When Political Parties Go Bad

Former New Jersey governor and EPA director Christine Whitman has the temerity to urge her Republican Party back toward the social center in her new book, "It's My Party, Too." So the wolves in the GOP are baring their fangs. George Marlin's scathing review of Whitman's book in the New York Post typifies the conservative caterwauling:

"The Rockefeller wing of the GOP is dead. No matter how much lipstick Whitman applies, she will not be able to resuscitate the cadaver. And, if she and her movement's dotty survivors decide to lead one more charge and promote the 2008 presidential candidacy of fellow lefty Rudy Giuliani — they'll learn that the heart of the GOP will not forego Republican ascendancy by succumbing to the liberal agenda of these social engineers."

While Marlin and his fellow GOPers cloak themselves in the swaddling clothes of sanctimony (it's really comfy on a winter's night), the Democrats are intent on proving the old adage that those who forget history are bound to repeat it, or support Howard Dean -- something like that.

The Association of State Democratic Chairs has endorsed Dr. Dean -- presumably because Adlai Stevenson is dead and therefore ineligible.