“...it’s the GOP that does not advance the conservative cause. Romney is just the manifestation of GOP hostility toward conservative principles.”
I have to agree with you there.
What we Conservatives need to do is drag the GOP, kicking and screaming if necessary, back to the right.
A big part of that is to be adamant, to be resolute! They need to know that we WILL NOT vote for Romney, EVEN IF he is the “only way to beat Obama”.
The GOP apparatchik needs to know it NOW. They need to keep seeing it.
And don’t think for a minute that they don’t know what goes on here at FR.
Every time some clown says “I will hold my nose and vote for Romney if he is the candidate, because I am against Obama yadda yadda....” the GOP gets emboldened a little more to continue trying to shove this crap down our throats.
“What we Conservatives need to do is drag the GOP, kicking and screaming if necessary, back to the right.”
I think conservatives have been sort of successful in having the GOP say the right things on social issues. They just don’t DO anything once elected - or the certainly do not have the fire in the belly over the things the GOP supposedly believes in.
I think conservatives have utterly failed in convincing the GOP that fiscal prudence and limits on government scope/growth/spending should be a priority.
Why?
Conservatives generally are not liars, and expect people to do what they say.
Both are liabilities in the political arena.
What should we do?
I have no idea right now......I wish I knew, but we’ve been unsuccessful for the past 20 years advancing conservative ideals within the GOP.