The Narrow Path To Reviving Conservatism
By Christopher G. Adamo
November 21, 2008
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Over the past four decades, the political fortunes of Republican presidential candidates can be directly correlated to their perceived conservatism. Ronald Reagan, the most conservative, was without a doubt also the most successful. In contrast, the Gerald Ford, Bob Dole, and now John McCain entries have been a collective disaster.
George Bush forty-one represented the most ideal test case. Having initially ridden on Reagan's coattails, he handily defeated Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis in 1988. Yet upon his inauguration, he immediately signaled his intention to water down Reagan's successful though often controversial struggle to advance the conservative agenda. By late 1991, and despite his successful prosecution of the first Gulf War, George Bush's political future was in jeopardy. When perceived as a conservative, he had triumphed. But upon his disavowal of that perception, the voters abandoned him.
This year, though the stakes are likely to be much higher, the problem and its proper fix remain essentially as they have been. In a glum Republican political landscape that has demoralized and dispirited conservative voters by the millions, one bright spot shone. Alaska Governor Sarah Palin brought the first glimmer of voter enthusiasm to the Republican ticket since its presidential candidate had been determined. Nevertheless, among moderates, she is the face of the real enemy.
Republican strategists had desperately attempted throughout the spring and summer to make political hay out of Barack Obama's numerous failings. Unfortunately, on virtually every front, John McCain's own closet was rife with its own corresponding "skeletons."
Indeed, Obama would appoint activist judges to the high courts. But McCain had led the "band of seven" Republican senate sellouts who had collaborated with Democrats to undermine the judicial confirmation process.
Obama promised to exploit the hoax of "global warming" to hamstring United States industry while severely curtailing the nation's standard of living. Though McCain eventually attempted to distance himself from the dire consequences of a political agenda founded on radical environmentalism, he accepted the premise of man-made global warming and offered his own version of an over-reaching governmental response to it.
Obama has repeatedly displayed his complete contempt for the sovereignty and integrity of this nation, while lauding foreigners and even America's enemies as "citizens of the world." Though a flag-waving American, McCain's plans for accommodating illegal immigration would have yielded the exact same erosion of the American culture.
Obama built "bridges" with Hamas and other hostile foreign entities, and maintained friendships with the likes of black-separatist clergyman "Reverend" Jeremiah Wright and terrorist/subversive Bill Ayers. Yet McCain had made his own alliances with the Mexican subversive organization "La Raza" (The Race) that severely strained his credibility with Heartland America.
On the tax issue, Obama's outlandish plans to implement creeping socialism could have sunk his campaign, had McCain remained true to his past proclamations and opposed the "mother of all earmarks" known as the "bailout" of the home mortgage business. Once again, McCain proved himself to be the candidate of the Washington establishment and "business as usual."
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