However, in the long term, it is time that these "finger in the wind" pol's learn that they will loose if they screw their base. Yeah, but that's not the way most elected officials look at things. Instead of running further to the right, many say that they must gain the support of more moderate voters to get elected next time - thus they run to the center. Honestly, I think the primary election is the time to elect more conservative candidates.
It is a hard decision. You are right about them running more to the middle after they get elected. It is almost like you are better off to elect a Democrat because he will then forget his base and pander to the middle and right to get re-elected. Unfortunatly Bush has done this to a degree. Somewhere along the line they need to know that if they grant anmesty to 4 million illegals, they might get 2 million votes from them, but loose 6 million from the base. It really is a case of long term vs short term political analysis.
No politician ever need do anything for their base, because the base has nowhere to go except third party (throw vote away) or not vote (throw vote away) or just throw your vote away. I hate politics. I want to go home now. Can I have a hall pass?
I like you, what state are you going to be a future governor of? You have my vote.