It says the ideological, Conservative base of the Republican Party has become largely irrelevant in its' present form. Gay marriage, abortion and the right to own assault weapons are all single-issue matters with less and less relevance. Christian church membership, including in the Southern Baptist Convention is dwindling as America moves into the 21st Century. Demographic shifts of all kinds have relegated Conservatives to their ideological gated community.

Republicans haven't learned. They are still fighting wars they way they were in the early 20th Century, and have a late 19th Century view of society and economics. Enron meant nothing, the present difficulties aren't the result of too little regulation but too much. A huge prison population is acceptable, and a high poverty level means cheap labor. There's a certain appeal to nostalgia but living that way doesn't work.

Neither does fighting war that way. No lessons were learned from Vietnam, the experience including the loss of life on both sides was a complete waste.

Gingrich, Newt, is trying to fill the role as spokeperson for Republicans. McCain could have chosen the next Republican leader, mocked America instead by choosing Palin.

The Republican Party will come back, strong, but won't be much like the present iteration.

Arf