As soon as I saw Bush embrace Ted Kennedy in 2001 I knew something was up beside "compassionate conservatism." Somehow Bush has equated an active show of lovey-dovey compassion with hoping to garner respect from those who first, don't understand true compassion, and second don't care about anything else but obtaining their own selfish power! Now I won't sit here and fault Bush for trying to be caring to mankind, but it is a false premise to think if you show compassion to those who hate you, you will garner respect. Remember, Jesus even said, show compassion to those who hate you because it will be like heaping a pile of coals on their head! I think this is where Bush gets his false compassion from, but this doesn't mean he neccesssarily understands (maybe I don't either)what true compassion really is, and when to use it! Moderate, compromising stances are not "compassion," they're more than often, just plain stupid!
Moderates are losers, by their very nature. They live on false premises and shallow victories. Bush is true to his values and ways, so I don't fault him for standing on his principles, but he's simply a moderate that's wrong! Like most moderates.
How do conservatives get their party back?
If we cannot take it back, we leave it. If the leadership of the party is cutting deals with Democrats to hamstring conservatives, let THEM join the Dems.
I think Texas should seceed!