Over the last few days all I’ve heard about, almost nonstop is this recent Gallup Poll showing that there has been an increase in the number of those individuals who are now calling themselves conservative. Everyone is speculating about what might have been the cause for this apparent shift where 40 percent of Americans are now willing to call themselves conservatives or at least to call their political views to be conservative. But my questions is this, will this new wave of conservative sentiment translate into Republican votes? What that Gallup Poll shows is that today, right now at this moment in time, it appears that conservatism is on the march. But, is this apparent increase in the number of conservatives of sufficient size to successfully move this country, if not completely to the right, at least to where it might be a little closer to at least the right of center? I think what will prove to be the proof in the pudding, so to speak, will be the 2010 election. How many of those who are now making the claim of being on the conservative end of the political spectrum will still be there to follow through come election time and faithfully vote for the candidates of that same political persuasion?
But there is an even bigger question that is left begging for an answer. Will the Republican Party seize on what appears to be a golden opportunity and begin to field serious candidates who are truly conservative in their beliefs? Currently there is a campaign for a special election in New York where it is more than just a little difficult to identify which candidate is the Democrat and which is the Republican. Also in this race is a true conservative and who at the present time at least is actually leading in this race. And just which candidate does the inside the beltway Republican elite support? The Conservative in the race? NOPE!!! They come out in support of a very liberal Republican, basing their decision to do so on some pretty faulty reasoning. The Conservative candidate has been picking up some key support from some high profile Conservative Republicans and I think it may be having a very positive effect. Now we just have to wait and see.
I had high hopes for Michael Steele as the RNC Chairman, but I’m beginning to lose my confidence in his desire to advance a truly conservative agenda. At a time when I should be feeling very optimistic about my party’s future, I find myself feeling somewhat disillusioned with the entire RNC leadership team. Because at a time when we may be witnessing an up tick in those who at least claim to be conservative in their political views, our party, supposedly the party who claims to be conservative, is out there supporting candidates like Crist in Florida and Scozzafava in New York. We need to be striking while the iron is hot, instead we’re doing nothing more than trying to maintain the status quo. I always hear how the Republican Party needs to be more inclusive, needs to increase the size of our tent, hell, how about we make room for some real conservatives. And when Newt comes out in support of a very liberal Republican as he has done with Scozzafava, I find myself beginning to question whether he is as committed to having conservatives reclaim Congress as he claims. I am slowly beginning to lose faith in some who I once thought of as being the torchbearers of conservatism, those I saw as being willing to do whatever necessary to lead us out of the darkness that is caused by liberalism. I think some may have spent just a bit too much time inside the Beltway and have now apparently lost their way. The true conservatives out here in the field can not no, they must not, allow themselves to be convinced in any way into accepting and supporting candidates with whom they have very basic philosophical differences. Our country, over the course of the last 9 short months, has taken a horrible and radical turn leftward. The only way we can ever hope to survive and to turn the tide away from the current agenda of rapidly expanding of governmental power of the present administration is to send in the cavalry consisting of true conservatives. Not those individuals who merely provide weak lip service to conservative ideals. Barry and the Democrats are simply out of control, spending every dollar we have plus every dollar we can print as fast as we can print it. The insanity must be stoppped before the Democrats are successfull in getting the government involved in every facet of our lives. "We are trying on every front to increase the role of government," so says Bawney Fwank, that gay caballero from that left-wing loony bin and home of the inbreeding Kennedy clan, Massachusetts. Statements such as these should serve as a wake up call for every freedom loving American, Conservative and Liberal allike.
While the breakdown provided by Gallup shows that 40 percent of Americans call their political views conservative, 36 percent moderate and 20 percent liberal, polling also continues to show that the Democrat Party still leads the Republican Party in Americans’ party identification. So where exactly does that leave us? Personally I think if the Republican Party chooses to field truly fiscally and socially conservative candidates, we will work our way back into control. Maybe not in 2010 or even in 2012, but definitely in the not too distant future. But by putting up candidates like Crist and this woman, Scozzafava, we’re only shooting ourselves in the foot at a most inopportune time. It may require us to send a message to Party leaders that is very loud and very clear that says we will not support those candidates that do not meet our clear conservative guidelines. To continue to put those candidates who are less than what we deserve, as conservatives, is to do so at their own peril. If anything, you would think that those in the leadership positions in our Party would realize that there is no more fickled an animal on our planet than the American voter. To assume that the way he/she may feel today, politically speaking, is the same way they will feel next month, next week or even tomorrow, let alone by the time of the next election is nothing if not foolhardy. He who hesitates is lost and right now I see the Republican Party hesistating. We need not get to cocky because of this poll because it can change in the blink of an eye, but I think we could be a little more proactive at the same time in the possible backing or showcasing of some of our more talented conservative candidates out there.
One last thought and then I'll go. Will conservatives eventually find themselves being forced into a position where they will feel the need to decide if remaining affiliated with a politcial party which only seeks their counsel at election time continues to be worth their while? And, are conservatives becoming to the Republican Party that which Blacks have essentially become to the Democrat Party, someone listened to at election time only to be ignored once they have served their purpose until of course they get trotted out just in time for the next election. Just some food for thought.