[Mariner]

Other than Goldwater, when have we put up our best and lost?

Some would argue that nominating Goldwater as the GOP Candidate WAS the biggest victory of all.

Certainly the fist fights on the floor of the Cow Palace indicated the stakes were very, very high.

It was the very first Conservative victory since Hoover.

[Mariner]

Of note: Goldwater was not your typical Conservative or Republican.

As with most (c)onservatives/Republicans that come from the Western US he had a visible (l)ibertarian streak.

As did Reagan and as does Cruz and Palin.