"The problem with this scenario is that the Democrats are becomming communists and the Republicans are adopting the positions being vacated by the Democrats."
...which would be an explantion as to why the more unhinged part of the Dems base act the way they do, in spite of the fact that their behavior hurts their party. In the long term, their agenda gets implemented. If the elitist progressives decided to move their party back to the "center," how would things like universal health care and reducing the military be put on the table?
It's actually disturbing to read about a state rep here, and congressman there, flipping parties and becoming republican. How is NYC mayor Bloomberg a conservative? He switched parties not long before the election he won, and it was opportunism. The Dems become *too* left for some lite-socialists, and they think they can just move with their world view intact into the other viable party.
I'd be happy to see the day that the GOP activist base gives McCain a fat lip when he tries to win the next primaries, and he leaves to join the Democrats. Why not *they* go rightward, not us?
I have long been of the opinion that in order to have a read debate among conservatives the democrat party must electorally die.
This way the debate is between conservative party A and conservative party B.
Yes we will have opportunists like bloomberg. However, they will only be local phenomenons. They can't sustain a left wing position and achieve national office. (see Guiliani's acceptance of civil unions in the homosexual marriage debate)
Right now democrat politicians want to speak red state but act blue state and then say it was really a red state act.
Based on current polling data and what I believe to be true based on my own instincts, I think Democrats are going to accept and adapt to the reality that Hillary is a loser for them. By the same token, I think McCain will recognize that he cannot win the Republican nomination, but that he wants to be President so bad that he will not have any trouble making up his mind to switch when the ABS Networks, the NYT, LASlimes and the Washingtoncompost come begging. Hillary won't be the 2008 Democratic nominee; McCainiac will.