Rumblings of Conservative Discontent

Looks like at least some of the Evangelicals are tired of being snookered:

A group of influential Christian conservatives and their allies emerged from a private meeting at a Florida resort this month dissatisfied with the Republican presidential field and uncertain where to turn...

Many conservatives have already declared their hostility to Senator John McCain of Arizona, despite his efforts to make amends for having once denounced Christian conservative leaders as “agents of intolerance,” and to former Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani of New York, because of his liberal views on abortion and gay rights and his three marriages.

Many were also suspicious of former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts; members have used the council as a conduit to distribute a dossier prepared by a Massachusetts conservative group about liberal elements of his record on abortion, stem cell research and gay rights. (Mr. Romney has worked to convince conservatives that his views have changed.)

While it doesn't take but a few braincells to realize that the GOP is sticking it to their conservative Christian base, it's good to see that at least some of the base is tired of being taken for granted for so long. Granted, the dupes may still march to the polls to defeat the eventual Democratic nominee, Hillary and Obama being equally abominable. Still, this brain activity is better than what I've seen during the last six years.

“There is great anxiety,” said Paul Weyrich, chairman of the Free Congress Foundation. “There is no outstanding conservative, and they are all looking for that.”

Ah, but therein lies the rub. The Republican Party has become a big party, and a Reagan-esque leader will be needed to unite all the various factions. This isn't your granddaddy's GOP. It's a unique fellow who can be tough on terror, champion small government, be committed to preventing illegal immigration, appease big-business plutocrats, placate social conservatives, and so on and so forth. Such a man does not exist. Moreover, if he does, he won't be someone who is trustworthy enough to be electable.

I don't think the Evangelicals are mad enough to defect from the Republican party en masse. But enough will vote third party or stay home, that the Democrat, whoever (s)he be, should have no trouble winning.