Agreed. And true conservatism doesn't do well, even in the Republican primary (the only way to come close is by throwing in some gratuitous red-meat nanny-statism and flag-waving...true small-government conservatism gets mocked).
But I urge everyone to go back and listen to some of President Reagan's speeches...even brief snippets will show how compelling a small-government message can be, if presented in the appropriate way and without sniping from the Faux Conservatives. Many young people have never heard the tenets of conservatism expressed.
Agreed. However, Reagan came in after an extended period of liberal dominance, with most people viewing their problems as caused by the missteps of liberalism. They were ready for a backlash against liberalism and big government.
Today we're coming off an extended period of (perceived) consertative dominance. Many people view their problems as being caused by conservatism. They're ready for a backlash against conservatism.
McCain has an uphill climb against a strong headwind. It isn't helped by the apparently large numbers of conservatives who intend to boycott him because he isn't sufficiently pure.
I hope they're equally willing to take responsibility for the consequences when we are dealing for the next few decades with the problems caused by Obama as president, a filibuster-proof Senate, and perhaps four new liberal judges on the Supreme Court.
Some of Reagans speeches were presented on the Laura Ingraham show this week.
Totally breathtaking in substance and delivery. No wonder he won in landslides.
The GOP has entered into a liberal message and has jumped the shark.