If they never pass moderate agenda items, they probably won't "con" the moderates into voting for them at all. And without the votes of the moderates, they won't win at all, and they won't pass anything.
And what happens to real conservatives that vote year after year for these compromisers all on the promise that one day we'll see a conservative agenda?
So far Bush has made sure we won't be a party to the Kyoto Treaty or the International Criminal Court, he's gotten us out of the U.S. - CCCP ABM Treaty that was preventing the U.S. from deploying our ABM defenses, he's banned using foreign aid money for abortions, pushed through 2 military pay raises and 2 tax cuts for the rest of us, among other things.
Sure, there's a long way yet to go, but do you think that would have happened under a Democratic administration?
Considering that these 'conservatives' have passed more moderate agenda items then conservative items, it's quite plain to see who they value more. And as they continue this trend, the conservatives will leave the party
So far Bush has made sure we won't be a party to the Kyoto Treaty or the International Criminal Court, he's gotten us out of the U.S. - CCCP ABM Treaty that was preventing the U.S. from deploying our ABM defenses, he's banned using foreign aid money for abortions, pushed through 2 military pay raises and 2 tax cuts for the rest of us, among other things.
Okay, so he's fiscally conservative. Big whoop. What about CFR? Rhetoric in support of AWB? 15 billion for AIDS in Africa? 2 billion for some pipe dream car? These things affect my life more personally and more directly (considering they're coming out of my paycheck and limiting my rights) than some international treaties.
That's the reality. We do need the support of moderates. If we abandon the center, there is another party which will respond to the vacuum.
Good post!