[Jorge]

The real question is why does the majority leader of the U.S. Senate feel he must meet with a racial demagogue and shakedown artist from Harlem who cannot deliver to the GOP a single vote? Is the Republican Party that full of guilt?

Is the GOP really in need of moral absolution from Al Sharpton?

No...my bet is that the GOP is wisely trying to give Al Sharpton some political credibility at precisely the same time the Democrats just wish he would go away.

If Sharpton runs in the Democrat primaries, it promises to produce enough racial vitriol within the party to compromise black support for the Dem candidate.

And if Sharpton runs as an Independant he will suck the black vote away from the Democrats the way Ralph Nadar sucked the Green vote away from Gore in 2000.

Either way, the GOP has everything to gain and nothing to lose by enhancing Sharpton's visibility at this point.

But Buchanan, the loser is far too lost in his negative outlook to see the clever political tactics of the GOP..who by the way have managed to gain control of the White House, the Senate and House of Reps..without Pat's help.

[DWar]

"...clever political tactics of the GOP."

This is the most oxymoronic phrase ever uttered in political discussion. The GOP currently thrives, not due to their clever political tactics but due to the dynamic leadership of G W Bush.