In the first place, the GOP has betrayed its conservative base-big time! "Republicans may like to brag that they are the party of Ronald Reagan and are dedicated to the policies and principles for which [Reagan] stood, but they are acting more like members of the party of Lyndon Johnson." Those words were written by Michael Reagan, President Reagan's son. He is right, of course.

Michael Reagan also wrote, "Republicans, those vaunted champions of fiscal integrity and honesty in government, showed just how they are dedicated to my dad's principles by greedily looting the federal budget of billions of dollars to fund their pet projects and keep the voters back home happy and in a mood to re- elect them."

Reagan also chronicled the way Republican congressional leaders promised individual members of congress up to $14 million "in free earmarks," if they would support (which they did) the massive $286.5 billion transportation bill. According to Reagan, "[T]he bill came to a total of 6,300 earmarked projects costing the taxpayers $24 billion."

Reagan correctly noted that "This is a clear case of bribery. The people being bribed were members of Congress. The people making the bribes were members of Congress. Congressmen bribing congressmen." Of course, if anyone in the private sector behaved as do members of congress, they would be in prison!

The sad truth is, in terms of fiscal responsibility, the Bush-led GOP have become the most irresponsible spenders in U.S. history! Instead of re-electing them, we should be prosecuting them for acts of criminality!

However, not only has the GOP abandoned its conservative base, it has done nothing to stem the tide of millions of illegal aliens, mostly Hispanic, that are pouring across our southern border. In fact, it has deliberately aided and abetted this phenomenon.

President Bush's amnesty program has encouraged illegal aliens to cross the southern border in record numbers. Furthermore, Bush's coziness with Mexican President Vicente Fox has only served to facilitate this problem.

Fox promotes illegal immigration to America, because he knows it is a huge source of revenue for his country. For example, in 2004, illegal aliens in America sent more than $16 billion back to Mexico. According to press reports, this amounts to Mexico's second largest source of foreign currency after oil exports.

Of course, illegal immigration is a curse, not a blessing, for the United States. America's education, insurance, and medical systems are currently reeling from the stress and strain being produced by illegal immigration.

Even more telling is the fact that by 2050, Caucasians will be a minority race in the U.S. This is already the case in several communities in America's great Southwest. The main reason: the vast numbers of Hispanics who have illegally migrated to our country.

As Pat Buchanan noted, Hispanics tend to vote Democrat by large margins. To think that they could be enticed to vote Republican (at least in large numbers) is only wishful thinking.

Beyond that, we have not even factored in fall-out from current congressional corruption scandals and the power-lust of the Bush White House. Bottom line: the GOP is in serious trouble. (For that matter, the whole country is in serious trouble, thanks to both major parties in Washington, D.C.)

It would be nice to believe that the GOP could see the error of its ways, repent, truly embrace genuine conservative principles, and get serious about protecting our borders. It would be nice if Ted Kennedy came clean about Chappaquiddick, too. However, one has about as much chance of happening as the other.

Therefore, unless a serious independent movement can take shape, one committed to conservative principles and constitutional government, prepare yourselves for long term Democratic majorities.