"And I seriously question whether after 4 years or however many of Shrillery in power--whether we COULD have another fair election, or not."
No, we couldn't.
If the Democrats hold Congress and Hillary Clinton is President, it will be Sulla's Republic, no doubt about it.
Looking down the road, things get worse and worse.
So, the truth is that tax hawks will, in fact, destroy the Republic rather than let taxes be raised. Raise taxes, and they walk just like they did in 1992. It's just reality. Ergo, we can't raise taxes.
Truth is, pro-lifers will, in fact, destroy the Republic rather than support a pro-abortion President or Supreme Court nominee. Nominate someone they're not sure of, and they walk out. Ergo, we can't do that.
Truth is, Border Conservatives will, in fact, walk out and destroy the Republican majority...and thereby, eventually, the Republic, if the border isn't closed. Give amnesty and no fence, and they walk out. Ergo, we can't do that.
But that's what Bush proposed and the Senate is insisting on.
The shenanigans have to stop. The Senate and the President have to cave. If they don't, well, the Republican minority will adopt that stance next year. It'd be safer and better if we didn't have to go through that.
I'm actually in total agreement with you on this post; you just put the whole issue into a neat little nutshell.
I hope it's not as bleak as you and I seem to fear.
But I wouldn't place bets in that direction.
I would vote for Guliani easily over Shrillery--or any other GOP.
Yes, I abhor infanticide and hate any pol to stand for it. But we have to be realistic.
Fantasy voting is suicidal.
The destructive forces at least come close--in the realms of power--to out numbering the Constitutional forces. Not a time to be stupid about voting or staying home.