The ramifications of a party split are somewhat serious. The party leadaers better get their act together, because, as you might gauge from the contents of FR lately, this issue is not going to burn itself out.
That's because we have self-centered individuals, wanting to throwing temper tantrums, not giving a damn about burning down the whole edifice, as long as they get to 'feel good' for 10 minutes.
That was a 'classic' example. That individual would not care that this country suffered just incalculable damage, under a Hitlery regime, just because Bush picked Miers. You'd think Bush had packed the court with Ginsberg clones for heavens sake!!!