[Polycarp]

I've been waiting for everyone to realize what just happened with his chairmanship.

Some in the GOP desperately desire to marginalize social/Christian conservatives.

One way to do that is move so far to the center that social conservatives are forced to find a third party that is not wholly at odds with their beliefs.

Then both the "moderate" GOPs and the Dems will have succeeded in eliminating social conservatives as a constituency they must patronize with an occasional bone.

And they know there will not be enough that go over to a third party to actually challenge the two party monopoly on politics in this country.

The fix will be in when the GOP quietly abandons the pro-life plank. As can be seen here, they're already abandoning family values in embracing the homosexual movement.

I confidently predict the GOP will abandon the pro-life plank by 2008.

[RAT Patrol]

They lose me on this issue. I won't wait around to see what falls next. I'll pay attention, though. If they recover from their moral amnesia I'll be with 'em.

[Poohbah]

If the GOP abandons the pro-life plank, it will be because "conservative Christians" have failed to supply enough votes to be worth the price tag.

[alwaysconservative]

I find your belief that the GOP will "abandon" it's pro-life commitment to be really strange. We FINALLY have a President who is willing enough, brave enough, and yes, man enough not to care whether the tide of the press or the left (or even his wife) is against him; he affirms his pledge to pro-life as one of the first acts as President, despite the heat he takes, and you think he'll abandon that for the sake of politics? And what is so wrong with going to speak at the HRC? It's not like they were tax collectors or prostitutes, or anything. /sarcasm

What's wrong, exactly, with preaching to those who don't believe?

"People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered; Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway.
If you are successful you will win some false friends and true enemies; Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you've got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God; It was never between you and them anyway."
--Mother Teresa

[Brian S]

I think the 2004 platform fight on abortion itself could hold some surprises. For the "heart and soul", this battle is a coming!