[patriciaruth]

That was sweet. Thanks. Truth is, I am a conservative Republican, but a practical one like Reagan and GWB, not a radical one. Therein lies the rub.

[Republican_Strategist]

You are a person without principles. Therein lies the problem.

[maica]

I think you are a principled realist.

I just heard a few minutes of Jonah Goldberg on C-SPAN this morning when he answered a caller about the position of Majority Leader. He made points that need to be more widely understood and discussed on fora such as Free Republic.

He said Majority Leader is a terrible job because it is one of constant compromise and deal making. It can only be handled by someone who does not stand nearer the edges of the Party. I had not thought of that angle, but I had realized that in order BE elected the ML one would have to get the votes of all the Republicans in the Senate. One Lincoln Chafee or McCain could threaten to withhold his vote from a more rigid candidate.

[RFP]

Also check this out: Michael Zak's excellent book, Republican Basics. Democrats have been "slavocrats" since before they even existed as a political party. You can read the introduction by clicking the aformentioned hyperlink. Highly recommended reading!