Whatever happened to the GOP?

Weren't we supposed to be the party of "fiscal responsibility"? And how, exactly, is dumping $700 billion in taxpayer money down the rat hole an example of "fiscal responsibility"? Sounds more like an homage to FDR ...

For a short while, it may have seemed like there might have been some hope for the perennial pork addicts in DC. The House had voted this monstrosity down, it looked like the will of the overwhelming majority of the people might actually prevail, and those in the markets who most assuredly deserved what was coming to them would get it.

But no.

Those of us who "do politics" could have told you this was coming. As soon as we started hearing politicians who cast "No" votes explain themselves by saying "If the bill only had [insert pet spending desires here] in it ...", we knew the deal to change their vote was practically done already. It was just a question of ironing out the details. So the "sudden" change of heart at the end of the week was no surprise to us.

So now that we have cast ourselves into this pit, and given the feds the green light to buy up a good chunk of the so-called "free market" with our money, what do we, the GOP voting base, do now?

Do we let them get away with it? Do we keep voting for the turncoat vote changers, rewarding them for their treachery, knowing that the alternative is worse, and knowing that they know it too? Do we stay home on 11/4, leaving the fate of our nation to others, and take a "bye" on the whole thing, thus leaving the practical outcome to be the same? Do we vote for the party of "change", given their even more socialist track record, and plummet the country even deeper into the abyss? Do we vote third party, and effectively toss our vote in the trash, knowing that no third party will ever garner enough votes to make a difference?

I welcome suggestions ...