[neverdem]

Those advocating third parties are advocates for making themselves political eunuchs.

I didn't draw that conclusion.

"How tragic that Ronald Reagan’s GOP has become the political equivalent of 1,000 cases of non-alcoholic beer: Pricey and pointless."

I read a lament for the party of limited government to return to its philosophical roots. The GOP will never be able to pander more than the dems. It shoots itself in the foot when it tries pandering. That is Rove's main error with his vote buying strategy. Too many in the base are taken for granted. IMHO, that's why so many talk about voting third party or staying home on Election Day.

[Richard Kimball]

I think you also have the fact that as the country turned away from the Maoist leanings of the Rats, many of the Rats switched parties. They didn't change their positions, but cloaked them in conservatism. They've formed a coalition with the Rockefeller Republicans. The Rockefeller Republicans were never for smaller government, and in fact, like government largess, as it's easier to get a huge contract with a governmental agency than private enterprise, and big business likes byzantine regulations that stifle small startups.

When you're a small business, you like the chaos of the market. When you're a big business, you like a cartel that ensures stability.