As I predicted

In National Review Online, Kate O'Beirne laments the dominance of liberal Republicans at the coming convention:

Kate O'Beirne on Republican Convention on National Review Online:

"The decision to showcase rogue elephants as representatives of the modern Republican party is not the mark of a self-confident party establishment. If the lineup is intended to make an overwhelmingly conservative party attractive to swing voters, it does so by pretending to be something it's not."

Back in July of last year, I predicted a fracture in the Republican party due to just this sort of politics.

I pointed out that Bush's flirtation with the left causes

1. isolation/frustration of conservatives
2. a weakened conservative influence in the party
3. a temporary solidification of an otherwise fractured left

All three of these things are currently taking place. They will eventually result in a serious party fracture.

I don't so much mind a 'shaking-out' at times, but, should our party suffer a serious need of 'cleansing', then for a long time the image of the two parties will be no different but for flavor. They will be seen as fragmented, loosely contained, and subject to erratic behavior. Neither will be seen as seriously directed by principles and a foundation of values. That generally poisoned view will lead to us having to re-debate the entire idea that politics is even worth investing in, and that philosophy and values are worth seriously debating about.

And something like this convention, celebrating the success of liberal Republicans, just because they're currently easy to elect, will only accelerate this problem.