And his "recent troubles" have been overblown by precisely the sort of identity politics that Ponnuru describes in his excellent article.
The so-called "truce" on social issues, for example: if you read Daniels' actual comments, they make a great deal of sense, and are in no way the "surrender" that the yahoos try to make them out to be.
The uproar about "right to work" is a result of an understandable and justifiable tactical move. Daniels never had actual control over the issue to begin with; his decision was whether or not to push the Republican-controlled Indiana House to make it an issue.
All of this noise reflects the decadence of the GOP, and its fundamental lack of seriousness. We all know what the really big issues are -- the ones that threaten us now. We know it. But the party platform is driven by single-issue hysterics who place their own agendas above the good of the country (not just the party).
God save us from our own stupid party....
Excellent post. I concur.