I don't have any belief at all that the GOP will lose this fall. None. I may have some doubts that the GOP will retain the majorities it holds. But the elections are months away, never mind the gloom-and-doom neocons here trying to distance themselves from conservatives early in case it IS a bad year. And 2006 is not a year for a national referendum, but a district-by-district election. The question is whether or not this fall will be a nationalized referendum on illegals in those districts. If it is generally the case, the GOP will STILL win handily, because its members are perfectly capable of patriotism. On the other hand, the Rats cannot even mouth America-first politics without pissing off their LaRaza bloc.
I agree that the GOP needs to be a party with principles, but I don't believe this election will decide them. It is far too fractured a nation to assume that with each district voting on a different person that we will come away with such a message for the GOP overall.
2008, however, will put a face on the GOP. And it will either be the face of Vincente Fox, or it'll be worth voting for.