You want to know why the GOP has done so badly at the polls of late? On the national survey we'll be releasing Thursday only 18% of voters who described their ideology as moderate are Republicans. 45% are Democrats and 37% are independents.
There are a heck of a lot more conservatives than liberals in this country so if the GOP inched enough to the center that even a third of the moderates felt an affinity for their party they'd probably be in much better shape. I know the concern is always there that you're going to then turn off the conservatives, but honestly, where are they going to go? There is no viable alternative right now for them.
The moderate class is larger than the far right, and Republicans will really have to think about what risks they're willing to take to become a majority party again, especially if next year's election turns out to be the third disaster in a row.
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Haven't "moderates" always favored the Democrats in recent years?
I don't know that the problem can be so clearly broad brushed as being at fault an "overall" conservative political philosophy.
The problem, I think, is that the people the GOP has tended to nominate for the last 2 decades have failed to be conservative enough where their constituents have demanded conservation, and likewise have failed to be moderate enough where their constituents have demanded moderation.
At the same time they aren't moderate enough on some issues, they also aren't conservative enough on others. This leads to the very apathy now causing the GOP to shrink.
In other words, their priorities have been all off. The 2008 nominee, "Bush 3 only worse" serves evidence that a "generally more moderate" without priority specification - McCain - didn't win the support of both sides like he wanted to being "moderate," instead he LOST the support of both sides by being conservative in the wrong places and moderate in the wrong places.
So the issue is more articulated, I think, than a simple generalization of 'too conservative' or 'too moderate.'
You would probably call me "too conservative" because I am a Constitutional Originalist; but I support Foxx over Burr, opposed TARP and all the following bailouts, oppose prohibition on the grounds of state and personal Constitutional sovereignty, and oppose the doctrine of government/military interventionism.
Principled constitutional conservatism has more in common with classical liberalism than uncommon, I think.
I'm sure you know one of the major reasons Burr is so unstable now, is because of his support for TARP.
But if you run Virginia Foxx against Burr (by some accounts 'more' conservative than Burr) I am guessing she will carry more water than you think.
It's not a question of overall 'conservative' or overall 'progressive,' as a broad brush -- it's about being conservative on the RIGHT things not the wrong, and progressive on the right things, not the wrong.
This is where the GOP has failed to martial the grassroots of NC over the last long haul. The Old Guard has allowed politicking a priority above principle and it cost the GOP dearly.
The Old Guard, are on their way out, thank goodness, to make way for Constitutionalists like Virginia Foxx.
Run Foxx against Burr, and I bet she takes more not only in June, but also in November. :D
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