The Party of No

The unity of the Republican Party showed frayed edges when David Frum, former Bush speechwriter, dissented from the party's roadblocking of the healthcare bill. As benefits start to kick in and the bill becomes as much a part of the political backdrop of the country as Social Security or Medicare, will there be a slow peeling off of members of the Republican party?

In order to win elections, how many smart conservatives are going to look at campaigning on repealing low cost healthcare and balk? How many of them will defect? Will they run as Democrats? Will the defection come en masse, or will the purging continue until after the next national election?

With Tea Partiers splitting tickets, healthcare passing, and denial continuing to be the only viable position to remain in the Republican fold, is a long term Democratic controlled Congress before us?

Huh. Ideological purity is a tough row to hoe when it's kind of unpopular.