The Republican Party is in a near state of complete collapse. There is massive and public infighting. A total lack of confidence in the leadership. No real core idea. A weak national party. A President and White House apparatus with almost no influence whatsoever. A party that might have inadvertently sabotaged a bill it needed to -- and wanted to -- pass.
Yesterday's vote was cathartic in the sense that it clarified for people that John McCain, who still has a solid chance of winning this election, is really not the standard bearer of the Republican Party in function, even if he is associated with the party in brand.
When everyone is a free agent you get anarchy. President Bush is being eaten alive by his "legacy". The House Republicans are desperate for the second coming of a Gingrich-like figure to lead their guerrilla army against whatever the future holds. The Senate GOP is grasping at governance while staring into the abyss of a potential 40 minus seats.
And McCain is attempting to walk between the raindrops with his integrity on the line, and, in the words of one knowledgeable observer, playing out the punchline of, "if you want a friend in this town, get a dog" (wearing lipstick.)
A question for Republicans to answer: How will Sen. McCain government with even slightly larger Democratic majorities in the House and the Senate? Triangulation? Acquiescence? Complete gridlock?
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