Dwight L. Schwab Jr.

It is apparent Republicans are realigning their entire party image since the November loss to President Obama. It is what is commonly known as a split in internal unity commonplace after each presidential election for the losing side.

There is little doubt that Obama is doing everything within his powers to exploit the situation. The Republican differences are not philosophical or fundamental. To pronounce this as the decline of the GOP is more than a bit premature.

The differences at this stage are more tactical than philosophical. Removing the code of all the words being used, the problems are quite solvable just as they were in 2008 after Obama's initial victory.

One has to go no further than the Republican's roaring comeback in midterm elections two years later.

For Democrats seeing blood in the water, they should first view this situation as a Republican does. Imagine if Mitt Romney had won the election. Would the Republicans be deeply divided among their ranks in Congress?

Naturally, the answer is a resounding no. They would be rallying around something like Vice President Paul Ryan's budget that twice passed the House with near 100 percent GOP unanimity.

The truth of the matter is Republicans actually have a broad consensus on programs and policy. There is no great divide. But the reality is they do not have the real power.

The real question for the party out of power is whether it can govern from the House? Can Republicans hold enough cards to sway Congress into shrinking government, restraining spending, bringing some sort of standard of fiscal logic to a country with a president and Democratic Senate that have no intention of doing so?

Have the Democrats reached their high mark with the American people? Will the pending reality of the U.S. Government Accountability Office's prediction of economic calamity finally come home to roost? Will the public that has been hoodwinked by the White House and an adoring mainstream media be unveiled in the most shocking of events?

Republicans have no choice but to stay the course and attempt to carry out its small-government electoral promises. Cast no vote inconsistent with that philosophy. These are the House Republicans who voted no on the "fiscal cliff” deal because it raised taxes without touching spending.

The overall feeling is Americans will sooner than later begin to experience firsthand what they have been disallowed to hear from their president. Perhaps this time around the results will be far different than the empty 2011 debt-ceiling and 2012 fiscal-cliff showdowns with the president.

Obama's post-election arrogance and intransigence has helped rally Republicans and create a fighting spirit. They already control a majority of state legislatures and governorships. The party is not in the poor shape the compliant media wishes Americans to believe.

Outside of Washington itself, Obama's power is shaky on a state level and he knows it.

The debt-ceiling deadline is coming up. Republicans can demand spending cuts