The trick is to understand that Republicans don’t WANT to win back Congress. At least not most of those who now populate our Federal Legislative branch.
They never liked the “Conservatives” that Reagan so successfully shaped into a winning coalition. They never desired to “win,” they are perfectly happy preserving their own political positions, protecting their own perks, and being the permanant political minority minding their place in the new order.
Only a very few men in Congress have any interest in standing for Conservative Principles anymore. Among them is my Senator, Jim DeMint, from SC. (No, I didn’t vote for, nor do I support, Senator Lindsay Grahamnesty).
Conservatives better get a clue that the Republican vehicle to regain authority is, at best, a deeply flawed strategy. Consider the failure of the Republican-controlled Congress from 1995-2006. After their first 100 days in 1995 in which they successfully inplemented 70% of the “Contract with America,” they went on to cower in the face of the Clinton Regime’s counterattacks, and they failed to impeach and convict him, though he was clearly a felon. And once President Bush was elected, instead of enforcing strict controls on spending in the face of the war precipitated by 9/11, they became more careless than even the Democrats who preceeded them for 40 years did.
Too many “Conservatives” who went to Washington became inculturated to the Inside the Beltway” mentality, making them FORMER Conservatives (as opposed to so-called “inside the beltway” Conservatives — that don’t really exist).
Conservatives must operate in a unified, grass roots fashion, even if they do use the Republican party as their “vehicle.” But if they do, they cannot “ease up” or think “we have arrived” once the long battle to regain power has succeeded. IF they are able to regain majorities in Congress, only relentless, forceful, principled and dedicated men and women who NEVER stop will make a difference. Anything less than “eternal vigilance” will lead to the same failure Conservatives have suffered over the last 2-3 years.
You make a good point. It’s up to us, the grassroots, to ensure that good candidates are elected. I think all the elected ones do in fact want to be a majority, but won’t work hard for it and really don’t care for our principles.
That’s why we’ve got to work extra hard to support candidates who can win and who do share our values. To get them into office we need to know the tactics of our opponents and thwart them. That’s why this race is especially important.