Now that this grueling campaign for the U.S. Presidency and Congress is over I cannot help but think of my young adult days when my anti-hero, Albert, of Pogo fame, said while with one benign alligator claw in the air: “We have met the enemy and it is us!”

And so it is. Ramesh Ponnuru’s recent offering in National Review (November 17, 2008) states: “Many of us believe that Republicans have suffered electoral defeat not because they have failed to demonstrate sufficient compassion for lower middle class voters but because they have failed to show how conservative policies can benefit those voters.”

The division that was seen at first opaquely in the late 90’s and more clearly during President Bush’s term between the social and economic conservatives now is recognized as some possible deep fissure not capable of repair. There is talk of replacing the social conservative leg of the 3 legged stool, which constitutes the Republican Party. But with what? And more importantly, how?

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