Earl from Ohio's post on the nefarious plans of his republican governor Kasich got me thinking--is there any benefit for democrats also to try electing better republicans? Earl notes that Ohio's republican Secretary of State has opposed some of Kasich's attempts to manipulate the election system in his favor. You might also recall that some state republicans in Ohio lost their committee leadership positions for opposing the extremist wing of the GOP's union-busting bill.
Rachel Maddow has featured republican women on her program who elqouently spoke out in their state houses against legislation designed to curtail a woman's right to choose. We have republicans in New York refusing to toe the Tea Party line and coming out in support of gay marriage rights.