Olympia Snowe's step down seen as a watershed event for the Republican party

Is the Republican party disintegrating or is it consolidating into a formidable hard right force? Olympia Snowe's decision to not seek another term in the Senate is an existential moment for this once proud party of ideas and debate.

There is no real debate now. Their Presidential candidates are cyborgs. The Republican Senate is led by the limited, highly political Mitch McConnell who is no doubt supported by his attention seeker wife and serial failure at administration of anything Elaine Chao. McConnell, the former Louisville city manager, or whatever the title was, is uniquely unqualified to be a powerful force in this leading global economic and political power, not up to the task of being the potential Senate Majority Leader again, and the few Senators with the gumption to buck the trend are demoralized - hence Snowe's decision.

The American political scene is in chaos. This is one more example. Predictions are not really possible.