The RATS are the best thing that ever happened tot he GOP. If they put up anyone even remotely normal against GWB in 2004 that person would have won.
Kerry & Gore were pathetic, but can you imagine a good old fashioned type guy with mainstream ideas actually in favor of things good for the average American? The GOP would get crushed. So long as the RATS put up cartoon charachtrers they will lose.
The GOP is very lucky these days.