You can talk hours and hours conceptually, until you can define conservatism in a simple, easy to understand definition, you will not be able to influence people to buy your ideas. This is the problem with conservatism. We need many words to describe what we believe. While they may be 'true' ideas, they don't appeal to the masses.
Yo Paudio—OK, I’m on same page as you.
I agree that ultimately a sound bite describing conservatism must be created. Also, I agree that there is not a concensus among those who call themselves conservatives as to what conservatism means. Personally, I prefer being called a Constitutionalist rather than a conservative.
Dems have been allowed to redefine conservatives as red neck racists. Sadly, a significant part of the US population believes it.
The problem on our side is that we do not seem to have a central entity that effectively establishes goals toward winning back the hearts and minds of the American people— and then develops strategies and tactics to achieve those goals.
I have no idea what the so-called conservative “think tanks” have achieved or think they have achieved to date. Certainly the RNC’s efforts seemed aimed at getting RINOs elected and taking whatever crumbs the dems care to throw its way.
The left, as always, has been very effective at defining its goals and then achieving them. It’s taken the left 30 to 40 years to be able to run a half black Marxist and win an election. That is a significant achievement.
Conservatives will have to be similarly patient. But, the key is the creation of a body that can put together a game plan and then execute it.
I realized sometime late yesterday afternoon that I’m actually relieved that the GOP got slaughtered the way it did nationally. Sticking with that bunch was really experiencing death by slow cuts.
In any case, if conservatism cannot organize to reestablish itself, then it is irrelevent and deserves a place on the scrap heap of history.