Fractured Caucus

Is the Terri Schiavo circus going to catalyze a major schism in the Republican party? It's certainly possible. What really startles me is the (sincere, as far as I can tell) professions of innocence on the part of libertarians and fiscal conservatives about just how much power the Religious right wields in the party, and how destructively it is prepared to use that power. How, say, did the folks who were able to convince themselves to vote for George Bush on national security grounds despite his social policy and fiscal profligacy, suddenly awake to the fact that the Republican leadership is dominated by theocrats and cowardly retainers? I'm genuinely curious.

One consequence of this nightmare might be a shift of libertarians and Yankee (or blue-state and exurban) Republicans to the Democrats. What will that do the Democratic party? Perhaps change it for the better. Ex-Republicans, unburdened by the humiliating task of carrying water for Tom Delay et al., might actually be able to put into practice a principle of solvent and accountable government.

Whatever happens, this much is crystal clear: There is simply no equivalency to be adduced between the extremist fringes of the two parties. Anyone who defends the Republicans by engaging in on-the-other-handism about Michael Moore or A.N.S.W.E.R. or whatever ought simply to be ignored. In fact, I propose a corollary to Godwin's law---call it Koffler's law---to deal with just such situations.