Being a Conservative in the post-Reagan Era Republican Party is like being a Cubs fan. Every season begins with hope, but by August, you’re 20 games out of first place.
What I have never understood is why the GOP-E is so stupid. Reagan proved, by the largest landlsides in US history, that Conservatism is a winner. Scott Walker proved, not once, but twice that Conservatism is a winner, as did Newt Gingrich.
Instead of emulating that kind of success, we get talk of “big tents”, “tolerance”, and “diversity”. Personally, I think the pantywaists in the GOP-E get their talking points from the Huffingtonandpuffington Post.
Except for that bitter (and brief) time in ‘09 when I convinced myself I was a Paultard “Libertarian”, I’ve always been a lifelong Republican. In my case, it’s sort of like Stockholm Syndrome. No matter how much the mistreat me, no matter how much they let me down, I’ll always be a rank and file Republican.
Look at these replies. Lotsa FReepers think Gov Crisco al-Krispi Kreme will be a big-tent uniter. After all, they like him 90% of the time.
But you’re right. If you remember the 1980 election, nothing since equals it. My favorite memory of that Election Night: a crestfallen John Chancellor of NBC News trying to hold back the tears.
FWIW, the day of Chick Fil-A Appreciation gives me more hope than any other event this year, maybe the selection of Paul Ryan will exceed that. He is seeming more & more Reaganesque, IMO.