As a conservative republican, its bad enough to know democrats will take over the executive branch.  Its far worse that our side has learned no lessons from this catastrophe.

 

First, many republicans - not necessarily conservatives - are talking-up the possibility that Obama will govern from the 'center'.  One word - What! This is preposterous and isn't supported by his actions as a legislator or his words when he wasn't running for president.  Anytime we can be reasonably sure he wan't politicking, he's spewing leftist rot-gut.

Second, forget the wisdom of certain elements of the party who espoused the virtue of a moderate contender for president.  On this count, Mccain has been seen as moderate par excellence and guess what - moderates from Hagel to Powell turned their backs on him.  What's more, pandering to the middle didn't help Mccain win independents - could it be that these moderates would have been inspired by someone else who would have eloquently spoken of the benefits of conservatism regarding their hope and fears?  By most accounts, Reagan took this very path - the rest is history.

 

Third, republicans far and wide are making public statements suggesting that both sides compromise.  They claims that the people don't want partisans to rule Washington.  Their breath would better be used were it carrying words explaining how this president-elect and majority party have views which are extreme and incommensurable.  Consider abortion, private property, security, and free-markets just for starters.  What room is there for compromise?  Recall what happened when the democrats demanded that house and senate republicans vote in favor of the bail-out bill - those republicans were beat over head with their vote by those same democrats!  This is right out of the playbook: democrats scold republicans for being mean and close-minded; republicans, in fear of what the media will say about them, scurry over to compromise; then, democrats claim republicans have repudiated their own values!  Republicans primary goal should be as watch-dogs, a vocal minority who uses the bully-pulpit on a regular basis.      

 

Fourth, forget the 'historic' nature of Obama's victory.  The word 'historic' in this context is code for reverse-racism.  There is no other historic quality to this person and his candidacy.  Just wait, republicans are talking up this historic moment in our history; soon enough, democrats will accuse republicans of racism for those very words.

 

Fifth, the democrat didn't run a 'great' campaign.  Republicans should stop saying this too.  This year was always a democrat year. This fact coupled with the financial situation should have given the democrat candidate an overwhelming victory purely on the basis that he had a pulse.  Instead, he beats Mccain by 6 points nationally; he gets 349 electoral votes - this is hardly the 525 Reagan garnered against Mondale - that is a landslide!

If anything needs to be said about successes and failures of this campaign, it should be the utter failure of Mccain's campaign to develop a consistent, coherent, unapologetic message in the months leading up to the elections.  Certainly, this began to occur in the last few days, but that isn't nearly enough time to turn the tides working against the republican party.