Lots of pundits are bemoaning the "death" of the Republican Party, and half of those eulogists are Democrats. To that half I say, stop complaining. Shouldn't you be joyful? Your nemesis is gone, the Cold War is over, stand by for a peace dividend.
Oh, you don't think so? You fear there is a new "bear in the woods"? You're well-informed; he's there, he isn't tame, and he doesn't play nice at all. The political world remains dangerous for Democrats.
To the eulogists who actually are conservatives, I assure you, I get it. Those nasty voters repudiated your vision of conservatism and you're pissed, you feel jilted, unloved. You thought you were leading a parade and learned to your shock few were following. Get over it.
As Mort Sahl would mock-portentiously announce: "The future ... lies ahead." Life goes on for most of us, maybe even for you if you're nimble. The dismal alternative is irrelevancy.
