Rich Lowry:The unpopular party

It is not just the winter of Republican discontent. It will in all likelihood be the spring, summer and fall, as well.

The national party is leaderless and nearly issueless, but besides that, is thriving and in fine fighting trim.

Once, taxes and national security were the party’s pillars, supplemented by domestic issues like welfare reform and crime and by symbolic issues like the Pledge of Allegiance and flag burning. Now, the pillars are in disrepair.

Cuts in income taxes don’t have the same resonance because rates are so much lower than 30 years ago. Republicans formerly had success with a...