[Mark in the Old South]

Re: "But it's possible to keep yourself viable between political offices. Reagan did so after losing in 1976"

Who do you mean? Rudy? Heavens to murgertroid, Rudy is no RR. I agree the 2008 nominee may not be an office holder today. It may be Rudy in 2008 but that will kill the GOP and it will not recover. The Pro-life crowd (and that is a very large % of the population) are working within the system ONLY because they think the debate can be won at the polls. If the GOP puts a pro-death politician on the ticket they will turn to a third party or worse. You can scream till you are purple it will get Hillary Rodham elected, and you would be right but it will still be President Elect Rodham November 2008.

There is no point in telling pro-lifers to be practical when the GOP just spent months being very impractical in nominating Rudy G.

[Terpfen]

The one thing that keeps me from agreeing with you is the GOP's leftward shift. IIRC, the pro-life bills being passed are originating in the House, and House Republicans have to yell at Senate Republicans just to get the bill considered. But given how some bills ARE being passed, I don't know if Rudy's abortion stance would even be an issue by 2008.