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I know --- both main parties have their unfriendly alliances --- the Republicans have the Conservatives, the Democrats have the Greens. It's kind of a balance maybe --- neither party gets to make the fringes too unhappy ---- really they need the votes. It's kind of like any coalition ---- there has to be some common ground, in the case of the Republicans, the CEOs and country club types have to find some kind of common ground with the working middle class types. The democrats have to find common ground between the welfare moms, the feminists, hollywood actors, environmentalists, illegal aliens and inner city blacks. To me the democrats really have a harder coalition to maintain.

It is very telling that neocons see "working middle class types" as a fringe vote. Very telling.

Personally I think the GOP will lose the support of paleo types like me. The only thing that could get me to vote GOP again are SC appointments. And even that is iffy since 7 of the 9 are GOP and the SC is as activist as ever.

I agree that 'rats have a more difficult coalition...Thank God. Where I will disagree is in the need for Republicans to hold the Paleos to the party. If a Paleo is disenfranchised and leaves and joins the Constitution party. The loss is one vote from Republicans and no gain to the 'rats. The danger for Republicans is trying to appease the far right. For every Paleo appeased, 2 or more centrist voters vote for a 'rat. In this case the Republicans lose 2 votes and the rats gain 2 votes. Even if it only cost 1 centrist vote to gain a far right vote it is still a loser strategery for the Republican party.

It is at this point that many Paleo switch topics from winning to "Well a party has to stand for something, " and then I say "you have to win to be able to stand and make a change" and the response is "Far right conservatives win races when the choice is made clear enough" and the dance of the circular argument continues.

I hope you are enjoying some air-conditioned comfort FITZ. It is hot in Wisconsin, I bet it is roasting in Texas.