[12th_Monkey]

The Miers nomination, I feel was the straw that broke the conservative camels back. I still say we vote for a conservative Republican when we can, a moderate if we have no other choice. But we must keep the Republicans in the majority in '06, if not it will be impeachment, censure and higher taxes.

[inquest]

But we must keep the Republicans in the majority in '06, if not it will be impeachment, censure and higher taxes.

It requires 2/3 of the Senate to get an impeachment conviction, and I don't think there's anything close to that.

As for higher taxes, we appear to be headed for that either way, unless we can really reform the party in time. Doing that successfully will likely involve the application a little tough love. Republicans had a chance right after the '04 elections, when they were riding a wave of popularity, to get the tax cuts made permanent. Instead, they lunged right toward Social Security, pushing a plan of dubious benefit that had little popular support. That started the new term off on a very sour note that made it difficult to push any further toward the Republcans' domestic agenda.

Sometimes, a temporary setback is the price that needs to be paid in order to get the lead out.