What is more accurate is that ultra conservatives have hijacked the Republican party. Pat Robertsons followers started at the grass roots local level with county and state Republican party activities, and built on that to the point where they national part has been taken far to the right of where it was. McCain and Jeffords would have been mainstream Republicans during the 60's and 70's. Now one is an independent and one has been marginalized.

There was a time when there were conservative and liberal wings of the Republican party. Remember Ed Brook, Jacob Javits? NYC mayor John Lindsey was a liberal Republican, and that's what current mayor Bloomberg is, but he is an endagered species and probably won't ever be elected to office outside of the state of NY.

Today, we have a single conservative Democrat in the Senate, and a few moderate Republicans. Other than that, the parties are very polarized, which is a great loss for all IMO.

oc