolling on at the expense of the taxpayers.