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There are fewer differences in the parties anymore, so the remaining ones gain emphasis. The oogedy-boogedy factor isn't any larger in the GOP than it has been, but now that the GOP has embraced the same big-government vision as the Democrats, positions on social issues are about the only way to tell them apart.

The solution is not to push Christians out of the party, but to provide a broad alternative to the Democrats. The GOP will not recognize this, however, and it will be Nero blaming Christians for the burning of Rome all over again. Sarah Palin is already the scapegoat for McCain's poor performance and the symbol of everything that makes urban intellectuals shudder regardless of their party affiliation: a gun-loving frontier breeder who takes her religion seriously.

Once the GOP has succeeded in driving out Christians and their values, there will not be enough of a difference between it and the Democrat party to make who wins elections matter anyway.

Stop being snobbish about the oogedy-boogedies and decide if you want to be a real alternative to the Democrats or not. But that would mean stepping back from big-government-it's-only-money-one-world-kumbaya-feelgoodism, which is not likely to happen.

R.I.P. GOP
1854-2008