I disagree.
Party moderates were able to unite around McCain during the primaries, at the same time the more conservative among us were still quite divided by ideological purity tests.
Those who can unite on a compromise usually end up getting more of what they want. Divided purists, holding out for all of what they want, end up with less or none.
Conservative purists divide themselves into small minorities with absolute candidate litmus tests of one kind or another and virtually guarantee loss. The larger group of moderates who aren't as dead set on "the nominee must say/do/believe/support X" get more of what they want in the end by being willing to give up some of what they want.
The ones who insist on getting all or nothing are probably going to end up with nothing.
If you want to call that a party problem, then that's fine. Start your own party and work on winning some elections. Then you can't blame the party for nominating the wrong people.
“The ones who insist on getting all or nothing are probably going to end up with nothing.”
The GOP has a party plaform. It’s conservative...so it’s the RINO’s (moderates...whatever) that are not following it.
And nothing is exactly what conservatives have been getting for the last 25 years....the gop (Bush,etc) have given the left every thing they want. We don’t want it all....but we’d sure like some representation JUST once in a while.
If big tenters don’t like the conservative platform, it’s they who should start your own party and get honest about it. But THEY know they can get NO where without US. That’s why McCain picked Palin.
“Conservative purists divide themselves into small minorities with absolute candidate litmus tests of one kind or another and virtually guarantee loss.”
United moderates have practically guaranteed loss for the party. They have no core principles and therefore stumble around trying to find a message to deliver to voters. McCain has proven that exorbitantly the past month.
It’s interesting that in a recent blog post written by open-borders-obsessed Michael Medved, he already threw out there the idea that if McCain loses, it will be Sarah Palin’s fault for being a conservative.
Reading your posts in this thread, it sounds like you agree. Everything is conservatives fault. McCain can do no wrong.