I've been hesitant to dance a jig over the declining GOP mainly because I recall very clearly how being a Democrat in the weeks and months after 9/11 was only slightly more popular than being a terrorist. Not to mention how, following the 2004 election, the establishment press appeared to be declaring a the Democratic Party to be all but dead.
But looking back, the GOP's current party identification poll number is far worse than the Democratic number ever was in both 2002 and 2005.
In February 2002, Harris had the split at 36% Democratic, 31% Republican, and 22% Independent. In March 2005, the number was 34% Democratic, 31% Republican, 25% Independent. (Compare this with the Washington Post / ABC News poll this week showing a 35Dem/21Rep/38Ind split.)
In other words, even in the darkest days of the dark ride, the Democrats were never as marginalized as the Republicans are today, and, in fact, the Democrats led the party ID polls despite their assumed demise.
But by all means, Republicans, keep listening to Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck. Don't let numbers and math get in your way.