Christian Said:

How well are "true conservatives" doing with their convictions with 39 Senators and a shrinking voting base?

We Answered:

It’s a biblical principal that house divided against itself can not stand. That house divided is the Republican party of 2009. I liked Regan I didn’t like all his policies but I liked him. I didn’t like Jimmy Carter at the time but had we listened to him then we’d be in a different place now. While many disagree with him on the Middle East he understands it’s role in the United States through oil.

I think the Republican party has done a terrible job of representing conservative values. In the past they could drive the deficit with little notice because they partnered with the religious right. This appealed to the large percentage of conservative Christian voters in the United States. The Josh McDowells and Jerry Falwells told them who to vote for and election after election they did very little to reverse policy on gay marriage our abortion. The country has trended away from the religious right on these issues but that doesn’t means they are less conservative or moral it’s means the Republican party has become ineffective in the culture.

When in power they spent recklessly with the buck stopping no where. The campaign efforts of John McCain and Sarah Palin just confirmed the keystone cop tone of the party. Then Rick Perry comes out hinting at principals of secession calling the Federal government intrusive while accepting 55 billion in stimulus and 30,000 vials of swine flu vaccine from that government. The departure of Arlen Specter from the Republican party while self serving reflects poorly.

The Republican party is struggling because their base is a small part of the electorate. They have alienated the more moderate with the dog and ponies shows of Larry Craig, Karl Rove, Ann Coulter, Rush Limbaugh an others. It’s very unfair and the mistake Republicans are making to suggest that Democrats are immoral based on political affiliation. It hurts them it doesn’t help them. When Josh McDowell endorsed John McCain due to his policy on abortion it pushed many the other way. It ceases to be about moral issues when the economy is in trouble, people don’t have time to bother with gay marriage and abortion when trying to hold a job. They were holding up the nomination of Kathy Siberious over her position on abortion which was then rendered pointless with the swine flu. I’m sure Glen Beck will weep the death of America again over this another “I told you so” rant.

I actually expect in 2012 you’ll see known republicans running as independents and trying to align themselves with the Ron Paul grass roots crowd and work backwards. The best they have not is John McCain’s daughter who is blogging about her many gay friends and how we need to accept that in the party. She also wants Republican politicians who look young vibrant and good in a bathing suit to revive the party. The question is what does this do to address the substance gap they have on relevance.

I don’t believe true conservatives stay with republicans over moral issues. A true political conservative cares more about fiscal responsibility then the pursuit of morality based legislation. The pursuit of morality through law does nothing to ensure moral substance. Many of those calling themselves conservative only care about a few key issues and to hell with everything else.