Dear massadvj,
I don't think that the problem with 2006 was that Republicans ran too far to the right. I think the problem is that too many Republicans on the right hadn't been acting much like conservatives over the past few years.
As well, Dems woke and smelled the coffee, and realized that they could win by running folks who were socially moderate, or even conservative, at least on some issues.
You may be convinced that Mr. Thompson can't win in Pennsylvania, and that Mr. Giuliani can, but I'm not.
The reason why Republicans get close in Pennsylvania is because of folks like my relatives. Often socially conservative, nonetheless most of them are pro-union, economically and fiscally liberal. Some of these folks have been willing to vote Republican in recent decades because of issues like guns and abortion.
Take away some of those reasons to vote for the Republican and frankly, Pennsylvania gets tougher. Remember that Mr. Casey ran as a pro-lifer, thus negating Mr. Santorum's advantage. This takes away some of those socially-conservative Democrats who might otherwise vote for him. As well, in supporting Mr. Specter so staunchly, Mr. Santorum gave away a big chunk of his credibility as a conservative. Supporting the free-spending ways and liberal approach to immigration of our president didn't help. Thus, he did things to alienate his actual conservative base, as well.
However, even if he's the most electable person, I just don't see where the victory is in electing someone who is diametrically opposed to my own views on so many important issues.
sitetest
Your thinking is the reason we lost. Suburban voters, especially women, are turned off by social conservatives' overreaching. You seem to think we lost because we weren't conservative enough.
Santorum was about as straight conservative as you can get. He campaigned as a strict conservative, refusing to give an inch on any issue. He spent $25 million. He got 40 percent of the vote. Meanwhile, in the same state Specter gets 65 percent of the vote.
You can't so disillusion yourself with your hopes that it clouds your good political judgment. The tides have shifted nationally the way they shifted in California a two decades ago. The demographics clearly show that Independents strongly lean Dimwit, that Republican registration is in decline, and that even VA is in play for the other guys.
We absolutely must have the courage and intelligence to adapt or we turn into dinosaurs. That's what is at stake here.