Dysfunctional Parties

TW: This example of the CA Republican party symbolizes how the far wing of a party can control the party as a whole to the detriment of good governance. Schwarzenegger is a centrist of the sort that we should embrace in the US. Instead his own party and the Democrats in CA hold to doctrinaire stances which lead to gridlock. If Democrats nationally hold on to their current leads, expect a nasty inter-party war within the Republican Party. I expect the luddite, social conservative, America First (in a bad way) wing led by its Fembot to represent one side of the battle.

From the Economist:
"Yesterday, my Washington colleague speculated on Sarah Palin's future in the Republican Party, arguing that a more broadly attractive candidate would be wiser. I concur entirely with his reasoning. Here in California is just one example of how political choices are not always made for winning outcomes.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has had trouble selling a simple and electable message of lower taxes, limited government and liberty to state party activists who consistently prefer a platform as rigid, elaborate and socially conservative as Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy combined. Mr Schwarzenegger, who came to office via a special non-partisan election, has failed to convince a shrinking Republican Party to choose a successful moderate approach. The political centre in California is not only undefended but largely uncontested. You could peacefully graze sheep on it.
California is hardly a microcosm of America, but the official California GOP website loves Mrs Palin. If the local activist-choked Republican party is any indication, doctrinaire and partisan candidates like her can, and may well, be nominated to future general election embarrassment."