Americans say by 2-to-1 that Senate should hold hearings on Obama’s Supreme Court nominee

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29. Clearly the R's believe they're on the verge of oblivion

The pattern is clear here and it is resulting in the death of the Republican Party.

The day Scalia died McConnell acted fast to announce his strategy. Sen. Grassley, whose judiciary committee would hold the Supreme Court hearings, initially said he'd wait to see what happens with Obama's pick and seemed open to holding hearings. That tune changed one day later. It would seem that McConnell got to him as soon as he opened his mouth, and suddenly Grassley was all about not holding hearings.

Then Gov. Sandoval's name was floated as a possible nominee, and he was quoted as seeming open to it and honored, although noncommittal. Within 24 hours he pulled his name from consideration. Again, what changed? I'll tell you what changed, McConnell got to him!

McConnell has a theory: if he lets the Democrats do what they want to do - EVER - then they'll improve this country so much for so many that Republicans will never win another election. Better to risk looking obstructionist than to lose the war for the next generation, he figures.

But why? Why does McConnell care so much? Is it because he cares about the issues? Is it because he cares about humanity? No. It's simple: he is competitive and doesn't like to lose. Period. End of story.

As Obama said the other day, this is bad for everyone. America needs a strong, rational Republican Party. Two parties isn't enough. Now there's really only one. That's a huge risk for democracy, even if the one surviving party is the better of the two.