“The RNC, they stole the GOP and gave it to left wing RINOS and the Whitless faction of closet liberals.”
I seem to remember we recently had primaries, whereby citizens voted their preferences from among many GOP candidates.
Hunter, Tancredo didn’t register very well, indicating there is less “demand” than many here would like, for their brand of conservatism.
Reagan spent many years, educating voters about what was going wrong, and his ideas to remedy matters.
Plus he had a charming personality and the gift of being a superb communicator. Not many like him, these days.
Which present day “conservative” has the track record that Reagan had? The ability to sell his political philosophy?
Similarly, in his day, Eisenhower used phrases like “right thinking democrats” to appeal across the political spectrum.
McCain is far from the ideal candidates, but is by far the best from among the viable candidates with a chance to win.
The GOP or the RNC go with the horses they have. When Reagan earned his way to the top, he became the party leader, setting the tone for several years into the future.
The GOP takeover of the house in 1994 was an echo of the Reagan successes. And since, it has been less, and less a function of Reagan, and more a function of who the horses emerged.
Gingrich was a big factor for awhile, but gets little or no respect on FR, these days. Yet he is one of only a few that can articulate conservatism.
GW Bush has been a lousy advocate for conservatism, partly because he is not consistently conservative, but more importantly because he is a lousy speaker.
He is the leader of the GOP. We elected him and re-elected him. So when you refer to the RNC and the GOP, think GW Bush.
Sometimes right, sometimes wrong. On balance far better than the alternative would have been.
I get the impression if many had it to do over, they would have sat out 2000 and 2004, because GW Bush wasn’t the perfect, ideal conservative.
Because by golly they would never compromise their principles and vote for anybody that wasn’t 100 percent hard core conservative, even against an outright socialist.