Are we just seeing a GOP setback because of Romney's incompetence? ...

[Kablooie]

Or are we watching the beginning of the collapse of the Republican Party?

My feeling, and hope, is that Romney is not really the problem. It's the party that propped him up as their candidate that is the true disaster. Their incoherent raving idiocy is finally busting out from it's seamy seams.

I also wonder if they will try to rescue their party by moving back more to the center where issues can be debated or will they go all in and push even more into the fantasy world of the extreme right, continuing to reject anything that doesn't fit neatly into their rigid, echeresque philosophy.

As long as the Dems regain control of the government it will be interesting to watch how the opposition evolves ... Oh wait, they don't believe in evolving ... watch them devolve.

Whip it good!

[lovemydog]

1. I agree that romney's not their main problem

I think their lousy policies are their main problem.

[Fumesucker]

2. We had exactly one Democratic president between Nixon resigning in disgrace and Reagan..

I wouldn't count the Republicans out of it at all, a great deal depends on the economy, look at Greece where the far right is rapidly gaining support thanks to austerity measures.

Republicans single biggest problem IMO is that they have had it too easy and the leaders actually started believing their own bullshit, having your own lapdog media (Fox, talk radio, much of the M$M) will do that to you. Why else would Romney make that amazing 47% speech and sound both convinced and convincing but for the fact he actually believes that crap?

[KharmaTrain]

3. It's A Highly Fragmented And Corrupt Party...

I chuckle when I hear "conservatives" now whining that there isn't a "true" conservative candidate since Raygun...not either booosh or gramps mccain or now Bishop Stench. They had a bunch of "true" conservatives in the primaries and none could consolidate a big enough number of delegates to challenge Willard. Mittens represents the "establishment"...the money side that has long had the final say on what the party stands for and who represents it. They'll tolerate teabaggers in lesser positions but when it comes to controlling the billions of the US treasury, they want one of theirs with the final say. With the rise of SuperPacs we're seeing how much money is with this party and their attempts to buy elections and further corrupt the system. The teabaggers and fundies and other fringe groups are mere "foot soldiers"...or they're supposed to be. They're expected to march in step cause of their common hatred of this President and Democrats in general.

It will be delightful and amusing to watch the forthcoming blame game should Willard lose...and to see who also goes down with him. Will Rheinhold remain at the RNC or if they lose the House what happens with Boner and Cantor. A lot depends on how bad the ass whippin' is...and who has less red on their behinds than others.

The fact that the party's alienated so many groups...blacks, hispanics, women, young people is driving it into permanent minority status...especially in winning the Presidency...