In a step that will be interpreted as a triumph for what passes as Republican "moderation" these days, the Republican National Committee passed a resolution (at a special session called for this purpose) today that accuses the President and the Democratic Party of "pushing our country towards socialism," but does not specifically demand that Democrats begin calling themselves the "Democrat Socialist Party," which was how it was originally worded.

Since all the "whereas" clauses in the resolution seem to have been left intact, it doesn't appear that Republicans have changed their minds about calling Democrats "socialists." They've just abandoned the sophomoric idea of demanding a party name change, complete with cropping "Democratic" to "Democrat," an odd if ancient GOP ritual.