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Years later we see their counterparty going through the same growing pains. A similar invasion. A similar struggle for either extreme idealogical purity by a strident minority, or the big tent which encompasses the traditional constituency or… we shall see. Prediction is futile.

Remember when the Republicans were the hard-nosed clear-eyed pragmatic businessmen who said things like “you can’t legislate morality”? The ones who could be counted on to cut through starry-eyed idealism and make deals based on what could work at the street level? Well the shoe is on both feet now, isn’t it?

Personally I believe that the Dems need a better opposition party because either of these parties will overreach given half a chance – just witness the Democrats of the 70′s, the recent administration and long-running Republican majority in Congress (and the ill-conceived and poorly executed striving for a permanent Republican majority) and most likely our current majority.

The Republicans, with their heretofore legendary discipline and unity, have been able to deliver a lot of results for their size, for better or worse. But now comes the time for them to move into the 21st century as one party unified as before (unlikely), one party as diverse and unruly and undisciplined as the democrats, or two parties.

I wish everyone the best of luck because I believe intentions are good on all sides, and in the meantime I hope for civility because we are all neighbors. And, if this somehow leads to the death of the two party system and the rise of coalition government, I think it’s long overdue.