The Republicans 1980?

Ross wonders what will happen if McCain loses:

Advocates of retrenchment will argue that McCain’s heterodoxies cost him the loyalty of the base and thus the presidency, while advocates of renovation and reform will argue that he hewed too closely to party orthodoxy to win over independent voters. And the question of whether the GOP is stuck in the Democrats’ 2004 or in their 1980 will be left unresolvedthat is, at least until 2012 rolls round.

Or we may just realize that his insane vice-presidential pick makes everything else moot.