Paul Hackett was a pop quiz in supposedly one of the Republicans' best topics. The George W. Bush-lead Republicans were given a C minus. Apparently good enough to move on, but not something that the parents of the party should be happy with, nor should the student be comfortable with the mid-term coming up in 2006.
I would expect there's going to be a "revolution" brewing in the Party now - from the "parents". They have to be worried that the "student" is going to fail miserably in 2006 by continuing to depend on campaigns and politics of Bush bluff, bluster, bullying and bending the rules.
I don't think it'll be long before we hear Republicans crying that they need to return to their "core values", that they've gotten away from their traditional philosophies, etc., etc., etc.
I suspect that immediately afterward there will be retribution and a louder bullhorn blaring of the accomplishments and brilliance of the Bush Administration.
There's big trouble coming for the Republican Party. I don't see any evidence that the GOP is smart enough to fix it by 2006 or 2008. The real question is whether the Democratic Party will be smart enough to move forward when the Republicans fail with the electorate.
An attractive, NRA member Democrat runs against a weak Republican who backs off her opposition to abortion, votes for state tax increases, and is opposed by traditional Republican groups. The Democrats ads make him look like a supporter of President Bush and don't mention his party. The national GOP virtually ignores the election, the Dems pour in money and support...the Democrat still loses. This should show how even a deceptive, Bill Clinton like Democrat, being all things to all people can't win.
2006 will bring gains of 2 or 3 in the Senate and 5 or 6 in the House for the Republicans.
I see historic parallels...From 1872 to 1896, no president won a majority of the vote..then McKinley did, ushering in Republican rule unbroken except with the split party in 1912 and the Depression. The next president from the Democratic party, if it survives, will not be until 2012.
In fact, they have been mostly focusing on non-election calling campaigns. Though no one seems to know for sure, it looks like they are scrambling to pay for advertising to counter the corruption and ethic problems sprouting up all over the place.
My guess, you will see less money for local campaigns, most of it already spent on damage control.