Quote of the Month
Let's grow up, conservatives. If we want to take the party back -- and I think we can -- let's get to work. -- Barry Goldwater, 27 July 1960.
I am not on the McCain-bash bandwagon. This isn't about McCain. But let's face it: the GOP has not been run by strong conservatives up and down the ticket since Newt Gingrich left. We've not been in the wilderness quite as much as conservatives had been in 1960 -- no conservative President, nor even nominee, in almost 30 years, and Democratic domination of the Congress for almost as long -- but we soon may be.
Alf Landon, Wendell Willkie, Thomas Dewey, Dwight Eisenhower. It's more un-conservative than Bush, Dole, Bush, McCain. But even though I'd defend Dole's and McCain's more-conservative-than-not credentials, and the left tries to paint the Bushes as conservatives, it's not just about the top of the ticket, but the control of the party, and the Bush years were, by any objective standard, anything but conservative on most issues.
I don't know how to fix things exactly, but one thing is clear: if you sit on the sidelines, you're contributing to the problem. Get to work. 
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"It is the common fate of the indolent to see their rights become a prey to the active. The condition upon which God hath given liberty to man is eternal vigilance; which condition if he break, servitude is at once the consequence of his crime and the punishment of his guilt."
Limited government is still a popular concept among the electorate -- at least, Cato says that's what people say. I think there's an inherent problem, though, in that politicians are, by nature, people who *want* power and, therefore, are hesitant to, you know, advocate reducing the government's.
OTOH, all I think we need is a less caustic Newt Gingrich or a TV-friendlier Ron Paul and then something could happen. Here's hoping. Meantime, just need to find a way to ensure that one party doesn't control the executive and legislative, whereby we can achieve sweet political gridlock. Therefore: GOP in '10!
Really liked your "Sam Hall" cover, btw.
bkd