The problem with ‘conservatism/conservatives’ is that it has been co-opted by too many and has devolved into too many flavors, sort of like what happened with the tea party movement.
Most Republicans claim to be ‘conservative’ of some sort, especially around reelection time. They just create their own name for their own version of what they claim ‘conservatism’ to be.
It has become a Republican ‘litmus test’ word they have to invoke, like they do with ‘Reagan’ on occasion.
As you allude, the problem with those who call themselves conservative is that they stay inside the box that the Left constructed for them, while slowly drifting that box to the left. At some point, the essay predicts, the Left will no longer need the conservative foil and will simply discard them.
Levin seems to have annointed himself as the last man standing. Now he talks about people who abandoned conservativism - is he talking about Limbaugh this morning? Is he talking about the anonymous Publius Decius Mus, as the 12 year old with a blog?
And now we're back to whining about Cruz's loss?
-PJ
It has become a Republican ‘litmus test’ word they have to invoke, like they do with ‘Reagan’ on occasion.
________________________________
The blind adherence to a strict list of conservative principles will no longer assure America’s survival because if the election is lost, they don’t amount to a hill of beans.