<And believe it or not, some people vote on the basis of candidates' personalities.

After the Presidential debates, how many people said that Gore had a better idea of what was going on but Bush is the one they'd rather invite to the barbecue because he was more of a "regular guy"? How many people voted for the regular guy rather than the stuffed shirt?



Okay, that's an excuse I missed: "Republicans win elections because they have better personalities." Again, it's never the ideas. After what liberals have said about Reagan, I don't know how I let that one slip by.

As far as this "getting the message out" stuff is concerned, I can't tell you the number of times I've read things here that turned up within 5 days in the local Letters to the Editor written by one of our several right-wing amateur columnists. Do I think you're all on the same payroll? No. Do I think you're all taking direction from a Higher Power? No. Do I think you're all getting your talking points from the same sources? You bet your boots I do.

I can't speak for your local Republicans, which from what I hear from you, may slope a little more at the forehead than your average Republican, but I think most conservatives, particularly those who influence public opinion, operate largely independently. Sure we quote each other. I post other people's stuff here all the time, but it's because they agree with me, not the other way around. If the Republicans had any sense, they'd get their talking points from me.

The conservative talking points all along have been, in politics, "My Country Right or Wrong", and in economics, "Every Man for Himself". These are very simple and easy to understand. That's helpful in Soundbiteland.

As Larry points out, few conservatives actually match the "talking points" you bring up. Maybe you need to check YOUR premises. In fact, your talking points are the Left's description of conservatism, and if you look at it properly, are liberal talking points, not conservative ones, i.e. "Conservatives are stupid, mean-spirited jerks."

On the other hand, what the Left has been pumping out as their alternative is "My Country: Always Wrong," and in economics, "Your Money or Your Life." Then they wonder why they lose elections.

Republicans gain more voters when people are prosperous, well-fed, contented, confident in the future, independent, and feel that they have wealth and property to protect and leave to their children. Democrats gain more voters when people are in poverty, angry, envious, dependent, fearful of the future, and feel like they have been cheated by life and will never get anywhere. Oversimplistic--I am not saying all voters fall into these categories--but largely true. Think about it a while.

It goes without saying that any political party will attempt to arrange things so that there are a maximum number of people who will vote for them. Think about THAT a while.