The Lazy Party

It has been about half a year since Election Day 2008.  In that time, we have heard a fair number of theories being put forth as to what Republicans need to do to regain the majority in Congress, or at least stop the bleeding.  To review.

- We need to purge the party of moderates in order to clarify the GOP "brand."  First, Arlen Specter.  Second, the immensely personally popular Colin Powell.  Sen. Olympia Snowe could be next.

- Most recently, Jonah Goldberg says we need to find a "Hispanic Ward Connerly" to give the same message on immigration that so turned off the Hispanic vote.

- We should have a "big tent," though the new entrants into said tent shouldn't be allowed to shift the party ideologically.  Why they would enter the tent isn't clearly explained.

- We should organize better.  Because voters go for the party that makes the most noise and holds the most meetings of the faithful.

- Twitter.  The narrative states that Libs won TV, Conservatives won radio and Libs won blogs/social networking.  Since Twitter is the newest internet fad, we should try to win that because it's obviously next in line.

- Rush says we should forget about a "listening tour" but should instead "teach" about conservatism.  How many people know that conservatives favor tax cuts?  It would be a revelation to millions!

- After TARP, NCLB and the rest of W's program, we should start acting like conservatives.  Dislike of the party and disgust with the previous administrations have to do entirely with the party not adhering to its ideological roots.

What do all of these arguments have in common?  They hold movement conservatism as defined and zealously guarded by National Review, Rush Limbaugh and the rest as blameless.  It's a philosophy "under glass," and any failure of the public to sign up for the program is because we're explaining it wrong or because we didn't adhere to the script closely enough.

This supremely self-serving argument holds that people who hold down-the-line conservative positions from abortion to taxes (sorry, couldn't think of a "Z") need not rethink their positions or comprimise on some issues in exchange for a better chance of enacting others. 

Thinking like this is lazy, egotistical and bound to fail.  Voters understand modern movement conservatism loud and clear and they don't like decent-sized chunks of it.  Democrats came to grips with that, moved welfare off the table and got on with the rest of their agenda, which is why we're talking about card check and socialized medicine today.  It's time we turn inward, not to purge, but to reflect.