Well.. the current state of conservatism is something that requires a lot of thought and analysis.
A big poll number that is important is the one that asks whether the country is on the right or wrong track. And for awhile a vast majority of Americans say the nation is on the wrong track. And people dont look at why, they look at who’s at the helm and decide they want “change.”
People have linked “conservatism” to George W Bush. It’s no longer linked to Ronald Reagan. Bush and today’s GOP have moved conservatism away from the Reagan doctrine and morphed it into something that voters just dont want anything to do with anymore. And with a lack of a strong “Reagan-like” candidate in this election to promote sound conservative policies and principles, it is the independents who are coming on top now.
That’s just my opinion of the whole thing on face value. And I think conservatism is in real trouble. The electorate is clearly moving to the left.
This is true. I hope that some of it is simply a pendulum effect. I would say that conservative political power peaked from about 1982 -1992. Although the left has always been strong, today the entire debate seems to have embraced their rhetoric. Flipping through the channels today I observed all the talking heads and candidates talking about ways in which government can bail people out. There was no mention of pride and self reliance at all.
The conservative movement has truth on its side. It does not lack for passion and intellect. What we do not have is a capable charismatic leader to ignite the turn around. Pending that, I believe that we are obligated to limit the damage that the Left does during it's ascendancy.