The Death of Imagination

I disagree. The Republicans had to step at least far enough outside of their own echo chambers to figure out that opposing same-sex marriage wouldn't alienate more voters than it brought it or bring out the opponents' supporters in equal or larger numbers. Ciampa and his ilk in Kerryland failed to do this--to their cost. Similarly, in Illinois, the GOP's absolutely incomprehensibly knuckleheaded decision to bring in a hardcore Bible-bashing extremist not only guaranteed a thundering landslide for Obama but had a knockoff effect among moderate surbanites that is blamed for the unseating of Crane in the 8th District.