For the last forty years or so, the Democrats have always liked to believe that they are the party of smart sophisticated people, while Republicans are ignoramus's who cling to gun and religion. It's a stereotype they fervently believe and if it makes them feel good to think that way, that's fine with me. I'd rather the Democrats live in delusion and lose elections than stop destroying themselves and get a chance to destroy the country. <br /><br /><br /><br />The party of the smart people got handed a royal flush in 2006, and instead of playing that hand they traded in their cards for a losing hand. Given that the Republican brand right now isn't very popular, and what would seem to be the inevitability of defeat for the Republicans, all the Democrats had to do was nominate a reasonable candidate and they would have been swept into the White House in their biggest victory since 1964.<br /><br /><br /><br />Fortunately for Republicans, the Democrats are still in the process of deciding between their two worst candidates for the general election and splitting their party in the process. The more popular a candidate is with the hard left the worse he(or she) will perform in the general election. That's the simple truth of the matter. McGovern, Mondale, Dukakis, etc. all were darlings of the left and all went down to defeat.<br /><br /><br /><br />The Democrats are still in the process of deciding between Senator Obama and Senator Clinton, both are to the left, have past associations with radical left wing groups, and a poor candidates. They are giving John McCain a fighting chance in a year which should see the GOP go down in flames. <br /><br /><br /><br />It's not just their hard left views, it's also their divisions within the party. These divisions aren't ideological, Clinton and Obama don't really disagree on that much. Divisions in the Democratic party are racial, economic, and gender based. Blacks and upper class whites vs. women and working class whites in this case.(in the GOP divisions tend to be ideological. Christian conservatives, federalists, neoconservatives, social conservatives, deficit hawks, supply siders, foreign poolicy conservatives and so on)<br /><br /><br /><br />With Hillary's loss in North Carolina, and her narrow victory in Indiana the chorus of people calling for her to exit the race is going to grow. Whether she listens or not the Democratic party has probably divided itself for several years to come. Most Clinton supporters say they will not vote for Obama. (only time will tell whether they are being honest or not)and if Clinton were to secure the nomination through the superdelegates Obama's supporters, primarily African Americans, would be alienated from the party. <br /><br /><br /><br />Either way there could be a schism in the Democratic party in a year where the stars were all aligned in their favor. That's a good thing for Republicans, and probably the country.