Gallup Poll: Conservatives Maintain Edge as Top Ideological Group

Late last week, Big Media was practically wetting itself over a survey that showed Republican party identification is at its lowest point in decades. As usual, Big Media's analysis did not demonstrate a true understanding of what the numbers meant. A recent Gallup Poll frames the nation's political temperature more clearly.

Conservatives continue to outnumber moderates and liberals in the American populace in 2009, confirming a finding that Gallup first noted in June. Forty percent of Americans describe their political views as conservative, 36% as moderate, and 20% as liberal. This marks a shift from 2005 through 2008, when moderates were tied with conservatives as the most prevalent group.

Big Media may see this as contradictory, but the two sets of numbers make perfect sense. One uncomfortable and inconvenient truth that Big Media has tried to ignore during the Tea Party uprisings and Town Hall discussions was that the increasingly vocal Patriots are rooted in ideas, not party politics. During the September 12 March on Washington, I saw thousands upon thousands of signs, bumper stickers and t-shirts, but only one that was overtly GOP. That was one guy who was working the street trying to sign folks up for the Republican Party. Real America is disgusted with corrupt politicians, Constitutional infidelity and partisan hacks who have zero respect for the American people (for example, the kind of people who keep changing the name of nationalized healthcare to various euphemisms in hopes of finding one that sounds respectable).

Conservatism is on the ascent. Many Republicans realize they have lose their way, but many have not. Some want to play the same political games as they have played in the past. Some want to give half-measures of socialist programs to appear "bipartisan." A few haven't been paying attention since last election day and still want to hitch their wagon to the O-Train.

We The People have risen up and are in the process of re-establishing the GOP as the Conservative party. In recent years, I have found I am more likely to call myself an independent than a Republican because of the party's recent sorry state. Many others have abandoned the label for similar reasons. So, when GOP identification falls it doesn't mean Americans are less Conservative. To the contrary, it means there is a growing group of folks who demand that the Republican Party stand on principle and fight to defend the Constitution and individual liberty. According to Gallup, there's a change in the air.

Why Is Mitt Romney A Solid Contender, But Sarah Palin A Liability?

Even before Sarah Palin's surprise resignation, Republican elites kept echoing basically the same line that the vile Left was spewing: Sarah Palin is a lightweight. Unable to discount her popularity among the party base, the Beltway Republicans kept telling us how she has potential. If she studies up on the issues she could someday be a player. Look, I am a dude and one is isn't particularly sensitive to the whines of modern feminism. However, the "Sarah needs to study" mantra is nothing but sexism. I have never heard such comments made about any male candidate who aspired to the Presidency, no matter how idiotic and asinine they were. She has accomplished more and has more executive experience than our current President and could read a teleprompter if that is the sign of being informed.

Mitt Romney is the name most often mentioned as the GOP front runner in 2012. Therein lies the disconnect between what Republicans say and what Republicans do. Currently, the GOP is fighting like mad to stop ObamaCare from being passed by the Congress this summer. As the Wall Street Journal pointed out in a Friday editorial, Romney left an absolute mess in Massachusetts with his version of government-run health care which is eerily similar to the plan being pushed by congressional Democrats.

So, we have Palin who was a source of energy for an impotent McCain campaign and who is an inspirational leader in the Conservative tradition. Then, we have Romney who looks like a President and appears to lack sweat glands. He had several conversions "on the road to Des Moisnes," as candidate Mike Huckabee pointed out, which made him palatable to Conservatives. His record as governor does not appear to be impressive and he built a state-run health care fiasco that should petrify potential voters. But, Palin is a Barbie doll who needs to bone up on serious things and Romney is a front runner.

We don't need another country club establishment stuffed shirt taking the party over the cliff. Bush 41 blew a second term by abandoning Reagan. Bob Dole got his turn and no amount of Viagra could have put life into his campaign. Dubya won twice, but embraced much of the Left's Statist ideology and did much damage to the country and to the GOP by giving them what they wanted so that they could run on the right side of the fiscal responsibility debate. Sure, they are phonies, but they could legitimately smack the Republicans with eight years of their own spending foolishness. If the GOP had been fiscally responsible and respected federalism, 2006 and 2008 would not have been so unpleasant. Then, it was John McCain. Or was that Bob Dole redux? A tired old Senator who had no political core. In fact, his lack of a political anchor was his greatest selling point. Mr. Bipartisan. Mitt Romney is an ex-governor, not a Senator, but he is still 100% establishment.

I don't know if Palin is the right candidate for 2012 or not. I do know that many of the arguments used against her would not be used against a man. It is also clear that a charismatic Conservative like Palin is much more likely to energize the party and draw in Conservative Democrats than will a central casting politician like Mitt Romney. If you start thinking Mitt is the guy for 2012, just look at the health care debacle he created in Massachusetts and ask yourself if this is really the guy to lead the resurgence of Conservatism.