What Will the Conservative Base Do?
Mark Steyn minces no words (he never does):
Tonight was a big win for illegal-immigration amnesty, remorseless socialization of health care, and big-government solutions to global warming.
If McCain wins in November, he’ll be eager to show he can “work” with a Democratic Congress. If Hill wins, she’ll want to make a mark, fast. And, if it’s Barack, ditto with bells on. A bipartisan consensus committed to change you can believe in.
Dan Riehl is not happy either:
Lawrence Welk Delivers Victory Speech in Florida
They will tell you conservatism is out of vogue. That is false. Otherwise, Fred Thompson would not have sky-rocketed to the top before he even entered the race. What conservatism lacks right now is leadership. John McCain cannot provide it. Mitt Romney can. But if Romney doesn’t still win it, and he can, it will be time to re-build and not surrender.
It’ll be a tough fight. But he needs our support. This is becoming a conservative base versus the establishment election. And we can’t quit now.
Well, if I learned anything tonight, I’m no longer a GOP partisan. Clearly it’s no longer a party I can consistently support as I have for twenty-years. I may vote for GOP candidates. Romney can still win this thing, though it won’t be easy. But, as it stands, effectively there may be no conservative party in American politics today. Too much of the establishment is backing McCain to say that.