Divide et Impera is Latin for Divide and Rule or Divide and Conquer.  Have conservatism and the Tea Parties begun to break up the grand Democrat coalition? 

We know that more people are identifying themselves as conservative and that independents are shying away from the Democrats' leftist policies.  We have seen the results of this influence in the dust-up over NY-23, Rubio closing the gap with Gov. Crist in Florida, the Colorado Republicans agreeing to Tea Party platforms, the Virginia and New Jersey Governor races, and elsewhere. 

After the political gamesmanship with the stimulus package, government bailouts, and now health care reform kickbacks (ie. Sens. Nelson and Landrieu), the voters are beginning to take notice of what the Tea Partiers have been protesting about from day 1.   

However, the pendulum may have swung too far to the left for some in the Democrat Party.  Some fear that Obama, Pelosi, and Reid have gone too far and need to track a more moderate course.  Of course, that does hold well with the Democrat leadership including the White House.  The leadership continues to push issues vital to their lefty friends whether it's sending Gitmo prisoners to Illinois or continuing bailouts.

Within the last couple of days, the Obama administration has decided to take a majority stake in GMAC to go with their stakes in GM and Citigroup.  But hey, what's another $3.8 billion when you've already spent $4 trillion? 

The Democrats are beginning to feel the heat from their leftist platform.  There are 4 Democrats retiring in the House and 1 has already switched parties.  Plus, some of the Senate leadership and moderates are feeling the pressure.  Sens. Harry Reid and Christopher Dodd are both in serious trouble in early polling.  The Senate races in Delaware and in Missouri are also within the margin of error. 

But yet they keep pushing those hot button issues.  The Employee Free Choice Act (contradiction in terms) is still being kicked around, Cap and Trade is yet to die a horrible death, and now President Obama is resurrecting the idea of illegal immigration reform.  Should Obama succeed in getting immigration reform, the Democrats will lock up a growing demographic of voters.  I just hope Obama, Pelosi and Reid have used up all their political capital when they try to ram this down our throats.

Despite the lefties still doing their thing, "moderate" Democrats have asked the White House to drop the Cap and Trade which they know is not exactly a winner with the electorate - just ask Rep. Mark Kirk about that one. 

There are cracks forming in the Democrat line and those cracks began with the Tea Partiers making their displeasure known.  The voters have also began to take up the cause also as they realize that their government has begun to expand faster and larger than ever before, their government racks up massive amounts of debt, and their government is asking dictating that they pay for it all with a litany of new taxes.  Just look at the deer in headlight look that Sen. Ben Nelson has right now.  Nelson sold his soul to the devil and tonight during the Nebraska-Arizona Holiday Bowl, he tries to show the Nebraska fans watching the Bowl game via a TV spot that it was a good deal.  It seems Nebraska could be a case study in the political backlash that awaits those who voted for the health care reform bill.  Polling done after Nelson's critical vote to pass the bill out of the Senate shows him trailing Nebraska Governor David Heineman 61%-30%.  If Nelson were to change his mind after the bill comes out of conference, that gap closes to 47%-37%.  That's a huge political turnaround for someone that handily won last election.   

Let's not leave out Republican friends out of this.  As mentioned earlier, Rubio is pulling near even or even with Gov. Crist in Florida which helped get two GOP Senators to drop their support of Crist.  Here in Illinois, we see that "He Who Shall Not Be Nominated (Mark Kirk)" has gathered no support from the conservative grassroots.  Sure, Kirk has received his endorsements, even from supposed conservatives John Shimkus and Aaron Schock.  Shame on them by the way.  The Illinois Republican Party has been silent in the GOP Senate race except for Andy Martin's attack on Kirk.  When I say silent, I mean no debates which still leads me to believe the Illinois GOP is hiding Kirk from getting crushed by his primary opponents -- especially from the conservative Patrick Hughes. 

On the national level, the RNC got burned in NY-23 and I find it odd how McCainstein and Igor Graham have quieted their "Republicans have to moderate" line while conservatives Sen. Jim DeMint, Rep. Mike Pence, Rep. Darryl Issa, and Rep. Eric Cantor have become the spokesmen for the national GOP - especially DeMint.  I'm sure that's no coincidence with the Tea Party finding a higher favorability than the GOP and trailing just behind the Democrats.  I've said for a long time that 2008 was the equivalent to 1976 and 2012 will be 1980.  Conservatives - anchored by the Tea Parties - have made their presence known and even the hardest of deniers have to see how the Tea Partiers have changed the political landscape in less than a year. 

By the way, for those that live in the Rep. John Shimkus' 19th Congressional District, please, everyday write on his wall on Facebook asking him to pull his endorsement of Mark Kirk.  Same thing for Aaron Schock in the 18th Congressional District.  If you don't do Facebook, then please call their offices to express your displeasure with Mark Kirk.  If you meet either of these two Congressmen face to face, be sure to let them know your opinion on their endorsement of the pro-choice, anti-2nd amendment, and pro-Cap and Taxer Mark Kirk.   I've been involved in politics for awhile now and never have I seen so many people angry at Congressman Shimkus.  There's a part of me that believes that if he would have had a serious GOP challenger in the primary, Shimkus might not have had a chance for a 6th term in the House of Representatives.