Look for more of the same in 2016.
Chris Christie, Jeb Bush, etc.
Republicanism is compromised, ruined and failed. Corrupted.
Conservatism is alive and well, just not in the GOP.
Principles are not principles if you put party ahead of them.
Moderation is compromise. Compromising principles are why we are where we are.
How can a candidate articulate values they do not have?
How can a candidate articulate values their entire careers demonstrate the opposite?
How can a candidate articulate values their party rejects?
Turn out the lights, the party's over.
Conservatism is not just articulated, it is a way of life.
Dunno, I think Mitt did as good a job as possible of stepping into the “severely conservative” shoes.
I do think he waited too long to come on strong, though. Even fiscally, if he was wobbling on social issues. For most people it WAS “the economy, stupid.” And Mitt had credible answers. But he evangelized them for too short of a time, while failing to point out what a mess a second, lame duck iteration of Barack would make.
conservatism was dealt a blow from which it is unlikely to ever fully recover. Moderate or don’t, it doesn’t matter. America built its house and now we’re all going to have to live in it until it burns to the ground.