Threadkiller, it is a common misconception (and faulty analysis) that a truly conservative candidate could not win in a national election. Reagan last ran in 1984 and not only won, but won in a landslide, both times. Then we have the 1988 election, wherein G.W.'s father was painted by the press as "just another Ronald Reagan" in terms of his political bent, this in the firm belief that America voted for Reagan twice only because he was a kindly old man, and not because he was a conservative (which the press was sure America hated). Well, it backfired. America, hearing that Bush would continue Reagan's policies, voted For Bush #1 in another landslide. Then reality set in. Bush was no Reagan, but a wishy washy liberal compromiser. The conservatives stayed home the second time, and we got Bill Clinton.
Now convinced that the lesson learned was that "conservatives" like George Bush (HUH?) couldn't win, The Republican National Committe put up a well known moderate against Clinton (while actively destroying the reputations of any conservative who ran in the primaries, so as to "save" this election), i.e., Dole. He lost big time (Americans will not vote for a Republican unless he is perceived to be a conservative). Then came G.W., who was painted by the press as too conservative, but kept sabotaging himself with the label "compassionate conservative." Well, conservatives don't like the implication that ordinarily conservatives lack compassion, so many stayed home, making it a squeaker for G.W. Had he been a Ronald Reagan style conservative, i.e., unapologetically conservative, he'd have won in a landslide victory, just like Reagan.
History seems clearly to show us the way, if we'd only look at it, but too many people keep repeating the mantra that "in today's America a conservative running for president cannot win." Well, I have news for you. We heard the same exact message from the liberal press constantly hammered into our ears when Reagan ran in 1980.
America is essentially a very conservative nation. Most Americans don't want the government shoving its nose into their business. Most Americans would rather be left alone by government. That message still sells if only someone would use it again. Reagan said, "I want to get government off the backs of Americans," and that was the essential message that put him in in two landslide elections. It was the popularity of this idea that put Bush #1 in in a landslide in 1988 (The press informed us he was going to continue the "failed policies" of Reagan. It backfired, and America ate that message up. America liked the "failed policies" of Reagan.). That was not that long ago, folks. We need a conservative who doesn't insult authentic conservatism with the smear "compassionate conservatism," impying that, ordinarily, conservatism is lacking in compassion. By golly, with friends like that, conservative Americans don't need enemies.
