Republicans have entered an ugly phase. Cynical jeering at the national convention, angry rally crowds, divisive populism. An optimist might call these the death throes of a hobbled conservative movement. But a realist can only be alarmed by John McCain's solicitation of his supporters' worst instincts. All of it, as Peggy Noonan gracefully warned, is bad for America.
Before McCain's public summons of darkness ("Who is the real Barack Obama?"), Gov. Sarah Palin was displaying equally flag-raising tactics....
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