I am not really a fan of the “don’t run someone so conservative they offend the masses” theory, I think it is a mistake that got us McCain, and continually gets the GOP in trouble with conservatives, who tend to win the masses when left to campaign on their own. So I am a little disappointed to find myself appearing to offer such a defense. Perhaps I need to reword it later when I have time/sleep.
I see Santorum as consistently conservative in areas that matter, and presumably will trickle down to economic areas where he seems a little weaker. When I hear him speak, I hear someone likeable, whom I know to share many core values with me.
Despite Gingrich’s riding the conservative groundswell in the nineties, I haven’t seen him as consistent, except as a politician. He got a raw deal, but he also failed to deliver on commitments (perhaps he was outmaneuvered, I do not know). When I listen to him, I like what he says, but I do not know if I know or trust him in the same way.
My take was that the Contract with America was evidence that we want unabashed conservatism and will vote for it. Then, once in power, the GOP began to act like it needed to cross the aisle, and be non offensive, and not be all the things it claimed when courting our vote, I suppose to try to get the votes of the people it did not need to sweep in, anyway, or perhaps just to be liked.
Back to post 15 - I suppose the smartest course would have been to endorse no one. What a wretched field we had when everyone had to point to Romney as the most conservative horse in the race.
Since you made that up, care to explain it? I know that you moderates blocked the two term California Governor from the Presidency aqainst Nixon, and then against Ford in 1976, and then we conservatives managed to get past you in 1980, it worked out pretty well.
You got your way again with HW Bush, Bob Dole, and John McCain, now you have Romney or Santorum fighting for the safe moderate position, since you guys fought a battle to the death against Palin for 3 years.
You reveal yourself when you denigrate the historical move to the right that Gingrich helped orchestrate in the 1990s, a pay off of many, many years of his behind the scenes strategies, and actions, even the manipulating of cable TV.
Gingrich had great success with the Contract with America, the man that Santorum wanted to be President in 2008 was against it of course.