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A poll released today states that only 21% of the American public now calls themselves Republicans. The Republican Party has become -- and will continue to be -- increasingly cultlike. Rapidly, it is fading into irrelevance.
America has thrived on a two party system and will continue to do so. But, that doesn't mean that the Democratic Party's opposition will remain the Republican Party. Twice before in this country's history, major political parties (Federalists and Whigs) have collapsed and disappeared. That could and very well may happen again, with the Republican Party becoming extinct and being replaced by something more centrist.
Watch and see what happens. If President Obama is relatively successful during his first term look for the Republicans to nominate a candidate who caters to the purest ideologues in the party. And, look for that candidate to lose by a historic margin in 2012. That paves the way for something else and I wouldn't be shocked at all if, by 2016, the Republicans are relegated to fringe party status.
