Right, Robin,-- they've--already--been co-opted by the Republicans.    At least one--Rand Paul--said election night he would argue with his (Republican) leader every day.   We'll see.

But the current situation is yet another reason to be concerned about Sarah.    Above anybody else, she is the bridge between the two factions of the Republican party.

Which makes her nomination as Presidential candidate of the Republicans in 2012 even more likely. If she wants it.   So far, no indication she does not.   And Mudcatters' scorn for her will likely be as effective as it was keeping GWB (and, pre-Mudcat) Reagan out of the White House.

Main question will be the unemployment rate in 2012. As I've noted elsewhere, the Fed said recently it would be about 9%.   Not good enough to save a sitting President--unless he can pin the blame on the other side.   With an (officially) Democratic Senate, not easy.

So we come back to the opening post, now too late.