This is not your father's Republican Party. Hell, it's not my brother's Republican Party. That party is dead, and we may as well not let old-fashioned naming conventions and their leftover office stationery obscure that fact.
What we're watching is the demise of a dinosaur-like species, and the inevitable evolutionary niche-filling by a variety of once-minor creatures.
Eventually, a sensible opposition party -- most of its members hiding in the forest right now -- will evolve and regroup, restore its numbers and re-emerge to, you know, discuss and vote and represent conservative business interests 'n' stuff.
To avoid confusion, let's hold the name "Republican" in reserve for those folks. They'll need it back in a couple of years.
In the meantime? Meet the Crybaby Party, a collection of subspecies that only Monty Python (or Karl Rove, apparently) could have invented.
Over here you have the Colicky Crybabies. They just like to whine, for no particular reason. You can find them calling in to your standard AM talk shows. Or suing to win elections they've lost.
Over there are the Homophobic Crybabies. If you look a little closer, they're often the ones with gay siblings or mysterious airport habits.
Then there are the Armed Crybabies. They're the only crybabies that you probably shouldn't tease and mock too loudly.
I'm mildly sympathetic toward the Religious Crybabies. Left standing at the altar for many, many years, they at least have a valid grievance, although it's with the old GOP leadership, not anyone in Washington anymore.
The Racist Crybabies, who used to be able to hide behind the mainstream Republicans, now are stuck out in the open, uncamouflaged. I'm guessing they won't last long.
Let's not forget your garden-variety Moran Crybaby. That lady with the hat made of Lipton? She's their standard-bearer.
Finally there are the Screaming Yellow Lunatic Crybabies. These are the ones still in Congress.
I'm sure I've missed a few, and that a few more subspecies will make themselves known as the season progresses and their true colors emerge.
I suggest that we start using these terms to better identify, track and mock the Crybabies into extinction.