In Godzilla movies, fallout from a nuclear test or some other significant disaster often awakens the monster, or one of his rivals, wreaking untold destruction upon Japan, like so.

Here in Minnesota, we're just starting to see the true fallout from the February 25 vote to override Gov. Pawlenty's veto of the DFL transportation bill. In a "Welcome to Tokyo" moment, State Representatives Ron Erhardt, Neil Peterson, and Jim Abeler, three of the six Republicans who voted in support of the veto, had their asses summarily handed to them in Saturday's Republican convention, with Erhardt and Peterson losing the state GOP endorsement to Keith Downey and Jan Schneider, respectively. Abeler, who represents Anoka and was running completely unopposed except for token opposition from local puppet and drunken reprobate Sailor Martin and previously unknown carpetbagger Boxy Brown, also couldn't seal the deal, failing to secure the 60 percent majority needed to sew up the endorsement - and when Anoka Republicans would rather go without than give you any love, you know you've got problems.

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Of course, even without the veto override, these three may have been taken behind the woodshed. There seems to be a definite trend toward the right in the state party as a whole, a trend that definitely does not favor moderate Republicans. This trend seems, upon first glance, a bit bizarre. Minnesota has a grand tradition of moderate Republicans working hand in hand with the DFL - great men like Arne Carlson and Rudy Boschwitz. Why trade that legacy for complete and utter raving Bachmann-esque bat-shit crazy, especially over the objections of some of the most respected members of the caucus? Only Ron Carey knows for sure, and he's too busy making ad buys on Fox to chat.

Regardless, the veto override has only accelerated a process that began around the time Jesse Ventura left office, thus depriving Democrats and Republicans of a common enemy and causing both parties to drift away from center like drunken sorority girls too focused on texting their booty call to watch the road. The theory in vogue among Republican analysts, however, is that Republican leaders feel moderates can't draw the line in the sand voters need in order to decide between GOP and DFL.

In a way, this makes sense. Had GI Joe not had such drastically different ideology from Cobra, would we have cheered them on despite the confusion engendered by the feelings the Baroness evoked in us? And if our fearless Republican leadership can deal with Cobra, is there really any question of their ability to secure our borders against the invasion forces of the vile Canadians? For if we do not fight them in Winnipeg, will we not have to fight them in Hibbing? And given the platform many of these new legislators stand on, "them" happens to include gay marriage and teachers.

Make no mistake, this strategy will garner votes. The issues many of these candidates are running on are those that have divided the state, and the rest of the country, for the last eight years, if not longer. What remains to be seen is whether these issues drive enough Republicans to the polls to retake the legislature or if the sharply divisive rhetoric from both sides delivers a veto-proof majority to the DFL.

In the meantime, we can take heart that there is still one issue that crosses party lines and serves to bring us together regardless of political affiliation. One issue that simultaneously brings a smile to the faces of Clinton, McCain and Bush. One issue that, if we're all honest with ourselves, warms our hearts and speaks to us in a universal language - skantily-clad viral video stars.