In switching to the Democratic Party, Senator Arlen Specter said:

Since my election in 1980, as part of the Reagan Big Tent, the Republican Party has moved far to the right. Last year, more than 200,000 Republicans in Pennsylvania changed their registration to become Democrats. I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans.

A more cynical person would note that Specter was facing a very tough challenge in the 2010 Republican primary but will face almost no challengers on the Democrat side. But, that's not the point. Or at least it's not the point that I'm interested in.

Regardless of his motives, I think Specter is right. The Republican Big Tent folded up years ago. I think it's hidden in a church basement somewhere.

The Big Tent has been replaced with Big Government, Big Religion and Big Name Calling. Conservative pundits and bloggers think it's cute to try to silence those who disagree with them and the direction they're taking the GOP by calling them "RINOs".

So the question for people like Specter, or people like me, is what to do. Like Specter, do you abandon a party you no longer agree with or do you work hard to get like-minded candidates and leaders elected and try to get the party back to what it was under Reagan. Or hell, what it was under Gingrich in 1994?

I always thought that the thing to do was to take that second path, but it seems kind of hopeless now. The new powers that be are more entrenched than ever and fear of Obama will keep others in line. Maybe the time really is ripe for that mythically awesome fiscally conservative & socially liberal political party. I know I'm not the only voter out there that feels equally unsatisfied by the current major political parties.