The new Republicrats
 

The Kids Are All Right
They're pro-life, pro-gun, pro-Jesus—meet the new class of Democrats
By John Cook

Last week, the 109th Congress was finally put out of its misery, having sputtered through 103 days in session as one of the most ineffectual legislative bodies in our nation's history. In January, eight new Democratic senators and 40 new Democratic congressmen will show up to take control of the 110th. To get them there, the party had to open up its big blue tent—so much so that if you take a closer look, you start seeing red. Call them Zell Miller Democrats. Eleven have an A rating from the National Rifle Association, an indicator that used to serve as a convenient shorthand for insane person. If Charlton Heston likes you that much, the thinking went, it can't be just about marksmanship—you're probably also a Christian fundamentalist, anti-dancing pro-tobacco gay-hater.

But it's Howard Dean's Democratic Party now, and the successful new wave of Democratic candidates includes a good number of folks who come remarkably close to matching that description. There's an ongoing debate among Dems over whether the party sold its soul by running pro-life, pro-gun, pro-prayer-everywhere candidates in red districts, and it remains to be seen precisely how conservative the freshman class will turn out to be—as you may have heard, it's not uncommon for candidates to say stuff just to get elected. The Republican message machine certainly hasn't made up its mind yet, claiming in practically the same breath that Nancy Pelosi has a nipple ring and that the election was still a win for conservatives because the next senator from Montana will have a flattop.

However it shakes out, there are more than a few members of the Democratic class of '06 who will be avoiding awkward moments with Barney Frank in the cloakroom. Here's your Radar guide to some of the most unlikely new members of the Party of Death:

http://www.radaronline.com/features/...h_congress.php