Splitsville NJ

   A liberal is a conservative whose bank has failed and whose house has been washed away in a storm.
   Big government means you have more family to help you when you need it.

   Successful Republicans in New Jersey have always been moderate. Political radicals in the Garden State are losers, regardless of party affiliation.
   This week, Republican Gov. Chris Christie says he doesn't "give a damn" about politics or elections while his state is in a shambles, and has no interest in escorting Mitt Romney around his storm-tossed state. He did, however, have high praise for the current President of the United States, Barack Obama, and the Democrat's rapid response in getting federal aid to New Jersey.
   The forecast from here is to watch for Christie to seek higher office -- possibly the White House -- in 2016. Meanwhile, look for signs and symptoms of deterioration in the Republican Party, so much so that many East Coast GOP moderates, and Christie, may seek a new affiliation.
   Unless the Republican Party returns to moderation, look for Christie and others to switch, or start a new party, closer to the main stream of American politics.

   Meanwhile, there are several possibilities.
   -- The GOP will evict the Tea Party radicals.
   -- The GOP will self-destruct as conservatives shift the party further to the right.
   -- GOP moderates will leave, either to join Democrats or to set up a new party.

   Possible also: Conservatives will win on Tuesday and implement their policy of bootstrap recovery, which will leave the storm-tossed Jersey Shore and other East Coast areas low and not so dry, left to fend for themselves.
   Possible? Yes. Plausible? No.

   More likely: Christie's praise and Obama's help will swing undecided voters to the Democrats and victory. Unless Great Plains suspicion and dislike of East Coast liberals remains strong and overcomes television views of federal emergency aid to recover from Nature's wrath.