[conservatism_IS_compassion]

They helped build the Reagan Party and they'll help again. Only this time we have to avoid the Country Club elements like Bush I and Bush II.

We say this after every defeat, and then proceed to do the same damn thing.

Yes, but this time they have incurred the wrath of the pope.

I expect Rush Limbaugh to threaten to go second party. If the alternative is trying to drag another McCain across the finish line, what could we possibly lose?

We should nail our own "99 theses" on the door - and solemnly assure the Republican Party that without responding satisfactorily to them, they cannot possibly ever win another election. Because the party will not have any appreciable conservative support. We just won't pretend that we don't see what we see. Not again. My list:

1. Implement a zero tolerance policy for open primaries. The states establish the rules for primaries, all right - but any political party decides how many delegates each state shall have. And even whether or not any of them will be elected in primaries. If a state requires that primaries shall be open, the Republican Party must select the delegates from that state, if any, internally.

2. There should be a large disincentive for anyone who is overage in grade to become a candidate for the nomination. People who have been around for 16 years since becoming a senator or governor without even becoming VP, simply do not win election and should not be nominated.

3. Senators win election only when the opposition candidate is also a senator.

4. And sitting VPs only win election if the sitting president is someone whose face belongs on a denomination of our currency.

5. Anyone who confesses, or otherwise manifests, ignorance of economics is not qualified to run.

6. Anyone who cannot stand up on his hind legs and tell the truth about his opponent - or at least nominate a VP who will - is not qualifed to run.

That is not an unreasonable list. Sarah Palin, for one, fits it; most Governors would.

[mrsmel]

Yes, but everytime it’s election time again, we go all wobbly and partisan, and everyone says “we can’t let a rat win, we have to vote for the Pub, even if he’s soft on a lot of conservative issues, because the ‘rat’s worse”. In local and national elections, we do this. And it’s true to a point-it’s either the rat, or the rat-lite. Third party candidates have never been viable. Even the pubs who run conservatively, morph before our eyes once they’re safely in the club. They’re not “true believers” determined to fulfill an agenda, unlike most rats. What’s the answer? I’m about ready to vote straight rat now, just to tie up the loose ends. This would accomplish two things-put it squarely in their laps-at this point, they own it all anyway, it won’t hurt anything-and two, show the wobbly Pubs that we mean business, they won’t get our votes.

At any other time, it could’ve done damage (at least we told ourselves this) to vote for rats-now, since they have a lock on it all anyway, it would be more effective to punish the Pubs for playing with us.