The Republican Congress WAS a source of endless conservative grief. What were they doing? Did they think that what they were doing would keep them in office in perpetuity? It was ghastly.

I do not see the third party route being particularly productive, yet. However, general disillusionment with the Republican Party could lead to a replacement party - I mean, I see the why, but maybe not the how, who or what of it. Maybe our alternative will grow out of the blogosphere. However, the way our election system seems to be working, we are more interested in the candidate than the party. The party facilitates, but the candidates do not represent the party, in any real way. I have been trying to puzzle out the effect of campaign finance reform on the main parties. I tend to think it has weakened them and strengthened the independent campaigns of candidates. The parties seem so divided within themselves into such differentiated camps. Finally, in our media-driven age, are we interested in party or personality?

That's a ramble, but as I said, I am just trying to figure this out.