I agree with the premise and most conclusions, but the problem's diagnosis is wrong.
The problem isn't short-term identification with the bushies. Their party is built atop a rigid structure that actually has deep roots in most states and started a good 30 - 40 years ago.
The party demands conformance from all its operators like military and gangland groups - from the polling place flier-wavers all the way up to the candidates for Congress. You take orders, adopt the orders as "gospel," and passionately do what you're told. You have to earn your stripes by either effectively attacking "enemies" or positively supporting someone else in the club. Loyalty is demanded and rewarded. Skills and ideas are irrelevant unless they help other gang members succeed.
To make a long story short, you attract a predictably stereotypable person when filling these roles. People must believe in their uselessness except to serve the gang, hate without justification, be incapable of introspection, and have blind faith that the 'leaders' are brilliant beyond reproach.... to name a few.
This apparatus is still 95% intact. Since new 'leaders' can't win on merit of ideas or logic (they are essentially anointed by virtue of their track record in rank), they will continue to represent completely dysfunctional views and policies for at least another decade or two - until the current gaggle of middle managers make way for a different approach to how to run a party.
At this point, I don't think it will ever happen.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost
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