The American Spectator : You Did Not Lose

You Did Not Lose

By Robert Stacy McCain on 11.5.08 @ 6:07AM

Tears streaked the faces of the young conservative activists, heartbroken by the disastrous news.

It was Feb. 7 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel and I had stepped down to the exhibition hall where scores of attendees at the Conservative Political Action Conference gathered in front of a large plasma TV. They watched in stunned disbelief as former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney announced he was suspending his presidential campaign.

"If I fight on in my campaign, all the way to the convention, I would forestall the launch of a national campaign and make it more likely that Senator Clinton or Obama would win," Romney told the audience in a nearby ballroom, his speech relayed to the exhibition hall via closed-circuit TV. "And in this time of war, I simply cannot let my campaign be a part of aiding a surrender to terror."

Some of those staring at the TV dabbed moisture from the corners of their eyes. Others just let the tears flow.

Scarcely an hour earlier, many of those same faces had been beaming with joy. The young volunteers swarmed over the hotel lobby, offering Romney lapel stickers to conferees arriving for the governor's CPAC speech. While they eagerly boosted their candidate, however, I was among the journalists scrambling to confirm the news that had just flashed over the Drudge Report: Romney would quit the race.

One of my friends was volunteering with Evangelicals for Mitt. As I crossed the lobby she grabbed my arm and asked: "Stacy, is it true?"

I explained the situation as I understood it at that point. My friend was flabbergasted. "But why? It doesn't make sense," she said. I agreed, but had no insight to offer, nor any consolation for her tears. And I had a story to file.

MEMORIES OF THAT FEBRUARY day at CPAC come back to me now as I contemplate the November debacle of the Republican Party. Many conservatives will inevitably feel rejected and dejected.

Try not to take it personally. You did not lose this election.

Perhaps the most important statistic for conservatives to keep in mind today -- as pundits pore over and pour out exit-poll data to tell us What It Means -- is this: 53 percent of Republican primary voters did not vote for John McCain.

While the Democratic struggle between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton captured all the headlines during the primary season, few pundits noticed the massive Republican resistance to McCain's nomination.

For example, on Super Tuesday, Feb. 5, McCain got 33 percent of the primary vote in Missouri, 32 percent in Tennessee and Georgia; in caucuses that day, he got 22 percent in the Minnesota and 19 percent in Colorado. McCain's share of the total Republican primary vote through Super Tuesday was only 39 percent.

Nor did the resistance end after McCain's most formidable rival, Mitt Romney, called it quits Feb. 7. As late as May 20 -- by which time McCain had been the de facto nominee for more than two months -- 28 percent of voters in the Kentucky GOP primary cast their ballots for other candidates or voted "uncommitted."

Conservatives who sought to prevent McCain's nomination cannot be blamed for his defeat. And it is his defeat, not yours.

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Letter to the Editor

aware| 11.5.08 @ 6:39AM

Now purge the party of moderates and all who do not understand the culture war. Remember the back stabbers like George Will, Peggy Noonan, David Brock, et.al. The Democrat Party has become extreme Leftist and these named and others are showing their true colors. Expose the neo-cons for what they really are...believers in the State. Call them out when they try to claim to be conservative and don't allow them to act as if they are something they are not. We can't fight this important fight with these moral idiots among us. They went with the other side in this, don't let them slither back to sow their dragon's teeth in the Republican Party. Now is the REAL fight and it is within the Republican Party and it must be made into a real counter balance to the Collectivists or we will see the final act in the American experiment.

Drudge Ette OBama| 11.5.08 @ 6:45AM

Our work is cut out for us and it is to fight tooth and nail against every progressive proposal that comes down the path. That means letters to the editor, to the Congress and to the President. Get more involved.

And to Saxby Chambliss, one of my Georgia senators: you came very close to losing to a drab, far left progressive in Jim Martin. You have been given another chance. Don't cut the legs out from under your fellow conservatives again like you did on the energy compromise. Let's now see what you are really made of, sir. Rep. Tom Price for Senator of Georgia? Sounds really great, doesn't it?

Rocco| 11.5.08 @ 6:54AM

In my view, conservatism has not failed. In fact, it has never really been tried. Republican and conservative are not necessarily one and the same, although one can be Republican and conservative at the same time. Really and truly, the Republican defeat is due to a number of factors, some mentioned in the above article. First, Bush, despite some of the good he achieved after 9/11, proved to be overall incompetent and out of touch - his stubborness in pursuing a losing strategy in Iraq until 2007, his abyssmal appointments (Brown at FEMA sticks out), the flyover after Katrina, among others. Perhaps history may be kinder to him as it has been for Truman. Republicans, once in power, became what they replaced in Congress. Sen. McCain ran a horrible campaign - one of the worst I can remember. He was presented by what my naval aviator colleagues refer to as a "target rich environment," but put issues (Rev. Wright) off limits, and didn't really focus on economic issues until "Joe the Plumber" came along. Perhaps with another week or two in the campaign, he probably would have eked out a victory. He allowed Obama to define him, instead of the other way around. Also, the money issue figured large; by opting out of public financing, Obama had tens of millions to burn. McCain, of McCain-Feingold fame, was hung by his own legislation and had to ration his funding. Lastly, one big issue for the Republican party, it has to get over the "it's my turn" thing - it was Dole's "turn" in 1996, and he wsa crushed by Clinton. This year it was McCain's "turn" and we all know the story now. It's high time Republicans vote for the best candidate in the primaries, not vote for a candidate because it's his turn. Otherwise, there will be a repeat of this in the future. I can go on and on, at the risk of writing a treatise, but I think most thinking types will see the points. For the record - I am not a Republican but a conservative independent, so this is a view from the outside. It's time to rebuild, put aside the BS and focus on winning in Congress in 2010. The libs will overreach - they just can't help themselves. They will interpret this as a mandate and will try to pass all sorts of idiotic legislation to hasten our "change" into another banana republic until, hopefully, the American people say, enough is enough.

Jenna| 11.5.08 @ 6:58AM

We have Mike Huckabee to thank for being stuck with John McCain as our nominee. Perhaps if those two had not ganged up, we might have had a better candidate. And for those who supported Huckabee because of the fair tax are now farther away from achieving that dream than ever.

Joe Wade| 11.5.08 @ 7:02AM

We Conservatives have been in the wilderness before. It is for us now to find our way back to power by remembering who we are. No more "RINOS"with conservative masks. No more trying to get along with people who hate freedom. No more compromises on energy or bipartisan approaches to judicial nominations. We must fight tooth and nail for what we believe. The next two years are going to be tough. But after the midterm elections things should improve. Then in 2012 we must be ready to lead this nation out of the mess we are currently in because of non conservative"conservative" leadership and the greater mess we will be in because these liberals cannot govern . We stand today where Reagan stood in the 1960's. He overcame by being true to his principles. We must do the same.

Rocco| 11.5.08 @ 7:18AM

Mr. Wade, well said, sir!

P. Aaron| 11.5.08 @ 7:42AM

A lot of work to do...indeed. That's what conservatives have to look forward to. Will Republicans come along? Are they now accepting the fact that McCain's (and much of the party's) belief that the moderate wing of the party cannot win nationally, nor govern moderately? No.
It's either going to be a purge and an absolute committement to an ideology-strategy that is not compromised, or the Party will continue to experience boom & bust cycles while statism and the government constricts our liberties.

P. Aaron| 11.5.08 @ 7:46AM

Mr. Wade, I accept the premise, but Reagan had to work for 20 years to get to that point! A lot more damage can be done in that amount of time, and the job will be that much more daunting. Accept the challange, do not wait for the right time, work to create it NOW!

BD57| 11.5.08 @ 7:46AM

Conservatism doesn't expand by undertaking a jihad to expunge the RINO's, etc. Like it or not, the brand is tarnished by those who claimed it as their own (when convenient) these past 12 years or so.

We don't have enough people who agree with us. We need more.

That doesn't mean "selling out" - it does mean focusing more (much more) on convincing people whose minds aren't made up to join us than on "getting even" with those who've abandoned us.

J David| 11.5.08 @ 8:10AM

The greatest danger to conservatism was in McVain winning, as it would have been proof to the pseudo- conservatives that compromise(read: *surrender*) is the path of the future for the GOP. PURITY of conservative principles is the ONLY path back to power, as that is the only thing, a moral standard that rises above politics, that distinguishes *us* from *them*. No more squishes, no more going *conservative* ten minutes before you decide to run for president, or right before your next election run for lifetime office of porking. No more "bi-partisanship"(read: (surrender monkeys*), go on the attack and stay on it, or we will join France and the rest of Europe.
I am deeply satisfied with the repudiation of Juan Amnesty McVain, as we can hang the next two years of FAIL around the necks of those really to blame.

Ernie| 11.5.08 @ 9:27AM

How do you follow a maverick?

Michigan-Matt| 11.5.08 @ 9:42AM

Wow, it is simply stunning on so many levels to see conservatives ignore a simple, indisputable truth: 20+ yrs of conservative excess of guys like Tom Delay and Duke Cunningham ruined the Party that once embraced Ronald Reagan. The answer in the election defeat is to learn that Obama is to liberals and Democrats what Reagan was to conservatives and Republicans... a change for a generation. The far Right is no longer a relevant force in politics; thank God.

To think that conservatives can come out of this election saying "Death to the RINOs", "Purge the Party" is to know that conservatives are already in the political dustbin -they just haven't gotten "it" yet.

Good riddance. Let's have the GOP reclaim the Party of moderation, opportunity, lower taxes, less govt, more freedom --and freedom means freedom for all... good riddance especially to social conservatives who gave us Teri Shiavo, Jack Abramoff, run away military spending, the immigration impasse, greed and deregulation run amuck and purity tests as a fitness-for-office requirements.

Good riddance to the social conservatives; let's send em back to the pews and keep em out of politics.

Saxby Devon| 11.5.08 @ 9:53AM

Pathetic. You are all so pathetic. The Bush presidency was a disaster and John McCain imploded his own campaign. Get over it. Obama was the better choice. Period.

Sean| 11.5.08 @ 9:56AM

You people are RINO's. Join the Constitution party if you want to keep trying to split up the Republican part with your ultra-conservative craziness. Your bible-thumping broke our party and cost us an election. Now there's a communist in power.

YOU DID THIS, NEOCONS. THANKS.

Anthony| 11.5.08 @ 10:31AM

Thanks Robert. I'll be man enough to tell readers that I predicted to you in a private email, a large McCain victory after his choice of Gov. Palin. For a time, I appeared to be right, but then, the economic collapse besieged us. Ballgame over. But your point that "53% of R primary voters didn't vote for McCain", is the telling part. We conservatives were bagged by D's & I's that corrupted the primary process to get us McCain in the first place. R's played the game too with Hillary, but not to their extent. Besides, the Dems had their super delegates to take control of their nomination process as they saw fit. D's never leave things to chance ,or to the will of the plebes. They took control when they abandoned Hillary in droves at the end. The McCain experiment has demonstrated that moderates do not help elect a R candidate. McCain's maverick status, his inability to woo the base he actually detested and his play to the moderates was a fools gambit. A moderate candidate who plays to the media and moderates, will end up as road kill, runover by the same folks who profess their love and admiration, until a D comes along. Gov. Palin was the only reason I voted for McCain & gave him $. She was the true conservative and the media & the Left hated her for it and did all they could to take her out. How ironic, a man that could withstand the horrors of the the Vietnamese as a POW, was such a weakling when it came to taking the fight to Obama & those who never wished him well in politics. McCain was blinded by the exaulted above the frey maverick image he saw in the mirror each day. I only wish now that he'd just go home and let a real conservative take his place, instead, I fear, out of his famous spite, that he will decide to do more damage to the party by adding to Obama's senate margin. They'll be no "Gang of 14" with Obama, only clear passage for his far left justices and the global warming destruction of the American economy. It will be a long, cold, 4 years.

lin| 11.5.08 @ 10:45AM

You don't need to show id in California to vote. I personally know illegal aliens who just registered to vote and actually received their ballots in the mail. Nobody checks!

You've let the enemey infiltrate the country, and what I mean about the enemy are those people with socialistic tendencies. You've let the socialist and marxist (origianlly foreigners) infiltrate the universites to brainwash the youth.

You've let too many socialist in to the country and the numbers don't look good for conservatives; the ones who made this country. This is the reason why some republicans wanted to go moderate; the numbers (in people) to continue conservatism are not there. The borders are wide open.

And for years this country has been preaching and exporting good business sense through conservatism and the beneficiaries have been countries like India, China, Brazil, Chile. At the same time, this country has been importing too many people with the opposite belives of this country's founding.

Put this country ( its people) and your children first for once!

Don't feel guilty about being white any more, though. There is a black president now, so throw your guilt out the window.

The United States is not responsible for the entire populations of other countries who send their people here so they don't have to deal with their own problems.

Just say: We are not responsible for you. Go home!

BD57| 11.5.08 @ 10:50AM

Michigan-Matt:

You wouldn't know a social conservative if she bit you on the butt.

"Teri Shiavo?" May have hurt the brand some, but was hardly the difference.

"Jack Abramoff?" Um, that was good, old-fashioned Washington graft & corruption, not "social conservatism."

"Run away military spending?" Sorry, social-cons didn't cause that.

"The immigration impasse?" Not social-cons.

"greed and deregulation run amuck."

Most people would try to pin that on the "economic-conservatives", not the social-cons.

"purity tests as a fitness-for-office requirements".

I'm sorry, there's only one answer to that: WTF?

People who want Republicans to pitch the Social-Cons over the side are one of two things: Democrats ... or Republicans who would rather be perpetually in the minority than be inconvenienced by having to associates with "those" people. In other words, selfish people who put themselves above country.

mnotaro| 11.5.08 @ 10:55AM

Obama did not win last night...McCain did not lose...Bush lost. Obama was fighting against Bush the entire time and there was no way he could win against the liberal illuminati after the devasting economic turmoil that has been going on for the last 6 months.

eddie| 11.5.08 @ 10:57AM

McCain lost the election when he voted for the $700 billion bailout. At that point, too many people decided he was just as corrupt as the rest.

Doctor Right| 11.5.08 @ 11:18AM

Oh, please...I care nothing for John McCain...Never did, in fact. I wasn't voting FOR him as much as I was voting against Obama. I didn't support McCain in the Primaries, either. He's a wobbly conservative at best (small "c" intended) who showed a propensity to stab his Party in the back whenever it suited his needs. He did one thing right this entire election, and that was to choose Sarah Palin as his running mate. Of course, left to his own devices, he would have picked Joe Lieberman! Let's also not forget that McCain forced this idiotic McCain-Feingold law down our throats, either. Ironically, Obama used it against him to raise obscene amounts of campaign cash.

So I won't mourn McCain's loss as being reflective at all of a rejection of Conservatism.

In fact, if this Party has any stones at all, they'll start looking for a suitable, Conservative replacement for McCain in Arizona at the next available opportunity...And do it quickly, before "President Obama" (...uggh...) and Harry Reid entice him to make the penultimate aisle-crossing, and he becomes a Democrat, himself. Hey...He toyed with the idea of being Kerry's running mate in '04...Anything's possible...

John| 11.5.08 @ 11:28AM

Sorry,Romney is NOT a conservative.He's a MODERATE!Rush Limbaugh said in December of '07 there wasn't a conservative in the race.I agree.I'm still proud of McCain,MASSIVE press bias was worth 3 points at least for 0BAMA.

RJ| 11.5.08 @ 11:45AM

Michigan Matt gets it. The social cons who seek to have government impose, in the manner of the Far Left, their vision of morality upon others rather than trust in the sense of men and women to order their lives as they see fit, free from government, do us no favors. (Note- this should be differentiated from those pirncipled social conservatives who seek, via the court of public opinion, via moral suasion, to convince others of the rightness of their views.)

The GOP need to return to- and embrace all who support- limited government, low tax/pro-growth economic policies, federalist principles, strong-but-smart applications of our miiltary power; leave the sermoninzing and Culture Warriorizing to the Elmer Gantrys.

Doctor Right| 11.5.08 @ 12:34PM

Sorry, RJ...But No.

We "social cons" are the back-bone of the Conservative movement, and by proxy, the Republican Party.

Our allegiance is to principle first, Party second. Without us, and our dollars, you're nothing. Abandon us at your own peril.

If our inconvenient respect for the sanctity of human life offends you, you'll be quite happy with President Obama. In addition, the Pro-Life stance IS a limited-government stance, since abortion is NOT a Constitutional right, and the Federal Government has no business telling individual states whether or not they must legalize the procedure.

Low-tax, pro-growth, federalist principles? I'm with you, baby! But when you refer to us as "Elmer Gantrys", you sound a lot like MoveOn.org...

Paul| 11.5.08 @ 12:40PM

McCain "reached across the aisle", then tried to pretend he was a "conservative", and got pimp-slapped in front of a world wide audience. Obama voted like a socialist and will govern like the America-hater he is, yet he posed as a "moderate", and a lot of people fell for it. We don't need any more RINOs; we need blood and guts conservatives to STOMP the enemy.

Believe me brothers and sisters, our enemies will surely screw up, and they will give us the opportunity to take back America. The question is, are you guys going to be wearing birkenstocks and get your toes trod on again, while you fight by Marquis of Queensbury rules? Or will you lace up your Doc Martens, and get ready to kick some ass?

Your choice, people. Your choice

Chuck| 11.5.08 @ 1:04PM

Conservatives did not lose during this election. We lost when the Republican party nominated the liberal MaCain. I really feel sorry for Palin. I think running with McCain has killed her chances on the national scale.

Agent Orange Peel| 11.5.08 @ 1:06PM

Mr. McCain you say, "Good candidates win elections, and bad candidates lose. John McCain was a bad candidate and he lost."

It is a good thing that the Republican party had such a "good candidate" in 200o and 2004 as George Bush Jr. because he won. Look what that winning "good candidate" did for fiscal conservatives and America:

Jr. and his administration took America from a 5 Trillion national debt to a 10 Trillion national debt! What a triumph for the "good candidates" win elections concept.

bigyaz| 11.5.08 @ 1:07PM

Nice to see all of you thinking "Country First." If President Obama and the Democrats fail, we all lose. Which seems to be exactly what you want.

J.A. Davis| 11.5.08 @ 1:10PM

Do you really think Romney would have done better? Another writer on this website had it right. No Republican could have won in this election year. McCain did better than the Republican brand. The storyline that a real conservative could have won, might make you feel better today, but is complete bunk. Look at the numbers. McCain ended up doing fine with conservative voters, but new voters killed the Republicans.

Agent Orange Peel| 11.5.08 @ 1:29PM

Chuck you say, "I really feel sorry for Palin. I think running with McCain has killed her chances on the national scale"

You may be right but you also may be wrong. I remember a certain Republican presidential nominee who lost the Presidential election, and I think he then went on to lose a governor race in another election but who also came back to be elected President of the United States. That Nixon principle shows all is by no means necessarily lost for Sarah Palin fans.

Jim| 11.5.08 @ 2:02PM

It hurts to see the lil' marxist take the white house but short term pain is long term gain. Let's face it, McCain was never one you could really get excited about. He is anything but conservative but he was the less of two evils so we voted for him. This is DAY ONE of rebuilding the TRUE conservative movement. Next time we need a Bob Dornan or Duncan Hunter type to get in there and not fold to political correctness. The hell with reaching acrossed the isle. We need someone who's not going to bend an inch to these left-wing radicals. Let's get started NOW!!

Joe| 11.5.08 @ 2:15PM

Think Bobby Jidal 2012! A true Conservative in the Reagan mold. That's what will win us the Presidency.

Ginia Lucas| 11.5.08 @ 2:45PM

This is great, and a little redeeming. I don't agree with everything on it, but the fact that we need to get together and change the congress and senate in 2 years, AMEN. We have not been defeated, the battle isn't lost, a little patience and fortitude will see us through the next 2 years and with a little determination, we can make our own change. Remember 48% of the country voted Republican. I think one of the first things we need to look at is changing the way the electoral college works. Huge electoral states like California and Florida are deciding factors in the elections because the whole state goes to the majority. I personally believe that this negates the votes of the percentage that is in the minority and gives them the feeling that their vote doesn't really count. At this time there are only two states that divide their Electoral votes. This would be a great beginning for initial changes in the process, also it would have to be a change that the states themselves would want to make. I also feel the the western half of the country feels like 'why bothering voting?' when the press calls the election before the polls have even closed in some of the states. It definitely keeps some people from the polls. Come on 2012!

Agent Orange Peel| 11.5.08 @ 3:06PM

Joe you say, "Think Bobby Jidal 2012! A true Conservative in the Reagan mold. That's what will win us the Presidency."

I think I read in a comment at Real Clear Politics one time that combined all the Presidents before Reagan took the American national debt to 1 Trillions dollars and that Reagan and his administration alone took the national debt to 3 Trillions dollars. If the figures are correct in that RCP comment then what was fiscally great about the conservative "Reagan mold" and why does America need more of that "Reagan mold"?

republican disaster| 11.5.08 @ 3:21PM

Oh The Drama. Oh the Drama... someone call a Whaambulance , quit your whining... America is tired of you sarah palin whack-jobs running the country.

RJ| 11.5.08 @ 3:22PM

Doctor Right: I agree w/ you re. abortion. It is an issue for government because the unborn are incapable of advocating for/defending themselves. But the rest of the social con agenda? You mentioned- rightly, IMO- that the feds should not dictate to states re. abortion, as it is not a federal issue. Marriage laws are also tradtionally state issues, yet social "conservatives" attempted to federalize marriage law by seeking a constitutional amendment re. marriage; where is the consistency to federalist principles? I'm straight, but I've never understood the obession over homosexuality; who cares how they choose to set up housekeeping? It does not affect me, you, or anyone else. Internet gambling ban? What was with that? And attaching it the Port Security bill? Insane. You don't approve of gay marriage? Don't marry one. You don't approve of internet gambling? Don't gamble online. But don't foist your vision of morality upon adults who may differ. That is the problem- and yes, it IS a problem- with too many social conservatives, those who wish to advance their views via legislation, via government, under the guise of broader conservatism and the Republican Party. Sarah Palin holds socially conservative views- yet she hasn't used her position as Governor to foist them upon Alaskans. THAT is conservatism.

Erica Brigid| 11.5.08 @ 3:42PM

Credit to Jim for being the closest to getting it. This was an election in which Dilbert (Navy slang for a reckless pilot) was a throwaway candidate. We did not lose because we pulled all our dogs out of this fight. The year to watch will be 2010, when Hillary MacBeth Clinton will run for Governor of New York in order to position herself better for 2012. This may lead to a split between Democrats and Obaminationals. And Conservatives have always taken advantage well of a breach in the Left.

Pat| 11.5.08 @ 3:45PM

Oh nonsense! Now is the time for some intense introspection by conservatives - and not the time for rationalizing failure. Partly this defeat is the normal rejection of 4 more years of Bush style govt., just as Gore's defeat was rejection of Clinton ad infinitum. Partly it was a reaction to the economic crisis and timing of same right before the election. And finally, it was a rejection of those hallowed conservative principles we're always going on and on about.

Conservative social principles were soundly rejected by the electorate at both a state and national level. Conservative economic principles sound great on paper, but Republicans made a hash of those principles in practice. It's time to ask if Americans really share all those sacred principles conservatives are always claiming they do. If so, the electorate is certainly keeping that fact to themselves. Consider this: What if the majority of Americans really vote for what they do believe in and not what the history books and founding fathers say they believe in. Horrible thought, but what if it's true and, more importantly, what does that tell us?

Press Anderson| 11.5.08 @ 4:04PM

As for George Will, I've noticed that the older he gets, the more intellectually constipated he becomes. The constant pinched look on his face reveals it. He's like my old aunt whose colon is constantly distended and who is snappish and miserable as a result. Will can no longer be taken seriously as a conservative writer. In his smarmy way he's been trashing conservatism for years. He needs a physic to clean him out and allow his mind to think wholesome thoughts.

iamse7en| 11.5.08 @ 4:17PM

Romney/Jindal '12

Dave Hansen| 11.5.08 @ 4:31PM

Several comments here are outsanding. Roccos' was right. The GOP leaders went along with the excess spending and are clueless as to how to adhere to present common sense conservative principals.

Janet| 11.5.08 @ 5:15PM

Well said!
When trying to get from one side of the road to the OTHER side, only an idiot stops in the middle and re-thinks the reason for the trip in the first place.
Let's go back where we came from, re-group with clear convictions and try again.

The Dude| 11.5.08 @ 5:17PM

Reading many of these comments is heartening because I too despised the McCain selection in general and, as a recovering former Republican who now leans more libertarian, was only remotely energized when Palin was chosen. But conservatism needs to be fought unabashedly. I think the tent is big enough for all citizens, certainly, but from a leadership standpoint, the weak-kneed RINOs, the Republican House members who went along with W's asinine drunken sailor spending, the party is on life support. There are bright spots to key on, but it's time conservatism be taught and conveyed in the context of a return to Constitutional ideals. In a perverse way, I'm glad McCain got shelled, if only to purge the "aisle-crossing" and "maverick" crapola.

Anthony| 11.5.08 @ 5:40PM

Don't you just love comments such as those from Bigyaz. "Nice to see you all thinking of Country first... If President Obama and the Democrats fail, we all lose, which is exactly what you all want." Really? Have you just returned from the planet Vulcan? What prey tell have the past eight years been about? Do you understand the concept of projection, that is projecting your actions & thoughts onto others? Are you off your meds for your Bush Derangment Syndrome? Check out today's WSJ and an excellent article on how shameful the Left has been to President Bush. When Harry Reid said the "war is lost" ,was that putting Country first? Or Biden calling Cheney the most dangerous Vice-President in history, was that not helping America lose? When the NYT divulged military secrets to the enemy, was that putting "country first"? Who's been rooting for the demise of America, conservatives or leftists? You're either a fool or a moron, either way,you deserve what's coming. We conservaatives, however, will not allow President Obama or the Democrats to prevail in ruining America, unlike drones like you.

jm| 11.5.08 @ 5:41PM

The Republicans better do what the Democrats did: Deputize their working class affiliates. I hope someone can establish a moveon.org counterpart where non-elite conservatives (like me) can pass along ideas and stimulate activism instead of dreaming about whether or not we are smart enough to get "accepted" as a caller to Laura or Rush.

libarbarian| 11.5.08 @ 5:41PM

It damn well is your defeat.

John McCain deserved better than you people.

Greg-AFDF | 11.5.08 @ 5:47PM

Now is the time that we must come together and fight the good fight for freedom, liberty and for the great expirment called America, I cannot stand by and watch this great Country go to the socalist, too many men and women have given thier all from the snows of Valley Forge to the sands of Iraq. What has been done to these who gave all is like digging up thier graves and having the left shoot them again. They fought and died to defend us from the very thing this new President is all about. Let us renew are love, our very lives for this freedom, hope and our land, yours in freedom, Greg AFDF

libarbarian| 11.5.08 @ 5:57PM

In my view, conservatism has not failed. In fact, it has never really been tried.

Go to ZNET and watch the commies say the same thing about Communism.

Thats what you sound like now - a bunch of commies who just dont want to accept that the majority of the America people are not brainwashed or fooled or tricked .. they just plain don't like you or what you are selling.

Agent Orange Peel| 11.5.08 @ 6:08PM

"Rick, the attraction of your site to me is your thinking. While I don’t always agree with your thinking I find I often do agree with it.

What would Republicans or Democrats recommend?
That Republicans win every Presidential election and have the majority in both houses of Congress or alternatively that Democrats win every Presidential election and have the majority in both houses of Congress? If so and permanent one party rule actually came to pass would America be better off?

The one party state concept was a basic principle of Nazi Germany and Stalin’s U.S.S.R. America should be glad that the Republican party loses elections and that the Democratic party loses elections. It seems to me that the Republican party or Democrat party losing elections helps America from turning into a clone of Nazi Germany and the U.S.S.R."

The above comment I believe is appropriate in relationship to Mr. McCain's article but I originally posted it on Rick Moran's article today " A New Age Begins Now" over at
Right Wing Nut House

baseballguy2001| 11.5.08 @ 6:56PM

Compassionate Conservatism is code for being a Liberal. The Prescription Drug bill, No Child Left Behind, Harriet Miers for the Supreme Court?? The billions of dollars being spent on 'Nation Building'. (wasn't that a Clinton idea?) These are but a few of the reasons Conservatives lost. The event that broke my camels back was the Federal Govt. stepping into a family matter in Florida that was clearly none of the Federal Governments business. I'm talking about the Schaivo debacle. The religious zealots, so called 'values voters' have driven the party into the ground. Low taxes, less govt intrusion, reduced spending, eliminating earmarks, border security, (where is the fence?) strong defense, standing up for the second amendment. These are winning issues but the country doesn't believe Republicans anymore.

Cday| 11.5.08 @ 6:57PM

I think McCain just lost. I ain't thrilled with what is coming up, but we were given a chance -- I haven't seen anyone mention -- yes, all of you now sigh and roll your eyes - the media blackout of Ron Paul. He was the best man the Republicans had.

Pat| 11.5.08 @ 6:59PM

libarbarian: You were just in time to throw a bucket of ice water on people in desperate denial -conservatives were trounced, their butts were beat, they were smacked around - whatever appropriate phrase applies. Conservatives are minorities now and in their own country as well. Americans on whole don't share their sacred principles - nothing wrong with the principles, people just rejected them for other principles - possibly better ones.

That's what hurts most - McCain may have been Democrat Lite and the wrong contender against Obama, but Republicans were soundly thrashed across the nation. So, what does that say about those representing conservatives? And what does that say about projecting the fantasy that Americans are really conservatives at heart, that they automatically buy into the sacred principles of the founding fathers? Shooting the messenger doesn't help, but it makes them feel much better than rethinking the modern day validity of their principles.

DJ| 11.5.08 @ 7:39PM

Republicans had their chance, control of the congress and white house for 6 years. During that time government drastically expanded it's spending and it's power.

The Republicans gave us a massive debt, and crushed our liberties with things like the "patriot" act and FISA.

"Conservatives" had a chance to pick a true economic conservative in the primaries. But the desire to wage war in the middle east and marching orders from Limbaugh, Hannity ect. prevented most of you from even taking a serious look at Ron Paul. You all thought Romney was a conservative for christs sake. He signed a UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE!! bill in Mass. HOW CONSERVATIVE IS THAT????

The Republican party as it exists today is to fractured to continue its existence. The social cons want to be in everyone's bedrooms while the neo cons want to be in everyone's wallets while spreading democracy from a rifle.

When the pendulum swings away from Obama's socialism people will be looking for a new home. They will find the republican house burning.

The Libertarian party will be there to reap the benefits. Barr turned NC blue in 08, we will turn states yellow in 12.

Ron| 11.5.08 @ 8:08PM

It is heartening to see the comments here today. The debate about McCain/Palin's conserative credentials is nice after the election, but there was no place for it before. There was way too much criticism of the party's candidate before the election was called. It seems to me nothing short of defection, perhaps even treason, to criticize our candidates after the nomination. The social conservative agenda is to blame. The constant attacks on McCain and Palin as to their conservative (social) credentials was distracting to the Party faithful and deflated the resistance to the opposition. The social conservatives are to blame. While they try and cast their agenda in conservative hues, they fall short. For while claiming that abortion is for the states to decide is conservative on its face, the state plebiscites demonstrate that such a notion does not fare in practice. Look at Nebraska. Hardly a bastion of the morally bankrupt. No, I would suggest that a true conservative stance would be to look at when constitutional rights attach to a human being. In some states, the state can prosecute a man for killing an unborn baby. So, clearly constitutional rights attach to that baby at some point. The history of Roe v. Wade and its progeny indicates the Supreme Court's recognition of the tension between the rights of the mother and the rights of the unborn. I believe that the debate of when life begins will never be resolved empirically and as mortals, we can only do the best we can in the framework of our Constitution. That is the way that Conservative ideology handles the abortion question. The practice can be quite handily condemned as morally wrong and infanticide, but that is beside the point. The Constitution is what controls here. You must frame the debate in the context of the Constitution, but that horse is out of the barn and forever more, an opponent of abortion is viewed as a Christian Crusader.

As for the rest of the social conservative movement, it is destroying the Republican party because of its holy war mentality. The social conservatives care not for the Republican party one bit for they are on a jihad and they fear their entry into paradise will be barred by the Everlasting if they compromise one bit by voting for a candidate who tolerates a less than complete pro-life stance. The writer who said that Palin is truly conservative had it right. She had the chance as governor to veto a bill that would deny same sex couples benefits, but she chose not to stating that the law is unconstitutional. She could easily have handled it in a politically astute way by signing it into law and letting the courts sort it out. Palin saved her government plenty of money and a politically divisive debate by vetoing a law that is by definition discriminatory. The gay rights issue is a side show at best. Why are Republicans scrambling to make this an issue? Because the Bible compels it? Well, the Party has now been been crucified for its deadly embrace of social conservatism and rejection of the Constitution. What we need now is a renunciation of this alliance and a rededication to Conservative thought. Just as Luther did centuries ago, we must nail our thesis onto the doors of the Republican Party and announce to the country that we are the party of Lincoln and remind everyone that we defined the notion of Liberty once and are ready to do it again.

Grondo| 11.5.08 @ 8:48PM

So, if you lose a primary, and then lose an election, that means you win!

Yay!

Quatermaster| 11.5.08 @ 8:55PM

Conservatives, indeed, did not lose. The Republicans did, however.

The party's roots are Lincolnian. The party has been the party of Hamiltonians - the big government types who wanted a unitary FedGov and fed the corporatists from the beginning. The Dems were the conservative, small government party. The Dems have repudiated their roots, the Republicans have not. Conservatives were never really welcome in the Republican Party.

Having said that, the reason the Reps lost was ignoring their base. They keep feeding the coporatists who want private profit, but publics rescues when their stupidity gets them in hot water. They hold the abse in contempt, and don't consider what is best for the country. That, at the bottom line, is why they refused to deal properly with the immigration issue, and bailed the banks and others in the sub-prime fiasco, a problem caused by the left. The party has become the party of Bob Michel all over again.

Unless you have the courage to take the fight to the country clubbers, and run them out of the party, this is going to happen again, and teh country is going to suffer for it. It may, in fact, be much too late already. The next 4 years will be hard, but the FedGov is about tapped out, the sources of borrowing are drying up, and then we will not be able to field much of an Army to defend us. We may get hyper-inflation, as has already been predicted.

Reform the primary system, no more "it's my turn" rubbish. Get rid of the "invite the world, invade the world" types like Grover Norquist. Outside of being a true conservative party, the Republican Party has no future. Become the party of Jefferson and Jackson, the ground the Dems have abandoned.

Joe the Pipefitter| 11.5.08 @ 9:36PM

Republicans are assholes, and they will soon be in charge of neither the White House, the Senate, or the House of Representatives. This is as it should be, for, as I have said before, Republicans are assholes. They are not fit to govern.

AZ SOCON| 11.5.08 @ 11:46PM

"joe the pipe fitter"

Very nice comments, did it take you all day to come up with that?

Steve A| 11.6.08 @ 1:04AM

Agent Orange Peel said:
Joe you say, "Think Bobby Jidal 2012! A true Conservative in the Reagan mold. That's what will win us the Presidency."
I think I read in a comment at Real Clear Politics one time that combined all the Presidents before Reagan took the American national debt to 1 Trillions dollars and that Reagan and his administration alone took the national debt to 3 Trillions dollars. If the figures are correct in that RCP comment then what was fiscally great about the conservative "Reagan mold" and why does America need more of that "Reagan mold"?

Remember that money went for defense spending to bankrupt the Soviet Union, in addition to rebuilding the American "Brand" around the world. Was that not worth some paper money to you?

Steve A| 11.6.08 @ 1:08AM

I Can't argue with a Libertarian, my friend. It would give me no end of pleasure if the Libertarians could win some Electoral votes. I am a Conservative and a Republican. I believe a true Conservative must have the heart of Libertarian to stay on course. Will the day come soon where the Liberatarian Party can win big elections? I hope so.

Steve A.| 11.6.08 @ 1:21AM

Quote:

Conservative social principles were soundly rejected by the electorate at both a state and national level. End Quote

Really. All State Gay Marriage bans passed. The dems picked up less than they hoped for in the Senate and House. Moderate Repubs were sent packing. Whatever you're smoking, could you pass it around, because I don't think you're right.

Steve A| 11.6.08 @ 1:24AM

OK, dude, I'll do that dude. Thanks for that dude, that's informative, dude. DId you actually vote?

Dr Zen| 11.6.08 @ 5:50AM

Yes! Please do have a bloodbath. Choose a doctrinaire rightist as your candidate next time and find out to your horror how popular your politics really are. Please please please do that.

Pope Ratzo| 11.6.08 @ 6:38AM

"We've got them right where we want them"

That seems to be a common Republican "whistling past the graveyard" theme.

May it always be so.

libarbarian| 11.6.08 @ 10:52AM

Learn how to properly quote and tie your own shoes and then we'll talk, boy.

toyboat| 11.6.08 @ 10:53AM

Palin '12! Take the poison dagger out of McCain's side and stab your eyes out with it! Yay!
(Am I giving away the game here?)

Mike Litoris| 11.6.08 @ 10:58AM

It should be no surprise that the nutjobs that write for this site, and the freaks that support them, would be the last to realize the extent to which they have been marginalized. This election was a referendum on the entire "conservative" political ideology... and guess what? You were overwhelmingly repudiated. You are now reduced to vain, incoherent rambling from the sidelines. Sorry to clue you kids in, but you are simply no longer relevant to the conversation.

Now is the time for you all to STFU and behave. The grownups are now talking, and your pathetic whining reinforces just how marginalized your way of thinking has become.

Let me leave you with this... it may help you cope with the next quarter-century or so:

Once "conservatives" are comfortable in their minority status, they will have no problem socializing with Liberals. Any farmer will tell you that certain animals run around and are unpleasant, but when they've been fixed, then they are happy and sedate. They are contented and cheerful. They don't go around peeing on the furniture and such.

solzhenitzen| 11.6.08 @ 11:54AM

Quite a few astroturfers from the netroots on the site today, aren't there.

Don't fall for them. The hard left would love it if the GOP were to dump the average Americans and move to the left. Don't believe self-described 'libertarians' who would only give freedom to sexual sin, and take freedom from the Christian foundational roots of this country.The left know that the evangelicals and Catholics are the strength of the GOP. They know that they have to turn the GOP against the evangelicals and Catholics in order to not lose the Senate and take heavy losses in the House in 2010. Learning from Gramsci and Alinsky, they know how to be agents provocateurs.

DJ| 11.6.08 @ 8:24PM

solzhenitzen said

"Don't believe self-described 'libertarians' who would only give freedom to sexual sin, and take freedom from the Christian foundational roots of this country."

This is typical social con propaganda. "Don't listen to the libertarians! They want to set all the child molesters free and put good church going folk in their empty cells!"

The concept of individual freedom is lost on them. We beleive in the rights of CONSENTING ADULTS to live their lives in any way they see fit as long as they bring no harm to other people or their property.

solzhenitzen I beleive you have the right to not approve of someones lifestyle. I do not beleive you have the right to use government as a tool to force your interpretation of morality on anyone.

Morality for different people is subjective. I'm pro life personally. But I don't beleive it is my place or the governments place to tell total strangers what they can or cant do. All I can do is tell people my beleifs and let them take their own course. I'm not going to try to force libertarianism on you. You can read our platform at lp.org if you are interested but that's as far as I'm going to go.

If you really are a religious person you would know it is God's place to judge the sinners, not yours.

EyeDoc| 11.7.08 @ 2:11PM

"It should be no surprise that the nutjobs that write for this site, and the freaks that support them, would be the last to realize the extent to which they have been marginalized. This election was a referendum on the entire "conservative" political ideology... and guess what? You were overwhelmingly repudiated. You are now reduced to vain, incoherent rambling from the sidelines. Sorry to clue you kids in, but you are simply no longer relevant to the conversation. "

Yes, obviously in four short years conservatism has been repudiated. Your comments are beyond absurd. What lost the election was moving away from small government fiscal conservatism, and into this mushy no man's land of "compassionate conservatism". In the end, McCain couldn't distinguish himself from that, and 7 million Republicans stayed home on Election Day and didn't vote, handing Obama the White House on a silver platter. Nice try though, Einstein. And, tell David Axelrod I said hello.

Po Han| 11.8.08 @ 11:40AM

For all of you who think the way back to power is to continue to be moderate, inclusive and less conservative on social issues, my advise is to leave OUR party because you do not belong here, and, we don't want you. We lost because we spent too much time and energy appealing to the middle, instead of our base. The only way we will ever regain power is by being true to conservative principals, economic and social, and stop pandering to everyone on everything. If we can not win this way then so be it; I would rather be an honorable minority than a dishonorable majority.

If you have a problem with conservative values regarding the protection of Life, the right to own firearms, the protection of our borders and the sanctity of marriage, then please get out of my party. You don't belong here, and we don't want you.

Tom| 11.9.08 @ 9:47PM

Sheesh, I sure didn't take it personally when McInsane lost, it was expected. Just like '96, only McInsane hated the base. A conservative like me voted against Obamanation, not "for" McInsane.

The fact that McInsane was our party's nominee was enough to make me realize it would literally take a miracle for McInsane to win. Now McInsane will "reach his arms around his Demonrat" friends... at least Robert Dole had the decency to resign from the Senate before he ran.

Tom| 11.9.08 @ 9:50PM

DJ, libertarians turn off Christians and Conservatives with this phrase: "The concept of individual freedom is lost on them. We beleive in the rights of CONSENTING ADULTS to live their lives in any way they see fit as long as they bring no harm to other people or their property. " Libertarians are really LibertINES. I cannot be a Libertarian due to the Party's SOCIAL libertines.

Kevin Riley O'Keeffe| 11.10.08 @ 5:55AM

Why would anyone vote for a sort-of-liberal like McCain, when they could just vote for the real thing with the Democrats? I voted third party, and I'm frankly glad McCain lost.

If the Republican Party is to have any relevant future in this nation, it has to rid itself of the neo-"conservative" scum like McCain (and I see Sarah Palin as just another neocon, albeit one who was able to stylistically appeal to conservatives, but her stands on the issues just don't merit the affection people inexplicably have for her - she even came out for Amnesty a couple weeks ago).

We need a real conservative leader, someone about midway between a mainstream conservative like Mitt Romney, and a paleo-conservative like Patrick Buchanan or Ron Paul (a description which, by the way, fits Ronald Reagan very well). Someone capable of giving real Americans a reason to vote Republican. I wish I knew who that person might be, because the national Republican Party is a steaming pile of crap these days, but maybe we have a Governor who's up to the task. I suspect we're going to have to lose in 2012 again, before we get serious, and nominate someone worthwhile in 2016 (whomever that person is; he's quite possibly formulating his first campaign for Governor in 2010).

As long as the Republican Party insists on nominating people like John McCain, the two Georges Bush, Bob Dole, Dick Cheney, Jack Kemp, and Dan Quayle, we deserve to lose. I voted for Ron Paul in the primaries, but I could have supported someone like Mitt Romney or Duncan Hunter, (but not the neo-fascist Rudoulph Ghouliani, neocon Fred Thompson, nor Amnesty-loving Mike Huackabee).

The other day, I saw Lawrence O'Donnell criticize the Republican Party as "a party which celebrates ignorance," and he's not far from being correct. That's one reason why nominating Sarah Palin isn't going to be adequate. There are a lot of smart conservatives out there, many of us who don't care what Christian sect one belongs to, and the GOP needs to inspire us too, in order to win. Its not enough to nominate some ignorant woman from Wasilla and tell us she's a real conservative because she talks like the sheriff from "Fargo," and thinks its neat to shoot wolves from an airplane. Give us someone like Ronald Reagan or Barry Goldwater, in terms of substance, not merely style. A neo-"conservative," physically attractive, Christian Fundamentalist redneck from the frontier is still a neocon. If the Republicans nominate neocons in 2012 & 2016, then I hope the Republican Party dies.

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Tennwriter| 2.4.09 @ 6:47PM

Social conservatism is more popular than Republicanism. Libertarians are useful but not necessary. RINOs are a real problem. Or as Quatermaster puts it--Country clubbers. These people dragged us over the cliff with GB, Sr., Dole, and McCain. The chief problem with Libertarians is they don't attack the right targets--the RINOs. I suspect prejudgice and bigotry on the Libertarians part more than any of their vaunted rationality and principles.

Mr. McCain here is wrong...it is our fault. We didn't purge the Party earlier, and we let the RINOs run things, and we thought that reason and logic would reach them. We were lazy. Its time to scrape the paint and mold off the Republican Wagon again instead of just slapping a new layer of paint on it.