[EBH]

So, what this tells me is that over the last 10-20 years the Republicans are starting to lean toward the liberal side

And that is why the party will split. For whatever sad, sad reason the Democrats don't see the 'rats as where we do see what is happening to what was once our Party. If the GOP doesn't wake-up we will see not 2 parties in 2010, but 3 with the GOP being a tiny minority. I think by 2012 there will be 4 parties.

[beachn4fun]

There are already 6 parties that I saw on my ballot.

Republican
Democrat
Green
Independent
Libertarian
Constitutionalist