Regarding the fusion of the conservative factions, I've posted this little exercise (along with my ratings):
Social Conservatives (SC) – Abortion; pro-traditional marriage; conservative Judicial appointments; pro-free exercise of religion; school choice; enforcing borders; family values; 1st amendment; 2nd amendment; there’s more
National Security Conservatives (NS) – Strong foreign policy; Aggressive posture on war & interrogation methods; enforcing borders; tough on crime; there’s plenty more
Fiscal Conservatives (FC) – tax policy (cuts); spending curbs; smaller, not bigger government; immigration laws enforced; national health policy; social security policy; there’s plenty more
My numerical ranking (1 best, 5 worst) of the “top 5” (polling nationally):
Huckabee
Romney
Thompson
McCain
Giuliani
So IMO, it’s Fred, hands down (and I need to go to the html sandbox).
(other rankings invited)
Love your table. I wonder if you meant SC=5, NC=5, FC=1, rather?
I love you clasifications and as you say "..there is more..." it would really be nice to come up with a comprehensive questionaire in order to find out "what kind of a conservative" one is :) Especially now, that labels are being thrown around all over the place
Yes, that’s about right. Other than Duncan Hunter, Fred is the only one who is conservative across the board.
Hopefully, Will is wrong about a new “tearing” of the conservative fusion. Conservatism in America has, since the Reagan years, always been a coalition of several factions, and these factions have always been somewhat uneasy with one another.
Which is too bad. Because it IS perfectly possible to be conservative across the board, as Fred is. And (if I may say so) as I am.
I’m a compassionate conservative. I think the poor and oppressed need help. But the worst possible way to do it is through government welfare. Government welfare PRETENDS to help the poor, but it’s only real purpose is to increase the size of the bureaucracy and to put the designated poor on the welfare rolls where they will vote for you. That is not helping the poor. Rather, it is turning them into a permanent underclass.
Fiscal conservatives and social conservatives certainly need to work together—or hang separately. And the big money country clubbers need to get on board as well, because if they want to be part of the power structure, then they need our votes.
One reason why Huckabee is doing so well is that the Republicans kicked the social conservative base and the fiscal conservative base in the teeth over the past 7 years, with out of control pork and contempt for social conservatives running for congress. So, everyone wants to pick up his marbles and go home, and the blame rests chiefly on the party, not the voters. It’s the party that drove them away. And they thought they could do it again, but supporting Romney and Giuliani. No, they can’t. If they don’t watch out, they’ll get Huckabee instead, mainly because everyone is so damned mad they aren’t thinking straight.
Fred is the only possible coalition candidate who can work with all the factions involved.