GOP wins, bipartisanship suffers

The North Carolina Republican Party took a big gamble in going after one of its own, former House Speaker Richard Morgan -- and on Tuesday night it won.

But the victory raises questions about the future of bipartisanship in the state legislature. It also could prompt a debate about the role of GOP party moderates.

The victory provides a short-term strategic advantage for Republicans as they try to regain the state House in 2006 or 2008. Not only did the party knock out Morgan, but it also defeated some of Morgan's allies, whom Republican conservatives disparaged as RINOs -- Republicans in name only.

"The RINO reign is over," read the headline on one conservative Web site.

Rob Christensen

Whenever we hear NandO weeping about a loss of bipartisanship, we can be sure that what it is actually mourning is the loss of Democrat Party rule by fiat. NandO is the official propaganda organ of the NC Democrats and everything it prints should be read through that filter.

I liked this:

But a hardening of ideological and partisan lines could return the state House to Washington-style gridlock.

He says that like it's a bad thing.