good post.
I fear that people here will not learn that lesson - and will march out a ticket with two little known white conservatives using abortion as the litmus test - against a ticket with the first woman presidential candidate, and the first Hispanic (Richardson) as VP.
while it is true that a republican cannot win without the conservative base, it is also true that the conservative base alone cannot elect a republican president. you need a coalition of the conservative base, plus some independents, and increasingly someone who appeals to Hispanics.
add INNOVATION AND FORWARD THINKING within the framework of all that is right with Western (Greco-Roman-Judeo-Christian-Northern European) Civilization
i.e. "values" framework