Tim Craig has an interesting article in today's Washington Post on the deep fissures within the Virginia GOP ("GOP Rift Swells in Va. General Assembly"). The split is exemplified by Russ Potts (R-Winchester) - who calls himself an "Eisenhower-type Republican" - on the one hand, and House Majority Leader H. Morgan Griffith (R-Salem), who says that "Potts's comments 'show his level of intolerance of others' beliefs.'" The split also plays out strongly between the State Senate, controlled by moderate Republicans, and the House of Delegates, controlled by social conservatives. The main question in my mind is whether this intra-GOP split will deepen even further, or whether elections this year will push the Republican Party in one direction or the other. What do you think?
P.S. It's interesting that a bill - supported by "social conservatives" like Matt Lohr in the House - was killed by a State Senate committee this past week. The bill would have required parental permission for children to take part in clubs outside the basic school curriculum, and is widely believed to have been aimed at Gay-Straight Alliance clubs.
1. If any more R sitting senators are primaried of "retire"
2. If you guys take control of the senate
This is not an appropriate forum for me to discuss further.