“the Washington GOP Establishment”
vs
“the Reaganite conservative base”
So here’s the real question: what is the relative size of these two factions?
Guys like Rove are convinced they’re the majority and I’d say they think at least 80% of the GOP are moderates.
Fact is, donors are putting their money where Rove’s mouth is, just as they did in the last 2 Presidential elections. We can piss and moan all we want but unless and until the “Reaganite conservative base” constitutes the majority of the GOP and commands it’s power, money, and influence, we’re not going to win elections or even get conservative candidates nominated.
I wish it were otherwise, but tell me where I’m wrong here...
The key is in the primaries, it’s where the money and the “party faithful” of the machine people (both parties) nominate their handpicked candidates.
Until us conservative minded folk put the bulk of our efforts into primaries the oligarchy will get their preferred candidate in the race near every time, and they have one from each party (i.e. it matters not a whit to them who wins the actual election because they have both sides of it sewed up in the primaries).
If you don’t field right minded candidates and vote in primaries you’ve already ceded the field.