More on the dangers of political purity

Last night I wrote about the GOP's recent pressure for political purity. Today's TAPPED has an article that nicely sums up what I was trying to say:

"Moderate Republicans would do well to think about what they are actually getting from or giving to the party these days. Obviously, party leaders aren't anxious to hear their opinions when they disagree with the party line. GOP leaders are looking for a top-down system where they give the orders and lawmakers blindly follow them, contrary to a spirit of the Senate that stresses individualism. And, as long as Bush sits in the White House, you can bet that he'll be the one who's really driving the agenda on Capitol Hill. This means that besides facing anger from Senate leaders, moderate Republicans may be frozen out by the White House as well, except when it's politically convenient for the president."

As the article later points out, the Democrats made the same mistake in 1994 and paid the price. The GOP would do well to heed that lesson.