After Republican National Committee chair Michael Steele basically told a group of conservatives that the gloves were off, and the party shouldn't be afraid of challenging President Barack Obama just because he is popular, conservatives have used the last two rounds of Sunday talk shows trying to redefine what it means to be a Republican.

And after former Vice President Dick Cheney belittled Retired General Colin Powell, we're told that the Republican Party isn't really being lead by the likes of Cheney, Rush Limbaugh, and Newt Gingrich.

Whatever they're trying to communicate to the conservative base, it isn't going well.

And it could get a lot worse if they go after Obama's pick for Supreme Court, Sonia Sotomayor.

First, they alienate the one highly regarded conservative that the public recognizes (and is still living), Powell.

Then they go after the first Latina Supreme Court pick, after launching a three-year crusade against illegal immigrants from Mexico and Latin America.

Way to go! Let's see if we can't offend the largest growing demographic in the US a little more.

It's going to be devilishly risky to go after Sotomayor; here's a woman who is the quintessential American story: family immigrates to this country, daughter raised by hard-working mother, daughter excels and makes it through Yale Law School. Daughter is nominated to Supreme Court.

It is the "work-hard-and-you-can-achieve-anything-you-want-in-this-country" story. As my Italian-born grandfather would say, "America, sheeza beautiful to me."

But the leaders (who are not really the leaders) are already out there firing away about identity politics.

Limbaugh called both Obama and Sotomayor racists.

Lovely.

America, sheez gotta some stupid people.