I think most of our 'leaders' are products of the herd mentality of party politics and as such are 'followers' rather than leaders. The herd elects a leader who coordinates their plan for retaining power, and seldom does the plan include the political risk of confronting issues important to the country. Republicans and democrats are equally guilty. I believe a third party espousing the importance of addressing immigration, energy, deficit spending, social security, Wahabbi radicals in our communities, drugs, crime, etc. ... would be overwhelmingly elected by this country.
I totally agree with you.
We will have to watch the scenario being played out in Washington now over Bush's Judicial appointments and the Bolton situtation.
If the Congressional Repubs can't get their act together now and succeed in getting their President's appoiintees confirmed, the Republican Party has reached its highwater mark in 2004. It will cease to be of any relevance on the national level due to its inability to confront the cryptocommunists and neobolsheviks who guide the Democrat party and are leading America to its destruction.