What is the Future of the GOP?

What will happen to the Republican party if they lose? Will the party move more toward the Bush-centered base or in a more moderate direction? Will they engage in some genuine discussion about what their party stands for?

At its core, the Republican party is being splintered apart right now. The fiscally conservative wing of the party vs. the Christian base. The Democratic party was torn apart in the 60's by two phenomena: 1) Southerners in droves -- anti-segregationists -- left for the Republican party. 2) Our economy boomed. Prosperity and suburban drift were accompanied by a general impulse to protect. Keep urban problems in the city, lock prisoners up, keep taxes low, and encourage growth in the stock market where 401K's were stashed away. It will be interesting to see if the Democrats (and I don't have much faith that they will) can co-opt the Republican message of fiscal responsibility with low taxes, absorb that wing of the Republican party and establish a long-lasting reign. The suburbs are beginning to contract.