As regular readers know, I have been kicking around the idea of shattering the Republican Party into two irreconcilable pieces by having the Democrats agree to join with moderate Republicans to elect a replacement for Speaker Boehner. I know that this seems like a pipe dream, but there is fresh evidence emerging every day that it has a kind of logical force that could make it a reality.

Consider Greg Sargent's piece this morning that looks at the "epic damage" the Republicans did to themselves by shutting down the government and threatening our credit rating and the health of the global economy. After looking at the absolutely brutal poll numbers, Mr. Sargent asks:

The question, however, is: Do Republicans actually think it matters that their image is in such disastrous shape, or is that rendered inconsequential by the degree to which the House GOP majority is believed to be invulnerable?

There is a simple conundrum here. The Republicans who are most responsible for the government shutdown are the ones who are least vulnerable, and the ones who thought the shutdown was a terrible idea are the most vulnerable. Many lawmakers who thought their seats were safe are now looking at poll numbers that show them behind or even with generic Democrats. Not only are they angry with their more conservative colleagues for putting them in this situation, but they must be pretty desperate to avoid compounding the problem.

...

Can Republican lawmakers who represent districts outside of the Deep South survive this kind of public disapproval? I'd argue that they might survive it if they can repair some of the damage, but they can't survive it if the damage is exacerbated and brought closer to election day. If these Republicans want to save themselves, they must make a break with the conservative movement, and they must make that break now.

For the Democrats, all they have to do is to make the offer and keep making it. Join with us and pass immigration reform. Join with us and pass a Farm Bill. Join with us and pass a balanced budget plan. Join with us and form a governing majority in the House that sidelines the Tea Party. They don't have to agree to it, but refusing the offer will only serve to highlight the need to remove these folks from power.

http://www.boomantribune.com/story/2013/10/22/11265/669