re: I have no problem with religious beliefs...
Robert; I'm not so sure that it's the Religious Right that coopted the GOP, and suspect it was the other way around. The way that they built a coalition of strange bedfellows over the last few decades suggests that used statistical software to slice-and-dice the electorate, trying different combinations of special- and single-interest groups, factoring in the pathologies created by the Electoral College system, to fabricate an optimized message that would appeal to the bare margin required to get Republicans elected.
While I disagree on if they snuck in the back door, or werew invited in Then ripped control of the GOP from old-line Small-government-fiscally-responsible_(add your own) Members who've deserted the party in droves (Holds up Hand at this point )
Below Fox speaks of School Boards, back in the 80's I read an opinion piece that quoted one of the New RRR, saying that was the plan. Start at local levels and work their way up. School Boardsd were their first target. Looking around, I see the results of that plan. School Boards doing their best to take "Evolutionary theory" out and cram whatever is the favorite current RRR creationist bullshit.
I've discarded Party attachements, admittedly I never was all that attached to any party. Choosing whoever I thought was best to vote for. (If you recall, I sat out the past Presidential election. Couldn't vote for either one. First Prez election I skipped since 69.)
I like Obama, but worry about his inexperience. McCain, I respect as both a POW VVE vet, and as a hard nosed politician. But his fiscal policies suck, and his view on the Iraq war give me the heebie-jeebies.