While you may have a point in regard to the some of the Left Coast, New England and much of the inner city liberal enclaves and ghettos, I don't think that it applies to most places.
I believe that Conservatives could be more brazen, more active, less scared, etc. If the media tries to paint them wrong, they should stand up and tell why the conservative point of view is the most logical, makes sense, why it is COnstitutional and helps protect America. On the other hand, they should state why the opposition's agenda is anti-Constitutional, why it is wrong, and why it will bring about the destruction of the country. If enough conservatives do this, or run for office, the country could easily be turned around. Of course, the left wing media plays into it. However, the message has to be drilled home, and if the media tries to cover up that message, word will get out among the general public that the media and left are engaged together, lying, and manipulating. Furthermore, people will have become educated, and the tide will start turning. ( I believe that it's already starting to).
I'd like to see conservatives working on those midwestern, western and southern districts whereby Democrat or RINOS hold office. Even parts of the northeast (New Hampshire, Maine, parts of New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont) could be brought into the conservative camp if the effort were put out. (Only Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut do I see being total non-win states)
Lastly, I will say that the pandering factor, compromise if you will, has not gotten Conservatives and Republicans anywhere. The agenda is continually being moved to the left. There can't be any compromise with the left, for their side has everything to gain and ours everything to lose.
There is a diffeence between ideology and politics. Because I am a practical person, I favor the latter. I can get some of what I wish accomplished by getting someone elected, even if they do not agree with me on everything.
If someone who is opposed to everything I think gets elected, I have lost.
Yes, I would like to see more forthright defense of our positions in the media. There are two difficulties in this:
1.)Many people do not realize that the programs control who will be invited to speak. There is a reason that you don't see many effective conservative speakers on "Meet the Press" and "This Week." They are NOT INVITED! Instead, Tim and George invite the second string GOP, the ones they know are not effective. There is a reason that J.D. Hayworth only appears on the cable channels, you know.
2.) Many conservative politicians are not skilled in presentation. This is not necessarily bad, but if trying to appeal to the public at large, they labor under a mighty handicap. My personal thought is that Rumsfeld should be holding seminars. It would help people understand how to deal with the press without caving in.
These are things that we should be working on as far as the conservative representatives on the media are concerned. We also should, as grass roots people, understand what is going on and be working on ways to counteract the media strategy.
Although most of us are listeners of Fox and Rush, they doesn't reach the people we need to convert. A stealth strategy ("compassionate conservatism") is more likely to make it into the mainstream. I realize people hate that phrase, but it is very astute politically. Before you can change things, you must get elected; and in order to get elected, you must get people to listen. Please consider why the President says things in this manner, and look at the political landscape we would have had if he had lost the election.