Grand Old Party in danger of being the Game-Over Party

TO DISMISS all the "tea party" protests, parades, and rabble-rousing during the past few weeks as just so much more "weirdness of the wing-nut summer," as one blogger put it, is tempting. But the multifaceted - some would say incoherent - demonstrations of fear-based anger signal a more worrisome development in the political dynamics of the country.

I'm afraid the vehement thrashing of Glenn Beck-inspired "angry white people" could dig an even deeper hole for the Grand Old Party than it's already in. And contrary to popular opinion, I don't wish that on any Republican or Democrat or nation that needs competing, constructive voices to move forward.

A one-party system is not in anyone's best interest. But fear is on track to utterly derail the GOP and push it to irrelevancy. Without a modern day, turn-of-the-century party leader in the mold of say, a progressive Teddy Roosevelt, the Republican Party, as we know it, could be relegated to the fringe sidelines.

Frankly, it's distressing to see the party so hunkered down in a shell that no member is willing to take it in a new, bold direction for fear of being beaten down by the Rush Limbaughs or Sean Hannitys of the uber right. Yet that's what has to happen if the few remaining moderate Republicans hope to realize some of their ideals and ideas.