Reply #111: I think the GOP will splinter, not implode

[chiefofclarinet]

At this point, I see the Republicans as a loose confederation between the religious conservatives, the Eisenhower conservatives, and the libertarians. This is not particularly stable, and one of these groups (probably the libertarians) will explode after their way isn't followed and leave the party. I think the Libertarian party will grow in size to be about equal to the what is left of the Republicans by siphoning off most of the Eisenhower conservatives that don't flee to the Democrats.

Of course, this does not answer the question you raised. I would rather see the GOP move to the left, and if the religious nut-jobs have a hissy-fit about it, I would like to see them as a regional party. This will make the center shift to the left, and force the Democrats to left. However, this probably won't happen.