Let’s recap, for a moment, what the GOP has been up to while the DNC circus has been carrying on in Denver.

You’ve got the RNC running ads targeting open-borders Hispanic voters by touting John McCain as a stronger shamnesty supporter than Barack Obama.

You’ve got McCain foolishly promoting an endorsement from open-borders reggaeton star Daddy Yankee.

You’ve got GOP platform conferees refusing to combat pro-illegal immigration euphemisms.

And now, you’ve got those platform writers throwing in the towel on drilling in ANWR in order to save face for John McCain, who’s on the same side as Barack Obama and the Democrat Party on this issue:

Republicans are putting John McCain’s presidential prospects above their wish to drill for oil in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Members of the GOP platform committee voted Wednesday to stick with an energy plank that doesn’t mention drilling in the refuge, saying it would only highlight an area where they differ with the Arizona senator. McCain opposes drilling in that protected land, and some committee members said they would rather bring him around on the issue once he’s in the White House than widen their disagreement now.

“He’s not there yet,” said delegate Jeff Grossman of Oregon. “Prudence would dictate that we leave the text as it is until our candidate catches up with us.”

Delegates endorsed expanded drilling generally, both offshore and in Alaska, North Dakota and Montana, and declared that the Alaskan refuge should not be put off limits to the oil industry permanently.

McCain doesn’t have to follow the platform and it’s unclear whether he will give it much weight; presidential candidates often don’t. But the 112-member committee working on the statement of party principles in Minneapolis is trying not to stray too far from McCain’s views, while also satisfying the conservative base.

Wait, that’s not all. You’ve got the GOP adding global warming to the Republican platform and bragging about its greening:

The National Republican Party for the first time is expected to acknowledge global warming in its 2008 GOP Platform, according to a draft of the document.

“Increased atmospheric carbon has a warming effect on the earth,” the document said. “While the scope and long term consequences of this warming effect are the subject of ongoing research, we believe the United States should take measured and reasonable steps today.”

Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), the party’s presumptive presidential nominee, is a strong proponent of
tackling global warming and has co-authored legislation to address the issue.

In the GOP’s 2004 platform, the term “global warming” was completely absent.

NRO’s Stephen Spruiell has more on the straddle.

Your Republican Party: Bringing you the capitulation you deserve.

I know: No points for me.

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