[Mariner]

Folks, we need a consensus candidate and we need them EARLY in the primary cycle.

In 1980 there was little doubt who the nominee would be...and we sailed to complete victory.

We haven't had that since.

Reagan was able to unite the conservatives and libertarians.

Who can do that now?

[Zeneta]

I agree.

We need to WIN First.

I also believe that many of our social/cultural issues would resolve themselves with a political structure in Washington that was committed to both limited government and the reduction of the Federal Government with the States calling their own shots.

BTW, as much as I love Reagan, he had a lot to do with advancing the Abortion business while Governor of CA.

[Zeneta]

Also.

Rand Paul actually connects with people.

For conservatives to vote for Paul in 2016 will require a degree of “trust”. Independents will vote for him.

For Independents to vote for Cruz in 2016 will require and be an expression of their need to have a strong leader. Conservatives will vote for him.

[SoConPubbie]

Reagan was able to unite the conservatives and libertarians.

Who can do that now?

Ted Cruz can, Rand Paul won't because of his stance on Amnesty and the Social Issues.

Reagan united both camps by pursing the policy positions that were most important for each group:

1. For Social Conservatives, he took a strong Pro-Life position, complete with the Human Life Amendment (Pro-Life Amendment to the Consitution)
2 For Fiscal Conservatives and Libertarians, he was constantly taking limited government positions and lowering the tax rate
3. For Neo-Cons and those who felt having a strong military was important, he took the stand that we needed a strong military.

This is the only approach that will win. Spiting one group by belittling their core principles is the pathway to ruin for the GOP candidate, and Rand Paul has already started down that path with his surrender on the Social Issues and his Amnesty position.

[ansel12]

Reagan was able to unite the conservatives and libertarians. Who can do that now?

Reagan didn't unite conservatives and libertarians, that is a complete reversal of the facts.

Ayn Rand despised Reagan, and the best election that the libertarians ever had, was running against Reagan in 1980.

As far as winning independents, Romney cleaned up with the independent vote and won it hugely.

INFOGRAPHIC: Obama Lost Independent Vote In Almost Every Swing State
The president only won the independent vote in one battleground state: North Carolina. Things looked very different for Obama in 2008, when independent voters came out in huge numbers to support him. Just before Election Day, the Wall Street Journal reported those polling numbers had hardly changed, with Romney overwhelmingly leading among independent voters across the country. Republican pollster Bill McInteruff told the Journal the Democrats were “really flirting with trouble if you’re losing independents by this margin.”