fractured party

I'm going to go out on a limb and predict that the Republican Party will split sometime in the future. As much as McCain pretends to be the man for all Republicans, he really is a moderate Republican. He has sold his soul, once again, to appease the conservative base of the Republican Party but it seems they are opening their eyes to one who better represents their interests - Sarah Palin.
Win or lose, Palin seen to be a political force
Mitt Romney is another name we're more than likely to hear again as well.
They are referred to as "social conservatives" or "evangelical conservatives" and they are the backbone of the Christian Right in the US. These people, were this nation theirs to dictate, would probably defend "freedom of religion" but have the country governed as a Christian State and most of the laws would be driven by the Bible.
The Republican Party may spend a few more elections as one party, but if the trends continue I believe the social conservatives will no longer accept a moderate Republican as their candidate and will split the party.
The real complication here is that 21 May 2011 is the date many Christians believe will be the rapture - so in the end it may not matter.