[Kenny Bunk]

At issue here may be a fundamental marketing error:

Republican victory often seems, IMHO, not to depend upon Republicans, but upon 'crossover' Democrats who are conservatives ... but still not Republicans. Call'em what you will, 'Reagan Democrats,' 'Bluebelly Democrats,' or as I do, 'true, but slightly misguided, Americans.'

These folks, as has been noted here, are not crossing over to vote for Democrat party ideas. But, BUTT, the brains of the RNC (an oxymoron used to describe the country-club-clymers who run the show) think that the GOP has to look like the Democrats to attract them.

Reminds me of the Roman Catholic Church in America, which came up with the gol-durndest, silliest sort of bland and content-free, nasal-whining-music church services, thinking, "Wow, this will surely bring in those thoroughly-modern-Millies out there!"

All it did was reduce the RCC to a semi-disgusted hard core, and drive others into the more: "Catholic" services of the Episcoplians.

[Kenny Bunk]

snipe, you are making a an error of tragic consequences when you say,

I will vote for the conservative,
whether he is a
Democrat, Republican, or Independent.

The most obnoxious RINO on Earth is not going to approve the left-wing appointments the most conservative Democrat or Independent might support.

The appointed people, Judges especially, have far more power to screw up your life and the country than any Federal or State elected official will ever have.

Need an example? Look at the 30 years of havoc caused by Jimmy Carter Jerk Judges. Look at the destruction of the CIA and FBI. You think a Valerie Plame, Sandy Berger, or any number of lingering scum-moles are going to be appointed by any Republican ... even one you perceive as a bad one?

[inquest]

I don't think it's an "error" on the RNC's part at all. Politicians in general prefer to have government larger than smaller. And they prefer to have their constituents as ignorant and manipulable as possible (hence the red carpet for illegals).

Add to that the desire to expand their territory (hence the EU-style integration of the continent that so many of them are quietly in favor of) and the general back-door, off-camera congeniality that exists between most Democrat and Republican politicians, and the real wonder is that things have not degenerated further than they have.