[mojito]

Warren expands on this essay in another post on his blog:

http://www.davidwarrenonline.com/2012/11/18/gershom/

[pepsionice]

I believe most Republicans are still in search of the immortal Ronald Reagan and have yet to find him. Two million fewer voters voted for Romney than McCain. My general feeling was that a quarter of all Republicans just never got excited about McCain or Romney. As for the independent voter....neither offered something of substance.

So we stand...mostly all strangers in a strange land, and waiting for something of substance.

[marron]

In retrospect, the Republicans’ only hope was to ignore ethnicity & go large: to go in the direction indicated by Santorum & Ryan, & communicate the home truths. They could have lost with such a message — “We have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, & sweat” — but they would have lost honourably & been left with something on which to build.

In prospect, their strategy is, having failed with one snake oil, to try another kind; to lose, but more dramatically & shamefully; & leave anyone who resembles a conservative as a stranger in a strange land.

Well said.