Posted by
stevo on Friday, November 17, 2006 12:01:21 PM
What prompted the general shift of voter sentiment decisively toward the Democrats in the past election? While some arrogant and ignorant talking heads would chalk it up to a rejection of Reaganesque conservatism, there is absolutely no chance of that.
Why? Because most elected Republicans believe in Reaganesque conservatism about as much as the know-it-all-know-nothing pundits. While not necessarily compromised themselves (though I believe many are), most Republican leaders are walking tombstones--hailing the death of principled conservatism in the name of "open-minded" moderation. Hastert, Boehner, Blunt and Co. are figureheads for a party that has chosen to make its stand on the shifty sands of public perception and media critique rather than the terra firma of principle.
Thus, I think a substantive argument could be made for "status-quoism" being the death knell for Republican. In our day, "stay the course" has virtually become synonymous with the status-quo. If you have no plan, no ability to communicate, no ability to be creative, innovative, or persuasive--you thump the podium with the line "Stay the course!"
Republicans are tired of "stay the course." The American people are sick of "stay the course." That is why both decided not to stay the course and vote for Dems, Libertarians, or not vote at all.
Yet, today, in reelecting Boehner and Blunt, whatever their merits, Republicans spoke unequivocally to the American people that they will stay the course. Little do they know that their course in away from principled conservatism and toward the craggy cliffs of demise and irrelevancy.