I don't think that it is a lack of guts on the Republican part. I honestly don't think the GOP has the intellectual firepower to defend individualism. That's how we ended up with "compassionate conservatism". Of all the current candidates, Ron Paul might have an argument, but he is constantly torn down by the GOP and on this site. All of the others don't seem to have any genuine interest in individual rights.
That’s because he can be for individual rights all he wants but when he spouts off like the most rabid of the moonbats that the US is responsible for the attack on the WTC and that Osama is right he’s gone way beyond losing my vote. He has earned my contempt.