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The Empire Strikes BackNEW YORK - What is happening to the Republican Party in New York state is the national GOP's nightmare. The once thriving political organization of Nelson Rockefeller, Al D'Amato and George Pataki is in shambles. And the way the Republican coalition has broken up should have national Republicans scurrying for a new game plan. For many Americans, "New York'' evokes the liberal salons of Manhattan. But Manhattan is a small piece of the Empire State. Political change has been driven by the populous suburbs of Long Island and Westchester and Rockland Counties, and in the vast stretches...

Republicans face a growing disaster on immigration. Right now the GOP is sailing on a dangerous course where they are increasingly turning off two pillars of their new majority. The first pillar is the talk-radio portion of the Republican base led by Rush Limbaugh (and the many who have followed in his wake) that provide a tremendous amount of energy to the conservative movement. The second pillar the GOP is endangering is the Hispanic community, the single largest growing demographic in American politics. In 2004, President Bush increased his share of the Hispanic vote to around 40% nationally. Had John...