Leach was on Democratic turf praising the rich conservative heritage of Republican leaders who helped make the country a better place. He was wondering out loud what went wrong. Here is the gist of Leach's indictment of his political party:

"The party that once emphasized individual rights has gravitated in recent years toward regulating values. The party of military responsibility has taken us to war with a country that did not attack us. The party that formerly led the world in arms control has moved to undercut treaties crucial to the defense of the earth. The party that prides itself on conservation has abdicated its responsibilities in the face of global warming. And the party historically anchored in fiscal restraint has nearly doubled the national debt, squandering our precious resources in an undisciplined and unprecedented effort to finance a war with tax cuts."

Leach was speaking for legions of Republicans who twice voted for President George Bush and can barely stand to look at themselves in the mirror. Angry and bewildered party members heard their frustrations articulated by one of their own.