The Dawn Treader

"The modern Republican Party has risen above its insecurities to achieve political success. Ronald Reagan, for example, held an unshakably positive vision of American capitalism. He didn't feel a need to qualify the meaning of his conservatism. He understood that big government was cruel and uncaring of individual aspirations. Small government conservatism was, by definition, compassionate -- offering every American a way up to self-determination and economic prosperity.

Republicans lost control of Congress in 2006 because voters no longer saw Republicans as the party of limited government. They have since rejected virtually every opportunity to recapture this identity. But their failure to do so must not be misconstrued as a rejection of principles of individual liberty by the American people. The evidence suggests we are still a nation of pocketbook conservatives most happy when government has enough respect to leave us alone and to mind its own business. The worrisome question is whether either political party understands this."

~ Dick Armey, U.S. House majority leader from 1995 to 2002

"I saw how this moral framework led him to an immediate identification with the dying African child, the Chinese dissident, the Sudanese former slave, the Burmese women's advocate. It is one reason I will never be cynical about government -- or about President Bush."

~ Michael Gerson

I have linked to two worthy reads.  Is compassionate conservatism a failed idea?  Making prescription drugs available at little or no cost to 10 million low-income seniors ... improving average reading scores of fourth graders ... narrowing the achievement gap between white and African-American children ... providing AIDS relief for millions of Africans and compassionate care for millions of orphans ... are these achievements that conservatives truly do not care about?

Are we really a nation of pocketbook conservatives who feel that the most compassionate thing a government can do is leave us alone and mind it own business, as Dick Armey suggests?

I would like to hear some of my conservative readers weigh in.

Warning: comments that veer even slightly off topic will be edited or deleted.

"But before our old soldier fades away, it is worth acknowledging that McCain ran a valiant race against impossible odds. He will be -- he should be -- remembered as the most worthy presidential nominee ever to be denied the prize. "

~ Charles Krauthammer

"I want to salute John McCain. Why? Because he may be the last true American hero we ever see in a presidential race.

McCain really never had a prayer of winning the 2008 presidential race."

~ Matt Towery

"In the beginning, I thought he would be another Bob Dole.  Unfortunately, that turned out to be the case.  To his credit, McCain gave the most gracious concession speech I have ever heard.  I couldn't help but think, McCain is so gracious in defeat that he seemed destined for it."

~ Mr. Dawntreader

Your thoughts on McCain?

"But Obama sounded like a cross between a social activist and a flannel-shirted software C.E.O. — as a nonhierarchical, collaborative leader who can inspire autonomous individuals to cooperate for the sake of common concerns."
~ David Brooks, NYT Columnist

On this second super Tuesday, David Brooks describes Obama's Defining Moment as November 10, 2007

We have a chance for Dems and the GOP to work together on something good and it doesn't cost much.  Don't let politics kill this opportunity to help the most defenseless among us.  Get on the horn and start squawking.

Further reading:

Evangelical Outpost
Daily Briefing

Real Clear Politics has this race as a toss up.  Quite frankly, I am ready for it to end.  This has been one of the ugliest Senate races I have ever witnessed.  I can't believe I thought this race might demonstrate the better side of politics.

I am voting for George Allen because he will vote for the judges who take a more restrained, conservative view of their role in our government, and because I think Allen will vote for a better course of action in defending this country against terror.  I hold no ill feelings toward Jim Webb no matter what weird things he put in his books.  I am voting for a marriage amendment to be put into the Virginia constitution to protect marriage from the tyranny and overreach of the black robes.  Family is the foundation of society, and marriage is the foundation of the family.  And marriage means what marriage has always meant -- a union between one man and one woman.  I am voting for Bob Goodlatte because he is a good representative.  Then I am going home to tell my kids what God intended for government to be, and then let them know how far political campaigns have stooped in order to win.

The Virginia race is still tight.  Allen up ... but only slightly.  Webb putting up a good showing and did a better job in the recent debate on Meet The Press.  Both candidate's have been dogged by controversial comments and side issues ... but both seem to want to get back on track and focused on issues facing Virginians.

I'll start to tune into this race more closely in mid October.

Allen holds a big lead over Webb.  In February, I claimed that this race had the potential to be the best kind of politics.  Instead, Webb has turned out to be a one dimensional candidate (Iraq) and possesses all the charisma of cottage cheese.  So what do you do when you are losing badly?  You take the focus off your candidate and try to whip up a scandal for your opponent and enlist the help of the Washington Post.  The lefty Virginia polibloggers are having a hey day over "Macaca".   With nothing positive to blog about, who can blame them?

Kudos to on spending federal funds on human embryo destroying research.

George Allen and Jim Webb interviewed by George Stephanopoulos on ABC News.  I thought it was a good interview.  You be the judge on who came out better.  Who appears more trustworthy?  Who looks like leadership material?  Who is more likable?  Sometimes it is the simple things that matter the most.

Webb's main issue continues to be withdrawal from Iraq (in 2 years).  Both candidates get in some good sound bites.  The media is trying to portray this race as an ugly political brawl.  In reality, it isn't ... so far.

I promised an update on the George Allen -vs- Jim Webb Senate race.  I was hoping for the "best kind of politics" back in February.  So how is it going?