[fieldmarshaldj]

The term is only overused when misapplied. Some folks around here call Senators and Congressman with 90% ACU ratings as RINOs and that doesn't pass the smell test. But when a candidate resembles Judas Jim Jeffords as Ah-nold does, RINO isn't an inappropriate term, it's the ONLY term that best describes them.

[Long Cut]

" RINO isn't an inappropriate term, it's the ONLY term that best describes them."

It also provides an all-encompassing excuse when you throw an election into a Dim's waiting hands.

Simon lost? Those damned RINOs sabotaged him! Candidate didn't win? It was because HE was a RINO! Didn't ge EVERYTHING you wanted in the first week of a new administration? Those RINOs are dragging their feet!

Convinient scapegoat. I guess it's more real-sounding than "space aliens", but it's getting close...