The Democrats throughout modern History, lets say at least the last half of the last century forward, have been their own wost enemy. Is it possible the Republicans are playing "topper" on this and trying to be even more crazy and more self destructive than the Democreats? Kathleen Parker, a conservative Republican thinks so:

Some people can't stand prosperity, my father used to say. Today, he might be talking about Republicans, who, in the midst of declining support for President Obama's hope-and-change agenda, are considering a "purity" pledge to weed out undesirables from their ever-shrinking party.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/27/AR200911...