Everything that you need to know about the viability of the Republican party in the age of the netroots is contained within a couple of short paragraphs from Jonathan Martin's politico blog entry of October 28, entitled, "Conservatives plan secret post election strategy session."
Why the "secrecy" mandate about the session was required by the "who's who" of conservative leaders was not revealed. It's safe to say that the "eastern elite media" wasn't welcome at the Virginia home of on the more prominent members of movement.
Since the "secret" session to decide the future of the party was by invitation only, the balance of the 59 million or so Republican voters weren't present. The "who's who" weren't soliciting their input, nor were they publicly revealing exactly what was going to be discussed.
Too bad, you'd think that some other members of the Republican voting bloc might have a thing or two to say about the future direction of their own party.
I'm guessing that they weren't going to be talking about how to make health care and higher education more affordable and more widely available, nor were they going to spend much time pondering the growing rates of poverty or income gap in our nation.
No, it seems that the loser's post-election narrative was already beginning to take form, not that there was any impending sense of panic about the upcoming election...
...the meeting will be held regardless of the outcome of the presidential race. "This is going on if McCain wins, loses or has a recount -- we're not planning for the loss of John McCain."
Even though they weren't planning for the loss of John McCain, they were contemplating the future of a party adrift from the bedrock principles of conservatism, the ones that had served them so faithfully in the preceding years.
"...conservatives are deeply dispirited and anxious to reassert the core values they believe have not always been followed by Bush, congressional leaders and their party’s presidential nominee . Many on the right, both elites and the rank-and-file, see a rudderless party that is in dire need of new blood and old principles: small government, a robust national security and unapologetic social conservatism."
Well, nothing clears the mind like an embarrassingly large impending defeat that you're not planning for. Forget the fact that George Bush, the man that they had defended so ferociously for the past seven and a half years, was once the "new blood" embodiment of the old principles, so much so that the movement's prominent spokesman seemed to dispute the man's very existence...
Rush Limbaugh, a powerful figure in the party whose influence has spanned years of the GOP in and out of power, gave voice to this frustration Tuesday, saying candidly that "there is no elected or political leadership in Washington or in the Republican Party that people can rally around,"
What they were really gathering to discuss was who would best embody the lost principles of the movement, who again would cause hundreds of thousands of energetic young Republicans to take to the streets with their banners in support of their cause...demanding change...demanding an end to the capital gains tax...shouting down their opponents with their unrepentant love for free trade and all things unregulated...the embodiment of "cool", (just like those Democrat kids)...
Yes, in the face of a defeat they weren't planning for and in the depths of despair over the loss of their sacred core principles, the party leadership would do what party leadership has always done, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges, they prayed for the next incarnation of Ronald Reagan...
Should McCain lose next Tuesday, the conversation will include who to groom as the next generation of conservative leaders – a list that will feature Palin at or near the top.