[Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus]

Great point Ivan, and I suggest to us all that we look at the past historical data to see how the GOP can do that.

When the GOP tacks left, they lose elections, generally speaking.

When the GOP tacks right, they win elections, generally speaking.

Reagan got elected on a conservative, optimistic platform. The GOP took the Congress in 1994 by way of presenting a conservative plan of action to the American people. I wager that the majority of moderates (who themselves, of course, form a spectrum right-moderate to left-moderate) have more of an affinity for conservatism than they do for liberalism. The GOP primary voters and party leaders should remember the lessons of history.

[MadIvan]

There's a key word that you have in there - optimism. Let's be honest - the people who have been attacking Rudy the most sound the most negative and sour (calling anyone who doesn't agree with them a "treasonous liberal" doesn't help either). This is a vote loser, particularly in a year where Obama's sole appeal, namely to hope, is giving him kudos when he really doesn't deserve it.

With Reagan, it was "Morning in America". With the anti-Rudy folks, it's pistols at dawn.

Regards, Ivan