[Bernard Marx]

You're absolutely right -- and apparently you've missed my many previous posts on that exact topic. As a former member of the MSM I know all too well how the Left has enjoyed favored treatment for nearly the whole of the past half century.

While there have been some very focused Pubbie message-framers in the tradition of the late Lee Atwater, it's the weak-kneed daily responses of our Congress-critters that causes dismay. Not only do they capitulate almost daily on important legislation without much of a fight (today's example: restoration of the PBS budget cuts!) but they usually lie down without a fight when attacked. They're doing a little better in recent years but the fumbled response to Hillary's recent hate speech is typical.

One problem is that "our side" doesn't speak with a single voice like the Rats do. We have big and little "L" libertarians, neocons, paleocons, religious conservatives, non religious conservatives, country club conservatives, values conservatives, and people who think they're conservatives but really don't know what conservatism is. A good day on FR will provide a sampling of all the above and maybe other kinds.

Since conservatives don't congregate in mindless ideological swarms like the Rats, we tend to dilute our message and often have silly fights amongst our own. And, frankly, we're not nearly as mean-spirited as the Rats and do our best to act like ladies and gentlemen in public instead of smash-and-grab artists.

[marktwain]

While there have been some very focused Pubbie message-framers in the tradition of the late Lee Atwater, it's the weak-kneed daily responses of our Congress-critters that causes dismay. Not only do they capitulate almost daily on important legislation without much of a fight (today's example: restoration of the PBS budget cuts!) but they usually lie down without a fight when attacked. They're doing a little better in recent years but the fumbled response to Hillary's recent hate speech is typical.

One problem is that "our side" doesn't speak with a single voice like the Rats do. We have big and little "L" libertarians, neocons, paleocons, religious conservatives, non religious conservatives, country club conservatives, values conservatives, and people who think they're conservatives but really don't know what conservatism is. A good day on FR will provide a sampling of all the above and maybe other kinds.

Since conservatives don't congregate in mindless ideological swarms like the Rats, we tend to dilute our message and often have silly fights amongst our own. And, frankly, we're not nearly as mean-spirited as the Rats and do our best to act like ladies and gentlemen in public instead of smash-and-grab artists.

Sorry if I have missed your previous posts. There is a lot to read on Freerepublic.

There is much truth in your comments. I would add, that we have to overcome the inertia of decades of timidity in the face of a hostile media. While conservatives tend to be more individualistic than leftists, the left also has a large number of factions, perhaps more than we do, because their principle philosophy, socialism, has been discredited, while the conservative philosophy of limited government and individual rights has been proved correct in the test of harsh reality.

I remain cautiously optimistic, while acknowledging that there is much work to be done.