I think we could have lost more "idealist pie-in-the-sky Republicans," if Dubya and party had said and done nothing. There may be some religous Republicans and rats who come back to the Republican party because of the effort. Net effect might actually become a plus for our side.
I didn't think of that. I don't feel optimistic about rats deserting the rat party. We will see, but this is something I'd love to read a LOT more about--disaffected Dems leaving for the Republican party post-2004.